IGWEBUIKE: African Journal of Arts and Humanities

The contemporary Christian church exists within increasingly diverse social, cultural, theological, and generational contexts. While diversity is intrinsic to the nature of the church, it has often become a source of tension, fragmentation, and conflict, thereby undermining ecclesial peace. This article examines church peace through the lens of the theology of unity in diversity, employing an interdisciplinary approach that integrates biblical theology, ecclesiology, peace and conflict studies, and human relations theory. It argues that sustainable ecclesial cohesion cannot be achieved through structural uniformity or doctrinal rigidity alone, but through a theologically grounded embrace of diversity as a divine gift ordered toward communal peace. Drawing particularly from Pauline ecclesiology and Trinitarian theology, the study demonstrates that unity in diversity is foundational to the church’s identity and mission. The article further contextualises this theological vision within African ecclesial realities, where ethnic plurality, leadership struggles, and doctrinal differences frequently challenge church cohesion. Using qualitative theological reflection and contextual case analysis, the study proposes a practical theological framework for nurturing church peace through inclusive leadership, participatory governance, reconciliation practices, and peace-conscious ecclesial formation. This study adopts a qualitative, interdisciplinary methodology rooted in theological reflection and contextual analysis. The research design combines three complementary approaches; biblical–theological analysis, interdisciplinary dialogue approach, and contextual case study approach are utilised to explore how issues of unity, diversity, and peace manifest within African church contexts.

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