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THE Mstory of the RHENISH MISSION SOCIETY in NAMIBIA

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THE Mstory of the RHENISH MISSION SOCIETY in NAMIBIA THE mSTORY OF THE RHENISH MISSION SOCIETY IN NAMIBIA WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SCHISM (1946-1990) By HENDRIK RUDOLF TJIBEBA, Dip.Th. (paulinum Theological Seminary, Namibia) B. Th. M.Th (Natal) Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities, School of Religion and Culture at the University of Durban-Westville. Promoter: Professor J.A. Smit Co-promoter: Professor I.A. Phiri 2003 ABSTRACT This dissertation takes up the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) schism in 1946 in Namibia from the Rhenish Mission Society (RMS), due to a protest against the inhumane treatment that the Nama leaders were forced to accept from the German missionaries belonging to the Rhenish Mission Society. The agitation movement of 1946 organized a church separated from the RMS which was started in response to the Africans' need for opportunities for self-expression, fuller involvement in the Church of God, and in society as a whole. It was the answer to a cry for social recognition as human beings, and the means through which a group of people started on a programme which gave them a growing sense of dignity and self respect. The underlying and longer term problems of this ftrst schism in Namibia come out above all in the correspondence between the missionary Christiaan Spellmeyer and Petrus Jod, Markus Witbooi and Zacheus Thomas. These documents shed some light on the policy and attitude of the RMS in Namibia and in Gibeon in particular, mainly during the 1930's and early 1940's. This thesis records the signiftcant role played by the Nama leaders to voice their grievances against the RMS. The involvement of the RMS missionaries in colonial politics has contributed to the subjugation of the black people. By concentrating their efforts on pioneering incentives in education, social care and ordination, the Nama leaders made an outstanding contribution to the establishment of AMEC in Namibia, the church which responds closely to the needs of the Nama people. This study should be of interest to those who are doing research on the history of Christian missions in Southern Africa, and in particular in Namibia. It is hoped that the findings of this study will bring a local perspective on the activities of the AMEC in Namibia, as up to the present, much available information has been written by German missionaries. A complete history of the indigenous clergy in Namibia, is unwritten. Much that would be most interesting and valuable went to the grave with those who had no possible means of transmitting it except by the uncertain and unreliable method of tradition. What made Zacheus Thomas, Markus Witbooi and Petrus Jod different from the Rhenish Mission Society's staff was the fact that they were from the IKhobesin clan, who understand and respect the culture of the Nama people. They could see and appreciate the structures of the Nama society and planned a development project from the African perspective. The researcher presents this work as a tribute to these pioneering Nama leaders whose lives and relationships are a true reflection of their Christian faith. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In conducting this study, I have received assistance and encouragement from a number of people. I wholeheartedly thank Professor Isabel Apawo Phiri, and Professor Johannes Andreas Smit for their academic support and guidance. I aclmowledge their scholarly thoughts from the very first day which greatly guided me during the course of my research and writing. I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to Prof. Smit, who guided me in editing my thesis. Prof. Smit has not only been my promoter, but he is also a fellow-Namibian. I am also indebted to Pastor Rudolf Wessler from Dusseldorf, Germany whose assistance with the German literature and advice was invaluable. I also aclmowledge the fmancial assistance rendered by the university of Durban­ Westville for two years towards my study. I am also indebted to my classmate and colleague Dr. Drea Frochtling for translating some of the classical German texts, and explaining them to me in clear English. I thank my colleagues, friends and relatives, Mrs. Augustinus Johannes Mungunda and Dirk Hendrik Conradie for their assistance and moral support. Revds. Willem Matthys, Julieth and Petrus tKhariseb for creating a crucial social environment. Special thanks also goes to Rev. Petrus Van Zyl who always keeps me informed of events at home, in particular at Mariental, in Namibia. I extend a special word of gratitude to Mrs. Ade for typing my work. I am also indebted to all my interviewees for their cooperation, and in particular to my iii most reliable source of information, the late Rev. P.A. Schmidt. I am sad that he could not witness the completion of my study. May his soul rest in peace. Finally, I would like to thank very special people in my life: my wife Erica for encouragement and support, our two sons Francis and Frank, for their patience, understanding and being so wonderful throughout my study of eight years in South Africa. Their love, patience and encouragement helped me to achieve the goal I had set. H.R. Tjibeba Pietermaritzburg iv DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my parents, the late Daniel Tjibeba (1935-1975) and Magdalena Tjibeba (1940-) v CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .................... ......... ..... .. ... ······ ·· ......... ......... ....... ................. .. .... ..... ... ... ........ ............. .. ...: . ~ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .. ...................... ...................... .... .. ... ........... .. ... ............. .. .............. .. .. ... 111 DEDICATION ... ......................... ...... ... .... ....... ........... .... ..... .... .. ....... .. ..... ......... ....... ... ... ..... .. ....... ..... v DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY ............ .. ........... ......... .. ......... ............. .. ... ............................ vi CONTENTS .. ...................... .. ......... ......... .. ... .. ............ ............. ........ ............ .... ....................... ...... V11 LIST OF ABBREVlATIONS .......... ... ......... .. ..... ....... ......... ....... .. ........... ...... ...... ... ................. .. .. ... Xl CHAPTER ONE ...... ...... ...... ............ ... .. ............. .. .. .... ............. ... .............. .............. .. .. ........ .............. 1 RESEARCH DESIGN 1.0 Introduction to the Study .. .................. .. .... .. ....... ................ ..... .. .. .. ... ....... .... ............ ·l 1.1 The Split in the Mission Congregation in Windhoek ...................................... ........2 1.2 Windhoek as Centre of the Gennan Congregation .. .... ...... ....... .. ............. ............... .4 1.3 Missionaries and Politics in Namibia .................... ....... .......... .. .... .. ................ .........5 1.4 The RMS and the Nama Leaders ............. ..... ... .... ... ..... .............. .... ................. ..... ·· ··8 1.5 New Outlooks on Missions .... ........... ... ............. .... .... .... ... ........ ........ .. ... ........ ......... 12 1.6 Research Design .. .. .................... .. ... .... ... ......... ... .................. .. .... .... ....... .. ....... ......... 14 1.6.1 Problem Formulation ............ .. ............................................ ............ .. ......... 15 1.6.2 Background Motivation ................. .............. ................. .................... .. ... ... 16 1.6.3 Aims ofthe Dissertation ..... ...................... ....... ............. .. .. ............. .......... ... 18 1.6.4 Significance ofthe Research .............. ................ .. ........... ................... ...... .. 20 1.6.5 Sources ofInformation ..................................... ...... ...... ......... .. ..... .............. 20 1.6.6 Scope and Limitations ........... ........................ .. .. ..... ...................... .............. 22 1.7 Ecclesiastical Departing Point .. ...... .. ... .......... .................. ..... ... ...... ...................... ..22 1.7.1 The Sources ofBlack Theology in Namibia .............................. ........ ......... 24 1. 7.2 Scripture .............. ... .............. .... ..................... ............ ............. ... .. ............. .. 25 1.7.3 History ofM issionary Work ..... ............ ... ...... ... ...... ... .... .............................26 1. 7.4 Concluding Remark on Liberation Theology ... .. .. .. ......................... ........... 26 1.8 Thesis Structure .. .. ....... .... .. .............. .... ..... .. .................. .... ......... ... ...... .. ........ ........ .30 1.9 Conclusion ................... .. .... ... ........ .. ... .... .... .. .. .... ....... ...... ... ..... ... ...... .... .......... ... .... .31 CHAPTER TWO .... ........................... ............. .. ................ .. ........... ... ....... ......................... .. ..... ...... 32 THE RHENISH MISSION SOCIETY (1842-1946) IN CONTEXT 2.0 Introduction ......... ...................... ........ ... ..................................................... ...... .......32 2.1 General Considerations ................... .. ...... .. .. ...... .. ... .... ... ............................. ... ......... 32 2.2 Gennan Colonisation and Conflict in South West Africa ............... .. ............... ..... 35 2.2.1 The Mandate Era ................... .. .. ............................... ... ......................... .. .... .41 2.2.2 The Bondelswarts Rebellion
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