Outline of the Exhortation

8. The Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops examined thoroughly the topic which had been placed before it: "The Church in Africa and her evangelizing mission towards the Year 2000: ?You shall be my witnesses' (Acts 1:8)". This Exhortation will therefore endeavour to follow closely the same thematic framework. It will begin from the historic moment, a true kairos, in which the Synod was held, examining its objectives, preparation and celebration. It will consider the current situation of the Church in Africa, recalling the different phases of missionary commitment. It will then examine the various aspects of the evangelizing mission which the Church must take into account at the present time: evangelization, inculturation, dialogue, justice and peace, and the means of social communication. A mention of the urgent tasks and challenges facing the Church in Africa on the eve of the Year 2000 will enable us to sketch out the tasks of Christ's witnesses in Africa, so that they will make a more effective contribution to the building up of God's Kingdom. It will thus be possible at the end to de scribe the responsibilities of the Church in Africa as a missionary Church: a Church of mission which itself becomes missionary: "You shall be my witnesses to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).