**1. Introduction**

The transferring of leadership and handling of appreciations (hefty financial gifts and benefits associated with top positions of leadership) in faith-based organisations generally trigger a conflict of power. This chapter examines the model of transferring power and the handling of appreciations employed by faith-based organisations, taking the Apostolic Faith Mission Church (AFM) as a point of reference. One of the most critical problems facing the AFM is the conflict of power that is associated

with leadership succession and handling of financial benefits called appreciations which manifest in diverse forms such as delay in the holding of tri-annual elections, perceived or real reluctance to relinquish power, handpicking of successors, implementation of contested constitutional reforms and schisms among other issues. Such conflict of power has yielded undesirable consequences both for the image of the AFM in general and the general spiritual well-being of the majority of the ordinary church members in particular. Therefore, there is a need to examine the model of transferring power in the AFM as well as to revisit the handling of appreciations as a way of addressing organisational conflict. This essay explores the need to revisit the traditional model of transferring power and handling of the appreciations as a way of resolving organisational conflict in the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe.

### **2. Research approach**

This research aimed to assess leadership is transferred at the top level in the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe. To systematically achieve this aim, a qualitative research approach was followed through descriptive, explorative, and normative tasks. The descriptive approach led the researcher to find out the status quo about how power is being transferred in the faith-based organisation under review. The explorative task led the researcher to make a comparative analysis of the traditional models of transferring power practised by both the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa (AFMSA) and the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM). The normative task led the researcher to recommend the traditional model of transferring power and management of appreciations as peace-building models that ought to be employed by the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM). Sources of data include document analysis and in-depth interviews. The in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were employed and they yielded data that were analysed to inform this study. To identify informants for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions purposive and snowballing convenient sampling techniques were instrumental. I used purposive and snowballing sampling to target pastors, elders, deacons, deaconesses (who include pastors' wives) and the leaders of the Young People's Union (YPU). In-depth interviews were held with pastors and lay workers of the AFM in Manicaland North and Manicaland Central Provinces. These sampling techniques proved useful to elicit data from pastors and lay leaders. I considered this group of informants as experts in the ongoing dynamics of power in the church under review. According to Duve and Maitireyi [1], 'data are the facts, figures and other materials, past and present, that serve as the basis for study and analysis'. Literature on the AFM in Zimbabwe and grey literature on power struggles in the AFM were reviewed, based on their advantage of appraising this study with current and existing dynamics relating to the power contestation being experienced in the AFM. The inclusion criteria for selecting literature on Google involved key concepts such as AFM power struggles. Also, as an active member of the church under review for a period amounting to 24 years, I used my experience as well as my research findings to reach the conclusion that disrespect of seniority which is symbolised by the relegation of the traditional institutionalised leadership succession planning trend, the appreciations, among other issues precipitated widespread power contestation and unrest in the AFM.

#### **3. Statement of the problem**

Conflict of power is becoming evident within the AFM's top leadership ranks. It also seems the conflict of power that is affecting the leadership succession process

*Conflict of Power and Leadership among Afro-Pentecostal Churches: Resurrecting… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.101268*

of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM) is further complicated by appreciations. If the legitimacy of the top leader is contested and the appreciations are not managed well it engenders strife in the church. It also triggers appellate court appeals, break-ups, tarnishes the image of the church, and generates civil unrest in the body of Christ. Some church members backslide and those who want to join the church will not be able to do so. The key research question is, how can power be transferred amicably and appreciations managed well in a way that does not degenerate into hostility, appellate courts appeals, and schisms?
