ACNS – Over 40 bishops and senior clergy from around Africa are meeting in Lusaka Zambia for a bishop peer-mentoring workshop to share ideas on how the Africa church can achieve financial sustainability in the running of missions and programmes.
Primate of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) and Bishop of Northern Zambia, the Most Revd Albert Chama explained the purpose of the workshop during the opening ceremony held June 6 at the Chamba Valley Exotic Hotel in Lusaka.
He said: “One of the things which the church in Africa grapples with has to do with the financial sustainability of the church. However, this workshop is not about lecturing but learning from what has been done somewhere.”
Archbishop Chama challenged the participants to “open their hearts and minds” and learn from one another. He also emphasised that for the Church in Africa to be successful, there is need to learn from what other dioceses have successfully done and replicate it in their own areas.
The workshop which runs from June 6 to June 11 has brought together participants from twelve countries in Africa including Zambia, Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Lesotho and Swaziland.
Those present include among many others, the Primate and Metropolitan of the Church of the Province of West Africa (CPWA), also Archbishop of the Internal province of Ghana and Bishop of Kumasi, the Most Revd Daniel Sarfo, Primate of the Anglican Church of Tanzania (ACT), the Most Revd Jacob Chimeledya, the first Bishop of Angola the Rt Revd Adam Taaso and Bishop of Rumonge, Burundi’s newest diocese, the Rt Revd Pedaculi Birakengana.
Others attending include Trinity Wall Street parish representatives the Revd Canon Benjamin Musoke Lubega and Ms Sarah Arney.
Welcoming the participants to his diocese, Bishop of Lusaka, the Rt Revd David Njovu said the gathering should be an opportunity to build trust which will enable participants “open up to each other and to give and receive advice and support.”
“We hope that the senior bishops will be able to serve as role models for the newer bishops,” he said. “Many of us senior and newer bishops face challenges in our daily walk with Christ and in our ministry and need someone to talk to and lean on.”
Bishop of Swaziland Ellinah Wamukoya gave a presentation on good governance and financial sustainability in the Church. She reminded participants to always be aware that governance in the Church is God directed and to him that the Church is accountable.
Using the example of the creation story, she said, “the world population is increasing and hence the need to increase resources to look after God’s creation for the advancements of his kingdom.”
She challenged the participants to formulate clear policies on how to implements what is stipulated in regulations such as procurement and human resources policies.
“You will know you’re governing properly when you have clear structures, policies and systems,” she said. “A Church is a public affair and the resources in the Church are public resources.”
The workshop follows a formal request made by the Africa churches to Trinity Wall Street to receive capacity building on financial sustainability of the Church on the continent. It emphasises the value of sharing best practices and success stories among the churches in Africa.
