A handbook of councils and churches profiles of ecumenical relationships
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Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia Church Family: Lutheran Membership: 609,093 Parishes: 123 Bishops: 2 Pastors: 143 Evangelists: 27 Member of: WCC (2001) – CCN – LWF – LUCSA The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia grew out of the work which the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission began in 1870 among the Ovambo and Kavango people, in the north of what became in 1884 German South West Africa. Formerly known as the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambokavango Church, the name was changed to ELCIN in 1984. Historically concentrated in the north, the church is now spreading to other parts of the country. In 1992 the ELCIN was divided into two dioceses, the Eastern diocese and the Western diocese, each led by a bishop. The church runs a range of activities: a printing press, a public library, a rehabilitation centre, an institute for the training of deacons and lay preachers, a museum, two high schools, small community projects such as those for HIV prevention, nurseries, and a sewing workshop. The Lutheran Medical Services, under the supervision of the ELCIN, is running a wide spread of health and medical service programmes including primary health care and two large hospitals. Over 5000 staff and volunteers are working in these institutions. Theological training takes place at the United Lutheran Theological Seminary in Windhoek, jointly owned by the ELCIN and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia. The ELCIN is a founding member of the Council of Churches in Namibia. The ELCIN played a significant role in the resistance against the South African apartheid regime and in the struggle for liberation and independence. A name to be mentioned in this regard is former presiding bishop Dr Kleopas Dumeni. Because of its geographical location close to the border with Angola, the church found itself for many years in the middle of this war zone where the South African army opposed SWAPO. Africa
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia Church Family: Lutheran Membership: 350,000 Congregations: 54 Pastors: 80 Diaconists: 8 Member of: WCC (1992) – CCN – LWF – LUCSA Periodical: Immanuel The Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia grew out of the work of the Rhenish Missionary Society from Germany which began working in the area in 1842. The church was constituted in 1957 and named the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South-West Africa (Rheinische Mission). After the independence of Namibia in 1990 the ELCRN took its present name. The church runs several institutions and programmes spread over the country, as part of its witness in society and service to the people of Namibia. It has a centre where women are trained to take leadership in nursery schools and hostels; over 200 women are employed by the church in these functions. The Martin Luther High School offers opportunities for young people to prepare for higher education. The ELCRN Media Centre runs a book and media depot and is the editorial office of the church. Pastors are trained at the Paulinum Theological Seminary jointly owned with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia. The Evangelical Lutheran Church AIDS programme was established in 1999 in response to the increasing HIV/AIDS pandemic. It seeks to provide a comprehensive approach with focus on caring and counselling for infected persons, care and support for orphans and family members, prevention through awareness-building and education, outreach to all congregations and areas where the ELCRN is present, and networking with other organizations. More than 30 home-based care groups have been established. In 2003 the ELCRN launched a social development programme to address issues of mass poverty, especially in view of HIV/AIDS. The programme looks at the root causes as well as the broader social implications of the pandemic. It is to provide vision and direction and to facilitate strategies and structures for the church’s involvement towards social development in Namibia. The first phase of the programme is research, which is done in close cooperation with the regional offices and congregational committees of the AIDS programme. The ELCRN Business Trust manages several guesthouses and conference centres in order to generate income for the church. The mission, evangelism and humanitarian services programme looks after the inner life of the church, e.g. catechism, Sunday schools, women, men, youth, Bible studies, church music, etc. It is also in charge of evangelization. NIGERIA Population: 130,235,642 Surface area: 923,800 sq.km Capital: Abuja GNI per capita: 390 US$ Classification: Developing economy Languages: English, Yoruba, Hausa, other Religions: Christian 45%; Muslim 45%; African traditional 10% Christianity: Protestants 20,504,400; Anglicans 19,500,00; Catholics 18,700,000; Independent 26,490,000 (double affiliation) Nigeria is the most populous and largest oil-producing country of Africa. A former British colony, Nigeria gained its independence in 1960, as a federation. The federal system, imposed by the British, has been a source of conflict, the worst of which was the Biafra secession war from 1967-70, which took more than a million lives. Nigeria has gone through a succession of military and civilian regimes, marked by corruption, violence, and human rights abuses. In 1999, elections brought back a more stable government. Economically, Nigeria has remained a poor country. The oil revenues only benefit the ruling minority. The WCC has supported the Ogoni people in their struggle against the oil companies. The north of Nigeria is predominantly Muslim, the south Christian. Violence between Muslims and Christians has occurred frequently, especially in the northern states which have established Sharia’h law, but also in the south. Besides the large mis-sion-founded churches such as the Anglicans, Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, etc., Nigeria has a large number of African Instituted, independent, and Pentecostal churches, which are very active in evangelism and church planting in neighbouring countries, in Europe, North America, and other parts of the world. The churches are organized into five distinct groups namely the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria; Christian Council of Nigeria; Organization of African Instituted Churches; the Evangelical Church of West Africa (TEKAN/ECWA); and the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria , who make up the membership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, an umbrella body representing all Christians. *Christian Council of Nigeria Founded in 1929. Mission statement: To facilitate and build the capacity of member churches that ensures a sustained Christian lifestyle, witness and transformation of the Niger- ian society. Member churches: Christ Church, Beachland Estate Church of Christ in Nigeria
Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Lutheran Church of Christ In Nigeria
Qua Iboe Church of Nigeria Salvation Army
The First African Church Mission Member organizations: Christian Education Advisory Council International Bible Reading Association Student Christian Movement of Nigeria The Boys’ Brigade Nigeria Young Men’s Christian Association of Nigeria Young Women’s Christian Association of Nigeria Africa
Christian Association of Nigeria Founded in 1976. Objectives: a) To serve as a basis for response to the unity of the church, especially as contained in our Lord’s pastoral prayer “That all may be one” (John 17:21). b) To promote understanding, peace, and unity among the various peoples and strata of society in Nigeria, through the propagation of the gospel. c) To act as a liaison committee, by means of which its member churches can consult together and when necessary, make common statements and take common actions for the common good. d) To act as a watch dog of the spiritual and moral welfare of the nation. Member churches and church bodies: Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Christian Brethren / Evangelical Churches of West Africa Fellowship Christian Council of Nigeria Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria Organization of African Instituted Churches Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Church Family: Anglican Membership: 17,500,000 Ecclesiastical Provinces: 10 Dioceses: 91 Parishes: 5,000 Archbishops: 10 Bishops: 91 Priests & Deacons: 5,100 Member of: WCC (1980) – AACC – CCN – CAN – ACC – CAPA Website: www.anglican-nig.org Nigeria’s first link with the Church Missionary Society was through a slave boy Ajayi, who was baptized in 1852 and later became the first African bishop in Sub-Saharan Africa. The first CMS missionary entered Nigeria through Badagry in 1842. A stronger missionary team arrived in 1845. The work of evangelization progressed so well that the Yoruba Mission was founded in 1852. The Niger Mission started its work at Onitsha in 1857. By 1935, there were five dioceses in West Africa. Two of them were in Nigeria: the Diocese of Lagos (1919) and the Diocese on the Niger (1920). These two, together with the other three dioceses: Sierra Leone (1852), Accra (1909) and Gambia (1935) formed the Province of West Africa (1951). By 1977 there were 21 dioceses in the province of West Africa, 16 of which were from Nigeria. In 1979 the province of Nigeria was inaugurated. Since then, the Church of Nigeria has had a rapid growth. In 2000, under the leadership of Archbishop Akinola, primate of the Church of Nigeria, a new vision for the church has evolved. The vision statement in summary is that: “The Church of Nigeria shall be Bible-based, spiritually dynamic, united; disciplined; self-sup-porting; committed to pragmatic evangelism, social welfare and a church that epitomizes the genuine love of Christ”. The machinery for achieving the set goals and establishing a caring church has been put in place with committees and departments coordinating the achievement of set goals. The Church of Nigeria has since continued to grow in leaps and bounds. Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN) Church Family: Free Church Membership: 160,000 Districts: 44 Congregations: 403 Preaching stations: 611 Pastors: 450 Member of: WCC (1985) – CCN – CAN The Church of the Brethren in Nigeria has its origins in the work of missionaries sent by the Church of the Brethren in the USA which started in 1923. In 1955 the first Nigerian pastor of the church was ordained, and in the same year the first Nigerian chairman of the synod was elected. The Basel Mission started in 1959 in Nigeria and has been in fellowship with the Church of the Brethren since 1963. In 1972, the Church of the Brethren, USA, recognized the autonomy of the church (at that time called the Church of Christ in the Sudan, Eastern District), and in 1976 the name was changed to Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, or Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN). Each district of the EYN has a full time district secretary. The church has eight Bible colleges which train pastors for the ordained ministry. Bible schools at district level provide a certificate for Christian ministry. There is a theological education by extension programme with some 600 students. The church runs also 50 nursery and 17 primary schools. Activities include church choirs, youth work, Sunday school, boys and girls brigades, and a spiritual movement: “new life for all”. Among the current problems and opportunities of the EYN are secularization and urbanization, which make it necessary for the church to improve the training of pastors and formation of the laity. Integrated community-based development calls for the training of leadership in the areas of agriculture and health. Other concerns are evangelism is rural areas and among Muslims, the development of new Bible schools, and the need for spiritual, religious and moral education. Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide Church Family: African Instituted Membership: 3,600,000 Parishes: 1500 Dioceses: 98 Pastors: 2000 Member of: WCC (1975) – AACC – CCN – CAN – OAIC Website: www.aladura.de The Yoruba word “Aladura” means “Prayer Fellowship” or “The Praying People”. The members of the Aladura churches believe in the the power of praying and fasting (Yoruba is a major language of the south-western region of Nigeria). The founder of the Church of the Lord (Aladura), the late prophet Dr Josiah Olunowo Oshitelu, received his calling in 1925 and the independent church was officially established in 1930, in Ogere. Prophet Oshitelu preached the gospel of Africa
repentance and regeneration from town to town. Right from the beginning he started training Christians for active ministry. In 1937 he established through divine revelation the Holy Mount Tabieorar (pronounced Taborah) Festival, which since then is celebrated every year on 22 August and attracts thousands of believers. Despite opposition from other Christian churches and resistance from traditional African religions, the church grew steadily. In 1947, after spiritual inquiry, Prophet Oshitelu sent two apostles to Sierra Leone and Liberia respectively to bring the good news to the west coast of Africa. Today the church is spread over the whole of West Africa, in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The church also has parishes in Europe and the United States of America. Many politicians and public servants are today members of the church. The Church of the Lord (Aladura) is one of the first three Pentecostal churches in Nigeria, which have brought considerable revival among African Christians. It has introduced a good deal of African culture and many African customs – singing, drumming, clapping and dancing – into its liturgy and church life. This is now becoming a common phenomenon among many churches on the African continent. The church is of the opinion that these customs and traditions of the Africans, or of any other peoples of the world, are to serve as beautiful complements to the Christian faith and belief, and are not opposed to it. The church subjects itself to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is engaged in evangelical ministry and has an ecumenical outlook – it accepts all who believe and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, as brothers and sisters. The church is also biblical in pattern and Pentecostal in power. Its major concerns in the 21st century are to train more efficient church workers, and to expand its social contributions to the society at large. The church’s seminary – Aladura Theological Institute – has now been affiliated with the Lagos State University (LASU), and offers graduate and post-graduate degree courses in theology and Christian education. Administratively and spiritually, the Church of the Lord (Aladura) as a worldwide organization has its headquarters in Ogere Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. The primate is head of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide.
Church Family: Methodist Membership: 2,000,000 Congregations: 2,000 Circuits: 400 Archbishops/Bishops: 47 Ministers/Pastoral staff: 2000 Member of: WCC (1963) – AACC – CCN – CAN – WMC Periodical: Methodist News (quarterly, in English) Christianity was established in Nigeria with the arrival in 1842 of a Wesleyan Methodist Church missionary. He had come in response to the request for missionaries by the ex-slaves who returned to Nigeria from Sierra Leone. From the mission stations established in Badagry and Abeokuta, the Methodist church spread to various parts of the country west of the River Niger and part of the north. In 1893 missionaries of the Primitive Methodist Church arrived from Fernando Po, an island off the southern coast of Nigeria. From there the Methodist Church spread to other parts of the country, east of the River Niger and also to parts of the north. The church west of the River Niger and part of the north was known as the Western Nigeria District and east of the Niger and another part of the north as the Eastern Nigeria District. Both existed independently of each other until 1962 when they constituted the Conference of Methodist Church Nigeria. The conference is composed of seven districts. The church has continued to spread into new areas and has established a department for outreach/evan-gelism and appointed a director of evangelism. An episcopal system adopted in 1976 was not fully accepted by all sections of the church until the two sides came together and resolved to end the disagreement. A new constitution was ratified in 1990. The system is still episcopal but the points which caused discontent were amended to be acceptable to both sides. The Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN) has been at the forefront of spiritual and social transformation, by spreading spiritual holiness and investing in medical-health services and social-economic welfare of the people. The church has established various institutions like the leprosy centre, three mentally ill-destitute centres, and an orphanage centre, for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. These centres reach out to the rejected and less privileged members of society. They also ensure reintegration of those previously treated as outcast and subjected to various societal abuses. In the area of health MCN has established the Wesley Guild Hospital and several Methodist hospitals spread over the country which provide good healthcare services in their environments. In addition to all other services MCN has from the beginning placed a very strong emphasis on the need for education. Throughout the country the church has established numerous schools, from kindergarten through primary to senior secondary schools and theological institutions which have produced men and women who have contributed and are still contributing very significantly to all spheres of human endeavour. The decision has now been taken to establish the Wesley University of Science and Technology (WUSTO) in Ondo, south-western area of Nigeria, with satellite campuses in the six geo-political zones of the country. The Methodist Church Nigeria is headed by the prelate, who presides over the conference, the overall governing body of the church. This conference meets every two years to deliberate and take decisions on all issues affecting the life of the church. The conference area is divided into eight archdioceses. Each archdiocese is composed of not less than four dioceses over which an archbishop presides at the archdiocesan council meetings. There are 44 dioceses, each made up of a number of circuits and headed by a bishop who presides over the annual synod. The constitution of the church provides for lay participation in the leadership of the church from the local church through to conference level. Nigerian Baptist Convention Church Family: Baptist Membership: 3,000,000 Conferences : 24 Local churches: 8,500 Pastors: 4,000 Member of: WCC (1971) – AACC – CCN – CAN – BWA – AABF The Nigerian Baptist Convention grew out of the work of the Southern Baptist Convention (USA) in Nigeria which began in 1850. The formal organization started with the creation of the Yoruba Baptist Association in 1914, which later changed to become the Nigerian Baptist Convention when the missionary enterprise spread beyond the south-western region to other parts of Nigeria. The Convention accepts the Bible as authority for faith and practice, confesses the deity and lordship of Jesus Christ, and believes in salvation only by grace, through faith. Africa It practises believers’ baptism, church membership of believers and the priesthood of all believers. The local community of believers is autonomous and church government is congregational. The Convention seeks to fulfil the great commission through mission and evangelism. It is in favour of religious freedom, the separation of church and state, and voluntary cooperation between churches. The Nigerian Baptist Convention is involved in spreading the faith and planting churches in Nigeria and beyond, in Africa, Europe and the United States of America. Theological education, liberal arts education and leadership development are part of the ongoing activities. The Convention has established a new university called Bowen University. It is also active in the campaign against the HIV/AIDS scourge, called Baptist Aids Awareness Prevention Programme, as well as in the poverty alleviation education programme. Presbyterian Church of Nigeria Church Family: Reformed Membership: 500,000 Synods: 9 Presbyteries: 52 Parishes: 520 Pastors: 600 Member of: WCC (1961) – AACC – CCN – WARC – ARCA Periodicals: The Presbyterian Today Website: www.pcn-ng.org Presbyterian witness in Nigeria began in 1846 through the initiative of freed slaves from Jamaica, Scottish missionaries and the kings of Calabar. The church initially operated as a presbytery of Biafra, with its constitution in 1858, then as a synod of Biafra with its constitution of 1921, and following that as the Presbyterian Church of Biafra with the constitution of 1945. In 1952 the name was changed to Presbyterian Church of Eastern Nigeria, and with Nigerian independence in 1960, it became the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. It now runs a four-court system of session, presbytery, synod and general assembly. The parishes are comprised of one to nine congregations, depending on their size. The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria is part of the world-wide tradition of Reformed churches, and so believes in the gospel of God’s sovereign grace in Christ over all realms of life. The PCN has adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith and other confessions of the Reformed tradition as part of its doctrinal standards, subordinate only to the scriptures. The church is open to the ministry of women. The first woman minister was ordained in 1982. Today there are well over 50 women ministers serving the church. The church is currently engaged in mission work to traditionally non-Presby-terian and non-Christian parts of the country and to Cotonou in the Republic of Benin and Lomé in Togo. This move into mission is coordinated by the national directorate of missions established in 1998. At present the PCN has 15 ordained ministers and eight un-ordained missionaries across Nigeria, apart from those outside the country. The PCN has churches in all the 36 state capitals of the country including Abuja, the federal capital territory. The present concerns of the church include the improved training and re-training of her ministers and members, the establishment of a Presbyterian university, and the movement of the church’s headquarters to Abuja, the federal capital territory. The partner churches of PCN are the Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Protestant Church of the Netherlands. It is also in fraternal relations with other Presbyterian and Reformed churches in Africa. Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria Church Family: Reformed Membership: 250,000 Congregations: 60 Districts: 11 Pastors: 64 Evangelists: 160 Member of : WCC (1998) – CAN – REC – WARC – ARCA The Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria grew out of the missionary work of the Christian Reformed Church in North America through the Sudan United Mission. The church became autonomous in 1973 (self-governing, self-supporting, self-propagating) with the name Ekklesia Kristi A Nigeria. By 1979 the church was formally registered with the federal government of Nigeria. In 1993 the synod resolved that the name be changed to Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria, to truly reflect her national identity, vision, Christian belief, doctrine and Reformed persuasion and tradition. The RCCN accepts the Bible as the authoritative word of God, confesses Jesus Christ as God and Saviour and believes in the sovereignty and grace of the triune God. It puts much emphasis on a holistic proclamation of the gospel and the formation of its members. The RCCN has grouped its activities and programmes under 1) community development ministry (CDM), taking care of community projects, health and literacy; 2) evangelism, discipleship and misson (EDM); 3) Christian education development (CED), which takes care of schools; the Bible school falls also under this programme; and 4) national resources development (NRD) which oversees the mobilization and utilization of resources. Each of the four has a board. The RCCN trains its pastors in the Bible school called Veeastral Bible College and Seminary Lupwe. In addition some of the pastors study at the Theological College of North Nigeria, a Reformed theological seminary. The church operates a three tier system of government namely: local church council, district church council and synod. The synod meets twice a year. The RCCN has its offices in a remote part of the country which makes communication difficult and slow.
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