One of the distinctives that Africa has to offer the world is the recognition that community is not something we build, or a convenient collection of individuals, but is a fundamental component of a complete human life. I am an individual but I am not just an individual. As an African initiative it is an integral part of the CPCHEA mission to nurture communal life in the field of higher education. The following are some of the activities through which we have been aiming to do this.
Global conference in Nicaragua
The 2005 Nairobi conference was followed by IAPCHE’s (International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education) Global conference in Nicaragua in 2006, whose theme was, Christian Higher Education in Global Context: Implications for Curriculum, Administration and Pedagogy: By this time CPCHEA had been officially recognised as IAPCHE’s African regional council.
The African delegates at the Nicaragua Conference agreed that both Isaac Mutua (CPCHEA’s Executive Director) and Nick Lantinga (IAPCHE’s Executive Director) pay lightning visits to all the regions of Africa (West, Central, East and Southern regions). The trip’s goal was to make members understand the working relationship between these organizations and strategise ways of making CPCHEA/IAPCHE to penetrate the different regions of Africa. The following is the report of this African regional visits and consultations:
West Africa Consultation— Ghana—Accra From 9th – 13th Oct, 2007
On 10th Oct. 2007, we had a consultative meeting at Trinity Theological College (TTC), in Ghana—Accra. We also visited other colleges such as Ghana Christian University (GCU), Agape Bible College (ABC) and managed to meet top leaders of Shalom Victory Bible College and Good News Theological College and Seminary (GNTCS). The key figures that we interacted with included Dr. Cyril G.K. Fayose (President TTC), Dr. Manuel Budu Adjei ( President GCU), Dr. Yaw Takyi (Principal ABC) and Rev. Dr. Thomas Oduro ( Principal GNTCS), not forgetting our host George Lavien, a Liberian who works with the Africa Young Life Outreach Ministry. These people promised to assist CPCHEA/IAPCHE to establish a strong network in the region.
West Africa Consultation—Nigeria 15 Oct, 2007
On 15th Oct. 2007, we had our consultation at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN). Here we connected with Profs. Musa, Gaiya from the University of Jos, Musa Mambula (Provost TCNN), Adrian and Wendy Helleman, (IICS, Professors at Uni. Jos), Albert Tshibangu (CPCHEA Council Member), Gideon Para Mallam, from IFES
We also visited the University of Nigeria in Jos ( UniJos), particularly the Department for Teaching Religious Knowledge (TRK), in which three of our members, Profs. Wendy and Adrian Hellemans, Musa Gaiya taught. Here we met Prof. Omar Danfulani, the chair of the Department as well as a couple other members of the department. We explained our purpose and it became clear that the members would greatly desire a nationwide consultation on CHE in order to take up the question of teaching from an intrinsically Christian perspective. We discussed our international and regional organization and encouraged those present to join as individual members.
From there we visited the Jos ECWA Theological School (ECWA stands for the Evangelical Church of West Africa). On the way Isaac wondered if we would be able to meet Prof. Yusufu Turaki, one of the founders of CPCHEA. As Prof. Musa Mambula opened the door Isaac was astonished to meet Prof. Yusuf Turaki himself. We joined both Turaki, who served as a previous President of JETS for a review of Jets history. They currently enrol 400 students with a very strong African faculty (12 PhDs) and some missionary faculty (3 US, 2 UK, 1 Korean, and 1 German). They currently work with Overseas Council International (in Indianapolis) and John Stott Ministries.
From here we moved to Bingham University where Felix I. Anjorin and S.S. Sule introduced the vision for Bingham University. Its temporary campus was located on the JETS compound as they sought to establish their new campus outside of Abuja. Bingham, “wholly owned and operated by the Evangelical Church of West Africa,” secured its government charter in 2005 and began classes in May of 2006. They seek to provide a thoroughly Christian curriculum across the three faculties of science and technology, humanities and social sciences, and medicine. Their enrolment by then was 270 students. Like many other new colleges, Bingham remains strapped for resources. Their need included; books and computers, video conferencing equipment, and lecturers in mass communication, computer science, and medicine. We promised to network them with Theological Book Network and other supporting organizations
During our stay in Nigeria we spoke with Tim Palmer regarding possible future conferencing in West Africa. He suggested three key persons that could significantly advance CHE networking: Profs. T. Aben (TCNN), Y. Turaki (JETS), and J. Ilori (Northern Nigeria Baptist Seminary). We are networking with them.
Some participants at Northern Nigeria consultation (above)
CPCHEA Director at the Byang Kato Research Library, named in honour of a Nigerian scholar and leader who served the whole of Africa (bekiw)
East African consultation — Nairobi Kenya 23rd. Oct. 2007
This was hosted by Daystar University, several institutions were represented, namely Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST), Pan-Africa Christian University (PACU), Catholic University, Africa Nazarene University (ANU), Uganda Christian University (UCU). Here we met the following important personalities from the region; Dr. Mike Kuria, Dr. Bernard Boyo, Prof. Faith Nguru, Dr. James Kombo, Dr. Peter Mageto, Prof. Godfrey Nguru, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joesph Wesonga, Prof. Leah Marangu, Dr. John Ochola, Rev. Dr. Canon John Kateeba Tumwine, Bishop Murpus among others.
Central themes of our consultation included:
1.Need to define African scholarship on its own terms and particularly the need to recognize the colonial heritage and then formulate a way forward
2.How to move forward with region-specific research and teaching
3.The need to embrace IT in the African scholarship in order to avoid the risk of being left behind.
4.The need to mentor young and upcoming scholars
Southern African Consultation—North West University Potchefstroom, Campus on 23rd. Oct.2007.
The consultation consisted of faculty from the NWU Potchefstroom Campus. Prof. Peter Potgieter welcomed all and Nick provided an address on the developments regarding CHE at the Global level. Prof. Bennie van der Walt gave a talk on “Reformational worldview and strategies for putting that across to young people.”
Our brainstorming session examined strategies to increase CPCHEA/ IAPCHE’s profile in the Southern region of Africa. The session concluded that evening with a dinner and address by Prof. Annette Combrink, Rector of NWU, Potchefstroom Campus. She talked on the current situation and future prospects regarding CHE at the NWU.
The Brainstorming session, concentrated on the following:
1.Looking at the Southern regional realities
2.Establishing possible measures to address these realities
3.Action plan
Membership and geographical distance
It was observed that members from this region are far from each other and rarely communicate or have personal contact; they often do not even know each other. There is no established data base. That is why such consultations are vital.
Strategy on curriculum
The strategy on curriculum called for a conferences on education. This conference was proposed for 2008. In this conference, participants would be sought from Christian teachers, theological colleges and churches. On the same, the Faculty of education (NWU Potch campus) was to be brought on board, others to be involved included ACSI etc.
The suggested conference themes were to revolve around the following suggested themes: how to train effective Christian teachers; integral Christian education; worldview and curriculum. This was to have three tracks:
Track 1- Training Christian teachers
Track 2- Designing curriculum for a worldview course at tertiary level.
Track 3- The position and role of Christian teachers/scholars at secular institutions.
Other important personalities that we met during this visit included; Profs. JJ Venter, BJ van der Walt, Derrick Mashau, Michael Heynes, George Lotter etc.
Follow-up from the 2007 Consultations
Southern Region On 26 – 28 August 2008
CPCHEA/IAPCHE hosted a conference at North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus on the theme: Raising The Flag Of Christian Education In Southern Africa. The Conference delegates represented three professional groups namely:
Christian Higher Education, specifically teacher training faculties;
Theological training and;
Christian schooling: Grades 1 – 12
Delegates came from South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Congo.
At the closing plenary, after agreeing on the salient topics addressed at this conference, each group presented their responses to the theme. These responses are summarised below and serve as the conference’s DECLARATION OF INTENT:
1. Christian Higher Education when and where possible will:
Do all possible to promote Christian teacher training & Christian curriculum development
Make an understanding of the Biblical narrative part of teacher training
Address Biblical anthropology, epistemology and axiology
Equip teachers to develop curriculum through integration of Biblical values and/or the development of new curriculum
Dialogue and lobby for a good relationship between State and CHE
Work cooperatively with others who are already developing.
Equip Christians who will work in State schools in matters relating to teaching techniques and legal matters
2. Theological training Institutions when and where possible will:
Be more widespread in their equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, i.e. not just pastorally focused in their equipping, but also include teacher training as part of their equipping responsibility
Promote a Kingdom vision for education above a narrow view of Church
Distinguish between Biblical and contemporary values
Address mentorship and theological studies for teachers
Define the role of the church
Address missional (reformational) theology: equipping the whole church for a cultural mandate
Use technology for access to translation
Allow the Holy Spirit to lead the Church
Train at grassroots for ministry
Teach against dualism
Research African Christology
Be contextually relevant
Issue a conference Declaration of Intent to Southern African Theological Institutions
3. Christian Schooling when and where possible will:
Bridge the gaps between CHE and schools through IAPCHE / CPCHEA & ACSI
Encourage teacher mentoring
Support conferences for church leaders
Encourage schools to initiate awareness of a Biblical worldview and training for teachers
Promote courses in how to integrate effectively
Provoke answering the question: What really is a Christian school?
Practice advocacy through various mechanisms / existing structures / partnerships
In addition to the above, IAPCHE and CPCHEA declare that
They will promote global partnerships for Africanisation not Africanism
They will serve as a prophetic voice for Christian education and will promote services that promote Christian schooling.
Eastern Region
On 23rd May, 2009, CPCHEA/IAPCHE had a one day workshop on theme, the University Teacher and Competing World views at the St. Augustine University in Tanzania (SAUT), hoping to demonstrate that a Christian world view can play a constructive role in a context where it has competition. The workshop had two sessions; the first one dealing with some operative worldviews, especially the Western or secular one dominant on many university campuses, as well as the African or traditional world view that continues to influence lecturers and students alike, and finally, the Christian or biblical world view that we encouraged lecturers to implement in their teaching environment. The second session was intended to encourage the teaching colleagues to teach from within this Christian world view. Both presentations were well received, as we heard from later reports.
Prof. Adrian and Wendy Helleman ( IICS, Professors at SAUT and members of CPCHEA/IAPCHE) helped in the facilitation of this. Rev. Dr. Charles Kitima, the Vice-Chancellor of SAUT, opened the workshop, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Academic of the university also attended. Rev. Dr. Aidan Msafiri (HOD) Julian Mugishagwe participated in the workshop. Prof. Bennie van der Walt book donation to the University was timely on the workshop theme.
After the workshop Isaac had a good time with the VC and the Deputy VC Academic affairs, he encouraged them to push for SAUT to be our institutional member. Most of those who attended accepted to be our individual members.
Dr. Aidan Msafiri will be requested to serve in the steering committee that is trying to oversee the possibility of the Integrated Learning/Faculty Enrichment Program for East Africa. So far we have a some representatives from Uganda and Kenya.
Participants in SAUT Workshop-
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On 3rd June 2009, Isaac was asked to speak at Scott Theological College Chapel where students and faculty members attended. A Keynote Presentation on the subject “How great is the darkness! The disaster of unhealthy world view” persuaded the faculty and students to become CPCHEA’s members. He exhorted them from Matt. 6:22-23.
Isaac appealed to the Scott Principal Rev. Dr. Jacob Kibor to consider Scott to be one of our Institutional member. He delegated the responsibility to the Deputy Principal of the Academic affairs.
Still on 3rd.June, 2009 while at Scott, we again had a conference call meeting that involved; Dan Button (UCU), Chip Kingsbury (CHEFDN, Daystar University), Isaac Mutua (CPCHEA), and Nick Lantinga (IAPCHE). Prof. Victor Cole (NEGST) apologised later for not attending the meeting. He promised to attend the coming meeting. This meeting was geared towards establishing a suitable approach towards the East African FEP.
So far we have received the input for the Integrated Learning/Faculty enrichment program from UCU, Daystar University and from International Council for Higher Education (ICHE). ICHE efforts on the African continent have been from two centres: NEGST and The Nigeria Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS).