Free Church in Southern Africa
The Free Church in Southern Africa grew out of the work of the missionaries of the Glasgow Missionary Society (c.1823), and after 1843 came under the care of missionaries of the Free Church of Scotland. Historically, the church has served mainly the Xhosa speaking people in eastern and western Cape region, stretching from Cape Town to Transkei. In 1900 the majority of the Free Church of Scotland joined the Church of Scotland. The minority of the missionaries maintained its relations to the Free Church of Scotland. The church become independent in 1982, but remains in close connection with the Free Church of Scotland.[1]
Dumisani Theological Institute was formed in King William's Town to train pastors.[2]
The church has more than 63 congregations and 4,000 members. The denomination subscribes the Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Larger Catechism and Westminster Shorter Catechism, these are the official standards of the Free Church of Scotland as well.[3]
The Free Church is a member of the International Conference of Reformed Churches.[4]
The Dumisani Theological Institute is the official theological training institute of the denomination. The beliefs of the Institute reflects that it is partnership with the Free Church of Scotland and the Free Church in Southern Africa and the Reformed Churches in South Africa. The Westminster Standards and the Three Forms of Unity are the accepted confessions.[5][6]
A history of the FCSA was written by Bill and Elizabeth Graham under the title The Ochre and the Blue (Edinburgh: Free Church of Scotland Publications, 2009)
References
- ↑ http://www.freechurch.org/international%20missions www.freechurch.org/international missions
- ↑ http://www.dumisani.org
- ↑ http://www.reformiert-online.net www.reformiert-online.net
- ↑ http://icrconline.com/members.html
- ↑ http://www.dumisani.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=59
- ↑ http://www.dumisani.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=57
