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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CAMEROON
Synod Office Buea - South West Region Cameroon P.O Box 19
webmaster@pcconline.org
+237233322487
Synod Office Buea
The Synod office represents the headquarters of the PCC located in Buea the capital city of the South West Region of Cameroon.
The main officers of the Synod Office include The Moderator, The Synod Clerk, The Financial Secretary, Development Secretary, Health Services Secretary, as well as The Education Secretary. All activities of the synod office are headed by the Moderator of the PCC.
The early history of this rapidly growing church can be traced as far back as 1843 when the Alfred Saker of the English Baptist Missionaries Society started work in Fernandopo, which is today an integral part of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. However, the direct lineage of the PCC dates back to the 23rd of December 1886 with the arrival of the Basel Missionaries. And on the 13th of November 1957 in Bali of the North West Province of Cameroon, the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon was born and the 1st Synod was constituted. As is the case with any organization with the zeal to succeed, there must be an authority (a governing body) to oversee its affairs.
The Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon is the supreme governing body of the Community of Christians called The Presbyterian Church In Cameroon. Its 1st elected Officials were elected in 1958 in the persons of Rev. A. Ngole and Rev. A. Su, as Moderator and Synod Clerk respectively.
Today, the Seat of the Synod is located in Buea, the Provincial headquarters of the South West Province of Cameroon. It houses the Office of the Moderator (Elected Offical), the Office of the Synod Clerk (Elected Official), the Financial Secretary (Appointed Official), the Communication Secretary (Appointed Official), the Health Services Secretary (Appointed Official), the Development Secretary (Appointed Official) and its subsidiary office-Projects Office, Education Secretary (Appointed), the Office of the Archivist (Appointed), Office of the Treasurer (Appointed), Accounts Officer (Appointed), Office of the Auditor (Appointed Official), and the Office of the newly created IT Centre PCC (Appointed Official).
Under the different departmental and Service heads of the Synod Office are vibrant support staff. The support staff acts like one invincible force and operates in various capacities as Administrative Assistants, Office Clerks, Cashiers, Accounts Clerks, Journalists, Secretaries, Technicians, Receptionists, Drivers, etc.
Life at the Synod Office begins at 7:30 AM every day from Monday to Friday every week. Mondays usually begin with an assembly of all staff in the prayer room for devotion. Staff communion with God every Monday and Friday of the week is an indispensable activity that guarantees a successful working week.
WOMEN'S WORK DEPARTMENT
Background Information
The development of women in the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) in particular and the country Cameroon, in general, can be traced back to the coming of the missionaries with the Gospel of Christ alongside the education of Cameroonians aimed at raising helpers to evangelize as well as serve the colonial government. The Churches were the first medium of this education. At first, the stress was on educating boys as parents were reluctant to send girls to school.
As the missionaries came with their wives, these women wherever stationed, gathered other women in their communities to teach them a few home care lessons and Bible stories depending on their interests at the time. It became necessary to give women in particular some training besides general evangelization through the Gospel.
It is in light of this, that the Women's Work Department was created. First to meet the needs of the Christian woman in the Presbyterian Church then the Cameroonian woman as a whole. Thus, in order to consolidate their work and increase outreach activities for a greater impact, this department formed branches called the provincial offices based in Kumba, Bamenda, and Littoral.
Some of the profound projects initiated during the early years include:
A Girl's school was opened in Nsem - Bafut in 1947 and later moved to Agyati in 1948 by Na Lina Weber
A Marriage Training Centre Bafut. This school opened its doors in 1959. Today, it is called, Presbyterian Girls School of Science and Technology (PGSST) Bafut.
Still, in 1961, Na Lina Weber opened a Women Teacher Training College (WTTC) in Mankon.
A Centre for Women's Work was established in Fotabe - Mamfe in 1953.
Another Centre for Women's Work was opened in Tali in 1957.
All this and the many Bible Study groups that developed marked the humble beginnings of the WWD.
Women's Work National Office building and Staff photo Bamenda
Emblem:
The cross is rooted in the Bible (The Word Of God) Alpha and Omega.
Motto:
Serve The Lord With Joy (Psalm 100:2)
Aim:
The aim of this movement is to encourage Christian women of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) to serve the Lord Jesus Christ wholeheartedly at home, in the congregation, and in the community.
Mission
The mission of the Women's Work Department (WWD) is to lead Christian women and girls to serve the Lord wholeheartedly and to bring out positive changes in all areas of life: at home, in congregation and communities, and beyond. This mission will be achieved through continuous evangelization, education, training, and strengthening of their capacities spiritually, socially, and economically. All this is done under the guidance of the values and norms of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon and the policy of the Cameroon government.
Goal:
To intensively evangelize to women and girls leading to an improvement in their spiritual and socio-economic life.
Vision:
To improve the status quo of the woman, family life, and society; to strengthen women spiritually, socially, and economically thus empowering women to face the challenges of life in all domains.
Leading Figures:
The Women's Department of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon dates back to the arrival of the early missionaries. However, the department became statutory only in 1961 when the Constitution became operational. Its foundation in 1961 was championed by Missionaries such as Fraternal Worker, Maria Schlenker, and Sister Rose Marie Peter. Other early Missionaries included Sr. Anni Maurer, Sr. Marie Ringli, and Anna Frank.
Sr. Rosmarie Beyer-Peter 1961 Sr. Anni Maurer Sr. Marie Ringli Anna Frank
Below are the Secretaries who have shouldered the affairs of the Women's Work Department to date.
Sr. Rosmarie Beyer-Peter 1961
Sr. Anni Maurer
Sr. Marie Ringli
Anna Frank
Maria Schelenkar - 1966
Grace Eneme Elizabeth Gana
Ngeh Beatrice
Elizabeth Gana
Rev. Mrs. Mary Ekinde Salle
ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP
Organizational Structure
The Congregational Group of the CWF
This is the cell of the Department. At least ten members of a congregation can start a group. In the PCC, we have 1188 groups over the whole territory of Cameroon and in the Diaspora.
The Fellowship at the Zonal level
Groups within a specified area make up the Zonal fellowship. They have an executive that strengthens the groups and reports to the Presbytery executive.
The Fellowship at the Presbytery level
This is constituted by all congregational groups and Zonal setups within a Church Presbytery.
Regional level
The WWD of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon operates under three regions. Each region is coordinated by the Regional Office for Women's Work. The Office is headed by a Regional Secretary who is a full-time employee of the PCC.
National Level
The entire Department is coordinated by the National Office. This office is responsible for the production of Study material for the groups, alongside the education and training of members.
The Committee of the Ministry
The Women's Work Department is responsible to the Synod of the PCC through the Committee of the Ministry. The Committee oversees the functioning of the Department and reports to the Synod, which is the highest controlling body of the Church. The Organizational Structure of the Department is as follows
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT - Bamenda
REGIONAL SECRETERIAT Bamenda: N.W.R Kumba: S.W.R Douala: East Mungo
PRESBYTERY SECRETARIAT All Presbytery Secretaries
PROJECTS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Background of PEA
It should be well noted that before Missionaries came to Cameroon, many communities had operated systems of Education that were efficient and very useful even though informal. Various classes of people were produced such as Craftsmen, Artists, Poets, Traditional Doctors, Good farmers and Political thinkers who administered the people.
Formal Education began after the Missionaries had entered the Cameroon Society and were establishing stations. The Basel Mission took over four schools namely: Bethel, Victoria, Bakundu Banga and Mungo. After the take over, Basel Mission Missionaries began to open vernacular schools alongside the stations. The first primary school patterned on the Missionary model was established by the English Baptist Mission at Bimbia in 1844, and the first by the German Government was in 1888. The Basel Mission Missionaries regarded Education as a necessity for effective Evangelization. They needed the new converts to be able to read and write, and to understand the Bible. Where a Congregation was formed, a school was also created. The schools were to train catechists, teachers, Pastors for congregations, Christian clerks, traders, artisans and future leaders of Cameroon.
During the period of the First World War, school work as well as Church work suffered great set backs, and when the war ended in 1919, Missionaries were allowed to return to Cameroon.
By 1925, there were 114 vernacular schools, with a total enrolment of 3.207 pupils. In 1929, three English Primary schools were opened in Buea, Besongabang and Bali. In 1931, Nyasoso Basel Mission School was opened. As the number of English schools increased, that of the vernacular schools decreased.
The first teachers were Europeans. They were later on joined by teachers from Ghana, Nigeria and eventually Cameroon. The first Cameroonian teachers were untrained. After sometimes they were given a short In-service Training Programme called (E.T.C.) Elementary Training Course. They were trained to be teachers as well as catechists. They combined the functions of teaching with that of preaching.
The Colonial Government compelled the Churches to organize the school curriculum in such a way that the needs of the state were taken care of. The needs included moulding people for the various clerical jobs, such as Clerks, Secretaries, Messengers, Court Judges and many others.
Government opened a Teacher Training Centre at Kumba. The Basel Mission was allowed to train some of her teachers there. When the Second World War ended, the number of Basel Mission schools and untrained teachers increased tremendously.
In 1944, the Basel Mission opened a one year Teacher Training Centre called (PTC) Preliminary Training Centre at Nyasoso. A few of the teachers were given preliminary training on how to control and teach the pupils. The grade of teachers was.
A Teacher Training Centre (TTC) was opened in 1946 in Bali and was transferred to Batibo in 1947. In 1961, the first Basel Mission Teachers. Training Centre for women was started in Bafut and latter on transferred to Mankon in 1962. it was called Basel Mission Womens Teachers Training Centre.
The need for a Basel Mission College has been expressed in many meetings since 1929. In 1949, the first Basel Mission College was opened in Bali, now called CPC Bali.
Between 1945 and 1961, many primary schools were opened in Cameroon by the Basel Mission. The schools were divided into two groups. Assisted and unassisted schools. Assisted schools were authorized by the Government to exist and were given Grants-in-Aid, to pay the salaries of the teachers, equip and build the schools.
Unassisted schools were those not authorized by the Government to exist and were not given any Grants-in-Aid. The Missionaries paid the teachers salaries and equipped the schools. They were not assisted by the government.
BASEL MISSION PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN 1961 |
||||
| No | TYPE OF SCHOOL | No. OF SCHOOLS | ENROLMENT | STAFF |
| 1 | Primary schools | 171 | 30.000 | 1.014 |
| 2 | Colleges | 1 | 256 | 15 |
| 3 | Teacher Training Centres | 2 | 170 | 10 |
| 4 | Administration | Supervisor = 2 | - | Manager = 12 |
| Total | 174 | 30.426 | 1.051 | |
The Basel Mission started with Secondary school Education in 1949, when CPC Bali was opened. It was only for Boys. The need for a second Basel Mission College was high since girls were not accepted for CPC Bali. In 1963, another secondary school was opened in Kumba. Again, only Boys were admitted. In 1964, Girls were admitted into the Basel Mission College Kumba. It was the first co-educational institution in the former West Cameroon. In 1964, a third Basel Mission College was opened at Besongabang.
In 1964, the Basel Mission had three colleges with an enrolment of 540 students and 34 teachers. Between 1964 and 1994 secondary Education expanded as follows: In 1972, PTTC Batibo became PSS Batibo and in 1989, it became PHS Batibo. WTTC Mankon, in 1980 became PSS Mankon.
About the PCC Development Department
This department which came into existence in 1970 is headed by a Development Secretary who oversees the various institutions, projects, and programmes engaged in Community-based development in different sectors including vocational training, women & gender, agriculture, healthcare, water & sanitation, Environment & climate change, Advocacy and humanitarian assistance to name a few. The Development department of the PCC also provides a framework for the promotion of development partnerships between the PCC and other organizations in the global South as well as in the global North. In this direction, the department facilitates communication between the Church and other development agencies.
With the Development department as an important arm of the PCC and whose primary objective remains to empower, promote and enhance the welfare and well-being of communities in places where the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon is found, as part of her mission, the development department is a crusader for social and economic justice leaving no room for discrimination or exclusion.
This transformative journey includes people left furthest behind based on their gender, age, culture, ethnicity, race, language, religion, disability, crisis, natural disasters, unemployment, and locating all factors that can contribute to vulnerability in key populations, as well as socioeconomic conditions, migration, asylum, refugee and displacement status, HIV and AIDS and other stigmatizing diseases. Underlying structural inequalities, social and cultural barriers, gaps, and intersectional vulnerability are considered. We dream of a future where there is equality for everyone and no one is left behind.
The units under this department are Prescraft Bamenda, Presbyterian Wood Work Training Centre (Tellco-Preswood) Ombe, Presbyterian Rural Training Centre Fonta, Presbyterian Rural Training Centre Manyemen, Preshostel Buea, Information, Communication and Technology Centre Buea, Synod Office Guest House Buea, Presbyterian Youth Complex Limbe, Presbyterian Nursing School Limbe, Synod Office Hall, Limbe rental stores, Lands office and network antennas on PCC land.
Goal - Contribute towards sustainable economic growth and development in Cameroon.
Vision- To make PCC a self-sufficient Church that contributes to people living life in fullness. A church that stands as one of the strongest partners in development in Cameroon.
Mission -To accelerate the attainment of life in dignity for PCC Christians and communities and to be part of the solution to build a better future for all
Guiding Principles
The complex nature and adverse effects of poverty, crisis, wars, and disasters require long-term, sustainable, and well-coordinated multi-sectoral responses. Efforts to address these issues should be closely monitored to avoid the duplication and fragmentation of activities. The need for innovative solutions requires us to encourage creativity, intellectual curiosity, and openness to change. In this context, as an organization, we have at our disposal congregations, projects, schools, hospitals, and, business units with manifold gifts for livelihood, educational and health facilities, with diverse networks as implementing structures in different thematic areas.
The principles that underpin the Development Department Strategic Plan, are as follows:
Empowerment and Leadership: We strive to promote and develop appropriate competencies among all key role players to carry out their responsibilities in responding to the poverty, humanitarian, and self-sufficiency challenges. We strongly believe that if community members are empowered, they tend to share their powers and use them for the advancement of the nation.
Human Rights-Based Approach: We are rooted in the protection and promotion of human and legal rights, including prioritizing inclusion and gender equality, and gender rights. It means that gender equity is incorporated in all policies and programmes of our projects and works.
Partnerships: We are engaged in facilitating comprehensive stakeholder consultations and dialogue, encouraging partnership-driven development in the planning and implementation of relevant development interventions involving all spheres.
No discrimination and Inclusion: Our work is people and needs-oriented and non-denominational. We desist from stigmatization and exclusion. People with disabilities and women are an integral part of our beneficiaries.
Equal Access and Opportunities: Women are often underprivileged. Our development interventions support the vulnerable and marginalized, and equal rights and opportunities for women and men. We are committed to ending gender-based violence.
Networking: We nurture relationships with people, other development organizations, businesses, donors, funders, and the government (state and non-state actors).
Past and Present HODs
Pa Ozimba J
James AkoEgbe
Mr Ebai
Mr Denis Kumbo
Mme Mpwate Jessy Eben Mbock