Last month, Langham published the PhD thesis of a Malawian Langham Scholar on the topic of unity within his church denomination in Africa.
God has led Rhodian Munyenyembe along a unique academic career path. He was offered a lecturing position before graduating from the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi. Later, while an elder of a church in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, he was offered a post from a Catholic university to teach Biblical and Religious Studies.
Currently, he is teaching theology at Mzuzu University, a state institution in Malawi. During this period he has undertaken PhD studies. This was supported by Langham Scholars. Langham Monographs published his thesis on 27 September.
God’s hand on his life
Dr Munyenyembe has seeing God’s hand on his life and work. God placed him in specific roles at specific times for God’s divine purposes. Not everyone is accepted in such varied theological circles and denominational traditions!
Wherever in the world we find ourselves, we will know of church divisions that exist. But Rhodian’s story reminds us of the unity that can be found between starkly different groups within the Church and wider society.
Dr Munyenyembe’s book is entitled Pursuing an Elusive Unity. It examines the nature, composition and history of his own denomination, the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in relation to its unity, cohesion and church life.
Understanding church unity
Remember Jesus’ words in John 13:35: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (ESV). We also know that our actions can diminish that knowledge through lack of love.
So at Langham we are thrilled to see one of our Scholars helping their church to better understand this important dimension of unity in their own context.
Order Pursuing an Elusive Unity: A History of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian as a Federative Denomination (1924–2016) online today.