African Initiated Churches are sometimes called African Independent Churches.

Location

African Initiated Churches are found across Africa; they are particularly well-documented in southern Africa and West Africa. Pauw suggests that at least 36% of the population of Africa belong to an African Initiated Church.

Origins

During the colonial period, many black converts to Christianity were unable fully to reconcile their beliefs with the teachings of their church leaders, and split from their parent churches. The reasons for these splits were usually either:

• Political - an effort to escape white control
• Historical - many of the parent churches, particularly those from a Protestant tradition, had themselves emerged from a process of schism and synthesis
• Cultural -
  
  
  
  the result of trying to accommodate Christian belief within an African world view

Characteristics

African Initiated Churches fall into several main groups, which in many cases overlap. Each has its own characteristics.

Ethiopian churches

Ethiopian churches generally retain the Christian doctrines of their mother church in an unreformed state.

Zionist churches

Zionist churches, such as the Zion Christian Church, mix aspects of traditional African beliefs like ancestor worship with Christian doctrine. Many Zionists stress faith-healing and revelation, and in many congregations the leader is viewed as a prophet.

Messianic churches

Like some Zionist congregations, Messianic churches focus on the power and sanctity of their leaders; often the leaders are thought by their followers to possess Christ-like characteristics.

Apostolic churches

Apostolic churches are similar to Zionist congregations but often place more emphasis on formal theological training.

See also

• Church of the Lord
• Kimbanguist Church
• Zion Christian Church
• List of Christian denominations

Reference

• Oosthuzen, G., 1996. "African Independent/Indigenous Churches in the Social Environment: An Empirical Analysis", African Analysis, 26 (4).
• Pauw, C., 1995. "African Independent Churches as a 'People's Response' to the Christian Message", Journal for the Study of Religion, 8 (1).