The churches normally meet occasionally to worship together under the name Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana.[citation needed] This body is like an organization of churches and it is the voice of the church.
History
One of the first missionaries to bring the gospel to Botswana was David Livingstone.
A survey identified the distribution among these groups as 66% Protestant, 7% Roman Catholics and 1% Other.
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church in Botswana is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in the Vatican City. Catholics represent about 5–6% of the total population.[3]
Initially Catholic missionaries were not allowed in Botswana by native tribes at the urging of Protestant missionaries who arrived first.[3] Missionaries began to work in Botswana in 1928, and were noted for setting up schools and clinics.[3] In 2006 the church in Francistown started a program to treat refugees infected with AIDS with anti retro viral therapy.[4] As of 2011 there were thirteen seminarians preparing for the priesthood in Botswana.[3]
The church in Botswana is organised into the Diocese of Gaborone, which serves the southern portion of the country, and the Diocese of Francistown, which serves the faithful of northern communities.
The first branch was organised in 1991 with fewer than 100 members. As of 2022, there were 4,031 members in 16 congregations in Botswana.[5]
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana was founded by Swiss missionaries led by the Rev. Henri Gronin begun working in 1863 among the tribe Bakgatla, Kgafela in Saulsport and Rustenburg in South Africa. In 1870 part of the tribe moved north to Botswana and the missionaries followed them. The great chief was baptised and most of the tribe followed him. In 1966 when Botswana become independent, a Synod of the Reformed Church was formed. In the 1970s the church gained independence. The church in the following years expanded to Basarwa, Bakalanga and Bakgatla.[6]
While children were treated as small adults during the colonial era, the 1800s brought a wave of Sunday school programs (Protestants) and parochial schools (Catholics) specifically for that young population. By the late 1800s, over half of Botswana's young members were attending elementary schools run by local parishes.[citation needed]
Beliefs and attitudes
19 percent of Botswana Christians: believe in salvation through Jesus Christ, attend church regularly, study the Bible, invest in personal faith development through a church community, accept church leadership positions, and believe they are obligated to evangelize to others.
20 percent are Professing Christians. These persons are also committed to "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" with an emphasis on personal spirituality over organized religion.
24 percent are Liturgical Christians, predominantly Lutheran and Roman Catholic. They are regular churchgoers, exhibit a high level of spiritual activity, and recognize the authority of the church.[citation needed]
16 percent are Private Christians. They own a Bible, but rarely read it. Only about one-third attend church. They believe in God and good works, but not necessarily within a church context. This was the largest and youngest segment. Almost none are church leaders.
21 percent are Cultural Christians. They identify as Christians, yet they do not view Jesus as essential to salvation, exhibiting minimal religious behaviors and attitudes favoring a universality theology.[citation needed]
Conversion
A study from 2015 estimated that about 100 Botswana Muslims convert to Christianity each year, most of whom belong to an evangelical or Pentecostal community.[10] It has been reported that conversion into Christianity is significantly increasing among East Asians.[citation needed]
Education
The majority of Botswana Christians attend co-educational public schools, mostly government operated. The Christian schools were built by churches such as Moeding College for the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, and St. Joseph's College (established by the Roman Catholic Church).[11] Although the schools are Christian schools, Botswana's government participates in their development, related infrastructure, and hiring practices (particularly in hiring teachers).
Media
Every week day public channel BTV broadcasts short religious programs.[citation needed]
