CCAP Harare Synod

CCAP - Harare Synod

The CCAP came to Zimbabwe in 1912 and Harare Synod was founded in 1965. The church consists mainly of migrant workers from Malawi. This Chewa-speaking group belongs with four other CCAP synods in Malawi and Zambia. It also has cordial, cooperative relations with the other Reformed Churches in Zimbabwe and abroad. Harare Synod now has 21 Congregations with a total of 79 branches in its 2 Presbyteries in Zimbabwe i.e. Harare and Gweru Presbyteries. There are 14 Pastors and 15 Evangelists who are serving close to 10,000 members and regular attendees. The churches meet every two years in a synod. Harare Synod adopted the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort as their doctrinal standards.

These are the current congregations: Bindura, Bulawayo, Chegutu, Chinhoyi, Gweru, Harare, Highfields, Hwange, Karoi, Kuwadzana, Kwe Kwe, Kadoma, Mabvuku, Marondera, Mufakose, Mutare, Norton, Lobengula, Sizinda, Tafara and Zengeza.

The number of Christians as of the last assessment is now close to 10,000 but not all of them have gone through the phases of confirmation of becoming a full member participating in full communion and other services for full time members of the Harare Synod. There is a notable increase in the locals i.e. Zimbabwean nationals now joining the church which has introduced a bi-lingual approach to sermons to accommodate non Chewa speaking Christians and youths who now form a considerable number of this rise in worship services. See http://www.ccaphresynod.com/gwerupresbytery.htm and http://www.ccaphresynod.com/hararepresbytery.htm

 Below is a table that shows a breakdown as of the last assessment in May 2010.

Mufakose Congregation has the highest number at 504 full communion members while Hwange has the least at 144 members; this by no means does not state that one congregation is better than the other. Some congregations have service attendances that go well over 400 even though of those only 50 % will be full members such as in Harare  and Bindura Congregations to mention just a few examples. Mufakose is made up of Rugare and Kambuzuma Prayer Houses who have the potential to be a Congregation on their own in the not so distant future.