In this world, women face a plethora of problems such as discrimination, violence, abuse and vari... more In this world, women face a plethora of problems such as discrimination, violence, abuse and varied unequal treatment at home, at school, at the work place, at religious institutions and in wider society (Muriithi, 2000:12-13). Women discrimination in the church has been an area of great concern and reflection for many decades. The major challenges have inter alia been about the status, authority of women, ordination and inclusion of women in the decisionmaking bodies of the church. Such Issues including full participation and inclusion of women in church structures have been partially explored, but not convincingly exhausted (Muriithi, 2000:12-13). Such questions of a gender and women empowerment agenda in the Blantyre Synod have been pursued through the approach of engagement with women in all spheres of life. The study investigates, scrutinizes and analyses how the Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has managed to engage women on a gender and minis...
This study will revisit the relevant history of the Livingstonia Mission and its subsequent Synod... more This study will revisit the relevant history of the Livingstonia Mission and its subsequent Synod developments in Malawi beginning from the early years to present day in 2022. The history of the Livingstonia Mission was written in a European Missionary perspective, there was therefore needed to revisit the relevant data in African reformed perspective. Mission history, with reference to the study of Christianity in Africa requires this new approach to mission historiography, “a more honest and more critical review of the theoretical and socio-theological assumptions out of which the African church as it is today, in its fragmented state, has been formed” (Maluleke, 1989:103). The study used a descriptive and interdisciplinary methodology approaches to understand research work. The aim of the study was to investigate, scrutinize and chronologically revisit and analyse the relevant history of the Livingstonia Mission and the subsequent Synod beginning from the early years of its Missi...
The study explores the historical origin and developments that led to the establishment of the CC... more The study explores the historical origin and developments that led to the establishment of the CCAP Blantyre Synod in Malawi from early 1876 to the present. History can be a certain type of memory that evokes liberative power, not mere knowledge of the past, but one that is of commitment. Mission history, with reference to the study of Christianity in Africa requires a new approach to mission historiography, “a more honest and more critical review of the theoretical and socio-theological assumptions out of which the African church as it is today, in its fragmented state, has been formed” (Maluleke, 1989:103). The aim of the study to investigate, scrutinize and chronologically analyse the history of the Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) in Malawi from the early years of its original establishment to the present state in the reformed church perspective.
It is suggested that in the face of malevolence, such as that faced by Job, God’s omnipotence and... more It is suggested that in the face of malevolence, such as that faced by Job, God’s omnipotence and also His benevolence can be upheld. This article thus explores the notions of human suffering, theodicy and theocracy and how they are understood in the book of Job from an Old Testament perspective. The exegesis of the Book of Job has vexed people for epochs and it grasps the depths of human despair, the anger of moral outrage, and the anguish of a felt desertion by God on the part of the protagonist. From one man’s agony it reaches out to the mystery of God, beyond all words and explanations. The Scriptures including the book of Job has several distinct ways of reconciling human suffering with the justice of God. In the end, it is only God as King and Ruler, Himself who brings justice, victory and joy to the life of the suffering man. And when all is said and done, the mystery remains that God stands as King and Ruler revealed in His hiddenness, an object of terror, adoration and love...
The rise of neo-radical nationalism, racism and ethnicity in many churches in the 21st century is... more The rise of neo-radical nationalism, racism and ethnicity in many churches in the 21st century is an unexplainable reality. It is becoming difficult for churches to maintain their denominational identity to a high degree without adjusting its liturgy, traditions and church polity according to new context (Koffeman, 2014:164). In the process of reformation and restructuring to integrate pluralism and ethnic diversity, the church could begin with an understanding of the basic Scriptural doctrines, the implications of the doctrine, definitions and images of the church in the New Testament and apply them to contemporary life (Sanou, 2015:101). In the pluralistic approach, it will be a new identity of the church rooted in a shared faith, hope and fellowship with the living God. For the people of God, there must be a new theory of interdisciplinary concept for political, psychological, theological and spiritual reality.
The study reflects on how the church and state could be redefined in the 21st century with refere... more The study reflects on how the church and state could be redefined in the 21st century with reference to the relevance of the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) in democratization of Malawi. In the recent past, the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and some socio-political analysts accused the Malawi Government of corruption, nepotism; rigging and stealing of elections, plunder of state resources known as “cash-gate” or maize gate by the ruling elite, theft of hospital drugs, closure of Colleges of the University of Malawi, failure to deliver other essential social services to the population leading to poverty and hopelessness. In retaliation, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) under President Professor Peter Mutharika, supported by a few religious leaders polemically demonized the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) challenging its constitutional and Scriptural mandate and declared it irrelevant in contemporary politics of Malawi. The aim of this study is to explore how the church an...
The question of church government deals with order and authority of the church. The basic princip... more The question of church government deals with order and authority of the church. The basic principles for sound church polity base on the Scriptural conviction of the Sovereignty of God and Christ as Head and Ruler of the church. The church moved away from this Scriptural principle due to historical and political factors beyond her authority. The study holds that nowhere in the Scriptures do we find an exclusive picture related to any of the fully developed systems of church government today. The New Testament Scriptures suggest a flexible evolving format of plurality of elders in church polity. The aim of the study is to investigate how some ideas and concepts of church government evolved and developed in the history of the church, how historical and political factors forced the church to shift away from principles of Scripture to advocate for a prelacy theory of government practiced over the centuries. In reformed traditional view, the characteristics of hierarchicalism and clerica...
Ethnicity, tribalism and xenophobia could be found inside and outside church walls. Ethnic and ra... more Ethnicity, tribalism and xenophobia could be found inside and outside church walls. Ethnic and racist behaviours in human beings are natural, learned and nurtured within societies around the world. However, ethnic identity and relations exist whether the ethnic groups are competing or not. The first challenge of the early church in the New Testament Church was to overcome ethnicity and hostile divisions between Jews and Gentles. The New Testament Church’s principles of open plural government overcame the phenomenon. The contemporary church is in dilemma to understand its archaic church polity and order in her own challenging context today.
Hierarchical church polity in the CCAP Blantyre Synod operates contrary to basic tenets of the Re... more Hierarchical church polity in the CCAP Blantyre Synod operates contrary to basic tenets of the Reformed tradition in Malawi. Hierarchical church government functions in the CCAP Blantyre Synod as a result of technical influences from European church government and method of evangelisation by the Scottish missionaries. The aim of the study is to investigate how the structures of the CCAP Blantyre Synod were established based on hierarchy, compromising the Reformed church tradition and how to restore this legitimate church polity in the synod. In Reformed church polity perspective, Christ is the Head who governs His church and the legitimate church polity must be rooted in the Scripture through the Spirit.
The study will reflect on how the concept of enculturation could be addressed in the evangelistic... more The study will reflect on how the concept of enculturation could be addressed in the evangelistic mission of the Church of the Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), Livingstonia, Blantyre Synod and Nkhoma Synods in Malawi. Enculturation relates to an interaction between the Christian faith and traditional culture. The interaction of (or dialectic between) Christian faith and culture is the raw material for the conversation of enculturation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether enculturation could be illuminated to give insight into its meaningful understanding and implications on the European missionary enterprise and eventually how the contemporary church could manage the gospel message and culture in its missio-dei endeavours.
The church government in the New Testament deals with how ecclesiastical authority, operations an... more The church government in the New Testament deals with how ecclesiastical authority, operations and order were exercised in the church. The historical and Scriptural principles for church government suggest flexibility in orientation. Evidence for church government from the early New Testament Church is inconclusive. Nowhere in the Scriptures do we find an exclusive picture related to any of the fully/ officially developed systems of church government today. In the New Testament Church, there was no such a thing as highly hierarchical, clerical and ecclesiastical power. The principles of church government for the Supremacy of the reign of Christ in organization and operation characterized the New Testament Church. From a Reformed church perspective, the characteristics of hierarchicalism, clericalism and ecclesiastical power are rejected in entirety.
Ethnicity, tribalism and xenophobia could be found inside and outside church walls. Ethnicity and... more Ethnicity, tribalism and xenophobia could be found inside and outside church walls. Ethnicity and racism are natural, learned and nurtured in human beings. However, ethnic identity and relations exist whether the ethnic groups are competing or not. The first challenge of the early church in the New Testament Church was to overcome ethnicity and hostile divisions between Jews, Gentiles and Samaritans. This study aims at exploring how socio-historical influences and nature of the message of the New Testament managed to overcome ethnicity and ethnic divisions in the early New Testament Church. The study will also reflect on how the contemporary church could manage ethnicity within its structures and redefine its position on what it means to be one in Christ within the diverse church.
In this world, women face a plethora of problems such as discrimination, violence, abuse and vari... more In this world, women face a plethora of problems such as discrimination, violence, abuse and varied unequal treatment at home, at school, at the work place, at religious institutions and in wider society (Muriithi, 2000:12-13). Women discrimination in the church has been an area of great concern and reflection for many decades. The major challenges have inter alia been about the status, authority of women, ordination and inclusion of women in the decisionmaking bodies of the church. Such Issues including full participation and inclusion of women in church structures have been partially explored, but not convincingly exhausted (Muriithi, 2000:12-13). Such questions of a gender and women empowerment agenda in the Blantyre Synod have been pursued through the approach of engagement with women in all spheres of life. The study investigates, scrutinizes and analyses how the Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has managed to engage women on a gender and minis...
This study will revisit the relevant history of the Livingstonia Mission and its subsequent Synod... more This study will revisit the relevant history of the Livingstonia Mission and its subsequent Synod developments in Malawi beginning from the early years to present day in 2022. The history of the Livingstonia Mission was written in a European Missionary perspective, there was therefore needed to revisit the relevant data in African reformed perspective. Mission history, with reference to the study of Christianity in Africa requires this new approach to mission historiography, “a more honest and more critical review of the theoretical and socio-theological assumptions out of which the African church as it is today, in its fragmented state, has been formed” (Maluleke, 1989:103). The study used a descriptive and interdisciplinary methodology approaches to understand research work. The aim of the study was to investigate, scrutinize and chronologically revisit and analyse the relevant history of the Livingstonia Mission and the subsequent Synod beginning from the early years of its Missi...
The study explores the historical origin and developments that led to the establishment of the CC... more The study explores the historical origin and developments that led to the establishment of the CCAP Blantyre Synod in Malawi from early 1876 to the present. History can be a certain type of memory that evokes liberative power, not mere knowledge of the past, but one that is of commitment. Mission history, with reference to the study of Christianity in Africa requires a new approach to mission historiography, “a more honest and more critical review of the theoretical and socio-theological assumptions out of which the African church as it is today, in its fragmented state, has been formed” (Maluleke, 1989:103). The aim of the study to investigate, scrutinize and chronologically analyse the history of the Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) in Malawi from the early years of its original establishment to the present state in the reformed church perspective.
It is suggested that in the face of malevolence, such as that faced by Job, God’s omnipotence and... more It is suggested that in the face of malevolence, such as that faced by Job, God’s omnipotence and also His benevolence can be upheld. This article thus explores the notions of human suffering, theodicy and theocracy and how they are understood in the book of Job from an Old Testament perspective. The exegesis of the Book of Job has vexed people for epochs and it grasps the depths of human despair, the anger of moral outrage, and the anguish of a felt desertion by God on the part of the protagonist. From one man’s agony it reaches out to the mystery of God, beyond all words and explanations. The Scriptures including the book of Job has several distinct ways of reconciling human suffering with the justice of God. In the end, it is only God as King and Ruler, Himself who brings justice, victory and joy to the life of the suffering man. And when all is said and done, the mystery remains that God stands as King and Ruler revealed in His hiddenness, an object of terror, adoration and love...
The rise of neo-radical nationalism, racism and ethnicity in many churches in the 21st century is... more The rise of neo-radical nationalism, racism and ethnicity in many churches in the 21st century is an unexplainable reality. It is becoming difficult for churches to maintain their denominational identity to a high degree without adjusting its liturgy, traditions and church polity according to new context (Koffeman, 2014:164). In the process of reformation and restructuring to integrate pluralism and ethnic diversity, the church could begin with an understanding of the basic Scriptural doctrines, the implications of the doctrine, definitions and images of the church in the New Testament and apply them to contemporary life (Sanou, 2015:101). In the pluralistic approach, it will be a new identity of the church rooted in a shared faith, hope and fellowship with the living God. For the people of God, there must be a new theory of interdisciplinary concept for political, psychological, theological and spiritual reality.
The study reflects on how the church and state could be redefined in the 21st century with refere... more The study reflects on how the church and state could be redefined in the 21st century with reference to the relevance of the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) in democratization of Malawi. In the recent past, the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and some socio-political analysts accused the Malawi Government of corruption, nepotism; rigging and stealing of elections, plunder of state resources known as “cash-gate” or maize gate by the ruling elite, theft of hospital drugs, closure of Colleges of the University of Malawi, failure to deliver other essential social services to the population leading to poverty and hopelessness. In retaliation, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) under President Professor Peter Mutharika, supported by a few religious leaders polemically demonized the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) challenging its constitutional and Scriptural mandate and declared it irrelevant in contemporary politics of Malawi. The aim of this study is to explore how the church an...
The question of church government deals with order and authority of the church. The basic princip... more The question of church government deals with order and authority of the church. The basic principles for sound church polity base on the Scriptural conviction of the Sovereignty of God and Christ as Head and Ruler of the church. The church moved away from this Scriptural principle due to historical and political factors beyond her authority. The study holds that nowhere in the Scriptures do we find an exclusive picture related to any of the fully developed systems of church government today. The New Testament Scriptures suggest a flexible evolving format of plurality of elders in church polity. The aim of the study is to investigate how some ideas and concepts of church government evolved and developed in the history of the church, how historical and political factors forced the church to shift away from principles of Scripture to advocate for a prelacy theory of government practiced over the centuries. In reformed traditional view, the characteristics of hierarchicalism and clerica...
Ethnicity, tribalism and xenophobia could be found inside and outside church walls. Ethnic and ra... more Ethnicity, tribalism and xenophobia could be found inside and outside church walls. Ethnic and racist behaviours in human beings are natural, learned and nurtured within societies around the world. However, ethnic identity and relations exist whether the ethnic groups are competing or not. The first challenge of the early church in the New Testament Church was to overcome ethnicity and hostile divisions between Jews and Gentles. The New Testament Church’s principles of open plural government overcame the phenomenon. The contemporary church is in dilemma to understand its archaic church polity and order in her own challenging context today.
Hierarchical church polity in the CCAP Blantyre Synod operates contrary to basic tenets of the Re... more Hierarchical church polity in the CCAP Blantyre Synod operates contrary to basic tenets of the Reformed tradition in Malawi. Hierarchical church government functions in the CCAP Blantyre Synod as a result of technical influences from European church government and method of evangelisation by the Scottish missionaries. The aim of the study is to investigate how the structures of the CCAP Blantyre Synod were established based on hierarchy, compromising the Reformed church tradition and how to restore this legitimate church polity in the synod. In Reformed church polity perspective, Christ is the Head who governs His church and the legitimate church polity must be rooted in the Scripture through the Spirit.
The study will reflect on how the concept of enculturation could be addressed in the evangelistic... more The study will reflect on how the concept of enculturation could be addressed in the evangelistic mission of the Church of the Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), Livingstonia, Blantyre Synod and Nkhoma Synods in Malawi. Enculturation relates to an interaction between the Christian faith and traditional culture. The interaction of (or dialectic between) Christian faith and culture is the raw material for the conversation of enculturation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether enculturation could be illuminated to give insight into its meaningful understanding and implications on the European missionary enterprise and eventually how the contemporary church could manage the gospel message and culture in its missio-dei endeavours.
The church government in the New Testament deals with how ecclesiastical authority, operations an... more The church government in the New Testament deals with how ecclesiastical authority, operations and order were exercised in the church. The historical and Scriptural principles for church government suggest flexibility in orientation. Evidence for church government from the early New Testament Church is inconclusive. Nowhere in the Scriptures do we find an exclusive picture related to any of the fully/ officially developed systems of church government today. In the New Testament Church, there was no such a thing as highly hierarchical, clerical and ecclesiastical power. The principles of church government for the Supremacy of the reign of Christ in organization and operation characterized the New Testament Church. From a Reformed church perspective, the characteristics of hierarchicalism, clericalism and ecclesiastical power are rejected in entirety.
Ethnicity, tribalism and xenophobia could be found inside and outside church walls. Ethnicity and... more Ethnicity, tribalism and xenophobia could be found inside and outside church walls. Ethnicity and racism are natural, learned and nurtured in human beings. However, ethnic identity and relations exist whether the ethnic groups are competing or not. The first challenge of the early church in the New Testament Church was to overcome ethnicity and hostile divisions between Jews, Gentiles and Samaritans. This study aims at exploring how socio-historical influences and nature of the message of the New Testament managed to overcome ethnicity and ethnic divisions in the early New Testament Church. The study will also reflect on how the contemporary church could manage ethnicity within its structures and redefine its position on what it means to be one in Christ within the diverse church.
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