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ACTEA eNews #22 -- November 2004The mission of ACTEA is to promote quality evangelical theological education
in Africa by providing supporting services, facilitating academic recognition,
and fostering continental and inter-continental cooperation.
1. ACTEA Council appoints new AdministratorThe ACTEA Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev Joe Simfukwe as its new Administrator. Rev Simfukwe succeeds Dr Douglas Carew, who has recently been appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology. Rev Simfukwe also serves as Principal of the Theological College of Central Africa (TCCA), in Ndola, Zambia, a post he has held since 2001. His theological training was at Spurgeon's College (London) and Morling College (Australia), and he has had pastoral ministries on three continents: in UK, Zambia (Lusaka Baptist Church for over ten years), and Australia. Since the early 80's Rev Simfukwe has been involved in African leadership development and theological education, including contributions at TCCA and with ACTEA. He has served on three ACTEA Review Panels and two accreditation Visitation Teams, and was elected to the ACTEA Council in 2001. TCCA was first accredited by ACTEA in 1985 and continues to play an important role in ACTEA support and accreditation services under Rev Simfukwe's leadership. Rev Simfukwe can be contacted at: jmsimfukwe@zamtel.zm 2. Sudan seminary achieves candidacy for accreditationNile Theological Seminary (Khartoum, Sudan) has been granted candidacy for accreditation by ACTEA. NTC is Sudan's only theological college to be involved in the ACTEA accreditation process. NTC offers this brief self- description: "The motto of NTC is taken from the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, as found in Matthew 28:19 - "Go and make disciples." Our purpose is to train Sudanese Christian leaders in theological studies at the college level, in order that they may effectively serve and lead the church of Sudan, following the example Christ. NTC was founded in 1991 as a joint venture of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church and the Presbyterian Church of Sudan. Many of its students, however come from other churches as well, especially the Episcopal Church of Sudan. The College offers a four-year BA programme having both an English and Arabic track in Pastoral Studies and also Christian Education which prepares teachers of Christian religion to work in both government and church related schools. The first graduation took place in 1995, and graduations have been held every two years since. Although the programme of NTC is well in place, it is still a young institution and continues to improve itself. Given the difficult social and economic problems prevalent in Sudan, NTC continues to be largely dependent for financial support and qualified personnel from overseas, especially from the Presbyterian Church (USA). Nevertheless, the Board of Trustees is entirely Sudanese. Future challenges and goals for NTC include achieving an increase in funding support from the local churches in Sudan, an expansion of the facilities to include student housing, and development of a programme for training well-qualified Sudanese faculty for the College. NTC Principal, Thomas Maluit, can be contacted at: nilethc@mail.com 3. NEGST seeks Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic AffairsThe Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology, a continental interdenominational seminary that trains African Christian leaders in varied disciplines, is in the process of recruiting suitable persons and invites applications for the post of Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The DVCAA provides vision and administrative oversight to all the academic programmes of the school. Qualifications and competencies required of applicants:
For further information regarding this position, its terms and responsibilities, and making application, contact Njeri Ndiho at: Njeri.Ndiho@negst.edu 4. Profiling African students in theological doctoral programmesDr Rich Starcher (lecturer at the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) has published an article entitled, "African Students in Theological Doctoral Programs in Christian Institutions of Higher Learning". The article appears in the recent issue of "Christian Higher Education" journal. The journal provides the following abstract: "Over the years, thousands of students have left Africa to pursue theological doctorates in Christian institutions of higher learning around the world. The study reported in this paper endeavored to understand their experiences and articulate their needs and aspirations. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 23 African students and were analyzed using grounded theory procedures. The emerging profile revealed African students in pursuit of theological doctorates to be mature in age and experience with rich and variegated backgrounds. While a desire for increased competence, access to employment opportunities, and a greater voice in church and society were motivating factors in their educational quests, the dominant motivation expressed by research participants was a passion to help Africa and the African church. Students viewed increased competence and access as enhancing usefulness. Consequently, students preferred doctoral programs perceived as Africa-relevant and internationally credible. Nevertheless, they demonstrated a readiness to compromise the ideal in favor of the achievable, particularly in terms of program affordability." Dr Starcher has graciously agreed to provide a draft of the full text of the article for personal use by ACTEA eNews readers. The article will be sent as a file in .pdf format of about 80Kb in size attached to an email message. The article should not be reproduced or redistributed. Requests for a copy should be sent to Dr Starcher at: rich.starcher@negst.edu 5. Short-term teaching assistance in biblical studies offeredI am a second year at the London School of Theology considering a career in Bible college teaching and am looking for a summer placement of about 3-4 weeks to gain experience of this and another culture. I'd hope to see a Bible college from the inside and teach at least a few lectures or equivalent. I am available from the start of July to about 24th September 2005. Prior to LST I did post-graduate research in mathematics in Cambridge, then worked in the computer industry. I hence have academic experience and have led research seminars and undergraduate tutorials, although not lectured. However I have experience in presenting Christian material through youth-work teaching and preaching. I was on the I/II.1 borderline in my first year. My main interests are in biblical studies, so I could teach (at least parts of) a first-year Old or New Testament course, or also first year NT Greek. I am 33, a British national, and single. I only speak English fluently. I also don't cope with heat well, so need to avoid anywhere which is regularly over 30 degrees in the daytime. Colin Bell 6. Keeping up with Africa--Reviews of Recent BooksAnderson, Allan. African Reformation: African Initiated Christianity in the Twentieth Century. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 2001. 282 pp, pb, $25 Of contemporary literature available on the AIC phenomenon in African Christianity (whether the 'I' in 'AIC' is taken to stand for 'independent', 'indigenous', or 'initiated'), the vast bulk has related to particular movements or the range of movements in a single locale. Anderson has significantly helped the student of AICs by giving us a broad survey that includes a general overview of the movements, brief histories of selected examples from every corner of the continent, and discussion of lessons to be drawn from this segment of African Christianity for the church around the world. Anderson's own scholarly expertise, as well as twenty-four years association, has been with the Pentecostal varieties of independence found on the south of the continent, and he utilizes this background to advantage. The book is divided into three sections built on the primary thesis that "Africa has had a reformation of the Spirit that has revolutionized the face of Christianity." The first section introduces the reader to the terminology, typologies, concepts, and body of scholarship associated with the AICs. The second section gives brief historical introductions to numerous AICs across the continent, organised geographically, with an introductory chapter on the earliest movements and a final chapter on pentecostal and charismatic forms. The final section offers lessons drawn from the engagement of AICs and culture, the practical nature of theological convictions within AICs, and a more general discussion of reform and renewal in the African church as a whole. As a survey, the book is well-written and engaging. Refusing to fall into the reductionistic trap whether in terminology or analysis, Anderson walks a fine line between generalisation and particularity. Generalisation in this case would involve overstating the commonalities seen in AICs across the continent, whereas particularity would involve being so idiosyncratically focused that general conclusions are deemed impossible to draw. In sum, Anderson has compiled a significant body of research on an extraordinarily complex topic, boiled it down to a readable text, without compromising on the complexity of the movement. It should now serve as the primary text for any type of overview of the AICs, and it also contributes significantly in understanding African church growth and contemporary African Christian history. [Review supplied by "BookNotes for Africa", a specialist journal that offers 40+ such reviews per issue on recent Africa-related publications 40+ relevant for theological educators and libraries in Africa and overseas. The subscription rate within Africa is $8 for four issues (airmail); $12 to overseas addresses. Send inquiries and orders to: BookNotes for Africa, PO Box 250100, Ndola, Zambia, email: Stuebing@zamtel.zm] "This journal is readable, affordable and essential for effective Christian awareness in the African continent." Dr Scott Moreau, Editor of Evangelical Missions Quarterly ACTEA eNews is an e-mail forum for the periodic exchange of news, information, and resources on behalf of the Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA), ACTEA-related institutions and theological programmes, supporting organisations, and interested individuals. Please forward this message to others who might benefit from ACTEA eNews. Potential contributions to ACTEA eNews are welcome and may be sent to the editor at sbcunn@hisen.org. If you would prefer not to receive future editions of ACTEA eNews, you may unsubscribe by replying to this e-mail message, with "unsubscribe" in the subject area. If you received a forwarded copy of this message and would like to subscribe, contact ACTEA eNews at sbcunn@hisen.org stating preferred language (French or English). ACTEA is an agency of the Theological and Christian Education Commission of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa..
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