A BAPTIST PROFILE

On July 30, 1960, the Congo was granted its independence from Belgium. As would occur in numerous similar situations, many Congolese Baptists began to dream of a new day – one in which they would have greater choices over their own destinies. Ministerial ordination was symbolic of the problems that long had irritated these African Baptists. As did most other mission groups in Africa at the time, missionaries of the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society (CBFMS) refused to ordain African pastors. Many believed that ordination required a level of education not available to Africans and, therefore, was a status that only missionaries could attain. Properly trained pastors (wapastor wachungaji) could administer the sacraments, but missionaries believed that ordained status would cause those leaders to become conceited and refused to extend to them that level of recognition. With no expectation of an end to the control of African Baptist churches by foreign Baptist leadership, some Congolese Baptists broke with the missionaries and formed a committee that they hoped could gain legal recognition for Congolese rights to ownership and administration of Baptist properties. Previous attempts under colonial governors always had been decided in favor of the missionaries. Many Congolese Baptists hoped that a change of government would offer a new opportunity.