Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Boubakar Sanou

Second Advisor

Bruce Bauer

Third Advisor

Wagner Kuhn

Abstract

Problem

Kenya has been experiencing political violence since 1992, with people from different ethnic backgrounds being forced to vacate certain regions perceived to be territories of a particular tribe. The position of the President has been the most fought over governmental position, for people want to elect one from their own tribe. The situation has caused disunity among the members of society, especially during electioneering periods and thereafter. Kenya also has people who are labeled as Internally Displaced People (IDPs) because of recent post-election violence. There are approximately 40 different tribes in Kenya, speaking different indigenous languages. This perennial problem affects almost every person including Christians from different denominations.

Method

The project prepared seminars to stress the importance of the church not becoming involved in partisan politics. Elders and young people were trained to promote peace and reconciliation, and trainers of trainees were encouraged to replicate the process in other church settings.

Results

This project increased awareness of the risks that are involved in any type of partisan politics, division, and strife. It also promoted activities that focus on good interpersonal relationships by encouraging cross-cultural marriages among Christians and the posting of church pastors in areas other than their own tribal areas.

Conclusion

This project found that when peace and reconciliation are promoted within the church there is a reduction in ethnic and tribal hostilities.

Subject Area

Christianity and politics--Kenya, Church and state--Kenya, Seventh-day Adventists--Kenya

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dmin/263/

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