Toward a reinterpretation of sacramental theology in the context of pandemics: The case of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe

The advent of Covid-19 and the subsequent closing of religious institutions through lockdowns created a pandemonium that saw churches not being able to meet physically for worship. Covid-19 lockdowns diluted the traditional meaning of sacramental theology for mainline churches. The effects of the p...

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Main Author: M. Mujinga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2023-12-01
Series:Acta Theologica
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/6765
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author M. Mujinga
author_facet M. Mujinga
author_sort M. Mujinga
collection DOAJ
description The advent of Covid-19 and the subsequent closing of religious institutions through lockdowns created a pandemonium that saw churches not being able to meet physically for worship. Covid-19 lockdowns diluted the traditional meaning of sacramental theology for mainline churches. The effects of the pandemic were bad that, churches in Zimbabwe were closed towards lent season in 2020. Mainline churches that used to shun the technologisation of religion were forced to embrace technology in order to be relevant. Unfortunately, sacraments that demanded face to face administration remained a theological dilemma. Using the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe as a case study, the aim of this paper was to challenge the church’s traditional sacramental theology and propose a theological treatise that has relevance in the context of pandemics like Covid-19. The paper proposed a reinterpretation of sacramental theology that makes the rite sacredness to the lives of the parishioners even during pandemics.
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spelling doaj-art-218bca25b8d44538b5dd927b1788a7c62025-02-11T09:30:06ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892023-12-0143210.38140/at.v43i2.6765Toward a reinterpretation of sacramental theology in the context of pandemics: The case of the Methodist Church in ZimbabweM. Mujinga0UNISA The advent of Covid-19 and the subsequent closing of religious institutions through lockdowns created a pandemonium that saw churches not being able to meet physically for worship. Covid-19 lockdowns diluted the traditional meaning of sacramental theology for mainline churches. The effects of the pandemic were bad that, churches in Zimbabwe were closed towards lent season in 2020. Mainline churches that used to shun the technologisation of religion were forced to embrace technology in order to be relevant. Unfortunately, sacraments that demanded face to face administration remained a theological dilemma. Using the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe as a case study, the aim of this paper was to challenge the church’s traditional sacramental theology and propose a theological treatise that has relevance in the context of pandemics like Covid-19. The paper proposed a reinterpretation of sacramental theology that makes the rite sacredness to the lives of the parishioners even during pandemics. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/6765
spellingShingle M. Mujinga
Toward a reinterpretation of sacramental theology in the context of pandemics: The case of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
Acta Theologica
title Toward a reinterpretation of sacramental theology in the context of pandemics: The case of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
title_full Toward a reinterpretation of sacramental theology in the context of pandemics: The case of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Toward a reinterpretation of sacramental theology in the context of pandemics: The case of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Toward a reinterpretation of sacramental theology in the context of pandemics: The case of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
title_short Toward a reinterpretation of sacramental theology in the context of pandemics: The case of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
title_sort toward a reinterpretation of sacramental theology in the context of pandemics the case of the methodist church in zimbabwe
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/6765
work_keys_str_mv AT mmujinga towardareinterpretationofsacramentaltheologyinthecontextofpandemicsthecaseofthemethodistchurchinzimbabwe