Harare, 17 August – From August 11th to 13th, the United Theological College (UTC) opened its doors to a transformative workshop on Contextual Bible Study (CBS) focused on Gender Justice, specifically designed for its 2026 freshman class. The three-day intensive was facilitated by Rev. Dr Sithembiso Samuel Zwane from the Ujamaa Centre for Biblical and Theological Community Development and Research at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
The workshop aimed to equip students with a deep understanding of gender justice and injustices, exploring the role of the church in advocating for and advancing gender equality. Participants delved into the core values and methodology of CBS, a participatory Bible study approach rooted in social analysis and community engagement. They engaged in discussions about women’s resistance and solidarity as depicted in the Bible, learned facilitation skills for CBS sessions, and examined the construction process involved in creating effective gender justice campaigns. The culmination of the workshop was the development of a strategic plan for a gender justice campaign, empowering students to translate their learning into action.
Ujamaa Centre, where Rev Zwane is based, is a dynamic interface that brings together socially engaged biblical scholars, organic intellectuals, and marginalised communities. Their mission is to harness biblical and theological resources to foster individual and social transformation, especially among the poor and working-class populations.
The CBS method itself is an adaptation of the See-Judge-Act cycle, a praxis-oriented approach that begins with analysing the local context (See), then re-reading the Bible to interpret its message within that context (Judge), and finally responding through concrete actions aimed at social change (Act). This cyclical process encourages ongoing reflection and action, fostering a continuous dialogue between faith and social realities.
Within the framework of CBS, the social analysis of communities’ needs is central, ensuring that biblical reflection remains rooted in real-world issues faced by marginalised groups. The method also provides a powerful tool for doing theology “of the signs of the times,” allowing communities to interpret their realities biblically and respond to them theologically for social transformation.
Rev Dr Sithembiso Samuel Zwane, a lecturer in Bible and Social Change and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Southern Africa (ELCSA), brings a praxis-based liberation theology perspective to his work. His engagement with socio-economic challenges through CBS underscores the method’s potential for meaningful societal impact.
This workshop is part of the Act Church of Sweden-supported project running from 2026 to 2028, which aims to deepen understanding and engagement with social justice issues through biblical reflection.
It’s worth noting that a preliminary CBS workshop was held earlier in June, from the 9th to the 12th, facilitated by Rev. Chiwoniso Gwenambira and Rev. Dr Kupakwashe Mtata, laying the groundwork for this more in-depth session with the UTC freshmen.
The college’s commitment to integrating social justice into theological education continues to grow, fostering a new generation of church leaders equipped not only with theological knowledge but also with the tools to challenge injustice and promote gender equity through faith-based action.
