Understanding the History of the Blantyre Synod of Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) in Malawi

This study is to understand the origin and developments that led to the establishment of the CCAP Blantyre Synod in Malawi from early years in 1875s to the present years in 2020s. History can be a certain type of memory that evokes liberative power, not mere knowledge of the past, but one that is of commitment. Mission history, with reference to the study of Christianity in Africa requires this new approach to mission historiography, “a more honest and more critical review of the theoretical and socio-theological assumptions out of which the African church as it is today, in its fragmented state, has been formed” (Maluleke1989:103).The aim of the study will be to investigate, scrutinize and chronologically analyse the history of the Blantyre Synod of the CCAP in Malawi from the early years of its establishment to the present state in the reformed church perspective.

Keywords: Blantyre Mission, Synod, Presbyterian, hierarchical, reformed church polity.