African Indigenous Pentecostal Christianity In
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AFRICAN INDIGENOUS PENTECOSTAL CHRISTIANITY IN UGANDA WITH REFERENCE TO THE DELIVERANCE CHURCH IN BUSOGA (1974 – 2012) MOSES STEPHEN ISABIRYE C82EA/11050/2008 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY SEPTEMBER 2020 ii DECLARATION I declare that this thesis is my original work and has never been presented for a degree in any other university or institution of learning. Signature: Date: Moses Stephen Isabirye Reg. No. C82EA / 11050 / 08 SUPERVISORS’ APPROVAL This thesis is submitted with our approval as his university supervisors. Signature: Date: Prof. Philomena N. Mwaura Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Kenyatta University Signature: Date: Dr. Zacharia W. Samita Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Kenyatta University iii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my beloved parents Agnes Namboira and the late Sedulaki Ibanda; my wife, Ruth Namirembe Isabirye; our children Rachael, Paul and Paula as well as all those who have assisted in shaping my academic and spiritual life. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Producing this work has been a battle at various fronts. I am thankful to the Almighty God for enabling me to develop my career and faithfully helping me throughout the process of this study. Special thanks go to my supervisors, Prof. Philomena N. Mwaura and Dr. Zacharia W. Samita, for their professional guidance, constructive comments and critical remarks that helped to shape this thesis. I am also highly indebted to Prof. John Magumba, Prof. Alfred Olwa, Prof. Christopher Byaruhanga and Prof. Kepha Natolooka for the spiritual, moral and material support they rendered to me during the process of my studies. In the same spirit, may I appreciate Dr. Andrew D. Omona, Dr. Conelius Gulele and Dr. E. Mukeshimana as well as Mr. and Mrs. Mukisa, Mrs. Leah Mirembe Lule, and the entire staff and students of Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology. Special thanks go to the Uganda Christian University Staff Development Committee (SDC) for the financial support rendered to me during this project. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Rev. Canon Grace and Mrs. Christine Kaiso for their invaluable support during the course of study. Justice Faith Mwondha earns special thanks for her prayers and material support during this study. My wife Ruth and the entire family deserve special thanks for enduring all the time and financial denials during the course of this study. I am thankful indeed to all the mentioned and unmentioned, for all their contribution towards this noble cause. To God be the Glory! v ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ACHS African Church of the Holy Spirit AFM Apostolic Faith Mission AIC African Initiated Christianity AICs African Independent Churches AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIPC African Indigenous Pentecostal Christianity AIU African International University AOC African Orthodox Church AR African Religion ARM Anglican Renewal Movement ARU Anglican Renewal Uganda ATLAS.ti Archive of Technology, Lifeworld and Language Software for Text Interpretation BAFFU Born Again Faith Federation of Uganda CC- Catholic Church CCEDU Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy Uganda CCRM Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement CEON Citizens’ Election Observation Network CIA Central Intelligence Agency CMS Church Missionary Society COU Church of Uganda CRM Christian Renewal Movement DC Deliverance Church vi EARM East African Renewal Movement EC Elim Church FAM Friends of Africa Mission FEM Faith Evangelistic Ministries FFFM Finnish Free Foreign Mission FGC Full Gospel Church FGDs Focused Group Discussions FGM Full Gospel Mission FHRI Foundation for Human Rights Initiative FM Frequency Modulation GTM Glad Tidings Mission GTMAC Glad Tidings Missionary Association of Canada GTMS Glad Tidings Missionary Society GTMSC Glad Tidings Missionary Society Church HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus ICGC International Central Gospel Church in Ghana IGPs Income Generating Projects IRCU Inter Religious Council of Uganda JIAM Jesus is Alive Ministries JOY Jesus Others Yourself KAG Kenya Assemblies of God KPC Kampala Pentecostal Church LTV Light house Television MCC Miracle Center Church vii MHF Mill Hill Fathers MHM Mill Hill Mission NFBAPC National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches NFBAPCU National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda. NRM National Resistance Movement NTC National Teachers’ College OI Oral Information PAG Pentecostal Assemblies of God PAOC Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada PEFU Pentecostal Evangelical Fellowship of Uganda PM Pentecostal Movement PO Participant Observation SDA Seventh Day Adventist SDC Staff Development committee SPSS Statistical Package for Social Scientist SU Scripture Union TAG Tanzania Assemblies of God TAIP The Aids Intervention Programme TV Television UBOS Uganda Bureau of Statistics UNHS Uganda National Household Survey UNLF Uganda National Liberation Front USA United States of America viii WF/MoA White Fathers/Missionaries of Africa YCAF Young Christian Ambassadors’ Fellowship YMCA Young Mens’ Christian Association ix OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS USED African Indigenous Pentecostal Churches: Pentecostal churches started by indigenous Africans especially after 1960. This branch represents the fastest expanding sector of Christianity in Africa, with several variations. Because of its variations, some people call it Pentecostalism(s). It tries to bridge the gap between African Christianity and the spiritual world by attempting to answer African Spiritual questions. The Deliverence Church (DC) belongs to this category. Anglican Renewal Movement (ARM): It is the renewal movement within the Anglican church/communion. Anglican Renewal Uganda: It is the renewal movement within the Anglican Church in Uganda (Church of Uganda - COU). Authentic Christianity: It is living like Christ through bearing fruit of the spirit, in the believer’s own culturally adaptive life-transformations, of rooting the witness of God’s kingdom in being genuine, intimate and participant disciples of Jesus Christ. Charismatic Churches: This refers to a group of churches that stress the infilling with the Holy Spirit and the corresponding gifts. They focus on divine intervention through healing and laying-on-of-hands, prayer and fasting, speaking in tongues, prophecy and exorcism. These church communities are prevalent in both Pentecostal and mainstream Christianity. x Church: The community of people who put their faith in God and worship Jesus Christ as Lord, witnessing to Him under a specific name such as COU and DC. Classical Pentecostals: Mission Pentecostal churches planted in Africa in the twentieth century from North America, Britain and the rest of Europe. Examples include Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG), Elim Church and the Apostolic Faith Mission. Church of Uganda: It is the Anglican Communion / Churchin Uganda. Evangelical Charismatic Church: Believers in Jesus Christ committed to preaching the gospel and exercising gifts of the Holy Spirit in ministry. Evangelical Missionary Church: Believers in Jesus Christ committed to preaching the gospel and winning souls to Christ. These do not emphasise the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Ministry. Mainstream Churches: Christian denominations, established by foreign white missionaries from Europe and North America. In Uganda, this category includes the Catholic Church, the COU and the Greek Orthodox Church. Neo–Pentecostal Christianity: The latest strand of Pentecostalism. It stresses manifestation of gifts coupled with signs and wonders such as xi speaking in tongues, instant healing and others. They can exist with other members in their respective denominations or be on their own. In Uganda, this category includes the Charismatic Catholic Renewal Movement (CCRM), the ARM and the Miracle Centre Church (MCC). Non-traditional Churches: Believers in Jesus Christ who do not subscribe to mainstream Christianity. Pentecostalism: A movement within Evangelical Christianity where members claim an individual’s experience of the Holy Spirit, being empowered in spiritual gifts emphasizing speaking in tongues or glossolalia, prophecies, visions, healing, miracles, signs and wonders and taking the Bible as the authoritative revelation from God, read, proclaimed, and lived out as examples of the Spirit-filled lives. xii ABSTRACT This study examines the phenomenon of African Indigenous Pentecostal Christianity (AIPC) in Uganda, using the Deliverance Church (DC) in Busoga as a case. The study aimed at investigating the history, factors and trends that birthed the DC in Uganda in general and Busoga in particular, as a breakaway of mainstream Christianity. It interrogated the theology and practice of the DC and evaluated the DC contributions to spiritual, social and economic developments of Busoga. The study used a cross – sectional survey nonexperimental design employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. The data collection methods were questionnaire survey, interview guide, focused group discussions (FGDs), participant observation (PO) and content analysis of sermons and other teachings. The study findings indicate that the DC originated from the COU. The founders started with a quest for an African authentic Church of Christians, Christ- delivered to embody and carry his deliverance by the Spirit of God’s kingdom to the outside world. This marked the origin of the name ‘Deliverance Church’. The first DC