The Seen, Heard, and Proclaimed (1 John 1:1-4): The Root of Synodality in the Universal Church

Abstract

Something leads to something just as something begets something. This idea is summarized by the Igbo adage which says, ofu aka ruta mmanu ozuo ndi ozo1. Christ's incarnation and his subsequent resurrection are the foundation of the Church which is the body of Christ. This Church is made up of different groups (ministers and the laity) that function in synodality. Synodality is depreciating today in the church because those who have seen and heard are no longer proclaiming what encourages fraternally journeying together. This paper aims to show that the communion, participation, and mission of the Church today are no longer what they used to be in the early period of the Church because both the ministers and especially the laity are no longer proclaiming with vigour what they have seen and heard. The researcher used the Historical critical method of exegesis in the analysis of our text. The researcher discovered that synodality has waned because the majority no longer shares in the life of the ministers that share in God through Jesus Christ. Significantly, this work will be of immense benefit to both ministers and laity all over the world.