AFM factions square off
THE Apostolic Faith Mission church (AFM) has resolved to settle its leadership feud through an out-of-court settlement, AFM International president Reverend Frank Chikane has said.
AFM Zimbabwe is currently rocked in a leadership wrangle pitting Reverend Amon Madawo and Reverend Cossum Chiangwa over constitutional reforms. Rev Chiangwa, who is being labelled a ‘rebel’ contends that the constitution making process was flawed and seeks to cause divisions.
However, Rev Madawo refuses to recognise Chiangwa saying he was elected outside constitutional dictates. Rev Madawo seems to be commanding support of the majority of church assemblies. The feud has led to the interention of Rev Chikane of South Africa.
“We are going to work hard to re-unite the church,” he said.
“We are going to have to go into dialogue because we cannot do it without dialogue and at the beginning of the dialogue we deal with the problematic issues about pastors, suspension of people, etc.” Rev Chikane who is assisted in the mediation process by AFM International Secretary General Pastor George Mahlobo and Treasure General Pastor Koosimile said the international church will decide the legitimate leader.
In his presentation to the mediation team Chiangwa said the church was on the edge due to the proposed constitutional changes.
“It was designed to promote divisions among key stakeholders; it’s divisive throughout the rank and file of the church,” he said.
“This document is a creation of authors who have found an opportunity to entrench their political and secular interests in the church thus forming a totally new secular church.
“The contents of the draft constitution seeks to form another church different from AFM in Zimbabwe, it portrays several cultic and occultist tendencies and it secularises and institutionalises the church through secular systems.
“The constitution‘s motive, process, and content was mired with gross irregularities, vested interests and unwavering persistence, hence it remained flawed.” Rev Madawo defended the new constitution. He said the workers’ council which was convened on September 15 2018 granted permission for constitution amendments.
“It compelled the leadership of the AFM in Zimbabwe to consider an agenda item that the Workers Council meeting of 28 April 2018 was supposed to, but did not, deal with, namely to consider if deemed fit to pass, with, or without amendments the draft amendments to the constitution of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe that were circulated to Provincial a Council Members in accordance with section 12.6 of the constitution of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“The AFM International advised the church ‘s leaders that the 15 September 2018 Workers’ s Council should take a decision that the reform document be circulated to all church structures for a further consultative process and that the 2018 church elections be conducted on the basis of the current constitution.
“Regrettably the 15 September 2018 Workers’ Council resolved that the reform document, with the exception of the part that deals with election, should be subjected to a further consultative process.”