Prophecy, Divination and Gender Justice in the Lumpa Church in Zambia. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kangwa, Jonathan
• Is Part Of: Feminist theology. Volume 27:Number 1(2018:Sep.)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 92
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Divination -- prophecy -- Lumpa Church -- Lenshina -- African Initiated Churches -- healing -- gender justice and imagination; 230.08205
• DOI: 10.1177/0966735018794485
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-7350

Abstract

This article examines the role of Prophecy and divination in the success of the Lumpa Church of Alice Mulenga Lenshina in Zambia. Concurring with James Amanze (2013), the article argues that the rapid growth of Christianity in Africa is to a large extent due to its engagement with prophecy and divination. Strong growth in African Christianity takes place mainly in the African Initiated Churches (AICs) which are Pentecostal-charismatic in their outlook. In these Churches the emphasis is on the prophetic ministry of the Church, evident in the performance of divination, healing and in predictions of the future. A good example is the Lumpa Church of Lenshina. Taking this Church as a case study, the article argues that Lenshina's success and that of her Church are based on the fact that divination, prophecy and a search for gender justice were taken seriously.