Records and Information Management (RIM) Practices in Pentecostal Churches in Zimbabwe
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Date
2022
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Abstract
Zimbabwe has, for the past five decades, experienced a proliferation of
Pentecostal churches. Some Pentecostal churches or prophets own television
channels and social media accounts, which they have used for communication
and preaching. In some instances, Pentecostal churches run several projects and
church activities. All these activities and operations have resulted in the creation
of financial, personal, prophecy and project records, among others. Although
Pentecostal churches are not archives or records centres, they stand to benefit if
they engage in Records Information Management (RIM). The Apostolic Faith
Mission in Zimbabwe (AFMZ) and the United International Apostolic Faith
Church (UIAFC) both experienced splits in 2018, and this has contributed to
information loss and the destruction of vital records. This study investigated the
efficacy of RIM practices in the AFMZ and UIAFC and was grounded on
qualitative and phenomenological research methods. The target population
included pastors, secretaries and treasurers from the AFMZ and UIAFC who are
part of the RIM chain. The study found that the lack of a RIM policy, trained
personnel and physical as well as technological infrastructure contributed to
records and information loss. Pentecostal churches are susceptible to splits.
Records or information is usually managed by lay workers (volunteers) with
less knowledge of RIM; hence this has attributed to information loss and records
destruction. It is thus concluded that RIM in Pentecostal churches remains an
afterthought. This study established critical RIM factors that Pentecostal
churches may find useful, and which can increase their efficiency and
effectiveness in operations and business.
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Citation
Chitima, S.S.; Ndlovu, H. and Phiri, C. 2022. Records and Information Management (RIM) Practices in Pentecostal Churches in Zimbabwe. Mousaion: South African Journal Information Studies; Vol. 40(3) no. 12144