1,720,965 research outputs found
Decolonising the Church for Sustainable Development in Africa
Get PDFJournal Article, The Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society Faculty of Theology, North-West University, PotchefstroomAfrican ecclesiology and development have been highly influenced by the way White Missionaries Christianised Africa. Since Africa regained its independence, progressive scholarly attention was given to the decolonisation discourse, but ecclesial mission continues to bear retrogressive marks of colonial missiology. As Christianity has grown massively in Africa, while declining in Europe and the West, missionary trajectories have changed and a need for the African Church to contribute to integral mission, especially in relation to sustainable development in underdeveloped and developing Africa, has arisen. Therefore, the African Church ought to be interdependent, selfsustaining, self-governing and self-determining, while it appreciates and relates to Western churches as equal partners of the global Church. Problematically, countless African churches are still dependent on their Western mother churches, partners and donors to facilitate local ecclesiastic, leadership and followership development programmes, to the extent that some Africans provokingly infer that the God of the Church in Africa is White. As the gospel is inclusive, having White Westerners ministering to Black African ecclesial work is inclusionary and complementary. However, the failure of Africans to balance foreign support with contextualization hinders their integral mission and contribution to African sustainable development. The Church can only be transformative and relevant if it is well contextualised. Theoretically framed under decoloniality and based on a literature review, this study finds that the Church has not contributed much towards the African socio-economic and political development. It recommends the Church decolonises its sustainability, theological education, leadership development and mission to be contextually transformative
Weeding Syncretism from Pentecostal Wheat in Zimbabwe
Get PDFJournal Article, The Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society Faculty of Theology, North-West University, PotchefstroomThe swift spread, establishment, and dynamism of Pentecostalism has in its diverse manifestations stirred a multitude of complex questions and dilemmas. While its contextualization is intertwined with syncretism, by which is meant the incorporation or attempted amalgamation of different religions with diverse schools of thought, the exceptional growth of Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe far surpasses its connection with syncretic elements. This study reveals that most Pentecostals are diligent and aggressive in praying, planting churches, and living out their faith. Their commitment extends beyond mere words to contextually needful exploits, such as prophecy, healing, deliverance, and economic prosperity. However, their inclusive contextualization has at times ensnared them in potentially detrimental syncretic practices. Problematically, the evaluation of their syncretic practices is complicated by the delicate distinction between contextualization and syncretism. It is akin to the challenging task of removing weeds from a field of wheat, where there is a risk of uprooting the wheat prematurely. Engaging with existing literature, employing interpretive phenomenology and participative observations, this article explores how we should respond to Pentecostal syncretism. Refactoring the development of Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe through a number of factors such as its missionized apostolic governance, diversified economics, transformational leitourgia, aggressive kerygma, and contextualization, it draws lessons from the parable of the wheat and weeds (Matthew 13: 24 to 30, and verses 36 to 43) to propose sustainable strategies that can be used to manage syncretism without ravaging the integral Pentecostal missionary being
Developing African Christian Leaders for Global Transformation
Get PDFJournal Article. The Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society, Faculty of Theology, North-West University, PotchefstroomChristianity is growing massively in the Global South, while it is declining in the rest of the world. This has changed the trajectory of missionary work. Africans used to be recipients, but are now benefactors who promote the gospel and lead mega-churches beyond their motherlands. Correspondingly, African Christian leaders ought to develop their capacities. While some of them appreciate the importance of leadership development, as confirmed by publicized leadership seminars and conferences, few African churches have contextualized Christian leadership development frameworks. Most problematically, countless Christian leaders have been the subjects of disturbing controversies, and they age and die without having prepared people to succeed them. By failing to do so, they betray the mission of God and the Church. Although having a call is invaluable for ministry and leadership, continuous leadership development is highly necessary for effectiveness, as ministerial needs grow daily while the capacities of Church leaders are limited. Applying grounded research as theory and engaging with contemporary literature, this paper reviewed African Christian leadership, and drew on leadership development models from the Old and New Testaments, in view of Malphurs and Mancini’s (2004) leadership development framework. This paper identified the necessity of contextualizing leadership development, appraising incumbent leaders, and addressing their situational challenges and needs, and recommends consistent holistic capacity enhancement in correspondence with changing times, contexts, people and place
Reconciling the pain with gain of Church leadership conflict in Zimbabwe
Get PDFJournal Article, The Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society, Faculty of Theology, North-West University, PotchefstroomSince time immemorial, there has been demonisation of conflict that entangles Church leaders and congregants in Zimbabwe. Innumerable publications have exposed multifarious negative effects of ecclesial conflicts, such as dividing the parties involved, splitting churches and creating space for dubious and cultist opportunists to take up leadership positions at the expense of gullible believers. While this happens, focusing on the negative consequences of conflict prolongs the hurt and pain, while delaying healing, closure, peace and development. Thus, the positive effects of conflict represent a critical gap in need of attention. Employing qualitative literature review, biblical peace and conflict management principles, this submission reconciles the aforementioned downsides with the upsides of Church conflict, such as necessitating introspection and exposing hidden issues that need attention. It finds conflict unavoidable, yet sometimes destructive, constructive and indicative that certain issues must be addressed. All in all, it recommends that Church leaders should not delay, or rub off, but manage conflict and upgrade their conflict management as well as peace building skills in view of biblical precepts to stay progressive in any situation.
Contribution: This article reconciles the negative with the positive effects of Church leadership conflicts to achieve ecclesial and community development
The ministry of presence in absence : pastoring online in Zimbabwe during the COVID-19 pandemic
Get PDFThis research is part of the research project ‘Hermeneutics and Exegesis’ directed by Prof. Dr Ernest van Eck, Department of New Testament and Related Literature, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria.Since time immemorial, pastoral ministry has been physically present in church buildings, homes and public places, providing face-to-face care and reassurance of God's love and accompaniment. The tragic outbreak and speedy spread of COVID-19 from China triggered unprecedented challenges, dramatically led to restrictive national lockdowns, closure of physical meetings, fundamentally unsettled routine ways of doing ministry and demanded total digitalisation of the gospel, which eventually rendered the ministry of physical presence absent. While doing ministry online seemed to have been working well in other countries, it has been a uniquely different trajectory in Zimbabwe predominantly because of financial, material, human incapacitation as well as cultural and other contextual factors. Scholarly research on online pastoral praxis in Zimbabwe is scanty. Applying Osmer's methodology, this study reviewed lived experiences and challenges of pastors in ministering virtually since the beginning of lockdowns early 2020 hitherto late 2021. It interrogated the ministry of presence and understanding of digitalisation. Amidst a plethora of social, political and economic drawbacks, this article unearthed erratic capability, affordability, availability, connectivity and feasibility of digitalised shepherding. Taking physical presence as incarnation of the triune God, demonstration of love, care and accompaniment as indispensable in pastoral ministry, this article stressed the significance of physical presence. However, considering the prevailing COVID-19 and contextual constrictions, it recommended that pastors should appreciate and submit their congregants to the ubiquitous and indispensable spiritual presence of God while redoubling efforts in ministering through contextually feasible ways until lockdowns end.
CONTRIBUTION: This article provides a critical biblical and scholarly review and analysis of the ministry of presence during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. This will provoke pastors, churches and church bodies to rethink and reconsider progressive strategies towards contextually effective pastoral theology, ministry and ecclesiology in times of pandemics in the context of economic volatility.http://www.hts.org.zaNew Testament Studie
Rebuilding the broken walls of Zimbabwe with the Church, leadership and followership
Get PDFJournal Article. The Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society, Faculty of Theology, North-West University, PotchefstroomBiblically and historically, Christianity is meant to enlighten people, transform lives, and develop responsible and effective leaders and followers who influence life-building change across generations and borders. Somehow, even while churches mushroom everywhere, selfishness, irresponsible citizenship, moral decadence, systematic corruption, and related travails proliferate and are sinking Zimbabwe into monumental political, economic and social crises. Meanwhile, the holistic mission of the Church has been narrowed down to proclamation, while demonstration of the gospel has lost attention, and the integral mission has become socialised and secularised. As a result, Christian principles of leadership and followership, such as stewardship, servanthood, responsible citizenship and all-encompassing service delivery, have become correspondingly elusive. The ruling government of Zimbabwe has been militantly silencing dissenting voices and the nation has a dire need for a prophetic voice to speak about reformation. Meanwhile the Church is sheepish, divided, erratic, somewhat inaudible and this submission addresses that gap. Some Church members appear helpless and hopeless, while countless others are migrating to cool off in neighbouring countries, to seek greener pastures, political and socio-economic relief. Thus, many Zimbabweans – those who are scattered and those still in Zimbabwe – are in critical need of a great revival. By reflecting on the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s broken walls by Nehemiah, and employing an in-depth analysis of available transformational leadership and Christian literature, this article calls for an inclusive, spiritual, strategic and integrally missionary revival, to achieve a revolutionary transformation of leadership, followership, and nation building.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications
This article interfaces ecclesiology and transformational leadership with politics for inclusive transformation
Beyond tenure: reviewing the welfare and ministry of retired pastors in Zimbabwe
Get PDFIncreasing numbers of retired pastors have been struggling with welfare and ministry challenges upon retirement in Zimbabwe for decades. Scholarship on the wellbeing and ministry of retired pastors in Zimbabwe is scanty. Thus, this study explored problems that the pastors of the Assemblies of God Back to God (AOG BTG) face after retirement. Applying Osmer’s methodology, this paper addressed what the church, and pastors could do to prepare for, and deal with their difficulties. It proposed that the church could rebuild her economic sustainability to resource pastors to effectively prepare for retirement, adopt pension plans and support different ministries that they could engage in. It also recommended that pastors could embrace tent–making to enhance their economic sustainability and prepare for retirement through establishing fellowship and mentorship programs to withstand loneliness and contribute to the development of clerical human resources, utilizing wisdom from their experiences. This article reviews problems that pastors face upon retirement in Zimbabwe, and solutions that they can consider. It draws the attention of the Church and clerics to their welfare and ministry after tenure
The identity of the church and quest for her economic sustainability : a case study of the AOG BTG church in Zimbabwe
Get PDFThesis (PhD (Practical Theology and Mission studies)) University of Pretoria, 2022.Zimbabwe’s economic predicament has been bedeviling indigenous lives and exposing the unsustainability of conventional sources of income in Zimbabwe for more than a decade. Most classical Pentecostal denominations that have been depending on tithes, freewill offerings; other congregational collections, local and foreign donations have been struggling to meet their operating costs and failing to afford holistic mission in the volatile Zimbabwean economic context while few that established businesses flourished in the same setting. Partial mindfulness to the gospel in word without corresponding deeds portrayed an exclusively Salvationist and less integral image, defaced ecclesiastic identification when Zimbabwe is anxiously in dire need of a wholesome Church that values and attends to all areas of life. The quandary was worsened by Covid–19, national political instability, policy discrepancies, flawed rule of law, venality, skyrocketing inflation and related constraints. Although massive devotion has been given to the abusive commercialization of the gospel by most neo–Pentecostal denominations, studies on the identity and economy of classical Pentecostal churches is scanty. Thus, this study observed the quagmire and vulnerability of classical Pentecostal churches without diversified revenue and discussed the importance of economizing them. It reviewed the nature of the selected Assemblies of God Back to God (which is referred in this study as the AOG BTG) church and interfaced ecclesiology with economics. It applied a theonomic reciprocity theoretical framework, which integrates divine provision, human dependence and submission to God while correspondingly and responsibly working with given human, material and financial resources towards economic tenability. The study adopted a qualitative research design, applied purposive sampling, used in–depth interviews, and employed a descriptive and interpretive data analysis approach to categorize, discuss, reflect, analyze, interpret and present meanings of gathered views. Findings of the study are that the AOG BTG church is challenged by a tension between her costly missionary identity and demands of her poor economic context. It is established that all congregational offerings, local and foreign donations are undependable and unpredictable because they are subservient to erratic availability, kindheartedness and capacity of denominational members and donors. This study uncovered that the church sweats with policy gaps, conceptual misunderstandings and conflicting perceptions on the theologies of business and volunteerism. Consequently, she repeatedly steps forward and backward as leaders keep agreeing and disagreeing on whether to embrace, shelve or shun business. More–so, the denomination lacks feasible strategies for economic development as she only submits to faith while doing nothing much to diversify her incomes. Drawing from views of participants, and submissions of engaged scholars, this study proposes that she should theologize theonomic reciprocity and adopt contextually viable developmental strategies such as interlinking faith with economics, reconciling missio Ecclesiae with business, rebuilding congregational stewardship, setting up a business development unit, reviewing volunteerism, and harnessing available human, material and financial resources to become economically sustainable in Zimbabwe. The church is recommended to evaluate, overhaul her operating system and free herself from traditionalism through embracing the aforementioned strategies towards sustaining integral mission, pastoral ministry and welfare.Life Abundant GrantPractical TheologyPhD (Practical Theology and Mission studies)Unrestricte
Beyond tithes and offerings: Revolutionising the economics of Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe
Get PDFThe Zimbabwean economic crisis has exposed the unsustainability of traditional sources of Church finances. Churches that depend on tithes, freewill offerings and donations have been facing incapacitation, a disturbing predicament that has been further worsened by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the context of abject poverty and perennial price hikes of basic commodities. While attention has been given to the exploitative commercialisation of the gospel by charismatic churches, scholarship on the economics of classical Pentecostal churches is scanty. Observing fluctuating, unsustainable and unreliable incomes, this study explored the vulnerability of operating without diversified revenue and fundamentality of economising ecclesiology. Applying a theonomic reciprocity concept and using a literature-based approach, this article overviewed the nexus between ecclesiology and economics, reviewed and problematised traditional sources of ecclesial finances. Resultantly, it proposed diversification of revenue through business, interrogated problems and panaceas of doing business as churches. Conclusively, the study argued that when churches establish investments, they will not only sustain themselves, but also missionise their businesses and advance the gospel in the marketplace, hence the rationality of revolutionising their economics.
Contribution: This article debunks the interplay of ecclesiology and economics by reviewing contextual realities and financial sources of classical Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe. It calls for scholarly and clerical attention to a theology of stewardship and investment towards economic sustainability, effective operationalisation and realisation of missio Ecclesiae in volatile contexts
A critical assessment of church and political engagement in Zimbabwe under the new dispensation
Get PDFSince the reign of the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Zimbabwe has been seized by retrogressive
puppetisation of partisan gospel ministers and churches, worsened by state victimisation of
those who stand against political ills. Church and state relations were compromised and fear
gripped most citizens. At his inauguration, the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa
pledged a ‘new dispensation’ but contrarily remained similar to the preceding regime. Today,
Church and state relations remain compromised as leaders appear accommodative when
supported and vindictive when critiqued. The prevailing situation divided the Church, leaving
some pastors dining with oppressive leaders whilst others side with the oppressed, culminating
in disturbing polarisation. Ruling politicians captured some gospel ministers to sanitise the
‘new dispensation’ and vilify its critics. Although multiple researches have been carried out on
Church and politics in Zimbabwe, the lack of clarity on how churches should engage with the
state remains an ongoing challenge. Using a literature-based approach, this article evaluates
ecclesial engagement with national politics in view of the Old Testament’s fearless prophetic
involvement in politics and the New Testament’s understanding of the Church as the salt and
the light of the world (Mt 5:13–16). Results of this assessment are that Church engagements
with politics have been defined by economic volatility, polarisation, corruptibility,
hermeneutical weaknesses and theological differences. The article concludes that the Church
should contextually apply the Old Testament’s prophetic stance and the New Testament’s ‘salt
and light’ engagement in Zimbabwe.
INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS : Assessing Church and political
engagement in Zimbabwe under the new dispensation in light of the Old Testament’s prophetic
involvement in politics and the New Testament’s conceptualisation of the Church as salt and
light (Mt 5:13–16) is a contextually critical contribution that interfaces ecclesiology with Christian, biblical, public and political theologies.http://www.ve.org.zaam2023New Testament Studie
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