African Pentecostal Mission of Liberation and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: An intersectional-decolonial Perspective

Abstract

Intersectional relationships mark global responses to sustainable development issues. Thus, an intersectionality of religion, race, gender, sexuality class, and colonialism often marks Christian mission activities for sustainable development issues in Africa. Although the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations (UN) Member States in 2015 aimed at addressing sustainable development issues for the rest of society, this intersectionality has a greater influence on the understanding of the Christian mission as liberation in this continent. This study used the intersectionality-decolonial theory as a lens to explore the African Pentecostal mission as a liberation considering the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 of the 2030 Agenda. The secondary research approach was used to investigate this phenomenon to contribute to the body of knowledge that addresses African Pentecostal mission praxis in the light of liberation, decoloniality, and SDGs within African Pentecostal praxis and experience. The study found, amongst other things, that gender inequalities and discrimination continue to be barriers to the African Pentecostal mission of liberation that responds to sustainable development issues. It further argued that the narrative is entrenched in the missionary-colonial project that serves as a barrier to achieving the 2030 Agenda within these spaces. Therefore, a call was made for the narrative's problematisation by applying decoloniality and transforming the status quo within African Pentecostal mission activities.