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Quest for Economic Sustainability in Theological Training: A Case Study from Zimbabwe

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Title: Quest for Economic Sustainability in Theological Training: A Case Study from Zimbabwe
Language: English
Authors: Kimion Tagwirei (ORCID 0000-0002-2109-1170)
Source: Transformation in Higher Education. 2025 10.
Availability: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://thejournal.org.za/index.php/thejournal
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Theological Education, Religious Colleges, Church Role, International Relations, Institutional Mission, Western Civilization, Christianity, Sociocultural Patterns, Sustainable Development, Capacity Building, Economic Development, Costs, Institutional Autonomy, Income
Geographic Terms: Zimbabwe, Africa
ISSN: 2415-0991
2519-5638
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.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1489882
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Quest for Economic Sustainability in Theological Training: A Case Study from Zimbabwe
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kimion+Tagwirei%22">Kimion Tagwirei</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2109-1170">0000-0002-2109-1170</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Transformation+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>Transformation in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 10.
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  Data: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://thejournal.org.za/index.php/thejournal
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Theological+Education%22">Theological Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religious+Colleges%22">Religious Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Church+Role%22">Church Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22International+Relations%22">International Relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Institutional+Mission%22">Institutional Mission</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Western+Civilization%22">Western Civilization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Christianity%22">Christianity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sociocultural+Patterns%22">Sociocultural Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sustainable+Development%22">Sustainable Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Capacity+Building%22">Capacity Building</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+Development%22">Economic Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Costs%22">Costs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Institutional+Autonomy%22">Institutional Autonomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Income%22">Income</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Zimbabwe%22">Zimbabwe</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Africa%22">Africa</searchLink>
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  Data: 2415-0991<br />2519-5638
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: 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.
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Theological Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Religious Colleges
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Church Role
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: International Relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Institutional Mission
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Western Civilization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Christianity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sociocultural Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sustainable Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Capacity Building
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Economic Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Costs
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      – SubjectFull: Institutional Autonomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Income
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Zimbabwe
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Africa
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Quest for Economic Sustainability in Theological Training: A Case Study from Zimbabwe
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              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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