NORTH‐SOUTH PARTNERSHIPS — THE EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE DÉPARTEMENT MISSIONNAIRE IN LAUSANNE

Abstract

Phases north-south relations Discussion about how north are to relate to south (and vice versa) is far from finished. Formerly, discussion appeared form of debates about autonomous younger In this regard, names of Henry Venn and Rufus Anderson, both of whom were influential Protestant missions nineteenth century, are significant. The two men coined what later became known as i.e., self-support, self-government and self-propagation. The selves formula, proposed both as goals and tests of autonomy, initiated heated debates about north-south ecumenical relations. From 1971, debate shifted gears when a Kenyan by name of John Gatu proposed a moratorium on missionaries to Africa. Various solutions to older church-younger church problems have been proposed and experimented with. The Evangelical Presbyterian Church South Africa (EPCSA) -- Departement missionnaire (DM) relationship is one such experiment. North-south church relations may, for sake of simplification be divided into three distinguishable phases (Bosch & Saayman 1987:123). During first phase, all decisions relating to church life were taken country of sending church. The second phase is characterized by a situation where the missionary is no longer one who knows everything.... No longer is younger church merely an object.... Now older and younger churches(1) address each other first and second person terms (Bosch & Saayman 1987:124). Negotiations become prime mode of mutual interactions. The third phase is time in which younger take initiative whether older like it or (Bosch & Saayman 1987:124). In many African countries, third phase seems to be triggered off by political independence or advent of nationalism. According to Bosch and Saayman, this phase is most traumatic terms of heightened tensions between older and younger churches. I want to use this simplified scheme of phases suggested by Bosch and Saayman as a lens through which to review partnership relations of EPCSA and her partners over years. Although Bosch and Saayman attached time frames to phases, I shall not subscribe to these as they are not entirely compatible with EPCSA-DM relations. In South Africa this debate has national as well as international overtones. The north is both distant and local. Such a situation is due to gross internal imbalances created by apartheid over many years. Some South African engaged missionary activity both inside country and also some neighbouring states. As a result some black mission churches are fruit of internal churches' missionary work, while others derive from north-to-south missionary awakening that began during nineteenth century. The EPCSA belongs to latter group. Phases EPCSA's relations with The EPCSA's relations with Protestant are now a hundred and twenty odd years old.(2) This church was initially known as Swiss Mission South Africa, after its founding missionary society -- La Mission Suisse dans l'Afrique du Sud.(3) Later (in 1962) it became Tsonga Presbyterian Church, and 1982, it became known as Evangelical Presbyterian Church South Africa. These changes name are fairly indicative of changing relations between EPCSA and her partners north; they also illustrate changes EPCSA's self-understanding as it gradually took control of its own life. Phase one DM-EPCSA relations -- missionary control For EPCSA, this phase began 1875 with establishing of church, extending through period when church existed as Swiss Mission South Africa, that is, eighty-five odd years (1875-1962). …