Presbyterian Community in Congo
| Presbyterian Community in Congo | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Reformed |
| Theology | Calvinist |
| Polity | Presbyterian |
| Associations | World Council of Churches,[1] All Africa Conference of Churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches[1] and Church of Christ in Congo |
| Region | Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Origin | 1891 |
| Branched from | Presbyterian Church in the United States of America |
| Congregations | 926 (2006)[1] |
| Members | 2,500,000 (2006)[1] |
| Ministers | 672 (2006)[1] |
The Community Presbyterian in Congo - in French Communaute presbytérienne au Congo, usually abbreviated as CPC - is a Presbyterian denomination, part of the Church of Christ in Congo (ICC), a union of 64 Protestant denominations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.[2]
Within the ICC, each denomination is given a number by which it is identified, the CPC is identified as the 31st community within the ICC.[3][4]
In 2006, the CPC had approximately 2.5 million members, being the second largest Protestant denomination in the country and the largest reformed and presbyterian denomination.[1]
History
[edit]In 1891, the American Presbyterian Mission in the Congo (of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America) began its work in Kasaï.[5]
The name quickly spread throughout the country, especially in the region of Katanga.
The denomination became known for its social and educational work, as well as its mediation role in interethnic conflicts in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.[6]
The denomination administers the Presbyterian University of Congo.[7]
In the 1970s, splinter groups formed the Presbyterian Community in Eastern Kasai, Presbyterian Community in Western Kasai and Reformed Community of Presbyterians.[8]
By the end of the 1990s, the denomination had about 1,250,000 members, with 964 pastors, in 525 churches.[8][9][2]
In 2006, the denomination reported to the World Council of Churches that it had 2,500,000 members in 926 congregations and 672 pastors.[1]
Doctrine
[edit]The community allows the ordination of women in all its offices. It also subscribes to the Apostles' Creed and the Westminster Confession of Faith.[8]
Inter-church relations
[edit]The CPC is a member of the World Council of Churches,[1] of the All Africa Conference of Churches, of the World Communion of Reformed Churches[10] and the Church of Christ in Congo.
In addition, it has close relationships with the Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa and the Protestant Community of Shaba.[1][8]
Doctrine
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Presbyterian Community in Congo". World Council of Churches. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Statistical Table of Religions in the Congo in 2001". Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Kasai Central: The 31st Presbyterian Community in Congo has a new secretary general amid tensions". Scoop RDC. September 9, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ Pasula N'Kukiter Armand (2010). "The general organization of the Pentecostal communities in Lubumbashi". University of Lubumbashi. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ Kalala Kalala Jeannot (2011). "sanction as a factor in the good performance of the company. The case of the Protestant press of Cassai, from 2007 to 2010". Instituto Superior Pedagógico de Kananga. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ "Kananga: Presbyterian community raises awareness against Coronavirus". Rádio Okapi. July 5, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ "Cassaio central: satisfaction of students at the Presbyterian University of Congo with the rehabilitation of Kamuandu Avenue". ACP Congo. June 13, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Congo Presbyterian Community". Reformed Online. 7 February 2006. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Democratic Republic of the Congo: Religion". Presbyterian Church (USA). April 18, 2013. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- ^ "List of members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches". Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.