The end of Mission Councils: A case study of the Church of Scotland South Africa Joint Council, 1971–1981

Graham A Duncan

doi:10.4102/hts.v73i3.4371

Abstract

This article will investigate why Mission Councils continued to exist for so long after the so-called autonomous churches were established in South Africa following the upsurge ofEthiopian and other types of African initiated churches at the close of the 19th century inopposition to the European sending churches. It will also examine how the emergingPartnership in Mission policy affected the process of integration of church and mission. Usingthe closing years of the Church of Scotland South African Joint Council (1971–1981) as a casestudy, the author examines primary sources to uncover the exercise of power demonstratedthrough racism manifested in the disposition of personnel, property and finance to control thedevelopment of authentic autonomy.

Highlights

The Church of Scotland South African Joint Council (CoSSAJC) was laid to rest on 01 May 1981, 58 years after formation of the Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa (BPCSA) on 04 July 1923 (BPCSA GA 1923:6)
At the subsequent General Assembly in 1978, the first following Stevenson’s resignation, a minute was passed: Recognising the important role that the Joint Council, and its predecessors, the Mission Councils have played in the past, it was unanimously agreed to recommend to the Overseas Council and to this General Assembly that Church of Scotland Joint Council be dissolved effectively from the 1st January, 1980, or as soon thereafter agreed
It only marginally affected the process of integration whose aim was to develop independence and strengthen the integrity of churches derived from the missionary movement

Summary

Introduction

The Church of Scotland South African Joint Council (CoSSAJC) was laid to rest on 01 May 1981, 58 years after formation of the Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa (BPCSA) on 04 July 1923 (BPCSA GA 1923:6). Under the annual Overseas Council report theme ‘Together in a Divided World’ (1976), it was defined as ‘the mark of mission’ (CoS GA 1976:324) that is ‘that which defines mission and it would indicate that it is partnership which constitutes the church in its missionary and ecumenical relationships.

Results

Conclusion