Factors militating tribal conflict and strategies to promote tribal unity in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Atlantic Conference, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

The gravity of the adverse effects of tribal and intertribal conflict is a big threat to the unity of a nation and the churches all over the world. This trend has increased, threatening the perfect unity of the church to move forward spiritually and to increase numerically. This conflict had been on the increase and had progressed through the rank and file of the church levels, wrecking great havoc within the church and the community. Thus, this study assessed the factors militating tribal conflict (TC) and recommends strategies to promote tribal unity in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Atlantic Conference, Lagos State, Nigeria. This study adopted case study research design that entails the detailed and intensive analysis of a single case and a case study of single community and organization, the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Purposive sampling method and simple random sampling was used to assign all volunteered church members (n= 135) into the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were used through an interview guide and a validated semi-structured survey questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha =0.74) was used to obtain data from the respondents. The result showed that more than half (51.9%) were between the age ranges of 40-59 while few (3%) were between ages 15-19. Majority (76.3%) of respondents were male. Virtually, all (98.5%) were from Nigeria. Less than half (45.9%) of the respondents were part of the Igbo ethnic group, while 42.2% were from Yoruba tribe only few (5.9%) were Hausa. The majority (85.9%) of the respondents reported tribal conflict as detrimental to the church. Slightly more than half (57.8%) of the respondents reported that tribal conflict led to fear in the church leaders over the loss of control of their congregation. Also, sixty five percent (65%) of the respondents reported that tribal conflict leads to inability to express one’s opinion. From the leadership perspective, 36.3% stated that church leaders always set good examples of ethical behavior and that less than half (40%) of the leaders never showed preferential treatment. Ethics and integrity were communicated clearly and convincingly by 34.8% to avert conflict. The extent to which tribal difference affects the church was measured on a 40 point rating scale and the mean score was 19.39 ±5.3. This inferred that 48.45% of the respondents reported that tribal differences affect the church unity. In conclusion, this study has given meaningful insight into the evil effects of tribal conflict and the need to provide strategies to combat it. It is recommended that leaders teach their members to follow the teaching of Christ and, secondly, to follow Biblical principles to “pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (NKJV Hebrew 12:14). Furthermore, it is recommended that in the selection of leaders, emphasis be placed on the character and honest report, people full of Holy Ghost, wisdom, good standing, (Church Manual, 2015; Act 6:3), great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:2-13; Titus 1:5-11 and 2:1, 7, 8).