An Ethnographic Study of Clergy-Laity Collaboration for the Enhancement of the Mission of the Church in the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Nigeria.

Abstract

This thesis explores the nature and extent of clergy-laity collaboration for the enhancement of the Church’s mission in the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi. Despite the teachings of Vatican II regarding clergy-laity cooperation in the work of the Church—chiefly that all members of Christ’s faithful by their baptism have a share in the mission of the Church—it appears that in most places within Nnewi diocese that clergy and lay collaboration is not what it could be. There seems to be a lopsided appropriation of ministry by the clergy to the near exclusion of the laity. Therefore, the focus of this research is to get a sense of what is actually going on in this regard between the clergy and the laity in terms of collaboration for ministry, and to determine some of the reasons for this phenomenon, as well as identifying some means of addressing concerns. Relevant literature confirms that clergy-laity collaboration continues to be a topic of interest to members of Catholic faithful. Along with the related literature which is available, this work contributes to the existing body of knowledge regarding clergy-laity collaboration and augments this literature by reflecting on some specific Igbo cultural considerations. By looking only at Nnewi diocese, this work offers a more focused context for the study of collaboration. This study grapples with the extent to which the Church’s proposed vision for its mission is actually implemented in a concrete, locatable, nameable, and sizeable context. And, as the name of our field of study indicates, practical theology commits itself to contextual specificity. In order to further contextualize this thesis, the context-sensitive questionnaires, interviews, interactions, and careful personal observations significantly corroborate the working hypothesis: that clergy-laity collaboration in the Nnewi Diocese does not fully reflect the vision laid out in Vatican II documents. In order to explore this pastoral issue and how it might be addressed, I refer to both the rich theological insights from the official documents of the Church and to other theological sources and documents on the richness of traditional Igbo values and practices. Such values include: the principle of “egbe bere, ugo bere” (live and let live); “Igbo enwe eze” (monarch-less sense of Igbo leadership structure); “Njikoka” (togetherness is greater); “Bunu-Bunu, I bu anyi danda” (no task is impossible to accomplish when people work together); “igwebuike” (strength in unity); as well as the call for a shift from the prevalent “Uka Fada” (Father’s Church) mentality to a more collaboration-inspired “uka oha/anyi” (the people’s/our Church). These values encourage a sense of more fully living out the baptismal mandate in the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi. With greater clergy-laity collaboration, a sound Igbo culture-infused project of re-educating both the clergy and the laity—will increase awareness of the importance of collaboration—through theological and ecclesiological formation, ongoing catechesis, opportunities for taking initiative and involvement in decision-making, among other things. In order for a stronger, more vibrant Church to emerge, there is a need for greater clergy-laity collaboration.