After independence the churches, the CCAP included, tended to work closely with the Malawi Congress Party and the Malawi government. There were, however, a few outspoken leaders who suffered for their witness. In April 1992, the Southern Africa Alliance of Reformed Churches issued a statement expressing solidarity with a Lenten Letter the RCath Bishops had published a month before, criticizing human rights violations in Malawi. In June 1992, a joint delegation of the WARC and the CCAP presented a memorandum to the president of Malawi calling for the establishment of a “broadly based commission” which would make specific proposals for the structural reform of the political system in Malawi, review the judicial system, and look into the distribution of income and wealth. These proposals led to a referendum being held in 1993. As a result of the 1994 elections, the Malawi Congress Party regime came to an end and was replaced by a democratically elected government. The General Synod is a loosely knit federal structure which comprises three churches or church traditions. There are, for instance, three catechisms, three Sunday school curriculums, and three liturgies. The synods enjoy considerable autonomy. One of the few areas of competence of the General Synod is theological training, which is currently done at Zomba Theological College and University. Today the CCAP is faced with the question of how the three synods can advance to greater unity. The viability of the present union with the synods in Zimbabwe and Zambia needs to reexamined.
|
