The Editorial Board of African Theology Worldwide is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Plaisance Rivoli M’bara as the Project Coordinator for Francophone Africa. This appointment is made possible through the generous support of Church in Action (Kerk in Actie) and marks the beginning of a new and exciting partnership between the Protestant Theological University, the Netherlands, and the Faculté de Théologie Evangélique de Bangui, Central African Republic.
Dr. M’bara has a PhD in theology from the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana. He was previously the national overseer of the Fédération des Églises Chrétiennes pour l’Action Missionnaire (FECAM), Bangui, CAR. He is currently the director of the Institut de Formation Missionnaire et Polytechnique, a FECAM training ministry for church ministers and lay disciples. He is also the author of the book The Gospel Interpreting Cultural Traditions for Reconciliation.
In his role as Project Coordinator, Dr. M’bara will be responsible for strengthening the network of institutions supporting the website in Francophone Africa, developing high-quality French content for the website, and sharing this content with users in Africa and around the globe. Dr. M’bara’s appointment will significantly increase the impact of the website and strengthen the collaboration between the Protestant Theological University, the Netherlands, and the Faculté de Théologie Evangélique de Bangui, Central African Republic.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Plaisance Rivoli M’Bara as the new Francophone Project Coordinator. With his solid background as a theologian and researcher, he brings both valuable expertise and a compelling vision to drive our mission forward. His commitment and precision will undoubtedly enhance the project’s impact. Welcome aboard, Dr. M’Bara — we look forward to this exciting new journey together!”
Dr. Issiaka Coulibaly, Chair of the Editorial Board, Francophone Africa
Professor of Old Testament Studies, Université de l'Alliance Chrétienne d'Abidjan, Ivory Coast
“I am excited to contribute to developing and promoting French-language theological resources that reflect African contexts and voices. This project offers an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration among Francophone theological institutions and to make African theology more visible and accessible both within the continent and globally.”
Dr. Plaisance Rivoli M’bara, Project Coordinator, Francophone Africa
Director of the Institut de Formation Missionnaire et Polytechnique and staff member of the Faculté de Théologie Evangélique de Bangui, Central African Republic
"Dr. M’bara’s experience and education in both Francophone and Anglophone Africa make him ideal for this role. In addition to further developing our French resources and network he will also be a bridge between Francophone and Anglophone Africa. In these two language domains, theologians, students and ministers often face similar challenges, but rarely have access to resources developed in the other domain. Furthermore, Dr. M’bara’s research on the value of traditional reconciliation practices shows his ability to bring theological reflection to bear on contemporary challenges."
Dr. Benno van den Toren, Project Director and Editor-in-Chief
Professor of Intercultural Theology, Protestant Theological University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
