African pentecostal leadership Crisis : a historical analysis of leadership crisis in the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe Church from 1983-2019

Abstract

The study was prompted by the gap in African Pentecostal leadership which led to serious damage to the church. The research examined the case of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe church leadership crisis that culminated into a split of the denomination after exhausting costly legal battles up to the Supreme Court. The study applied Berger and Luckmann 1966’s social constructionist model of analysis where church members believe their leadership is ‘pre-given and fixed by God’ even though tri-annually the church conduct democratic elections. These church elections exacerbated hatred and division amongst contesting senior pastors which led to the splitting of the church. The study aimed to identify and analyse the leadership styles used in this Pentecostal church from 1983 to 2019. The researcher experienced this leadership crisis through observations, daily newspapers, official church documents and social media. The study applied a mixed methodology - historical approach in tracking the development of the leadership crisis from 1983 to 2019. Participants were drawn from all the ten provinces of Zimbabwe. The research established that there have been five AFM Presidents [fathers] in Zimbabwe of which four smoothly passed on the leadership button before the schism which occurred during the fifth. AFM pastors, their families and church members grossly suffered spiritual, material, financial and social damage due to the leadership crisis. There was no clear succession plan in the church. It was recommended that the church adapt to traditional seniority, raise educational qualifications, limit terms of office and come up with a clear plan of succession to avert future splits of this church. AFM pastors need to be remunerated well with a secured attractive retirement package to avoid clinging to offices after retirement age. The injured pastors and church members need spiritual social healing exercise. This study is the first of its kind on the AFM in Zimbabwe church. The future of the AFM Church in Zimbabwe is still to be ascertained whether it shall exist being a twin church as AFM in Zimbabwe and AFM of Zimbabwe.