THE ROLES OF THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN PROMOTING NATIONAL UNITY

Abstract

This paper critically engages the importance of Theological Education by assessing its roles towards the promotion of National unity in Nigeria. The church itself is not left out of the politics of tribalism as well as ethnicity which appears very rampant in the church where some specific areas are demanding for their son of the soil to pastor them or even to be their chief shepherds in some dioceses. Theological education is sacrosanct to Church’s leadership because it is the factory where soldiers of Christ to wage war against Satan and its agents are being trained. It appears difficult to separate the Church from the State. The roles that theological education should play in fostering national unity cannot be overemphasized because it is the theological educators that will eventually become leaders of the church tomorrow. It is the church that is expected to preach unity and oneness; so to promote national unity should start from theological institutions. As part of promoting national unity, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) started a non-geographical programme for postulants in the third year of their ministerial training for all the seven theological colleges in Nigeria devoid of ethnicity and cultural boundaries; this promotes national unity through interaction among each other. The church through this medium sets a good example for the nation to follow. The Methodist Church as well as African Church could send their priests to any part of the country not minding their nativity. Using historical approach, this paper submits that theological education has got a lot of influences to exert positively through its roles in promoting national unity in Nigeria by discouraging ethnicity among all the six geo-political zones in Nigeria preaching unity and not unity in diversity among the postulants and this can translate to the nation.