Abstract
The chapter provides an analysis of the Anglican Church in South Africa from the end of the 80s to nowadays, it highlights trends in growth and decline of its membership in those decades and it offers an explanation of those data in light of socio-political changes that are transforming the country and in light of more international trends.
The chapter has been developed around three sections and a conclusion. These are: 1. The chapter starts with a brief historical presentation of the Anglican Church in South Africa. This provides needed information in order to understand and clarify more recent changes and shifts. In particular, it introduces the reader to the specificities of the South African context and to the various ethnic and historical differences across provinces in the country.
2. The wider context for the South African church has changed hugely in recent decades with the passage from Apartheid to democracy. This section offers an analysis of the context and how it changed and it will attempt an explanation of why this also affected Christian denominations in different ways. How to explain these changes? In what ways the wider society facilitates or hinders church growth? 3 This section presents and investigates the challenges that Anglicanism faces in contemporary South Africa and overall it offers an in-depth analysis of the Church in relation to local and international trends.
The chapter has been developed around three sections and a conclusion. These are: 1. The chapter starts with a brief historical presentation of the Anglican Church in South Africa. This provides needed information in order to understand and clarify more recent changes and shifts. In particular, it introduces the reader to the specificities of the South African context and to the various ethnic and historical differences across provinces in the country.
2. The wider context for the South African church has changed hugely in recent decades with the passage from Apartheid to democracy. This section offers an analysis of the context and how it changed and it will attempt an explanation of why this also affected Christian denominations in different ways. How to explain these changes? In what ways the wider society facilitates or hinders church growth? 3 This section presents and investigates the challenges that Anglicanism faces in contemporary South Africa and overall it offers an in-depth analysis of the Church in relation to local and international trends.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Growth and Decline in the Anglican Communion |
| Subtitle of host publication | 1980 to the Present |
| Editors | David J. Goodhew |
| Place of Publication | London |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Pages | 128-144 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Volume | 1 |
| Edition | 1 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781315585970 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781472433633, 9781472433640 |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2017 |
Publication series
| Name | Routledge Contemporary Ecclesiology |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Routledge |
Keywords
- Church
- Anglicanism
- Growth
- Decline
- Religion
- Christianity