An African face of Christianity : a theology of five African initiated churches in Botswana

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the possibility of arriving at an African face of Christianity in Africa. The point of departure for this study is a detailed study of five African Initiated Churches in Botswana. This is an empirical research of five selected African Initiated Churches that are considered to be representative of Independency in Botswana. The study encompasses the following five churches: Bethlehem City of Christ Church in Zion, Forward in Faith, Galatia Church in Zion, St. Gethsemane Church of Christ in Botswana and St. Peter's Apostolic Faith Healing Church. The method of research was both quantitative and qualitative. A broad survey of the five churches was done through a close observation of and participation in these churches over the years, followed by in-depth interviews of both the leadership and the ordinary membership, including men, women and the youth. A concerted effort was made to align the five churches to the broader family of Independency on the African continent. In the process, an in-depth analysis of the interviews themselves was done, as well as of the sermons, constitutions, a selected sampling of hymns, rituals and all accompanying ecclesiastical activities. An equal cross-section of the membership of the five churches was interviewed; the research itself stretching over six years, from 1982 to 1988. Chapter 1 provides the layout of the core of the research and states the problem, the rationale behind the selection of the five churches and how the research is going to be conducted. No Independency exists in a vacuum. Therefore, Chapter 2 gives the historical, socio-economic, political, cultural and mission logical background of Botswana, into which the five churches were born. Chapter 3 gives an expose of how the five churches worship and all the variations that differentiate them from each other. Chapter 4, which can be described as the backbone of the thesis, gives the findings of the research on the five churches with regard to their ideas of God and everything connected therewith. This chapter covers a literature study on Independency to show that the African Initiated Churches in Botswana are not an isolated phenomenon. The following