A History of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) As a Federative Denomination (1924-2015)
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A History of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) as a Federative Denomination (1924-2015) Rhodian Munyenyembe Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements in respect of the Doctoral Degree in Church History and Polity in the Department of Church History in the Faculty of Theology at the University of the Free State Promoter: Professor J.W. Hofmeyr October 2015 Declarations “I, Rhodian Munyenyembe, declare that the thesis that I herewith submit for the Doctoral Degree in Church History and Polity at the University of the Free State, is my independent work, and that I have not previously submitted it for a qualification at another institution of higher education.” “I, Rhodian Munyenyembe, hereby declare that I am aware that the copyright is vested in the University of the Free State.” “I, Rhodian Munyenyembe, declare that all royalties as regards intellectual property that was developed during the course of and/or in connection with the study at the University of the Free State, will accrue to the University.” “I, Rhodian Munyenyembe, hereby declare that I am aware that the research may only be published with the promoter’s approval.” Candidate’s Signature: ............................................Date:...................................... Rhodian Munyenyembe Promoter’s Signature: (Electronically signed).Date: 12th October 2015 Professor J.W. Hofmeyr i Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to my children, Victor and Louisa, in prayer for their success in life. ii Acknowledgements For me to reach this far many people have contributed to my success in many and varied ways and I will always remain indebted to them. Since it is not possible to mention everyone according to his or her contribution, below are just some of the many people whom God has used to bless me in the course of this work. Many thanks are due to Professor J.W. Hoffie Hofmeyr, my promoter, whose guidance and encouragement has made it possible for this work to see the light of day. Words cannot fully express my gratitude to him. I acknowledge the generosity of the Langham Partnership for awarding me a scholarship that funded my second year tuition fees and a good part of the research expenses. I also thank Langham Partnership for incorporating me into the worldwide family of Langham Scholars besides awarding me the prestigious evangelical theological scholarship. Special thanks also go to the following Langham Partnership personnel: Dr Ian Shaw, the Rev Dr Bill Houston (Scholar Care Coordinator for Southern Africa), Mrs Gaynor Harvey, Mrs Ruth Slater and Elizabeth Hitchcock. The Head, J.S. Nkhoma, Esq., and all colleagues in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Mzuzu University deserve a special mention for their support and understanding during the time I was busy with this work. I say thank you to Mr Mervin Khoromana (officemate), Professor Klaus Fiedler, Mr T.A. Chafera, Dr Rachel Fiedler, Dr Qeko Jere, Dr W.R. Kawale, Mr Francis Kudzula, Ms Grace Banda, Ms Rubby Kondowe, Mrs Doreen Mikwanda and Ms Gertrude Nyirenda. In the same vein, I thank the Management of Mzuzu University for the administrative support rendered to me during the entire period of my study. In a very special way, I thank the Rgt Rev Bishop Fanuel Magangani of the Diocese of Northern Malawi of the Anglican Church for his generosity and fatherly love to me during the course of my study. I also thank Richard Gadama, fellow Malawian UFS PhD student, for his assistance and encouragement in this journey. I am very grateful to the three Synods of the CCAP in Malawi: Livingstonia, Blantyre and Nkhoma for sharing with me the information I needed from them. From Livingstonia I specially thank the Reverend Dr L.N. Nyondo (General Secretary), Rt Rev Dr T.P.K. Nyasulu (Education iii Secretary and General Assembly Moderator), Rev Douglass Chipofya (Moderator), Rev K.R.M. Nyirenda (former General Assembly Deputy Secretary General 1), Dennis Nyirenda (Stone House Librarian and Archivist); from Blantyre Synod special thanks go to Reverend Dr Felix Chingota (former General Assembly Moderator), Rev Colin M’bawa (General Assembly Secretary General), Rev M.L. Mbolembole (St Michael’s and All Angels Church), Rev Innocent Chikopa and Mr Hanock Chakhaza; from Nkhoma Synod I thank Rev Dr K.J. Mgawi, Rev M. Likhoozi, Mr Nathaniel Kawale and Mr Greshan Kamnyamata. My father and mother deserve special mention for their love, prayers and support for me and so do my brothers and sisters: Paul (Dr), McSard, Martha, Molly, Addison and their families. The following people deserve a special thank you for working behind the scenes to make sure that I was assisted in every way as a PhD student: Mrs Ingrid Mostert (UFS) and Mrs Marlene Schoeman (Stellenbosch Archives). Finally, I express my heartfelt gratitude to my family for the most needed moral support and even for just being there for me all the time; many thanks to my wife Faith, son Victor, daughter Louisa, niece Elina and nephew Dhumisani. May the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless you all! iv List of Abbreviations ACEM: Association of Christian Educators in Malawi AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome BMO: Board of Mission Overseas CBFM: Consultative Board of Federated Missions CCAP: Church of Central Africa Presbyterian CCAPSO: Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Student Organisation CCAPYUFS: Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Youth Fellowships CCAPYUM: Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Youth Urban Ministry CHAM: Christian Health Association of Malawi CLAIM: Christian Literature Action In Malawi DPP: Democratic Progressive Party DRC: Dutch Reformed Church DRCM: Dutch Reformed Church Mission DRCSA: Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa FCU: Forum for CCAP Unity FMC: Foreign Mission Committee GAC: General Administrative Committee GK: Gereformeerde Kerk GZB: Gereformeerde Zendingsbond HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus LDC: Leadership Development Committee LISAP: Livingstonia Synod AIDS Programme LMS: London Missionary Society LUANAR: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources LWBCA: Life and Work in British Central Africa MAPC: Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church v MCP: Malawi Congress Party MMU: Ministers’ Mission Union NGK: Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk NHK: Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk NIV: New International Version PAC: Public Affairs Committee PCI: Presbyterian Church in Ireland PCM: Presbyterian Church of Malawi PCT: Presbyterian Church in Taiwan PCUSA: Presbyterian Church in the USA PresAid: Presbyterian Aid PWS&D: Presbyterian World Service and Development RCA: Reformed Church in Africa RCA: Reformed Church in America SADC: Southern African Development Community SCOM: Student Christian Organisation of Malawi SSPCK: Scottish Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge TEEM: Theological Education by Extension in Malawi UDF: United Democratic Front UFC: United Free Church of Scotland UK: United Kingdom UMCA: Universities Mission to Central Africa UP: United Presbyterian Church of Scotland UPC: United Presbyterian Church URCSA: Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa vi List of Figures and Tables Fig . 1: Map of South Rukuru and Dwangwa Rivers Watershed, showing the post Commission of Enquiry proposed boundary between Livingstonia and Nkhoma Synods of the CCAP. Fig. 2: A sample of newspaper cartoons depicting a caricature of the Border Dispute between the Synods of Livingstonia and Nkhoma. Fig. 3: The first CCAP General Assembly leadership after the change from General Synod. Table 1. Some of the PCI’s BMO missionaries to Malawi serving specifically within the sphere of influence of the Synod of Livingstonia since 1995. vii Abstract This study is about the history of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) as a federative denomination in South-Central Africa. This denomination comprises five synods that are more or less independent of each other and function in a kind of federation known as the General Assembly. The research issue was identified by observing that following the Presbyterian system of church government, one would expect that the church's courts would continue to become stronger and more powerful from the session to the General Assembly. However, what one actually sees on the ground is that real administrative and ecclesiastical power ends with the synods, so much so that the General Assembly appears to be a kind of umbrella organisation of no real significance. This is so despite the transformation of the constitution of the General Assembly in 2002, which aimed at giving more power to the General Assembly over and above the synods. This means that despite the CCAP clergy's intention to give more power to the General Assembly, the autonomy of the synods makes them more powerful than the General Assembly itself. The aim of this research was to investigate the history and nature of the CCAP as a federative denomination. The study makes a conscious departure from most research activities on the CCAP which confine themselves to the histories of individual synods and or issues related to them without trying to engage with a composite history of the synods together with their General Assembly. This study therefore makes an original contribution to knowledge in the area of Church History and Polity by engaging with an integrated history of the synods and General Assembly of one of the mainline Protestant churches in South-Central Africa, thereby enriching our knowledge of Church History in this region. The research was done through gathering of material from archival sources and