African-initiated church
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An African-initiated church (AIC) is a
Nomenclature
A variety of overlapping terms exist for these forms of Christianity: African-initiated churches, African independent churches, African indigenous churches, and African-instituted churches.[a][2] The abbreviation AIC covers them all. The differences in names correspond to the aspect that a researcher wishes to emphasise. For instance, those who wish to point out that AICs exhibit African cultural forms, describe them as indigenous. These terms have largely been imposed upon such groups and may not be the way they would describe themselves.
The term African refers to the fact that these Christian groupings formed in Africa, but AICs differ from one another. Not all African cultural systems are the same. Regional variations occur among West, East, North, Central, and Southern Africans, and the AICs will reflect these. AICs can now be found outside Africa.
Location
African-initiated churches are found across Africa; they are particularly well-documented in southern Africa and West Africa. Pauw suggests that at least 36 per cent of the population of Africa belong to an African-initiated church.[3]
Origins
During the colonial era starting in the 1800s, when European powers took control of most of the African continent, black converts to Christianity were unable fully to reconcile their beliefs with the teachings of their church leaders, and split from their parent churches. The reasons for these splits were usually either:
- Political – an effort to escape white control
- Historical – many of the parent churches, particularly those from a schismand synthesis
- Cultural – the result of trying to accommodate Christian belief within an African world view
Some scholars argue that independent churches or religious movements demonstrate
Classification and taxonomy
There are thousands of African-initiated churches (more than 10,000 in South Africa alone) and each one has its own characteristics. Ecclesiologists, missiologists, sociologists and others have tried to group them according to common characteristics, though disagreements have arisen about which characteristics are most significant, and which taxonomy is most accurate. Though it is possible to distinguish groups of denominations with common features, there is also much overlap, with some denominations sharing the characteristics of two or more groups.
Many AICs share traditions with Christians from other parts of the
Ethiopian churches
Ethiopian churches generally retain the Christian
Zionist churches
The Zionist missionaries were followed by
The black Zionists retained much of the original Zionist tradition. The Zionists split into several different denominations, although the reason for this was more the rapid growth of the movement than divisions. A split in the Zionist movement in the US meant that after 1908 few missionaries came to southern Africa. The movement in southern Africa and its growth has been the result of black leadership and initiative. As time passed some Zionist groups began to mix aspects of traditional African beliefs, such as veneration of the dead, with Christian doctrine. Many Zionists stress faith healing and revelation, and in many congregations the leader is viewed as a prophet.
Messianic churches
Some AICs with strong leadership have been described by some researchers as
Aladura Pentecostal churches
The Aladura Pentecostal churches originated in Nigeria. They rely on the power of prayer and in all effects of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Today such churches include Christ Apostolic Church, Cherubim and Seraphim movement, Celestial Church of Christ and Church of the Lord (Aladura). The first Aladura Movement was started in 1918 at Ijebu Ode, now in Ogun State, Nigeria, by Sophia Odunlami and Joseph Sadare, respectively a school teacher and a goldsmith. They both attended St. Saviour's Anglican Church. They rejected infant baptism and all forms of medicine, whether western or traditional. In consequence, they initiated the "Prayer Band", popularly called Egbe Aladura. Joseph Sadare was compelled to give up his post in the Synod and others were forced to resign their jobs and to withdraw their children from the Anglican School. The Aladura began as a renewal movement in search of true spirituality.
A revival took place during the
The Great Revival in Nigeria started in 1930 where the Leaders of the Cherubim & Seraphim, The Church of the Lord (Aladura) and the Faith Tabernacle played important roles. Adherents believe that these leaders – Joseph Sadare of "Egbe Aladura", David Odubanjo of "Diamond Society", Moses Orimolade of "Cherubim & Seraphim", and Josiah Ositelu of "The Church of the Lord (Aladura)" performed several miracles. The revival started in Ibadan in the South-West of Nigeria and later spread to other parts of the country.
The Revival group went through several name changes until, after 24 years of its formation, it finally adopted the name Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in 1942. Today, CAC has spread worldwide and is the precursor of Aladura Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria. The Church has established several educational establishments at all levels of Nigerian society, including Joseph Ayo Babalola University and a series of primary and secondary schools.
See also
- Apostles of Johane Marange
- Celestial Church of Christ
- Deeper Life Bible Church
- Church of the Lord (Aladura)
- Christ Apostolic Church
- Legio Maria of African Church Mission
- Kimbanguist Church
- Zion Christian Church
- List of Christian denominations
Notes
- ^ Philomena Njeri Mwaura wrote:
These African responses to Christianity have been described variously as African initiatives in Christianity, African Independent, African Indigenous, African Initiated or African Instituted Churches. The term "African Independent" indicates that these churches have originated in Africa and have no foreign financial or ecclesiastical control. "African Initiated Churches" indicates that they were started as a result of African initiative in African countries but they may be affiliated to wider bodies that include non-African members. African indigenous indicates that they have retained an African ethos and that their ideology has a distinctive African flavour. "African Instituted Churches" hints that their establishment and growth have taken place on African soil, under the initiatives of Africans.[1]
References
Footnotes
- ^ Mwaura 2005, p. 161.
- ^ Mwaura 2005, p. 161; Oduro 2008, p. 181.
- ISBN 978-0-367-82382-5.
- ^ Pobee & Ositelu 1998.
- ISBN 978-1-4422-7157-9. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ISBN 978-0-19-804069-9. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ISBN 978-1-136-67799-1. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
Bibliography
- Marcus, Harold G. (1994). A History of Ethiopia. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-08121-5.
- Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2005). "African Instituted Churches in East Africa". Studies in World Christianity. 10 (2): 160–184. ISSN 1354-9901.
- Oduro, Thomas (2008). "Water Baptism in African Independent Churches: The Paradigm of Christ Holy Church International". In Best, Thomas F. (ed.). Baptism Today: Understanding, Practice, Ecumenical Implications. World Council of Churches Faith and Order Paper. Vol. 207. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press. pp. 181–191. ISBN 978-0-8146-6221-2.
- ISBN 978-2-8254-1277-0.
Further reading
- ISBN 978-1-86888-143-7.
- Barrett, David B. (1968). Schism and Renewal in Africa: An Analysis of Six Thousand Contemporary Religious Movements. Nairobi: Oxford University Press. OCLC 780456736.
- Byaruhanga, Christopher (2015). The History and Theology of the Ecumenical Movement in East Africa. Kampala, Uganda: Fountain Publishers. ISBN 978-9970-25-285-5.
- Daneel, M. L. (1987). Quest for Belonging: Introduction to a Study of African Independent Churches. Gweru, Zimbabwe: Mambo Press. ISBN 978-0-86922-426-7.
- Hayes, Stephen (2003). "Issues of 'Catholic' Ecclesiology in Ethiopian-Type AICs". In Cuthbertson, Greg; Pretorius, Hennie; ISBN 978-1-86888-193-2.
- Öhlmann, Philipp; Frost, Marie-Luise; Gräb, Wilhelm (2016). "African Initiated Churches' Potential as Development Actors". HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies. 72 (4). ISSN 2072-8050.
- Olowe, Abi (2007). Great Revivals, Great Revivalist: Joseph Ayo Babalola. Omega Publishers.
- Oosthuizen, G. C. (1968). Post-Christianity in Africa: A Theological and Anthropological Study. London: C. Hurst and Co. OCLC 1017765202.
- ——— (1996). "African Independent/Indigenous Churches in the Social Environment: An Empirical Analysis". Africa Insight. 26 (4): 308–324. ISSN 0256-2804.
- Ositelu, Rufus Okikiola Olubiyi (2002). African Instituted Churches: Diversities, Growth, Gifts, Spirituality and Ecumenical Understanding of African Initiated Churches. Münster, Germany: LIT Verlag. ISBN 978-3-8258-6087-5.
- ——— (2009). The Journey So Far: Visionary and Result-Oriented Leadership. Ogere, Nigeria: TCLAW Publishers. ISBN 978-978-900-478-2.
- Pauw, C. M. (1995). "African Independent Churches as a 'People's Response' to the Christian Message". Journal for the Study of Religion. 8 (1): 3–25. JSTOR 24764145.
- Sundkler, Bengt G. M. (1961). Bantu Prophets in South Africa. London: International African Institute.
- Venter, Dawid, ed. (2004). Engaging Modernity: Methods and Cases for Studying African Independent Churches in South Africa. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-275-96903-5.
- Welbourn, Frederick Burkewood (1961). East African Rebels: A Study of Some Independent Churches. London: SCM Press. OCLC 1140589.