Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation aims at recording, evaluating and analysing sermons of the lay preachers in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Nkhoma Synod in Central Malawi. Basically, these preachers have an oral culture. This analysis reveals the inherent ability of the oral lay preachers to communicate effectively using their indigenous knowledge system and modes of communication which are characteristic of an oral culture. Secondly, the analysis also reveals some lack in these sermons in terms of biblical understanding. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to develop a homiletical theory and praxis which will regard the biblical text and the people’s context - Word and world – as serious. Finally, the research proves that, if the strategy of implementing a training process in the congregations for all lay preachers, in order to empower them to use both their traditional modes of communication and an understanding of the Bible, could be realised, the spirituality of the people would improve and Christianity would have a greater impact in the society. To achieve the foregoing, we use Osmer’s practical theological interpretation methodology and the Heidelberg method of sermon analysis. Chapter two provides a general overview and description of the historical context, and cultural worldview of the people. The contextual challenges that affect the Church and the phenomenon of oral lay preacher are also described. In Chapter three, we analyse lay preachers’ sermons using the Heidelberg method of sermon analysis which has a strong Reformed foundation. The rhetorical strategy of using stories, retelling, parables, myths, fables and other strategies are exemplified. The critical evaluation of the context and detailed analysis of the sermons are done as we try to answer the question: “What is going on?” Chapter four uses the findings of the analysis and begins to develop the homiletical theory, theology and praxis of the oral lay preaching context. In so doing we explain why the oral culture understands, arranges and communicates indigenous knowledge in preaching. We also ask why the lay preachers preach the way they do and react to this question: “Why is this going on?” In Chapter five we develop an oral hermeneutics within the lay preaching context of the Malawian Church (CCAP); the art of doing theology in context is demonstrated using several examples of sermons. The Process of Reading and Re-reading of Texts as a means of interpretation is suggested. Furthermore, in this section, we respond to the question, “What ought to be going on?” And finally in chapter six, we make recommendations and suggestions for the implementation of lay leadership development using a model of the indigenous knowledge system found in the context. A strategy of training pastors who in turn will train local preachers is exemplified. Finally, we answer the question, “How may we respond?” The researcher believes that through this study many lay leaders will be trained in the CCAP Nkhoma synod and that there will be transformation in people’s lives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif het ten doel die opname, evaluering en ontleding van preke van die lekepredikers in die Kerk van Sentraal-Afrika Presbyterian Nkhoma Sinode in Sentraal Malawi. Hierdie predikers het basies 'n mondelinge kultuur. Hierdie analise toon die inherente vermoë van die lekepredikers om effektief mondelings te kommunikeer met behulp van hul inheemse kennis stelsels en vorme van kommunikasie wat kenmerkend is van 'n mondelinge kultuur. Tweedens, uit die analise blyk ook 'n paar gebrek in die preke in terme van Bybelse begrip. Daarom is die doel van hierdie verhandeling om 'n homiletiese teorie en praktyk te ontwikkel wat die Bybelse teks en die mense se konteks - Woord en die wêreld - as ernstig beskou. Ten slotte bewys die navorsing dat, indien ‘n strategie vir die implementering van 'n opleidingsproses in die gemeentes vir alle lekepredikers verwesenlik kan word, ten einde hulle te bemagtig om beide hul tradisionele vorme van kommunikasie en 'n begrip van die Bybel, te gebruik, die spiritualiteit van die mense sal verbeter en die Christendom 'n groter impak in die samelewing sou kon uitoefen. Om die voorafgaande te bereik, gebruik ons Osmer se metode van praktiese teologiese interpretasie, asook die Heidelberg metode van preek analise. Hoofstuk twee gee 'n algemene oorsig en beskrywing van die historiese konteks, en kulturele wêreldbeskouing van die mense. Die kontekstuele uitdagings wat die kerk in die oë staar, asook die verskynsel van mondelinge lekepredikers word beskryf. In hoofstuk drie analiseer ons lekepredikers se preke deur middel van die Heidelberg metode van preek-analise wat 'n sterk Gereformeerde basis het. Die retoriese strategie van die gebruik van stories, oorvertellings, gelykenisse, mites, fabels en ander strategieë word onder oë geneem. Die kritiese evaluering van die konteks en gedetailleerde ontleding van die preke word gedoen as ons probeer om die vraag te beantwoord: "Wat gaan aan?" Hoofstuk vier gebruik die bevindinge van die analise en begin om die homiletiese teorie, teologie en praktyk van die mondelinge konteks te ontwikkel. Deur dit te doen verduidelik ons waarom die mondelinge kultuur inheemse kennis verstaan, reël en kommunikeer in die prediking. Ons vra ook waarom die lekepredikers verkondig op die manier waarop hulle wel doen en reageer ons op die vraag: "Hoekom is dit aan die gang?" In hoofstuk vyf ontwikkel ons 'n mondelinge hermeneutiek binne die konteks van die Malawiese Kerk (CCAP), asook die kuns van teologie doen in konteks met behulp van verskeie voorbeelde van preke. Die proses van die lees en weer lees van tekste as 'n middel van die interpretasie word voorgestel. Ons reageer dus hier op die vraag: "Wat behoort aan te gaan?" En uiteindelik in hoofstuk ses, maak ons aanbevelings en voorstelle vir die implementering van leierskaps-ontwikkeling met behulp van 'n model van inheemse kennis stelsels, soos gevind in die konteks. 'n Strategie vir die opleiding van predikante wat op hulle beurt plaaslike predikers sal oplei word voorgestel. Ten slotte beantwoord ons dus die vraag: "Hoe kan ons reageer?" Die navorser hoop dat deur middel van hierdie studie baie leiers opgelei sal word in die CCAP Nkhoma Sinode en dat daar transformasie in mense se lewens sal plaasvind.

Thesis (MTh)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: ABSTRACT This paper presents a proposal of carrying out sustainable relief and development activities from the church perspective. With reference to the Nkhoma Synod Relief and Development Project, the paper suggests that awareness brings about self-reliance; and forms a concrete foundation for any community project. The first chapter gives an introduction to the whole presentation. This includes research problem statement, hypothesis, motivation, and possible value of the study. Chapter 2 looks at meaning of development and what role should the church take in order to empower and improve the life of the local community. Chapter 3 analyses the relief programme initiated by Nkhoma Synod. The chapter looks at some problems that made the projects initiated by the church and government in Malawi not to work. Chapter 4 looks at some steps of how the church of Nkhoma Synod can initiate her programmes in order to be successful. The chapter first looks at the meaning of church and mission, then it goes to look at what do we mean when we talk of self-reliance of the local community. Eventually, chapter suggests how best can the church in Nkhoma Synod approach relief and development programme to bring about self-reliance. The chapter looks at the role of the change agents and the community. The final part that is chapter 5 contains some concluding remarks. The paper concludes with remarks that the people themselves must see that coming together to work in small groups is not only to their own advantage but also leads to increase solidarity and strengthens the people as a group.

Thesis (DTh (Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The purpose of this dissertation is to trace the development of Malawi’s Nkhoma Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) from a mission church in 1962 to a mature church today. In so doing, it asks, “How has Nkhoma Synod developed its self-understanding of being a church?”

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation has as its title: ‘Christ, the Head of the Church’: Authority, Leadership and Organisational Structure within the Nkhoma Synod of the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian. This study affirms the statement that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, noting that this statement of faith entails various assumptions: First, the church has only one Head, that is, Jesus Christ. Secondly, only Jesus Christ must be exalted and have the pre-eminence in the church. Thirdly, this prohibits anyone or any governing assembly to lord it over another one or exercise authority other than the authority from Jesus Christ. Fourthly, Christ is more than the head of the department or the head of any organization in whose absence the church would still be able to function. In line with these points, in this study the thought of Christ being the Head of the church or the confession of the headship of Christ over the church refers to His leadership, highest authority, and position of superiority and sovereignty. There are many references to the concept of the Headship of Christ in the Bible, confessions of faith, catechisms, and church orders. In light hereof, the question is asked whether the affirmation of the Headship of Christ has found sufficient form in the church polity discourse and practice of the CCAP - Nkhoma Synod. The answer to this question requires an ecclesiological study including the critical examination and evaluation of the Church’s Confessions, Catechism, Church Order, Constitution, Newsletter, and Minutes of its official meetings. Given this, the dissertation is structured as follows: Chapter 1: The topic and title are introduced, then the research questions and hypothesis. At the heart of this chapter is the question of the understanding of the Nkhoma Synod of Christ’s rule through office-bearers, whereas it omits in its Church Order that Christ exercises his reign and dominion through his Word and Spirit. In the discourse on the Church’s polity this discrepancy has resulted in a tendency of identifying the power and authority of office-bearers with that of Christ. Consequently, the office-bearers can easily claim to have unchallengeable possession of Christ’s power and authority. As a result the authority of Christ’s direct rule through His Word and Spirit is excluded and transferred to the office-bearers who constitute or represent the highest ecclesiastical authority. Chapter 2: The social-political, economical, religious, and ecclesiastical contexts are described, in which the Nkhoma Synod has found itself. Although church polity and church government are subject to what God has revealed in his Word, which is systematically summarized in the confessions, we conclude that in the Nkhoma Synod church polity and church government are sometimes dictated by the existing social-political, economic, religious, and ecclesiastical milieus. Chapter 3: Definitions of ‘Reformed church polity’ and ‘church government,’ are offered and then the distinctiveness of Reformed church government is described together with some suggestions for present-day Reformed church polity. Chapter 4: This chapter studies the Church policy sources of the Nkhoma Synod, i.e. the Belgic Confessions of Faith, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Canons of Dordt. The question is asked whether the Nkhoma Synod used these documents as sources from which it developed its church polity. Chapter 5: This chapter focuses on the sources for the practice of Church government in the Nkhoma Synod. Special attention will be given to the concept of the headship of Christ and how the Church’s understanding of this notion impacted on its church polity discourse. Chapter 6: Some important church-political developments within the Nkhoma Synod from 1889 to 2007 are discussed, focusing on issues of authority, leadership, and organizational structure. The question is discussed whether and how the concept of the headship of Christ described in the Zolamulira negatively influenced the Church’s practice of church government. Chapter 7 draws conclusions from the rest of the chapters. A call is made for a critical-theological examination and evaluation of the church polity discourse and practice of the Nkhoma Synod in the light of remarks made on the preamble of the Zolamulira, as well as in the light of the ideas of John Calvin, the Reformed Symbols of Unity, and other important sources from the Reformed tradition. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming

In the Central African Presbyterian Church (C.C.A.P.) women are marginalised in its synods. The Nkhoma Synod has taken the strictest measures in marginalising women in the sense that, unlike the other synods, at the time of writing this dissertation, they did not allow women to be deacons, elders or ministers. The dissertation is a quest to find out the root cause of this marginalisation. The main focus has been on finding out to what extent the Pauline writings influenced this marginalisation. Chapter 1 describes the extent of women marginalisation in the C.C.A.P. Synods in Malawi, focusing especially on the Nkhoma Synod. Chapter 2 deals with the unparalleled contribution of women to the success of the Nkhoma Synod’s work. The position of women in Malawi and within the Chewa society is discussed in chapter 3. Chapter 4 deals with various interpretations of 1 Corinthians 11:2–16; 14:34, 35. These are Pauline texts which seem to support the marginalisation of women. Chapter 5 presents the results of the research, while in chapter 6 suggestions are made with regard to the future improvement of the position of women. / New Testament / M.A. (Biblical Studies)

In the Central African Presbyterian Church (C.C.A.P.) women are marginalised in its synods. The Nkhoma Synod has taken the strictest measures in marginalising women in the sense that, unlike the other synods, at the time of writing this dissertation, they did not allow women to be deacons, elders or ministers. The dissertation is a quest to find out the root cause of this marginalisation. The main focus has been on finding out to what extent the Pauline writings influenced this marginalisation. Chapter 1 describes the extent of women marginalisation in the C.C.A.P. Synods in Malawi, focusing especially on the Nkhoma Synod. Chapter 2 deals with the unparalleled contribution of women to the success of the Nkhoma Synod’s work. The position of women in Malawi and within the Chewa society is discussed in chapter 3. Chapter 4 deals with various interpretations of 1 Corinthians 11:2–16; 14:34, 35. These are Pauline texts which seem to support the marginalisation of women. Chapter 5 presents the results of the research, while in chapter 6 suggestions are made with regard to the future improvement of the position of women. / New Testament / M.A. (Biblical Studies)