Kenya Methodist University crestKENYA METHODIST UNIVERSITYDigital Repository
 

Master of Arts in Religious Studies

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://41.89.31.6:4000/handle/123456789/181

Welcome to Master of Arts in Religious Studies collection

Browse

Start date: 2020End date: 2024

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Role of Church Leadership in Addressing Teenage Pregnancies among High School Girls in Tigania Central, Meru County, Kenya
    (KeMU, 2024-09) Murithi, Itonga Silas
    Teenage pregnancy is a global challenge both in the developed and developing world. It deteriorates the victim‟s life by causing school interruption, psychological, social, physical and economic challenges. Church leaders have an important role to play in addressing teenage pregnancies by influencing the church, schools and the community in general. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of church leadership in addressing teenage pregnancies among high school girls in Tigania Central, Meru County. The objectives of the study were to assess the pastoral role of church leaders in addressing teenage pregnancy among high school girls in Tigania Central Meru County, to examine the advocacy role of church leaders in addressing teenage pregnancy among high school girls in Tigania Central Meru County and to establish the role of catechism training in addressing teenage pregnancy among high school girls in Tigania Central Meru County. The study was guided by Social Learning theory and Social Action theory. The study used Descriptive design embracing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Random sampling was used to sample 77 church leaders and purposive sampling to sample 50 teenage high school girls. Data from church leaders was collected using questionnaires and that from the teenage high school girls from selected churches was collected using Focus Group Discussions. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; percentages, means, and standard deviations while the qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Quantitative findings were presented by use of tables and charts while the qualitative findings were presented in verbatim. This study concluded that the church leaders have a role to play in addressing teenage pregnancies among high school girls in Tigania central. Sixty six (83.2%) respondents agreed that utilization of pastoral programs discipleship programs by the church leadership was key in addressing teenage pregnancy among high school girls in Tigania Central. Offering discipleship and Sunday school programs were recorded as agreeable among church leadership as key in addressing teenage pregnancy with agreeability of 86.7% and 78.2% respectively. Including the teenagers in drawing these programs, appointing youth/teenagers patrons in the church and placing chaplains in church sponsored schools were some of the recommendations made. Fifty eight (82.8%) respondents agreed catechism training was a tool they used to address teenage pregnancy. The need to include younger children in catechism, having an elaborate catechism curriculum and training of catechists were noted as ways to improve on catechism training in addressing teenage pregnancy. Forty eight (68.6%) respondents admitted to using advocacy to address teenage pregnancy among high school girls. Participating in drawing school program (58.6%), teaching PPI in schools (61.5%) and working with NGOs (35%) were listed as the advocacy programs the church leadership used in addressing teenage pregnancy among high school girls in Tigania Central, Meru County. Getting involved with the community elders and including girls in campaign against teenage pregnancy were some of the recommendations made.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Assessment of Women Participation in Church Leadership: A Case of National Independent Church of Africa (NICA), Kenya
    (KeMU, 2022-10) Njoni, Norah Naitore
    The National Independent Church of Africa (NICA) is a church organization founded in Kenya in 1964. NICA is a church founded by Africans during the struggle for independence and registered in 1963. The church is spread across Nairobi, Kiambu, Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Kirinyaga, and Isiolo Counties of Kenya. The study provided the background information on the women participation and church leadership. The objectives of the study were to access whether women participate in decision-making, participation in the leadership of church projects, and if they are allowed to take up leadership positions. On Chapter two, the study reviewed theoretical literature including traits theory of leadership, female leadership theory, participative theories or approaches and skills theory, and empirical literature. The study also developed conceptual framework with gender stereotyping being the intervening variable. Used descriptive research design and embraced a simple haphazard sampling technique to acquire a sample size of 120. This research used questionnaire as the main data collection tool and used SPSS program to analyze data. Regarding the study, the researcher found that, women in NICA were willing to be leaders, and NICA Kenya allowed them to be leaders but with no or minimal appointments and motivations. Additionally, women were directly engaged in decision-making process in the church leadership in NICA Kenya and their opinions were incorporated in the final decisions and women participated in the leadership of NICA church’s routine activities but not oversight roles in church’s major projects. Hence women participated in the church leadership in NICA in Kenya directly in decision-making process, and church’s routine activities but not activities outside the church, hence, there was women participation in the church leadership in NICA in Kenya. The church can allocate some leadership positions vi for women, through nominations or appointing women into leadership positions in the church
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Assessment of Factors Contributing to Low Church Attendance and Absenteeism: A Case of Methodist Church in Kenya Nyambene Synod, Meru County, Kenya
    (KeMU, 2022-10) Kithure, Gerald
    Regular Church attendance is often an indicator of Christians’ commitment and faith in God. Right from the New Testament, the Church has been symbolic, an assembly of followers of Christ who congregate regularly with an aim of worshipping God together in faith. It follows then that the Low Church attendance and absenteeism undermines Christian faith and the ability of the Church to meet ministry goals. The study sought to investigate the contribution of home based factors, the socio economic factors, and Church based factors that contribute to Low Church attendance and absenteeism. A study was guided by secularization theory under postmodernism philosophy which advocates that as science and technology continue to shape the world social changes in power and class structure tend to persist in similar forms as well (Heywood 2012).The data for the study was mainly quantitative. Simple random and purposive sampling was used to collect the data .The target population comprised of 28,015 men, women and youth members in MCK Nyambene Synod. A descriptive research design was employed for this study with a sample of 379 respondents who were selected through random sampling. Data was collected using two questionnaires, one for the youth and the other for adult members. Prior to the main study, a pilot study with a sample of 38 respondents was conducted in Miathene Synod. Analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 25) in which the researcher performed descriptive statistical analyses to determine and rank specific factors that affected Church attendance in line with the study’s objectives. Two variables were considered that is Low Church attendance and absenteeism. It was established that Home based factors and Church based factors were significantly associated with Church low attendance and absenteeism. In respect to home based factors, poor family background, lack of monies to channel during fundraisers, unfriendly relationship between youth and parents, and lack of parental guidance greatly contributed to church absenteeism.Thus, parents should endeavour to inculcate a warm and cordial relationship with their children to increase the prevalence of their children’s Church attendance.In regard to Church based factors, lengthy sermons, non involvement of youth in Church activities and lack of uniformity in treatment of members led to church absenteeism. Hence, ministers of the word should strive to ensure that their sermons are precise and straight forward. Socio economic factors were not significantly associated with Low Church attendance and absenteeism. School/work engagements were not a major hindrance to Church attendance and absenteeism however the Church leadership should organize team building activities for the respective Church groups to ensure harmonious relationship and avoid stigma and criticism that is ignited from difference family economic status.In addition, Church leadership should devise creative ways of engaging the youth since inactive youth engagement is associated with Church absenteeism. Since the study focused on Churches under the Methodist Church in Kenya, it is suggested that the study be extended to other Churches to assess whether different findings may be reached regarding factors contributing to Low Church attendance and absenteeism
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Role of Christian Religious Education Subject on Student Behaviour: A Case of Day Secondary Schools in North Imenti Meru County, Kenya
    (2020-08) Japhet, Kiambi
    The Ministry of Education through the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development have put a lot of effort in the implementation of CRE Subject. Unfortunately, its goals seem not to have been fully realized. The 8-4-4 CRE Subject has not been able to directly address emerging issues that would impact fully on students‟ behaviour change. The purpose of the study was to explore the effect of Christian Religious Education Subject, on Behavior Change in Day Secondary Schools in North Imenti, Meru County. The study tried to find out the effects CRE subject has on student behavior change, to investigate the effects of teaching methods on behavior change, to examine the effects of CRE teachers‟ attitudes on student behavior change and determine effects of teaching resources on behavior change of Day Secondary School students. The study adopted Curriculum Theory proposed by John Bobbitt‟s in 1918 and cited by Pinar (2004). The Cross-sectional descriptive study design was used and Target Population was 72 CRE Teachers of Day Secondary Schools, 48 Heads of Religious Education and 600 CRE students in Imenti North Sub County. The sample size was 144. The study adopted Construct Validity and Content Validity. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23). Percentages and frequency counts were used to analyse the quantitative data obtained. The study findings showed that about 10 (7.63%) respondents agreed that CRE subject contributed positively to the transformation of self and the society as a whole, about 15 (11.45%) noted that the subject helped learners to gain insight into the unfolding of God‟s self-relation, while 10 (7.63%) respondents said the subject helped the students know more about Jesus and strengthened them. Apparently, 119 (90.5%) respondents admitted that teaching methods play a vital role in behavior change of students while 2 (9.5%) declined. The study found that about 120 (91.60%) of the respondents agreed that the attitude of CRE teachers influences behaviour change in students, while 11 (8.40%) indicated that the attitude of CRE teachers has no influence on behaviour change among students. About 18 (85.7%) respondents agreed that there were enough CRE teaching resources in various schools, while 3 (14.3%) indicated that teaching resources were not enough. Majority of the respondents (130, 99%) respondents showed that CRE subject, teaching methods, CRE teachers‟ attitudes and teaching resources positively impacted behaviour change among students. The study thus recommended a revision of the subject, embracing more teaching methods, maintaining teachers‟ positive attitude and purchasing more teaching materials to create more positive impact on student behaviour change. Regardless of this, as the study focused on Day Secondary Schools in North Imenti Meru County only, there was need for expansion of the study to boarding schools within and outside the county so as to generalize the results. Nonetheless, this study‟s findings may contribute in improving the CRE subject, revealing the methods used in teaching CRE subject, the materials needed in teaching CRE and the necessary resources impactful in developing behaviour change in Schools.