Theological education, spiritual formation and leadership development in Africa: What does God have to do with it?

Tarantal 2020:1–5). Some talk about Christianity in Africa, which is a mile wide and an inch deep, maybe because of the mobilisation rhetoric or maybe we also speak of the social rhetoric. The question that needs to be asked is this: what criteria are we using when pronouncements like this are made? In my opinion the main concern is that there is a lack of formal theological education in Africa that links with the spiritual formation of Christian leadership. This is clear from the fact that 85 % of all church leaders on the African continent have no formal theological education. On the other hand, this might be one of the main reasons for the rapid increase in church growth or growth of Christianity, because it flourishes through the witness of the laity. At least, we also need to acknowledge that there are many sect and cult leaders who involve and misuse their followers in sexual misconduct and money-making schemes. Paas (2018) argued that leadership is a contested issue in the church all over the world. Most people involved in mission in some way or another will agree that human leadership is Theological education, spiritual formation and leadership are all contested issues in the Church, especially within the African context. Although these topics are thoroughly discussed, the relation and the interdependence are not always clear. This article discusses these topics in relation to each other and in relation to the One who calls servant leaders to guide his church for her service in the world. The importance of the local church as missional church is emphasised in the article. Thus, what the faith community believes and teaches about God determines our ecclesiology, theological education and leadership. What does God have to do with theological education, spiritual formation and leadership development in Africa? The answer is everything! The article used a literary study to research the relationship between the different topics and the church and concluded that dependence exists between them. Contribution: Much is written on theological education in Africa. However, students come into theological education with an already established spirituality formed by other agents. The article contributes to the discussion about the relation between formal theological, spiritual formation and leadership. It emphasises the relation between the theological institution and the local church.