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" Perspectives of Nigerian theological educators about the role of theological education in addressing the HIV /AIDS crisis "
Emmanuel T. Ogunyemi
D. Elmer
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Latin Dissertation
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| Language of Document
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English
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| Record Number
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53481
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| Doc. No
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TL23435
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| Call number
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3308219
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| Main Entry
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Emmanuel T. Ogunyemi
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| Title & Author
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Perspectives of Nigerian theological educators about the role of theological education in addressing the HIV /AIDS crisis\ Emmanuel T. Ogunyemi
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| College
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Trinity International University
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| Date
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2008
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| Degree
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Ph.D.
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2008
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| Page No
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247
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| Abstract
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The negative impact of HIV/AIDS on the socio-economic and the religious life of the people in Sub-Saharan Africa is overwhelming. Unfortunately the Christian church and, by extension, theological educators have been accused of being negligent of their God-given responsibility to those infected and affected by the disease. With its large population of over 140 million people (20% of the entire continent of Africa), Nigeria may now have the highest number of people living with AIDS in Africa. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of Nigerian theological educators on their role in addressing the epidemic through their training programs. It studied the perceptions of these theologians about the AIDS epidemic, and how their theology is reflected in their practice of ministry and training of church leaders. This study was limited to faculty members representing four theological traditions in Nigeria: the Evangelicals, the Pentecostals, the Catholics and the Mainline tradition. Data were collected through personal interview and analysis of the participating seminaries' academic documents—prospectuses and course syllabi. The participants, who were selected through random sampling, were full time faculty members and administrators of their respective seminaries, and have had a minimum of two years of teaching experience at the seminary. The findings indicate that about two-thirds of the participants, mainly from the Pentecostal and Mainline traditions, described the AIDS epidemic as God's punishment on the infected. Even though all the participating seminaries believed theological education has a great role to play by providing education and awareness within and outside the seminary, none of them has any specific course designed to educate their students in the fight against the epidemic. Furthermore, about two-thirds of the theological educators had no direct contact with AIDS patients or any direct involvement in addressing the epidemic in their various communities. Stigma, high level of ignorance among the populace, and lack of financial resources were the three main obstacles facing Nigerian theological educators in their bid to address the HIV/AIDS concern in their training program and in the church. The researcher recommended a re-education of the participating theological educators on HIV/AIDS in order to properly engage their minds and hands in the fight against the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time. Since HIV/AIDS has brought a radical change to the lives of people, there is need for a radical change in our approach to ministerial training in Nigeria. It cannot be business as usual any more! This change of orientation will not only affect how theological education responds to the problem, it might also influence the approach the church takes since the seminary is responsible for training her leaders.
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| Subject
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Philosophy, religion and theology; African theology; Crisis; HIV/AIDS; Ministerial training; Nigerian; Theological education; Theology; 0469:Theology
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| Added Entry
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D. Elmer
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Trinity International University
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