Abstract:
Polygamy is a controversial issue in the scholarly world. The study attempted to
find out the position of Africa Inland Church (ALC) on polygamous converts among the Tugen ofBaringo District, Kenya. This researcher was concerned with the biblical understanding of polygamy and its impact on the ALe. converts.
The study had the following concerns; to find out how the teachings of the ALC
affect the polygamous converts in the light of biblical teachings; and the position of the polygamous converts towards the ALC teachings.It was hypothesized
that the teachings. Although the practice practice of polygamy is not contrary
seems to have both positive to biblical and negative However, the effects of polygamy is related to the individual's perception effects. and practice. The
bearing of the practice of polygamy on Christianity was then traced in the New Testament, in our contemporary situation and in selected ALC polygamous
converts among the Tugen. The researcher adopted both histeI:ical and descriptive survey methods so as to explore the issue at hand in a biblical context. Data from the field was collected through interviews and self-administered questionnaires. use when selecting the sample respondents.
However, random sampling was put into This was necessary so as to minimize bias and to give each sample respondent in the strata an equal chance. Data from the field therefore, were presented in percentages and put in tables and figures. The researcher's main finding was that; the motive behind polygamy among the Tugen was the desire to have more sons than daughters and the possibility of increasing the labour force in the family. The polygamous who had embraced Christianity were denied full membership, and since then they have left the ALe. because they could not be baptized or participate in the partaking of the holy communion. In the ALe. teaching a person embraces Christianity once he/she confesses the sin and accepts Jesus Christ as a personal saviour, and right there he/she earns salvation. While baptism, is only a symbolic of the death and the rise of Jesus Christ and as well as a testimony. In conclusion, the researcher suggests that the response from the field seems to push forward one major suggestion that; the ALe. should revise its constitution and approach in dealing with Christian teachings to accommodate accept the gospel as full members of the church.
