Academic works on the history, growth and development of. These churches to some varying degrees were characterised by a desire for african selfexpression and freedom from missionarycontrol. Church formation in africa and attracting members has become an easy task in light of widespread poverty and other social ills. After 50 nigerian aics expressed interest in joining the mennonite church in 1959, the pioneering ministry of edwin and irene weaver. Any african indigenous practice that lacked western taste was viewed as primitive and uncivilised. African initiated churches other names they are also known by these following names.
The rise of african initiated churches by mberengwa norman. African churches in the ancient era, to the growth of afrochristian churches in the. He suspected that he did indeed meet him, but extreme secrecy. Yoder researched one of mennonite mission networks most significant contributions to missiology, that of honoring the christian expression of african initiated churches. Nomenclaturea variety of overlapping terms exist for these forms of christianity. African independent churches, also known as african indigenous churches, african initiated churches, african instituted churches, or just aics, represent well over 10,000 independent christian. There are african initiatives in praise and determining everything in christianity. Pobee is the entry on african instituted independent churches from the revised edition of the dictionary of the ecumenical movement published jointly by the world council of churches and the wm. The ecumenical vision of the organization of african. Media in category african initiated churches the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total.
The spiritual weakness of western missionary founded. History of african initiated church believers portal. Such terms, however, are not used by the churches themselves. If both church leaders become convinced that a merger is worthwhile to consider, then the two senior leadership teams are brought into the discussion to explore the possibility.
African initiated churches aics is a recent term which is gaining acceptance. Such churches are often classified as protestant or other christian, but there are oriental. Originally an unanticipated product of the modern mission ary movement in africa, the african independent churches aics today number 55 million church members in some 10,000 distinct denominations present in virtually all of africas 60 countries. South africa, for instance, has been viewed inititally as the hub of the development of the aic movement. The african independent churches are the fastest grow ing churches in africa today. African initiated church an african initiated church is a christian denomination started in africa, by africans, and not by missionaries from another continent. The two names embody quite different ideas from these normal meanings and from each other.
Church cac, one of the foremost african independent churches in nigeria. A model in the redeemed christian church of god, north america rccgna. While it has been acknowledged that many of them provide coping mechanisms in adverse environments, support in social transformation and social capital, little information is available on their role as development actors. These are churches found in africa for africans and by africans. African initiated churches african instituted churches these are christian bodies in africa that were established as a result of african initiative, rather than on the initiative of foreign missionary organisations. African instituted independent churches the following article by john s. African instituted churches world council of churches. Africans had become aware that such things were not unknown in europe and n. The role of the church in reconciliation in south africa. The african spirit churches retain much in biblical pneumatology that western churches have missed. Studies in world christianity, volume 10 issue 2, page 205222, issn 549901 available online feb 2008. This comment highlights exactly the difficulty faced by students of african independent churches, or, as i prefer to call them, african initiated churches henceforth, aics. African initiated churches, african independent churches, african indigenous churches and african instituted.
The majority of church mergers are initiated by the joining church or sometimes by a denominational official. African initiated churches aics are not yet recognised as relevant actors of community development interventions. An africaninitiated church aic is a christian church independently started in africa by africans rather than by missionaries from another continent. Strategy for merging unhealthy churches and leading the merged congregation to a healthy christcentered new testament church a thesis project submitted to liberty university baptist theological seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree doctor of ministry by rev.
The dutch reformed church in africa in the orange free state drca. Several churchesroho msalaba and mowar roho the saved, for examplehave split from it. Mission network continues ministry with african initiated. Roho israel church is a spiritual african initiated church started in the early 1950s near kisumu by paul omumbo achola. The rise of the african independent churches and their. African independent church origins, african independent. The sacc is an instrument and servant of its members and is committed to expressing, through proclamation and programmes, the united witness of the church in south africa, especially in matters of national debate. The rise of the african independent churches and their present life in botswana. This implies that christianity has become relevant to an africans. An african initiated church is a christian church independently started in africa by africans and not by missionaries from another continent. The historical voices of the african independent churches. African initiated churches, african independent churches, african indigenous churches and african instituted churches.
The initial problems of aics and the african church vary from lack of funds, lack of acceptability by the historic churches, to lack of manpower. Mennonite missionaries and african independent churches. African initiated churches origins ethiopian churches it generally retain the christian doctrines. In this period, the study of african independent churches aics, or, as some. African initiated churches, pivotal in peacebuilding a. This notion was also professed from the same churches throughout the african continent. This title is the most frequent descriptive term in.
African initiated churches in christianity in south africa. African initiated churches potential as development actors. Ebscohost serves thousands of libraries with premium essays, articles and other content including the rise of the african independent churches and their present life in botswana. The spiritual weakness of churches founded by western. However, they have some basic characteristics which they all share. African initiated churches of the spirit and pneumatology. African initiated churches anderson 2001, has been considerably recon. The african independent churches aics lived in the shadow of past experiences imposed on them by western explanations, reasons and theories. Organization of african instituted churches oaic is the representative body that brings together african independent and instituted churches aics, offers them a forum for sharing their concerns and hopes, and enables churches to minister effectively to the needs of their members and their communities. This study likewise, examines critically the reasons for the movement of african people from the mission churches to the african initiated churches particularly the zionist churches in such big numbers. It is paradoxical because the phenomenon is dynamic and the african continent is large. African initiated churches by bianca matthee on prezi. Tishken spring 2002 southwestern university his 1630303. Drmc was disbanded, following a merger with part of the drca to form the.
African initiated churches research papers academia. Pdf african initiated churches potential as development actors. African theology has pointed to the african initiated churches as the raw material for a contextual theology in africa. The oldest of these is the tewahedo ethiopian orthodox church which dates from the 4th century, and was one of the first christian churches in the world. Sociological approach some of the scholars in the sociological school of thought who have written extensively and carried out various researches on christianity in africa are. While the aics have distinct characteristics which mark them out from the mainline churches, yet it is necessary to point out that the former are immensely diverse. They had to define their lives, identity, religious and cultural practices according to western values. Churches founded by western missionaries have mostly failed to regard african religious beliefs as a foundation for faith in christ cf. The zionist churches focus on the holiest of all holy places, zion city. It was like this, because earlier through the south african council of churches sacc, christianity was regarded as the foremost religion. A political, social, and cultural history, berkeley.
African beliefs are not dead works but an inauguration, a foundation, an inspiration and a stimulation for the christian faith. African instituted independent churches world council. The rise of african initiated churches in africa is paradoxical. Also, not all of them carry spiritual rods or staff, not all of them burn candles or incense. While most people agree on the initials, there is less agreement about what they stand for, and what the variations mean. The abbreviation aic covers them all and the differences in names correspond to the aspect that a researcher wishes to emphasise. The oldest of these is the ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church which dates from the 4th century and was one of the first christian churches in the world. The contribution of african initiated churches to the. An african initiated church is a christian church independently started in africa by africans and not by missionaries from another continent, in which they sometimes hold to one or more african tribal belief systems syncretised with christianity.
African instituted churches with the exception of ethiopia, christianity first came to most of subsaharan africa when it was brought by missionaries from western europe. Strategy for merging unhealthy churches and leading the. African initiated independent churches anabaptistwiki. The church is mainly based in kano nyakach and south nyanza. African initiated churches and european typologies international. Several theories relating to the emergence and development of african initiated churches aics are discussed, particularly that propounded by david barrett, who saw aics reacting to a failure. African indigenous churches african independent churches african initiatives in. Pdf in this article i take the opportunity to reflect on historical developments. View african initiated churches research papers on academia.
African initiated churches beginning late in the 19th c, there began to be splits and breakaways from mission churches to form separate, african led churches. Africa, in 1948, the african initiated churches have become a subject for serious, sustained research by theologians. Samuel holdbrooksmith lynchburg, virginia december 7, 2012. Barrett postulates that the cause of the emergence of african. Pdf african initiated churches aics are not yet recognised as relevant actors of community development interventions. African initiated churches and african immigrants in the.
Between 1918 and 1932 representatives from three black denominations african methodist episcopal, african methodist episcopal zion, and colored methodist episcopaldevised plans to merge into one religious body which they hoped to name the united methodist episcopal church. Because these churches are growing fast and have great. The south african council of churches sacc is an interdenominational forum that unites 36 member churches and organisations. Pdf the history of african indigenous churches in scholarship. Women prophets in african initiated churches, in lovemore togarasei and ezra chitando eds, faith in the city. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The oldest of these is the tewahedo ethiopian orthodox church which dates from the 4th century, and was one of the first christian states in the world. A variety of overlapping terms exist for christian churches started independently in africa by africans and not directly by missionaries from another continent.
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