- A 20-year dispute between two Presbyterian churches over property in Mthatha neared its end
- A June court ruling favoured the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
- The Reformed Presbyterian Church chose to relocate rather than keep fighting
- The community provided a new site at a primary school’s sports grounds
A dispute of about two decades between two Presbyterian churches over shared property in Mthatha, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, was nearing an end, the Daily Dispatch reported on August 21, 2017.
The split dated to 1999, when the Ross Mission’s 28 branches rejected a merger that unified most Presbyterian denominations. After a court ruling in June 2017 favoured the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa’s claim to the property, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa decided to move rather than continue the fight.
“We do not want to have bloodshed and be drained in faith and spirituality by the ungodly things happening,” said Ayanda Matiso, session clerk of the Reformed Presbyterian congregation.
The congregation secured a new site at the sports grounds of Ross Primary School. Local traditional councillor Colbert Dawethi said the community supported giving the displaced group land, reflecting broad relief that the conflict was ending.
Church splits are common in Jamaica too, and the Mthatha case shows how long a property fight can outlast the disagreement that started it. When congregations divide, the building usually stays with whichever body holds title or wins in court, and the losing side must start again. Agreeing in advance how property will be treated if members leave, and putting that in the church’s constitution and trust deeds, can spare a congregation years of conflict.
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