Liberative Notions of Diaconia and Christian Social Practice from the Perspective of the Global South

Abstract

Abstract The concept of diaconia is a novel theological approach in most African countries and the Global South, probably because diaconia is a Northern theological concept that largely reflects the top-down Christian social practice of providing relief and assistance to needy communities and countries mostly within the Global South. This paper explores the liberative notions of diaconia and Christian social practice from the perspective of the Global South. It attempts to reflect on an emerging praxis and theology from below as opposed to the predominant Northern theological approach. It argues that, whereas some Southern scholars advocate a shift from emphasizing liberation theologies to reconstruction theology, the concept of liberative diaconia is significant because it represents a grounded theology and praxis from below. Tracing the various liberation theological strands (in particular, from Latin America to South Africa), the paper asserts a new kind of spatial theory, namely, liberating heterotopic diaconia. This typical liberative diaconia engages indigenous communities and individuals to bring about freedom, justice, and transformation among the marginalized in some indigenous West African communities.

Keywords

• liberation
• liberative
• diaconia
• liberation theology
• liberating heterotopic diaconia
• development