Implication of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church teachings on levirate practice among Abagusii of Itumbe station, Kenya.

Abstract

In traditional Abagusii, marriage is considered as one of the most important institutions in one’s life. Among the various forms of marriages practiced, Levirate union was highly recognized because of its vital role in supporting families when the husband dies and leaves the wife (widow) without an heir. The SDA church considers this practice a form of cohabiting, polygamy and regards it as a form of vice. The purpose of the study was to examine the implications of the Church teachings on levirate practice among Abagusii Community in Itumbe Station of Seventh Day Adventist Church, Kisii, Kenya. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: to examine the SDA church teachings on levirate practice in Itumbe station, Kenya; to assess the effectiveness of the church support/programs for widows in the SDA church, to evaluate the factors influencing the practice of levirate custom among the Abagusii community, and finally, to determine the challenges facing levirate unions in Itumbe Station, Kenya. The study was informed by three theories: Structural Functional Theory (SFT) by Durkheim (1858-1917), and Family Systems Theory (FST) by Bowen Murray in 1960s. A descriptive research design was used in the study. The target population was 774 respondents who included, pastors, family members, Widows, Abagusii council of elders and family life leaders, with asample size of 250 respondents. Data collection tools were a questionnaire for quantitative data, interview schedules and Focus Group Discussions for qualitative data. A pilot study was conducted to test the reliability of the study instruments with the Pentecostal Assembles of God (PAG) church in Nyamira County. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using graphs, pie charts and tables; while qualitative data was analyzed and presented thematically in the form of verbatim reporting. The study found out that despite the SDA church doctrine teach against Abagusii levirate custom, there are members of the church who still practice it. There is a double life style lived by her membership which the church cannot ignore. The church should engage herself to research on the practice for better understanding of its persistence within her membership. It concluded that it is not proper for the SDA church to completely denounce the practice and subject widows who opt for the custom in her membership into humiliation when it does not have comprehensive widow support systems that take care of the widows. The Abagusii levirate custom has positive elements that can be incorporated into Christian marriage. The study recommended that the SDA church should open up and adopt the theology of inculturation as an alternative approach that incorporates the positive aspects of Abagusii levirate custom as a way to contextualize the Christian message on marriage.