View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Stellenbosch University SUNScholar Repository ‘Christ, the Head of the Church?’ Authority, Leadership and Organisational Structure within the Nkhoma Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian By Willie Samuel Dalitso Zeze Dissertation presented for the Degree of Doctor of Theology at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) Promoter Prof. Robert Vosloo March 2012 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification.. Date: 5 March 2012 Copyright © 2012 University of Stellenbosch All Rights Reserved ii Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract This dissertation has as its title: ‘Christ, the Head of the Church’: Authority, Leadership and Organisational Structure within the Nkhoma Synod of the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian. This study affirms the statement that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, noting that this statement of faith entails various assumptions: First, the church has only one Head, that is, Jesus Christ. Secondly, only Jesus Christ must be exalted and have the pre-eminence in the church. Thirdly, this prohibits anyone or any governing assembly to lord it over another one or exercise authority other than the authority from Jesus Christ. Fourthly, Christ is more than the head of the department or the head of any organization in whose absence the church would still be able to function. In line with these points, in this study the thought of Christ being the Head of the church or the confession of the headship of Christ over the church refers to His leadership, highest authority, and position of superiority and sovereignty. There are many references to the concept of the Headship of Christ in the Bible, confessions of faith, catechisms, and church orders. In light hereof, the question is asked whether the affirmation of the Headship of Christ has found sufficient form in the church polity discourse and practice of the CCAP - Nkhoma Synod. The answer to this question requires an ecclesiological study including the critical examination and evaluation of the Church’s Confessions, Catechism, Church Order, Constitution, Newsletter, and Minutes of its official meetings. Given this, the dissertation is structured as follows: Chapter 1: The topic and title are introduced, then the research questions and hypothesis. At the heart of this chapter is the question of the understanding of the Nkhoma Synod of Christ’s rule through office-bearers, whereas it omits in its Church Order that Christ exercises his reign and dominion through his Word and Spirit. In the discourse on the Church’s polity this discrepancy has resulted in a tendency of identifying the power and authority of office-bearers with that of Christ. Consequently, the office-bearers can easily claim to have unchallengeable possession of Christ’s power and authority. As a result the authority of Christ’s direct rule through His Word and Spirit is excluded and transferred to the office-bearers who constitute or represent the highest ecclesiastical authority. Chapter 2: The social-political, economical, religious, and ecclesiastical contexts are described, in which the Nkhoma Synod has found itself. Although church polity and church government are subject to what God has revealed in his Word, which is systematically iii Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za summarized in the confessions, we conclude that in the Nkhoma Synod church polity and church government are sometimes dictated by the existing social-political, economic, religious, and ecclesiastical milieus. Chapter 3: Definitions of ‘Reformed church polity’ and ‘church government,’ are offered and then the distinctiveness of Reformed church government is described together with some suggestions for present-day Reformed church polity. Chapter 4: This chapter studies the Church policy sources of the Nkhoma Synod, i.e. the Belgic Confessions of Faith, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Canons of Dordt. The question is asked whether the Nkhoma Synod used these documents as sources from which it developed its church polity. Chapter 5: This chapter focuses on the sources for the practice of Church government in the Nkhoma Synod. Special attention will be given to the concept of the headship of Christ and how the Church’s understanding of this notion impacted on its church polity discourse. Chapter 6: Some important church-political developments within the Nkhoma Synod from 1889 to 2007 are discussed, focusing on issues of authority, leadership, and organizational structure. The question is discussed whether and how the concept of the headship of Christ described in the Zolamulira negatively influenced the Church’s practice of church government. Chapter 7 draws conclusions from the rest of the chapters. A call is made for a critical-theological examination and evaluation of the church polity discourse and practice of the Nkhoma Synod in the light of remarks made on the preamble of the Zolamulira, as well as in the light of the ideas of John Calvin, the Reformed Symbols of Unity, and other important sources from the Reformed tradition. iv Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my wife Polina Kadammanja-Zeze who has continuously stood by my side all these years of study, to my wonderful mother Christina Sajeni Nabanda, to my father Samuel Dalitso Zeze, my father- and mother-in-law Mr Ernest and Mrs Madeta Kadammanja, to my brother Aubrey Zeze, and to our wonderful daughters Chisomo, Chifuniro, son Zikomo, and to our last-born girl Naomi. v Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Acknowledgements The process of my academic learning has reached an important goal, and now I can look back with gratitude. First and foremost I convey my profound thanks to the Almighty God for his continued faithfulness throughout the three years of my studies at the University of Stellenbosch. After Him, I am deeply indebted to my wife, children, parents and in-laws, for their moral and spiritual support rendered during my studies. A special word of thanks I want to give to Rev. Dr. Steven Paas and his wonderful wife Rita for their encouragement and concern, particularly Steven for his careful and thorough editorial work. I sincerely wish to express my gratitude and trust that the Lord will enable Steven and Rita to continue the good work they have done up to now. I am grateful to Professor Dr. Robert Vosloo and other Professors in the Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology at the University of Stellenbosch, and express sincere appreciation for their expert guidance, sharp and critical comments, and input. Despite the urge of his obligations, Professor Vosloo always remained friendly, sensitive and understanding to me and towards my work. In a special way my thanks go to Rev. Dr. Johann Du Plessis and the staff of Kenridge Congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church for the continued financial assistance rendered for the period of three years, also not forgetting Mickey Bouwer of the Commission For Witness (CFW). Many thanks go to Rev. E.M. Tembo, Rev. A.K. Saka and Rev H. Kaliza and Rev. B. Chitheka, Mr Msanyama, Mr Cees Molinnar for the warm welcome and hospitality I received at their homes and stations. May God richly bless all of you. My appreciation also goes to Buwa Congregation in the Presbytery of Chileka, CCAP Nkhoma Synod, including the office of the General Secretary, Rev D.K. Chifungo because of seconding me to study at the University of Stellenbosch. Buwa Congregation spiritually, socially, morally and financially supported my family during my absence. Last but not least, I wish to express gratitude to the members of staff of the University of Stellenbosch Library, the Dutch Reformed Archive in South Africa particularly Mrs M Marlene Schoeman and in Malawi to the Josophat Mwale Institute, and Zomba Theological College, for helping me to access the required documents of Church Order and Church Polity of the CCAP Nkhoma Synod and others. In addition, may the Lord God abundantly bless those whom I have not mentioned, although in some way they have assisted me to reach this goal. vi Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... iii Contents ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ vii Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................ 1 1.1.The Research Topic ............................................................................................ 1 1.2. Some Ecclesiological Definitions ...................................................................... 7 1.3. Research Question ..........................................................................................