Presbyterian Church in Uganda
Presbyterian Church in Uganda | |
---|---|
Classification | Protestant |
Theology | Reformed Calvinist |
Polity | Presbyterian |
Leader | James Yiga and Kefa Sempangi |
Associations | World Reformed Fellowship |
Region | Uganda |
Founder | Kefa Sempangi |
Origin | 1979 Kampala, Uganda |
Separations | Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda |
Congregations | 100-200[1] |
Members | Unknown |
Hospitals | 1 |
Primary schools | 3 |
Presbyterian Church in Uganda is a conservative Reformed Calvinistic denomination in Uganda with almost 100 churches in 5 presbyteries in the late 2000s.[2]
Origin[]
The Presbyterian Church in Uganda was founded in the 1970s by the Ugandan pastor Keefa Sempangi,[3] who had pastored that time a large Pentecostal church in Kampala, the Redeemed Church, he was a member of the Parliament in that time. In 1973 Kefa Sempangi had to emigrate, because of the persecution of Idi Amin, he ended in the Netherlands, where he had been introduced the Reformed faith.[4] Keefa had to emigrate from Uganda because persecution and fled to the Netherlands where he was introduced the Reformed faith and later he was invited to study in the United States, become a student of the Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5][6]
He returned home in 1979 with help of American missionaries began to start the Presbyterian church. The first church was organised in that year in Kampala, Uganda, this was the . The church organised Westminster Theological Seminary in Uganda to train and equip national pastors. A split occurred in the church in 1989 when the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda was formed.[7][8]
The PCU founding congregations across Uganda, the number of churches and members are growing rapidly.[9] The church is a member of the World Reformed Fellowship.[10][11] there are mission projects in Central Uganda, and all over the country.[12]
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church(USA) begun work in Mbale, Uganda since 1995, and later the mission moved to Karamoja. The Orthodox Presbyterian Churches in Mbele holds provisional membership in the PCU, but they are full incorporated as Mbale Presbytery.[13][14][15]
Structure[]
The church has Presbyterian government. In the local level there is the congregation with teaching elders, ruling elders and deacons, the presbytery is the middle governing body, currently there are Presbytery, Kapchorwa presbytery, Gulu, Kampala, Central, Mbale presbyteries and Rwenzori and Eastern presbyteries are in dialogue to integrate into the Presbyterian Church in Uganda.[16]
The General Assembly is the highest level of government. The church maintains its headquarters in Kampala, Uganda.
Theology[]
The Presbyterian Church in Uganda is theologically Reformed church, that subscribes the historic creeds:
- Apostles Creed
- Westminster Confession of Faith
- Westminster Shorter Catechism
- Westminster Larger Catechism[17]
Reformed theology is
- Universal
- Evangelical
- God is Sovereign
God is initiates the Covenant of Grace
Five Points of Calvinism[]
Solas of the Reformation[]
- Sola Scriptura
- Sola Fide
- Soli Deo Gloria
- Sola Gratia
- Solus Christus[19]
Education and seminary[]
Westminster Theological seminary and College begun in 1996 in the worship center of First Presbyterian Church in Kampala. First students were Ugandan. Classes begun in Zana in 1998.[20] Student number grew rapidly. Students from Sudan begun to come in 1999. New facilities were built A seminary was founded in 2007.[21] The Seminary is the official theological institution of the Presbyterian Church in Uganda. It is located now in Kampala, Uganda.[22]
Relationship with other Reformed churches[]
The Presbyterian Church in Uganda has fraternal relations with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) through the Reformed Mission Utrecht.[23][24] and the Presbyterian Church in America through the Mission to the World.[25]
References[]
- ^ "www.apostoladocmf.org/apostolado/156/*+UGANDA+(BANGALORE+INDIA)". Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Mukono residents get free eye treatment". NewVision. 18 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
- ^ "Kefa Sempangi".
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions".
- ^ Benedetto, Robert; McKim, Donald K. (2009-10-06). Historical Dictionary of the Reformed Churches. ISBN 9780810870239.
- ^ http://www.deverrenaasten.nl/projects/view/25/oeganda-pcu-algemene-kosten-nld-5bbr
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ www.reformiert-online.net
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.opc.org/whatis.html/Foreign Missions
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.wtcwtsuganda.org/index.php/our-history
- ^ www.wtcwtsuganda.org
- ^ http://www.wtcwtsuganda.org/index.php/our-church
- ^ http://www.deverrenaasten.nl/projecten
- ^ http://www.bbk.gkv.nl/oeganda/718/
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links[]
- Presbyterian denominations in Africa
- Presbyterianism in Uganda
- Members of the World Reformed Fellowship