Browsing by Author "Soko, Lukas"
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- ItemPentecostalism and schisms in the Reformed Church in Zambia (1996–2001) : listening to the people(AOSIS Publishing, 2011-11) Soko, Lukas; Hendriks, Hans JurgensThis article is descriptive in nature and a practical theological assessment of the schisms that took place in the Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ) between 1996 and 2001. It analyses empirical evidence to find an answer to the question why it happened. Pentecostal or charismatic tendencies have challenged the long inherited tradition of mainline churches. Subsequently, Pentecostal or charismatic movements have caused intense conflict in the church between the pro-conservatives and pro-Pentecostals. In the RCZ this led to the formation of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in 1999 and the Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) in 2001.
- ItemA practical theological assessment of the schisms in the Reformed church in Zambia (1996-2001)(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2010-12) Soko, Lukas; Hendriks, Hans Jurgens; Nell, Ian; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is descriptive research and a practical theological study of the schisms in the Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ) that took place between 1996 and 2001 and led to the formation of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) and the Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA). It aims to analyse the historical, global and local contexts as regards these schisms in the RCZ. The research questions are: What led to these splits, how did they happen and how can they be prevented? No measures have been put in place to educate or guard against further schisms. The goal of this study is to propose informed precautionary measures to the RCZ to prevent a recurrence of schisms in future. Chapter 2 describes the faith tradition of the RCZ. Various historical perspectives from the colonial period to those of the current Zambia are discussed in order to provide an understanding of this denomination's identity. It also tries to determine whether her political and missionary legacy has influenced the RCZ's leadership style and structures. Chapter 3 is an attempt to understand the contextual influences that globalization have brought about. The correlation between the global and religious trends affords a perspective on the "why" question of the schisms. Various global and local developments are the major focus of this chapter. It also discusses three levels of influence: macro (the global society), meso (the Zambian society), and micro (faith communities at congregation level). In Africa, the Pentecostal/charismatic oriented Christian prosperity movements have caused one of its endemic problems, i.e. the tension. Within the context of the RCZ tradition and faith practices, the Pentecostal/charismatic tendencies have challenged the long inherited autocratic church leadership styles. Pentecostal/charismatic prosperity movements flew in the faces of the denominationally organized churches with their Western origin, such as the RCZ. Subsequently, Pentecostal/charismatic movements have caused intense conflict in the church between the pro-conservatives and pro-Pentecostals. The police even had to close certain RCZ congregations because of skirmishes. At this stage of the study, a hypothesis became clear: The one-party state, with its autocratic presidential powers, continued the missionary legacy of autocratic rule in the independence and post-independence era, which had a direct impact on church leadership. Rutoro (2007) came to the same conclusion in his research on leadership in the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe. Chapter 4 is descriptive and provides a survey of what the documental sources of the RCZ and the printed media reveal about the schisms. The Synod's recommendations and resolutions from 1996 to 2001 give a clear picture of what occurred, as well as the intensity of the conflict. This chapter also reveals how the RCZ interpreted and handled the situation. Chapter 5 discusses the empirical data-gathering methods and the pilot study. Chapter 6 deals with the interpretation of the gathered data and compares it with the findings of Chapter 4. It is an exercise in triangulation - done after the first five chapters were written and affirmed what Chapter 4 concluded but, because of the narrative part of many of the answers supplied in the open-ended questionnaire, more was learned from it than was expected. From this study, it is clear that the church leadership should focus on understanding the *winds of change* in order to discern the way forward and adapt to leadership styles and challenges. Making theologically informed decisions are an absolute priority for the RCZ. This study recommends that church leadership, at least all the ministers, should be trained in conflict resolution and management and should stay abreast of God's missional praxis in this fast and ever-changing world.