Experiences of divorced people in Pentecostal churches in Botswana

Abstract

Background: Cases of divorce are on the increase across societies and within the Pentecostal churches. Pentecostal church doctrine disapproves of divorce, and the people experience discrimination consequently. Despite the overall impact divorce has on the spiritual well-being of the victims, Pentecostal churches do not provide sufficient support to them.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to explore the lived experiences of divorced people in Pentecostal churches and the impact divorce had on their spiritual well-being.

Method: A qualitative phenomenological design was utilised. The study recruited six divorced people, three pastors and 24 men and women from three Pentecostal churches. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to select the sample. A thematic content analysis was used to analyse data.

Results: The study revealed four major effects that divorced people face such as psychological and emotional effects, social effects, spiritual effects and economic effects.

Conclusion: The study’s findings unearthed the impact that divorce has on the divorcee’s spiritual well-being. Although the Bible disapproves of divorce, some research indicates that divorce may have positive outcomes in some instances, and therefore, it should not always be viewed negatively.

Contribution: The findings of the study would possibly assist Pentecostal church leadership in coming up with effective interventions that can support divorced members in the church.