SCHOOL OF MISSION AND THEOLOGY STAVANGER NORWAY ECUMENISM IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CAMEROON: ATTITUDES AND STRATEGIES THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF MISSION AND THEOLOGY AS A COURSE UNIT IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTERS DEGREE IN HEOLOGY AT THE SCHOOL OF MISSION AND THEOLOGY (MOPG) BY GARBA JUSTIN MAY 2014 i TABLE OF CONTENTS.....................................................................................................i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.........................................................................................iv ABBREVIATIONS.....................................................................................................v Chapter one...............................................................................................................................1 1.1 General Introduction................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Historical Situation............................................................................................................1 1.1.2 Purpose..............................................................................................................................2 1.1.3 Statement of the problem and motivation.........................................................................2 1.1.4 Delimitation......................................................................................................................3 1.1.5 Sources and methods.........................................................................................................4 1.1.6 Disposition........................................................................................................................4 Chapter two............................................................................................................................5 2.1 MAIN CONCEPTS..................................................................................................5 2.1.1 Concept of unity..............................................................................................................5 2.1.2 Visible and invisible unity...............................................................................................6 2.1.3 Unity in Christ.................................................................................................................9 2.1.4 Unity in the death and resurrection of Christ..................................................................10 2.1.5 Unity in the Sacrament....................................................................................................11 2.2 THE CONCEPT OF THE CHURCH............................................................................14 2.2.1 The Ecumenical Creeds...................................................................................................14 ● The Apostle's creed...............................................................................................................14 ● The Nicene Creed.................................................................................................................16 ● The Athanasian Creed...........................................................................................................17 ● The Lutheran Augsburg Confession.....................................................................................17 2.2.2 The Church as people of God and body of Christ...........................................................18 2.2.3 The Church as Body of Christ.........................................................................................20 2.2.4 The Church as catholic....................................................................................................22 ii 2.2.5 Summary.........................................................................................................................22 Chapter three..........................................................................................................................23 3.1 PRESENTATION OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CAMEROON ........................................................................................................................23 3.1.1 The historical background.......................................................................................23 3.1.2 The work of the Missionaries..........................................................................................23 3.1.3 The growth of the EELC and the negotiations towards autonomy.................................25 3.1.4 The state of EELC today.................................................................................................27 3.1.5 Partial conclusion............................................................................................................28 Chapter four...........................................................................................................................29 4.1 COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CAMEROON AND OTHER CHURCHES...........................................................29 4.1.1 The Evangelical Lutheran Church Member of CEPCA..................................................29 4.1.2 Ecumenism in Easter celebration....................................................................................30 4.1.3 The celebration of Reformation......................................................................................30 4.1.4 Ecumenism in the Christmas period................................................................................31 4.1.5 Ecumenism through Christian unity and social assistance..............................................31 4.1.6 Ecumenism through youth and Femme pour Christ (FPC).............................................33 4.1.7 Relation between the EELC and Pentecostal churches...................................................33 4.1.8 Partial conclusion............................................................................................................35 Chapter five............................................................................................................................36 5.1 OBSTACLES AND DIFFICULTIES OF PROMOTING ECUMENISM AMONG CHURCHES IN CAMEROON.............................................................................................36 5.1.1 Tribalism.........................................................................................................................36 5.1.2 Regionalism.....................................................................................................................39 5.1.3 Doctrinal quarrels............................................................................................................40 5.1.4 Proliferation of Pentecostal Movements.........................................................................41 iii 5.1.5 Sects and religious movements.......................................................................................43 5.1.6 Leadership conflicts........................................................................................................44 5.1.7 Corruption.......................................................................................................................46 5.1.8 Poverty............................................................................................................................47 5.1.9 Summary.........................................................................................................................47 Chapter six..............................................................................................................................49 6.1 HOW TO PROMOTE ECUMENISM IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EELC: SOME STRATEGIES............................................................................................................49 6.1.1 Working for effective ecumenism...................................................................................49 6.1.2 Stopping proselytising among churches..........................................................................50 6.1.3 Stopping unfair criticism and leadership conflicts...................................................51 6.1.4 Emphasize on the relevance of the gospel.......................................................................54 6.1.5 Avoiding the creation of new hidden churches...............................................................55 6.1.6 Defining the good policy for financial resources............................................................56 6.1.7 Work for effective Mission....................................................................................57 6.1.7 Partial conclusion............................................................................................................59 Chapter Seven.........................................................................................................................60 7.1 General conclusion........................................................................................................60 7.1.1Summary............................................................................................................60 Bibliography...............................................................................................................64 1 Published materials..................................................................................................64 1.1 Books.............................................................................................................................64