Presbyterian Church of Mozambique
The Presbyterian Church of Mozambique , Portuguese Igreja Presbiteriana de Moçambique - until 1948 part of the Swiss Mission in South Africa - is a Presbyterian , Reformed Church in Mozambique. With more than 100,000 believers, it is one of the largest Protestant communities in the South African country.
history
Josefa Mhalamhala (also Yosefa Mhalamhala) founded the church together with other Mozambicans in 1882 after they had previously converted on a Swiss mission in South Africa. The Swiss mission then expanded to the Portuguese colony of Mozambique in 1887. The missionary Paul Berthoud in particular became known for his commitment to the Swiss mission. The mission built numerous schools, churches, and hospitals, especially inland, which led to the rapid growth of the church.
In 1948 the church became independent from the Swiss mission and was run by Mozambican believers themselves. Independence was recognized in 1962, and since 1970 all mission stations throughout the country have belonged to the Church.
From 1972 onwards, the colonial administration began to persecute the church, as it was subject to FRELIMO's support . Among other things, the missionary and synod chairman Zedequias Manganhela was killed in the Machava labor camp. In fact, the founder of the Mozambican Liberation Front Frente de Libertação de Moçambique , Eduardo Mondlane , also belonged to the Church. Historians therefore assume that the church played an important role in achieving independence.
In 2004 the church comprised 350 congregations, 400 mission stations and just over 100,000 believers.
Confessions and Memberships
Presbyterian Church of Mozambique follows the Apostles' Creed , the Nicene Creed and the Heidelberg Catechism . The church is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches , the World Council of Churches , the Christian Council of Mozambique and the All Africa Conference of Churches ..
The Church has a very close relationship with the Presbyterian Church of Brazil , which regularly sends missionaries to Mozambique.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Alderi Souza de Matos: Portal Mackenzie: A Tradição Reformada no Terceiro Mundo. (No longer available online.) In: www.mackenzie.com.br. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014 ; accessed on June 12, 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Missionary Luciano. (No longer available online.) In: www.missionarioluciano.com.br. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on June 12, 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ A b Presbyterian Church of Mozambique - World Council of Churches. In: www.oikoumene.org. Accessed June 12, 2016 .
- ↑ O estranho "Suicídio" do pastor Zedequias Manganhela. In: Jornal Domingo. April 28, 2013, accessed June 12, 2016 .
- ^ Teresa Cruz e Silva: Memória, história e narrativa: Os desafios da escrita biográfica no contexto da luta nacionalista em Moçambique . In: Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais . No. 106 , May 1, 2015, ISSN 0254-1106 , p. 133–152 , doi : 10.4000 / rccs.5916 ( revues.org [accessed June 12, 2016]).
- ↑ Members. In: World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved June 12, 2016 .
- ^ Presbyterian Church of Mozambique. In: www.oikoumene.org. Retrieved November 20, 2018 .
