The management of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe: a model founded in the Apostolic vision
Abstract
The desire to see the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (hereafter referred to as the A.F.M.Z.) revisit its policies, processes of ministration and management approaches culled from the apostolic vision was the key motivation for this study. The quest for the A.F.M.Z. to realign itself to the apostolic vision embedded in the Word of God was central to all the chapters of this thesis. The basic question the current study addressed is "What will a model founded in the apostolic vision for the management of the A.F.M.Z. look like for it to remain aligned to the principles of the New Testament?" On the other hand, the study was conducted with the aim of developing a managerial model founded in the apostolic vision of the A.F.M.Z. Hence, to achieve the above aim, five objectives and research questions were formulated that endeavoured to outline descriptively the challenges currently facing the A.F.M.Z., to establish interpretively the Pentecostal and apostolic heritage and further glean managerial principles from the model of other churches to be a foundational basis for the study. The process also normatively identified and culled Biblical principles for pragmatically developing a model founded in the apostolic vision for the management of the A.F.M.Z. This study adopted a quantitave and qualitative research methodology, which involved an empirical investigation and a literature review. The study has revealed that the A.F.M.Z. has truly grown big numerically but is gradually degenerating at the level of inter-relational structures and managerial standards. Hence the existence of gross conflicts, politicking, power wrangles and manipulation of procedures and abuse of authority within the echelons of the once highly spiritual organisation. Underlying the distinctive existence of managerial challenges within the A.F.M.Z. was its inadequate constitution which fails to address some key aspects within the church. Therefore, as a form of coming up with effectually constructed remedies for the management and governance systems of the A.F.M.Z., the management models of the A.F.M.SA and R.C.SA were visited and important ingredients were borrowed. Furthermore, the study exegetically visited the Bible to establish principles of servanthood leadership to be augmented within the A.F.M.Z. managerial model. The thesis outcome serves as a point of departure in curtailing the current discord within the A.F.M.Z. which has reached crisis levels.
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