Approaches of church polity and efforts at church union in Zambia in the period 1965-2010

Abstract

This study is an historical evaluation of the approaches of church polity and efforts at church union in Zambia in its history between 1965 and 2010. The study is situated within two unique phases. First, it is located within the period 1965-2010 which was a unique phase because it was the period after Zambia received its political independence. Second, during this period between 1965 and 2010, there was Zambianisation of the churches in Zambia; church leaders such as moderators and bishops were to be Africans in the 1960s after independence. The period of 1965 to 2010, corresponded with former President Kenneth Kaunda’s call to overcome imported denominations; to the political ‘One Zambia’, ‘One Nation’, the religious ‘One Church’, should correspond. The desire for ecclesiastical unity was thus mixed with the desire to please the new state. The government did not want the excess of self-directed religious groups. The union of the United Church of Zambia was interpreted as marking the end of the colonial era, even in the church. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of the history of the five Protestant Churches in Zambia and ecumenical bodies focusing on approaches of church polity and efforts at church union and will therefore make an original contribution to ecumenical church polity in Zambia (Africa) in this regard. The study has been evaluated from a theological, ecumenical, contextual, missiological and juridical perspective and concluding remarks were given in each of the six Chapters. Specific attention has been given to aspects of ecumenical efforts from a church historical perspective with specific relevance to the Protestant churches in Zambia and ecumenical bodies. The study poses the following questions: how can we account for the fact that church union is still far from complete in Zambia; to what extent can the study of approaches of church polity and efforts at church union contribute towards the process of church union? To answer these questions, this thesis will recognise the shared Reformed theological grounding for these governance structures of the five Protestant churches in Zambia specifically, seeing them as a means of living out the church’s life as a community, providing a hole in the roof for achieving progress in both fields of church polity and ecumenism, and ultimately, for advancing the efforts at church union in Zambia. ii The study contributes to discourse in African ecumenical church polity on authenticity as expressed in theologies of inculturation. It further contributes to an academic reflection on the history of the ecumenical movement in Zambia and the quest for an appropriate ecumenical vision on the African continent amidst the efforts of church union among the five Protestant Churches in Zambia. The study will conclude with will recommendations on how to develop ecumenical church polity.