Our Academic Dean, Dr Chammah Kaunda, was recently invited to deliver a keynote presentation at the 2026 annual conference of the Southern African Society for Pentecostal Studies (SASPS), hosted this year at the University of Venda in Limpopo Province, South Africa. His virtual presentation was warmly received by those in attendance.
The Society plays an important role in fostering academic exchange and advancing research on Pentecostalism across the region. Its work contributes to wider conversations on theological education, decolonisation, and Africanisation, while engaging critically with what has been described as the “Pentecostal paradox” in Africa—the complex intersection of rapid growth, prosperity teaching, and social engagement, a theme explored in an earlier article published by Dr. Kaunda (Wiley – Open Source).
The 2026 conference focused on the theme “Democratisation, Prophecy and Politics in Pentecostalism”—a subject closely aligned with Dr Kaunda’s ongoing scholarship. His paper is entitled: “The Word of the Lord Came…” Prophetic Epistemology and the Politics of Possibility in Africa. Chammah’s work consistently examines the dynamic relationship between Pentecostal theology, political life, and public witness, with a particular emphasis on decolonial theology and its implications for social transformation.
As highlighted during the conference, Pentecostalism has undergone a significant shift—from early disengagement with political life to an increasingly active role in shaping socio-political realities across Africa. Dr Kaunda’s keynote built on this trajectory, offering critical theological reflection on how Pentecostal movements navigate questions of power, prophecy, and public responsibility in contemporary contexts.
His presentation forms part of a broader scholarly conversation that will be published in due course in the African Journal of Pentecostal Studies, (AJOPS) an international, open-access journal committed to interdisciplinary research on Pentecostalism and its global impact. The journal provides a vital platform for exploring the ethical, cultural, political, and socio-economic dimensions of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, fostering dialogue across theological and academic traditions.
Dr Kaunda’s participation reflects OCMS’s ongoing commitment to contributing to global theological discourse—particularly in areas where faith, justice, and public life intersect. His forthcoming book, Decolonial Pentecostalism: A Post-Nicene Theology from Africa, due for release in May, will further develop these themes and is anticipated to make a significant contribution to the field.
For those interested in engaging further with Dr Kaunda’s conference paper ahead of publication in the AJOPS journal, a copy can be requested via info@ocms.ac.uk.