‘I am because we are’ - what Christians can learn from the African concept of ‘ubuntu’

The theme of this World Quaker Day is the little-known African word ‘ubuntu’. In an increasingly divided world, understanding what unites us as Christians is vital, says Tim Gee

If you’re a Christian, you might have heard of the Quakers, perhaps as one of the smaller denominations, a historic peace church, or a group that worships principally in silence. But you might not know that globally, there are around 400,000 Quakers - the majority of whom are in Africa - spanning a range of theologies from evangelical to liberal, with a wide variety of worship styles.

As General Secretary to the world committee, I am tasked with holding this diverse community together, and I spend a lot of time thinking about the things we have in common. There are at least three, namely; a direct, unmediated relationship with the divine, a shared history, and our work for peace and justice.