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ARUA DIOCESE WEBSITE>> THE CHURCH IN AFRICA
- SECOND SPECIAL ASSEMBLY OF BISHOPS - LINEAMENTA
SYNOD OF BISHOPS
SECOND SPECIAL ASSEMBLY OF AFRICAN BISHOPS
LINEAMANTA
The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and
Peace
INTRODUCTION
The next Synod is an opportunity for the Church in Africa but
Much of the success still depends on the participation and involvement
of ‘ spiritual movements’ , ‘living ecclesial
communities’ and laity . (Lineamenta, no.91)
1.2 - We have two years for the examination of the ‘Lineamenta’:
the content should be evaluated in such a way that everybody
feels deeply involved in its compilation. Laity, Missionaries
and Clergy should be involved. I am saying this in a theological
context of communion and ‘sensus fidelium’, more
than in a sociological context, as understood by democracy.
1.3 – In the first part we examine the place of Jesus
in the ecclesial work of a Synod. To the many and difficult
questions which the Church is going to face there is only one
answer. “The Church-Family of God in Africa holds that
the only solution is one Person: Jesus Christ! This is why she
invites her members to continue to hope in him, the only capable
of restoring Africa’s dignity and true freedom”
(no. 31). The Church cannot be separated from Christ, and vice
versa. The second part deals meanly with theological and spiritual
understanding of “the Church in Africa” in relation
to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace.
The Church in Africa in Service to: RECONCILIATION, JUSTICE
AND PEACE.
“You are the salt of the earth…You are the light
of the World (Mt 5:13-14).
(This is the content to deliberate upon)
1 – Second Special Assembly
of African Bishops
1.1 - Second means that there was a first. “Twelve years
ago, from 10 April to 8 May 1994, the First Special Assembly
for Africa of the Synod of Bishops was held on the topic:”
The Church in Africa and Her Evangelization Mission Towards
the Year 2000: ‘You shall be my witnesses (Acts 1:8)’
“The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Ecclesia
in Africa” (14 September 1995) gathered the results of
the Synod process as a whole… (Foreword).
1.2 – John Paul II, expressed his intention to convene
it on the 6 January 1989, so as to allow a sufficient period
of time to prepare for the Assembly. Maybe the novelty and inexperience
of such an important event in the Church of Africa did not utilise
all the necessary time for an accurate analysis, especially
at grass-roots level. Afterwards, in the document” Ecclesia
in Africa”, shortcomings were identified, which had to
do with some marginal points and lack of implementation, in
the life of the Church. In the meantime some of the stressed
social and political problems” have only worsened”
(Lineamenta, no.8).
To prevent new mistakes, it is necessary that each one of us
give the best possible support, according to his / her place
and role in the Community. No.91 of “Lineamenta”
speaks of involvement of “spiritual movements” and
“living ecclesial communities”: parishes, outstations
or Small Christian Communities.
We have two years for the examination of the ‘Lineamenta”:
the content should be evaluated in such a way that everybody
feels deeply involved in its compilation. Of course most of
the job rests on the clergy and missionaries. But also the laity
should be involved. I am saying this in a theological context
of communion and ‘sensus fidelium’ (the faith of
people), more than in a sociological context, as understood
by democracy.
2 – The Biblical Reference:
Mt 5: 13-14.
I wish to underline some aspects:
a) The Bible is the starting point of this Document. Let’s
read the full text: “You are the salt of the earth. But
if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is
no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled
underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain
cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under
a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp-stand, where it gives light
to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly
Father”.
b) The short text; rightly called the ‘Constitution of
the Kingdom’ since it comes immediately after the ‘Beatitudes’
has to be considered as its conclusion.
In other words, Christians encouraged by the witness from clergy
religious and missionaries; are salt and light of the world
in as much as they live according to the Beatitudes. Christ
says ‘If the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness
be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be
thrown out and trodden under foot by men’. ‘When
men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil
against you “If you are not ready for these things, you
have been chosen in vain. You will inevitably be abused but
it will do you no harm at all. Rather it will witness to your
constancy. If, however, through fear of abuse you fall away
from the zeal that benefits you, you are likely to have much
worse sufferings, to have a bad name with everyone, and to be
an object of contempt to all: that is what being trodden under
foot means”.
More or less the same is said about the light.
Everybody is convinced of the usefulness, or rather the necessity,
of salt and light in every day life. But its symbolic meaning
is also clear: “Like the yeast, salt and light that Jesus
spoke about, the kingdom must show itself in society and must
change people, neighbours, society and the world. It would therefore
be wrong to try to keep God or religion apart from public life
and the realm of politics. God’s kingdom is a power which
aims at transforming all things.
c) Reconciliation, Justice and Peace are expected to be the
fruits of the service of the Church to the World, which means
to be ‘salt and light; must be rooted in the practice
of the Beatitudes.
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