Synodality, African Christianity, and the Making of an Ecumenical Ecclesiology

Synodality is fundamentally an invitation to ‘walk together’ and so it does not recognize uniformity as an essential ecclesial attribute. It focuses on unity amid diversity and inherently disposes the Church to an ecumenical praxis. This is because its ecclesiology is grounded on the baptism of all the faithful. In this article, I undertake the task of developing a synodal ecumenical ecclesiology from the perspective of African Christianity. To accomplish this, I first offer an inclusive interpretation of the ecclesiology of synodality, drawing upon the idea of catholicity as advanced by Christopher Duraisingh and the ‘total ecclesiology’ of Yves Congar. This leads to the idea of hospitality which at the heart of an African theologico-cultural understanding of synodality. Second, I explore four implications of practicing hospitality in a context that is at once African and Eucharistic. Third, I outline two broad practical strategies that are aimed towards realizing a synodal ecumenical ecclesiology that this article seeks to articulate.