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Analysis Study Research Paper | Political Science | Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026 | Pages: 1449 - 1458 | Zimbabwe
Colonial Shadows and Sacred Spaces: Decolonisation in the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
Abstract: This article examines the persistence of colonial legacies within the theology, practices, and institutional powers structures of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ). Using a qualitative design grounded in postcolonial theory, the research analyses archival records, church documents, and semi structured interviews with clergy and lay leaders. The findings show that Eurocentric theological frameworks and governance models continue to shape the Church, limiting the integration of indigenous knowledge systems and African spiritual expressions. The study identifies emerging efforts toward contextual theology, particularly in healing ministries and lurtugical adaptation, but notes ongoing institutional resistance and internal tensions. It concludes that meaningful decolonisation requires deliberate theological reconstruction, institutional reform, and the affirmation of African cultural and spiritual agency to enhance the Church's relevance and authenticity in a postcolonial context.
Keywords: Decolonisation, Postcolonial theology, Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, African theology, Religious hybridity
How to Cite?: Morrison Chiwundura, "Colonial Shadows and Sacred Spaces: Decolonisation in the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe", Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1449-1458, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26414000441, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26414000441