African Theological Journal for Church and Society

Guest Editorial

Verena Schafroth, Ryan Faber — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

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Intersectional dynamics

Sibongile Chikosi — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

This study explores the intersectional dynamics between African Traditional Religion (ATR) and Christianity in relation to women in Zimbabwe. In precolonial African societies, women held significant leadership roles as custodians of tradition, community welfare, and social cohesion within both ATR and early Christian expressions. Colonialism and missionary evangelisation contributed to the marginalisation of indigenous religious systems, resulting in the erosion of certain cultural practices. This weakened African cultural identity and reduced the participation and empowerment of women and girls in community and spiritual activities. As a result, many Zimbabwean Christians feel ATR values and practices and other traditional elements are missing from contemporary Christianity. In response to perceived gaps in Christian worship practices, some believers seek to reconnect ATR and Christian traditions, creating a hybrid religious experience shaped by cultural memory, spiritual identity, and historical legacy. This study examines how norms, beliefs, and practices within ATR and Christianity intersect, particularly focusing on women’s positions within this hybrid religious space and its implications for social and spiritual justice in Zimbabwe. Using critical documentary analysis and phenomenological methods, the study incorporates insights from ten key informant interviews, analysed through thematic analysis. It investigates how colonial history, cultural identity, evangelisation, and conversion dynamics continue to shape the relationship between ATR and Christianity. Findings indicate limited formal integration between ATR and Christianity, alongside ongoing tensions, misunderstandings, and cultural discontinuities. The study also highlights emerging possibilities for coexistence and contextual theology that incorporate indigenous African spiritual values into Christian worship. It concludes that ATR and Christianity in Zimbabwe exist in a complex, evolving relationship shaped by historical, cultural, and spiritual factors. It argues that constructive engagement through interfaith dialogue, contextual theology, and cultural reconciliation can enhance inclusive worship practices, promote cultural preservation, and strengthen women’s roles in religious and community life.

Myths and taboos about the religiosity of Christian women

Eunice Nalamele Alberto Chiquete — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Religiosity and spirituality are deeply embedded in the daily lives of African women, directly influencing social issues and their overall life dynamics. The strength of female spirituality and religiosity is a growing concern in the Angolan religious context, as these elements are intrinsically linked to the cultural worldview. Such cultural manifestations constitute pillars of women's lives, giving meaning to their most decisive and existential moments. Consequently, the rites and taboos often practiced among women are directly related to their basic religious beliefs, conferring not only meaning but also shaping women's Christian identity and spiritual practice. Thus, there is a critical gap between the insufficiency of the Christian faith, as it has been presented, in providing adequate and contextualised responses to the practical challenges of the lives of Angolan women. This makes urgent and necessary a practical and contextual theology that provides and validates the depth of the Christian faith to provide answers to the vital questions of the life of Christian women in this context. When the church does not offer a theology that responds to the fear of spirits or the protection of the newborn, the Christian woman, pressured by insecurity, resorts to the solutions of the traditional worldview. The result is a syncretistic Christianity that professes Christ in worship services, but resorts to traditional ritual in moments of crisis, which is the result of a profound weakness in the biblical teaching that is given to women. The use of amulets, fear of sterility or disease, the value and dignity of women intrinsically linked to their fertility, idolatry of motherhood, and syncretic rituals to ensure the health and protection of children are evidence that there is a fundamental theological tension between trust in providence and ritualistic manipulation. Therefore, it is necessary to bring a teaching that considers the way women interpret the events of life through a practical and contextual theology that applies the gospel to cultural gaps. By empowering women to understand Christ as Lord of life, death, and fertility, the Angolan church not only preserves sound doctrine, but also promotes true social and spiritual liberation. The resulting spirituality will cease to be a refuge from fear and will become a celebration of freedom in Christ, where the Son truly sets people free (John 8:36).

Addressing Contemporary Challenges in African Missions

Funmilola A. Olabisi — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

In recent times, the conversation in Africa's religious circles has attempted to invalidate the Christian faith, raising concerns in the hearts of believers whose knowledge of faith is shallow. Through various platforms such as social media and traditional broadcasting channels, skeptics and agnostics have publicly discredited the finished work of Christ, challenging believers to provide answers to questions regarding their faith. This has discouraged many believers, and many more might still be discouraged. There is, therefore, a need for ministers and ministries around the world to seek ways of inculcating sound biblical knowledge in believers and enhancing their commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission. This study demonstrates the relevance of apologetics in achieving the twin objectives of enhanced faith-based knowledge and increased commitment to the Great Commission. In conducting the research, the study employed a systematic literature review method, drawing on research literature from theological, missiological, biblical, and philosophical fields to analyse the significance of apologetics in the context of the current challenges that African missions face. The sources used in the study include the Scripture as a primary source, along with peer-reviewed journals and academic monographs. The study highlighted some dominant issues in mission and ways to enhance believers' knowledge through the inclusion and adaptation of apologetics in church and ministry settings, thereby helping believers to be more rooted, better able to defend their faith and more equipped to effectively communicate Christ. The literature indicates that believers are broadly aware of the concept of apologetics, but its acceptance and usage remain at the nascent stage. However, it was established that the appropriate use of apologetics would significantly enhance believers' confidence when reaching the lost.

From Domesticity to Mission

Esther Humbe — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

This study examines the missionary agency of African Christian women in Buhera District, Zimbabwe, arguing that everyday domestic and community practices constitute significant yet often unrecognised expressions of Christian mission. Although mission is frequently associated with formal church structures, ordained leadership, and organised evangelism, African Christian women participate in mission through the ordinary spaces of family and community life. This study makes use of contextual missiology and an Afrocentric-womanist paradigm, which provide a theological lens and a culturally-grounded lens for interpreting women lived experiences and missionary agency within the Shona context. A qualitative phenomenological approach is employed, using semi-structured interviews, observations, and desk research. The research findings reveal that, first, marriage provides a context through which women transmit and sustain Christian faith within households and kinship networks. Second, women exercise missionary agency through spiritual giftedness, including prayer, healing, counselling, and spiritual care. Third, caregiving for children, orphans, older people, and other vulnerable members of the community constitutes an embodied expression of Christian compassion. Fourth, women’s participation in funerals create spaces for pastoral care, consolation, worship, and Christian witness. Fifth, domestic utensils including clay pots, cooking sticks, and brooms, acquire religious significance within African Christian practices and become material resources through which women participate in mission. The study argues that Christian mission in African contexts extends beyond formal ecclesiastical structures into everyday spaces where faith is embodied, transmitted, and sustained. It concludes that recognising women's domestic and community practices as missionary agency contributes to a more contextually grounded understanding of mission and affirms African Christian women as significant agents in the life and growth of Christianity in rural Zimbabwe.

The History and Impact of Malawian Mission Schools on Sustainable Development

Phoebe Faith Chifungo — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

In Africa, it is almost impossible to talk about United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 without considering the impact made by mission schools. Mission schools are the foundation of education in most African nations and they need huge support from the government. Unfortunately, with the development of public schools, most mission schools have been abandoned and no longer receive any support from the government. Most mission schools are depleted, and their performance have declined. The article argues that unless the government works hand in hand with and supports the mission schools, the 2030 SDGs and Agenda 2063 will end up being a wishful dream. The African population is growing extremely quickly, making it hard for government schools to provide the needed education. This paper explores the history and impact of mission schools on sustainable development in Malawi and the role that the government has in supporting these schools. This paper employs a qualitative research method, where personal interviews are conducted to collect data, plus a literature review. Its goal is to help the government realise that the issue of sustainable development cannot be achieved only by one entity, but that there is a need to work together with mission schools and the church at large. Government must become aware of the importance of supporting mission schools if sustainable development is to be achieved.

Evangelism in the Digital Age

Glory Williams — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The rapid expansion of digital communication has transformed the context in which Christian mission is carried out, presenting both opportunities and challenges for evangelism in African churches. While traditional methods of evangelism remain valuable, they are increasingly complemented by digital platforms that enable broader and more immediate engagement with diverse audiences. This study examines social media as an effective tool for missions within African churches, arguing that its effectiveness depends not merely on technological adoption but on its integration within a biblically grounded, contextually relevant, and theologically informed missiological framework. In order to achieve this, the study employs a qualitative research methodology to engage missiological literature alongside selected examples of African churches that utilise social media for evangelistic ministry. The findings indicate that social media provides significant opportunities for gospel proclamation, discipleship, community formation, and outreach beyond geographical boundaries. However, its effectiveness requires sound theological grounding, strategic content development, digital literacy, and integration with traditional forms of evangelism rather than their replacement. The study concludes that social media should be understood not simply as a communication technology but as a contemporary mission tool through which African churches can participate more effectively in the Missio Dei while remaining faithful to the Church's biblical mandate.

Beyond Prescriptivism

Candida Millar — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Christian counselling invites a hermeneutical approach that is not only faithful to Scripture but theologically sound and psychologically safe. This study is situated within evangelical Christian counselling in South Africa and focuses specifically on how Scripture is interpreted and integrated in counselling practice. Responding to this invitation offers Christian counselling participation in theological discourse that questions whether Christian counselling aligns with sound biblical hermeneutics. This paper argues that misalignment often takes place when counsellors view the Bible as a prescriptive counselling manual, overlooking its deeper message. Further to this, misalignment transpires when Scripture is omitted entirely from counselling sessions.. To avoid both, evangelical Christian counselling must align with hermeneutical training for ethical practice. By centring the Bible as an authority alongside ethically and psychologically safe integrated praxis, Christian counselling can facilitate transformative sessions. The paper conducts a qualitative study using literature analysis, interviews and thematic analysis. The study aims to offer insights into the faithful integration of Scripture in counselling that is both theologically rigorous and supportive of the client’s psychological needs. The primary research questions asks: How might Christian counsellors more faithfully integrate Scripture in transformative Christian counselling praxis? Supporting questions consider prescriptivism, dismissivism, hermeneutics, and the redemptive use of Scripture. The study contributes a practical-theological framework for faithful, contextually sensitive, and ethically responsible scriptural integration.

The Role of Art, Music, and Drama in Trauma Counselling in the Christian African Context

Idalette Müller — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Traditionally trauma counselling in the African church has not been afforded the attention that it deserves. Some qualitative research studies on trauma counselling in the African context reveal that traumatised people are often merely advised to read their Bibles, pray, and participate in religious rituals to deal with their traumatic experiences. Stigma, untrained pastors and counsellors, as well as a lack of financial resources often prevent people from receiving effective trauma counselling. Recent literature further highlights the concern that although effective Western trauma counselling modalities, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and narrative therapy, have demonstrated positive results, the unique contextualised needs of traumatised Africans in their non-Western contexts are not always sufficiently met. This article presents art, music, and drama as part of an accessible counselling approach and method to facilitate emotional and spiritual healing from trauma in the African context. Creative non-verbal expressions through art, music, and drama form part of everyday life in African communities. These familiar creative expressions have the potential to merge traditional trauma counselling approaches with more contemporary innovative counselling methods. A significant implication of this research is making trauma recovery more accessible to African church communities by equipping Christian counsellors to address trauma safely and effectively within the scope of their training. The research employs a literature-based methodology to explore secular and Christian scholarly literature and studies on the application of creative expression in counselling to promote emotional and spiritual healing from trauma. The article explores how creative expression facilitates the empowerment of trauma survivors to reconstruct their narratives as they discover renewed meaning in Christ. The research offers practical recommendations for implementing creative counselling modalities in the African church context and identifies potential challenges and areas that require further research.

Healing Beyond Theory

Mihret Zenebe Gebrehana — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

This study examines how the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) Ethiopia applies trauma-healing and contextual theology to address the Ethiopian context. In Ethiopia, which faces many sources of trauma, faith-based organisations are required to play an important role in responding to the community wounds. The study combines two approaches: a review of existing literature and direct participant observation of trauma-healing sessions facilitated by SIL. It explores the barriers that hinder the accessibility and long-term effectiveness of trauma-healing initiatives offered to survivors. The results show that contextual theology and a theology of hope offer tools for trauma-healing, yet their implementation is often hindered by limited resources, cultural misconceptions about suffering, and skepticism from academic and church circles. SIL Ethiopia’s healing initiatives indicate the effectiveness of trauma-healing that recognises spiritual aspects, community values, and local stories of hope. This study offers insights for faith-based organisations working on trauma-care and for policymakers to be inclusive. It urges theology and trauma-healing practitioners to listen while survivors reclaim their lives and to be present to strengthen resilience by acknowledging cultural and spiritual practices.

Religion and Disability

Sindisiwe Silempa — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Persons with disabilities continue to be marginalised in many areas of life the world over. Religious communities routinely draw on the interpretive and moral authority of religion to shape how disability is understood and addressed, yet few scholars have proposed intervention models that translate these interpretations into structured institutional practice. This paper responds to that gap by developing an intervention model, the IEF, to guide religious institutions toward a structured and sustained response to disability rather than the ad hoc gestures of goodwill that currently predominate. The framework identifies three interdependent components—awareness and education, support systems, and empowerment—that religious institutions can use to organise their response to disability around persons with disabilities themselves rather than around institutional convenience. A qualitative research approach was adopted to examine perceptions of disability held by representatives of African traditional religion (ATR) and Christianity. An ethnographic, cultural-anthropology design was used to collect data from ten traditional healers and ten pastors in Zimbabwe, selected through purposive sampling. Data collected through semi-structured interviews were analysed thematically. The resulting model is intended to help both Christian and ATR institutions move from theoretical commitments to inclusion toward practices that preserve the dignity and self-worth of persons with disabilities.

African Women in Theological Scholarship : Emerging Voices and Perspectives

NetACT Staff — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 19:19:04 +0200

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