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A Study of Theological Education in Africa Inland Church-Kenya

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A Study of Theological Education in Africa Inland Church-Kenya A STUDY OF THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN AFRICA INLAND CHURCH-KENYA ; ITS HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND ITS PRESENT STATE. BY PETER MUTUKU/MUMO l!lS ■.-:V'v.b aUB v.rr'; ' ' '-,«t f ‘ 1 C" • : 'V.'-- ■ - : t l A Thesis submitted in fulfilment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Nairobi. UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI LIBRARY 0101729 2 1997. VAST AFRJf; cm s j DECLARATION This is to certify that this Thesis is my original work and has not been presented fo r a degree in any other university. ___ AyVv ^1-A^WV *_______ _____ DATE io — (o — ° \ 1 PETER MUTUKU MUMO (B.A , M.A Nairobi) This Thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as university supervisors. J i t - DATE 3 ^ ~ J P ' I t ? ' ' PROF. SAMUEL G. KIBICHO TABLE OF CONTENTS Eage Declaration ................ ...................................................................................................... j A cknow ledgm ents............................................................................................................v i i i A b s tra c t............................................................................................................................. .... CHAPTER ONE: ■INTRODUCTION 1.1 Statement of the Problem .......................................... 2 1.2 Research Objectives .............................................................................................. 7 1.3 Rationale for the Study .......................................................................................... 8 1.4 The scope and Area of S tu d y ..............................................................................11 1.5 Literature Review .................................................................................. 12 1.6 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................... 22 1.7 Research M ethodology..........................................................................................27 Reference Notes 38 CHAPTER TWO: IHE_ADVENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA INLAND MISSION IN KENYA. 2:1 The Founder of A.I.M . - Peter Cameron S c o tt....................................................42 2:2 Tribulations, Penetration and Spread of A.I.M. in K enya..................................48 2:3 Differences, Disagreement and Emergence of New Religious Movements from A .I.M ..........................................................................................56 2:4 Steps Towards the Establishment of A.I.C. Kenya............................................. 65 Reference N o te s ....................................................................................................77 CHAPTER THREE: EARLY HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION 1N-A.LC. KENYA. 3.1 Biblical/Theological Education: definition ....................................................... 82 3.2 The Early Forms of Biblical Education in Africa Inland Mission ......................................................... 87 3.3 Ukamba Bible S c h o o l......................................................................................... 98 3.4 W.Y. Moffat Memorial Bible Training Institute ................................................ 105 3.5 Kapsabet Bible Institute and Ogada Bible S c h o o l...........................................113 Reference N o te s .................................................................................................. 119 i i i CHAPTER FOUR: IHE. DEVELOPMENT OF SCOTT THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE AMQJBOUFERATJON OF OTHER TRAINING INSTITUTIONS. 4.1 Scott Theological College.................................................................................. 1 2 4 4.2 Proliferation of Bible Schools, Bible Institutes and Bible C olleges......................................................... 132 4.3 The Adoption of Theological Education by Extension by A.I.C. Kenya ..................................................................................................138 4.4 The Birth of Lay Training Centres ................................................................... 143 4.5 Bethel Bible School for Sisters and A.I.C. Missionary College ....................150 Reference Notes 156 CHAPTER FIVE: CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN A.I.C. THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION 5.1 The Curricula of the First A.I.C. Bible Schools ......................................... 160 5.2 Towards a Unified and Broad-Based Curriculum for Bible Institutes .... 167 5.3 Curricula of Bible Colleges.............................................................................. 173 5.4 The Curriculum of Scott Theological College ............................................. 178 5.5 The Curricula of BEE and Lay Training Centres......................................... 183 5.6 The Curriculum of A.I.C. Missionary College ............................................ 188 5.7 Contextualization of Theological Education : Focus on C urricula............................................................................................................ 193 Reference Notes ...........................................................................................214 CHAPTER SIX: TRAINING. FINANCING AND UTILIZATION OF_A.I.C._ THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION. 6.1 The Purpose of Training ................................................................................ 218 6.2 The Position of Women in A.I.C. Theological Education ....................... 238 6.3 The Financing of Theological Education in A.I.C.............................................248 6.4 Employment of Unlicensed, licensed and Ordained A.I.C. p a s to rs ............................................................................................................... 261 v 6.5 The Future of A.I.C's Theological Education .............................................. 270 Reference Notes ............................................................................................ 276 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS........................ 282 Reference N o te s ......................................................................................................... 303 B ibliography................................................................................................................. 305 APPENDIX .............................................................................................................. 319 Q uestionnaires............................................................................................................ 319 v i LIST OF_MAPS AND TABLES A. A.I.C. Main Centres ............................................................................... 217 B. Location of A.I.C. Theological Education Training Institutions . 234 TABLES: I A.I.C. Membership in 1 9 7 1 ......................................................................73 II Respondents' views on Suitability of A.I.C. Theological Education C urriculum .............................................................................201 III Student Enrolment in Bible and Theological Education Institutions in 1994................................................................................ 228 IV Respondent^ Views on Criteria for Students Admission in Theological Education............................................................................. 232 V Ages of 83 Students of AI.C. Theological and Biblical Training Institutions.................................................................................. 235 VI Student Enrolment in various Theological and Bible °Training Institutions in 1994. ............................................. 242 VII Faculty Members in Five A.I.C. Theological and Bible Training Colleges in 1994. 243 v i i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My deep gratitude and appreciation go to my tw o supervisors, prof. S.G. Kibicho and Dr. P.N. Wachege who saw me through the writing of the proposal and the thesis. I especially appreciate the dedication of prof. S.G. Kibicho who though unwell at the initial stages of the writing of the thesis spared precious moments to read the drafts of the thesis. I am grateful to Dr. D.W. Waruta with whom I discussed the topic of the thesis. I recognize the useful suggestions he offered. I am very much indebted to the Deans' Committee, University of Nairobi for providing the funds which facilitated the collection of data and compilation of this thesis. Particular thanks go to my informants and research assistants who assisted in providing and collecting useful information for the thesis. I especially thank Rev. David Mbuvi, Administrative Secretary of Africa Inland Church who provided vital facts and information concerning A.I.C. v i i i I thank my wife R. Mutheu and my two sons Kay and Jay who understood and bore with me when I was a way struggling to complete this work. I am indebted to the Secretary, Ms Rachael Musengya who typed the thesis with commitment and understanding. To all those who were involved in the preparation of this thesis to its present form I say thank you. ix ABSTRACT The Africa Inland Church founded by Africa Inland missionaries a century ago (1895) has expanded to become one of the largest protestant churches in Kenya with a membership of 2.4 million. Since 1928, it has been involved in providing theological education to its members and Christians from other denominations. The quality of evangelising demonstrated by a church is a reflection of the kind of training its personnel go through. The study takes stock of the ups and downs of A.I.C.’s theological education from 1928 to the present. The study set out to investigate the historical
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