An essay describing how the church in Uganda has histirically been involved in the promoting of

community and the challenges it has faced.

SCHOOL; COMFORT INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY SCHOOL

MODULE; C-P12 CHURCH AND COMMUNITY.

STUDENT NAME AMUJU DOREEN

STUDENT NUMBER UG 009

NUMBER OF WORDS

DATE OF SUBMISSION

OUTLINE

INTRONDUTION

HISTORICAL INVOLVEMENT OF THE CHURCH IN PROMOTING COMMunity development in Uganda

CHALLENGES FACED BY THE CHURCH IN PROMOTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

COLLABORATION WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

CONCLUSION.

INTRODUTION
IN my essay am first going to writte about the brief overview of
the church in Uganda and its role in promoting community
development then I will explain the historical involvement of
the churchurch in the community development in Uganda, I will
ctall the challenges faced by the church in promoting
community development I will also talk about the collaborating
of the church with tother stakeholders to promote sustainable
development and thaen I wii write the conclusion of my esay
Many people today understand church as a building. This is not
a biblical understanding of the church. The word church is a
translation of the greek word ekklesia, which is defined as an
assembly or called out ones. The root meaning of church is not
the building, but people .it is also ironic that when you ask
people which church they usually attend, they identify the
building. The church is not a building or a domination.
According to the bible, the church is the body of Christ, all
those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for
salvation. local churches are gatherings of people who claim the
name of Christ. Members of a local church may or may not be
members of the universal church. Depending on the
genuineness of their faith. The local church is where believers
can fully apply the body principles of 1 corinthians chapter 12
encouraging, teaching, and building one another up in the
knowledge and grace of the lord Jesus Christ.
Chritains do not get involved in the community just for the sake
of getting involved.T hat would be pointless. Churches do not
get involved in the community merely to provide something for
church members to do or to give volunteers a way to feel better
about member themselves. Churches and chris ntains get
involved in the community to better jeses jesus. And to make
His name known.
2.0. Historical involvement of the church in promoting

Community development in Uganda

Education: There was a formal system of schooling with an

attraction of literacy from church missionary society. Each church
in the village had a school for elementary instruction. There was
an establishment of high schools for more advanced learning. For
example, the church missionary society pioneered high school s
such as Mwiri (Busoga), Nyakasura (Toro) and Nabumali (Bugisu)
and Gayaza for girls, Kings College and buddo was the apex of the
whole system. In 1920’s a large proportion of missionaries’
personnel were absorbed in teaching in such schools.

Healthcare: There was an establishment of Mengo hospital in

1897in the development of scientific medicine in Uganda, with
their pioneering work on sleeping sickness and venereal diseases,
the training of nurses and midwives. The Catholics excelled in the
establishment of local dispensaries one can point to the great
work of the Franciscan mother Kevin in this field.

Poverty Alleviation; they aimed at integrating Uganda into

world-wide capitalist system. This was a system of exploitation of
labor and resource of underdeveloped societies. They promoted
cotton production in Uganda, also encouraged the cultivation of
cash crops and individual enterprise. The Catholics, their missions
were often model farming and industrial self sufficiency e.g. brick
making. The aim was to build up a self contained, economically
viable Christian community.

Social Services. Both the Anglican and Catholic Church provided

social services that took the form of benefits and facilities such as
quality education, food subdues health care, social security and
subsidized housing. All of which aimed at improving the life and
living conditions of citizens.
3.0. Challenges faced by the church in promoting
community development.

Limited resources: Limited resources can be one of the factors of

under –development. The church may collaborate with other
stakeholders to cause a positive change in the community but
due land scarcity, the church may fail to do some developments
that may benefit the community like building health Centers,
schools etc.

Lack of skilled personnel: The church may have a plan of

beginning micro-finance SACCOs to improve people’s lives
economically, but due to lack of skilled personnel in the church
may cause the collapse of the Sacco due lack of technical know-
how. There must be people who studied business to help sort out
this in church.

Political instability: The church faces a challenge in politics in a

way that politics is much influenced with strikes, violence,
oppositions and people not accepting defeats. Political instability
in the country causes instability of the church. Some people in
church may get involved in different political parties which may
cause conflicting matters in the church hence causing fighting
and divisions in the church. And that will affect its spirituality.

worship times that are not convenient for guests. Cultural

barriers: These barriers refer largely to attitudes and practices of
the leadership and membership as perceived by guests. They
could include a general unfriendly spirit in the church,
acrimonious business meetings, perceived lengthy services and
. 4.0. Collaborating with other stakeholders to promote
sustainable development

A. Explain how the church can collaborate with other

stakeholders to promote sustainable development in
the community
The church needs to research the stakeholders and identify
what is at stake to everyone. The church needs to learn each
stakeholder’s language and set specific expectations for
everyone and finally to show how stakeholders input is put to
work.
The church can also collaborate with other stakeholders
through lobbying and project proposal writing.

B. Discuss the importance of partnership with the

government agencies, NGOs and community based
organization

The church will be able to work together in conferences and

training opportunities which would be challenging for any
one church to do.
When we partner with others, our strengths are shared and
our weaknesses are supported by one another that may be
strong and weak in ways that are different than us.

Partnering with the community based organization, can offer

unique and important insights into the challenges and
opportunities facing residents in area and can help local
officials improve their ability to communicate and connect
with a wide range of community members

Partnering with government agencies, NGOs and CBOs, is

one way of advocating for the rights and interests of their
community members. This can help in raising awareness
about issues affecting the community and lobby for policies
and programs that address those issues. CBOs may also
engage in legal advocacy to protect the rights of community
members.

C. Give examples of successful collaborations in Uganda

and their impact on the community development

THE UGANDA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The church has successfully collaborated with human rights
commission to create and sustain awareness to the society
 of the provisions of the constitution. To educate and
encourage the public to defend the constitution at all times
against all forms of abuse. To formulate, implement and
oversee programmes to create awareness in the citizens of
their civic duties.

ACTION FOR DEVELOPMENT

The church has partnered with action for development to
focus on the improvement of social well being and to involve
people to work together in pursuit of their general interests.
Power has been manifested in the ability of individuals to
come together and work toward common goals.

HOPE AFTER RAPE

The above organization has partnered with the church to
facilitate the recovery of abused children, women, and their
families through training, research, advocacy and provision
of psychosocial support services.

AFRICAN RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

The church has partnered with African rural development
initiatives to ensure food security, renewable energy and
advocates for simple agricultural technologies that improve
production in the community.

.0. Conclusions
A. summarize the key points made in the essay

1. In Uganda Many churches have adopted the community-based model

working closely with community members to identify key issues and
develop strategies s for addressing them.
2. Many churches in Uganda also focus on providing direct services to
the community. Some churches in Uganda have taken on an
advocacy role, working to influence public policy and promote social
justice.
3. In Uganda the church has also worked in partnership with other
faith-based organizations to promote community development and
social change.
4. In Uganda the churches have adopted an asset-based model working
to identify and build on the strength and asset of the community.

B. Emphasize the importance of the church`s continued involvement

in promoting community development in Uganda
Uganda is that youths are now gaining skills through education and
vocational trainings and now they develop their communities. the church
`s continuing in involvement promoting community development has
also changed people`s lives through their involvement in savings.

6.0. Bibliography
C-P12 church and community teaching notes from comfort international
ministry school prepared by instructor Mamerito Nturanabo