Cameroonian Catholic Archbishop on How Synod on Synodality Evolved from Pastoral to “more academic, intellectual topic”

He said that along the way, he had noticed people move from discussions of inclusion and participation of every Christian in the life of the Church to “very fundamental theological discussions.”

Synodal conversations at present, he said, are theological in nature and “rise far above just the Christians and the Baptized participating in the life of the Church.”

“We started with participation, communion and mission, and these were just simple tools to get every baptized individual involved in the life and the governance of the Church,” the Archbishop of Bamenda, who also serves as President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) said.

“We are beginning to push down the three words that define synodality for us: participation, mission and communion. And we are beginning to move to more theological conversations,” the vocal Catholic Archbishop said, and expressed concern that the Synodal conversations are evolving in a way that “is taking us away from the more practical realm to the theoretical realm.”

The August 23 African palaver, which brought together African theologians, Clergy, women and men Religious, and Laity was organized under the theme, “Theological criteria and synodal methodologies as a basis for shared discernment of controversial doctrinal, pastoral and ethical issues.”

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Archbishop Nkea gave the theme's allocution, focusing on why Africa should speak with a clear voice on hot-button topics and controversial matters not only at the 2-29 October 2024 session in Rome but beyond. 

In a concept note that was shared with ACI Africa ahead of the August 23 palaver, organizers of the event said participants would “courageously address some of the contested moral issues that came up in the last two years since the synodal conversation began in Africa.”

The aim of the palavers has been to deepen the understanding of the Synthesis Report from the October 2023 session.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.