Christianity in Botswana
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More than 70% of the population of
The number of
The churches normally meet occasionally to worship together under the name Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana.[citation needed] This body is like an organization of churches and it is the voice of the church.
History
One of the first missionaries to bring the gospel to Botswana was David Livingstone.
Major denominations
According to the country’s 2011 census, 79% of the population are members of Christian groups,
A survey identified the distribution among these groups as 66% Protestant, 7% Roman Catholics and 1% Other.
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church in Botswana is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in the Vatican City. Catholics represent about 5–6% of the total population.[3]
Initially Catholic missionaries were not allowed in Botswana by native tribes at the urging of Protestant missionaries who arrived first.
The church in Botswana is organised into the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The first branch was organised in 1991 with fewer than 100 members. As of 2022, there were 4,031 members in 16 congregations in Botswana.[5]
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana was founded by Swiss missionaries led by the Rev. Henri Gronin begun working in 1863 among the tribe
The denomination has 6,000 members and 13 parishes with 50 house fellowships in 2 presbyteries and one Synod. The 14 churches are in :
The church subscribe the Reformed confessions:
- Apostles Creed
- Nicene Creed
- Canons of Dort
- Heidelberg Catechism.[6]
The church is member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.[8] It is also a member of the Botswana Council of Churches.
Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana is an
Youth programs
While children were treated as small adults during the colonial era, the 1800s brought a wave of Sunday school programs (Protestants) and parochial schools (Catholics) specifically for that young population. By the late 1800s, over half of Botswana's young members were attending elementary schools run by local parishes.[citation needed]
Beliefs and attitudes
- 19 percent of Botswana Christians: believe in salvation through Jesus Christ, attend church regularly, study the Bible, invest in personal faith development through a church community, accept church leadership positions, and believe they are obligated to evangelize to others.
- 20 percent are Professing Christians. These persons are also committed to "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" with an emphasis on personal spirituality over organized religion.
- 24 percent are Roman Catholic. They are regular churchgoers, exhibit a high level of spiritual activity, and recognize the authority of the church.[citation needed]
- 16 percent are Private Christians. They own a Bible, but rarely read it. Only about one-third attend church. They believe in God and good works, but not necessarily within a church context. This was the largest and youngest segment. Almost none are church leaders.
- 21 percent are Cultural Christians. They identify as Christians, yet they do not view Jesus as essential to salvation, exhibiting minimal religious behaviors and attitudes favoring a universality theology.[citation needed]
Conversion
A study from 2015 estimated that about 100
Education
The majority of Botswana Christians attend co-educational public schools, mostly government operated. The Christian schools were built by churches such as Moeding College for the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, and St. Joseph's College (established by the Roman Catholic Church).[11] Although the schools are Christian schools, Botswana's government participates in their development, related infrastructure, and hiring practices (particularly in hiring teachers).
Media
Every week day public channel
See also
- Religion in Botswana
- Islam in Botswana
References
- ^ "St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Gaborone, Botswana". World Orthodox Directory. Archived from the original on 2023-08-23. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
- ^ US State Dept 2022 report
- ^ a b c d Zenit Editorial Staff (2011-05-30). "Botswana's Bishop Valentine and His Big Heart". Zenit News Agency. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
- ^ CNA Editorial Staff (2006-06-28). "Catholic Church helps refugees with AIDS in Botswana". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
- ^ "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Botswana", Newsroom, LDS Church
- ^ a b Johannes a Lasco Library. "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions". Reformiert-online.net. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
- ^ "Dutch Reformed Church In Botswana (Synod Office) (Mochudi, Botswana)". Localbotswana.com. 2013-08-06. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
- ^ "World Communion of Reformed Churches - WCRC | Bringing together 80 million Reformed Christians worldwide". Wcrc.ch. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
- ^ "Lutheran World". Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
- ^ "Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background: A Global Census". www.academia.edu. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^ "ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGE". LocalBotswana. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
Further reading
- Balmer, Randall. The Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism (2002) excerpt and text search
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