11:00 - 12:30
Christian Institutions and Political Contestation in the DRC
Room: Poynting – Lecture Theatre S06
Stream: The Everyday in DR Congo: Negotiating Change and Continuity in Precarious Times
Discussant/s:
David Maxwell
Organiser/s:
Sublime Mabiala, Katrien Pype
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Transnationalism in Mobutu’s Zaire: Ecclesiology as a critique of nationalism.
Emma Wild-Wood
Centre for the Study of World Christianity, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

This paper examines the responses of churches to state control in Zaire in 1970s and 80s, taking as a case-study the tiny Anglican Church. It attempted to leverage its international connections and universal ecclesiology through its contested membership of the Eglise du Christ au Zaire. The case study shows that there were different responses among members of the ECZ - as well as variety between Catholics, Kimbanguists and Protestants. It also demonstrates that the apparently non-political language of ecclesiology created communities of belonging for church members beyond the nationalism offered by Mobutu.

Reference:
We-A45 Everyday in DR Congo-P-001
Presenter/s:
Emma Wild-Wood
Presentation type:
Panel
Room:
Poynting – Lecture Theatre S06
Date:
Wednesday, 12 September
Time:
11:00 - 11:15
Session times:
11:00 - 12:30
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