Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan

Daniel Ajak Magai

doi:doi:10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13

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Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan

Daniel Ajak Magai^*

Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 5)

Received: 4 August 2025 Accepted: 18 August 2025 Published: 3 September 2025

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Abstract

The Church in South Sudan is at a crossroads where its actions could lead to further division and conflict or toward peace, healing, and reconciliation. The ongoing conflict, uncertainties, and schisms within the church have caused continued division along ethnic lines, especially at local levels such as in churches and communities. This has further eroded trust in church leaders, challenging their trustworthiness, as some leaders are complicit in conflicts and divisions that affect the people. This could be a result of deviations from ethical teachings, a lack of adherence to theological foundations, and the weakening practice of servant leadership that eroded social ethics, hindering efforts of social transformation and promotion of the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17. The failure in exercising humility, servanthood, and Christ-centered leadership of powerlessness among the Christian leaders is to blame. As a result, the church struggles to influence society as it should. This paper analyzes the role of the church in perpetuating either division or conflict in society, with a focus on South Sudan. It offers a biblical and theological vision for unity, peacebuilding, and social transformation, providing the basis for the church's expected role. Drawing from the Scriptures, theological insights, and transformational development approaches such as those of Bryant Myers’ Walking with the Poor, the paper calls for a church's review of its positions and ways including through repentance and embrace the missional approaches, and servant leadership through renewed commitment to Christ’s great commission to contribute effectively to peacebuilding, healing, and holistic social transformation of the society.

Published in	Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13
Page(s)	418-428
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Church Schism, Christianity, Peacebuilding, Leadership, Healing and Reconciliation, Ethnicity, Social Transformation, South Sudan

References

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[11]	“One Nation from Every Tribe, Tongue, and People”: The Church and Strategic Peacebuilding in South Sudan. (2013). In JOURNAL OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT (Vols. 10-1, pp. 47-67). https://doi.org/10.5840/jcathsoc20131014
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[14]	Patinkin, J. (2014, December 17). In S. Sudan, churches struggle to keep role as trusted peacemakers. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved July 8, 2025, from https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2014/1216/In-S.-Sudan-churches-struggle-to-keep-role-as-trusted-peacemakers
[15]	Welle, D. (2023, February 4). Pope in South Sudan: Church cannot be “neutral” on injustice. DW. Retrieved July 8, 2025, from https://www.dw.com/en/pope-in-south-sudan-church-cannot-be-neutral-on-injustice/a-64611758
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Magai, D. A. (2025). Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan. Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(5), 418-428. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13

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Magai, D. A. Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2025, 13(5), 418-428. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13

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AMA Style

Magai DA. Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan. Humanit Soc Sci. 2025;13(5):418-428. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13

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@article{10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13,
  author = {Daniel Ajak Magai},
  title = {Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan
},
  journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
  volume = {13},
  number = {5},
  pages = {418-428},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20251305.13},
  abstract = {The Church in South Sudan is at a crossroads where its actions could lead to further division and conflict or toward peace, healing, and reconciliation. The ongoing conflict, uncertainties, and schisms within the church have caused continued division along ethnic lines, especially at local levels such as in churches and communities. This has further eroded trust in church leaders, challenging their trustworthiness, as some leaders are complicit in conflicts and divisions that affect the people. This could be a result of deviations from ethical teachings, a lack of adherence to theological foundations, and the weakening practice of servant leadership that eroded social ethics, hindering efforts of social transformation and promotion of the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17. The failure in exercising humility, servanthood, and Christ-centered leadership of powerlessness among the Christian leaders is to blame. As a result, the church struggles to influence society as it should. This paper analyzes the role of the church in perpetuating either division or conflict in society, with a focus on South Sudan. It offers a biblical and theological vision for unity, peacebuilding, and social transformation, providing the basis for the church's expected role. Drawing from the Scriptures, theological insights, and transformational development approaches such as those of Bryant Myers’ Walking with the Poor, the paper calls for a church's review of its positions and ways including through repentance and embrace the missional approaches, and servant leadership through renewed commitment to Christ’s great commission to contribute effectively to peacebuilding, healing, and holistic social transformation of the society.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
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Y1  - 2025/09/03
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VL  - 13
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Author Information

Daniel Ajak Magai

The Banny DeBrum School of Diplomacy, Mediation, Law and Global Affairs, EUCLID University, Banjul, The Gambia

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http://orcid.org/0009-0004-9931-2481

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APA Style

Magai, D. A. (2025). Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan. Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(5), 418-428. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13

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ACS Style

Magai, D. A. Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2025, 13(5), 418-428. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13

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AMA Style

Magai DA. Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan. Humanit Soc Sci. 2025;13(5):418-428. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13

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@article{10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13,
  author = {Daniel Ajak Magai},
  title = {Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan
},
  journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
  volume = {13},
  number = {5},
  pages = {418-428},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20251305.13},
  abstract = {The Church in South Sudan is at a crossroads where its actions could lead to further division and conflict or toward peace, healing, and reconciliation. The ongoing conflict, uncertainties, and schisms within the church have caused continued division along ethnic lines, especially at local levels such as in churches and communities. This has further eroded trust in church leaders, challenging their trustworthiness, as some leaders are complicit in conflicts and divisions that affect the people. This could be a result of deviations from ethical teachings, a lack of adherence to theological foundations, and the weakening practice of servant leadership that eroded social ethics, hindering efforts of social transformation and promotion of the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17. The failure in exercising humility, servanthood, and Christ-centered leadership of powerlessness among the Christian leaders is to blame. As a result, the church struggles to influence society as it should. This paper analyzes the role of the church in perpetuating either division or conflict in society, with a focus on South Sudan. It offers a biblical and theological vision for unity, peacebuilding, and social transformation, providing the basis for the church's expected role. Drawing from the Scriptures, theological insights, and transformational development approaches such as those of Bryant Myers’ Walking with the Poor, the paper calls for a church's review of its positions and ways including through repentance and embrace the missional approaches, and servant leadership through renewed commitment to Christ’s great commission to contribute effectively to peacebuilding, healing, and holistic social transformation of the society.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Healing the Body of Christ: A Theological Reflection on the Church’s Schism, Leadership, and Peacebuilding Role in Ethnically Polarized South Sudan

AU  - Daniel Ajak Magai
Y1  - 2025/09/03
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13
T2  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
SP  - 418
EP  - 428
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8184
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251305.13
AB  - The Church in South Sudan is at a crossroads where its actions could lead to further division and conflict or toward peace, healing, and reconciliation. The ongoing conflict, uncertainties, and schisms within the church have caused continued division along ethnic lines, especially at local levels such as in churches and communities. This has further eroded trust in church leaders, challenging their trustworthiness, as some leaders are complicit in conflicts and divisions that affect the people. This could be a result of deviations from ethical teachings, a lack of adherence to theological foundations, and the weakening practice of servant leadership that eroded social ethics, hindering efforts of social transformation and promotion of the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17. The failure in exercising humility, servanthood, and Christ-centered leadership of powerlessness among the Christian leaders is to blame. As a result, the church struggles to influence society as it should. This paper analyzes the role of the church in perpetuating either division or conflict in society, with a focus on South Sudan. It offers a biblical and theological vision for unity, peacebuilding, and social transformation, providing the basis for the church's expected role. Drawing from the Scriptures, theological insights, and transformational development approaches such as those of Bryant Myers’ Walking with the Poor, the paper calls for a church's review of its positions and ways including through repentance and embrace the missional approaches, and servant leadership through renewed commitment to Christ’s great commission to contribute effectively to peacebuilding, healing, and holistic social transformation of the society.

VL  - 13
IS  - 5
ER  -

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