Mission and power in a time of social and political change: the Moravian mission field in South Africa between adherence and autonomy

Abstract

In its mission policy of the 19th century the Moravian Church spelled out its mission aim as “the gradual development of independent self-sustaining congregations”, that would result in “independent ecclesiastical organisations taking the place of the preparatory missionary arrangements”. However noble these aims and objectives may be, all too often they are altered by the prevailing political and socio-economic conditions as well as the human factor of self-interest. In this article the author researches the period from the General Synod in 1869 till 1948 in the aftermath of World War II with a view of depicting the relationship between mission and power in the context of the Moravian mission field in South Africa. In such a context of mission and political power the disposition of mission board, missionary and indigenous church becomes an interesting missiological phenomenon. With regard to the mission policy, what dynamics would come loose between the polity and property management of the mission board and the aspirations of the indigenous church? How does ecclesiastical adherence manifest itself in times of political change with regard to self-interest of autonomy and property rights?