by Moses Chitendwe, Zambia, May 1997
THEME = CHURCHES
The United Church of Zambia (UCZ) was formed in 1965 by a union of three Churches: namely the United Church of Central Africa in Rhodesia (UCCAR); the Methodist Church; the Church of Barotseland. The aim was to strengthen and broadening their activities. 32 years later, the strong bonds uniting the UCZ have disintegrated. Why? because the Methodist Church and the Church of Barotseland are waging a joint campaign to dissolve the UCZ, alleging that the United Church cannot follow out its responsibilities.
Reverend Isaac Mumpansha, who is the Superintendent and Chairman of the Methodist Church says: "The UCZ Synod has, over the years since its union, failed to uphold the tenets of unity. This is exhibited by its bad administration, and its intolerance of dissenting views".
A number of Resolutions were taken in April, at a joint meeting in Mongu, Western Zambia, of the Methodist Church and the Church of Barotsel. Afterwards, Rev.Mumpansha and Rev. Gilbert Musialela, interim Chairman of the Church of Barotseland, put up a spirited battle to ensure the immediate dissolution of the UCZ.
They claim that under the UCZ, member Churches have lost their traditional doctrinal, theological and historical backgrounds. In fact, UCZ's performances prove that the union has never really managed to "deliver the goods".
In a Press Statement, Rev. Mumpansha says: "Thirty-two years ago, our individual Churches were renowned for their services in education, medical care and agriculture. This was carried out in cooperation with other Churches like the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Reformed Church, Salvation Army and the Seventh Day Adventist, all of whom have visibly and commendably shown the growth of their Church work.
The Statement continues: "We, members of the Church of Barotseland and the Methodist Church, have finally resolved that we should exist as separate entities in our former areas of operation, fully identified with our properties". In demanding to have the UCZ dissolved, the Methodist Church and the Church of Barotseland state that each party to the union, reserves the liberty and the right to operate as separate and independent Churches.
The two Churches have agreed to form a committee, comprising the three member Churches who were original signatories to the union, to work out the modalities of repossessing all the mission building and properties, which the Methodist Church and the Church of Barotseland owned respectively before the union, and to share them amicably.
Differences within the UCZ started in 1994 when the Methodist Church presented a letter of notification to the synod office in Lusaka, concerning its intention to withdraw its membership of the UCZ.
The Methodist Church says that it wrote four letters to the UCZ synod office, requesting a meeting to discuss the issues pertaining to their intention to withdraw their membership. But so far, there has been no response. The same year the Church of Barotseland had also made it known that it intended to separate itself from the UCZ. Because of this, some members and leaders of the Church of Barotseland were suspended by the UCZ leadership. Indeed, a sad situation all round.
END