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The consultation was held in Utrecht, Netherlands from 21-25 August.
Gunda spoke on "The Paradoxical (Colonial-Decolonial) Church: Toward an Anti-Racism, Decolonial and Inclusive Church.”
His paper addressed the church as a contested and polarized space historically and presently.
“Polarization within churches mirrors wider societal fractures—racial, gender, social, and political,” he said. “A legacy of colonization and enslavement is a central cause.”
He asked: How can the church be both a colonizing and decolonizing force?
“The church is complicit in colonial domination through theology and practice,” he said. “The colonial matrix of power shapes political, economic, gender, and knowledge control.”
His paper addressed key theological justifications, including theological racism against Africans, the Doctrine of Discovery, and the concept of natural slavery.
“Colonial narrative falsely denied Africans their religious and spiritual identities,” he said. “Persistent racial and gender inequality is rooted in colonial legacies.”
Gunda argued that Europe and North America still maintain epistemic hegemony and deny colonial legacies.
“Polarization between western churches, and Indigenous and immigrant churches continues, reflecting broader social tensions,” he said. “Decolonization does not come from superficial changes like new logos or diversity hires.”
Instead, decolonization requires self-critical engagement with church policies, epistemologies, and structures.
“The church must engage critically with capitalism and global injustices” said Gunda. “The church’s legacy is paradoxical: both a colonizing force and a space for decolonial resistance.”
He concluded by emphasizing that moving forward demands honesty, reconciliation, repair, and radical reappraisal.
“A settled, decolonized church can contribute to global justice and healing fractured human relations,” he said.
