The Road to Unity: The Lutheran Churches of Southern Africa Confronting a Divided Past

This volume traces the historical development of Lutheran churches in southern Africa from colonial establishment through apartheid to contemporary unity efforts. The study examines mission-to-church transitions, responses to apartheid, and multiple attempts at achieving unity including the formation of FELCSA, LUCSA, and includes: Comprehensive historical analysis of Lutheran churches in southern Africa from colonial establishment to contemporary unity efforts Examination of mission-to-church transitions and responses to apartheid within Lutheran denominations Critical assessment of unity initiatives including FELCSA, LUCSA, and joint theological education at LTI Analysis of the 1964 UELCSA and 1975 ELCSA formations and their impact on racial divisions within Lutheran churches Documentation of failed unity attempts and the 2008 collapse of unity talks with lessons for future efforts This title has been co-published with UKZN Press. T&F does not sell or distribute the print versions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

About the Author

Philippe Denis is Professor Emeritus in the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. His research focuses on church history, oral history, and the history of Christianity in southern Africa. He has published extensively on mission history, religious responses to apartheid, and the role of churches in social transformation. Denis has supervised numerous postgraduate students and contributed significantly to the documentation of religious history in the region. His scholarly work combines historical analysis with theological reflection, addressing questions of ecclesial unity, denominational development, and the intersection of faith and politics in southern African contexts.