African Initiated Christianity and the Decolonisation of Development

This book investigates the substantial and growing contribution which African Independent and Pentecostal Churches are making to sustainable development in all its manifold forms. Moreover, this volume seeks to elucidate how these churches reshape the very notion of sustainable development and contribute to the decolonisation of development. Fostering both overarching and comparative perspectives, the book includes chapters on West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso) and Southern Africa (Zimbabwe and South Africa). It aims to open up a subfield focused on African Initiated Christianity within the religion and development discourse, substantially broadening the scope of the existing literature. Written predominantly by scholars from the African continent, the chapters in this volume illuminate potentials and perspectives of African Initiated Christianity, combining theoretical contributions, essays by renowned church leaders, and case studies focusing on particular churches or regional contexts. While the contributions in this book focus on the African continent, the notion of development underlying the concept of the volume is deliberately wide and multidimensional, covering economic, social, ecological, political, and cultural dimensions. Therefore, the book will be useful for the community of scholars interested in religion and development as well as researchers within African studies, anthropology, development studies, political science, religious studies, sociology of religion, and theology. It will also be a key resource for development policymakers and practitioners.

Philipp Öhlmann is Head of the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Research Associate, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Wilhelm Gräb is Head of the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Extraordinary Professor, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Marie-Luise Frost is a Researcher, Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Research Associate, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

1. Introduction: African Initiated Christianity and Sustainable Development Philipp Öhlmann, Wilhelm Gräb, Marie-Luise Frost Part I: Overarching Perspectives 2. Spirit and Empowerment: The African Initiated Church Movement and Development J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu 3. The Challenge of Environment and Climate Justice - Imperatives of an Eco-Theological Reformation of Christianity in African Contexts Dietrich Werner 4. African Initiated Churches and Development from Below: Subjecting a Thesis to Closer Scrutiny Ignatius Swart 5. Distinguished Church Leader Essay: Theology in African Initiated Churches: Reflections from an East African Perspective John Njeru Gichimu Part II: Nigerian Perspectives 6. Distinguished Church Leader Essay: Roles of Women in African Independent and Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria Atinuke Abdulsalami 7. "A Starving Man Cannot Shout Halleluyah": African Pentecostal Churches and the Challenge of Promoting Sustainable Development Olufunke Adeboye 8. Approaches to Transformation and Development: The Case of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Nigeria Babatunde A. Adedibu 9. The Role of Pentecostalism in Sustainable Development in South West Nigeria Mobolaji Oyebiso Ajibade 10. Aladura Churches as Agents of Social Transformation in South-West Nigeria Akinwumi Akindolie 11. Distinguished Church Leader Essay: Aladura Theology: The Case of the Church of the Lord (Prayer Fellowship) Worldwide Rufus Okikiola Ositelu Part III: Ghanaian Perspectives 12. Distinguished Church Leader Essay: The Church of Pentecost and its Role in Ghanaian Society Opoku Onyinah 13. An Evaluation of Pentecostal Churches as Agents of Sustainable Development in Africa: A Case of the Church of Pentecost Emmanuel Anim 14. Pentecostalism and Sustainable Development: The Case of Perez Chapel International Sylvia Owusu-Ansah & Philip Adjei-Acquah 15. Distinguished Church Leader Essay: Healing a Strained Relationship between African Independent Churches and Western Mission-founded Churches in Ghana (1967-2017): The Role of Good News Theological Seminary, Accra, Ghana Thomas A. Oduro Part IV: Perspectives from Burkina Faso 16. Distinguished Church Leader Essay: Partnerships for Female Education in Burkina Faso: Perspectives from Evangelical Churches and FBOs Philippe Ouedraogo 17. Investing in the Future Generation: New Pentecostal Charismatic Churches in Urban Zimbabwe Ini Dorcas Dah Part V: Zimbabwean Perspectives 18. Investing in the Future Generation: New Pentecostal Charismatic Churches in Urban Zimbabwe Simbarashe Gukurume 19. Pentecostal Charismatic Christianity and the Management of Precarity in Post-Colonial Zimbabwe Josiah Taru Part VI: South African Perspectives 20. Distinguished Church Leader Essay: Cross-Cultural Development in South Africa: A Perspective from Below Danie van Zyl 21. Contested Development(s)? The Possible Contribution of the African Independent Churches in Decolonising Development. A South African Perspective Nadine Bowers-Du Toit