2007 saw two important international theological symposia, both organized in cooperation with the Africa Desk of the Institute of Missiology. The first one commemorated „Des prêtres noirs s’interrogent“  (Présence Africaine Paris 1956), published more than 50 years ago. Under the auspices of the theological faculty of the Université Catholique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (UCAO), Abidjan, the three francophone theological faculties (of Abidjan, Kinshasa und Yaoundé) invited about 50 scientists and scholars from February 12^th to 17^th in order to take stock of 50 years African Theology and of future perspectives. Their main issue was "Évangélisatioin, théologie et salut en Afrique". The symposium, at the same time enabling different generations of African theologians to encounter each other, showed that, in view of the many transformation processes in African countries, African Theology is facing great challenges of creating more just and equitable societies. 

Hence, it is not amazing that the second international symposium was entitled „Theology and societies": The 25^thTheological Week of Kinshasa (April 22^ndto 27^th, 2007) marked the 50^thanniversary of the Theological Faculty of Kinshasa. I was given the opportunity to present the results of my research on the „The Pastoral Renewal of Cardinal Malula (Kinshasa)“. With a number of programmes of the "Éducation Civique", the Church of the DR Congo has set out for an active participation in social transformation processes. Theology is challenged to critically promote and support this process. 

Another focus of the Africa Desk was the conceptual planning and implementation of two research projects. In cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) there will be a research project on „Caring and sharing. How does HIV/AIDS affect the way of being Church in Eastern Africa?“. The aim is to evaluate previous endeavours of the local churches in the AMECA countries by means of country studies and to elaborate on transversal challenges of the AIDS pandemic for future theological reflections and formation. The research assignments are done, and in April 2008 a symposium will discuss the issues at hand. It is planned to publish a handbook for the AMECEA bishops.

In cooperation with Dr. Hadwig Müller (MWI) and the collaboration partners Prof. Feiter (Münster) und Prof. Mette (Dortmund) a research project on community development ("The plural reality of community") has been launched and concretized in 2007. By means of questionnaires, opinion polls and group interviews in different parish communities we collected data on the creative capability and commitment of voluntary parish workers. The methodical procedure has been specified in a first evaluation which allows the research hypothesis that, without dirigistic regulations and interventions, in many places living faith communities are able to live their faith, achieve communion with each other and establish fruitful exchange relationships with the surrounding society. In 2008 further parish communities will be involved in this project. 

Partner Institutions

The participation in the two international conferences has deepened the relationship with the UCAO in Abidjan and the Facultés Catholiques de Kinshasa(F.C.K.) in Kinshasa. Follow-up projects with both institutions are planned. In Abidjan a „Centre de recherche interculturelle“ will be established. In collaboration with the Africa Desk of the Institute of Missiology a symposium on „Les Communautés ecclésiales vivantes de base et l’éducation civique“will take place in Kinshasa in April 2008. On my journey to Nairobi (elaboration of the HIV/AIDS project) the cooperation with the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) could be intensified.

Further cooperation partners are the KU Leuven, where I will be co-mentoring a student's dissertation in theology, and the Institute Lumen Vitae, in Brussels, where I will teach on „Basic Communities in Africa" in 2008. 

February 2007 

Dr. Marco Moerschbacher