Cameroon Baptist Conflicts: The Problem of Tribalism, Position and Power

Not all intra-faith clashes are dogma based. This book examines the nature and role of conflicts in the history of the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC). The Baptist Mission is the oldest Christian body in Cameroon, introduced in 1841. In 1954, the indigenous Christians gained independence from foreign control of the Church, and became CBC. This Baptist Church have had a chequered history which cost it growth and influence amongst the main Christian denominations, and this study attributes this retarded growth to conflicts. These conflicts emerged from and were sustained by tribalism/ ethnicity, position and power chase that plague(d) the organisation since birth and rendered its influence in Cameroon incommensurate with its age. These conflicts were identified as inherent in its creation, organisation and administration of the institution. Although the conflicts have largely been resolved, the CBC was still potentially conflict prone, following its principles of mission fields creation and operation. It is perhaps here, more than elsewhere, that much work is required to preempt these CBC conflicts (like similar ones affecting other Christian entities) for it to grow.