Pharos Journal of Theology (Jan 2017)
Dependency, Harambees and the Struggle for Christian Stewardship in the Orthodox Churches of Kenya
Abstract
The Orthodox Churches of Kenya, like many other mission churches globally, have long struggled with the issues of dependency, enabled by years of over-generous foreign financial and material support and exacerbated by a strong cultural inclination to appropriate the levers of various patronage systems a means to get ahead relationally, financially and politically. Dependency and patronage have increasingly become the default posture when it comes to Orthodox individuals and their Churches with respect to how they perceive and handle their financial needs. Churches have also increasingly made use of indigenous ways to raise financial support, known locally as harambee. Harambees are widely seen as culturally appropriate ways to raise money when the need is beyond the means of the organization or even individual. They are often the most successful means that Churches can adopt to push major projects forward such as buying property or constructing the church building. However, while harambees may be culturally appropriate, in the case of Kenyan churches in general, and Orthodox Churches in particular, harambees enable the Churches and their leaders to sidestep the fundamental issue plaguing their parishes, which is a complete absence of New Testament and early Christian principles of stewardship and discipleship. When the previous patron can no longer pro-vide the financial support the Church needs, harambees become the new patron that enable the Church to move ahead. The Church and its members thus never have to address their own lack of stewardship, responsibility and Christian discipleship. The fundraising targets may all be met, but the Churches remain crippled by ongoing attitudes of dependency. This article explores the dynamic of dependency and patronage afflicting Orthodox Churches in Kenya, critiques the preferred financial solution of harambee, and challenges Orthodox Christians to take their calling as stewards and disciples seriously as the only way to escape the slough of dependency that, unless addressed, will ultimately consume them.
