Debbie Chase
Synod of Livingstonia, CCAP
PO Box 112
Mzuzu, Malawi
Email: Debbie Chase

Debbie has been under appointment as a mission co-worker since 1999. She serves in Ekwendeni, Malawi, as an administrator and lecturer at the University of Livingstonia, College of Theology, a seminary of the Synod of Livingstonia, Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP).

The Synod of Livingstonia serves the northern region of Malawi through its 130 congregations, 500 primary schools, five secondary schools, and three hospitals, and through its development and relief work and evangelism programs. The Synod has only 105 ministers to serve the needs of 610,000 members and their communities. That’s a ratio of church members to ministers of 5,800 to 1. And the need for more ministers is even greater than the numbers may suggest, since new churches are forming to meet the rapid growth in membership. The need for more ministers of the Word and Sacrament is crucial.

In April, 2003, the Synod of Livingstonia established the College of Theology to train ministers to meet this great need. Debbie was involved in the planning and inauguration of the college and now serves as dean of academic affairs and lecturer of Old Testament, systematic theology, and pastoral psychology. She also preaches and administers the sacraments at various churches of the Synod of Livingstonia.

Debbie’s work with the Synod is born of the Mutual Ministry Covenant of Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery (of which Debbie is a minister member) with the Synod of Livingstonia. In 1998 the Synod of Livingstonia invited Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery to send a clergywoman to help open doors for the ordination of women in Malawi to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament. In September 1999 Debbie responded to this call.

Letters from
Debbie Chase

• May 2008
• December 2007
• August 2007
• June 2007
• November 2006
• August 2006
• May 2006
• February 2005
• November 2004
• August 2004
• February 2004
• August 2003
• February 2003
• October 2002
• February 2002
• December 2001
• July 2001
• December 2000
• April 2000
• March 2000
• November 1999
• October 1999

From September 1999 to March 2003 Debbie served the Synod of Livingstonia as clergy advisor to the Synod on women’s issues. In this capacity she was associate pastor of the Zolozolo CCAP congregation in Mzuzu and on staff at the Synod’s Lay Training Center in Ekwendeni. Her work focused on teaching lay leaders and pastors, which led to her serving in her present position as dean and lecturer at University of Livingstonia, College of Theology.

Malawi is acclaimed at be the “warm heart of Africa.” Its people are warm and gracious and, despite great adversity, they are filled with the spirit of the living God. Malawi has 11 million people. One million of them are orphaned children due to HIV/AIDS and malaria. The church plays a vital role in giving people reason to hope under such formidable circumstances.

Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Debbie graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She worked for eight years as a counselor and social worker before attending Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She later transferred to Princeton Theological Seminary, from which she received a master of divinity degree.

Debbie has served churches in Michigan and Oklahoma and has been involved with her presbytery’s partnership with the Synod of Livingstonia since its inception.

Birthday: February 26