Causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1998-2008

This study seeks to investigate the causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1998 to 2008. The research was undertaken due to the realisation that apostasy has reached a point of concern to both members and local church leadershi...

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Main Author: Mazibisa, Robson Dube
Other Authors: Gundani, Paul
Format: Others
Language:en
Published: 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10500/10556
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spelling ndltd-netd.ac.za-oai-union.ndltd.org-unisa-oai-umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za-10500-105562016-04-16T04:08:19Z Causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1998-2008 Mazibisa, Robson Dube Gundani, Paul Apostasy Implication 286.76891 Seventh-Day Adventists -- Zimbabwe Apostasy -- Seventh-Day Adventists Zimbabwe -- Religion This study seeks to investigate the causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1998 to 2008. The research was undertaken due to the realisation that apostasy has reached a point of concern to both members and local church leadership. The researcher also noted with concern that not much if any has been done on the causes and implications of apostasy since the introduction of the Church in Zimbabwe over one hundred years ago and the organisation of the West Zimbabwe Conference about forty years ago. The research was motivated by these concerns coupled with the increasing number of apostasy which continuously reflect negatively on the church and may subsequently limit the church’s ability to evangelize the communities. The aim of the study therefore is to investigate the causes and implications of apostasy and make recommendations that will assist both church members and the church leadership in formulating policies and programs geared towards minimizing apostasy in the church. The study combines both the quantitative and the qualitative research designs. The population for the study consisted of the one hundred and seventy one (171) churches with a total church membership of one hundred and fifty three thousand, seven hundred and two (153,702). A sample percentage of ten was adopted for the selection of churches while the proportional stratified sampling technique was used. The instruments used for the study were both face and content validated and a pilot study carried out to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. The data collected from the study was analysed using descriptive statistics and a descriptive interpretive method. Findings from the study confirm that there is apostasy within the WZC of the Seventhday Adventist Church. Accordingly, the data analysis revealed that the causes of apostasy in order of magnitude are external, internal and doctrinal respectively. The study also revealed that youths, females and urban church members are highly susceptible to apostasy than their adult, male and rural counterparts respectively. Apostasy had a considerable effect on church membership as well as the receiving of tithes and offerings. Recommendations were made based on the findings of the research. Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology D. Th. (Church History) 2013-09-23T07:07:06Z 2013-09-23T07:07:06Z 2013-08-06 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10500/10556 en University of South Africa 1 online resource (xiii, 195 leaves)
collection NDLTD
language en
format Others
sources NDLTD
topic Apostasy
Implication
286.76891
Seventh-Day Adventists -- Zimbabwe
Apostasy -- Seventh-Day Adventists
Zimbabwe -- Religion
spellingShingle Apostasy
Implication
286.76891
Seventh-Day Adventists -- Zimbabwe
Apostasy -- Seventh-Day Adventists
Zimbabwe -- Religion
Mazibisa, Robson Dube
Causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1998-2008
description This study seeks to investigate the causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1998 to 2008. The research was undertaken due to the realisation that apostasy has reached a point of concern to both members and local church leadership. The researcher also noted with concern that not much if any has been done on the causes and implications of apostasy since the introduction of the Church in Zimbabwe over one hundred years ago and the organisation of the West Zimbabwe Conference about forty years ago. The research was motivated by these concerns coupled with the increasing number of apostasy which continuously reflect negatively on the church and may subsequently limit the church’s ability to evangelize the communities. The aim of the study therefore is to investigate the causes and implications of apostasy and make recommendations that will assist both church members and the church leadership in formulating policies and programs geared towards minimizing apostasy in the church. The study combines both the quantitative and the qualitative research designs. The population for the study consisted of the one hundred and seventy one (171) churches with a total church membership of one hundred and fifty three thousand, seven hundred and two (153,702). A sample percentage of ten was adopted for the selection of churches while the proportional stratified sampling technique was used. The instruments used for the study were both face and content validated and a pilot study carried out to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. The data collected from the study was analysed using descriptive statistics and a descriptive interpretive method. Findings from the study confirm that there is apostasy within the WZC of the Seventhday Adventist Church. Accordingly, the data analysis revealed that the causes of apostasy in order of magnitude are external, internal and doctrinal respectively. The study also revealed that youths, females and urban church members are highly susceptible to apostasy than their adult, male and rural counterparts respectively. Apostasy had a considerable effect on church membership as well as the receiving of tithes and offerings. Recommendations were made based on the findings of the research. === Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology === D. Th. (Church History)
author2 Gundani, Paul
author_facet Gundani, Paul
Mazibisa, Robson Dube
author Mazibisa, Robson Dube
author_sort Mazibisa, Robson Dube
title Causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1998-2008
title_short Causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1998-2008
title_full Causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1998-2008
title_fullStr Causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1998-2008
title_full_unstemmed Causes and implications of apostasy in the West Zimbabwe conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1998-2008
title_sort causes and implications of apostasy in the west zimbabwe conference of the seventh-day adventist church, 1998-2008
publishDate 2013
url http://hdl.handle.net/10500/10556
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