The Church divided based on ethnicity: an analysis of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) structures in Malawi

Abstract

The revival of ethnic ties and nationalism around the world is not simply the reaction to the plural nature of most societies, but stems from the fact that, unlike class, ethnicity combines affections with material, political and economic interests. Ethnic identity and relations naturally exist whether the ethnic groups are competing or not. The first challenge of the early church in the New Testament was to deal with ethnicity and ethnic divisions between Jews and Gentiles. Contemporary churches are in a serious dilemma as they struggle to understand their archaic church polities and orders in their own challenging context. Reformed church polity perspective must submit to the Headship of Christ, embracing all Scriptural principles guided by the Spirit so that order, discipline and justice are maintained for the proper running of the church.