| Rev Nyondo and Rev Mhango, Dec 2015. |
A congregation can challenge the Decision of the Synod
Contact and Dialogue failed within the church hence the issue was sent to the High Court in 2015 and Supreme Court of Appeal whose judgment concluded put to rest the matter between Kanengo CCAP Congregation and the Synod of Livingstonia. Rev. Chimwemwe Mhango and the Kanengo CCAP Congregation may not have been the first to challenge the decision of the Synod but for some reasons, this matter attracted a lot of attention. What is not clear is whether the congregation was simply challenging the decision of and not the Synod authorities or both. My assessment is that the Synod authorities felt challenged at both the decision and authority levels. Whatever the view, this has set an open precedent that a congregation can challenge the decision of the Synod.
The Livingstonia Synod is a fighter
Kanengo Congregation should have known better than it was starting a battle against its mother Synod which is a fighter and is “used” to handling conflicts. It fights against Government, other Churches, Culture, Systems and institutions. It was only a matter of time for the Congregants to experience the fighting spirit of its Synod. While this was running, the Synod had a case where the election of the incumbent General Secretary was being challenged in court. Also the villagers who have been “encroaching” on the Mission’s land at Ekwendeni have themselves seen how the Synod can use the law and the Police to deal with them. The consequences of the border dispute between Nkhoma and Livingstonia Synods are well known.
RPC is determined to move on
In the last week, I have seen pictures of the Redeemed Presbyterian Church members clearing a new place to be used for church services. The place is near the now-abandoned Kanengo CCAP house where they were. What they have done shows that these people resolved sometime ago to move on. They seem very certain of their way forward and were possibly just waiting for the Court’s guidance. I just have to learn to accept them as a new church in the land and still recognize them as brethren. If I don’t, I will just be wasting my time. As the learned man Gamaliel of the New Testament said once said, "I'm telling you to keep away from these men for now. Leave them alone, because if this plan or movement is of human origin, it will fail.”
A leader is to blame
Rev. Chimwemwe Mhango’s refusal of transfer from the Kanengo Congregation to Ekwendeni is presented to be the cause of the conflict. He is to blame for leading the congregation in a manner that has led to a newest church born out of CCAP. Things should not have not reached this stage. Of course we may not know the issues for his refusal-may be God had spoken to him about this desired direction. But as a leader, it makes sense that he is blamed for these developments. What I don’t know is whether it is justified for anyone to demonize him. It is also obvious that his camp would blame the leaders at the Synod including Rev. Levi Nyondo for these developments.
It is easy to go with the flow yet the battles are personal
As I have written before, the issue at the surface may have been Synod vs. Chimwemwe Mhango and Kanengo Congregation. We have to hope that over the years, there have been no unresolved personal issues between these men of the collar. Unfortunately followers join in and become the grass being trampled as the elephants fight. Nations, Churches suffer because their leaders at the top did not resolve the issues from the past.
We all need help
They may or may not admit that they have been injured. But it is obvious that deep within their hearts the Synod leaders, Rev. Mhango and the congregants know that this has left a wound which needs healing. All need help. They need wisdom, courage, peace, etc to deal with these matters. I imagined the pain they may have felt to see Rev. Mhango (whom they developed for 21 years) and Kanengo Congregation challenge them. I also imagine how much prayer and moral support Rev. Mhango and his team needs. I recalled Rev. Mhango’s 1993 song “Wandiitana Ambuye kudzaweta Nkhosazo” (The Lord has called me to shepherd his sheep) and wondered how he might be feeling-may be questioning if that call is still there or not.
Not sure what the Synod has won
In December 2015, I wrote an article statingthat in fact the Synod had won the same case against itself. The recent ruling confirms that position still. The more I thought about that, the more I asked myself if the Synod would honestly say what exactly it is that it has won. I thought about its mission. I wondered if it wasn’t time for it to mourn over the lost souls which are rebellious. If a child rebels, would the parent rejoice if indeed the child moves far away from home?
Don’t forget it is a small world
Reading and hearing the comments attacking the Mhango Camp and his camp attacking the synod officials gives one the impression that people forget that the world (and Malawi) is quite small. For the sake of community peace and the higher calling of love, I would restrain myself from demonizing either camp because I may as well be throwing stones on my neighbor, daughter-in-law, lecturer, even pastor. I would not demonize Rev. Nyondo and the Synod leadership because these are our leaders called to serve and discipline us. Wisdom and restraint have to prevail. Even if I wanted to, would it be fair to attack your parents, friends, brothers in the Lord?
Nkhoma Synod vs. Livingstonia Synod issue in background
One wonders if the Kanengo CCAP Congregation saga would have arisen if Livingstonia and Nkhoma Synods moved on amicably and resolved not to move into each other’s historical territories. The Kanengo Congregation would not have been born neither would Rev. Mhango have come to Lilongwe because at the back of their mind, the Livingstonia Synod strategically sent Mhango to Lilongwe to fulfil a certain mission. Issues bear other issues.
Synod loyalists, not Christ’s
Since this issue arose (even that of the synod boundary), it has revealed who is loyal to Synod(s) while some have moved out or indeed decided just to laugh about it. However there are many Presbyterians who are bothered by these conflicts and feel embarrassed of their church and Synod leadership. What is surprising though is that some people seem to rejoice more and loyal to Synod than to Christ.
The devil has found space to hit on the Body of Christ
Conflicts within the church attract ridicule from all sorts of persons including those who don’t know Christ as personal Lord and Savior. Hearing some statements around the issues, a Christian would be wiser if they deciphered if what they were hearing from someone is from the Lord or not. History has shown that some people could only grow to maturity, responsibility and higher impact if they moved out of their current institutions. History will judge Rev. Chimwemwe Mhango if his ministry through CCAP was only a preparatory ground for something bigger.
While there are many other lessons, the key lesson (which is rather frustrating to me) out of all this is that many who know these issues well do not want to write and share in public. May be it is a characteristic of Presbyterians!
