The Role of Laity in Fostering the Integration of Christian Faith into Daily Living: A Case of the Methodist Church in the Kaaga Synod

Abstract

The Church is expected to infuse the world and provide moral compass to her followers. Laity is key in this infusion. However, there is a noticeable gap in laity as regards fostering the integration of faith in daily living. This paper aims to assess the role of laity in fostering integration of Christian faith into daily living within the Methodist Church in the Kaaga Synod. The purpose of the study is to suggest measures for addressing the disengagement of the laity’s lives from Christian teachings. The study proposes a constructivism paradigm, and adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was 39,000 members of the 205 churches in 27 circuits that make up Kaaga synod. The sample size was 380 respondents consisting of 339 church members, 32 lay leaders (including men, women, youth and circuit stewards), 8 superintendent ministers /clergy, and 1 synod Bishop. Data was collected using open-ended questionnaires for church members, interviews for lay leaders, focus group discussions for superintendent ministers, and documentary analysis for synod reports and minutes. The quality of data was ensured by checking content, construct, criterion, bracketing, and testimonial validities. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Kenya Methodist University, ethics review committee. Data was analyzed thematically. The study found out laxity among church members to receive Christian teachings, and deficiency of personal responsibility in the practice of Christian teachings as well as individualism that negatively affected implementation of laity programs. The study recommended laity to focus on their individual spiritual development and also engage in social activities that promote justice, peace, and a balance between their spiritual and social dimensions.