THE CHALLENGE OF CONTEXTUALIZATION IN THE METHODIST CHUIRCH SIERRA LEONE BETWEEN 1967 AND 2007

Abstract

This study considers the challenge of contextualization for the Methodist Church Sierra Leone since autonomy in 1967. The missionary inaugurated church was established with British practices and liturgy. Since autonomy relatively little has changed. One part of the church, based on the Krio ethnic community in the Freetown area, is distinct from the rest of the population, owing its roots to returned freed slaves. Their historic appropriation on the English language and customs has resulted in them having a continuing disproportionate influence in the post autonomy church. After an introduction, the chapters consider contextualization in its broad sense, the background to Christianity in Sierra Leone, the pre-autonomous church followed by three chapters considering in more depth issues regarding contextualization in relation to leadership, training and worship. A final chapter offers some recommendations for the church. The argument of the dissertation is that the Methodist Church Sierra Leone has taken relatively few steps towards contextualization in the post autonomy era, and the dominance of an English focused minority, the Krio, has replaced that of the missionaries. Greater efforts at contextualization are needed.

Date of Award	7 Feb 2014
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester