Each of the programmes within the Ujamaa Centre are structural and organisation responses to key aspects of our reality. Since our inception in 1989 we have tried to respond responsibly to our context. The programmes each respond to a particular aspect of our socio-theological analysis; however, they also overlap with each other, creating an integrity and coherence across the programmes.
Body Theology: This is a theology that focuses on gender related issues such as human sexuality, HIV & AIDS, gender violence, violence against children and issues arround LGBTI. In a highly patriarchal society and church where spaces for dialogue on such issues are scarce, Ujamaa seeks to invent such spaces for dialogues. Now and again Ujamaa is invited to read the Bible or even facilitate theological dialogues with groups whose primary focus is on these issues. These are church groups and other faith-based organizations. Read more about Body Theology.
Bread Theology: Ujamaa's project on Bread Theology concerns itself with creating spaces for dialogue through biblical reflection on economic issues e.g. the Bible and the creation and distribution of wealth. We are both ideological and theological in our socio-economic analysis of our context. This project seeks to engage with the 'triple challenge' of unemployment, poverty and inequality. Read more about Bread Theology.
Earth Theology: With regard to the environmental issues, Ujamaa has a project which seeks to engage religious communities by organizing seminars and Biblical dalogues on issues around climate change and taking care of the environment. The importance of Land and Environment and its relationship with Theology/Bible is highly emphasised here. Read more about Earth Theology.
People's Theology: South Africa is experiencing an exponential proliferation of churches and ministries in an unprecedented rate. These groups bring new theologies and ways of being church soms are life-giving and others are not. Ujamaa engages with these groups with the aim of re-reading the Bible with them in order to develop a new understanding of the Bible and to rescue the Bible from those who are using it to justify oppressive agendas. People's Theology also emphasisies the positive aspect of the lived theologies of various groups, like social movements and African initiated churches. Read more about People's Theology.
Public Theology: This theology seeks to engage communities on the interface between the church and politics. Ujamaa provides spaces to read the Bible with church leaders in order to discover its prophetic message, which can be spread thourgh the pulpits, prayers and public gatherings. Ujamaa Centre has also created spaces for government officials to meet with church leaders where frank discussions on issues of common interest are discovered. Read more about Public Theology.