The challenge of hierarchical church polity in the Presbyterian Church in Malawi: A case of the CCAP Blantyre Synod

Humphreys Frackson Zgambo

doi:10.17570/stj.2018.v4n1.a23

Abstract

Hierarchical church polity in the CCAP Blantyre Synod operates contrary to basic tenets of the Reformed tradition in Malawi. Hierarchical church government functions in the CCAP Blantyre Synod as a result of technical influences from European church government and method of evangelisation by the Scottish missionaries. The aim of the study is to investigate how the structures of the CCAP Blantyre Synod were established based on hierarchy, compromising the Reformed church tradition and how to restore this legitimate church polity in the synod. In Reformed church polity perspective, Christ is the Head who governs His church and the legitimate church polity must be rooted in the Scripture through the Spirit.

Highlights

According to the Collins English Dictionary (Complete and unabridged, 12th ed), the word ‘hierarchy’ means a “system, especially in a society or an organization, in which people are organized into di erent levels of importance from highest to the lowest
Study objectives and methodology e study aims at investigating how the structures of the Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod were established based on hierarchy and clericalism, compromising Reformed tradition and how to address it and eventually restore the Reformed church polity in the CCAP Blantyre Synod. is study mainly comprises a purely descriptive literature which includes where applicable, a focus on exegetical, historical and contemporary resources
Interpretive and qualitative approaches in data collection and analysis are applied. Questions such as: How did the Scottish and South African missionaries’ in uences impact the establishment of hierarchical structures of the CCAP Blantyre Synod? How could hierarchical systems in the CCAP Blantyre Synod be assessed from Reformed church polity perspective? How could the challenge of hierarchy be addressed and Reformed church polity be restored in the CCAP Blantyre Synod in Malawi, are the guidelines for the study. erefore, this study con nes its de nition and delimitation to the hierarchical-based structures of the CCAP Blantyre Synod, its impact and how the system could be addressed and eventually restores the legitimate Reformed church polity in the church in Malawi

Summary

De nition of terms

According to the Collins English Dictionary (Complete and unabridged, 12th ed), the word ‘hierarchy’ means a “system, especially in a society or an organization, in which people are organized into di erent levels of importance from highest to the lowest. In uences from Scotland e person who initiated missionary work which developed into the establishment of the CCAP Livingstonia and Blantyre synods was Rev Dr James Stewart. He could originally be traced back to Scotland but settled at Lovedale Mission in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. E injurious e ects of “Social Darwinism” had led to an estrangement between white and black (Selfridge 1976:32) At this di cult time, the Blantyre Mission was fortunate that it received a new leader, Rev David Clement Scott, one of the outstanding missionaries of his time (at Blantyre 1881–1897 when he le Malawi for Kenya).

Hierarchy in the CCAP Blantyre Synod

Hierarchy in the CCAP Livingstonia Synod

In uences from South Africa

Hierarchy in the CCAP Nkhoma Synod

Christ must be the Head of CCAP Blantyre Synod not the moderator

Conclusion