Kairos-theology in light of the pandemic : an analysis of the Zimbabwean churches' response to COVID-19

Abstract

This study examines the response of contemporary Zimbabwean ecclesiology to the COVID- 19 pandemic by utilizing the framework of the Kairos Document (1985). The objective of the

study is to ascertain the factors that influenced the responses of churches in Zimbabwe, with a specific focus on the Catholic Church, Methodist Church, and Evangelism Fellowship. Furthermore, the research endeavours to develop a theological framework for Zimbabwean Liberation and Reconstruction that transcends the COVID-19 pandemic and encompasses forthcoming calamities and developments. This is essential now, as churches are reinstating their regular functions, due to the need for preparedness for analogous situations in the future. The framework of this study constitutes a liberationist perspective and is, thus, armed with tenets and insights from liberation paradigms and reconstruction paradigms. The significance of this broad paradigm of liberation and reconstruction must be understood within the context of the proposal to redirect African theological initiatives from liberation theologies and reconstruction theology to a new reality. Deliberately, this study adopted the view that reconstruction theology should be an addendum to liberation theology hence borrowing from Vellem (2007) the term “liberative reconstruction”. The research was analysed in light of the Kairos Document (1985), also referred to as Kairos theology, which asserts that the masses, the impoverished, oppressed, marginalized, powerless, vulnerable, and downtrodden, must rise up and advocate for their own liberation at such times. Therefore, in this study, the above said groups occupy the central epistemological space in this ecclesiological discourse. This practical theology study, focused on Kairos theology, used the praxis cycle as its research methodology. The research attempted to relate theory and practice together in such a way that both are changed and enriched. The understanding of the spread of COVID-19, the treatment and mitigating factors were left in the hands of scientists and health practitioners ignoring the contribution and perception of the church. Furthermore, the government of Zimbabwe did not consider the Church as an essential organization in the fight against the pandemic. This study, therefore, considered the models on Church and State relationship as some parts of the Church interpreted the position of the government as the continuation of trying to remove the Church from the public space and creating the myth that the church should not be involved in politics, yet the Church considers herself as the voice of the voiceless. In addition to this perspective, the church perceived that the government of Zimbabwe was weaponising COVID-19 against the church.

Moreover, Zimbabwe was already a frail society in social, economic, and political dimensions prior to the emergence of COVID-19, therefore the pandemic intensified the issue. This thesis is formulated within the context of selected Zimbabwean ecclesiology to assess the actions undertaken by the Church in response to the Zimbabwean crisis. The circumstances in Zimbabwe necessitated an unavoidable confrontation between political and ecclesiological discourses as proposed by the Kairos Document (1985). Hence, this study sought to develop a theology based on liberation to reconstruction post-COVID-19 and to determine how Zimbabwean ecclesiology could benefit from a spiritual foundation based on Kairos theology.