Men of God in northern Côte d'Ivoire: An ethnographic and qualitative study of Evangelical and Pentecostal/charismatic pastors’ construction of their role as pastors in the context of Islam
Project period
January 2025 – January 2028
Supervisors
- Stian Sørlie Eriksen, VID vitenskapelige høgskole
- Tomas Sundnes Drønen, VID vitenskapelige høgskole
- Robert Lilleåsen, Fjellhaug Internasjonale Høyskole
About the project
This qualitative and ethnographic theological study examines how Pentecostal pastors in the predominantly Muslim northern regions of Côte d’Ivoire define, negotiate, and interpret their pastoral roles. A central objective is to analyze how lived religious experience—specifically experiences of God’s speech or perceived divine communication—shapes pastoral self-understanding and theology. The study further investigates how pastoral practice and theology are expressed and negotiated in light of contextual factors such as social, spiritual, economic, political, linguistic, and religious dynamics, including the influence of Islam and Muslim communities. The study focuses on key dimensions of pastoral role construction, including mission, pastoral counseling, and pastoral engagement with witchcraft accusations and demonic possession.
Background
Cand.theol., University of Oslo, Spring 2012
Research group
RethinC