Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP)
The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian(CCAP) is the largest Protestant denomination in Malawi, where around 70% of the population claim membership of a Christian church. In Malawi, CCAP has some 500 congregations with around 600,000 members.
CCAP's General Assembly Constitution states that “The Mission of the church is the proclamation of the Gospel for the salvation of mankind; the shelter, nurture and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the promotion of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness and well-being of mankind.”
CCAP is a member of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Reformed Ecumenical Council and the World Council of Churches and has partnerships with the Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Presbyterian Church USA, as well as the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI).
History of the CCAP
Presbyterian work in Malawi began when in 1859 David Livingstone reached the area now known as Malawi (formerly Nyasaland). In the 1870s and 1880s the Free Church of Scotland, the Church of Scotland and the Dutch Reformed Churchall began to establish a mission in the areas of Livingstonia, Blantyre and Nkhomarespectively. By around 1900 all three missions were well established and local churches beginning to develop throughout Malawi.
Soon after 1900 the three missions began discussions aimed at uniting to form one church. However it was not until 1924 when Livingstonia and Blantyre Synods joined together to form the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). Two years later in 1926 the Dutch Reformed Church also joined CCAP.
CCAP was however largely in the hands of its mother churches. Gradually mission administrators in Scotland began to see the need for a transfer of power of the church into local hands. This process reached completion in Blantyre in 1959; in Livingstonia in 1960; and a few years later at Nkhoma.
Relations between CCAP and PCI began in the mid-1950s. Rev Bill Jackson, the first missionary from PCI arrived in Malawi in 1958 to work alongside CCAP. By 1964 there were 14 PCI missionaries serving in Malawi.
Over 100 PCI missionaries have gone to serve the people of Malawi and in recent years many more individuals and many teams from PCI congregations have made short mission trips spreading the gospel in both word and action.
The Synods
CCAP has three autonomous Synods in Malawi: Blantyre, Livingstonia and Nkhoma. The Synods of Zambia and Harare complete the membership of CCAP's General Synod (General Assembly). Each Synod runs its daily affairs independently of the others. The General Synod joins the five Synods together, and normally meets once in every four years.
- LIVINGSTONIA SYNOD is in the Northern Region. Synod HQ is in Mzuzu with 'mission stations' at Livingstonia, Ekwendeni and Embangweni.
- NKHOMA SYNOD is in the Central Region. Synod HQ is at Nkhoma Mission, founded by the Dutch Reformed Church (South Africa)
- BLANTYRE SYNOD is in the Southern Region. Synod HQ is at Blantyre Mission with 'mission stations' at Blantyre, Mulanje, Zomba and Domasi
- HARARE SYNOD in Zimbabwe is the result of witness among Malawians living in Zimbabwe.
- ZAMBIA SYNOD in Zambia, formed in 1984, includes Lusaka, the Copperbelt and the Lundazi area.
Evangelism and Christian Training
The three Malawian Synods have programmes of Evangelism and Christian Training, and train ministers at Zomba Theological College (ZTC). The current principal of ZTC is Rev S Mazizwa.
Due to the critical need for ministers, all three Synods have started their own theological courses. Ekwendeni Theological College (ETC), which opened in 2003, trains students from Blantyre and Livingstonia Synods. The Nkhoma Synod has the Josophat Mwale Theological Institute (formerly known a NIFCOT – Nkhoma Institute for Further and Continuing Theological Training) which opened in 1990. The Blantyre Synod’s Parallel Theological College is based at Zomba CCAP campus. Rev Dr Silas Ncozana is the Principal and he is assisted by a number of part-time lecturers. These Colleges provide training in relevant subjects for ministers and lay people.
CCAP is growing rapidly and much of the work in local congregations (including preaching, visiting the sick and funerals) is carried out by elders and lay people with little or no training.
The Synods also have Lay Training Centres (LTC) at Chilema, Chongoni and Ekwendeni, where short courses for elders, deacons, youth leaders and Sunday School teachers are offered. Theological Education by Extension Malawi (TEEM) provides correspondence courses supported by local study groups, aimed at improving the preaching and teaching skills of lay leaders. Those with limited education can study a variety of certificate-level courses, with suitable candidates progressing to diploma-level.
Most rural congregations are unable to financially support a minister whose responsibilities may include several congregations and prayer houses. For the most part salaries of ministers come from central funds. Services are often conducted by church elders.
Education and chaplaincy work amongst students
The education of its children and young people has always been a priority of the Church in Malawi and today thousands receive their primary and secondary education in schools run by the churches.
The Education Departments of the Synods are responsible for all CCAP schools within their bounds. Most are primary schools, but CCAP also has eleven secondary schools and two colleges.
CCAP places a high priority on work among students in secondary schools, colleges and universities. Many students in these institutions come to faith in Jesus Christ through the witness of fellow students and teachers, and through the work of the chaplains.
Healthcare
Around 40% of Malawi’s healthcare needs are being met by the churches, including the CCAP’s five hospitals located at Livingstonia, Ekwendeni, Embangweni, Nkhoma and Mulanje– each being responsible for a network of dispensaries and primary healthcare clinics. CCAP also runs Nurse Training Schools at Ekwendeni, Nkhoma and Mulanje.
Malaria, respiratory diseases and AIDS are the main causes of death in Malawi. HIV/AIDS is a growing problem, and the resulting deaths have left a legacy of up to a million orphans and a reduction in life expectancy to around 35 years. The hospitals have AIDS education programmes and counselling services. All medical staff are exposed daily to the risk of contracting this blood borne viral disease.
Development and Relief
Development and Relief work is a growing ministry in the Synods and is taking place in both urban and rural areas. All three Synods in Malawi have Development and Relief Departments that form part of the Church's ministry to their communities.
Blantyre Synod Development Commission (BSDC) runs the Synod's relief and development work, and seeks to alleviate poverty in both rural and urban areas through:
- Community-based orphan care and support for child-headed families.
- Training in agriculture, rural development and livelihood security in three areas.
- Adult literacy and relief in designated areas.
- Communication and education programme.
- HIV/AIDS education, prevention, care, counselling and testing.
Similar activities are carried on in the Livingstonia Synod through the Rural Development Department, and in the Nkhoma Synod through the Development and Relief Department.Christian Aid and other organisations in the UK, Europe, South Africa and the USA largely fund the relief and development activities of all three Synods.
Wider Co-operation
CCAP is a member of the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) and it supports: The Bible Society of Malawi (BSM); The Christian Literature Association in Malawi (CLAIM); The Student Christian Organisation of Malawi (SCOM) and Scripture Union Malawi (SUM).
SCOM and SUM work in the schools and university colleges and among young people in urban and rural areas.
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