In thisstudy, I seek to give a missiological critique of the inculturation of marriage rituals in the National Baptist Convention (NBC) of Zimbabwe. I examine and explore the kind of inculturation that could help expedite greater engagement between the NBC of Zimbabwe, on the one hand, and the Shona and Ndebele cultures, on the other hand, in Midlands and Matabeleland regions. To that end, I use missiological research methodologies that include Pastoral Cycles, especially the four phase and the seven-point praxis matrix as propounded, among others, by Kritzinger (2010). I apply the latter as a grid of missiological questions. I apply these cycles in a mixed-research approach of quantitative and qualitative paradigms. The case study and descriptive survey are my designs. I chose as my research sample 140 research respondents from six of the thirteen denominations of the Convention in two regions, namely, the Midlands and the Matabeleland. These include National Executive members, pastors, elders, deacons, church committee members and ordinary lay members. Questionnaires, interviews and observations are used as instruments. The findings reveal that marriage rituals are significant to members of the NBC of Zimbabwe. They show how the NBC of Zimbabwe inculturated payment of bride price, ululating, dancing, and guidance and counselling into church practices. Marrying someone whose background is known was also inculturated. Respondents argue that these aspects of culture are biblically commendable and should be retained. However, polygamy, divination and ancestor veneration is rejected. The study further shows that the kusungira ritual and conducting marriage rituals in the November month are controversial. However, the inculturation of some aspects of marriage rituals was hindered by fear of syncretism, clash of doctrines and differing views within members of many ethnic tribes in the Convention. The study recommends that the NBC of Zimbabwe should encourage the payment of the bride price, whilst discouraging its abuse and that Church leaders should also handle with sensitivity controversies surrounding payment of the bride price. It also emphasises the preaching and teaching against views that perpetuate patriarchy and subordination of women by men in the church and society and encourages fusion of church and traditional wedding ceremonies. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology

<p>Marriage is an institution found in every society, culture or religion in the world. The Catholic Church has maintained most of her seven Sacraments including that of marriage. The Church of Sweden, an established Evangelical Lutheran faith, born out of the 16^th century Reformation has two Sacraments excluding marriage. This field study was carried out in Gävle, Sweden in spring 2009. A comparative study of marriage in the Catholic Church and the Church of Sweden and the reason each church alludes to based on scripture and tradition was to help me, an African Catholic, understand differences between the respective churches and also understand why the Church of Sweden accepts same sex marriages. This was my motivation for writing this paper. I hope this paper will serve as a study guide to new people who come to Sweden from other cultures to enable them understand why the “Modus Operandi” regarding church marriage in Sweden is different from the church marriage in their native countries.</p>

Marriage is an institution found in every society, culture or religion in the world. The Catholic Church has maintained most of her seven Sacraments including that of marriage. The Church of Sweden, an established Evangelical Lutheran faith, born out of the 16th century Reformation has two Sacraments excluding marriage. This field study was carried out in Gävle, Sweden in spring 2009. A comparative study of marriage in the Catholic Church and the Church of Sweden and the reason each church alludes to based on scripture and tradition was to help me, an African Catholic, understand differences between the respective churches and also understand why the Church of Sweden accepts same sex marriages. This was my motivation for writing this paper. I hope this paper will serve as a study guide to new people who come to Sweden from other cultures to enable them understand why the “Modus Operandi” regarding church marriage in Sweden is different from the church marriage in their native countries.