Historic Shifts towards the Decolonisation and Africanisation of Ordination in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa

Abstract

The doctrine and practices of ordination in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) trace their origins from the Wesleyan Methodist Church. These initially adopted ordination practices proved to be culturally incongruent with ministry in the southern African context, raising the question as to whether the MCSA has made sufficient adaptations in its doctrine and practices to be culturally attuned to its context. Using a theoretical literary study, the article traces the colonial heritage of the doctrine of ordination and defines significant shifts and influences in the decolonisation and Africanisation of ordination in the MCSA. This article argues that while there have been significant changes, the doctrine and practices of ordination require further shifts to represent a truly African church.