By Fr. OKHUELEIGBE OSEMHANTIE, PhD

In a rare intellectual spectacle, the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, on March 18, 2025 became the epicenter of an extraordinary theological engagement as professors from the Faculty of Theology converged for a high-stakes colloquium on theological methodology. With the theme ?Doing Theology in Various Disciplinary Contexts?, the event organised by Fr. Prof. Luke Ijezie, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, brought together some of the finest theological minds in the region to interrogate and refine the methods that shape contemporary theological thought. It was an occasion where scholarship met precision, and where the depth of theological inquiry found new heights in a riveting exchange of ideas.

The colloquium opened with an electrifying presentation by Fr. Prof. Ferdinand Nwigbo, a foremost authority in Systematic Theology, whose 67-page treatise meticulously dissected the methodological framework of the discipline. His thesis illuminated systematic theology as an organic whole*, where each doctrinal system functions harmoniously for the greater integrity of Christian teaching. He expounded on the eclectic methodology, an approach that synthesizes diverse theological sources ? biblical, conciliar, credal, magisterial, patristic, philosophical, scientific, and cultural traditions ? to ensure doctrinal coherence. Using the Trinity as a case study, he demonstrated how a systematic theologian must engage multiple traditions, interrogating each through a rigorous theological lens to present a holistic understanding of faith.

Following this, Fr. Prof. Anthony Umoren, MSP, a celebrated biblical scholar, took the discourse into the realm of scriptural theology, where he asserted the primacy of biblical exegesis in theological methodology. With an impressive command of ancient biblical languages and historical-critical methods, he outlined the necessity of engaging linguistic, literary, archaeological, social, and historical resources to uncover the inspired meaning of Scripture. Beyond textual analysis, he emphasized that theology itself must be a hermeneutical exercise, wherein Scripture becomes the foundation upon which every theological discipline ? dogma, spirituality, liturgy, moral theology, and ecclesiology ? draws its meaning. With incisive clarity, he posed the fundamental question: How does the revealed Word, once subjected to rigorous exegetical scrutiny, illuminate contemporary theological, cultural, and existential realities?

Crowning the discourse was the intervention of Rev. Fr. Dr. Emmanuel Anagwo, a double doctoral holder and Dean of Students Affairs, who presented a compelling synthesis of liturgical theology as a methodological cornerstone. Advocating for a historical-liturgical approach, he reinforced the idea that liturgy is the home of theology, the sacred space where doctrine finds its fullest expression. He outlined the methodological structures that guide pastoral and spiritual theology, particularly the Pastoral Spiral Circle Method (PSCM) and the Spiritual Spiral Circle Method (SSCM), while introducing liturgical textual criticism as a tool for sacramental theology. Drawing from the Second Vatican Council, he affirmed that the study of Sacred Liturgy must integrate theological, historical, spiritual, pastoral, and juridical dimensions, ensuring that theology remains rooted in the Church?s living tradition.

The colloquium, hailed as a landmark event in CIWA?s intellectual tradition, generated vibrant discussions, with faculty and students engaging in high-level theological interrogation. Many regarded it as a revival of a lost intellectual culture, a moment that rekindled the spirit of critical theological discourse. With the weight of its impact still reverberating through the institution, the Dean of the Faculty of Theology assured that this initiative will not only continue but will become a defining feature of CIWA?s academic excellence, ensuring that the institute remains a beacon of theological scholarship in Africa and beyond.

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