In 1984, Bishop Emilio J.M. de Carvalho of Angola and Bishop Arthur F.
Kulah of Liberia challenged both the General Board of Higher Education
and Ministry (GBHEM) and General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) to
think about the education needs in Africa. A year later, the GBGM, through
the Africa Church Growth and Development Committee, sponsored a consultation
on theological education on the continent of Africa,
held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in August 1985. The urgent need for theological
education at the tertiary level then became priority number one in the
process of establishing a university on the continent. This university
was to be, according to the planners, international in its design and
ecumenical in its spirit.
The original plan presented to the 1988 General Conference of the United
Methodist Church was to start the new University with the Faculty of Theology
in March 1990. However, it was only in March 1992 that the first class
was open to nine Bachelor of Divinity degree candidates, under the leadership
of the founding dean, Dr. David K. Yemba. In fact, the Faculty of Theology
and the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources are the two founding
Faculties of Africa University. Through its degree and continuing education
programmes the Faculty of Theology extends its community of learning.
It prepares candidates for degrees and participates in continuing education
programmes to increase their knowledge and skills for theological scholarship
and the practice of their vocations and Christian ministries.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Faculty of Theology of Africa University is a community of learning
whose purpose is to educate women and men to be pastors and teachers of
the Christian Gospel for the churches of Africa. The Faculty is committed
to excellence in teaching and research where an understanding of the Bible’s
transforming and prophetic message is central. Students gain knowledge
and understanding of God’s mission in today’s Africa and the
world. Generations of teachers are prepared to teach church leaders across
the continent through pastors’ schools, continuing education programmes,
and e-learning courses. The Faculty of Theology, related through the University
to the United Methodist Church, welcomes to its community persons of other
churches, celebrating unity in Christ through theological study. The mission
of the Faculty is to prepare women and men to be “servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God” (I Corinthians 4:1) for the
work of the Church of Jesus Christ.
OBJECTIVES
The goals and objectives of the Faculty are:
to provide well-trained Christian leadership for the life of the
church;
to provide well-trained faculty for African seminaries and Bible
training schools;
to provide Christian leadership for theological education by extension
and
continuing education in collaboration with African theological institutions
and
the churches;
to facilitate research and promote dialogue and publication concerning
authentic
African theology and methodology;
and to
stimulate collaboration among existing theological institutions within
the
continent of Africa.
To assist the community in training in religious studies.
Contact
Us:
Africa University,
Off Nyanga Road, Fairview Road, P. O Box 1320 Old Mutare, Mutare, Zimbabwe
Tel No: +263 - 2060026/60075 | Fax No: +263 - 2061785
Email: info@africau.ac.zw
