A Reflection on the Episcopal System of Church Polity in the Context of the African Church

A Reflection on the Episcopal System of Church Polity in the Context of the African Church

Isaac Boaheng

Issue: Vol. 12 No.5 2026 Issue Article 1 pp. 155 – 168
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20261251Published online 18th June 2026.
© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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ABSTRACT

The question of church polity has been central to theological discourse throughout the history of the Church. Theological reflections on the most suitable leadership model for the Church have evolved, with scholars from different historical periods expressing varying opinions. These debates generally center around three primary models of church governance: episcopal, presbyterian, and congregational. Though there are many publications on this subject, current scholarly interest in the debate justifies this research, which appraises the episcopal system within the African sociopolitical and ecclesiological contexts. The study critically appraised the episcopal model and its implications for ecumenical relations and interdenominational dialogue using a literature-based research methodology. The study found that while the episcopal system provides organizational stability and continuity, it also presents challenges related to authoritarianism and limited lay participation. The research concluded that contextual adaptations are necessary for the episcopal model to thrive in Africa’s diverse cultural landscape. The paper contributes to the discourse by offering a contextualized evaluation of episcopal polity and suggesting paths for its development in African ecclesial settings.

Keywords: Church Polity, Episcopal Leadership, Ecclesiology, Church Governance

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AUTHOR(S)

Isaac Boaheng (PhD) holds doctorates from the University of the Free State and the University of Pretoria, both in South Africa. He is a Research Fellow at the Biblical and Religious Department of the University of the Free State. He lectures at Christian Service University and has over a hundred peer-reviewed publications. His research interests are in theology, Biblical studies, and Translation studies.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Boaheng, Isaac. “A Reflection on the Episcopal System of Church Polity in the Context of the African Church.” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies 12, no.5 (2026): 155 – 168. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20261251