THE WORLD FORUM OF THEOLOGY AND LIBERATION (WFTL):
OUR THEOLOGICAL RE-CREATION

Nairobi Kenya
16th to the 19th of January 2007.

Wilbert Gobboby Wilbert Gobbo, M. Afr

 

INTRODUCTION
When I was a young kid my grand parents used to narrate many stories. I am going to narrate a short story of our 're-creation' in four days. The Second "World Forum of Theology and Liberation" (WFTL) was held in the 'mini-vatican' area of Nairobi town (in Kenya) at the Carmelite Centre. This centre is found just some few metres from Tangaza College. This Second World Forum took place from the 16th to the 19th of January 2007.

The forum was not an 'intellectual speculation' of elite members of the 'theological intelligentsia' of the category of 'arm-chair theologians'. On the contrary, it was an 'encounter' of some humble 'theological doers' at all levels. Though the discussions were initiated by some prolific and committed academic theologians from all the continents, contributions at the level the grassroots were given a special place in the discussion. There were about five hundred people attending this forum.

From right to left Fr. Jos Kuppens, Sr. Begona (MSOLA), Fr. Timothée Bationo, Bishop Kalilombe, Fr. Eddie Ndahinda, Fr. Jon Sobrino (S J) and Fr. Wilbert Gobbo

What was the nexus of the forum? Was it the world forum of "theology 'of' liberation"? Was it the World Forum of "Liberation 'of' Theology? How can we understand the title of this World Forum of "Theology 'and' Liberation"? The title is very significant. The intention of this forum was neither, first and foremost, to liberate theology from what other people might claim to be a "dogmatic slumber" nor to reduce theology to liberation at all costs. The nexus of the 'World Forum of Theology and Liberation' (WFTL) was to reflect on how our God-talk (theology) can be oriented and engaged in the holistic liberation of all human beings and the entire creation.

The 'message' of the "Good News" (Euaggelion) [and not of the "bad news" (dusaggelion)] is "never changing" but the " 'mission' of the "Good News" is "ever changing". We can affirm that, on the one hand, there are some universal and perennial theological aspects. On the other hand, we can agree with S. B. Bevans who holds that "There is no such thing as "theology"; there is only contextual theology: feminist theology, liberation theology, Filipino theology, Asian-American theology, Africa theology and so forth. Doing theology contextually is not an option…"

THE FIRST DAY OF OUR THEOLOGICAL RE-CREATION
The first day was enriched by the contributions of various scholars and committed theological doers' such as Rev. Dr. Sr. Ephigenia Gachiri (IBVM), Fr. Luiz Carlos Susin (Chairman of the WFTL) and Prof. J. N. K. Mugambi. Others include: Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke (Africa), Dr. Rohan Silva (Asia) [chairman of the Third World Conference of theologians), Prof. Jon Sobrino and Dr. Maricel Mena Lopez (Latin America) and Dr. François Houtart (Europe).

Prof. Jon Sobrino shared with us the theology of the 'victims'. He agreed with Edward Schillebeeckx that we are to make a paradigm shift from " 'extra ecclesiam nulla salus' to 'extra mundum nulla salus' ". I will just give a hint of the presentation of Dr. François Houtart who gave a "Socio-Economic Analysis of the Global Situation" in line with Dr. Samir Amin (who could not be there).

A 'Post lunch mormorazione' with Dr. François Houtart

I just highlight four out of twenty of his illustrations in the cause of his well researched presentation of the 'Socio-Economic Analysis of the capitalist globalisation'. I believe that these illustrations are self-explanatory.

 

And we saw that it was good, the first day!

THE SECOND DAY OF OUR THEOLOGICAL RE-CREATION
In the second day we participated in a presentation on 'African Socio-Religious/Christian Reality' by Rev. Dr. John Mary Lukwata and Dr. Philomena Mwaura under the direction of Dr. Valentin Dedji. It was an enriching sharing. In the afternoon there were three types of excursions slums (2), orphanages (4) and development initiatives (4). Each one could attend in any one of these areas in order to be in touch with the victims of the globalisation and the neo-capitalistic empire.



Slum of Kibera (the biggest in sub-saharan Africa):
the haves on the one hand and the have-nots on the other.

We were challenged and our hearts were moved by compassion. However, we found that the experience was good, the second day!


THE THIRD DAY OF OUR THEOLOGICAL RE-CREATION
In the third day we had to attend three (3) out of twenty four (24) workshops on various aspects of contextual theologies from various situations of our continents and planet as well. These workshops touched various aspects in different contexts: Simple life style, A Jubilee for climate justice (Post-Kyoto Climate Treaty), African culture, struggle to overcome HIV/AIDS, slums in Africa, women trafficking, interfaith praxis, feminist theology, interfaith solidarity and the liberation of theology from empire, reconstruction of hope, etc.
These workshops help us to become proactive participants in the holistic liberation of human beings and mother earth. In the evening we had a supper and cultural evening in the Shade Hotel! And we saw that it was very good, the third day!


THE FOURTH DAY OF OUR THEOLOGICAL RE-CREATION
On our last day we had two panels. The first one was on 'Spirituality for Another Possible World: Inter Religious Dialogue from a Liberation Perspective'. Various professional theologians presented some aspects of this theme: Islam (Dr. Abdalla Ibrahim Farah), Traditional African religion (Dr. Laurent Magesa), Hinduism (Purshottam Rao), Christianity (Prof. Patrick Ryan). The panel was facilitated by prof. Adam Arap Chepkwony. This panel was followed by questions and comments. We are all called to follow the road of 'inter' and 'intra' religious dialogue to build a better world of love, hope, justice, peace and reconciliation.
The second panel was on 'Spirituality and Respect of Diversity'. The main speakers were Dr. Eunice Santana de Valez, Dr. J. J. Tamayo, Dr. Vuyani Vellen and Prof. Teresa Okure. The facilitator of the panel was Prof. Isabel Apawo Phiri. It was interesting to see that diversity is an inevitable reality. However, our approach to diversity can be inclusive or exclusive. We are called to fortify unity in diversity.

In the Afternoon during the closing ceremony, before the powerful speech of Archbishop Tutu, there was a sharing from Dr. Sergio Torres and Rev. M. Dandala. The chairperson of this sharing was Prof. Mary Getui.
The archbishop gave a very powerful inspiring speech. This eloquent preacher held that 'God has a spirit of humour' (Dieu n'est pas serieux)! Using a language of 'humour' he shared with us the 'serious' Christian struggle to overcome 'apartheid' during the 'bad old days' in South Africa.
Has the struggle finished? The 'holistic' liberation of the people in South Africa remains an "unfinished business"!
He invited us all to give love, hope and joy to the 'victims of globalisation' by telling them that God will always love them! We can say that their voice is that of God "Vox victimarum vox Dei"


Archbishop Desmond Tutu the guest speaker of the closing ceremony

Having learned so much from one another and after such a liberating and re-creating speech of Archbishop Tutu we had to take a rest, a sabbatical time, the fourth day!

CONCLUSION
Could we take the date of 19th of January 2007 as the end of our re-creation?
No, the following day we began the six days (20-25/1/2007) World Social Forum (WSF). Even the WSF is not the end of our re-creation. The noble task of holistic liberation and recreation is ongoing. Throughout our life, as individuals and as Church, we are called to an ongoing 'conversion' to imitate the heart and mind of Jesus Christ (ecclesia reformanda est). The WFTL is not the 'beginning of the end' but rather the 'end of the beginning' of our ongoing task of liberating 'ourselves', our fellow 'brothers and sisters' and our 'homeland-planet earth' in order to build a better world. Theology can be a better tool for the 'triad liberation' from 'suicide', 'fratricide' and 'ecocide' in order to build the Kingdom of God which is already and not yet. Let us commit ourselves to build the Kingdom of love, joy, hope, justice and reconciliation (Mt 5:3-12, Lc 6:20-23).

Wilbert Gobbo, M. Afr., B. P. 131, Zinder, Niger. Mob. (+227 96288286)
wilbertgobbo@yahoo.co.uk