Name of Patron Saint: St. Anthony of Egypt, Abbott (252-356) SCC. Feast Day is 17 January.

Aim: To examine how Small Christian Communities (SCCs) are a New Model of Church and a New Way of Being Church in promoting justice, reconciliation and peace in Africa today.

Content (Topics) for Class Presentations:

31 January, 2013. Ecclesiological Foundations of SCCs in Africa.By Pierre-Célestin Musoni.

7 February, 2013. Using the Pastoral Spiral (See, Judge, Act Process) in SCCs in Africa.

By Peter Makina.

14 February, 2013. Bible Sharing and Bible Reflection in SCCs in Africa. By Charles Leshipan Ekuwam.

28 February, 2013. How SCCs Promote Reconciliation, Justice, and Peace in Madagascar and Kenya.By Jean Zezikà and Leonard Mapendo Shayo.

14 March, 2013. SCCs Involvement in Community Development in Africa (social transformation through community-based organizations).  By José Abilio Praia and Kelvin Mulenga Chonzi.

21 March, 2013. SCCs’ Involvement in the New Evangelization in Africa.  By Andrew Werunga.

28 March, 2013 Missionary Life and Outreach of SCCs in Africa and around the World. By Wendmi Ouedraogo and Jemboy Caspis.

Other Important Topics:

AMECEA Key Pastoral Priority of Building SCCs in Eastern Africa.

Involvement of Youth in SCCs in Africa.

Promoting SCCs through the Internet in Africa and around the World.

SCCs Involvement in the 2013 Kenya Lenten Campaign.

SCCs’ Involvement in the 2012-2013 Year of Faith in Africa.

Small Christian Community Members in Africa as Theologians.

Logistics of Course

Weeks 1 (17 January) and 2 (24 January): General Introduction.

Weeks 3-9 (31 January to 28 March except the Hekima College Symposium on 21 February and Mid-term Break on 7 March): Presentations in Class (one half hour presentation followed by 20 minutes discussion)

Week 10 (4 April): Summary. Integration/Synthesis. Evaluation.

Notes:

1.      Final paper of 4,000 words to be handed in by 4 April, 2013.

2.      Recommended Books on Reserve in Library.

3.      Private conference with each student one week before the presentation to discuss “Outline,” “Bibliography” and “Style of Presentation” (Powerpoint, blackboard, etc.).

4.      Emphasis on a new African Theological Method or Process that can be called African Palaver Theology that is both the name of a method/process and the name of the type of content (like Liberation Theology). Method heavily determines/influences content and vice versa. It is a two way process connected to illuminating African values. This is Theology as Conversation, Active Dialog, Intensive Listening and Learning from Each Other (described as “listening in conversation”) and Consensus. This is a new way of doing African Christian Theology that is conversational, participatory, collaborative, cross-disciplinary and multi-generational. Local, contextual theologies can be constructed in Africa with the local community/communities as “theologian.” After the half hour presentations seminar participants will critique the presentation and give ideas and suggestions for further reading and revising. At the end the writer will give final comments. The writer will continue to revise the text until handing in a Final Paper of 4,000 words at the end of the seminar. The best papers will be posted on the SCCs Website https://www.smallchristiancommunities.org

Method or Process:

1.      Presentation: 30 minutes.

2.      In-depth and intensive Feedback/Comments/Suggestions/Critique/Discussion: Oral and later written comments, if possible. 20 minutes.

3.      Further reading, research and revision on paper. Incorporating additional ideas in the course of the seminar.

4.      Final Paper at the end of the semester.

5.      Marking System: 

25 %: Presentation

50 %: Final paper

75%:  Final Mark

Rev. Joseph Healey, MM

Maryknoll Society
P.O. Box 43058
00100 Nairobi, Kenya

Telkom Wireless: 057-2522977
Email: JGHealey@aol.com

TS48: “Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in Africa Today”