Evaluating Theological Education in The Apostolic Church Nigeria Contributions, Challenges and Future Directions
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study examines the contributions and challenges of theological education within The Apostolic Church Nigeria (TACN) from its establishment in 1931 to the present. The objectives are to explore the historical development of TACN's theological institutions, assess their impact on doctrinal teaching and ministerial effectiveness, and identify the challenges in sustaining these educational programmes. Employing a historical and qualitative research methodology, the study utilises document analysis, interviews with key stakeholders – including faculty, alumni, and current students – and thematic analysis to gather insights into the evolving landscape of theological education in TACN. The findings reveal that TACN's commitment to theological education has significantly enhanced its leaders’ intellectual and spiritual capacities, contributing to the church’s doctrinal consistency and overall growth. Institutions such as The Apostolic Church Theological Seminary in Amumara and The Apostolic Church LAWNA Theological Seminary in Jos have structured ministerial training. However, challenges such as limited financial resources, cultural resistance to formal education, and the need to balance spiritual empowerment with academic rigour persist. The study concludes that for TACN to continue advancing its theological education programmes, it must invest strategically in infrastructure, technology, and faculty development while contextualising theological training to meet contemporary needs. The recommendations emphasise fostering a holistic approach integrating academic rigour with spiritual formation. This study contributes to understanding TACN's educational framework and offers practical insights for enhancing theological education within other Pentecostal movements facing similar challenges.
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2024 Caleb Abiodun Adeleye, Oluwasegun Peter Aluko, Saibu A. Owoeye, Emmanuel Olurokan Olowoyeye (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Saibu A. Owoeye, Department of Religious Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Emmanuel Olurokan Olowoyeye, Department of Religious Studies, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria
Olurokan OLOWOYEYE PhD
Department of Religious Studies, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria
Adegboyega, S.G. (1978). Short history of The Apostolic Church in Nigeria. Ibadan: Rosprint.
Adeleye, C.A. (2011). Basics of theological education and church growth in Nigeria. A Lecture Delivered During the Inauguration of Christian Relations Studies at TACN, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on 6 June 2011.
Adeleye, C.A. (2022). Leadership dynamics and the growth of The Apostolic Church Nigeria. PhD thesis at Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Akanbi, S.O., & Beyers, J. (2017). The church as a catalyst for transformation in the society. HTS TeologieseStudies/Theological Studies, 73(4): a4635.
https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i4.4635 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i4.4635
Akindele, S.K. (2017). Interview Respondent, Principal, The Apostolic Church LAWNA Territorial Bible College, Irojo Quarters, Ilerin Road, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria on June 6.
Alakuko, G.O.A. (2013). Interview Respondent, Lecturer/Pastor, LATS, Ilesa on August 27.
Alvarez, M. (2000). Distinctives of Pentecostal education. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies, 3(2): 281-293.
Anderson, A. (2004). An introduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity. Cambridge University Press.
Aryeh, D.N.A. (2018). Academic versus spiritual: Theological education and the anointing of the holy spirit in contemporary prophetic ministries in Ghana. Journal of Contemporary Ministry, 4: 61-77.
Asamoah-Gyadu, J. (2005). African Charismatics: Current developments within independent indigenous Pentecostalism in Ghana. Leiden: Brill.
https://doi.org/10.1163/9789047406303 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789047406303
Awojobi, P.O. (2020). The impacts of Pentecostal churches on the growth of Christianity in Nigeria. Sapientia Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Development Studies (SGOJAHDS), 3(3): 1-10.
Awotanmi, I.G. (2012). Interview Respondent, Provost, LATS, Ilesa on April 12.
Ayedogbon, J.K. (2012). Interview Respondent, Lecturer/Pastor, LATS, Ilesa on 27 Aug. 2012.
Ayodele, E.A. (2013). Interview Respondent, Librarian, LATS, Ilesa on Sept., 13
Banda, C. (2019). Managing an elusive force? The Holy Spirit and the anointed articles of Pentecostal prophets in traditional religious Africa. Verbum et Ecclesia, 40(1): a2025.
https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v40i1.2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v40i1.2025
Brief Biography of Late Pastor Abel Adeoye Ogundoro, TAC Akure Area, LAWNA, Nigeria, Order of Funeral Service held in honour of Pastor Abel Adeoye Ogundoro on 20-21 December 2001, 14-15. Between 1991 and 2000, one of the researchers worked closely with Pastor A. A. Ogundoro during his tenure of leadership of TACN, Modakeke Area.
Cartledge, M.J., & Swoboda, A.J. (2016). Scripting Pentecost: A study of Pentecostals, worship, and liturgy. London: Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315607894 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315607894
Castelo, D. (2015). Pneumatology: A guide for the perplexed. Bloomsbury.
Cox, H. (1995). Fire from Heaven: The rise of Pentecostal spirituality and the reshaping of religion in the twenty-first century. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Dada, A.O. (2007). Theological education in the Old Testament and the contemporary state of theological education in Nigeria. Orita: IJRS, xxxix(1): 41-55.
Dayton, D. (1987). The theological roots of Pentecostalism. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
de Beer, S. (2020). Theological education and African cities: An imperative for action. Missionalia, 48(3): 231-256.
https://doi.org/10.7832/48-3-418 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7832/48-3-418
Deininger, M. (2013). Global Pentecostalism: An inquiry into the cultural dimensions of globalization. Hamburg: Anchor Academic.
Esuh, A.O. (nd). Brief history: The advent of The Apostolic Church in Nigeria.
Fafunwa, A.B. (1974). History of education in Nigeria. NPS Educational Publishers.
Feller, J., & Lombaard, C. (2018). Spiritual formation towards Pentecostal leadership as discipleship. Koers, 83(1): 1-12.
https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.83.1.2254 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.83.1.2254
Frestadius, S. (2021). Pentecostal theological education: Mapping the historical landscape and reflecting on a theological future. PentecoStudies, 20(1): 56-77.
https://doi.org/10.1558/pent.18624 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1558/pent.18624
Gathogo, J.M. (2022). The shifting landscape of African-Pentecostalism in Kenya. Theologia Viatorum, 46(1): a121.
https://doi.org/10.4102/tv.v46i1.121 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/tv.v46i1.121
Igwe, S.E. (2022). Interview Respondent, President TACN on Aug., 20
Kalu, O. (2008). African Pentecostalism: An introduction. Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195340006.001.0001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195340006.001.0001
Kgatle, M.S. (2024). Leadership by the Spirit in Pentecostalism: A transformational pneumatocracy approach. Acta Theologica, 44(1): 121-137.
https://doi.org/10.38140/at.v44i1.7566 DOI: https://doi.org/10.38140/at.v44i1.7566
Kgatle, M.S. (2018). Integrating African Pentecostalism into the theological education of South African Universities: An urgent task. HTS TeologieseStudies/Theological Studies, 74(3): 5130.
https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v74i3.5130 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v74i3.5130
Knoetze, J.J. (2022). Theological education, spiritual formation and leadership development in Africa: What does God have to do with it? HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 78(4): a7521.
https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v78i4.7521 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v78i4.7521
LATS Church Record (2017), collected from LATS, Jos, 23 November, 2016.
Miller, D.E. (2013). Pentecostalism as a global phenomenon. In D.E. Miller, K.H. Sargeant & R. Flory (eds.), Spirit and power: The growth and global impact of Pentecostalism. New York, online edn, Oxford Academic. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199920570.001.0001
https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199920570.003.0015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199920570.003.0015
Nel, M. (2018). Pentecostal ecumenical impulses: Past and present challenges. In die Skriflig, 52(1): 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v52i1.2330 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v52i1.2330
Nguyen, N.V. (2008). Leadership skills development in theological seminary: crucial factors in creating effective local church leadership. Theses and Dissertations. 2. https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/2
O'Brien, R.J. (2019). Models of spiritual leadership: Strategies for bridging the gap between policy and ethics. Dissertations. 31. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.fesh-3csg DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.fesh-3csg
Ogunewu, L. (2008). Charismatic movements and theological education: Past, present and future. Ogbomoso Journal of Theology OJOT, 13(2): 58-83.
Ogunleye, M., & Lisoye, L. (1999). The making of a minister: A biography of Pastor S. O. Akindiya. Abeokuta: TAC.
Okon, E.E. (2001). Brief outline of The Apostolic Church in the Cross River State Field, Nigeria" in Souvenir, The Apostolic Church Nigeria, 2nd National Convention; 70th Birthday Anniversary; Brief History of TAC in Nigeria, Lagos: Alsun.
Oladele, G.B. Brief Autobiography of Pastor G. B. Oladele (unpublished).
Olutola, G.O. (2015). Interview Respondent, President, TACN on March 8.
Order of proceedings of the 39th Convocation of The Apostolic Church Theological Seminary, Amumara (TACTSA) held on Saturday, 12 Nov., 2016.
Ott, B. (2001). Mission oriented theological education: Moving beyond traditional models of theological education. Transformation, 18(2): 74-86. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43053931
https://doi.org/10.1177/026537880101800203 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/026537880101800203
Quampah, D., & Naidoo, M. (2000). Pursuing the ideal of integration in Pentecostal theological education: A case study of Pentecost theological seminary, Ghana. Acta Theologica, 40(2): 300-320. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18820/23099089/actat.v40i2.16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18820/23099089/actat.v40i2.16
Sanneh, L. (1983). West African Christianity: The religious impact. Orbis Books.
Schreiter, R.J. (1985). Constructing local theologies. London: SCM Press.
TAC LAWNA Territorial Bible College, Irojo Quarters, Ilerin Road, Ilesa on 23 October, 2016.
TACN (1993). Biography of Pastor Isaiah Ghele Sakpo, LAWNA Territorial Chairman/First Vice President, TACN. Lagos: The Universal Printing Press.
TACN (2003). Ilesa Area 70th Anniversary Convention Brochure 1933-2003. Ibadan: Gavima Press.
Topf, D. (2021). Pentecostal theological education in the majority world: A century of overcoming obstacles and gaining new ground. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies, 24(1): 81-96.
Ukah, A. (2008). A new paradigm of Pentecostal power: A study of the redeemed Christian church of God in Nigeria. Africa World Press.
Whitt, I.A. (2013). Contextualization training for Pentecostal leaders in Africa: Retrospect and prospect. PneumAfrica Journal, 1(1): 23-34.
Williams, A. (2016). Spiritual landscapes of Pentecostal worship, belief, and embodiment in a therapeutic community: New critical perspectives. Emotion, Space and Society, 19: 45-55.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2015.12.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2015.12.001
Worsfold, J.E. (1991). The origin of the Apostolic Church in Great Britain. New Zealand: Julian Literature Trust.
Yong, A. (2010). In the days of Caesar: Pentecostalism and political theology. Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans.