The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 1924-2024

Mwawi Chilongozi, Kenneth Ross

Description

"I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in issues of church unity, justice, liberation, biblical transformation, dignity, hope, joy, resilience, peace, prayer and reconciliation. The best Malawian scholars have drawn from their academic expertise and personal experience to give the reader a thick picture of the journey of unity among the Synods of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This publication is a must-have for all who have the unity of the CCAP at heart."
Prof Isabel Apawo Phiri, Former Deputy General Secretary, World Council of Churches and Vice Chancellor, University of Blantyre Synod

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• General officer
• Religion
• General

Informations

• Publié par: Mzuni Press
• Date de parution: 29 février 2024
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789996076367
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 1924-2024

© editorial matter Kenneth R. Ross and Mwawi N. Chilongozi 2024 © the chapters their several authors 2024

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, elec- tronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission from the publishers.

Published by Mzuni Press P/Bag 201 Luwinga Mzuzu 2

ISBN978-99960-76-35-0 eISBN 978-99960-76-36-7

The Mzuni Press is represented outside Malawi by: African Books Collective Oxford ([e-mail]) www.africanbookscollective.com

Copublished by Globethics (Geneva, Switzerland) and Barnabas Academic Publishers (Wellington, South Africa)

The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 1924-2024: A Centenary Assessment Edited by Kenneth R. Ross and Mwawi N. Chilongozi Mzuni Press Globethics Barnabas Academic Mzuzu/Geneva/Wellington 2024

Photocredits

Livingstonia Church where the CCAP was constituted in 1924

Front cover photo shows the African ministers of Livingstonia and Blantyre Synods who participated in the constitution of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in 1924. Back row (from left to right) Hezekiah Tweya, Harry Kambwiri Matecheta, Edward Boti Manda, James Kandulu, Yafet Mkandawire, Thomas Maseya, Patrick Mwamlima. Front row (from left to right) Jonathan Chirwa, Stephen Kundecha, Andrew Mkochi, Harry Mtuwa, Yesaya Zerenji Mwasi, Joseph Kaunde. The photo comes from the collection of the late Dr T. Jack Thompson, with gratitude for his kind permission.

The above photograph of Livingstonia Church was kindly provided by Mr Gomezeka Mkandawire, to whom grateful acknowledgement is made.

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Table of Contents Foreword HE President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera................................................7 Notes on Contributors.......................................................................................10 1. Introduction Mwawi N. Chilongozi and Kenneth R. Ross ............................................16 2. 100 Years of the CCAP: An Introduction Rhodian Munyenyembe ................................................................................29

Part 1–CCAP History ..................................................................................60 3.Meantime: When One Hundred Years of is the Eschaton for the CCAP? Kenneth R. Ross ............................................................................................61 th 4. The CCAP in the 20 Century: Achievements and Tensions Nancy Collins .................................................................................................90

5. The CCAP 2002 Constitution: Intentions Frustrated Felix Chingota ............................................................................................. 116 6. CCAP Harare Synod: Migration and Mission Alexander Malemelo................................................................................... 133 7. CCAP Synod of Zambia: Identity and Purpose Victor Chilenje ............................................................................................ 147

Part 2–CCAP Women................................................................................172 8. The Blantyre Mission Women Teachers 1940-1965 and their Life Trajectories Gilbert Phiri................................................................................................. 173 9. Celebrating the Leadership Roles of Women in the CCAP 1924- 2024 Mwawi N. Chilongozi ................................................................................ 192 ϱ

10. Women and the Development of the CCAP Gertrude Kapuma....................................................................................... 212 11. Women and the Search for Equality in Malawi‘s CCAP: 100 Years of Service Eunice M‘biya and Gift Wasambo Kayira............................................. 230

Part 3–CCAP Concerns...........................................................................245 12. The CCAP: its Biblical Vision Takuze Saul Chitsulo.................................................................................. 246 13. CCAP Theology of Praxis....................................................................... 276 Timothy P.K. Nyasulu 14. CCAP Ministerial Training Cogitator W.Y. Mapala .............................................................................. 300 15. CCAP Preaching Davidson Chifungo .................................................................................... 322 16. CCAP Music Colby Hetherwick Kumwenda ................................................................. 337 17. CCAP Evangelism Brian Theu ................................................................................................... 355 18. CCAP Reconciliation Isaac Kachitenji Chibowa .......................................................................... 373 19. CCAP Unity Winston R. Kawale ..................................................................................... 395 20. Conclusion: the CCAP@1008 Cogitator W. Mapala and Kenneth R. Ross ........................................... 418 Bibliography...................................................................................................... 435 Index .................................................................................................................. 457

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Foreword HE President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera My development as a theologian has its roots in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), which was the first church to make an investment in my theological education. For this reason, wherever and whenever the CCAP gathers ordained and lay theologians to present theological papers, I find myself there in spirit, as was the case last year when the CCAP convened a Research Conference in Malawi's old capital, Zomba.

One exciting outcome of that Conference is the production of this Centenary Assessment of the work and impact of the CCAP in the past 100 years, and like millions of Malawians, I am a beneficiary of that work. Even now, as I serve Mala- th wians as their 6 President, I see how closely integrated the history of the CCAP is with the story of Malawi. As a case in point, it is not insignificant that the pres- ence of Scottish missionaries of the Free Church of Scotland and the Church o f Scotland in the late 1800s, which laid a ϳ

foundation for the establishment of the CCAP in the first quarter of the 1900s, had also been foundational in the estab- lishment of the British Protectorate of Nyasaland two decades earlier. Providen- tially, this interlocking of the roots of the Church and the Protectorate positioned the CCAP to play an integral role in the events that led to the birth of Malawi as an independent nation, the role of an inspiring midwife of sorts. One example of how the CCAP provide d inspiration for the Independence mov e- ment of the 1960s was that by that time, the CCAP had already become a fully African Church under African leadership. And the fact that under local leaders, the CCAP did not flounder or lose its calling as a force for good in Malawi, Zambia , Zimbabwe, and beyond, was a source of confidence in the capacity of local polit i- cal leaders to govern themselves. And now, after 100 years, it is hard to quan- tify the enormous contribution the CCAP has made to areas critical to Malawi's socioeconomic transformation, including spiritual revival, mindset change, educa- tion, health, infrastructure development, leadership development, and cultural

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preservation. Notwithstanding, this book is an excellent effort in quantifying that contribution, written by scholars of global repute and in celebration of a Church that has stood the test of time.

I therefore commend this breathtaking resource to the reading of all Malawians for a deeper appreciation of ournation's history and a stronger commitment to the preservation and expansion of our national heritage.

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