One of Africa’s leading theologians Dr Nora K. Nonterah believes strongly in synodality –where all members of the Church journey together in a process of listening and collaboration – but it wasn’t until she was in Rome in 2023 that she realised its true power.
As a delegate at the global Synod on Synodality, she remembers sitting there before the first session began with a feeling of “fear” at what lay ahead. Would all these important and powerful men of the Church – cardinals and bishops – listen to lay people like her?
But when they started the process of discussion, it went so smoothly that she realised there was no question of whether they would listen.
“I felt listened to, and I heard a lot. I had wonderful encounters, reciprocal encounters, and that just made me feel that this was beyond us,” she said.
Dr Nora Nonterah proposing a question to the audience. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
“It was the Holy Spirit – whom we had offered the whole process to – that was at play in the room and allowed that to happen.
“I am more convinced now that the Holy Spirit is the protagonist of our mission and that we have to be more open to the guidance from the Holy Spirit.”
Since then, Nora has returned to her native Ghana more determined to contribute to a better understanding of synodality and how that is important for mission of the Church and society at large. To this end, Dr. Nonterah holds classes and seminars on how to use synodality in people’s lives. She also frequently holds workshops for seminarians and formators about the importance of synodality and how to “live it out” in a faith community. She uses the “conversation in the spirit” method in various settings and teaches it to Christians for use in family and faith community gatherings. She also promotes the synodal outcomes at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where she lectures in the department of Religion and Human Development.
“Synodality never ends, it’s a continuing journey,” she says. “I use it because I believe strongly that synodality is from each one of us; personal conversion, that’s where it starts.
“Synodality has taught me that it is possible for us to do it together – young, old, priests, laity, men, women. It has given me a good perspective of what it means to be a Church, and that perspective is that to be a Church is to acknowledge differences. For me, that is a big gift that I really want to continue to journey with as I live my Christian faith.”
Dr Nora Nonterah addressing the audience during her public lecture as part of the Bishop Vincent Presents series in September 2025. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
The kindling of faith
Nora’s faith was first kindled by her parents, whom she credits with being very influential in setting her on her current path. They taught her the values of the Catholic faith and encouraged her to become involved in her parish community – Christ the King parish in the town of Chiana, in the Upper East Region of Ghana – where she joined the youth group and represented the parish at a diocesan level.
After school, she studied to become a teacher and chose religious and moral education as one of her specialised subjects, without realising what an influence that decision would have on the rest of her life. “My biggest dream actually was to go into law at that point,” she says.
But through her involvement with the youth apostolate in her diocese, she won a scholarship to undertake religious studies at the Pontifical Urbania University in Rome. That lit the fire to continue learning about religion and her faith. “I fell in love with religious studies…and how it is important for both church and society,” she says.
That led to a master’s in religious studies in Rome, and then a few years later she enrolled at the Catholic University of Leuven, in Belgium, to study theology, where she eventually graduated with a doctorate.
Dr Nora Kofognotera Nonterah. Image: Supplied with permission.
‘We have a lot of positives to celebrate’
She is hopeful that the “renewal” of the Church that was begun by Pope Francis will continue to see more involvement especially by women and the laity, as synodality takes root and flourishes.
In Africa, synodality has already begun to involve women like herself in decision-making, as well as other areas of the Church such as theology, canon law and social teaching. But there is still a way to go, she says, as there is in the formation of priests and other clergy, where women still play a marginal role.
“We have a lot of positives to celebrate when it comes to the involvement of women. They are available, they have expertise and they are ready to work for the mission of the Church,” she says.
Dr Nora Nonterah in conversation with Qwayne Guevara. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
“Are there challenges? Yes, there are challenges, but within those challenges, I am hopeful that the greatness and the availability of women would really increase if we continue on the journey of becoming a synodal Church.
“Synodality is the biggest hope for the global Church and also for Africa, which is awakening as a Church to see that we need to learn to do things together.
“This concept of co-responsibility is very important and it gives me a lot of hope. I really appreciate God’s gift of Pope Francis to our contemporary world where he really started this renewal of the Church to emerge as a synodal church.
“Because it is from this concept of renewing ourselves, to make sure that everybody counts, that we can move forward.”
A portrait of Dr Nora Nonterah that was presented to her by a member of the audience during her public lecture as part of the Bishop Vincent Presents series in September 2025. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
Dr Nora K. Nonterah gave a public lecture in Parramatta on 2 September, as part of the Bishop Vincent Presents series. Click here to revisit her presentation.
