Causes of disunity among the churches in Tigania east Sub-county, Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the causes of disunity among Churches in the Tigania east sub-county, Meru County, Kenya. The Churches have struggled to come together and establish a shared stance on certain outdated traditional beliefs and practices that no longer contribute positively to people's lives. Disagreements on these issues raise questions about whether they are truly serving the same Christ, the founder of the church. It is widely recognised that when the church is united, it can accomplish more in terms of fulfilling its mission. Compounding the issue of disunity is the rapid proliferation of splinter Churches, further dividing an already fragmented religious landscape. Some Churches have undergone multiple schisms, leading to the emergence of numerous new denominations. The study employed systematic random sampling to select the churches included in the study. A proportional sampling technique was adopted to determine the sample for Church members. Purposive sampling was used to select the Bishops/Reverends/Pastors, Pastors' Fellowship Chairpersons and the Secretaries, and Church Chairpersons as key informants due to their direct knowledge of Church matters. The research used questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussions to collect the required data. Data collected was presented using tables and pie charts. The study found that Churches in Tigania East need to invest towards the unity of the church. The following recommendations were suggested: Theological schools should aim to produce people who understand society's dynamics.