Ujamaa Bible Studies Provide Prejudiced Perspective

from Stand Firm by Jackie

http://www.americananglican.org/ujamaa-bible-studies-provide-prejudiced-perspective/

A key part of the Human Sexuality Conference hosted by the Ujamaa Centre and Chicago Consultation was the daily Bible study using Prof. West’s contextual Bible study method, which is “always situated within the social analysis and needs of particular communities of the poor, the working-class, and marginalised. It is their perspective on reality that shapes the whole Bible study,” according to “Doing Contextual Bible Study: A Resource Manual” by West and the Ujamaa Centre staff. According to the manual, these Bible studies must always end with an action plan to transform society and it may be necessary to “provide participants with additional resources from non-governmental, governmental, and community-based organisations to take their plan of action forward.”

The studies in the manual reflect the liberation theology that was birthed in Latin America and made its way to South Africa during the struggle against apartheid beginning in the 1980’s. Liberation theology was rejected by the Catholic church, but West’s Bible studies, with their emphasis on liberation theology, were used at the Anglican Communion’s Lambeth 2008 meeting of bishops. Liberation theology was a key topic of discussion during The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops meeting held in Quito, Ecuador in September, 2011.