Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa

Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
NEC-TAMEN CONSUMEBATUR
Classification	Protestant
Polity	Presbyterian
Associations	All Africa Conference of Churches; World Alliance of Reformed Churches; World Council of Churches; South African Council of Churches
Geographical areas	South Africa
Origin	1999
Merge of	Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa & Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa
Congregations	473

The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) was formed and constituted in 1999 as the outcome of the union between the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (RPCSA) and the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (PCSA). These two churches shared the same origin dating back to the 19th century when Britain took over the Cape Colony. Their distinctive characters were that the Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa was constituted among soldiers and settlers who arrived in the Cape in 1820, spreading North into Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Reformed Presbyterian Church on the other hand was a product of Scottish missions intended for the indigenous Africans, which started at Lovedale Mission in Alice. It became autonomous in 1923.

The motto Nec tamen consumebatur is adapted from the Latin translation of Exodus 3:2 "...The Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet it was not consumed"

In 2004 the UPCSA celebrated its fifth anniversary after having spent much of that time in forging structures of union.

Presbyteries/Synods

The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa is divided into Presbyteries and Synods (districts):

• Amatola
• Central Cape
• Drakensberg
• eGoli
• Thekwini
• Free State
• Highveld
• Lekoa
• Limpopo
• Thukela
• East Griqualand - JH Soga Synod
• Mthatha - JH Soga Synod
• Transkei - JH Soga Synod
• Tshwane
• Western Cape
• Copperbelt - Zambia Synod
• Munali - Zambia Synod
• M'chinga - Zambia Synod
• Zimbabwe

Associations/ministry groups

The Basis of Union is a contract that was signed in September 1999 entered into between the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (PCSA) and the Reformed Presbyterian Church in South Africa (RPCSA). Under this contract, the two churches would join and become one: the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA). Article 13 of the basis of union states that, as a condition of the union, both churches are to bring 4 associations each and the 8 associations would unite to form only 4 associations (one women's association, one men's association, one girl's association and one youth association).

• The GCA (Girls' Christian Association) of RPCSA and JB (after Janet Burnside the wife of Rev. Tiyo Soga) of PCSA united to form IYZA (Inhlangano Yezintombi ZamaRhabe Amanyanayo)
• The two women's associations united to form UPWF (Uniting Presbyterian Women's Fellowship)
• The PMA (Presbyterian Men's Association) of PCSA and the YMG (Young Men's Guild) of RPCSA united to form MCG (Men's Christian Guild)
• The two youth associations united to form UPCSA YF (Youth Fellowship).

See also

• Christianity
• Presbyterianism
• Reformed churches
• Presbyterian polity
• World Communion of Reformed Churches
• World Alliance of Reformed Churches

Confession of Faith

• Nicene Creed
• Apostles Creed

References

• De Gruchy, J.W. (2005). The Church Struggle in South Africa. Frortress Press
• Fahlbusch E. et al. (2008). The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5.

External links

• Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa