About the Journal

Founded in January 2025, AJORET is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal published by Bibliotheca Publishers, Ghana. The journal was established to provide a dedicated platform for scholarly research in religious studies, ethics, theology and related fields. AJORET seeks to amplify the voices of both emerging and established scholars who engage with existential issues affecting African societies and beyond.

 

Aim and Scope

AJORET is dedicated to advancing scholarly research in religion, ethics, and theology with a primary focus on Africa, while also welcoming contributions from non-African contexts that enhance theological discourse and provide comparative insights. The intended readership is theological scholars (researchers), students, ministers, and all who are interested in religion, ethics, and theology. AJORET welcomes original articles and reviews in the following areas:

• Biblical Studies

• Systematic  Theology

• Public Theology 

• Historical Theology

• Christian Ethics 

• Christian Mission

• Interreligious and Ecumenical Dialogue

• Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies

• African Traditional Religion(s) and other World Religions 

• Religion, Gender and Social Transformation

• Religion and Sustainable Development

• Applied and Practical Theology

 

Editorial (Peer Review) Process

AJORET ensures the quality and integrity of published papers through a structured process, including plagiarism checks, peer review, revisions, editorial processing, and final copyediting and proofreading. Post-publication, corrections and retractions are also managed as needed. These key stages are further explained as follows:

 

i. Initial Assessment

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial plagiarism check. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized content are automatically rejected. Those that pass the plagiarism check are further screened for relevance and adherence to submission guidelines. If a manuscript does not meet these basic criteria, it is either returned to the corresponding author for revision or rejected.

 

ii. Anonymous Review

Manuscripts that successfully pass the initial stage undergo their first blind review by one member of the editorial board who has expertise in the relevant subject area. Manuscripts that do not pass the first (initial) blind review stage are sent back to their respective the corresponding author for revision and re-submission, where appropriate, or rejected. If a manuscript passes the first review, it is sent, together with the AJORET Article Review Form, to one or two external and independent reviewer(s) with advanced knowledge in the field. The reviewer must conduct the review and submit the report to the editor within three to four weeks. At both stages of the review, both the author(s) and the reviewers remain anonymous to ensure an unbiased evaluation.

 

iii. Review Criteria

During the blind review process, the manuscript is evaluated based on the clarity and suitability of the title, abstract, and introduction; originality and contribution to the field; theological or ethical foundation; clarity and organization; methodological rigor; engagement with existing literature; adherence to referencing style; grammar and formatting quality; and overall scholarly merit, with each category rated on a scale from “Excellent” to “Below Average.” 

 

iv. Decision Process

The editor-in-chief makes a decision on each manuscript based on the reviewers’ feedback, and the decision may fall into one of the following categories:

a. Approved: The article should be accepted as it is.

b. Approved with Minor Corrections: The article should be accepted after minor corrections.

c. Approved with Major Corrections: The article should be accepted after major (substantial) corrections.

d. Resubmit: The article should be rewritten and resubmitted for a new round of review. 

e. Decline: The article is not suitable for publication and should be submitted elsewhere. 

The journal's editorial decisions are guided solely by the scholarly merits of submissions. Thus, evaluations remain independent of commercial interests, political affiliations, or any other biases.

 

v. Revision and Editorial Processing

Papers that pass the review process are sent to the corresponding author for necessary revisions, which must be completed and returned to the editor within a specified period. The revised manuscript, with tracked changes, must be submitted along with the author revision form, which provides a point-by-point explanation of the modifications made to the manuscript. The acceptance of a paper for publication depends on the editor's satisfaction with the revisions made by the author(s) in accordance with the reviewers’ recommendations.

 

vi. Final Editing and Proofreading

Once the editor-in-chief accepts a manuscript—following peer review and any required revisions—the editorial team begins preparing it for final publication. The process begins with copyediting, after which a copy of the manuscript is sent to the corresponding author for review and revision of any issues from the copyediting. Once approved, the manuscript proceeds to typesetting, where it is formatted according to the journal’s layout. The editorial team then sends galley proofs to the corresponding author to proofread and report any typographical or layout errors within five working days. If no response is received within the given timeframe, the manuscript will proceed to publication as is, and further corrections may not be incorporated.

 

vii. Publication and Monitoring

Once the final version is approved, the paper is scheduled for publication in the next issue of the journal, and the corresponding author is notified upon its release. Authors are encouraged to monitor the journal's website and their email for updates regarding the publication process.

 

Correction to a published article 

In cases where errors are identified after publication, the journal allows for corrections to be made through an official erratum or corrigendum, depending on the nature of the mistake. If a serious ethical violation, such as plagiarism or data fabrication, is discovered post-publication, the journal reserves the right to retract the article in accordance with established publication ethics guidelines.

 

Retraction 

Articles may be retracted for various reasons, including honest errors reported by the authors, research misconduct such as data fabrication, duplicate or overlapping publication, fraudulent data usage, clear plagiarism, or unethical research practices. When an article is retracted, a retraction notice will be issued, clearly stating the reason for retraction and identifying the party initiating the process. This notice will be linked to the retracted article, which typically remains accessible on the journal’s site and is clearly marked as retracted, including the PDF version. Retractions are usually initiated at the request of the authors or the publisher in response to an institutional investigation. The content of a retracted article will only be removed if legal restrictions are imposed on the publisher, copyright holder, or author(s).

 

Author Guidelines

To ensure consistency and academic excellence, AJORET requires authors to adhere to the following guidelines:

1. General Requirements

i. Authors are encouraged to submit scholarly articles that align with the journal’s scope and subject areas. 

ii. The submitted manuscript must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration in any other journal.

iii. Authors must uphold ethical research standards and ensure their work is free from plagiarism.

iv. Authors must avoid unethical use of AI in their work. 

v. Manuscripts must be written in English, using either American or British spelling consistently throughout.

vi. Manuscripts should be well-organized, with clear, logical structure and easy-to-follow arguments.

vii. All manuscripts must be written in clear academic language, free of grammatical and spelling errors. 

viii. Each manuscript must have a robust and credible religious, theological, or ethical foundation and show thorough engagement with relevant and up-to-date literature.

ix. The journal encourages the use of gender-inclusive language. Authors are advised to avoid gender-specific terms when the gender of the subject is unknown or irrelevant. For example, use “humankind” instead of “mankind,” “chairperson” instead of “chairman,” and “they” instead of “he” or “she” as a generic pronoun.

x. Research articles should be between 6,000 and 8,000 words (including footnotes, tables, figures, graphs, bibliography/references). 

 

2. Manuscript Structure

Each manuscript should be structured as follows: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Main Body (with subsections), Conclusion, and References/Bibliography. 

Title

• The title should be clear, concise, and informative (maximum 15 words).

• It should accurately reflect the content and scope of the paper. 

• Write the title in all caps and center-align the text.

 

Abstract

• The abstract should provide a concise (summarized) overview of the entire article. 

• It should be written as one paragraph and be between 150 and 250 words. 

• It should clearly outline the research problem, purpose of the study, methodology (briefly mentioned), main argument, key findings, conclusions, implications (if applicable) and contribution to knowledge. 

• It should be written in past tense.

• No citations are to be included in the abstract. 

• Be sparing with abbreviations, using only those firmly established in the field. Make your abstract self-contained because most readers use it to decide whether to read the full article or not.

• Authors should include 4–6 carefully selected terms or phrases that accurately reflect the main themes, concepts, or geographical and theoretical focus of the paper to enhance discoverability in academic searches.

 

Author(s) Information

• Full name(s) of the author(s) (without academic titles) and highest academic qualification (ie., MA, MPhil, MTh, PhD, DTh)

• Institutional affiliation(s) and country.

• Corresponding author’s email.

• Only those who made a significant intellectual contribution to the research, helped write or revise the manuscript, approved the final version, and take responsibility for its content should be listed as authors.

Introduction

• The introduction should introduce the reader to the topic and lead the reader into the body of the paper. 

• It must provide background or context for the study.

• It must clearly state the research problem or identifies a gap in existing literature.

• It must outlines the objectives or research questions and highlight the significance or rationale of the study.

• It must briefly describe the structure of the paper, and recommendations (if applicable). 

 

Methodology

Each manuscript must include a clearly defined methodology appropriate to the nature of the study. The methodology section should explain the approach or method used—whether empirical (e.g., surveys, interviews, case studies) or non-empirical (e.g., theological reflection, exegetical analysis, conceptual inquiry)—and justify its relevance to the research objectives. It should address key questions such as: What steps were taken to investigate the research problem? What sources or data were used? How were they gathered and analyzed at each stage? Authors must also mention any ethical considerations involved in the research, including matters like consent and confidentiality where applicable, and acknowledge any limitations or boundaries of the chosen method. Further details are given below. 

Methodology for Empirical Research

• For empirical research, the methodology section should provide a clear and detailed account of the research process. Authors must describe the overall research design—such as qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, case study, or historical analysis—and explain its relevance to the study. The section should specify the population and sample, including sampling techniques and relevant demographic information. 

• Authors should clearly outline the data collection methods employed, such as surveys, interviews, observations, or fieldwork, and describe the procedures used in gathering and organizing the data. Finally, the section must detail the data analysis techniques applied, whether statistical tools, coding procedures, or thematic analysis, ensuring that the research process is transparent, replicable, and aligned with the study’s objectives.

 

Methodology for Non-empirical Research

• Non-empirical research, such as theological, ethical, or conceptual studies, must also be grounded in a clear and coherent methodological framework. While such studies do not involve the collection of empirical data, they are expected to follow a systematic and rigorous approach. Authors should articulate the theoretical or conceptual framework underpinning the research, identifying the key philosophical, theological, or ethical traditions that inform their analysis. The method of inquiry—such as exegetical analysis, theological reflection, conceptual analysis, or historical-critical interpretation—should be clearly described and appropriately applied to the selected sources.

• It is essential to specify the nature and scope of the sources being analyzed, whether these include scriptural texts, doctrinal statements, historical documents, or theological/religious literature, and to explain their relevance to the research question. Authors should also describe the interpretive strategy used, acknowledging any particular lens or tradition guiding their analysis, such as liberation theology, feminist theology, or Catholic social teaching. The choice of methodology must be justified in relation to the research aims and questions, demonstrating its suitability for the study and its contribution to scholarly discourse.

 

The Body

• The body of the manuscript should preferably be divided into clear subsections with appropriate headings that guide the reader through the development of the argument or presentation of findings.

• The body should present a logical progression of the main argument, supported by interpretation and reasoning, and demonstrate critical engagement with relevant scholars, traditions, or perspectives.

• Further details are given below. Note, however, that the structure may be adjusted to suit the nature of the study while maintaining clarity, coherence, and scholarly depth.

For qualitative or empirical research, the body may include:

• Literature Review: A summary and critique of relevant previous research. 

• Theological/religious/ethical foundation: In addition to or in places of the literature review the body should include a section on the theological/religious/ethical foundation related to the subject matter under study.

• Methodology: A detailed description of how the research was conducted. (see the notes on methodology in the previous section)

• Findings/Results: A systematic presentation of the research findings, supported by relevant data such as tables, figures, or qualitative descriptions.

• Discussion and analysis: A critical interpretation of the findings in relation to the research questions, existing literature, and relevant theological, religious, or ethical perspectives.

 

For non-empirical research, such as theological/religious, ethical, or conceptual studies, the body may include:

• Contextual or Theoretical Background: Establishing the intellectual or theological context.

• Textual or Doctrinal Analysis: In-depth examination of key texts, doctrines, or ideas.

• Theological Synthesis: Integration of insights from analysis to construct or support a coherent theological or ethical argument.

• Implications/Application: Reflection on the significance of the findings for theology, ethics, practice, further scholarship, and their relevance to a specific context.

 

Conclusion

• The conclusion should summarize the main findings or arguments.

• It should reflect on broader implications of the findings.

• It should be written as one paragraph.

• It should be written without introducing new information. Therefore, there should be no citation in the conclusion. 

Bibliography/References

• Use either Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) or SBL Manual of Style, depending on what was used in the body of the text. 

• All entries should be arranged alphabetically by author’s last (surname) name. 

• When an entry extends to more than one line, apply a hanging indent for proper formatting. 

• Ensure consistency in citation style throughout the manuscript.

3. Formatting Guidelines

Authors must adhere to the following formatting guidelines. 

• Font: Times New Roman, 12pt for body text; 12pt bold for the title; 12pt for the abstract and references.

• Spacing: Single line spacing throughout the document.

• Margins: 2.5 cm on all sides.

• Paragraphs: Paragraphs should not be separated by extra spacing; instead, they should be indicated by indenting the first line—except for the very first line of a new section, which should not be indented. Use the tab key to indent paragraphs. All texts should be justified, except the title of the article which should be center-aligned. 

• Tables & Figures: Numbered sequentially (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1) and must include captions.

• Table headings should be placed at the top, while figure headings go below the figure.

• Headings: Limit to a maximum of three levels. First-level headings should be written in all caps, bold, 12pt, and justified. Second-level headings should be bold, 12pt, with only the first letter of major words capitalized, and justified. Third-level headings should be in bold italics, 12pt, with the first letter of major words capitalized, and justified.

• Heading Structure: Use Arabic numerals for headings and subheadings, following a hierarchical format (e.g., 1 (first-level heading), 1.1 (second-level heading), 1.1.1 (third-level heading); 2, 2.1, 2.1.1).

• Italicization: Italics should be used sparingly and only for emphasis, foreign (non-English) words or phrases, or book titles. Bold and underlining should not be used for these purposes.

• The article template can be downloaded here. 

 

4. Referencing/Citation Style

i. AJORET accepts both Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition—footnotes) and SBL Manual of Style (in-text) are accepted, but a single manuscript must follow one style consistently. Discursive footnotes should be minimal. 

ii. SBL Style: Use a block quotation for any quotation of 40 words or more, indented, single-spaced, and without quotation marks.

iii. Chicago Style: Use a block quotation for any quotation of four or more lines, indented and single-spaced, without quotation marks.

iv. Whether in footnote or bibliography, DOIs/URLs should be included where available.

v. All or some of following items are required to cite and prepare a bibliography/references for an article:

• Author(s): Include the family name and at least initials (or full name where appropriate).

• Title: Provide the full title of the article, chapter, book, or paper (in quotation marks for articles/chapters and italics for books/journals).

• Source: Specify the name of the journal, book, or conference proceedings.

• Date: Indicate the year of publication, and include the month or day if relevant for newspapers or websites.

• Volume and Issue Numbers: Include volume and issue numbers for journal articles.

• Editors, Translators, or Compilers: Mention editors, translators, or compilers if citing a chapter in an edited work or a translated book.

• Publisher: Provide the name of the publisher for books and edited volumes.

• Place of Publication: Include the city where the book was published (especially for Chicago style).Page Numbers: Cite the specific page numbers for chapters, journal articles, or specific sections referenced.

• DOI or URL: Provide the DOI or stable URL for online sources, especially in SBL and Chicago style when referencing digital content.

Further guidelines on the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) and SBL Manual of Style are given here. 

(Book) Review Article

General Requirements for Book Review Articles

i. Authors are encouraged to submit critical and scholarly book reviews that engage with recent publications relevant to the journal’s focus areas in Religious studies, Theology, and Ethics.

ii. Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under review by any other journal or outlet.

iii. Authors must adhere to ethical academic standards, ensuring the review is free from plagiarism and represents an honest, fair, and balanced critique of the work.

iv. The use of AI tools must be ethical, transparent, and must not compromise the integrity or originality of the review.

v. All reviews must be written in English, using either American or British spelling consistently throughout the manuscript.

vi. Book reviews should be clearly structured, beginning with full bibliographic details of the book under review, followed by a concise summary, critical analysis, and concluding reflections.

vii. The writing must be in clear, academic prose, free from grammatical and typographical errors.

viii. Reviews should demonstrate familiarity with the broader scholarly context, engaging the reviewed work in light of relevant theological, religious, or ethical discourse.

ix. Authors are encouraged to use gender-inclusive language, especially when referring to hypothetical persons or general human subjects. For instance, use “humankind” instead of “mankind,” “chairperson” instead of “chairman,” and “they” instead of “he” or “she” where appropriate.

x. Book review articles should generally be between 1,000 and 1,500 words, unless otherwise requested by the editor.

xi. Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format to the editor via ajoretjournal@gmail.com or through the online submission system. 

 

Structure for Review Article

The following components are necessary. 

 

• Title of the review: A brief title indicating the book being reviewed.

• Introduction: Introduce the book, author, and provide the review's purpose and angle.

• Summary of the book: Give a brief overview of the book’s key content without excessive detail.

• Critical evaluation (critique): Discuss the book’s strengths and weaknesses, and compare it to other works in the field.

• Relevance and contribution: Evaluate the book's impact on the field and its intended audience.

• Conclusion: Offer a final assessment, including recommendations and suggestions for improvement.

• References: List any additional sources or references mentioned in the review.

 

Formatting of Review Article

i. Manuscripts should be formatted in Times New Roman, 12-point font, with single line spacing, justified paragraphs.

ii. Read the formatting guidelines for article manuscripts stated above for more on formatting guidelines. 

iii. The article template can be downloaded here. 

 

Plagiarism and AI Policy 

AJORET upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and strictly prohibits plagiarism in any form. To maintain originality and credibility, all submitted manuscripts undergo a plagiarism check using CrossRef’s Similarity Check powered by iThenticate before the editorial review process begins. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism and the unacknowledged use of others' work, is considered a serious offense. Manuscripts with suspected plagiarism will be rejected or retracted if discovered post-publication.

While AJORET permits the ethical use of AI tools for minor tasks such as language editing, grammar and spelling checks, reference formatting, and data analysis, authors must ensure that their manuscripts remain the product of genuine human scholarly effort, critical reasoning, and adherence to ethical academic standards. AI should not be used for generating core content such as arguments, analyses, or citations. Any substantial use of AI must be clearly disclosed. Authors are fully responsible for their work, and AI tools cannot be credited as co-authors. AJORET reserves the right to reject submissions that misuse AI or compromise academic integrity. Note: The subject of the use of AI in academic work is a complex one which needs constant reflection. We reserve the right to modify our policy and publish it officially on our website, as and when the need arises. 

 

Mode of submission

Submissions should be sent to ajoretjournal@gmail.com or via the online submission system.

 

Publication Frequency

AJORET follows a triannual publication schedule, releasing issues in June, October, and February.

 

Special Issue Policy 

AJORET may periodically publish special issues based on specific themes. Calls for papers for special issues will be announced in advance. To uphold academic integrity, all special issues must align with the journal’s scope and undergo the same rigorous peer review process as regular issues. The Editor-in-Chief holds ultimate responsibility for their content, with guest editors approved and supervised by the editorial team. To ensure fairness, guest editors’ own submissions will undergo independent review and will not exceed 25% of the total issue. These measures ensure that special issues contribute meaningfully to scholarly discourse while maintaining high editorial standards.

 

Publication Fee

At present, AJORET does not charge any fees for submission, peer review, or publication. All accepted articles will be published free of charge to promote open access and the dissemination of knowledge. However, from April 2026, an Article Processing Charge (APC) will apply upon acceptance for publication. The APC will help cover editorial, production, and administrative costs. The applicable charges will be as follows: 

 

Category Amount 

Authors from Ghana GHS 500.00

Authors from other parts of Africa USD 70.00

Authors from outside Africa USD 100.00

 

Note: The APC has been waived for all authors publishing in the maiden issue. 

 

Mode of payment

Information about the mode of payment will be officially announced on the Journal’s website before we begin to charge authors for their publications. 

 

Open Access Policy

All research papers published in AJORET are open access, meaning they are freely and permanently accessible online immediately upon publication. Articles can be downloaded at no cost from the journal's website, allowing authors to share their research with a wider audience and enabling the global research community to access all published work without the need for membership or subscription fees. Under open access, users are free to read, copy, distribute, print, search, link to full texts, index articles, use them as data for software, or apply them for any other lawful purpose—without requiring prior permission from the publisher or author. This aligns with the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) definition of open access. The copyright holder—the author(s) of all published articles—grants usage rights to others under an open license (CC BY license), ensuring broad dissemination and reuse while maintaining author attribution.

 

Licensing and Copyright

i. All research articles published in this journal are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license allows unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any format, provided the original work is properly credited.

ii. Authors retain the copyright to their published articles while agreeing that the CC BY 4.0 license applies to their work. Under this license, members of the research community do not need prior permission from the authors or publisher to copy, distribute, share, or modify the content.

iii. The views, opinions, and conclusions expressed in published articles solely reflect those of the authors. The journal assumes no responsibility for any disputes or liabilities arising from conflicts of interest, copyright violations, or the misuse of published content.

 

Abstracting and indexing

AJORET is currently indexed Crossref. We will publish other indexing bodies as and when our application is approved.

 

Contact information

For inquiries, submissions, or other correspondence, please contact the following persons.

The editor

Postal address: P. O. Box 8, Odumasi-Sunyani, Bono Region, Ghana, West-Africa

Digital address: BY-0020-4085

Email: 

Mobile contact: +233(0)248375278

 

Journal Administrator

Name: Mr. Jake Quaye 

Postal address: P. O. Box 8, Odumasi-Sunyani, Bono Region, Ghana, West-Africa

Email: 

Mobile contact: +233(0)244662888