Introduction – Origin of Mission Councils

The role of Mission Councils in the growth and development of the Scottish Mission in South Africa is confusing and vexatious. Whereas these councils were conceived and established as a means of facilitating mission, they often hindered this by distinguishing between agents of mission, missionaries and indigenous leaders, and delineating spheres of authority through exercise of power, even in opposition to expressed mission policy initiated in Scotland. They were an integral part of the hegemonic missionary worldview which frustrated progress towards the formation of the Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa in 1923.

The history of Scottish Presbyterian church policy during the period 1898–1923 was largely influenced by a minute of the Foreign Mission Committee (FMC) of the Free Church of Scotland (FCoS) of October 1864 relating to South Africa, which stated:

Mission Councils were formed for ‘the maintenance, administration or independence of our Mission in South Africa’ (Our Mission in South Africa, MS 14849, Rhodes University [RU], Cory Library). This minute resulted from Alexander Duff’s, Convener of the FMC of the FCoS, visit to Kaffraria in 1864, and the recognition of a need for change in the organisation of the Mission arising out of confusion that emanated from an earlier decision that ‘all matters connected with the management of the mission in Kaffraria devolve upon the Presbytery’. This included the affairs of missionaries, which meant that black ministers would have decision-making powers regarding missionaries. The implication of the 1864 minute was that Presbytery should keep to its ‘proper functions’, i.e. discipline, where relevant, but not those matters relating to missionary conduct or activity. Such matters should be determined solely by whites in the Mission Council. All bodies involved in the mission – Presbyteries, Mission Councils, Financial Board, and Educational Board of the Seminary – should communicate with each other concerning areas of mutual interest that fell within their remits; and that each should relate directly to the FMC on all matters requiring approval or confirmation.