Malawi

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) works in partnership with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian General Assembly and its three Malawi Synods: Blantyre, Nkhoma, and Livingstonia. The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian was established in 1924 through the evangelistic work of Livingstonia Mission of the Free Church of Scotland, Blantyre Mission of the Established Church of Scotland, and the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa (Synod of Cape Town). Today, the Church in Malawi has 3 million members spread across the entire country.

Training pastors to serve their burgeoning congregations is a major emphasis for the church. Congregations consist of prayer houses in multiple geographical locations. In some instances, pastors serve multiple congregations. Lay leaders are trained to take responsibility for preaching and pastoral care of members. Pastor to member ratios are as high as one pastor to 7,000 members. Scholarships for theological students are a major challenge at Bachelors, Masters and PhD levels.

Each Church of Central Africa Presbyterian synod operates with extensive autonomy, conducting holistic ministry through the departments, operating schools, treating children living with AIDS, and providing care for orphans and vulnerable children. The synods are Blantyre, Nkhoma and Livingstonia. Each one has a hospital; Livingstonia has three. Public health work is increasingly recognized as an important emphasis to prevent disease and improve quality of life. Zomba Theological College, established in 1977, is the historical CCAP institution for training theological students, and it continues to serve all three Malawi synods. More recently, CCAP Livingstonia has established the Faculty of Theology at the University of Livingstonia, and Josophat Mwale Faculty of Theology trains students from CCAP Nkhoma.

Additional areas of emphasis include evangelism, ensuring training and support for the synod-wide Women’s Guilds, and addressing challenges in society through Church and Society departments.

The General Assembly of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian was reconstituted in December 2013 after a seven-year suspension. The Office of the General Assembly is especially focused on strengthening the work of the CCAP Synods in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in the areas of Education, Youth, and Church and Society.