Presbyterian Church of Sierra Leone

Presbyterian Church of Sierra Leone
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationReformed
TheologyCalvinist
PolityPresbyterian
RegionSierra Leone
Origin1988
Branched fromKosin Presbyterian Church in Korea
Congregations7 (2021)[1]
Members500 (2021)[1]

The Presbyterian Church of Sierra Leone (PCSL) is a Reformed Presbyterian denomination in Sierra Leone. It was formed in 1988 by Korean missionaries, sent by Kosin Presbyterian Church in Korea.[2][3][4]

History

The Presbyterian churches originate from the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. It is the Christian churches Protestant that adhere to Reformed theology and whose ecclesiastical government is characterized by the government of an assembly of elders. Government Presbyterian is common in Protestant churches that were modeled after the Reformation Protestant Switzerland, notably in Switzerland, Scotland, Netherlands, France and portions of Prussia, of Ireland and later in United States.[5]

In 1988, the Kosin Presbyterian Church in Korea Mission sent the first missionary family, Rev. and Mrs. Dae Won Shin, to Sierra Leone. The couple worked with the evangelization of children and missionary work grew in the country. Several churches were planted and the denomination was organized.[2][4]

However, with the outbreak of Sierra Leone Civil War and later Western African Ebola virus epidemic, Korean missionaries had to leave the country. Likewise, most of the denomination's pastors also left the country.[1][4]

From the beginning, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana supported the PCSL, due to the lack of pastors ordained by the denomination.[2]

In 2021, the denomination consisted of 7 churches and about 500 members.[1]

Interchurch relations

The denomination was previously a member of the World Reformed Fellowship.[6]

As of 2021, the denomination has received assistance from Presbyterian Church in America for the training of pastors.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Andrew Shaughnessy (September 21, 2021). "7 Churches; 500 congregants; 0 Pastors: Sierra Leone Problems and Potential". Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Gary Scott Smith; P. C. Kemeny (2019). The Oxford Handbook of Presbyterianism. Oxford University Press. p. 148. ISBN 9780190608392. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  3. ^ Cephas N. Omenyo; David Choi (January 1, 2000). "Korean Mission Company in West Africa 1979-1999: A Preliminary Study". Exchange: Bulletin de Littérature des Églises du Tiers Monde. ISSN 0166-2740. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Soon Bok Lee (January 1, 2000). "Survey of the Kosin Presbyterian Mission in Sierra Leone 1988 to 2018:Thirty years of service to the Kingdom" (PDF). p. 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  5. ^ "Presbyterian and Reformed Churches". Britannica. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  6. ^ "Members of the World Reformed Fellowship October 11, 2013". Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2021.