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
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/27130 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Shumba, Sibiziwe |
| Contributors | Landman, Christina |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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