The future of global Christianity lies in Africa. The church in Africa is experiencing phenomenal growth. According to a Pew Research report, by 2060 nearly half (46%) of the world’s projected 3 billion Christians will be living in sub-Saharan Africa.

Many countries on the African continent are confronting the problems of poverty, healthcare, gender violence, climate change and the environment, inadequate political and social structures. These issues will all put further strain on the resources of those African countries especially with the expected population growth of the continent.

The churches continue to play a vital role in the growth and development of African societies. There has indeed been some good work done by the churches both historically and at present, such as establishing schools, hospitals and other charitable agencies. Yet the question remains whether the churches have been effective in speaking out and advocating against the societal, economic and political injustices affecting the continent as a whole.

This webinar therefore discusses the fundamental issue of the role of the churches in contemporary African society looking at the challenges and seeking a vision for the future. How should churches in Africa respond to their contextual challenges? How can the churches be a major component to social action and change?

We will be joined by an expert panel of speakers:

Prof Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, Director of the Center for the Study of Christianity in Africa, Trinity Theological Seminary, Ghana

Prof Esther Mombo, Professor of Theology at St Paul's University, Limuru in Kenya

Dr Michael Glerup, Executive Director Project on Religious Freedom and Society in Africa, Yale University, USA

Rt Revd Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, Director of the Oxford Centre for Training, Research and Dialogue (Oxtrad), former Bishop of Rochester, UK, and former General Secretary of Church Missionary Society (CMS).

The moderator is the Revd Dr Richard Higginson, Chairman of Faith in Business, UK

We hope you will join us on 24th September at 2pm BST for what promises to be an engaging webinar.