The Baptist Convention of Malawi is a congregational church believing in the autonomy of the local church and the priesthood of all believers among others. This can be traced to the Anabaptists in the sixteenth century, whose beliefs have shaped the modern Baptists worldwide. The church does not have a hierarchical structure. Pastors do not exercise authority over members. The church, not a selected few, is the final authority. Each congregation is self-supporting. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.