The attitudes of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) towards Islam in light of ethnic and religious violence. William Paul Todd B.D., M.Th. Thesis presented for the award of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree. Institute of Theology, Faculty of Humanities, Queen’s University of Belfast. May 2010 QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST DECLARATION FORM FOR SUBMISSION OF HIGHER DEGREE BY RESEARCH I declare that (i) the thesis is not one for which a degree has been or will be conferred by any other university or institution: (ii) the thesis is not one for which a degree has already been conferred by this University; (iii) the work for the thesis is my own work and that, where material has been submitted by me for another degree or work undertaken by me as part of a research group has been incorporated into the thesis, the extent of the work thus incorporated has been clearly indicated. (iv) The composition of the thesis is my own work. Signed: Date: 30 th April 2010 ii Abstract The Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), a major denomination in Northern Nigeria, is the product of evangelism by the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM). ECWA’s heartland is in Northern Nigeria, an area whose substantial Christian population is often ignored by scholars. However, bloody interreligious riots have characterised Northern Nigeria for thirty years. This research examines the violence’s historical background including the dan Fodio jihad, subsequent enslavement of many, pro-Islamic colonialism, and reluctant permission for missions to enter Northern Nigeria post-1933. Pre- independence concerns focused on guarantees against Islamic domination. Recent socio-political issues including identity, corruption, and Shari’ah disputes are tinged by centralising, predominantly pro-Islamic governments. Initially diverting missions from Islamic areas, colonialists encouraged work among traditionalists where churches were established. Yet SIM missionaries, despite their ignorance of Islam, were fascinated by the Muslim Hausa-Fulani. With colonial permission, SIM and ECWA used social services to evangelise Muslims. Christians, however, brought with them prejudices from the jihad and subsequent oppression. SIM failed to confront these, or educate converts on Islam, and discouraged political involvement. NLFA evangelism boosted ECWA. Successive ECWA constitutions reveal ECWA’s theological changes in a Pentecostal direction. Pentecostalism provides an alternative, transforming worldview stressing access to divine power, and radically critiquing the Islamic-dominated corrupt political classes, whom, they believe, have destroyed Nigeria. ECWA’s bureaucracy has hindered evangelism, and theological reflection on Islam, traditional religions or Pentecostalism. Lacking intellectual leadership, violence has provoked suspicion, hatred, and a bunker mentality in ECWA. Bad governance is constantly blamed for repeated riots. Innocent Christians’ sufferings are stressed ignoring ethnic conflicts. Some theologians critique popular beliefs but most ECWA people avoid Muslims. This denies SIM and ECWA’s historic emphasis on contextual evangelism. Peace can only return when both religions overcome prejudices, mutual distrust, and major theological concerns, to dialogue and build bridges. iii Acknowledgements Casting my mind back over the seven years of part-time study for this degree it is hard to remember just who to thank, and one fears committing the unforgiveable sin of leaving out someone who played a crucial role in helping this process along. So, if I do, perchance, forget to mention a name, please forgive me. I started my studies very conscious that doing this course was where God wanted me to be. Thus, my first thanks needs to go to Him for wisdom, strength, direction, financial provision and the opening of doors right through the process. My thanks too go to our home church, High Kirk Presbyterian Church and a number of friends and relatives both within and without the church who prayed for, and financially supported my wife Tricia and myself before, during, and after our two years in Nigeria. Without that financial support, including an unexpected, large, initial gift from a fellow missionary that served as confirmation to us that this was the right path to follow, it would not have been possible for me to do the fieldwork in Nigeria, visit archives there, and visit the SIM archives in the United States. Thanks also to Mrs Michelle McFadden for critiquing my grammar, punctuation and trying to ensure I followed most academic formalities, and to Dr Phillip McCartney & Mr Gordon Montgomery of MCC Computers for their help in printing. Around Queen’s, Mrs Kim Mahon of the Theology office will never forgive me, if I do not mention her name! Her friendliness, knowledge, and helpful attitude have been a great help when I have needed to call in, or while abroad, e-mail her. My thanks too to the Scholarships & Awards Sub-Committee of Queen’s Academic Council who gave me a travel grant which paid for my initial return trip to Nigeria. Rev Professor Bill Addley has been my guide and shepherd during this long process continuing to help me along the process despite retiring from his position at Union College a couple of years ago. It has been great to get to know him. I have appreciated his warmth, good humour, insightful comments, and willingness to look objectively at what I have written and encourage me to do better when necessary. Elsewhere a number of other academics have been a great help at different stages in my research and writing. Rev Professor George Janvier, of Jos ECWA Theological Seminary and Rev Dr Heather Morris of Edgehill Theological College gave me some good advice on research methods. Rev Professors Musa Gaiya and Umar Danfulani, both of the Religious Studies Department in the University of Jos, allowed me access to their files and resources on Nigerian church history and the ethnic and religious conflicts. Professor Gaiya accompanied me to Kaduna where I iv was able to do some further research in archives there. I am grateful to both men for the time and advice they have given me. In the United States Dr Tim Geysbeek is SIM’s Archivist and was immensely helpful during the three weeks I spent in Fort Mill, South Carolina in 2007, and subsequently answering e-mails, scanning and sending me more material, and answering questions that I have raised. I was very grateful for the help of Dr Don and Mrs Betty Hall when I was researching at the SIM Archives. It would have been a lot more difficult without their patient checking and photocopying of material. SIM’s International Director Malcolm McGregor’s decision to relax SIM’s archival embargo from forty years to twenty-five years while I was visiting the archives was very opportune. I am grateful for the encouragement received from SIM in UK and Nigeria. Revs Keith Walker, Roy Gamble and Ian Grant have been very helpful. So too were Dr Phil Tait, then SIM Nigeria’s Director, and Mrs Sue Hammack, then SIM Nigeria’s Personnel Manager who were very encouraging, allowing me time to do my research and granting me access to SIM Nigeria’s files. The welcome I received from colleagues at the Jos ECWA Theological Seminary and from the members of the Jos-Bukuru Theological Society was particularly encouraging. I am grateful too to the ECWA leadership, especially Rev Mipo Dadang, the General Secretary for their permission to access their archives, and granting me the time to interview a number of them, and ferret out the answers I needed. Finally, there is my family. My parents Stanley & Etta Todd’s consistent prayerful support and interest has been a great help. That they are retired SIM missionaries who worked in Nigeria for some years has also helped. When I need to talk to someone who has some idea of what I am talking about, I just have to lift the phone to them. Without my wife Tricia’s support, I could never have started this process. Initially she had a lot of doubts, and was really reluctant to go to Nigeria with me. However, once she got there she enjoyed herself immensely, not really wanting to return home to N. Ireland. Since returning home, she has encouraged me, and paid the bills, enabling me to concentrate on completing this work. It is to her that I dedicate this work, for without her, it would never have happened. Of course, while I am grateful to all of these people, for their help and assistance, the views expressed in this thesis are my own. v Table of Contents Declaration ii Abstract iii Acknowledgements iv Table of Contents vi Chapter One ............................................................................................................. 1 Setting the Context.................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 2. Research Objectives ............................................................................................. 3 2.1 Historical Presuppositions ............................................................................... 5 2.2 Nigeria Today .................................................................................................. 7 3. Relevance of the Study ....................................................................................... 10 4. The Way Ahead .................................................................................................. 16 Chapter Two ..........................................................................................................