From Fivefold to Five-in-One Ministry: Mega-Ecclesiological Leadership (Dis)Continuities in Southern Africa

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Please see my comments in the document

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Please make use of shorter sentences

Author Response

I have revised accordingly. Attached herein is my response.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

add "leadership" to keywords (even if this is already in the title); otherwise, creative paper.

Author Response

I have revised accordingly. Attached herein is my response 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The work is a great contribution to the overall study of African Church Historiography, well articulated with solid literature review.

I wondered if the author(s) considered a comparative analysis with similar ministry structures in the sending missions.  To what extend are the Five-in-one Ministry Leaders replicating the leadership structures of similar ministries from the sending missions and, what, if any, can be attributed to African leadership styles influenced by pre-modern worldviews?

Also, I wondered if there could be a recognition of cases where similar ministries have managed to strike a balance of incorporating Fivefold ministry in independently led churches.

Overall, excellent work   

Author Response

I have revised accordingly. Attached herein is my response. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

see attached document

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

I revised accordingly as attached.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 5 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This is a very good article, contributing to theological and ecclesial discourse. The arguments are persuasive and well illuminated. The conclusion also flowed from the central arguments.

However, it would be interesting to know if the author feels persuasive that a particular minister can possess the five-fold ministry gifts, which appeared to be seen in some of the early apostles.

2. Could the author also attempt to narrow down from the generalisation? Are there no ministers who do not subvert the five-fold ministry, but in fact, in their five-in-one ministry act differently?

3. Does the author consider the fact that these megachurches are owned by persons who run them like the CEOs, and thus, dictate its operation as such?

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

I have revised accordingly. Attached herein is my response. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

It would have been interesting to state numerically, at least estimates and trends, the advance of this ecclesiology in some countries considered.

In my view, it would have been better to associate the participant observations with each of the points in section 5: structure, leadership style, syncretism, accountability, and poverty context.