Influences and perceptions on writing and publishing by African faculty members serving at the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology /

Abstract

The need for contextually relevant Christian literature in Africa is significant. Scholars experience negative and positive influences when writing and publishing that either contributes to or detracts from the production of more literature. The purpose of the research project was to identify the subjective perceptions of writing and publishing and what has influenced these experiences among the African faculty members serving at Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST) in Kenya, in order to understand how to better facilitate the production of African literature in the future. The experience and perceptions of the occupational, social and publishing influences on the faculty members were researched using qualitative phenomenological methods. Eight African faculty participated in open-ended interviews and select members of the NEGST administration were consulted through interviews or e-mail. Research findings were that all three spheres of occupational, social and publishing influences contributed positively and negatively to the experiences. Social and publishing factors were primarily positive while occupational ones contributed the greatest discouragements. Data analysis revealed a complex interplay of all three spheres, with an emphasis on the role of motivation, accountability and initiative by both the academic institution and the faculty. Responsibilities are shared by the two groups and must be carried out in conjunction to improve the outcomes of writing and publishing in the future.