Kimbanguism is a branch of
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
founded by
Simon KimbanguSimon Kimbangu was a Congolese religious leader noted as the founder of Kimbanguism...
in what was then the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). The church's name is the Kimbanguist Church (fully
Église de Jésus Christ sur la Terre par son envoyé spécial Simon Kimbangu, or
The Church of Christ on Earth by His Special Envoy Simon Kimbangu), and is a large, independent
African Initiated ChurchAn African Initiated Church is a Protestant Christian denomination started in Africa, by Africans, and not by missionaries from another continent, sometimes holding to one or more African tribal belief systems sycretised with Christianity.-Nomenclature:...
with an estimated 5 500 000 believers.
In April 1921, Kimbangu, a Baptist mission catechist, inaugurated a mass movement through his miraculous healings and biblical teaching.
Kimbanguism is a branch of
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
founded by
Simon KimbanguSimon Kimbangu was a Congolese religious leader noted as the founder of Kimbanguism...
in what was then the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). The church's name is the Kimbanguist Church (fully
Église de Jésus Christ sur la Terre par son envoyé spécial Simon Kimbangu, or
The Church of Christ on Earth by His Special Envoy Simon Kimbangu), and is a large, independent
African Initiated ChurchAn African Initiated Church is a Protestant Christian denomination started in Africa, by Africans, and not by missionaries from another continent, sometimes holding to one or more African tribal belief systems sycretised with Christianity.-Nomenclature:...
with an estimated 5 500 000 believers.
In April 1921, Kimbangu, a Baptist mission catechist, inaugurated a mass movement through his miraculous healings and biblical teaching. The Belgian authorities treated the faith with suspicion and imprisoned Simon Kimbangu for most of his life (he died while in prison). The church was formally recognised by the
BelgianThe Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...
colonial authorities in 1959.
Some smaller, more loosely organised groups in Central Africa regard Kimbangu as God's prophet, though that view is not orthodox.
Beliefs and practices
The church eschews politics and embraces a puritan ethic, rejecting the use of violence, polygamy, magic and witchcraft, alcohol, tobacco, and dancing. Its worship is
BaptistA Baptist is a Christian who subscribes to a theology and may belong to a church that, among other things, is committed to believer's baptism and, with respect to church polity, favors the congregational model...
in form, though the institution of
Holy CommunionThe Eucharist, also called Holy Communion, Sacrament of the Table, the Blessed Sacrament, or The Lord's Supper and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance, generally considered to be a commemoration of the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his...
was not introduced until 1971.
The three key dates in the Kimbanguist are April 6 (marking the date of the start of the ministry of healing), October 12 (marking the day Kimbangu died) and May 25 (marking
ChristmasChristmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6692201.stm, falling on the birthday of Papa Dialungana). The church is largely non-sacramental with large services only loosely organised.
Hierarchy
- The spiritual head (Diangienda)
- Adjunct spiritual heads (Dialungana and Kisolokele – the other sons of Simon Kimbangu)
- Bansadisi (healers)
- Legal representatives of churches in the various countries
- Regional representatives and their staffs
- Subregional representatives and their staffs
- Main parish ministers, evangelists and helpers
- Parish-section ministers, evangelists and helpers
- Congregants
External links
Further reading
- Kimbangu: An African Prophet and His Church Marie-Louise Martin, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1976 ISBN 0-8028-3483-3