Postcolonial Anglicanism: Bishop Victor Atta-Baffoe on Ghana, Global Church Leadership & EDS Impact

Join Dr. Kwok Pui Lan and the Rt. Rev. Victor Atta-Baffoe '92, the fourth bishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, for a discussion on global Anglicanism and his journey from EDS seminarian to bishop. Bishop Atta-Baffoe shares how his Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) education shaped his influential roles as Dean of St. Nicholas Seminary and as a bishop in the Anglican Communion.

Bishop Atta-Baffoe shares the poignant history of Cape Coast Castle and its connection to the slave trade, offering a critical postcolonial perspective on the church's past. He delves into the joys and challenges of his ministry, focusing on the realities of poverty, gender inequality (where 70-75% of church members are women, yet they often constitute only 10-15% of convention attendees), and the urgent need for contextualized theology and inclusive leadership in the Global South.

As Chair of the Commission for Theological Education in the Anglican Communion, Bishop Atta-Baffoe also addresses the critical challenges facing theological education worldwide. He champions celebrating diversity and fostering trust within the communion, emphasizing that the church's true mission lies in addressing pressing issues like poverty, climate justice, and human dignity over internal divisions. Learn about his prophetic vision for a more united, mission-focused Anglican Church in the first episode of our series hosted by EDS Distinguished Scholar, Dr. Kwok Pui Lan: Voices from the Anglican Communion.

Interested in learning more about how to live postcolonial Anglicanism? Consider joining EDS this fall for an online course taught by Dr. Kwok and the Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, PhD: Living Postcolonial Anglicanism: Pastoral Perspectives from the Global Church.

 

Credits:

Music Credit: I Love to Tell the Story, Benjamin Grove, keyboard

Podcast produced by Polymnia