Kingdom Theology from an African Perspective

One of the best papers at the Society of Vineyard Scholars meeting last week was given by Harvey Kwiyani, the pastor of the Saint Paul Vineyard (St. Paul, MN).

Harvey is the son of a rural pastor in Malawi, Africa, who spent seven years as a missionary in Europe before coming to Luther Seminary for a PhD in Congregational Mission and Leadership.

The main thrust of his paper was that we need to start allowing our brothers and sisters in the global south to influence the way we approach theology and how we live our lives. For way too long, we – Christians in the West – have been self-focused, assuming that we have the best approaches to Christianity.

Today, however, this ethnocentric view is being challenged on many fronts. Just look at how the Anglican bishops from Africa and South America called the wayward bishops in American and Europe to task for breaking with the Scriptures.

I, for one, welcome this shift in thinking as I am deeply indebted to my brothers and sisters in Central and South America. They have blessed me and challenged me in so many ways – molding me into who I am.

Like the African proverb quoted by Harvey last week:

“I need you to be me and you need me to be you.”

Now to locate some English language books written by pastors and/or theologians from the global South…..  😕