A Pastoral Strategy for Dealing with Homosexuality in the Church of the Nazarene’s Sotho-speaking Congregations in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The motivation forthis study stemmed from the challenge evangelicals face on how to deal with the phenomenon of homosexuality. Traditionally, homosexuality has been viewed by Christians as sinful. In light of the aggressive advocacy for the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer(LGBTIQ) agenda in South Africaand globally and legalization of homosexual ‘marriage,’ I felt that there was a need for the Church of the Nazarene (COTN) in Limpopo Province (South Africa) among the Sotho-speaking congregations to review its teachings and doctrinal statement regarding its stance on homosexuality,and, if necessary, seek a new operative theology regarding homosexuality in their context. The primary objective of this study therefore is to develop a biblically and theologicallyinformed strategic plan to ensure that the COTN’s praxis regarding homosexuality is biblicallyfaithful to the supremacy and teachingof the Scripturesand relevant to the Church’sministry among the Sotho-speaking people in Limpopo. This primary objective is achieved as follows: (i) interpretingthe operative theology of the COTN Sotho-speaking congregations in Limpopo Province with respect to homosexuality, especially in relation to COTN’s covenant of Christian conduct as expressedin its Doctrinal Statement; (ii) determiningand defending what a faithful operative theology would look like for them with respect to homosexuality; and (iii)developinga strategicplan to achieve and sustain this biblically-faithful operativetheology. A small-scale empirical study using both qualitative and quantitative methods was undertaken among a number of COTN’s Sotho-speaking congregations. Itculminates in the interpretation of COTN’s current praxis in relation to the homosexuality phenomenon and COTN’s beliefs and the local and South African contextsof these congregations. The conclusions from a discussion of homosexuality from biblical, historical and systematic theologyperspectives show that there isconsistencyand coherence between the Old Testament and New Testament regarding homosexuality, namely, that there is historical continuity of universal condemnation of homosexual practice. 5Finally, a strategic plan is formulated to effectively communicate and gain acceptance of the new proposed operative theology with regards to homosexualityand homosexuals among the COTN Sotho-speaking congregations in Limpopo Province.