‘Robert’s Rules of Order’ on religious conflicts in the Church of Christ in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Church conflicts arise due to poor ethics, hermeneutics or doctrine. Unending conflicts may be historical and conflict resolution may not have been done. This article identifies fissures in the history of conflict in the Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (COCZ). It proposes to use ‘Robert’s Rules of Order’ (RONR) to redirect deliberants’ energies towards comprehensive solutions (Robert 2020). This can eradicate collegial competition, litigious animosity, divided loyalties, mutual hatred, and violent tendencies in negative energy to increase growth tendencies in the organisation. Trust was lost due to highly adversarial contact where legal battles and acrimonious criticisms have not been addressed. The COCZ has tactical, technical and strategic management principles inherited from the restoration history, which can apply in conflict resolution. Using scientific methods of handling conflicts like RONR, and the COCZ principles can hopefully lead to better results in that church.Contribution: The paper contributes to alternatives to conflict resolutions which have been tested within the Church of Christ. The Robert’s Rules can be used in different religious organisations to resolve conflict through peaceful resolutions of difference.

Patterning Constitutional Conflicts in the Church of Christ in Zimbabwe

“…It has also been claimed that the histories of fissions between American and New Zealand missionaries were revived to widen/worsen bad relations between church groups. 94 Some participants argued that the constitution exposed the illegitimacy of 'criminals' claiming to own mission properties. 95 The legacy of Sir Garfield Todd defies dysfunctional uses of conflicts in the church.…”

“…97 Constitutional reform brought hope for change, especially when mission minders claimed to own church properties rather than to be accountable and responsible to the denomination. 98 This denied mission station transition because of greediness. 99…”

Retrospective and Prospective Approaches to Christian Education in Church of Christ Schools in Zimbabwe

“…These mission stations focused on evangelism, education, healthcare, and community development. The American mission stations operated autonomously but closely under the Central Africa Mission (CAM) constitution (Masengwe and Dube 2023b), which allowed them to expand into some parts of Zambia. It is also interesting to note the emergence of another group of COCZ mission stations that held more conservative views, particularly regarding the use of musical instruments.…”

“…Resource competition and attention between different factions in the COCZ with regards to the quality and scope of CE, led to division that broke the church into two groups. The COCZ also became less influential due to fragmentation as conflicting practices in its midst meant that it could not collaborate as an organization, and its institutions could not address the broader CE initiatives in the COCZ (Masengwe and Dube 2023b).…”