Good governance, Church and politics in Kenya: Church members reflection on the involvement of lay and ordained leaders in active politics- A case Study of the Methodist Church in Kenya, Kaaga Circuit

Abstract

The main focus of this research paper is how the church members‟ reflect on lay or ordained leaders‟ involvement in active politics. The main method of data collection used is interviewing and the type of interview is unstructured interview. The informants were interviewed face to face with the use of interview questions which were prepared before the interview period. The scope of the study was Methodist church in Kenya Kaaga Circuit, in Kaaga Synod. The theoretical frame work used was Habermas theory on religion in the public sphere and Trigg on the challenges of the relativism. The main theoretical concepts were Translation and Relativism. This means that religion need translation of their truth content in order to communicate to secular space. For relevance also, religion in the public sphere needs to validify its values since not all moral values are fit for public consumption although public life needs moral values any way. The study found out that there were variations of opinion among informants despite their shared context and same denomination. The dominating stance across the respondents was the issue of good governance. The interviewees felt that lay and ordained leaders are best positioned to join active politics in order to bring good governance in existence hence translating to good life for all citizens. Consequently, out of the findings from this research the researcher anticipates to offer an alternative theology that integrates both theological and political perspectives henceforward translating to good governance.

The main focus of this research paper is how the church members‟ reflect on lay or ordained leaders‟ involvement in active politics. The main method of data collection used is interviewing and the type of interview is unstructured interview. The informants were interviewed face to face with the use of interview questions which were prepared before the interview period. The scope of the study was Methodist church in Kenya Kaaga Circuit, in Kaaga Synod. The theoretical frame work used was Habermas theory on religion in the public sphere and Trigg on the challenges of the relativism. The main theoretical concepts were Translation and Relativism . This means that religion need translation of their truth content in order to communicate to secular space. For relevance also, religion in the public sphere needs to validify its values since not all moral values are fit for public consumption although public life needs moral values any way. The study found out that there were variations of opinion among informants despite their shared context and same denomination. The dominating stance across the respondents was the issue of good governance. The interviewees felt that lay and ordained leaders are best positioned to join active politics in order to bring good governance in existence hence translating to good life for all citizens. Consequently, out of the findings from this research the researcher anticipates to offer an alternative theology that integrates both theological and political perspectives henceforward translating to good governance.