Browsing by Author "Kaunda, Chammah Judex."
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Item An African symbolic Hermeneutical critique of the theory and practice of penal substitution theory of the Doctrine of Atonement in Church Of Christ in Nations (COCIN) within the context of Jos, Nigeria.(2018) Luxman, Yusuf Jactu.; Hewitt, Roderick Raphael.; Kaunda, Chammah Judex.This study is an African symbolic hermeneutical critique of the penal substitution theory, a theological concept that constitutes one of the ecclesial doctrines of the atonement as understood and practiced by the Church of Christ in Nations in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. The leaders and members live and practice this doctrine within Jos, a context plagued with systemic and symbolic violence. African symbolic hermeneutics is an ongoing broader perspective used in inculturating Euro-centric Christian doctrines within Africa. This perspective offers an afro-centric nuance in transmitting European cultured Christianity in Africa. Through the African symbolic hermeneutical perspective, this study interrogated the penal substitution theory as a missio-cultural tool that the church can utilise to respond to the violence-prone context. The study also examines the extent to which the leaders and laity are equipped with the African symbolic approaches that can adequately respond to the systemic and symbolic violence. The focus on the clergy leaders is because theologically they are trained to communicate the church’s doctrines and disciplines to its members. The penal substitution theory of the doctrine of atonement asserts that Christ took the legal responsibility of human sin and through his death paid the debt in order to satisfy the compulsory justice of God. In light of this, contemporary scholars have argued that this core teaching of the church has the potential for its followers to embrace violence as a method of demonstrating their allegiance to Christ and the church. Consequent to the retributive nuance contained within the doctrine, this study calls into question the context in which the doctrine was constructed and how this it was transplanted by the Western missionaries following the founding of the Church of Christ in Nations. Contemporary scholars have proposed a shift from the traditional Penal substitution theory of the doctrine of atonement which presents Christ as one who was violently punished for the sake of fallen humankind to a perspective that presents him as one who identifies with God’s love of creation. This assertion was made possible through an empirical research conducted within the Church of Christ in Nations in Jos, Plateau State where it was presented, analysed and interpreted. The symbolic hermeneutical perspective used in this study therefore seeks to appropriate the retributive understanding of the substitutionary work of Christ through the symbolic African viii cultural experience of Pyem people, one of the ethnic groups within Jos, Plateau State, which can better serve as a medium through which the penal substitution theory can be expressed within the violence-prone context of Jos. This serves as an alternative model of the doctrine under consideration that can equip the missional identity of the Church of Christ in Nations to positively respond to the religio-cultural, socio-political and violent context of Jos so as to bring about a just peace among its religiously diverse population.Item Creation as a dwelling place of God : a critical analysis of an African biocentric theology in the works of Gabriel M. Setiloane.(2010) Kaunda, Chammah Judex.; Phiri, Isabel Apawo.The study argues that for the African church to become responsive to the changing circumstances with regard to the African ecological crisis, there is a need to reconstruct those aspects of Christianity that are non-functional in an African Christian context. Drawing insights from both Gabriel Setiloane‘s thoughts on African Biocentric theology and the myths of origin among the Yoruba, the Chewa and the Boshongo people, the study argues that in African cosmology, there is a clear interconnectedness that does not allow for complete independence of one another as is the case in the western world-view. In this regard, the study argues that these African myths of origin are not only feasible but are a more plausible theological response to the contemporary understanding of the universe emerging from scientific explanation of the development of life on earth than the Judaeo-Christian myth of origin (Setiloane 1986:15). In African thought, as envisaged by Setiloane and the three myths of origin, cosmic harmony and balance depend on the integrity of each being for the sake of all other creation. This means that every action that does not affirm life in the cosmos has an effect not only on other creation but on humanity as well. Thus, the study proposes that for African Christian ecological theology to be effective in the context of Africa, first, it must embrace a unified approach to the cosmos and all things because both the physical and spiritual share the same community and the Creator. Thus, there will be equality between humans and nonhuman nature. Second, it must rediscover the Holy Spirit in the African concept of Vital Force and God must be seen as dwelling in the cosmos through the Holy Spirit. This view will re-sacralise the material universe on account that it will be seen as the holy of holies, a dwelling place of God.Item Healing ministry, conflict and Methodism: the case of Mabelreign, Epworth and Mbare societies of the Methodist church in Zimbabwe (MCZ).(2018) Mujinga, Martin.; Hewitt, Roderick Raphael.; Kaunda, Chammah Judex.This study focuses on a critique of healing ministry, conflict and Methodism: the case of Mabelreign, Epworth and Mbare (MEM) societies of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ). The project seeks to find out the nature of the healing ministry practiced by MCZ and the extent to which MEM societies respond meaningfully to the healing needs of their members within the local cultural context. The research uses the missio-cultural framework as postulated by Roderick Hewitt (2012), with the aim of analysing how mission and culture1 can come into dialogue in the theology of healing ministry in MCZ. Using the inculturation lens of Edward Antonio (2006) to converse with this discourse, the thesis argues that healing ministry is intrinsic to the missional calling of the MCZ in its given cultural milieu, however, this mission has been severely neglected because it has not been taken seriously in the church’s ministry. This situation has resulted in dual membership, syncretism and/or the total transfer of membership from MCZ to either African Initiated Churches (AICs) or newer Pentecostal churches. The research notes that healing ministry in the MCZ dates back to the time of John Wesley in the eighteenth century England and his hermeneutical emphasis on biblical texts that gave priority to the healing ministry of Jesus amongst the poor. Wesley’s theology was grounded in healing ministry, however, the Methodism that was transported and transplanted to Zimbabwe by the missionaries in 1891 did not fit in the African culture, thereby causing missio-cultural conflicts which led to the formation of six AICs that separated from MCZ since the 1950s. The empirical study uses the phenomenological method to observe and to draw findings from both MCZ leaders and ordinary members of the selected societies through interviews. The research concludes by challenging MCZ to revisit its theology of healing since this was the foundation of early Methodism. In spite of some external factors influencing healing ministry in the MCZ, the church needs to give theological clarity to its understanding and practice of healing because failure to do so will risk creating division among its clergy and laity. This is especially so because the weak socioeconomic conditions within Zimbabwe have pushed many people into poverty and this has impacted negatively on the physical, psychological, spiritual and economic health of many citizens. This is exacerbated by religious contestation that MCZ has found itself in, whereby members are now more concerned about their healing than loyalty to their church. I am aware that the word culture has many interpretations and all forms of human evolve from culture. This makes the word to have various interpretations. In this research, the word culture will be used with specific reference to African culture especially Zimbabwean culture given that this is the focus of the research. membership. If MCZ has to give its members the resource of wholesome living, then healing ministry should be at the centre of its mission.Item "Imagining a just and equitable African Christian community" : a critical analysis of the contribution of Theological Education Fund/Ecumenical Theological Education (1910-2012).(2013) Kaunda, Chammah Judex.; Phiri, Isabel Apawo.; Hewitt, Roderick Raphael.This study utilizes a systematic review method to assess literature about the Protestant Christian tradition to enhance theological education in the African context. It explores the development and transformation of African theological education in the period 1910 to 2012. A ‘follow the money trail method of investigation’ was utilized to expose the theological issues that African theologians fundraised for African theological education through the Theological Education Fund/Ecumenical Theological Education of World Council of Churches. These were perceived as crucial in developing an African theological education that promotes the principles of a just and equitable African Christian community. The primary data was extracted by utilizing an approach that demanded searching various media sources which included electronic databases. The search strategy for electronic databases was developed from the key words and phrases of the research question. The search yielded about 10, 821 results and having carefully perused through them, 169 primary sources were included in this study. This was significant as it helped make sense of a large body of literature and was a means of isolating and synthesising the main theories and pragmatics of African theological education. The insights gained from this study are significant as a contribution to the current search for a vision of African theological education that promotes the principles of a just and equitable African Christian community in the twenty-first century. The study makes two unique contributions in the search and vision for African theological education. The contribution lies in constructing an example of an African pedagogy of community of life which is based on education for life-giving. This pedagogy is based on the Bemba understanding of insaka which is a process of life-giving-learning methodology. This theme is as relevant for global Christianity as it is to the Bemba people in their quest for life-giving theological education. Another critical contribution lies in the understanding that through Africanization, African theological education has been in a process of acquiring its own unique character or theological identity. African theological education has shifted from a merely dogmatic orientation to praxis orientation. This is based on a theological pedagogy that recognises that doing theological education involves critical engagement in a missional process of liberation—of seeking fullness of life in its interpenetrative dimensions as spiritual-material starting with the least of the community, but embracing the whole of God’s creation. To achieve this, theological education has to cut across denominational allegiances, privileging of academic disciplines, and embracing the insaka pedagogy of life through ecumenical and trans-disciplinary approaches. The viability of African theological education resides in its critical engagement with the concrete societal challenges of the African peoples. As a result, this study argues that creating a just and equitable African Christian community to a large extent depends on embracing the life-giving pedagogy as an imperative in African theological education.