THE MEDIATING ROLE OF LITURGY IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INCULTURATION AND CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE STABILITY AMONG COUPLES IN METHODIST CHURCH NAIROBI SYNOD, KENYA

Purpose: This study investigated how liturgy mediates the relationship between inculturation and Christian marriage stability among couples in the Methodist Church Nairobi Synod, Kenya. Methodology: Guided by Ritual Theory and grounded in the pragmatist paradigm, the study adopted a convergent mixed-methods design. The target population consisted of 4,010 married adults across 17 circuits, from which a sample of 194 respondents was selected using stratified random and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, achieving a 72.2% response rate (n = 140). Quantitative data were analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. Findings: The results revealed that liturgy plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between inculturation and Christian marriage stability. Hierarchical regression models showed progressive improvement in explanatory power: Model 1 (R² = 0.618), Model 2 including liturgy (R² = 0.687), and Model 3 with interaction terms (R² = 0.762, F = 147.352, p < 0.001). All interaction effects were statistically significant (p < 0.05), confirming the mediating influence of liturgy. Conclusion: The study concludes that integrating culturally relevant liturgical practices strengthens the positive impact of inculturation on marital stability. Intentional liturgical design is therefore essential in fostering resilient Christian marriages within the Nairobi Synod context.