An analysis of effects of divisionism in the pentecostal churches: a case study of church of God and church of God of East Africa, Nebbi district

Abstract

Overall, the study assessed the divisionism between the adherents of Church of God and Church of God of East Africa in Nebbi district. More specifically, the study examined three aspects to: find out the causes of divisionism between the adherents of Church of God and Church of God of East Africa; find out the effect of divisionism between the adherents of Church of God and Church of God of East Africa and suggest the solutions to the problems of divisionism between the adherents of Church of God and Church of God of East Africa. The study used a case study design. It used questionnaires and interviews as major tools for data collection. Specifically the study covered a total of 270 respondents from the 30 Churches taking 15 churches from Church of God and 15 churches from Church of God of East Africa. Purposive sampling method was used for Church and local leaders while random sample sampling method was used for Church members. The findings of the study revealed that: power struggle and low level of education were the cause of divisionism between the adherents of Church of God and Church of God of east Africa; hatred, divisionism and reduction in the number of followers were the major effects of divisionism between the adherents of Church of God and Church of God of East Africa in Nebbi district and forgiveness, dialogue and repentance were the major possible solution to the divisionism between the adherents of Church of God and Church of God of East Africa in Nebbi district. The study concluded that divisionism between the adherents of Church of God and Church of God of East Africa in Nebbi district was caused by power struggle, low level of education, ignorance and poverty. It recommended that the government and other relevant authorities, for example members of Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), regulate the different religious faith in order to minimize such divisionism between the adherents of Church of God and Church of God of East Africa; that the two Churches to reconcile and live in harmony since all are from the same community and Christian faith and that the body that governed the different religious groups in Uganda intervene and resolve the divisionism between the adherents of Church of God and Church of God of East Africa.