Religious Studies, Classics and Philosophy

The status of women in many Zimbabwean communities has been discussed for a long time. The following questions have been raised: are women inferior, equal or superior to their male counterparts? It is common to find both print and electronic media carrying stories of Zimbabwean women who seek gender equality. Gender issues have been tabled in various constitutional debates. Though many Zimbabwean societies take tradition or culture as the judging line with the understanding that, a genuinely raised woman accepts being subordinate to men. One will then wonder whether the Zimbabwean culture is liberation-centered in nature when it comes to the status of women. Will our society change for the best or worst if we have women as leaders? Why doesn't the situation of women change in most churches when it comes to pastoral leadership positions especially for women who underwent some pastoral training as men? Why are women allowed to sing, dance and lead praise and worship but only told to be quiet when it comes to preaching and occupying leadership positions like pastoral posts or eldership in the Church of Christ? The answer rest in the practice of gender discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping based on a person's sex or gender, focused on women, hence, sexism. In this study people were interviewed in the Church of Christ in relation to the status of women in leadership positions.

This volume examines the phenomenon of prophets and prophecy in contemporary Zimbabwe. By applying insights from biblical studies and other approaches, the volume sheds light on how this contentious phenomenon has been discussed in the Zimbabwean context. The different chapters highlight the role of the Bible, gender, media, literature and other perspectives have influenced attitudes towards prophets and prophecy in Zimbabwe. While the phenomenon has been principally associated with the new wave of Pentecostalism, it remains critical to appreciate pre-existing attitudes towards prophets from African Initiated Churches (AICs), as well as traditional healers in African Indigenous Religions (AIRs). Contributors to this volume have explored the complexities that characterize prophets and prophecy. The volume is of interest to scholars in biblical studies, theology, religious studies, political science, anthropology, philosophy and other disciplines. General readers, church leaders and civil society activists will also find the chapters in this volume valuable.
The Editors and Contributors: Dr David BISHAU | Dr Kudzai BIRI |Dr Tarisayi A. CHIMUKA | Dr Anna CHITANDO | Prof Ezra CHITANDO | Nehemia CHIVANDIKWA | Agness CHIWARA | Dr Masiiwa Ragies GUNDA | Joyline GWARA | Shakespear HAMAUSWA | Prof Joachim KÜGLER | Dr Francis MACHINGURA | Prof Fainos MANGENA | Dr Charity MANYERUKE | Molly MANYONGANISE | Dr Tapiwa Praise MAPURANGA | Pauline MATEVEKE | Samson MHIZHA | Obert Bernard MLAMBO | Clemenciana MUKENGE | Dr Canisius MWANDAYI | Prof Tabona SHOKO | Dr Nisbert Taisekwa TARINGA | Prof Lovemore TOGARASEI | Dr Obvious VENGEYI | Clive Tendai ZIMUNYA

This research topic is about the nature of the theology
for children among Christian churches in contemporary
African societies. The case studied is that of Zimbabwean society. The paper demonstrates that the churches are engaged in a form of “theology on behalf of children” in which the children are now placed in the midst of the church rather than theology of, or with children. It highlights the implications of such a theology for children to twenty first century contemporary ethical
issues that affect children such as child abuse, children’s  , education, gender and sexuality and health and well-being.

This is now the official and final online version of BiAS 20, which is identical with the printed version.
The volume contains papers presented at the BiAS meeting 2014 in Windhoek (Namibia), with some additional contributions. Scholars from Nigeria, Cameroon, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and Germany are dealing with the urgent question of how the Bible is involved in the widespread use of violence in political, social, religious, and gender conflicts. One leading question is how to deal with the textual representation of violence in the Bible. It is taken up by more general hermeneutical contributions. The other leading question is how biblical texts and/or concepts are used to cause and justify violence. This is taken up by a greater number of articles which deal with concrete societal and political contexts in Zimbabwe and other African countries. The conference in Namibia was supported as a Humboldt-Kolleg on the Bible and Violence in Africa by the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

The editors and contributors:
Johannes HUNTER (Namibia), Joachim KÜGLER (Germany) |Solomon ADEMILUKA (Nigeria), Kudzai BIRI (Zimbabwe), Phillemon CHAMBURUKA (Zimbabwe), Sheila W. CHAMBURUKA (Zimbabwe), Theophilus U. EJEH (Nigeria), Stephanie FEDER (Germany), Ottmar FUCHS (Germany), Lucky HWATI (Zimbabwe), Francis MACHINGURA (Zimbabwe), Nyasha MADZOKERE (Zimbabwe), Molly MANYONGANISE (Zimbabwe), Obert B. MLAMBO (Zimbabwe), Canisius MWANDAYI (Zimbabwe), Jacques F. OWONO (Germany/Cameroon), Jeremy PUNT (South Africa), Eben SCHEFFLER (South Africa), Elizabeth VENGEYI (Zimbabwe), Pieter VERSTER (South Africa), Clive T. ZIMUNYA (Zimbabwe)

The article looks at the governing structure of the Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (COCZ), which its critics
regard as no longer serving its evangelistic and missionary mandate. The COCZ is a religious institution
stemming from the 19th century Restoration Movement. From focus group discussions and interviews with
senior church ministers in the COCZ, it is interesting to note that the COCZ is being accused of losing
direction, relevance and dynamism to achieve its key calling. This study has used literature study as well
as interviews, observations and group discussions to study the governing structures of the COCZ. Many,
however, continue to place the blame of failure on the church’s governing structures that fail to empower
congregations by giving them an autonomous voice and authority to speak on the key beliefs and
objectives of the church (Dhlumbi 2011). Without clear ideological structures, common vision and
congregational coordination, it is very difficult to impress upon sound doctrine, code of conduct and
spiritual vibrancy in the church. The COCZ’s governing theory however, as has been discovered by the
National Pastors’ Fraternal during its February Summits presentations and discussions in 2011 and 12,
has affected the church’s growth potential as well as its expansion and influence in the country, and this
paper thus purposes at excavating ideals and practices that define how the church operates. Here, this
paper critically examines the church’s governing ideology, autonomy, a theory seen from empirical
studies to be consanguineous with authoritarianism. Though autonomy is a theory in the neuter form; its
ideological and separatist tendency does not only divide congregations but it filters down to families of
church ministers, devastating their families and marriages. This paper however argues that, autonomy can
be authentic by drawing from African literature, Biblical Literature, Human Rights debates, Biblical
Theology, African history, African culture, African politics and the experiences of the COCZ practically and
theoretically. The article distinguishes the theoretical role of empowerment by African Church (AC) Elites
against marginalization experienced by African Church (AC) Converts, using the emancipation principle
expected on AC Elites for analysis in the light of missionary assistance.

This volume examines the phenomenon of prophets and prophecy in contemporary Zimbabwe. By applying insights from biblical studies and other approaches, the volume sheds light on how this contentious phenomenon has been discussed in the Zimbabwean context. The different chapters highlight the role of the Bible, gender, media, literature and other perspectives have influenced attitudes towards prophets and prophecy in Zimbabwe. While the phenomenon has been principally associated with the new wave of Pentecostalism, it remains critical to appreciate pre-existing attitudes towards prophets from African Initiated Churches (AICs), as well as traditional healers in African Indigenous Religions (AIRs). Contributors to this volume have explored the complexities that characterize prophets and prophecy. The volume is of interest to scholars in biblical studies, theology, religious studies, political science, anthropology, philosophy and other disciplines. General readers, church leaders and civil society activists will also find the chapters in this volume valuable.
The Editors and Contributors: Dr David BISHAU | Dr Kudzai BIRI |Dr Tarisayi A. CHIMUKA | Dr Anna CHITANDO | Prof Ezra CHITANDO | Nehemia CHIVANDIKWA | Agness CHIWARA | Dr Masiiwa Ragies GUNDA | Joyline GWARA | Shakespear HAMAUSWA | Prof Joachim KÜGLER | Dr Francis MACHINGURA | Prof Fainos MANGENA | Dr Charity MANYERUKE | Molly MANYONGANISE | Dr Tapiwa Praise MAPURANGA | Pauline MATEVEKE | Samson MHIZHA | Obert Bernard MLAMBO | Clemenciana MUKENGE | Dr Canisius MWANDAYI | Prof Tabona SHOKO | Dr Nisbert Taisekwa TARINGA | Prof Lovemore TOGARASEI | Dr Obvious VENGEYI | Clive Tendai ZIMUNYA