Reimagining Ecumenism in Africa with Saint Augustine of Hippo

Abstract

The ancient African Church was laden with crises of heresies and schisms. They disorganized the peace and unity of the one perfect Church of Christ in Africa even before Augustine became bishop of Hippo. The Church in North Africa then witnessed several controversies and divisions with concomitant dialogues aimed at uniting the groups that kept excommunicating themselves. That resulted in a movement that was not ecumenical but designed to unify the Church. Both Cyprian as the bishop of Carthage and Augustine at Hippo remained firm in their understanding that the Church in her nature is called to be a visible unity of the body of Christ. This article examines some significant biblical images adopted by the African fathers especially Augustine of Hippo in resolving the ecclesial disunity in North Africa. It further recommends that Africa’s contemporary ecumenists align themselves with some of the principles inherent in this work.