Internal movements in the Anglican Diocese of Maseno North: With special reference to the East African Revival movement

Abstract

The thesis of this study is that the divisions and movements within the Anglican Diocese of Maseno North have been detrimental to Church Unity and to the Church's effective witness in the area. These movements whose existence has no real theological or doctrinal justification are unnecessary. This being so, this study set out to find out how and why these movements began. What kind of movements they the are and how they relate to the church in Anglican Diocese of Maseno North. To reach these objectives various methods of research were used. Library and archival research was done, field interviews were carried out and questionnaires were sent out to various people. Firstly, survey of then, the study gives a historical the establishment, expansion and characteristics of the Anglican Church in Western Kenya. The East African Revival Movement was and still is largely a part of the Anglican Church in between the groups themselves. The effect of these relationships on the Church and its work are studied and described. Finally, the conclusion that these movements are basically based on personality differences, ethnic biases and lack of understanding of what the Christian faith is all about is made. It is recommended therefore that the Church does its best to clear these sort of misunderstandings by proper teaching and a clear doctrinal stand-point. East Africa. This historical part has been necessary in order to show what the Church was like and what spiritual climate led to the need for a renewal Movement like the Revival. Secondly, the factions which form the bulk of this study are shown to be dire~t offshoots of the Revival Movement. The study has therefore looked at the Revival Movement's history and characteristics with a view to ascertaining whether these historical developments and characteristics formed a basis for later divisions and factions within the movement and within the Church of which the movement was a part. The Revival Movement's theology and attitudes have been studied and described. The thesis looks at the Revival Movement in Western Kenya in particular. Its activities are traced down to the formation of the various movements and factions. The latter are in turn described, especially their teaching and points of emphasis. The relationship between all the groups and the church is detailed as is the relationship