DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70004#0062
60
eminent and parastatal organisations who have been transferred into the area.
The ID value of 33 for the distribution of UCZ congregations in the Zambian
provinces in comparison with the total population distribution shows, on the
one hand, that the UCZ is not as much of a nation-wide church as the Catholic
Church. On the other hand, it is represented in many regions of the country
and does not, therefore, fall into the category of a “tribal church” as is the case
of several smaller churches to be considered later. A strong concentration of
UCZ congregations is to be found in the towns, especially on the Copperbelt.
Apart from immigrants from rural strongholds of the UCZ in northern Zambia,
many members of the new urban elite joined this church around Independence.
The notably high membership on the Copperbelt can also be traced back to
the intensive work of the United Mission there and to the impact of the Min-
dolo Ecumenical Centre in Kitwe which arose from its work. Approximately
45% of UCZ members live in towns. This figure indicates that the UCZ is
more urbanised than the total population.
b. The Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ)
The second largest Protestant church in the country is the result of the mis-
sionary activity of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. The DRCM
worked exclusively in Eastern Province11 and could thus use a single language,
namely Nyanja. In contrast to Nyasaland, early contacts with the Presby-
terians aimed at church union were unsuccessful, mainly because the mother
church in the Orange Free State was more conservative than the church of
South Africa’s Cape Province which supported the mission in Nyasaland. Even
before Independence there were conflicts in the church due to the attitudes of
the South African missionaries towards Africans. The ideology of Apartheid
was applied even to their missionary work, justifying it theologically and refus-
ing social contact with Africans whom they excluded from their homes. Not
surprisingly, there were more major problems in transferring church leadership
to Zambians in this church than in most other missions. Thus conflict arose
over the transfer of mission properties. After Independence the number of
South African missionaries fell from 40 (1964) to four (1974) (VERSTRAELEN-
Gilhuis 1982, 264 - 325).
The RCZ is organised into four presbyteries with 60 congregations. Two pres-
byteries are located in the old mission area of the Eastern Province. Mag-
wero/Tamanda Presbytery includes congregations founded from Magwero, Ta-
manda, Madzimoyo and Kamoto mission stations in the Chewa, Ngoni and
Kunda areas of Lundazi, Chipata and Chadiza Districts whilst Nyanje Pres-
bytery is made up of the congregations founded from Nyanje, Nsadzu, Hof-
meyer, Merwe and Katete. These are mainly located in the Nsenga12-speaking
part of the Eastern Province (Petauke and Katete Districts). Before Inde-
pendence RCZ members were concentrated in Eastern Province, two-thirds of
eminent and parastatal organisations who have been transferred into the area.
The ID value of 33 for the distribution of UCZ congregations in the Zambian
provinces in comparison with the total population distribution shows, on the
one hand, that the UCZ is not as much of a nation-wide church as the Catholic
Church. On the other hand, it is represented in many regions of the country
and does not, therefore, fall into the category of a “tribal church” as is the case
of several smaller churches to be considered later. A strong concentration of
UCZ congregations is to be found in the towns, especially on the Copperbelt.
Apart from immigrants from rural strongholds of the UCZ in northern Zambia,
many members of the new urban elite joined this church around Independence.
The notably high membership on the Copperbelt can also be traced back to
the intensive work of the United Mission there and to the impact of the Min-
dolo Ecumenical Centre in Kitwe which arose from its work. Approximately
45% of UCZ members live in towns. This figure indicates that the UCZ is
more urbanised than the total population.
b. The Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ)
The second largest Protestant church in the country is the result of the mis-
sionary activity of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. The DRCM
worked exclusively in Eastern Province11 and could thus use a single language,
namely Nyanja. In contrast to Nyasaland, early contacts with the Presby-
terians aimed at church union were unsuccessful, mainly because the mother
church in the Orange Free State was more conservative than the church of
South Africa’s Cape Province which supported the mission in Nyasaland. Even
before Independence there were conflicts in the church due to the attitudes of
the South African missionaries towards Africans. The ideology of Apartheid
was applied even to their missionary work, justifying it theologically and refus-
ing social contact with Africans whom they excluded from their homes. Not
surprisingly, there were more major problems in transferring church leadership
to Zambians in this church than in most other missions. Thus conflict arose
over the transfer of mission properties. After Independence the number of
South African missionaries fell from 40 (1964) to four (1974) (VERSTRAELEN-
Gilhuis 1982, 264 - 325).
The RCZ is organised into four presbyteries with 60 congregations. Two pres-
byteries are located in the old mission area of the Eastern Province. Mag-
wero/Tamanda Presbytery includes congregations founded from Magwero, Ta-
manda, Madzimoyo and Kamoto mission stations in the Chewa, Ngoni and
Kunda areas of Lundazi, Chipata and Chadiza Districts whilst Nyanje Pres-
bytery is made up of the congregations founded from Nyanje, Nsadzu, Hof-
meyer, Merwe and Katete. These are mainly located in the Nsenga12-speaking
part of the Eastern Province (Petauke and Katete Districts). Before Inde-
pendence RCZ members were concentrated in Eastern Province, two-thirds of