Browsing by Author "Houl, Elie Jean Noel"

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Assessing and Implementing a Suggested Method for Improved Leadership Selection in Cameroon Union Mission
(Adventist University of Africa, 2016-06) Houl, Elie Jean Noel
The use of influence, bribe and other practices to get into leadership positions in local churches in Cameroon Union Mission has been a concern for the researcher. Through the use of lot casting during leadership selection in local churches, the researcher hoped to reduce the impact of negative practices that interfere with legal church procedures for the selection of leaders. A survey of the use of lots in the Old and New Testament has shown that it was a practice allowed by God under some conditions. It was also a very efficient way of dealing with crisis in the selection process (Prov 16:33; 18:18). Through a Bible presentation on the subject, church members and pastors were enlightened on the biblical use of lots. The mixed method was used to gather information. Since CUM has four fields, in south-central conference, 900 pairs of questionnaires were distributed and 673 came back. In north Cameroon conference, 840 pairs of questionnaires were distributed and 686 came back. In west Cameroon mission, 358 pairs of questionnaires were distributed and 318 came back and in east Cameroon mission, 370 pairs of questionnaires were distributed and 291 came back. Churches were selected based on the size of the church membership and the location. Questionnaires gave information on the frequency of members understanding of the concept of lots and interviews (three pastors and one theology student) and focus groups (three formed of six persons in each) brought precise details on how the problem of leader’s selection in church is perceived and managed by pastors, elders, other church officers and members. The data collection through questionnaires in 18 churches and the answers from 1946 respondents with 3892 questionnaires gave a general view of members which was favorable to the use of lots casting in local church election any time there was a high risk of manipulation, fixing or post electoral crisis. Major findings were that: - More than 70% of respondents agreed that lots casting can be used in controversial officer elections in SDA Church. - More than 80% of respondents agreed to use lots to choose officers based on qualifications given by church policy. - More than 87% of respondents considered the use of lots in leadership selection as a sign of faith to rely on God’s guidance. The experience done and the results collected from questionnaires are scientific data which may be useful in a near future. What this research has brought to light will be of less value if some actions are not taken. The researcher recommends that: . The use of church manual under term of office should be emphasized in order to prevent appointing the same person to the same position several times. . Suggestions should be made at the local church level to use this way of voting as a last solution option in case of risk of crisis due to elections. . Pastors should use this method whether publicly or in nominating committees to solve difficult cases in regard to selection of officers. At the conference level, . If possible, a forum of pastors on the practice of lots should be organized . Interviews must be organized with pastors through the ministerial association in order to assess the frequency of pastors using lots in some church decisions pertaining to officer selection Suggestions for a critical contextualization of the practice of lots in Cameroon should be purposefully developed to address politicking and fixing practices in the church. A recommendation should be sent to higher organization to reconsider the practice of church selection in the African and Cameroonian context. For further studies, a comparison of two churches with two systems of selection could be done in order to see the level of impact of the selection by vote only and the selection by lots only on the Christian growth of their respective members.