Former, current Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe p...

Former, current Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe principals die in accident

Zim Now Writer

A key figure in resisting the spill-over of the Southern Baptist Convention’s “conservative resurgence” into global missions and principal of The Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe, Dr Henry Mugabe, has died.

Mugabe died in a car crash, which also claimed the lives of Dr Dudzirai Chimberi and Mugabe’s son, Munyaradzi, over the weekend.

Chimberi was the current principal of the institution.

While details of the accident were unknown, Thomas Graves, a friend and former president of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR) in the United States confirmed that both Mugabe and his son had died.

“I have lost the best friend of my life,” Graves said.

“Henry could have lived and worked comfortably in many places outside of bankrupt and forsaken Zimbabwe. His choice to return home after lecturing in America year after year is the finest example of Christian commitment and courage I have ever witnessed.

"Knowing the economic challenges of Zimbabwe, Henry developed a seminary curriculum that included instructions in raising chickens and goats as well as obtaining a secular teaching certificate to enable his graduates to eke out a living

At the time of his death, Henry was running a large farming operation, a widespread feeding programme and an orphanage.

Mugabe, who has been lauded for his work on theology from an African perspective, served as principal of The Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe, until he parted with the institution in 2011 after he refused to accept changes made to the school’s governing documents, including adherence to a faith statement that forbids women from serving as pastors.

Mugabe was educated in Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United States. He earned a master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1990 and a PhD. From the same institution in 1993, just before SBC conservatives took control of that trustee board and instituted major changes.

In the States, he taught not only at BTSR but also at Campbell University Divinity School, McAfee School of Theology and Wake Forest University Divinity School.

Efforts to get details on funeral arrangements could not be obtained as calls to the Theological Seminary in Zimbabwe were not being picked.