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Revision as of 05:02, 8 September 2022
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2013) |
| Kimbanguism | |
|---|---|
| French: Kimbanguisme | |
 Simon Kimbangu | |
| Type | New christian religious movement |
| Classification | African initiated church |
| Father | Simon Kimbangu Kiangani |
| Region | Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Language | French |
| Headquarters | Nkamba Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Founder | Simon Kimbangu |
| Origin | April 1921 |
| Members | 6 million |
| Other name(s) | Church of Jesus Christ on Earth by His special envoy Simon Kimbangu |
Kimbanguism (French: Kimbanguisme) is a Christian new religious movement professed by the Church of Jesus Christ on Earth by His special envoy Simon Kimbangu (French: Église de Jésus Christ sur la Terre par son envoyé spécial Simon Kimbangu) founded by Simon Kimbangu in the Belgian Congo (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1921. It is considered a sectarian branch of Christianity. A large, independent African-initiated church, it has an estimated 6 million believers and has its headquarters in Nkamba, Kongo Central. The denomination became a member of the World Council of Churches, the All Africa Conference of Churches, and the Organization of African Instituted Churches. In June 2021 the World Council of Churches withdrew membership on doctrinal grounds.[1]
History
In April 1921, Kimbangu, a Baptist mission catechist, inaugurated a mass movement through his supposed miraculous healings and biblical teaching. His teachings attracted working people, who left jobs to hear him speak about liberation. This threatened the colonial labor structure and thus the Belgian regime.[2] The Belgian authorities treated the faith with suspicion and imprisoned Simon Kimbangu until his death in 1951. The church was formally recognised by the Belgian colonial authorities in 1959.
Some smaller, more loosely organised groups in Central Africa regard Kimbangu as God's prophet.
Life and works of Kimbangu
According to the church, [citation needed] Simon Kimbangu is said to have come down to earth from Mount Zion as a Congolese infant. His father had been a traditional religious leader, but both parents died and Kimbangu was orphaned and put in the care of his maternal aunt. She took him to Baptist missionary school where he studied for many years. He grew up to be a Baptist.[citation needed]
Beliefs and practices
The church eschews politics and embraces Puritan ethics, rejecting the use of violence, polygamy, magic and witchcraft, alcohol, tobacco, and dancing. Its worship is Baptist in form, though the Eucharist was not introduced until 1971.
The three key dates in the Kimbanguist calendar are 6 April (marking the date of the start of the ministry of healing), 25 May (marking Christmas,[3] falling on the birthday of Father Dialungana), and 12 October (Kimbangu's death anniversary). The church is largely non-sacramental, with large services that are well-organised.
The church also believes that Father Simon Kimbangu is the Holy Spirit,[citation needed] in accordance with John 14:15–17. Like many Christian groups, the Kimbanguists begin and end prayers with the Trinitarian formula.
Alongside Simon Kimbangu, the Trinity are Father Kisolokele (first son of Kimbangu) as God the Father, Father Salomon Diangani Dialungana (the reincarnated Jesus and second son of Kimbangu), Father Diangienda Kuntima (last son, reincarnation of Kimbangu and second human form of the Holy Spirit), and Father Simon Kimbangu Kiangani (grandson of Kimbangu, third human form of the Holy Spirit, and current spiritual leader of the Church since 2001).[citation needed]
The doctrinal status given by this church to Simon Kimbangu has led to international controversy as contrary to the doctrine of the Trinity and therefore heretical. In 2021 the church’s membership of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was discontinued by the Central Committee of the WCC on theological grounds.[4]
Hierarchy
- The spiritual head (Diangienda)
- Adjunct spiritual heads (Dialungana and Kisolokele – the other sons of Simon Kimbangu)
- Bansadisi (healers)
- Legal representatives of churches in the various countries
- Regional representatives and their staffs
- Subregional representatives and their staffs
- Main parish ministers, evangelists and helpers
- Parish-section ministers, evangelists and helpers
- Congregants
See also
References
- ^ "Church of Jesus Christ on Earth by His Special Envoy Simon Kimbangu". oikomene.org. World Council of Churches. 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Nzongola-Ntalaja, Georges (2002). The Congo from Leopold to Kabila : a people's history. London: Zed Books. pp. 48–49. ISBN 1-84277-052-7. OCLC 46822313.
- ^ James, John (25 May 2007). "Christmas comes late to DR Congo". BBC. BBC. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ "WCC shares overview of June central committee meeting". World Council of Churches.
Further reading
- Kimbangu: An African Prophet and His Church Marie-Louise Martin (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1976) ISBN 0802834833
External links
- [permanent dead link]
- Official Website (mostly in French, some German)
- Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste (in French)
- Kimbangu resource (in French)
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