Paedo Baptism and Theological Contestations : An African Theological Perspective

Abstract

The study sets out to unveil the contestations revolving around the theology of paedobaptism, from an African theological perspective. The contestations are manifested in the fact that infants or children from single-parent families, non-communicants and those from the families whose parents have never conducted their holy matrimonies in the church are normally denied the coveted rite owing to ‘theological justifications’ thereof. Hence, the study sought to review and reconstruct the manner, the meaning and the efficacy of the sacrament of baptism. It has established that only by appealing to some African cultural elements such as care for children, hospitality, and ancestrologyamong others can we adequately unveil the problem statement. Methodologically, the researcher specifically theologized by citing some cases from the African theological scenes, and is greatly indebted to the Kenyan Anglican See of Embu for the rich encounters. In particular, the researcher addressed the theology of paedo (infant) baptism in his bid to unveil the controversy surrounding the rite of baptism, which is seen as comparable to the African ritual of circumcision. The instructions in the ritual of circumcision are also seen as comparable to the catechism classes before baptism takes place. Paedobaptism is seen to be in tandem with the ritual of circumcising young infants in some African communities. Further, the Old and New Testament times, the early church, the reformation times, and even the post reformation times had the practice of paedobaptism taking the central stage; hence the findings of the research have it that the contestations regarding paedobaptism are theo-historically unnecessary. And in view of this, churches that practice a theology of exclusion with regard to paedobaptismhave to review their theological trajectories. The study is theoretically informed by inculturationtheory that is well propounded by John Mbiti and Kwame Bediako.In the case of inculturation, the gospel is in dialogue with various cultures of the world. In particular, the case of attempting to make Christianity authentically African follows within the realm of inculturation and generally contextualization. While contextualization does not necessarily have to address the cultures of the world, inculturation has to specifically focus on culture and its contacts with the theology of the Christian faith. As implied above, the strength of inculturation as a working theoryis seen in the fact that it compares wellwithother African theological motifs such as reconstructive, anthropological, liberation and translatability among others.Overall, the study was guided by the following objectives: To investigate the nature of contestations regarding paedo baptism and eventually seek to understand it in African context. In turn, it also aimed at seeking to understand Baptism in African theological context, the effects of not baptizing the children of growing number of single-parents and those not officially married in the church; and to show how and why baptism can be used to incorporate children of single-parents, noncommunicants and those whose holy matrimonies are not conducted in the church. The research was guided by the following research questions: how can we understand and actualizepaedobaptism in African theological context without losing our respective gospel constituencies? What are the effects of not baptizing children of single-parents in our African context? And how can it be made relevant to incorporate children of non-communicants in Anglican-African context today? In his design, the researcher used descriptive and analytical method of data presentation. The primary data was collected by extensive reading of theological literature regarding baptism, and some limited interviews from people who are connected to the underlying topic.Therefore,the study has established that only by appealing to some African cultural elements such as care for children,the concept of African hospitality and ancestrology among others can we adequately unveil the contestation regarding paedo baptism