“A Transdenominational Ecclesiology? Simultaneous Plural Allegiance in African Christianity and Its Implication for Ecumenism”

Okpaleke, Ikenna Paschal
(2025) International Conference: Church and Contemporary Pluralities: Northern and Southern Churches in Dialogue — Location: Maredsous Abbey/LLN (19.May.2025)

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This paper explores the reality of multiple belonging in African Christianity, and how this reality could redefine the future of ecumenical dialogue under the notion of transdenominationality. In doing this, it examines the fluid nature of the spirituality of African religion, which is evident particularly a) in African religion’s diffuse form of monotheism in contrast to the concentrated monotheism of some of the major world religions (specifically, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), and b) in African worldview of interrelatedness of reality. Meanwhile, Christianity’s version of monotheism (Trinity) and ecclesiology of communion already demonstrate the doctrinal proximity between Christianity and African religion. In developing this argument, this paper would, first, investigate the idea of multiple religious identity in the theology of religions and specifically in African Christianity; second, explore how the African ‘fluid spirituality’ lends itself to the preponderance of multiple belonging (construed as transdenominationality) within African Christianity; and finally, argue how a rediscovery of an ecclesiological disposition that recognizes this spiritual fluidity and interrelatedness can determine the future of ecumenism through the praxis of transdenominationality.
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Okpaleke, I. P. (2025). “A Transdenominational Ecclesiology? Simultaneous Plural Allegiance in African Christianity and Its Implication for Ecumenism”. International Conference: Church and Contemporary Pluralities: Northern and Southern Churches in Dialogue, Maredsous Abbey/LLN.