The IBIBIO concept of peace and its implications for preaching: a practical theological study within the AKWA Synod of the Presbyterian church of Nigeria

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The topic of this research is the Ibibio concept of peace and its implications for preaching: Apractical theological study within the Akwa Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria(PCN). Conflict and violence are phenomena that are common to every human society. Itwould not be an overstatement to say that conflicts, war and various forms of violence areclear indications of a lack of peace in any given society. Numerous studies have been done byscholars of peace and international relations as well as social anthropologists politicalscientists, etcetera on themes related to peace-making, peace negotiation, peace-building,conflict resolution, and conflict transformation, especially in terms of national andinternational peace. International organizations, various nations, non-governmentalorganizations, as well as faith-based organizations have invested so much in the way ofresources and energy in the search for peace, yet, the attainment of peace in our humansociety remains a mirage. On a daily basis, media reports indicate that, all over the world,violence is on the increase, sending thousands of innocent people to early graves.In Africa, the story is even worse. Different approaches towards achieving peace have failedto yield the needed positive peace. Yet, little or nothing has been done in terms of searchingfor peace within the indigenous African context. In other words, indigenous initiatives, ideasand approaches towards peace and peace-building have been ignored in the field ofscholarship. The question is: What could be the role of the Church, its theology as well as itspreaching towards the development of peace initiatives that are both theological andindigenous to the Ibibio people of Nigeria, given the volume of different forms of violentconflict that the people experience daily. This study is based on the assumption that, if theChurch critically examines indigenous Ibibio peace approaches, it may discover a missinglink that could make this become effective in preaching peace among the Ibibio people wholive in pain, hurts and poverty as a result of violence, thereby closing a gap in knowledge.Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine critically whether the PCN's Akwa Synod andits leaders do in fact understand the Ibibio concept of peace, or not, and what the Churchcould draw from indigenous peace initiatives in order to make its preaching, as well as itspeace-building practice, effective and relevant within the Ibibio social context.Indigenous Ibibio people, both Church and community leaders and lay members of threecongregations of the PCN's Akwa Synod were included as respondents. Using a mixed method approach, through a questionnaire, focus groups and individual interview; data underreview were obtained for the study. The interdisciplinary nature of this study informed theuse of both theoretical and methodological triangulation. The empirical findings of thisresearch reveal:Firstly, Ibibio people understand peace as the absence of violence.Secondly, the lack of peace has physical, psychological, economic, social, as well as politicalconsequences in people's lives which, basically, result in deaths, suffering, injustice, povertyand the human person's loss of dignity.Thirdly, justice and peace are significant elements for the well-being of society.Fourth, religiosity could influence the way the Ibibio people act and do things.Fifth, the leaders of the PCN's Akwa Synod do understand the Ibibio concept of peace, eventhough the Church is yet to articulate a standardized peace-building procedure and training ina detailed document. Yet members and leaders, being mostly Ibibio natives, know what theIbibio peace is all about.This study has offered suggestions on how the PCN could integrate indigenous peaceinitiatives in order to become more effective in preaching peace within the Ibibio context.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University