The study investigates the effect of mushrooming, unaccountability unsupervised leadership
tendency, which has affected the African religiosity and took it by storm. Hence, the study of
this nature will gaze its attention in South African townships in particular. Thus, by referring
“independent church” a researcher does not specifically mean traditional churches who gain
independence from western churches, which were planted in the African soil, but rather
means the regular breaking away of churches by leaders, in order to start their own, if they
do not see eye to eye with the current church leader. These are modern churches, which are
young and most of them are yet in ownership of land and infrastructure. On the other hand,
a researcher designates independent prophetic or new charismatic churches because these
churches are the extension of the charismatic movement or neo-Pentecostals. In Addition, it
is also due to practices by these churches, which are bizarre and unusual, which includes,
eating of grass, eating of snakes, drinking of petrol, spraying of Doom on the congregants
and other experiences Kgatle (2017) denotes in his study, to demonstrate the power of God
(2017). As practices such as these are a new phenomenon in the history of South African
church. Hence, they are called Prophetic based on showing more interest in prophesy,
healing, deliverance, and the gospel of prosperity. These pastors have autonomy and
freedom to practice without any accountability. Thus, there are lot of questions asked about
independent prophetic churches growth. Is it genuine growth? Can it be attributed to
mission advancement? Many have attributed such growth, as a result of people who have
pulled from classical Pentecostal, mainline churches as well and most probable other
traditional movements. This growth could not therefore be attributed to missionary
expansion, if it does, there is a notion that some followers who are attracted to these churches are purely drown to them seeking prophetic voice, either or miraculous
intervention such as healing and deliverance. Hence, leaders who do not have a responsible
structural place for accountability challenge a researcher. Thus, the situation has led to the
damage of theology and image of the church.
Henceforth, self-appointed, theologically untrained and lack of mandate from mother
bodies by such leaders poses societal challenges and outcry. Thus, the bizarre acts
committed by these independent prophetic churches have left many speechless and asking
questions. What South African church has become? To what extent is the independency of
the independent church? Which religious body do the leaders account to? Who carries the
accountability of the pastor? Is the claim of reporting straight to God justifiable? Have these
tendencies of being not accountable led to chaotic state, which, currently have plucked the
church? Hence, the study is therefore investigating the effect of mushrooming of the
independent prophetic churches and its unsupervised leadership, which has dented the
image and landscape of the church fraternity; thus, the above questions have helped to
guide the research. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Practical Theology / PhD / Unrestricted
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:up/oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/82449 |
| Date | January 2020 |
| Creators | Thwala, Thokozani Crommuel |
| Contributors | Masango, Maake J.S., thokozanithwala@gmail.com |
| Publisher | University of Pretoria |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | © 2021 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
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