Baptist Union of Southern Africa
Encyclopedia
The Baptist Union of Southern Africa (BUSA) is a union of Baptist
churches from all South Africa
n ethnic and cultural groups.
for South Africa in 1820. Upon their arrival in South Africa, William Miller (1779–1856) was appointed their religious leader. It was through his founding work that the first Baptist chapel was built in Grahamstown in 1823. The first ordained Baptist preacher to travel to South Africa was William Davies, who was sent by the Baptist Missionary Society in England. He arrived in 1832 and ministered in Grahamstown for a short period. Work in Kariega, about 16 miles from Grahamstown, began in 1834. A German settlement around 1860 brought the first German Baptist work led by Carsten Langheim. A German pastor, Carl H. Gutsche, baptized J. D. Odendall, who founded the first Dutch-speaking Baptist church in South Africa in 1886. The Baptist Union was founded in 1877 by four English-speaking churches and one German-speaking church. The South African Baptist Missionary Society was formed in 1892. Black Baptist churches united to form the Bantu Baptist Church in 1927, under the auspices of the South African Baptist Missionary Society.
The organization of the BUSA is made up of seven regional associations: Border Baptist Association, Baptist Northern Association, Eastern Province Baptist Association, Free State Baptist Association, Natal Baptist Association, Northern Cape Baptist Association, and Western Province Baptist Association.
The Baptist Union supports two educational institutions, the Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa
(org. 1951) in Randburg, South Africa, and the Cape Town Baptist Seminary (org. 1974) in Cape Town, South Africa. A national assembly is held annually. Over 600 congregations currently (2004) fellowship in the Baptist Union.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches from all South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n ethnic and cultural groups.
History
Baptist families were among a group of some 4500 British emigrants that left EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for South Africa in 1820. Upon their arrival in South Africa, William Miller (1779–1856) was appointed their religious leader. It was through his founding work that the first Baptist chapel was built in Grahamstown in 1823. The first ordained Baptist preacher to travel to South Africa was William Davies, who was sent by the Baptist Missionary Society in England. He arrived in 1832 and ministered in Grahamstown for a short period. Work in Kariega, about 16 miles from Grahamstown, began in 1834. A German settlement around 1860 brought the first German Baptist work led by Carsten Langheim. A German pastor, Carl H. Gutsche, baptized J. D. Odendall, who founded the first Dutch-speaking Baptist church in South Africa in 1886. The Baptist Union was founded in 1877 by four English-speaking churches and one German-speaking church. The South African Baptist Missionary Society was formed in 1892. Black Baptist churches united to form the Bantu Baptist Church in 1927, under the auspices of the South African Baptist Missionary Society.
The organization of the BUSA is made up of seven regional associations: Border Baptist Association, Baptist Northern Association, Eastern Province Baptist Association, Free State Baptist Association, Natal Baptist Association, Northern Cape Baptist Association, and Western Province Baptist Association.
The Baptist Union supports two educational institutions, the Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa
Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa
Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa , located in Randburg, South Africa, was established in 1951 by the Baptist Union of Southern Africa to prepare pastors for Baptist churches. The College Principal is Dr. Martin Pohlmann....
(org. 1951) in Randburg, South Africa, and the Cape Town Baptist Seminary (org. 1974) in Cape Town, South Africa. A national assembly is held annually. Over 600 congregations currently (2004) fellowship in the Baptist Union.