Presbyterian Church in Uganda

Presbyterian Church in Uganda is a conservative Reformed Calvinistic denomination in Uganda with almost 100 churches in 5 presbyteries in the late 2000s.

Presbyterian Church in Uganda
ClassificationProtestant
TheologyReformed Calvinist
PolityPresbyterian
LeaderJames Yiga and Kefa Sempangi
AssociationsWorld Reformed Fellowship
RegionUganda
FounderKefa Sempangi
Origin1979
Kampala, Uganda
SeparationsReformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda
Congregations100-200[1]
MembersUnknown
Hospitals1
Primary schools3

Origin

The Presbyterian Church in Uganda was founded in the 1970s by the Ugandan pastor Keefa Sempangi,[2] who had pastored that time a large Pentecostal church in Kampala, the Redeemed Church, he was a member of the Parliament in that time. In 1973 Kefa Sempangi had to emigrate, because of the persecution of Idi Amin. He settled in the Netherlands, where he had been introduced the Reformed faith.[3] Later he was invited to study in the United States and become a student of the Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[4][5]

He returned home in 1979 with the help of American missionaries and began to start the Presbyterian church. The first church was organised in that year in Kampala, Uganda; this was the First Presbyterian Church in Kampala, Uganda. The church organised Westminster Theological Seminary in Uganda to train and equip national pastors. A split occurred in the church in 1989 when the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda was formed.[6][7]

The PCU founding congregations across Uganda, the number of churches and members are growing rapidly.[8] The church is a member of the World Reformed Fellowship.[9][10] There have been mission projects in Central Uganda, and across the country.[11]

The Orthodox Presbyterian Church (USA) begun work in Mbale, Uganda since 1995, and later the mission moved to Karamoja. The Orthodox Presbyterian Churches in Mbele holds provisional membership in the PCU, but they are full incorporated as Mbale Presbytery.[12][13][14]

Structure

The church has Presbyterian government. In the local level there is the congregation with teaching elders, ruling elders and deacons, the presbytery is the middle governing body, currently there are Semuliki Presbytery, Kapchorwa presbytery, Gulu, Kampala, Central, Mbale presbyteries and Rwenzori and Eastern presbyteries are in dialogue to integrate into the Presbyterian Church in Uganda.[15]

The General Assembly is the highest level of government. The church maintains its headquarters in Kampala, Uganda.

Theology

The Presbyterian Church in Uganda is theologically Reformed church, that subscribes the historic creeds:

Reformed theology is

  • Universal
  • Evangelical
  • God is Sovereign

God is initiates the Covenant of Grace

Five Points of Calvinism

Solas of the Reformation

Education and seminary

Westminster Theological seminary and College begun in 1996 in the worship center of First Presbyterian Church in Kampala. First students were Ugandan. Classes begun in Zana in 1998.[19] Student number grew rapidly. Students from Sudan begun to come in 1999. New facilities were built A seminary was founded in 2007.[20] The Seminary is the official theological institution of the Presbyterian Church in Uganda. It is located now in Kampala, Uganda.[21]

Relationship with other Reformed churches

The Presbyterian Church in Uganda has fraternal relations with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) through the Reformed Mission Utrecht.[22][23] and the Presbyterian Church in America through the Mission to the World.[24]

See also

References
  1. "www.apostoladocmf.org/apostolado/156/*+UGANDA+(BANGALORE+INDIA)". Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  2. "Mukono residents get free eye treatment". NewVision. 18 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  3. "Kefa Sempangi".
  4. "Welcome to PCU History". Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  5. "History". Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
  6. "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions".
  7. Benedetto, Robert; McKim, Donald K. (2009-10-06). Historical Dictionary of the Reformed Churches. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810870239.
  8. Deverrenaasten Netherlands website
  9. "The World Reformed Fellowship - Membership List". Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
  10. www.reformiert-online.net
  11. "Some of our Daughter Churches". Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  12. "About Us @ OPC Uganda Mission". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  13. "Presbyteries". Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  14. Orthodox Presbyterian Church website
  15. "Presbyteries". Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  16. "Who we are". Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  17. "Our Reformed Theology". Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  18. "Welcome to Our Beliefs-Page". Archived from the original on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  19. "Our History". www.wtcwtsuganda.org. Archived from the original on 2011-10-22.
  20. www.wtcwtsuganda.org
  21. "Our Church". www.wtcwtsuganda.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05.
  22. Deverrenaasten Netherlands website
  23. "BBK - Internationale contacten - landen - afrika - oeganda". www.bbk.gkv.nl. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20.
  24. "Partnerships". Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
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