More than 70% of the population of Botswana is Christian. Most are members of the Anglican, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, and African independent churches. Anglicans are part of the Church of the Province of Central Africa. The Roman Catholic Church includes about 5% of the nation's population.
The number of Pentecostal churches has been rising in the 21st century. Churchgoers participate in night prayers, evangelism and crusades. Midweek Bible study services are conducted in some churches. In these meetings, prayers are offered for the church, members, community, and leaders in the nation. Churches in Botswana include Pentecostal Protestant Church, Assemblies of God, Apostolic Faith Mission, Eloyi Christian Church, Pentecostal Holiness Church, Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana, Good News Ministries, Christ Embassy, Bible Life Ministries, Victory International Centre (VIC), Royal Assembly Ministries Int’l, First Love Church, and Winners Chapel International. The Eastern Orthodox Church and Serbian Orthodox Church[1] are present. Many of the churches are members of the Botswana Council of Churches.
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.
According to the country’s 2011 census, 79% of the population are members of Christian groups,[2] typically as Anglicans, Methodists, or as members of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa.
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.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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]
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]
The denomination has 6,000 members and 13 parishes with 50 house fellowships in 2 presbyteries and one Synod. The 14 churches are in : Muchudi, Muchudi East, Muchudi West, Sikwane, Gaborone, Tlokweng, Lobatse, Kgalagadi, Ghanzi, Maun, Makaleng, Selebi Phikwe, Boseja (Mochudi).[7]
The church subscribe the Reformed confessions:
The church is member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.[8] It is also a member of the Botswana Council of Churches.