MISSION
The OAIC seeks to bring African Instituted Churches together in fellowship, networking and to equip and the enable them to preach the Good news of Jesus Christ in the word and deed. VISION
The OAIC Vision is to building on the African culture, transforming churches by Good news and capacity building. FORMATION OF OAIC-ORGANIZATION-(FOOT SOLDIER)
In November 1978 twenty two leaders of Afr
ican Independent Churches met together in Cairo, Egypt .They came at the invitation of the Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic church in Egypt from seven different African countries –Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zaire, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho of African Independent churches for fellowship, for exchange of views, for discussion of common problems and needs, and for unity in promoting the Christian faith in Africa. Egypt was chosen as the venue for meeting place because it is the homeland of the oldest indigenous church in Africa, the Coptic Orthodox churches, founded according to ancient tradition by the apostle Mark. On the evening of FRIDAY 3rd, the leaders attended His Holiness Pope Shenouda’s Bible study in St Mark’s Cathedral, Cairo. They were surprised by the number of people present some seven or eight thousands attended this regular Friday night study. The next day the leaders met Pope Shenouda and other Coptic Bishops at the Coptic Patriarchate, and together they shared their vision of a renewed Christian faith in Africa. During the following days, leaders visited the spot on the River Nile where Coptic tradition records that Moses was found in his basket by Pharaoh’s daughter. Also they saw the cave in a church in Old Cairo where the Holy Family with the infant Jesus took shelter after fleeing from King Herod. In visits to monasteries in the Eastern and Western Deserts, where Christian monastic life first began in the 3rd and 4th centuries, leaders experienced the simple life of the mountains and deserts, a life lived in the service of God by those of whom the writer to the Hebrews comments of these the world was not worthy – wandering over deserts mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth’s (Hebrew 11:33). In these and other ways, the Christian faith came to Africa. It has a history here much older than the history of most Western Churches. Those who were present final it was agreed to on a meeting held from 10th to 13th November 1978 to form an association called Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) after electing the Chairman and secretary, the meeting chose the Convener Bishop Markos as Organizing Secretary. The word Independent was subsequently changed for Instituted at the request of the Government of Kenya for legal registration, it was agreed that HQ for OAIC in Africa be at Kenya, Kampala City. REGIONS DERMACATIONS: It was agreed that OAIC in Africa be divided in Regions among the being Francho speaking, Nigeria, West Africa, and Southern Africa. It was agreed that each Region should oversee the Countries and every country should establish a OAIC- Chapter.- Southern African Region oversee the SADC countries
BOTSWANA CHAPTER: Botswana Chapter was formed in 1984 by the late Bishop O.Ditsheko as the Region chairperson and Rev Phillip as Botswana Chapter from 1994 to 2013 as the Chairman and in 2013 July on restructuring of the Organization in Botswana and after normalizing the registration on the 26th July 2013 the Chapter changed the designation from Chairman to President as the Head of the Organization in Botswana and Chairmanship shall be held by the Subchapters, wings in Botswana at the District level. SUBCHAPTERS: currently OAIC Botswana Chapter has 12 Subchapters namely Gaborone, Francistown, Molepolole, Gantsi, Maun, Tsamaya, Nlaphwane, Tutume, Palapye, serowe, S/Phikwe, Mahalapye and by the year 2020 OAIC it is expected to have opened 30 Subchapters across the country in Botswana in order to bring services closer to the churches in the rural areas other than travelling to Gaborone to get assistance. Subchapters are the districts coordination officers on behalf of mother body Botswana Chapter office. THE TRACE OF OAIC-CHURCHES-ORIGIN
African Instituted Churches are known by various names of which African independent and African Instituted Churches are the most common. The term “Instituted’ was first used in the title of OAIC simply to obtain Kenyan Government approval for its registration. Its use did not mean that African Instituted Churches wanted to lose the older term “independent’ and both term are generally acceptable to the constitution. Although AICs are very widely spread to many countries of Africa such as sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, Nigeria and along the western African cost between cote-d-Ivoire, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Kenya. There are three factors led to the creation of a new form of Christian faith in these areas;-
The intensity of culture conflict between the European colonizers and their associated missions and indigenous cultures. The degree of political economic oppression, in east and southern Africa resulting in the seizure of lands and the displacement of Africa peoples. The extent of Christianization: AIC,s did not usually emerge until people had the Bible in their own mother tongue, and were able to challenge or ‘correct ‘mission church interpretations of the scriptures. OAIC-CHURCHES GROUPS ITS MEMBERS INTO THREE CATEGORIES
National Churches (also known as Ethiopian and African churches). These are churches that seceded from the mission churches during the colonial era (beginning in 1844 in South Africa and in 1891 in Nigeria) over the issue of leadership and desire that Africans should control the church and its teachings on cultural practices. They often saw the fight against the colonialism as one of the legitimate goals of the church, and were influenced by the Marcus Garvey movement, which sought to unite Africans of the continent and of the diapora to work for the liberation of Africa and the dignity of African peoples. Spiritual Churches (also known as Zionist, Apostolic an Aladura churches).These churches dating from 1910 onwards in Southern Africa and in 1920 onwards in West and east Africa) are sometimes referred to as “Prophet- healing” churches, because the centrality of the chromatic gifts in their worship and ministry (prophecy, interpretation of dreams, healing, prayer for protections against evil, prosperity). African Pentecostal churches: these are African founded Pentecostal style churches that have arise since the mid 1960s. Tough the stimulus to their foundation has frequently been the evangelistic missions and training conventions associated with western Pentecostals (and as a result, there is some dispute whether these churches are fully African), a number of them (those that give a positive value to African culture) have found a home in OAIC. DUTIES FOR SUBCHAPTER COMMITTEES – IN THE DISTRICTS IN Botswana
1. workshops, meetings and attends local institutions meetings on invitations and planning by subchapters e.g. Independent Electoral Commission, Councils, Department of Societies for remedia, DEMSC.
2. Conflicts Management and disputes at Regional level from churches.
2.1. Recruitment of new churches to join OAIC, Accept money for joining fees and annual subscriptions on behalf of Botswana Chapter at Regional Level and deposit to Botswana Chapter Accounts and file the copy of deposit slip and send other copy to Botswana Chapter secretariat office(Treasury).
3. Regarding BCC and EFB meetings, subchapters attend on delegated by Botswana Chapter-General Secretary or Chairman.
4. All correspondences from BCC and EFB is directed to Botswana Chapter and for action.
5. Payments of postal Boxes on annual rental before December 3oth.
6. Participate in General Election monitoring (observers)
7. Market the Organization Districts level church to church campaign, flyers, organizing activities that will market OAIC for churches to join.
8. Subchapters committees are formed through members of various churches affiliated to OAIC on election.
9. Organize leadership, church Executive Committee meetings forum in the Districts.
10. Submission of monthly, quarterly annual reports and annual activity plans schedules to Botswana Chapter.
11. Implementation of Directives, resolution from Botswana Chapter.
12. Subchapter secretaries and Chairman, Treasurer to liaise and make regular checking with General Secretary and Chairman (President) OAIC. Botswana Chapter for update and working together.
13. To monitor expiry or due date for subchapters committee terms in office and advice for date to conduct new elections as per the constitution (every Three years).
14. Attend to all Ministers Fraternal Activities and meetings in the Districts for Faith Based Organization. Liaise with Districts Commissioners, Police, and Governments Department for better working relationship.
14.1. Organize consultation meetings with stakeholders, churches, Botswana Chapter.
15. Represent Churches at Regional meetings and submit report to Botswana Chapter.
