Book: The Sacrifice of Africa: A Political Theology for Africa

Just published: Emmanuel Katongole, "The Sacrifice of Africa: A Political Theology for Africa" (Eerdmans, December 2010).

Publisher's description: "Modern Africa, scarred by its founding narratives of colonial oppression and nation-state politics, has been especially vulnerable to chaos, war, and corruption. Its people – mired within a seemingly endless cycle of violence, plunder, and poverty – have seen their resources exploited and their lives wantonly sacrificed time and again to the greed and ambition of oppressive regimes. In The Sacrifice of Africa Emmanuel Katongole confronts this painful legacy and shows how it continues to warp the imaginative landscape of African politics and society. He demonstrates the real potential of Christianity to interrupt and transform entrenched political imaginations and create a different story for Africa – a story of self-sacrificing love that values human dignity and 'dares to invent' a new and better future for all Africans. Compelling accounts of three African Christian leaders and their work – Bishop Paride Taban in Sudan, Angelina Atyam in Uganda, and Maggy Barankitse in Burundi – cap off Katongole's inspiring vision of hope for Africa."

www.eerdmans.com/shop/product.asp?p_key=9780802862686

Endorsements: "Drawn from the wells of Emmanuel Katongole's faith and faith on the ground, The Sacrifice of Africa is a work of singular importance and power. Its insights and implications are prophetic and compelling. One of the most visionary theologians of our day, Katongole helps the whole church see itself in a new way. This is the theology we need – and indeed must have." (Mark R. Gornik, City Seminary of New York)

"Sometimes churches are the only viable, if inadequate, social institutions left to shoulder the burden of society. [...] The demands of the moment require the sacrifice of the churches on behalf of Africa's long-suffering peoples. This book is a valuable installment in that cause." (Lamin Sanneh, Yale)

Ugandan-born Emmanuel Katongole is Associate Professor of Theology and World Christianity at Duke University and a priest in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala.

Book: Political Spiritualities: The Pentecostal Revolution in Nigeria

Ruth Marshall, "Political Spiritualities: The Pentecostal Revolution in Nigeria" (University of Chicago Press, June 2009):

www.press.uchicago.edu/presssite/metadata.epl?mode=synopsis&bookkey=6161614

Publisher's description: "After an explosion of conversions to Pentecostalism over the past three decades, tens of millions of Nigerians now claim that 'Jesus is the answer.' But if Jesus is the answer, what is the question? What led to the movement's dramatic rise and how can we make sense of its social and political significance? In this ambitiously interdisciplinary study, Ruth Marshall draws on years of fieldwork and grapples with a host of important thinkers – including Foucault, Agamben, Arendt, and Benjamin – to answer these questions. To account for the movement's success, Marshall explores how Pentecostalism presents the experience of being born again as a chance for Nigerians to realize the promises of political and religious salvation made during the colonial and postcolonial eras. Her astute analysis of this religious trend sheds light on Nigeria's contemporary politics, postcolonial statecraft, and the everyday struggles of ordinary citizens coping with poverty, corruption, and inequality. Pentecostalism's rise is truly global, and Political Spiritualities persuasively argues that Nigeria is a key case in this phenomenon while calling for new ways of thinking about the place of religion in contemporary politics."

The book includes a section on "Born-Again Political Theology".

Reviews: "This is one of the most original works in the social sciences that I've read in several years. Much more than a simple monograph that will be vital for an understanding of religious and political life in Nigeria, this book addresses all those interested in the significance of contemporary religious phenomena. Through her energetic prose, exceptional fieldwork, and clear mastery of the theoretical and ethnographic literature, Marshall offers a new perspective on religious action and social and political transformations in sub-Saharan Africa, while also making a major contribution to the historical and comparative study of religion." (Jean-François Bayart, French National Center for Scientific Research/Sciences Po Paris)

"Stunningly creative, this book breaks new ground and yields a strong new approach to questions about the politics of faith in our post-secular age. In a rare combination of theoretical clarity and historical and anthropological concreteness, Ruth Marshall succeeds in rendering politically fruitful the critique of religion while taking ever more seriously religion itself as a critique of the political in our times." (Achille Mbembe, University of the Witwatersrand/Duke University)

Ruth Marshall is Assistant Professor in the Department and Centre for the Study of Religion and the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto.

CONF: Political Theology, Pastoral Politics and Leadership

Bilingual Conference "Political Theology, Pastoral Politics and Leadership / La théologie politique, le pastoral politique et le leadership en Afrique" of the Christian organization African Operation (OPERAF), in Pretoria, South Africa, 1-15 October 2010

www.ao-operaf.com/conference2010.html

According to their website, OPERAF works "towards transforming leadership in Africa to equip and to mobilise leaders to improve the wellbeing of the citizens of their respective countries and also the wellbeing of all Africa". Unfortunately, I cannot find any other information about this organization.

They invite the following participants: "Pastors who have politicians and decision makers in their congregation [and/or are] spiritual counsellors of politicians (presidents of the countries, ministers and other decision makers[) and] want to influence the politicians; [l]eaders of the denominations ([b]ishops, general secretaries, moderators etc.); [t]he professors of theological institutions; [also pastors who have themselves] engagement in politics". The expected 100 participants from fifty African countries and the Diaspora will be discussing the question: "After 50 years of African independence, what have spiritual leaders done and what do they have to do in the next 10 years with regards to political leaders?"

"The conference is organized as an open discussion forum and provides scope for participants to explore the subject in [depth]. [After] presentations by acclaim[ed] experts in different field[s] of theology and politics during the first days of the conference, participants will be divided into groups to work out the core issues from the focus points of [the] conference.

"The conference will also provide various opportunities to engage participants in sharing experiences and articulating different perspectives of Christians in politics and transformation of Africa.

"It will [include] round table panel discussions and break-out sessions, interactive dialogue and workshops. The prophetic voices in Africa and other spiritual leaders in politics will share their experiences. It will be the time for [s]cholars, experts, strategists and practitioners [to] learn, strategise and make plan[s] together".

Visits to Soweto, the South African Presidency, ministries, and other places of interest are also planned.

For two weeks accommodation, food, transport in South Africa, conference materials and documents, they charge $1000. Travel to South Africa and visa fees "are the responsibility of the participant, their church or organisation".

I would like to trust that the bad English of the website and conference announcement is due to the fact that OPERAF mainly operates in French-speaking parts of Africa, but the French version appears to be just as faulty. They promise: "We have one year to prepare this great meeting", but you will want to proceed with caution.

If you are interested to participate, please complete and submit the enquiry form on their website.

Postcolonial Theology Network on Facebook

A "Postcolonial Theology Network", also interested in political theology, has formed on the social networking site Facebook:

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23694574926

The self-description of the group: "The Postcolonial Theology Network (PTN) is committed to encouraging postcolonial theological research and activism. In May 2008 the Lincoln Theological Institute at the University of Manchester gathered an international group of scholars to address questions associated with 'Church, [I]dentity(ies) and Postcolonialism'. From that conference, the first of its kind in Britain, the PTN emerged.

"The PTN exists to bring together and resource all persons especially scholars, activists and pastors who seek to identify, examine, and critique the role of the colonial in theologies. Since our initial May 2008 PTN meeting the postcolonial has been addressed by our members around the world broadly focused on colonialism, empire, imperialism and neo-colonialism by Latin@/Hispanic, Native American, First Nation, indigenous, feminist, black, evangelical and queer PTN members.

"The PTN is also broadly inter-disciplinary within theology drawing scholars in biblical studies, political theology, ecclesiology, Christology, hermeneutics and pastoral studies and seeks to expand further by your interests. [...] To define the postcolonial is colonial. Colonialism touches upon all aspects of life, culture and politics inviting multi-lens theological considerations.

"The PTN is not like any other Facebook group. The PTN is not organized along the conventional obscurity of research questions that have little impact on the world but on a few scholars in the same field. The PTN is organized around the urgency of a social movement through on and off-line networking. PTN is actively seeking to decolonize research cultures" by measures such as "networking scholars across geographies, faiths and disciplines"; "connecting theorists with theologians breaking secular-sacred ideological divides"; "fostering on-line, open access publishing in addition to traditional research media"; "linking centers of scholarship around the world"; "embodying postcolonial research into activism and activism into research – real change for people".