Pursuing an Elusive Unity

A History of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian as a Federative Denomination (1924–2018)

Rhodian Munyenyembe

• Publisher: Langham Monographs
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN:
  9781783686445
• eBook ISBN:
  9781783687275
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: African History

Since its founding in 1924, the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has grown to span five synods across Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. Dr Rhodian Munyenyembe traces the history of these synods back to their shared roots in the Reformation and individual roots in three separate Presbyterian missions.Dr Munyenyembe skillfully explores both historic and contemporary challenges to the unity of the CCAP, and raises the question of whether the CCAP truly functions as a single denomination or could better be understood as a loose federation of five distinct churches. His in-depth explanation provides a critical look that goes beyond a surface understanding of what it means to unite churches from different cultural traditions, and brings honest answers to disputes and conflicts among the CCAP synods. Through this analysis and exploration, Dr Munyenyembe also sheds light on the political and socio-economic aspects of life in relation to the influence of religious denominations. In this objective yet astute account, Munyenyembe gives voice to the CCAP's complex history, present reality, and future potential.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Contents
• Foreword
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• List of Abbreviations
• Chapter 1 The Origins of the CCAP: Theological and Revival Roots
• Chapter 2 The CCAP Tributaries
• Chapter 3 The CCAP: One Denomination, Several Independent Synods
• Chapter 4 Pangs of Unity in Diversity among the Synods
• Chapter 5 Challenges Rocking the CCAP General Assembly
• Chapter 6 Foreign Relations and Current Developments in the CCAP
• Chapter 7 Unity beyond Border Disputes
• Chapter 8 Concluding Thoughts
• Bibliography
• About Langham Partnership
• Endnotes
• Index