EDITORIAL

Editorial

Mokhele Madise

University of South Africa madismjs@unisa.ac.za https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1583-860X

The current issue, Volume 50, Issue 3, of the journal Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae (SHE), features a collection of articles thematically focused on migration, representing the first part of this issue. The second part contains general articles that are not tied to a specific theme. The thematic focus typically aligns with the topic chosen for the annual conference of the Church History Society of Southern Africa. For the 2023 conference, the theme was "The Church and Migration," prompting many authors to explore migration from various perspectives.

Migration is often considered in the context of human movement related to geopolitical or socio-political factors. However, the articles in this issue examine church migration in ways that are not solely influenced by socio-political instability. The authors demonstrate a nuanced understanding of migration, encompassing church movements through missionary expeditions. The articles investigate topics such as church splits and the deportation of missionaries, providing different angles on church migration. Interestingly, schisms or splits in churches offer insights into leaders who leave with their followers, highlighting a form of migration based on ideological differences in their understanding of the church and Christianity.

Several articles particularly embody the theme of migration, such as Julius Gathogo's examination of migrants and martyrs from East Africa and Dikotsi Mofokeng's analysis of the banning of missionaries during apartheid. Collectively, these contributions provide a broader perspective on and understanding of migration.

The general section of this issue addresses a variety of non-thematic topics, ranging from church management to the African Independent Churches (AICs). It includes denominational perspectives such as those of Pentecostal churches and the Anglican Church, as well as the experiences of the Kikuyu community in the United States concerning establishment, challenges, and achievements. This issue also critiques the church's silence regarding the Zondo Commission.

Additionally, it explores the contestations and memories surrounding the burial sites of the founders of the AICs in Zimbabwe. Overall, the issue encompasses diverse topics that highlight the historical significance of the church and its involvement in sociopolitical and religious arenas.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, a journal that has consistently published articles in the field of Church History since its inception in 1973. Its first publication followed three years after the establishment of the Church History Society of Southern Africa (CHSSA). The journal was created to disseminate papers presented at the annual conferences. Throughout its history, SHE has remained committed to publishing academic works, ultimately leading to its accreditation by the Department of Higher Education and Training. In her article, former editor Christina Landman (2024, 2) notes that SHE received accreditation from both Scopus and the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO).

As this is the final issue of Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae for 2024, we look forward to the next issues in 2025, as well as the special issue, which will focus on "Storytelling in the History of Christian Churches in Southern Africa." The papers presented will originate from the first CHSSA conference ever held outside the borders of South Africa, which took place at Zimbabwe Open University-a significant milestone for CHSSA. Authors addressing other topics of historical significance within the scope of church history, history of Christianity, and particularly with an African/South African historical perspective are also encouraged to submit their work, as rigorous blind peer review will be employed to ensure quality contributions to the journal.