Training of African Independent Churches Students at the Umphumulo Lutheran Theological College

Kenokeno  Mashabela

doi:10.25159/2412-4265/14157

Authors

Kenokeno Mashabela University of KwaZulu-Natal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8402-4960

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/14157

Keywords:

African Independent Churches, African spirituality, Edward Lekganyane, indigenous theology, Isaiah Shembe, Lutheran World Federation, South African universities

Abstract

The African Independent Churches Association (AICA) holds a unique place in the contribution of South African theological education. The AICA established the AICA Theological College; however, later on it initiated a theological negotiation with the Umphumulo Lutheran Theological College (ULTC) to train its students. The African Independent Churches (AICs) are seriously concerned with theologically training their church leaders. The vision and mission of the AICs are to sustain and grow the quality of their doctrine. This is to ensure that the significant connection between theological training and their own churches’ life experiences are encouraged. The role of theological training has much potential to train theological students of pastoral leadership. Thus, theological training and the church have always taken a rightful place to serve communities. This article explores why the AICs are training their theological students at the ULTC. The article focuses on four areas. Firstly, it discusses an early partnership between the ULTC and the AICs. Secondly, it offers some reasons why the AICs initiated the process of training their theological students at the South African theological institutions of the mainline churches. Thirdly, it discusses the establishment of the AICA Theological College and its success and challenges. Fourthly, it outlines the theological curriculum challenges offered to AICs theological students and the Lutheran support initiatives to the AICs.

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Author Biography

Kenokeno Mashabela , University of KwaZulu-Natal

James Kenokeno Mashabela is a Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics. He received the Bachelor of Theology degree and the Honours in Theology degree from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN). He holds a Master of Theology degree (Church History) and a PhD degree in Philosophy-Theology (Church History) from University of South Africa (UNISA). His focus areas in fields of academic interests are as followings: South African History of Christianity and general history; Early, Middle and Reformation Church History; Theological Education in South Africa (Africa), Africanisation or Decolonisation, Gender Studies and African Theologies such as African Spirituality, Black Theology, African Theology and African Womanist Theology. He is a member of the Church History Society of Southern Africa (CHSSA), Southern African Missiological Society (SAMS) and Transatlantic Roundtable, Howard University, Washington DC. He has presented papers at local and international conferences and published several articles.

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