Rethinking the identity and economic sustainability of the Church: Case of AOG BTG in Zimbabwe

Tagwirei, Kimion; Masango, Maake J.S.

doi:10.4102/hts.v79i2.8129

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 38 publications

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“…This is why Ezenweke and Kanu (2012, p. 110) avow that the contribution of the Church to national economic development is significant. Tagwirei and Masango (2023) found that churches that operate without economic sustainability often fail to meet the costs of the integral mission. Similarly, Ezenweke and Kanu (2012) commend the Church for showcasing its mandate and its capacity to contribute to national development.…”

Section: Working To Achieve Economic Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Doing the Word: Reawakening the Church to Save Society in Southern Africa

Tagwirei

2024

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Southern African societies are presently beleaguered by manifold socio-economic, political, and environmental challenges. Ordinary people long for answers to questions about how to mitigate these challenges. Meanwhile, the Church mostly preaches the gospel and establishes and grows denominations across the world. Proclaiming the gospel in word is good; however, without demonstrating the gospel with transformational deeds, the Church remains Salvationist and partially missionary. Bearing in mind that the integral mission of the Church is advancing the gospel holistically, fractional mindfulness of the gospel, hearing the words without performing the corresponding deeds, is defacing its identity. Toda–, this situation is problematic and helpless, as society is in dire need of a wholesome Church that acts in accordance with its own faith and values and attends to the soul, the body, and all other facets of life. Much has been published about the integral mission of the Church, though little has been said about its role in social action. By qualitatively reviewing the literature and observing the Southern African context and some biblical examples, this paper finds the integral mission to be the predominant and comprehensive purpose of the existence of the Church. While the Church could be aware of its mandate, it should be reawakened so that it becomes a doer of the Word and stands out as the salt and light of the world by contributing to addressing the needs of society.

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Section: Working To Achieve Economic Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Doing the Word: Reawakening the Church to Save Society in Southern Africa

Tagwirei

2024

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Burial sites as Contested Memorial Terrain: Historicising burial places of African Indigenous church founders in Zimbabwe

Musoni

2024

SHE

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Abrahamic religions emphasise remembering their origins, how they began, where they come from, and possibly where they will keep the flock moving forward without losing focus. “Then Joseph made the sons of Israel (Jacob) swear [an oath], saying, “God will surely visit you and take care of you [returning you to Canaan], and [when that happens] you shall carry my bones up from here.” (Gen 50:35 Amplified Version). Against this backdrop, this article discusses the centrality of the burial sites of the late Bishop Samuel Mutendi and Archbishop Ezekiel Guti. In July 1880, Bishop Samuel Mutendi was born in Zaka, Masvingo, and died at 96 in 1976. Bishop Samuel Mutendi was buried in Gokwe, Defe-Dopota. Archbishop Ezekiel Guti was born on 5 May 1923 in Ngaone, Chipinge, and died at 100 on 5 July 2023. Archbishop Guti was buried in Bindura, Mashonaland East Province. What is critical to note is that the burial places of these two church founders were not the places of their birth. From an African traditional worldview, family members should be buried in their rural villages closer to where their late departed relatives were buried. Additionally, the article observed that Archbishop Guti was given a hero status and should have been buried at the Zimbabwe National Heroes Acre. Still, Guti was buried at Chipindura in Bindura and not at the Heroes Acre or his rural home in Chipinge. The immediate questions one would ask are: what is the significance of Defe, Dopota in Gokwe and Chipindura in Bindura? Or what is the peculiarity of these two places? The current article found that these two burial places were chosen to preserve these African Indigenous churches’ history and pedigrees connecting the past to the present. This study employs a historical approach to uncover the significance of Gokwe and Bindura. Theological reflection was also used to interpret the meaning of choosing Gokwe and Bindura as burial sites for Samuel Mutendi and Ezekiel Guti, respectively.

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Missionizing Church Governance: Transfiguring Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe

Tagwirei

2023

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Pentecostalism has experienced massive growth and evolution, both within Africa and beyond, as is evident through the emergence of dynamic neo-Pentecostal movements, including independent, prophetic, and charismatic churches. However, all its establishments have been primarily characterized by problematic governance. While neo-Pentecostal founders and leaders often asserted that they were breaking away from regressive bureaucracy and supposedly “cold” spiritual practices to embrace a more dynamic approach that advances the missio Dei and missio ecclesiae through expressive and demonstrative ministries, they paradoxically ended up becoming similarly, if not more, regressive. Rather than being focused on serving others (being other-centred), they became self-centred in their actions and priorities. Drawing on missional ecclesiology, extensive engagement with relevant literature, and in-depth phenomenological observation, this paper undertook a qualitative examination of their polities. It interpretively and descriptively assessed and explored the fact that all ecclesial governments exhibit both strengths and weaknesses. In light of this analysis, the paper argues and proposes that churches should integrate their predominant governmental systems with inclusive and empowering principles from other polities. By doing so, they can transform their administrative structures and enhance their missionality.

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Rethinking the identity and economic sustainability of the Church: Case of AOG BTG in Zimbabwe

Cited by 4 publications

References 38 publications

Doing the Word: Reawakening the Church to Save Society in Southern Africa

Doing the Word: Reawakening the Church to Save Society in Southern Africa

Burial sites as Contested Memorial Terrain: Historicising burial places of African Indigenous church founders in Zimbabwe

Missionizing Church Governance: Transfiguring Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe

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