Are Methodist Church bereavement ritual’s sufficient for its black African members?: A qualitative analysis of a church in Mamelodi, South Africa

Abstract

A phenomenon is observed during bereavement amongst the Methodists residing in Mamelodi, Pretoria. Families often seek the churches to be involved, and this normally entails offering pastoral care and leading Christian bereavement rituals. Ironically and at the same time, the same families require, perform, and observe African traditional bereavement rituals. This observation raises the question: Are the Methodist Church’s bereavement rituals conducted during bereavement insufficient? Does this phenomenon mean that what the Methodist Church offers its members is inadequate/lacking to offer healing and comfort to the bereaved families during their time of grief? A qualitative approach and interviews were used as a data-collection method within a (descriptive-explorative) case study design. Many African scholars acknowledge and have written at length about the significance of bereavement rituals among African communities. This research found that it is not a matter of being sufficient or insufficient, but rather that there is a deficit in teachings regarding what these rituals mean. The Methodist Church’s rituals are devoid of the African-ness, which embraces the culture and identity of the Black African members to whom they are ministering. As much as they are appreciated, they run short of embracing their identity as African people. Some participants interviewed did acknowledge that the Methodist Churches’ Christian bereavement rituals are sufficient for them but this is not the case for all adherents of the faith.