Abstract

DUNCAN, Graham A. A young church in mission or maintenance mode? - A case study of the Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa (1923-1999). Missionalia (Online) [online]. 2019, vol.47, n.3, pp.269-284. ISSN 2312-878X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.7832/47-3-318.

The formation of the Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa in 1923 was much criticised for being the result of a racist policy; yet, had racism not been prevalent in South Africa at the time, its formation might have been unnecessary as part of the missionary outreach of the United Free Church of Scotland. For better or worse it was established and in such matters there was no going back. However, its mission was hindered by attempts to control it externally by the Scottish Church and internally by missionaries and their Mission Council. This was an unwritten maintenance approach which, in essence, militated against their missionary purpose. The first ten years of its history testify to this. Its subsequent history bears witness to the attempt to make it an authentic African missionary church open to the ecumenical scene.

Keywords : Bantu Presbyterian Church; General Assembly; missionaries; Presbyterian Church of South Africa; United Free Church of Scotland.

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