United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa , abbreviated UCCSA ( Portuguese : Igreja Congregacional Unida do Africa do Sul , German : United Congregational Church in Southern Africa), is an Evangelical Reformed Church of the Congregationalists in southern Africa . It is widespread with parishes and a synod each in the states of Botswana , Mozambique , Namibia , Zimbabwe and South Africa. One of their central statements is the commitment to justice and Ubuntu . The administrative center is located in Brixton, a district of Johannesburg .
Church leadership
The top level of the administrative church hierarchy consists of the following functions:
- President of the Church
- President- Elect (successor to the incumbent President)
- General Secretary
- Treasurer .
history
The UCCSA was formed on October 3rd, 1967 in Durban from the amalgamation of three communities of congregationalists:
- London Missionary Society in Southern Africa (beginning 1799),
- Bantu Congregational Church of the American Board (founded 1835),
- Congregational Union of South Africa (founded in 1859 as Evangelical Voluntary Union , emerged from it in 1877).
The idea of an amalgamation of congregational churches in South Africa has been discussed in a joint body since 1951. It was composed of representatives from the United Church of the American Board (AMB), the Congregational Union of South Africa (CUSA), the London Missionary Society (LMS) and the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society (PEMS).
structure
According to its own information, it unites around 500,000 Christians in over 1,000 local parishes ( congregations ). There are five synodal areas, which are divided into regions.
- UCCSA Botswana Synod
- Regions are: Bojanala, Lesoso, Lephoi, Macha, Moeding and Kolobeng
- The seat of the Synod is in Gaborone .
- UCCSA Mozambique Synod ( Igreja Congregacional Unida do Africa do Sul )
- Regions are: Inhambane and Maputo
- The seat of the Synod is in Maputo . There are community groups in Inhambane , Gaza and Maputo provinces .
- UCCSA Namibia Synod
- UCCSA South Africa Synod
- Regions are: Algoa, Central, Free State, Gordonia, Karoo, Kei, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Outeniqua, Peninsula and Teemane
- The seat of the synod is in Roodepoort near Johannesburg.
- UCCSA Zimbabwe Synod
- Regions are: Bulawayo, Eastlea, Dombodema, Hope Fountain, Lupane, Makhaza, St Stephens, Tshimali and Zinyangeni
- The seat of the Synod is in Bulawayo .
Educational institution
The UCCSA Leadership Academy is operated by the UCCSA at the central administrative location in Brixton (Johannesburg) . Their work is geared towards the development of the following orientation values: "Awareness of justice, instruction in missions, strengthening of individuals and communities, gender equality, transformative and lifelong learning as well as Bible readings with regard to attitudes and life experiences".
Ecumenism
The church is a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), the South African Council of Churches and the World Fellowship of Reformed Churches .
Awards
Since 2007 the UCCSA has given two awards for special commitment:
- Congregational Justice & Peace Award
- The Congregational Justice and Peace Award (German: "Congregational Justice and Peace Prize") honors: a group or institutions that the UCCSA sees as representatives of the message of justice and peace in their communities.
- Community Empowerment Award
- The Community Empowerment Award attempts to recognize and honor activities by members of the UCCSA who have made a significant contribution to strengthening and improving socio-economic conditions in their social environment.
Persons connected to the UCCSA
- Sikhalo Cele , Zimbabwean theologian and former director of the United Theological College (formerly Epworth College ) in Harare
- John Wesley de Gruchy (* 1939), em. Professor of Theology at the University of Cape Town and Ordained Pastor at UCCSA
- Steve de Gruchy (1961-2010), professor of theology, formerly at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and ordained minister of UCCSA
- Obed Kealotswe, Theologian at the University of Botswana , Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies ( African Independent Churches and New Religious Movements )
- Mamphela Ramphele (* 1947), doctor and anti- apartheid activist
literature
- D. van der Water: The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) - A case study of a united and ecumenical church . In: C. Lombaard (Ed.): Essays and exercises in ecumenism . Pietermaritzburg 1999, pp. 234-244.
Individual evidence
- ^ UCCSA: Officers of the Church . ( Memento of the original from August 18, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) 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. on www.uccsa.co.za (English)
- ↑ D. van der Water: UCCSA. A case study ... . 1999, p. 150, footnote 2
- ^ Lesley Cawood: The Churches and Race Relations in South Africa . South African Institute of Race Relations , Johannesburg 1964, p. 107
- ^ South Africa Synod (UCCSA): The Congregational Church in southern Africa . ( Memento of the original from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) 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. on www.sasynod.org.za (English)
- ^ Lesley Cawood: The Churches and Race Relations in South Africa . South African Institute of Race Relations , Johannesburg 1964, pp. 111-112
- ^ UCCSA: UCCSA Synods & Regions . on www.uccsa.co.za (English)
- ↑ Address entry in African Directory Services ( memento of the original from September 23, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) 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. (English)
- ^ Reformed online: Igreja Congregacional Unida do Africa do Sul . on www.reformiert-online.net (English)
- ^ Council of Churches in Namibia: Members of CCN . ( Memento of the original from March 19, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) 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. on www.ccnnamibia.org (English)
- ^ UCCSA South Africa Synod: Contact us . ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) 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. on www.sasynod.org.za (English)
- ↑ Address entry at ZimbabweYP.com (English)
- ^ UCCSA: Leadership Development . ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) 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. on www.uccsa.co.za (English)
- ↑ United Theological College - Harare . at www.globalministries.org (English)
- ^ Ecumenical Church Leaders Forum Zimbabwe: Meet the ECLF Programs and Training Manager - Rev Sikhalo Cele . at www.eclfz.org (English)
- ↑ UCCSA: Newsletter: September 2013 . P. 5. on www.uccsa.co.za (English)
- ^ Virginia Ramey Mollenkott (Evangelical & Ecumenical Women's Caucus): Confessions of a Christian Humanist . (Book review) on www.eewc.com (English) Short biography
- ^ Matthew Davies: South African theologian Steve de Gruchy dies at 48 . Report of the Episcopal News Service dated February 24, 2010 at www.archive.episcopalchurch.org (English)
- ↑ International Center for Law and Religion Studies: 2015 Namibia Conference . at www.iclrs.org (English) see footnote 1 on p. 173
- ↑ UCCSA: UCCSA 37th Assembly ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) 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. . on www.uccsa.co.za (English)
Web links
- Official website (English)
- United Congregational Church of Southern Africa on the WCC website