Three Church mother bodies caned

PARTISAN clergymen cannot be entrusted to oversee the national dialogue and reconciliation process because they will be serving their own interests,' says Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) Copperbelt provincial coordinator Poster Jumbe.

Mr Jumbe said, in its current state, the three church mother bodies could not be entrusted to oversee national affairs because most of the clergymen had hidden agendas which were far from promoting reconciliation.

He was speaking in an interview in Kitwe yesterday.

Mr. Jumbe said this following the resignation of United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Synod Bishop Sydney Sichilima as president of Council of Church in Zambia (CCZ).

Bishop Suchilima said there were certain biblical ethics that he could compromise in executing his pastoral duties hence his withdrawal from the church mother bodies and resignation from CCZ.

Mr Jumbe said Bishop Sichilima’s withdrawal from CCZ was an indication that the three church mother bod ies were divided and could not provide spiritual guidance.

"In their current state, the three church bodies cannot be entrusted to oversee or supervise the dialogue process because some of the clergymen in these bodies are pursuing personal and political interests.

"It will be irresponsible for the country to allow partisan clergymen to oversee an important national issue like dialogue.

That dialogue process would be a flop. It will actually make cracks even bigger,'' Mr Jumbe said.

Mr Jumbe said it was because of the conduct of some clergymen that his organization was supporting the introduction of a regulatory framework to curb misconduct among the clergy.

He said AVAP was in support of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili’s pronouncement to introduce a framework regulate pastors and church leaders.

“We think this regulatory framework is the way to go.

Only those with crooked minds and want to use the church for their own selfish and evil motives will oppose this arrangement.

"It is the conduct of the Pastors which has forced government to think in this manner. In the recent past, we have seen and heard weird stories from pastors.

We have heard of Pastors involved in sexual immorality and even swindling their own congregants,'' Mr Jumbe said.

He said it was sad that some pastors had decided to become political party cadres because of their desire for money instead of providing spiritual guidance promoting dialogue and reconciliation.

"We expect clergymen to tell the members of the congregations the truth that hard work is the way to prosperity. If you are not a hard worker, you will pray but you will not succeed,'' he said.