Breaking the Foreign Pot: Mainline Churches and the Burden of Democratization in Cameroon

Abstract

This paper is a critical reflection on the role traditional mainline Christianchurches in Cameroon such as the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and thePresbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) could play in democratizingpolitical and social life in Cameroon. It argues that for these churches toplay this role effectively, they need to go beyond parochial considerations inthe exercise of their Christian mission. Drawing from broad historical data,local Christian literature, and local press reports, the current failure bythese churches to contribute to the democratization process effectively inCameroon is attributed to a combination of both historical andcontemporary factors. This paper argues that the continuous reliance bythese churches on their inherited colonial roots and the failure to reformtheir own internal administrative workings in a liberal-democratic spirit areserious handicaps in any endeavour towards influencing desired change inCameroon. Questioning their historical roots in view of effectingthoroughgoing reforms within their own administrative and theologicalstructure is deemed necessary if these mainline Christian churches hope tobe credible players in current efforts at political and social transformationin Cameroon.

Key words: Democratization, Mission by translation, Mission by diffusion,Change, Theology