A Negotiation Process between Postmodern Worship Practices and Traditional Worship Practices in Selected Anglican Churches in Muranga County, Kenya

Religious postmodernism is a philosophical method that attempts to analyze the present as it occurs on matters of doctrine, faith and practice particularly the view that no religion or religious view is absolutely right or wrong. This philosophy has entrenched itself in today’s society and threatens to disrupt the social order especially in churches which strictly stick to the Bible and the church traditions like the Anglican Church of Kenya. Postmodern worship practices are a great challenge to the unity Anglican Church as they threaten the traditional worship practices which are a pillar of the church. A study was carried out in Makuyu Archdeaconry of Murang’a South Diocese ACK to assess the effects of postmodern worship practices on Christian Worship between May and August 2014. Worship elements including music, prayer, and general church leadership, role of women, worship facilities and homosexuality were investigated. The theoretical framework that guided the study was the deconstruction theory first developed by Jacques Derrida in 1976 which holds that where philosophical opposition exists, you can never encounter a peaceful coexistence and thus you have to deconstruct the two opposing sides by assuming first that none is right or wrong. Data was corrected through self-report questionnaire, interview guide and observation guide. Descriptive survey was used and data analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 17). Interpretation of meaning of findings was based on objectives and existing literature. The study found that postmodernism has affected worship in the mode of dressing, music played in church and the church leadership. The findings of the research are important to Christians and religious leaders whose religions have been affected by postmodernism.