SCOTTISH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MISSION POLICY IN SOUTH AFRICA 1898 - 1923 by GRAHAM ALEXANDER DUNCAN submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF THEOLOGY in the subject MISSIOLOGY at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR : PROF WA SAAYMAN June 1997 Student Number: 3053-918-8 I declare that ''Scottish Presbyterian Church Mission Policy in South Africa, 1898-1923" is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated by means of complete references. ~r~.J)~.__ SIGNATURE DATE (GA DUNCA:\T) TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................ vi ABBREVIATIONS . • . • • • • . • . • . • . • . ix C:t-:aPTER 1 • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................. 1 1.1. The Aim of the Study................................ 1 1.2. Setting the Scene . • . .. ..... .. .. 1 1.3. The Phase of Mission History under Review........... 3 1.4. Towards a Definition of Mission History............. 4 1.5. Mission History in Broader Context ........•..•..••.. 5 1. 6. The Context of Mission . • . • . 6 1.7. The Problem cf Historiography....................... 8 1.7.1. ~he ''Old" Historiography .................... 9 1.7.2. The "New" Historiography ..........••....••.. 13 1. 8. The Role of Ideology . • • . • . • . • 19 1.9. The Present Study ................................... 23 1.10. The Study in Outline ................................ 24 CHAPTER 2 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 26 THE BACKGROUND ............................................. 26 2.1. The Origin of the Mission in Scotland ...•.••••••••.. 26 2.1.1. The Reformation ............................. 26 2.1.2. Prelude to Action ........................... 26 2.1.3. The Voluntary Societies ...••................ 27 2.1,4. The 'Disruption' ............................ 29 2.1,.5. Later Developments .......................... 31 2.2. The Beginnings of Scottish Presbyterian Church Mission in South Africa ..........................•.. 31 2.2.1. The Beginning of British Mission Work in ii South Africa ................................. 31 2.2.2. Scottish Church Mission is Established ...•.. 32 2.2.3. The Institutions ............................ 33 2.2.4. What About Black Participation? ......•...... 34 2.2.5. An Assessment ............................... 35 CHAPTER 3 ••••••• , • • • • • • • . • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • . 3 7 THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT • • . • • • • . • • • . • • • • • • . • . 3 7 3.1. The Theological Dimension ••............••••.......•. 37 3.2. The Ecumenical Dimension ............................ 41 3.3. The Cultural Dimension .............•...•............ 44 3. 4. The Social Dimension . 49 3.4.1. Education ................................... 51 3.4.2. Politics and Land ........................... 52 3.5. The Political Dimension ............................. 53 3.5.1. The South African War ...•................... 55 3.5.2. The Union of South Africa ...••••••.......•.. 56 3.5.3. Report of the South African Native Affairs Commission . • . • . 59 3.5.4. Foundation of the South African Native National Congress . 61 3 . 5 . 5 . Native Land Act . 6 2 3.6. The Economic Dimension .............................. 64 3.7. Protest and Resistance ..•.••........................ 67 3.7.1. The Bambata Rebellion .•..••••.••........•••.• 68 3.7.2. The Bullhoek Massacre •••.............•...••. 69 3.7.3. Popular Protests in the Early 1920s •••.....• 69 CHAPTER 4 • • • • • • • • • . • . • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • . • • • 72 THE MZIMBA SECESSION . • • • • . • . • . • . • . • . • • • . 72 4.1. African Initiated Churches .•............••..•••.•••• 72 4. 2. Ethiopianism . 78 4.3. The Tsewu Secession . 82 4.4. The Mzimba Secession ................................ 84 4. 4 . 1 . The Ga uses . 84 iii 4.4.2. Rev Pambani J Mzimba 89 4.4.3. The South African 'Disruption' •.•••••..••..• 90 4.4.4. Ongoing 'Disruption' ..............•...•••..• 99 4.4.5. Assessment .................................. 100 CHAPTER 5 • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • . • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • 104 SCOTTISH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MISSION POLICY ..••.••••••.... 104 5 .1. Mission Councils .................................... 104 5.2. Formation of the Presbyterian Church of South Africa. 113 5.3. Consequences of the Union ..............•.•.•••..••.. 116 5.4. The Two Policy Option .•............................. 125 5.4.1. The 'United' Policy Option ••..•••......••..• 125 5.4.2. The 'Native' Church Option .............•.... 127 5.5. Ongoing Effects of the Mzimba Secession ....••....••• 132 5.6. Change of Plan ...................................... 137 CHAPTER 6 .••.•...••.••.••.•••••••..••.•••••••.•.••.••..•.• 142 THE FORMATION OF THE BANTU PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SOUTH AFRICA ..•..•.•............•.•••......••................... 142 6.1. Preparations for a New Birth ••••.••••...•..••....... 142 6.2. Consummation of Union ............................... 150 6.2.1. The First General Assembly of the BPCSA ...•. 150 6.2.2. The Name of the Church ••.••...•••.......•••. 151 6.2.3. The Role of Missionaries ....••..•....•..••.• 152 6.2.4. The Pastoral Care of the Church ....•..•..•.• 153 6. 3. Assessment .......................................... 154 CHAPTER 7 ................................................. 158 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION . • • • . • • . • • • . • • . 15 8 7.1. Summary ............................................. 158 7.2. Conclusion .......................................... 165 BIBLIOGRAPHY iv .............................................. 168 UNI!!!-' Bl!?' ,,_,-n'"•. · >.H3R~RY cnnc. n~ ~ J 11l~~lll11llllll 0001725212 v SUMMARY This dissertation offers an analysis of Scottish Presbyterian Church mission policy during the period, 1898 - 1923. The study contains an examination of historiographical methodology, the historical background both in Scotland and South Africa along w~th the multi-faceted dimensions within the South African context of the time. The Mzimba Secession provides an appropriate historical starting point which led to a serious disruption of the Mission. The role of the major participants, black ministers and elders and missionaries, is assessed as a struggle between them and the Foreign Mission Committee of the United Free Church of Scotland, following the union of two churches in 1900, took place involving the various policy options. This eventually led to the formation of the Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa. KEY TERMS: Mzimba Secession; African Initiated Churches; Mission History; Historiography; 'Disruption'; Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa; James Stewart; Ethiopianism; Pambani J Mzimba; United Free Church of Scotland; Free Church of Scotland; United Presbyterian Church of Scotland; Foreign Mission Committee; Mission Councils; Presbyterian Church of South Africa. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am grateful to many people for their assistance and support during the preparation of this dissertation in the midst of a busy parish life in Cumbernauld Old Parish Church, Scotland. My friend of long standing, Rev Dr Tinyiko Maluleke, first raised the possibility of my returning to study after quite a break from both study and teaching at the Federal Theological Seminary of Southern Africa. He inspired me to believe that I could achieve a level of competence in the study of Missiology. It was my Supervisor, Prof Willem Saayman, whose enthusiasm kept me going when mine was faltering. His breadth of knowledge and depth of understanding have been a source of encouragement throughout my studies to date. The Department of Missiology at UNISA has always provided a warm environment and centre for my studies while in South Africa. Mrs Natalie Thierion, Practical Theology and Missiology Subject Librarian at UNISA has given invaluable help at great distance in providing material for this dissertation. Throughout South Africa I have been given great support and hospitality from my many friends as I have travelled around the country researching archives during my visits. My colleagues in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa and my former students at FedSem deserve a special mention in this regard. My Kirk Session, colleagues in ministry, congregation and friends in Cumberanuld have been extremely tolerant and supportive as I have tried to balance the responsibilities of my ministry and private st~dy during the past two years. vii My family have suffer~J from having a part-time father for years as the result of my calling to the ministry. That has been even greater during the past two years. My wife, Sandra, has provided enormous support in everything I have done for the past twenty four yearL and more. She has created space for me to pursue my studies as I have developed over the years. This was especially true during our ten years of missionary service in South Africa from 1978 -1987. Sandra and my friend, Ian Duncan, kindly proof read the text of this dissertation for me. viii 'A sun of disaster has risen in the West, Glaring down on people and populated places. Poetically speak~ng, I mean the catastrophe of the Christians, The Christian calamity has come upon us Like a dust cloud. At the start of the affair they came Peacefully, With sweet talk. "We've come