Sacrum Testamentum

Vol. 1:

Black Reflections on Christian Studies​

 

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Introduction

 

 

1. The Necessity of Reflections on the Christian Faith from Black/African Perspectives 
   (a) Rev. Prof. Augustine Chingwala Musopole, Ph.D. (Presbyterian) (Associate Professor emeritus, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan)
   (b) Professor Francis Machingura (Chairperson, Curriculum &Arts Education Department, University of Zimbabwe, Faculty of Education, Harare, Zimbabwe) (fmachingura@yahoo.com) 
    

2. Modernity, the Normative Gaze, and the Black Embrace of Christianity
   Dr. Clarence Sholé Johnson (Professor of Philosophy, Middle Tennessee State University, USA) (received) (clarence.johnson@mtsu.edu)
   
    

3. God of the Oppressed: The Utility of Black/African Humanity in Fulfilling the Divine Purpose 
   Rev. Hundzukani Portia Khosa-Nkatine (United Presbyterian Church in South Africa) (Ph.D. student, Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa, and Junior Lecturer in Practical Theology, University of South Africa) (hundzukhosa@gmail.com)
   
   
   Theology and Critical Studies Section
    

4. The Role of Self Deception in Committing Human Atrocities and Acts of Racial Violence 
   (a) Dr. Oluwatomisin Oredein (Presbyterian) (Visiting Assistant Professor of Christian Theology and Ethics, Memphis Theological Seminary, USA) (received) (ooredein@memphisseminary.edu)
   (b) Dr. Viviette L. Allen, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of Psychology  Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC, USA)
    

5. The Shortcomings of Secular and Christian Ethical Theories with Regard to Race and Social Justice Issues
   Dr. Teresa Smallwood JD, PhD (Disciples of Christ) (Associate Director of Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative, Vanderbilt Divinity School, USA) (received) (teresa.l.smallwood@vanderbilt.edu)
    

6. The Contribution of Martin Luther King Jr. to the Field of Christian Theological Ethics 
   Dr. Luther D. Ivory (Presbyterian) (Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Rhodes College, USA) (Yes) (ivory@rhodes.edu)
    

7. Theologies of Redemptive Suffering in the African American Religious Tradition
   Dr. Nathaniel Holmes Jr. (Baptist) (Masters of Theological Studies, Christian Theological Seminary and a Ph.D., Practical Theology, St. Thomas University, Miami, FL) (Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Florida Memorial University, USA; Associate Pastor of Christian Education, New Birth Baptist Church. His research interests include interfaith dialogue, the theology of Paul Tillich, and the philosophy of Charles Peirce) (Yes, June 30, 2018) (nholmesjr@yahoo.com)
    

8. Black Pastoral Theology: Oppression and the Black Christian Struggle for Liberation 
   Dr. Chevette Scott Alston, B.A., B.A., M.Ed., N.C.C., L.P.C., Psy.D. (M.Div. student, Regent Divinity School, USA) (Pentecostal) (Adjunct Psychology Instructor, Regent University, USA; Director, Clinical Psychologist, Esiri Ministries, Virginia, USA) (received) (esiri@outlook.com)
    

9. African Contributions to the Field of Pastoral Theology
   Dr. Brigitte Seyram Amenyedzi (Global Evangelical Church, Ghana) (Ph.D., Missiology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa) (Adjunct Faculty of Theology, South African Theological Seminary) (received) (seyram@sats.edu.za; bsamenyedzi@outlook.com)
    

10. The  Contribution of Howard Thurman to the Tradition of Christian Spirituality
    Dr. Mozella Mitchell (African Methodist Episcopal Zion) (Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, University of South Florida, USA) (received) (mmitchel@cas.usf.edu)
     

11. Western Christianity’s Legacy of Empire and the Necessity of  Postcolonial Theologies  
    (a) Dr. Emmanuel Twesigye (Anglican Church of Uganda) (Aden S. and Mollie Wollam Benedicts Professor of Christian Studies, Ohio Wesleyan University, USA) (received) (ektwesig@owu.edu) 
    (b) Ilesanmi G. Ajibola (Roman Catholic) (Ph.D. in Religious Philosophy, West Africa Christian University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria; Ph.D. student, Systematic Theology,  Duquesne University, USA) (Yes) (gabajibola@gmail.com)
     

12. Theology and the Critique of Idolatry in the work of James Baldwin 
    Rev. Dr. David Isiorho (Research Scholar and PhD Supervisor, The Queens Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, UK) (david.isiorho@outlook.com)
     

13. A Christian Ethic of Power: An African Protestant Perspective
    Dr. Leepo Modise (Reformed) (Associate Professor and Discipline Leader of Systematic Theology, University of South Africa) (received) (modislj@unisa.ac.za)
     

14. A Christian Ethic of Power: A Roman Catholic Perspective 
    Dr. Carmichael Peters (Roman Catholic) (Associate Professor, Director, Honors Program, Chapman College, USA) (Yes, August, 2018) (cpeters@chapman.edu)
     

15. The Relationship between Social Justice, Gender Justice and the Gospel of Jesus Christ: An African Perspective 
    Itohan Mercy Idumwonyi (Pentecostal) (Ph.D., Religious Studies (in view in 2018), Rice University, USA) (Lecturer in Religion with  specialization in Old Testament Studies, University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria) (Yes, June 30, 2018) (Itohan.M.Idumwonyi@rice.edu; fessyito@yahoo.co.nz)   
     

16. Christian Theologies of Grace and their Opposition to the Cultural Norms of Capitalist Societies 
    Dr. Tersur Aben (Reformed tradition) (Professor of Systematic/Philosophical Theology, Theological College of Northern Nigeria) (Yes) (vnstaben@hotmail.com)
     

17. The Social Dimension of the Doctrine of Justification by Faith: An African Perspective 
    Dr. Simon Muwowo (United Church of Zambia/United Church of Canada) (Ph.D., Dogmatics and Christian Ethics, University of Pretoria, South Africa) (Yes) (smuwowo2002@yahoo.com)
     

18. The Contribution of an African Concept of Personhood to the Christian Doctrine of Imago Dei 
    Dr. David Kirwa Tarus (Baptist) (Ph.D., Christian Theology, McMaster Divinity College, Ontario, Canada) (Lecturer in Theology and Coordinator, Scott Theological College Eldoret Campus, Kenya) (Yes) (davidtarus3@gmail.com)
     

19.  An African Reflection on Protestant and Cappadocian Ecclesiologies 
    Father Dr. Daniel Ude Asue (Roman Catholic) (M.Sc. in Gender Studies, M.Ed. in Educational and Counselling Psychology, MA in Theology in the fields of Church History and Polity, and a Ph.D. in Practical Theology from St. Thomas University, Miami, Florida, USA. He is currently doing ministry with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, and is on active duty with the USA Army) (asue1ng@yahoo.com) 
     

20. African Contributions to Roman Catholic Theology
    Dr. Emeka Xris Obiezu, OSA (Roman Catholic) (Ph.D., Theology, University of St. Michael's College, Toronto, Canada) (Permanent Representative of the Order of St. Augustine's NGO at the United Nations) (Yes) (augustiniansint@gmail.com; emeka@augustinians-un.org)
     

21. Black Identity Re-Construction as Healing work of Grace  
    Rev’d Dr. Carlton John Turner (Anglican Church of the Bahamas & Church of England Diocese of Lichfield) (Ph.D., Contextual Theology; Major: Caribbean Theology, Queens Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education,  University of Gloucestershire, UK) (Yes) (carltonturner07@hotmail.com)
     

22. Psycho-Spiritual Considerations in Addressing the Needs of the Children of the Transatlantic Slave Trade 
    Rev. Dr. Melinda Contreras-Byrd, (M.Div., Princeton Seminary, Psy.D., Rutgers) (African Methodist Episcopal) (Adjunct Professor, D.Min. Program, Drew Theological School, Drew University, USA) (Yes) (balpresearch2013@gmail.com)|
     

23. Liberative Inculturation: Making Christianity Relevant in Urban Contexts 
    Rev. Dr. Jacqueline J. Lewis (Reformed tradition) (Senior Minister, Middle Collegiate Church in New York City and Executive Director of The Middle Project, USA) (Yes) (jlewis@middlechurch.org; ematlach@middlechurch.org)
    
    Biblical Studies Section
     

24. Biblical Revelation and Human Epistemological Limitations (Why do  we necessarily err in our understanding of God)
    Dr. Olive J. Hemmings (Seventh-day Adventist) (Professor of Religion, Washington Adventist University, USA) (Yes) (ohemming@wau.edu)
     

25. Literalist and Fundamentalist Biblical Interpretation as Obstacle to Divine Liberation
    Dr. Alexander G. K. Salakpi (Roman Catholic Church of Ghana) (Ph.D.  (Biblical Studies), Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. USA) (Lecturer in Biblical Studies, University of Ghana) (asalakpi@ug.edu.gh)r in Biblical Studies, University of Ghana) (asalakpi@ug.edu.gh)
     

26. Progressive Revelation: Revised Learning Process in Scripture 
    (a)    Dr. Hassan Musa (ECWA) (Ph.D. (2018), Old Testament, Stellenbosch University South Africa) (received) (musahass735@gmail.com)
    (b)    Dr. Alphonetta Beth Terry Wines (United Methodist) (Ph.D. in Biblical Interpretation, Brite Divinity School - Texas Christian University, Fort Worth Texas, USA) (Yes) (alphonetta_wines@yahoo.com)
     

27. The Misuse-Overuse of Scripture in Conservative Evangelicalism
    Dr. Augustine Chingwala Musopole (Presbyterian) (Ph.D. Systematic Theology, Union Theological Seminary in New York City, USA) (Deceased)
     

28. The Old Testament as Resource for Progressive Ethics: An African  Perspective
    Dr. Mark S. Aidoo (The Methodist Church Ghana) (Senior Lecturer in Old Testament and Director of Graduate Programmes, Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Ghana) (Yes) (macsaidoo@gmail.com)
     

29. The Hermeneutics of 2nd Temple Judaism as Justification for Liberating, Christological  Exegesis in the Modern Church
    Febbie C. Dickerson (United Churches Worldwide Fellowship) (Ph.D. student, New Testament, Vanderbilt Divinity School, USA) (Yes) (febbie.c.dickerson@vanderbilt.edu; fcdickerson@gmail.com)
     

30. African Biblical Hermeneutics: A Liberative Reading of the Old Testament Canon
    Dr. Madipoane Masenya (International Assemblies of God Church in South Africa) (Former Chair of the Department of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies (2006-2011) and Professor of Old Testament Studies,  University of South Africa) (Yes) (masenmj@unisa.ac.za)
     

31. African Biblical Hermeneutics: A Liberative Reading of the New Testament Canon
    Tapiwa Huggins Gusha  (Anglican Church of Zimbabwe) (Ph.D., student, New Testament, Stellenbosch University, SA) (Yes) (tapiwahugginsgsh3@gmail.com)
     

32. The God of Kindness: Jesus Christ as the Manifestations of Divine Grace and Compassion in the Synoptic Gospels: An African Perspective
    Godwin Etukumana (Evangelical Church Winning All) (Ph.D. student, New Testament, Stellenbosch University, South Africa) (Lecturer, ECWA Theological Seminary, Nigeria) (Yes) (gaetukumana@yahoo.com)
     

33. The Role of Honor & Shame in Fueling Religious/Tribal Violence in Africa: A New Testament Perspective
    Martin Munyao (Baptist) (Ph.D. student,  Missiology, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, USA) (Yes) (martin.munyao@ctsfw.edu)
     

34. Paul’s Gospel and its Implications for Racial Reconciliation: A Womanist Perspective
    (a) Dr. Angela N. Parker (Baptist) (Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies, Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, USA; Adjunct Faculty, Catholic Theological Union, USA) (received) (anp22fab@gmail.com)
    (b) Dr. Ruth Oluwakemi Oke (Department of Christian Religious Studies, Feeral College of Education, Abeokuta, Nigeria) (ruthoke09@yahoo.com)
     

35. Paul’s Gospel and its Implications for Racial Reconciliation
    Sr. Dr. Teresa Okure, SHCJ (Roman Catholic) (Professor of New Testament and Gender Hermeneutics; First Scholar-In-Residence, Catholic Institute of West Africa - CIWA) (Yes) (tokure@shcj.org; tokureshcj@yahoo.co.uk)
     

36. Racism and the Biblical Narrative: Is the Election of Israel and Jesus’ Mission to the Jews a Discriminatory Narrative Against Gentiles
    Dr. Zorodzai Dube (D.Phil., M.Phil., University of Oslo, Norway) (Baptist) (Post-doctoral Fellow of the Vice-chancellor of the University of Pretoria, South Africa) (Yes) (zorodube@yahoo.com)
     

37. The Significance of the Poor and Marginalized in the Kerygma of Luke-Acts
    Dr. Emmanuel Nlenanya Chinwokwu (Presbyterian Church of Nigeria) (Professor of New Testament Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria) (received) (nlenanyac@yahoo.com)
     

38. Disturbing Divine Behavior: Troubling Old Testament Images of God: An African Reflection
    Dr.  Ignatius M. C. Obinwa (Roman Catholic) (Professor of Old Testament, Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Associate Professor in Old Testament, Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät, Universität Augsburg, Germany) (Yes) (obinwaig@yahoo.co.uk)
     

39. Hope in the Midst of Suffering: An African Reflection from the Hebrew Bible
    Dr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi (Ph.D., Sheffield) (Baptist) (Senior Lecturer of Biblical Studies, Ghana Baptist University College) (Yes) (yawag156@gmail.com)
     

40. The Book of Job and the Problem of Suffering: An African Reflection
    Isheanesu Sextus Gusha (Anglican Church of Zimbabwe) (Ph.D. student, New Testament, University of Pretoria, South Africa) (Yes) (ishegusha2@gmail.com)
     

41. The Use of Old Testament Wisdom Literature in Practical Life: An African Reflection
    Rev. Dr. Philip Asura Nggada (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) (Lecturer in Old Testament, Faculty of Arts, Department of Religion & Philosophy, University of Jos, Nigeria) (Yes) (asuraphilip@yahoo.co)zzz