A theological evaluation of the government system in the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This research focuses on an evaluation of the relevance of church government in the RCZ in the light of the doctrine of the church. Church government is one of the major components of the doctrine of the church, that is to say, it is one of the sub-themes to be dealt with in the doctrine of the church. This study presents some arguments to prove whether the church government of the RCZ is theologically relevant to the doctrine of the church. The study is being conducted by a minister of the RCZ and it will therefore be approached in the perspective of the Presbyterian/Reformed tradition. The researcher reviewed a variety of articles from existing literature within the theological libraries, Synod minutes and Rules and Regulations of the RCZ. The researcher uses the following research methodologies: 1) An evaluation of the relevant literature of the RCZ; 2) A review of relevant literature of the doctrine of the church mainly in the Reformed tradition; 3) Exegesis of biblical passages in the New Testament such as that of I Timothy 3:1-12 , and Titus 1:5-9; 4) And lastly, a theological evaluation is undertaken by means of a comparative analysis.