Abstract
The policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon concerning polygamy is one of tolerance for polygynous husbands and their plural wives who live in areas untouched by the gospel. To those who live where the gospel has been preached, polygamy is a roadblock to baptism or, for those already baptized, to holy communion. The enforcement of this policy has created painful stress in Cameroonian Christian homes, including the Dowayo community, where the author has lived.
As polygamy is a respected form of marriage in the African tradition, the question must be asked: Is monogamy the only marriage model Scripture allows, or is it the only one the missionaries' culture permits? With a concern for both biblical faithfulness and cultural appropriateness, the author searches the Old and New Testaments anew to understand the biblical directives for Christ-centered marriage in the African context.
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