Quest for economic sustainability in theological training: A case study from Zimbabwe

Abstract

Theological training institutions play a pivotal role in equipping human resources for the holistic mission of the Church. The training they provide is highly recommended to meet rising demands for, and to ensure capacity building, integrity and competency for the rapidly growing Church in Africa, and to reverse the mission of the Church to Europe and countries in the West amid escalating secularisation. While Africans are now benefactors of the gospel beyond their motherlands, the challenge is that the majority of African theological institutions are still depending on European and Western support to cover their operating costs. Foreign generosity must be appreciated because it yields products that eventually serve the Church and society across the world. However, failure to indigenise sustainability affects institutional economics, autonomy and mission. Through a qualitative case study of the Theological College of Southern Africa (TCSA), purposively sampled in-depth interviews, participant observations and a literature review under theonomic reciprocity theory, this study questions how institutional economic sustainability can be achieved and explores strategies that are feasible for theological colleges in volatile contexts. Finding TCSA’s sources of revenue to be unsustainable, it concludes that contextually feasible, innovative and entrepreneurial strategies can build up sustainability.
Contribution: This study offers strategies to sustain theological training institutions in volatile contexts.