The impact of the CCAP on its members from 1956 to 2000

The impact of the CCAP on its members from 1956 to 2000

Master of Theology (Church History)

The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), with synods in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, developed from the Livingstonia Mission of the Free Church of Scotland, the Blantyre Mission of the Established Church of Scotland, and the Nkhoma Mission of the Dutch Reformed Church of Cape Synod South Africa. By 1956 when a new CCAP constitution was approved and the governing body became a General Synod, CCAP had been in existence for thirty-two years as a relatively loose federation of three presbyteries. Using primary archival sources and secondary literature, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the impacts of the CCAP General Synod on its member synods from 1956-to 2000. The objectives are to investigate the origins of the CCAP General Synod, to identify the structure and operations of the CCAP General Synod including responsibilities and powers, to identify historical factors that influenced the responsibilities and powers given to CCAP General Synod, and finally to evaluate the impact of the General Synod on its member Synods.

The research identifies four powerful historical forces contributing to disunity between Dutch and Scottish missionaries from 1875 to 1926.It identifies divergent perspectives and directions of CCAP and the Dutch Reformed Church Cape Synod and its sister the Dutch Reformed Church Orange Free State Synod which influenced CCAP during the period from 1930-to 1945. As a result of the historical forces of disunity and the divergent perspectives of CCAP and DRC, the 1956 CCAP Constitution provided extremely limited powers.

to the General Synod. The CCAP General Synod established itself as a legal entity in Malawi, developed joint theological training for students, supported evangelism and church growth of the synods, and worked diligently toward standardized rules, regulations, statements of faith, and catechism across the synods. The General Synod was unable to overcome synod autonomy, divisive church/state relations, and contentious synod border disputes. The General Synod (now General Assembly) must take determined proactive trust-building approaches to development if it is to survive.

Nancy J. Collins

Submitted to Justo Mwale University

2019

Supervisor: Prof. Edwin Zulu

All Right Reserved: Justo Mwale University

Physical Medium

English

The impact of the General Synod of the CCAP on it's members from 1956 to 2000