Africans in Pursuit of a Theological Doctorate

Within the milieu of African higher theological education there is a great demand for highly educated nationals to staff a growing number of theological colleges and seminaries. Due largely to a dearth of other opportunities, many Africans desiring theological doctorates have undertaken higher studies in Europe and North America. The same pattern is common in other non-Western contexts. However, this practice is perceived as producing certain undesirable “side effects” (e.g., brain-drain, reintegration difficulties, contextually inappropriate training). This book explores doctoral program design for a non-Western context with a view to attenuating these side effects. It articulates a grounded theory, namely “Contextual Pragmatism,” that proposes the ideal theological doctoral program for “black Africa” has practical value in and for the African context while acknowledging the importance of international credibility.