A practical theological comparative study of pre-independence and post-independence leadership in the Mahon Evangelical Church of Southern Africa (MECSA)

Abstract

In 2004 MECSA was celebrating a 100th year anniversary after its inception in 1904. The celebration was held in the absence of the missionaries who from 1904 till 1991 (87 years), were part of the Mahon Mission and fully involved in the running of the church. The reason that the missionaries were absent in the celebration was that there were unfortunately some disputes amongst them that led to the transition in leadership. The danger with any leadership, be it in the market place or church, is when power starts to speak louder than one’s conscience. It was in 1991 that the African leadership took over the Mahon Mission churches in South Africa. The name Mahon Mission was then changed to Mahon Evangelical Church of Southern Africa – MECSA. This dissertation is about comparing the period of the missionaries to that of the present African leadership. ‘A practical theological comparative study of preindependence and post-independence leadership in the Mahon Evangelical Church of Southern Africa (MECSA).’ I am of the opinion that, “What works in one context will not necessarily work in another, and equally may be judged as effective and ineffective in the same context” (Lumby 2012:2).