Revisiting the concept of sin in anglican preaching: evidence from All-Saints Rukungiri, North Kigezi diocese, Rukungiri
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Date
2026-08-05
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Uganda Christian University
Abstract
This report examines the concept of sin as presented in Anglican preaching at All Saints Church Rukungiri in the Diocese of North Kigezi, South Western Uganda. The study was motivated by a growing concern among theologians and church leaders that contemporary preaching in Ugandan Anglican churches is diluting, emotionalizing, or sidelining the doctrine of sin, a foundational teaching in Anglican theology. The Diocese of North Kigezi, known for its strong evangelical and East African Revival heritage, provided a strategic context for investigating whether a gap exists between its historical emphasis on sin and current preaching practices. The study was guided by three objectives: to analyze the content of preaching on sin at All Saints Church Rukungiri, to assess the alignment between current preaching and the Anglican theological tradition on sin, and to explore the congregation’s understanding and reception of preaching on sin. A qualitative case study design was employed, utilizing sermon transcription and thematic analysis, semi-structured interviews with 25 regular congregants, and documentary analysis of parish and diocesan records. The theoretical framework integrated Anglican systematic theology, homiletics, and contextual theology. The findings revealed that while the doctrine of sin remains present in preaching at All Saints, significant gaps exist in theological depth, particularly regarding original sin and structural sin. The preaching demonstrated a stronger alignment with revival emphases on personal confession than with the full scope of the Anglican formularies. Congregants expressed a desire for more robust teaching on sin that addresses contemporary moral and social challenges. The study concludes that a renewal of preaching on sin is needed, one that remains faithful to the Anglican tradition, rooted in the revival heritage, and responsive to the context of Rukungiri. The dissertation contributes to the fields of Anglican theology, African homiletics, and contextual theology by providing the first empirical investigation of preaching on sin in a Ugandan Anglican parish and offering a model for homiletical renewal.
Description
Undergraduate Dissertation
Keywords
sin, Anglican preaching, East African Revival, Homiletics, Contextual Theology, Diocese of North Kigezi, All Saints Church Rukungiri