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An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

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on <strong>the</strong> project <strong>and</strong> make requests to <strong>the</strong> church, but will not be able to participate in <strong>the</strong>decision as to whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> project continues.Membership in COGIC uses <strong>the</strong> same process <strong>of</strong> counselling <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> right h<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>fellowship. However, only people over <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> nine years who have been baptized <strong>and</strong>counselled <strong>into</strong> membership are allowed to participate. Young children are dedicated <strong>and</strong>only baptized by full immersion in water when <strong>the</strong>y reach <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> accountability, <strong>the</strong>youngest being eight or nine years. Full church membership allows <strong>the</strong> person toparticipate in Communion in URC <strong>and</strong> communion <strong>and</strong> washing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> feet in COGIC.Serving supper (communion) <strong>and</strong> washing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> feet takes place on <strong>the</strong> third Sunday in <strong>the</strong>month in COGIC. The Pentecostal church engages in <strong>the</strong> ritual practice <strong>of</strong> serving <strong>the</strong>Lord‟s Supper <strong>and</strong> washing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> saints‟ feet in <strong>the</strong> same way that Jesus served supper tohis disciples, whilst <strong>the</strong> URC serve communion without <strong>the</strong> ritual <strong>of</strong> washing <strong>the</strong> feet. Onoccasions when <strong>the</strong>re is a visiting speaker <strong>the</strong> order <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> service may change toaccommodate <strong>the</strong> speaker on <strong>the</strong> instruction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pastor. Healing through humility isencouraged through <strong>the</strong> act <strong>of</strong> washing ano<strong>the</strong>r person‟s feet.These churches‟ attitudes to <strong>the</strong> <strong>practices</strong> <strong>of</strong> healing have to be set in <strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>whole structure <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> social construction <strong>and</strong> reproduction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir social <strong>and</strong> physicalenvironment. Healing services are learnt behaviour. The courses <strong>of</strong>fered by bothcongregations‟ denominations at <strong>the</strong>ir ministerial training courses include modules onhealing although it is not compulsory for students who successfully complete <strong>the</strong>se coursesto practise healing. COGIC Bible College is advertised as COGIC Theological Seminarythrough a website where <strong>the</strong>re is a resumé <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> courses on <strong>of</strong>fer, but no contact personsuch as a Principal or Director. The marketing material for URC courses has contact142

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