Stefan Hoeschele’s volume deals with the history and theological/ecclesiological development of the Seventh-day Adventist mission and church in Tanzania 1903–1980.
Christians on the African continent belong roughly to three main groups: Roman Catholics, Protestant/Evangelicals, and African Independent Churches. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, with some 400,000 out of a population of 40 million, is assigned to the Protestant group.
The author explored a major but generally neglected issue in missions. He went about his chosen challenge with great energy, courage, painstaking honesty, and missiological zeal. With a German background, six years of service as theology lecturer at the Tanzanian Adventist College, and fluent in Swahili, his choice of subject was inevitable. The 600-page volume has a well-organized bibliography and includes about 100 interviews. Issues and topics are thoroughly examined. He delved into the biblical theology of missions, missionary anthropology, Tanzanian and German history, church history, social sciences, government regulations, mission administration manuals and correspondence, articles in periodicals, and personal interviews.
The main theme of the volume is mapping the various tensions that take place as a missionary-led group of new believers grows into an established church fellowship, and what happens when missionary leadership is taken over by national pastors.
Doctrines such as Sabbath keeping and healthful living are considered in great detail. They are put into local settings as they are understood, interpreted, and influenced by exposure to African culture and customs.
Hoeschele lists a number of these influences, ranging from outside relationships with tribal leaders, local administrations, and authorities, to ecumenism and cooperation (or lack thereof) with competing mission societies. He also deals with issues in local church settings such as church ordinances and authority, liturgy, rituals and worship forms, and Christian stewardship. On the personal level there are questions on morality and ethics, family relationships, lifestyle, and acceptance or rejection of local customs.
The author has succeeded in the difficult attempt to draw a fine line between theologies and folk church concepts.
