AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFICACY OF CHURCH STRATEGIES IN INCULCATING MORAL VALUES AMONG THE YOUTH IN THE METHODIST CHURCH IN KENYA, MERU REGION

Abstract

Over time, the Methodist Church in Kenya Meru Region has established a Youth Ministry in a bid to inculcate moral values among the youth. This is in cognizance of the fact that youth play a significant role in the church and society. Although the inculcation of these moral values continues, moral decadence among the youth in the Methodist Church in the Kenya Meru Region still persists. This study therefore assessed the efficacy of Church strategies in inculcating moral values among the youth in the Methodist Church in Kenya, Meru Region. The objectives of the study were to examine the efficacy of youth seminars, to investigate the efficacy of games and sports, to assess the efficacy of schools and colleges' Christian programmes, and to analyze the efficacy of church initiation programs in inculcating moral values among the youth in the MCK, Meru Region. The study was guided by the moral development theory developed by Lawrence Kohlberg in 1958 and falls in the category of cognitive-moral-reasoning theories. The theory was suitable for this study because it clarified what influences the moral decisions at each level of moral development, something that the church can take advantage of to ensure inculcation of moral values among the youth. The study targeted members of the six synods of the Methodist church in Kenya, Meru Region, specifically the youth and the clergy. The study used a descriptive survey research design. There were 8,577 respondents considered in this study, comprising 8,326 youths and 251 members of the clergy from the MCK Meru Region. The sample size for the study was attained through stratified random sampling. The instruments for data collection included a questionnaire for the youth and an interview schedule for the clergy. Data analysis was done through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 27 and presented through descriptions, tables and pie charts. The study findings revealed that many churches in the MCK Meru Region have programmes for youth. The study also revealed that many youth take part in the various church programmes. However, it was clear from the study findings that some youth do not participate in the youth programmes in their churches. Further, the study findings showed that various youth programmes are effective in inculcating moral values such as peace, respect, obedience, love, honesty and cooperation. It was observable that the value of sexual purity was lowly rated in most programmes. The study is significant as a contribution to the body of knowledge in the discipline of Religious Studies in the area of ecclesiology and psychology of religion. Additionally, the findings and recommendations of this study are useful to the MCK Meru Region as they point to what needs to be adjusted so as to be able to effectively inculcate moral values among the youths.