THE STRUGGLE OF THE LESOTHO EVANGELICAL CHURCH IN SOUTHERN AFRICA (LECSA)/PARIS EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY (PEMS) IN MEADOWLANDS, SOWETO, IN BECOMING A MISSIONAL ECCLESIA IN A LOCAL CONTEXT BY L.T. KGANYAPA SUBMITTED IN FULFILLMENT OF MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGY IN MISSIOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA SUPERVISOR: PROF. S.T. KGATLA 29 APRIL 2016 1 © University of Pretoria DECLARATION I declare that ‘The Struggle of the Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa (LECSA)/Paris Evangelical Missionary Society (PEMS) in Meadowlands, Soweto, in becoming a missional ecclesia in a local context’ is indeed my original work and all sources employed are duly indicated and acknowledged by means of references and a bibliography. Date: …………………………………………….2016 Signature: ……………………………………………. Leonard Tsidiso Kganyapa 2 © University of Pretoria ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere gratitude goes to Prof. S.T. Kgatla, my supervisor at the University of Pretoria (UP), for the supportive role he played throughout this research endeavour. I also extend a big thank you to the UP Bursary Fund for the bursary they awarded to me to study at the University. I would also like to thank Ms Brenda Nsanzya, faculty librarian at UP, for helping me obtain information from the library and search for books and articles pertaining to my research topic. Thanks also go to Ms Doris Mokgokolo, faculty administration at UP, for her assistance and patience with all of the changing dates and delays regarding the final submission of my dissertation. Thanks to Ms Mirriam Mabalane, faculty librarian at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Soweto Campus, for helping me with access and space in the Research Commons. My gratitude is extended to Mr Michael P. Matlooane, LECSA Meadowlands Parish evangelist, for being a father figure and guide in my ministry and research at LECSA Meadowlands. I also want to thank Mr Marks P. Selala, LECSA Meadowlands Parish elder, for his generosity with information regarding the Western Townships of Johannesburg. His knowledge is indescribable. Thanks also go to Ms Lisebo Sephaka, LECSA Meadowlands Parish elder, for her willingness to give as much as possible. In addition, I thank Mr Moeketsi Ntśalong, LECSA Meadowlands Parish elder, whose pain of losing his spouse did not deter him from sharing his time with me to ponder the questions about LECSA Meadowlands. Rev. Teboho Morapeli, LECSA Gauteng presbytery moderator; as busy as he was, he made time to go through some of the challenging questions I had—thank you. Rev. Benjamin Refiloe Sehau, Evangelical Church of South Africa (ECSA) moderator, thanks for taking ample time to be interviewed though he was morbid and organising their National Conference at the same time. 3 © University of Pretoria I also want to thank the LECSA Meadowlands Parish and Consistory for trusting me to play a pastoral role in the congregation. I will forever be grateful for the love they overtly displayed for me and my family—Kea leboha bana ba thare ea tśepe. I am grateful to the Ebenezer Evangelical Church, Protea Glen Congregation and the Leadership, for affording me an opportunity to be their pastor though they knew that I was a full-time student and could not deliver on other areas of my responsibility. Thank you for embracing me and my family—God bless you! To Rev. Dr Bheki Sibanyoni, retired minister of the Church of the Nazarene, friend and mentor, I am grateful for the encouragement I received from him and for the information he gave me about registering with UP to do my Masters’ Degree. My thanks also go to Mr David and Mrs Annah (Khumalo) Nkumbe, my in-laws, Ms Christinah Deliwe Nkosi, my mother, Ms Theresa Nomasonto Nkosi, my aunt, and Mrs Elizabeth Lindiwe Mthiyane, my sister. All of them helped and assisted with minding and babysitting my children. I am also grateful to my wife, Siphiwe Saugina Kganyapa, and our beautiful children, Masechaba, Lerato and Mohau. They tolerated my absenteeism from most important family moments and my inability to provide finer things in life since I was a full-time student and failing many times to fulfil my promises—tśoarelo Batebang, ho tla loka! Above all, I thank God, Jehovah, our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth—Ke hloka maleme a sekete a ho’ rorisa! 4 © University of Pretoria DEDICATION “Dedicated to my great-grandfather Gustaff Ntoa Khanyapa, who was a staunch member, elder and ‘Moleli (evangelist) at the Lesotho Evangelical Church (PEMS) Jabavu Parish and ensured that we were christened—Kea leboha Mosia, Motobatsi! And Also to my brother, Paulos Molahlei Kganyapa, who sacrificed his early schooling years so that I may be comfortable and continue my schooling and studies—Kea leboha Mohlakoana, Motebang!” 5 © University of Pretoria KEYWORDS Apartheid Ecclesia Forced Removals Jubilee Lay Ministry Lesotho Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa Meadowlands Mission Morena Moshoeshoe Parish Evangelical Missionary Society Positive Deconstruction Resistance Sophiatown Thuthuho (Coming of Age) Western Areas of Johannesburg 6 © University of Pretoria TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ...................................................................................................................... 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................... 3 DEDICATION ......................................................................................................................... 5 KEYWORDS ............................................................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. 10 1.1. Background to the Problem ...................................................................................... 10 1.2. Problem Statement ..................................................................................................... 11 1.2.1. Institutionalism ................................................................................................... 11 1.2.2. Lay ministry ......................................................................................................... 12 1.2.3. Language policy .................................................................................................. 13 1.2.4. Ministerial formation .......................................................................................... 14 1.2.5. Attractional model .............................................................................................. 14 1.2.6. Schism ................................................................................................................... 15 1.2.7. Constitution ......................................................................................................... 15 1.3. Key Research Questions ............................................................................................ 16 1.4. Aim of the Research ................................................................................................... 16 1.5. Missiological Research .............................................................................................. 17 1.5.1. Mission defined ................................................................................................... 17 1.5.2. Missiology ............................................................................................................ 18 1.5.3. Qualitative research ............................................................................................ 20 1.6. Methodology ................................ ............................................................................... 21 1.6.1. Positive deconstruction: An appropriate methodological tool for missiological research ................................................................................................... 22 1.6.2. Positive deconstruction: A critique .................................................................. 25 1.6.3. Application of positive deconstruction for this study ................................... 25 1.7. Sources ......................................................................................................................... 25 1.8. Chapter Division ........................................................................................................ 26 CHAPTER TWO: HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE LESOTHO EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (LECSA)/PARIS EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY (PEMS)........................................................................................ 27 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 27 7 © University of Pretoria 2.2. Paris Evangelical Missionary Society (PEMS) ....................................................... 29 2.2.1. Motivation of the PEMS missionaries .............................................................. 32 2.2.2. Labours of PEMS missionaries .......................................................................... 35 2.2.3. Pitfalls of PEMS missionary activity ................................................................ 36 2.3. Thuthuho (Coming of Age) ...................................................................................... 37 2.4. Jubilees ......................................................................................................................... 40 2.5. LECSA/PEMS Institutions ......................................................................................