Synod talks end in tears
A political crossfire during the 39th biannual General Assembly of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia held at Loudon Mission in Mzimba District on Saturday ended in tears as leaders tore into each other.
The spat exposed the political cracks in the vocal Presbyterian synod and some of the clergy openly rebuked others on how they have enriched themselves from politics in the name of the church.
Synod general secretary, the Reverend William Tembo wept when the new moderator, the Reverend Jailos Kamisa, hit at selfish leaders for dragging the church into politics.
A visibly composed Kamisa said he was filled with fear and was trembling because of the roles he is supposed to carry out in serving the church gripped between the jaws of politics.
He stated: “Much as we appreciate the relationship that exists between the church and the State, one sad development is the recent visit to the State Lodge in Mzuzu where more than 50 ministers were accompanied by the general secretary to meet the President [Lazarus Chakwera]. We just learned that they were invited by the State.
“What was saddening was that there was no mutual or any consultation between the general secretary and the synod moderator, leaving one wondering: Who had authorised such a huge group to meet the Head of State? Even the message presented there was not representing the stand of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia.”
The stinging questions sprayed pepper in Tembo’s eyes, who was seen shedding tears.
All eyes were on Kamisa, who was speaking while seated.
As a tearful Tembo looked on, he vowed not to be “a passive moderator”, but someone who will not be praising or antagonising anyone.
Kamisa said that even if what he pronounced was unpopular, unpalatable or even unacceptable, “God is the perfect judge”.
He attributed the formation of cracks and camps in the synod to a malfunctioning secretariat.
He added: “From where I am standing, it is evident but sadly very clear that we are running a divided church. Each one of us is wondering whether it is God we are serving or not. Are we true ambassadors of God’s kingdom or not?
“We are no longer a united entity. The Lord’s church has become a place for personal ambitions. One would not be far from the truth to say we are at our lowest point in terms of the life and work of the church. It is sad, disgraceful, unacceptable and shameful to say the least.”
The Nation asked the synod for comment, but we could not get any.
However, in his speech on Sunday, former Vice-President Khumbo Kachali, a church elder, urged calm.
“If there are issues, let us always try to discuss them in private before they come to this public space,” he said amid cheers from the assembly.
About 750 delegates from 34 presbyteries within the Synod of Livingstonia attended the biennial talks held under the theme: “Worship God in Spirit and in Truth”.
Yesterday, Tembo laughed off the pressure to step down given the tear-provoking allegations.
“I don’t know what made the moderator say that. I haven’t resigned and I will not resign,” he said.
But political pundit George Chaima warned the synod leadership against taking sides in partisan politics as their flock transcends the political divide.
He said “It could be that the GS was crying due to remorse for betrayal or emotion of unfair personal attack
“However, it could mean that some church leaders take matters too personal or they ignore the calling of defending the relevant gospel in the political circles in order to strike the balance.”
Chaima urged faith leaders to examine their powers and apply them cautiously without overstepping the gospel regardless of their political favourites to retain public trust.
