Ethnicity and missional strategies within the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study and dissertation examines 'Ethnicity and missional strategies within the PresbyterianChurch of Nigeria. A historical study of the mission methods and an empirical study of currentmissionary practices in the church point to the need for a new missional identity of the church. Thismissional identity requires a reversal of and a change to missionary strategies that should result intoreconciliatory missiology.In the process of making this assessment of the Presbyterian mission in Nigeria, it was necessary to revisitthe missionary ecclesiologies that shaped and contributed to the present identity. Thus, theresearch focused on the missionary impact of the Church of Scotland, Presbyterian Church in Canada,Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Netherlands Reformed Church (NRC). Insights from thesehistorical excursions helped in determining not only the blessings that these ecclesiologies brought tobear on Nigerian Presbyterianism but also in discovering the burdens they brought on their trails,especially, regarding the seed of racism which was a precursor to the present ethnocentrism in the PCN.The second segment of this research was the empirical study of the current mission and work of thePCN. Using a focus group approach, sixteen leaders (8 Nigerians, 7 Canadians and 1 American) wereinterviewed through a structured questionnaire. The responses from these leaders were analysed in thispaper and details of the analysis applied in chapter 4. The assumption in the hypothesis that the bane ofcontemporary PCN mission is ethnocentrism was affirmed. This problem as the research showed, wascompounded by lack of adequate theological response both in the educational training and the liturgicalactivities of the church.Combining the historical data and the empirical research carried out, it was determined that the PCNneeds a new theological orientation that can move it from the present institutionalized mode to amissonal frame. It was shown that this process would require a new definition of mission and arediscovery of missional biblical metaphors that suit a conflict-ridden context of the Church as we haveit in Nigeria. Three important metaphors were selected: community, servant and messenger. Thesemetaphors formed the theological foundation for subsequent discussions on a missional frame which isthe focus of chapter five. Chapter six outlines the meaning of conflicts and the causes of conflicts in Nigeria arguing for areconciliatory missiology with a theologically-driven dialogue as its strategy. A theologically –drivendialogue is a strategy that, as is presented, enables the church to be God's counter-cultural agent in theworld, holding in tension the four cardinal points of obedience, critical contextualization, discernmentand the anticipation of Christ's return. It is argued that dialogue is a credible theological option throughwhich the PCN can engage in the process of true reconciliation in the Nigerian society – areconciliation which is based on the biblical cornerstones of truth, justice, peace and mercy. It is a taskand a challenge for reconciliatory missiology - a momentous task the PCN is called upon to pursue inthe 21st century.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University