THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

The UCCSA, a church in five countries, is called and committed to be a caring and inclusive community that bears testimony to the fullness of life in Christ and proclaims that in Christ, there is a future.
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Background

The history of the UCCSA dates back to the founding of the London Missionary Society in 1795 in Europe. Its missionaries spread the gospel to unreached territories. Dr. Theodorus van der Kemp, a Hollander, arrived in Cape Town on March 31, 1799, and began missionary work on the then Eastern frontier of the Cape Colony. In 1801, he established what is widely regarded as the first Congregational church in Southern Africa – at the mission at Bethelsdorp, in what is now Port Elizabeth.Among van der Kemp’s prominent successors, Dr John Philip, the first Superintendent of the Society, was active in securing rights for the indigenous inhabitants of the colony while overseeing a rapid expansion of mission work.

 During the 19th century, David Livingstone and Robert Moffatt were among the first known LMS missionaries, opening work among the Batswana and AmaNdebele people. After 1820, groups of English, Scottish, and Welsh Congregationalists among the new settlers in the colony formed their own churches, which were reflective of the kind of congregational life they had known ‘back home.A second thrust of missionary activity in southern Africa originated among Congregationalists in America. Following their charter in 1812, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions dispatched their first personnel in 1835 to work among the Zulu of the Natal colony and the Ndebele in what is today Zimbabwe. ‘ .

With the discovery of gold in 1886, the work of the LMS and American Board spread to the Witwatersrand.    The early missionaries were not simply intent on founding new churches. From the start, they fought for the rights of the indigenous people and established educational institutions. Among the best known is the LMS Tiger Kloof Institution, which counts among its alumni Sir Seretse Khama and Sir Ketumile Masire, the first two Presidents of Botswana.    In 1921, a young Congregationalist was appointed to the staff of Adams College in Natal. His name was Albert Luthuli, who later became President of the African National Congress and was the first South African to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
During the first 150 years of their work in southern Africa, the LMS, American Board, and churches of the Congregational Union of South Africa (CUSA) worked closely together. There were few theological differences, and personnel moved freely between work in all three organizations. The discovery of gold in the Free State province at the end of the 1950s provided the impetus and challenge for them to move towards union.     Within the brief space of 7 years, all the necessary agreements were in place, and the UCCSA came into being at its Inaugural Assembly in Durban on 3 October 1967, under the leadership of its first Chairman, Rev J K Main. In 1972, the South African congregations of the Disciples of Christ entered into union with the UCCSA.
In the years since, the United Congregational Church has been prominent in ecumenical church life in southern Africa, most notably in the national Christian Councils of the five countries where it is represented. In South Africa, it has played a decisive part in the Church Unity Commission, with its own General Secretary, the Rev Joe Wing, acting for many years as Coordinating Secretary of the CUC.

The UCCSA also played an important role in developing the Kairos theology of the 1980s.  Through its ministers, such as Bonganjalo Goba, Roxanne Jordaan, and Steve DeGruchy, it participated in developing the Kairos document.  The UCCSA Assembly adopted the Kairos document as an official document and initiated a denomination-wide process of responding to the Kairos.  This process was called the Pastoral Plan for Transformation.

Years of Ministry

Local Churches in 7 different Countries

Congregants in 7 different Countries

” In our pursuit of justice, let us remain steadfast in prayer, fasting, and digital advocacy, amplifying our collective voice for change. May the church, guided by the principles of love and justice, inspire a profound transformation that transcends borders, ideologies, and historical prejudices. Together, let us sow the seeds of a future where justice reigns supreme, reconciliation flourishes, and lasting peace becomes the enduring legacy for generations to come “

– Rev R Hambira UCCSA Immediate Past President

united congregational church of southern africa

Church Leadership

REV C WILLIAMS

REV C WILLIAMS

President

REV K NDEBELE

REV K NDEBELE

General Secretary

Rev F Ramaribana

Rev F Ramaribana

President Elect

MR T JOHNSON

MR T JOHNSON

Treasurer

Mr Domingos Fernando David

Mr Domingos Fernando David

Investments Committee Chairperson

Rev LEON KLATE

Rev LEON KLATE

ATMC DIRECTOR

Ms Baphiwe Nxumalo

Ms Baphiwe Nxumalo

Mission Council Convenor

Ms. Gail Visser:

Ms. Gail Visser:

Denominational Officer

Ms Siphetheni Moyo

Ms Siphetheni Moyo

Denominational Officer

Rev Maria Luis

Rev Maria Luis

Denominational Officer

Rev Eurico Cangovi

Rev Eurico Cangovi

Denominational Officer

united congregational church of southern africa

Office Staff

REV K NDEBELE

REV K NDEBELE

General Secretary

Rev Kudzani Ndebele is an ordained minister of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), a church spanning the countries of Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. He is currently the General Secretary of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa.
REV DR X MASEKO

REV DR X MASEKO

Mission and Ministry Secretary

Dr. Rev Xolani Maseko is a theological scholar with over five years of experience teaching in tertiary institutions as well as partaking in administrative responsibilities in tertiary institutions. As a scholar and theologian, he holds the credentials of being an ordained Minister of Religion in the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA). He currently serves in the UCCSA as a Mission and Ministry secretary.
MR I.B KANGWA

MR I.B KANGWA

Chief Finance Officer

With over twenty-five years of experience, Innocent B. Kwanga is currently serving the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) as Chief Finance Officer in South Africa. He was seconded to the UCCSA from the United Church of Zambia under the auspices of the Council for World Mission (CWM) Partner in Mission Programme.
MR g micheal

MR g micheal

Publications

UCCSA.

Church  Structure

The Assembly
The Assembly is the governing body of the church and its highest court. It meets as it enacts biannually. The Assembly, among other things, meets to elect assembly officers. These assembly officers shall comprise seven persons, including the President, President-Elect, General Secretary, Treasurer and three other persons nominated by the Assembly. Consideration for gender balance shall guide the nominations by the Assembly to always ensure that there is an equitable balance between genders.
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is representative of the Assembly and the Synods. It transacts the business of the Assembly and fulfils the object and functions of the Assembly when the Assembly is not in session and fulfils such other objects and duties as are allocated to it by the constitution and Assembly.
The Assembly Ministerial Committee
The Assembly Ministerial Committee is nominated by the Executive Committee. This committee consists of the Officers of the Assembly, the Chairperson of the Assembly Training for Ministry Committee, and two representatives from each Synod. The committee deals with all matters concerning the Ministry, training of ministers, credentials, settlements, and discipline, initiated by itself or referred to it by Synods or the Assembly, to act in terms of this Constitution and the Procedures enacted by the Church from time to time. It notes co-ordinates the settlement of ministers in local churches by the Synod and Regional Councils concerned. It is also responsible for co-ordinating the placing of seconded staff.
The Assembly Mission Council
The Assembly Mission Council consists of the Officers of the Assembly, the Convenor, elected by the Assembly every second year, the Convenors of every Synod Mission Council, and the Mission Council Convenors of the recognized ministries. Women’s ministries, Men’s Ministries, Youth Ministries, Children’s Ministries. The Assembly Mission Council may co-opt, in consultation with the General Secretary, the Convenors of different units. Among the duties of the Assembly Mission Council are Encouraging a mission consciousness at all levels within the Church. Coordinating the work of the Mission Councils in the Synods within the Church. To ensure that units become a resource tool for the Church’s ministry.
The Assembly Finance Committee
The Assembly Finance Committee is nominated by the Executive Committee. The Committee consists of the Officers of the Assembly, the Chairperson of the Assembly Investments Committee, and one representative from each Synod.  Among the duties of the Finance Committee are raising and administering funds for the work of the Church, reviewing the minimum stipends of ministers from time to time, preparing long-range goals for the Church for the Assembly’s consideration and approval, ensuring that the financial records of the Church are in good order and in accordance with the financial measures set by the UCCSA.
The Investments Committee
It consists of the Officers of the Assembly, the Chairperson of the Investments Committee, one representative per Synod, and persons appointed by the Assembly on the basis of their expertise. The Chairperson of the Committee is appointed by the Assembly every second year. The functions of the Investments Committee include investing the funds of the Church in the name of the UCCSA, authorizing property transactions where properties are vested in the name of the Church, and making appropriate recommendations to the Assembly. All such decisions taken are reported to the next meeting of the Finance Committee for ratification.
The Ministry
Candidates for the Ministry require the recommendation of their local church and of the Regional Council and Synod of which that church is a member. The Assembly Ministerial Committee recommends approved candidates to the Assembly or its Executive Committee for acceptance. The Synods are responsible for the training and pastoral oversight of candidates and students for the Ministry.