Abstract

This article analyzes the historical, contextual and identity changes that took place in the RCZ between 1996 and 2001 in order to find an answer to the question why it happened. The hypothesis is as follows: The leadership style of church leaders was influenced by the one-party state with its autocratic presidential powers that continued the missionary legacy of autocratic rule. The autocratic leadership style met head on with a new globalizing culture and with the Pentecostal tendencies in society. This created the conflict that caused the schisms. Pentecostal/charismatic tendencies challenged the long-inherited tradition with its autocratic church leadership style of mainline churches in general and the RCZ in particular. Subsequently, Pentecostal/charismatic movements caused intense conflict in the church between the pro-conservatives and pro-Pentecostals. In the RCZ, this led to the formation of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in 1999 and the Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) in 2001.

Highlights

  • This article provides a descriptive and practical-theological assessment of the RCZ schisms, relevant to the understanding of one of the most salient contemporary issues in the church in Africa, namely the growth of Pentecostalism (Cox 1995:243-262; Martin 2002; Kalu 2008)

  • History reveals the growth and influence of Pentecostalism and the way it led to the schisms in the RCZ

  • Apart from the identity and story of the RCZ, the article aims at describing some contextual factors that changed the Zambian society in many ways

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

This article provides a descriptive and practical-theological assessment of the RCZ schisms, relevant to the understanding of one of the most salient contemporary issues in the church in Africa, namely the growth of Pentecostalism (Cox 1995:243-262; Martin 2002; Kalu 2008). The research was undertaken because of the researchers’ interest in making an in-depth investigation and analysis of schisms in the RCZ. History reveals the growth and influence of Pentecostalism and the way it led to the schisms in the RCZ. The motivation to do this research emerged from the researchers’ direct involvement in the RCZ in Lusaka, one as a serving minister at the time of the split, and the other through NetACT.

THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & HYPOTHESIS
THE HISTORY OF THE RCZ
The influence of the independence period on the RCZ
New waves of nationalism in the RCZ
A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE CULTURE AND IDENTITY OF THE RCZ
The macro aspects that influence the Zambian society
The beginning of the end of patriarchy
Zambia’s foreign relations and its influence
PENTECOSTALISM IN ZAMBIA
CONCLUSION

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