congregational chronicle july 2015

A new decade stretches before us.Let's seize this moment to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.

A new decade stretches before us. Let's seize this moment

EDITOR’S NOTE: Friends, this is my final publication of the UCCSA Congregational Chronicle. I wish to express thanks to each of you that have shared in my work; whether behind the scenes or as contributors or as readers of the Newsletter. It has been a distinct pleas-ure serving UCCSA in this way. In reaffirming the greatness of our Church, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Christ continues to call us to participate in Suffering and Struggle.

I affirm our tradition that “The Lord has yet more light and truth to break forth from God’s word”. A new decade stretches before us Congregationalists. Let’s seize this moment to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more. We may ask ,how do we continue to relate to one another as ONE Church? in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift of uniting 5 nations, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise of fullness of life for All Creation. May our Cove-nant continue to serve as key idea in the life and witness of the UCCSA. Warm regards! Wellington Mthobisi Sibanda. UCCSA Communications Officer

Newsletter Date: July 2015 UCCSA : Issue 7

Congregational Chronicle

Inside this issue:

Editor’s note 1

WCRC Intern-ship

2

CWM Updates 3

Remarks by President Obama

4

My UCCSA Plan 5

The Church is not dying Struggle

6

7

SA Synod

News Brief

8

9


The SACC is driven by the gospel of

Jesus Christ who was a baby-refugee

with his parents in Africa;

The WCRC gives internship opportunities to young people aged 30 and younger to work with the or-ganization in order to learn about global ecumenism and the issues that are central to the WCRC’s mission: Reformed theology and social justice advocacy. The internship programme allows young pro-fessionals to do practical work along with WCRC staff on assignments matched to the interns’ inter-ests and skills, as well as to the organization’s needs for assistance. Interns will be given experiences in most of these areas: Justice (including ecological, economic, gender and racial justice) Theology and ecumenical engagement Mission Contemporary witness in the global context today (including interfaith contexts) Communications Event organization Stewardship of church finances Each intern works in the WCRC’s global offices in Hannover, Germany, for a full year. The application process for the WCRC’s 2015-16 internship programme is now open. The WCRC looks forward to se-lecting a highly qualified person who is interested in gaining valuable experience working with an in-ternational ecumenical organization. The deadline for submitting completed applications (including the endorsement of a WCRC member church) is 29 August 2015. For more information con-tact: [email protected]

The World Communion of Reformed Churches is comprised of 80 million Christians in Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, United, Uniting and Waldensian churches. The WCRC, working with its 225+ member churches, is active in supporting theology, justice, church unity and mission in over 100 countries. United in Christ and rooted in the historic Reformed traditions, the WCRC with its member churches believe that Christian faith is responding to God’s call to meet spiritual needs and foster jus-tice for all in the transformation of the world through the love of Jesus Christ. Representatives—men and women, lay and clergy—come from member churches to meet in a general council every seven years. Gathered together they discern God’s will through Scripture to decide the WCRC’s direction. The council also elects leadership to oversee its policies and work. These officers and executive com-mittee members elect the general secretary.

mailto:[email protected]


Council For World Mission Africa Region Events

Congregational Chronicle

UCCSA representatives at: New lnternational Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA) Colloquium,

Madagascar United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) was invited in a series of three colloquia fo-cusing on the Economy of Life in pursuit of alternative ways on making sense of life in the midst of the death-dealing neoliberal economic globalisation. Simply put, there is need for our member churches to accompany people living in poverty to participate in the eradication of poverty so that all may experience

a full and fruitful life. Accordingly, there is need for us, in the first in-stance, to take the time to understand the problem; and secondly, to apply imagination and creativity to identify-ing life-giving alternatives. These collo-quia are intended to assist your under-standing and participation through ed-ucation and engagement. Dr Rogate R. Mshana, a renowned economist, who recently retired from many years of leading the Economic Justice depart-ment of the World Council of Churches, is working alongside CWM’s Justice and Witness Team to guide this pro-cess. There shall be three colloquia in

each of the six regions of CWM over a time, beginning with the Africa Region. 1. The first colloquium is designed to enable churches to share experiences on how these issues are ad-dressed both theologically and practically. 2. The second, colloquium will enable churches to design some practical programs on how to address the issues in context. 3. The third colloquium will enable churches to implement the designed programs.

The Council for World Mission (CWM) Africa Region will be convening the bi-annual Africa Region Roundtable meeting due to be hosted in Inhambane, Mozambique from the 9th to the 14th of August 2014 and it shall carry the theme "Life Affirming Communities: Living Hope". The theme seeks to give traction to the Region's main priority of equipping the Member Churches and building capacity in the area of developing Missional Congregations. It will provide a platform to further explore the true essence of a Missional church and afford the Member Churches the opportunity for peer to peer interaction, shar-ing of Missional stories and mutually challenging one another. The CWM Africa Region is one of the six Regions of CWM. CWM is a worldwide community of Christian churches in the Regions of Africa, the Caribbean, East Asia, Europe, the Pacific and South Asia. The 32 members are committed to sharing their resources of money, people, skills and insights globally to carry out God’s mission locally. The CWM Africa Region comprises five Member Churches: the Churches of Christ in Malawi (CCM); Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM), United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) and the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA), with mem-bership representation spread over 7 countries in Southern Africa.


Remarks by President Obama to the People of Africa

UCCSA : Issue 7

To members of the African Union, distinguished guests, ladies

and gentlemen -- thank you for welcoming me here today. It is a

great honor to be the first President of the United States to ad-

dress the African Union.

I’m grateful for this opportunity to speak to the representatives

of more than one billion people of the great African conti-

nent We’re joined today by citizens, by leaders of civil society, by

faith communities, and I’m especially pleased to see so many

young people who embody the energy and optimism of today’s Africa. Hello! Thank you for being here.

I stand before you as a proud American. I also stand before you as the son of an African. Africa and its

people helped to shape America and allowed it to become the great nation that it is. And Africa and its

people have helped shape who I am and how I see the world. In the villages in Kenya where my father

was born, I learned of my ancestors, and the life of my grandfather, the dreams of my father, the bonds of

family that connect us all as Africans and Americans.

As parents, Michelle and I want to make sure that our two daughters know their heritage -- European

and African, in all of its strengths and all of its struggle. So we’ve taken our daughters and stood with

them on the shores of West Africa, in those doors of no return, mindful that their ancestors were both

slaves and slave owners. We’ve stood with them in that small cell on Robben Island where Madiba

showed the world that, no matter the nature of his physical confinement, he alone was the master of his

fate. For us, for our children, Africa and its people teach us a powerful lesson -- that we must uphold the

inherent dignity of every human being.

Dignity -- that basic idea that by virtue of our common humanity, no matter where we come from, or

what we look like, we are all born equal, touched by the grace of God. Every person has worth. Every

person matters. Every person deserves to be treated with decency and respect. Throughout much of

history, mankind did not see this. Dignity was seen as a virtue reserved to those of rank and privilege,

kings and elders. It took a revolution of the spirit, over many centuries, to open our eyes to the dignity of

every person. And around the world, generations have struggled to put this idea into practice in laws

and in institutions.

So, too, here in Africa. This is the cradle of humanity, and ancient African kingdoms were home to great

libraries and universities. But the evil of slavery took root not only abroad, but here on the conti-

nent. Colonialism skewed Africa’s economy and robbed people of their capacity to shape their own des-

tiny. Eventually, liberation movements grew. And 50 years ago, in a great burst of self-determination,

Africans rejoiced as foreign flags came down and your national flags went up. As South Africa’s Albert

Luthuli said at the time, “the basis for peace and brotherhood in Africa is being restored by the resurrec-

tion of national sovereignty and independence, of equality and the dignity of man.

A half-century into this independence era, it is long past time to put aside old stereotypes of an Africa

forever mired in poverty and conflict. The world must recognize Africa’s extraordinary pro-

gress. Today, Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world. Africa’s middle class is projected

to grow to more than one billion consumers. With hundreds of millions of mobile phones, surging access

to the Internet, Africans are beginning to leapfrog old technologies into new prosperity. Africa is on the

move, a new Africa is emerging.


MY UCCSA PLAN

We wish to extend a very warm welcome to you about My UCCSA Plan! My UCCSA Plan is a product that is originated by the UCCSA as a funeral assistance plan for its members and everybody else who wants to join. My UCCSA Plan is a demonstration of the extension of our care about you and your loved ones. My UCCSA Plan is open to ALL members of the UCCSA, whether clergy or not, you can participate in My UCCSA Plan and enjoy the benefits and peace of its coverage. It is effectively open to anybody qualifying under the respective age categories as detailed in the brochure. My UCCSA Plan offers you the opportunity to care for your loved ones and also to participate in the mission work of God through the UCCSA. As My UCCSA Plan grows, through each and every person who signs up and re-mains in the programme, so too will the UCCSA’s ministry and service potential grow. In that way you would have added to the value of the UCCSA. My UCCSA Plan therefore offers you a chance to leave a good legacy not only to care about your loved ones but in the wider needs of the world. It is therefore my pleasure and honour to introduce you to the My UCCSA Plan and to encourage you, after you have experienced it, to pass on its story of benefits to the next person. Thank you for considering and taking up My UCCSA Plan.

Contact our marketing team

Sue Jooste or Priscila

011 472 4945

082 828 4853

[email protected]

http://www.jcrs.co.za

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.jcrs.co.za/


THE CHURCH IS NOT DYING. IT’S FAILING. THERE’S A DIFFERENCE.

UCCSA : Issue 7

Below is an edited reflections of a young progressive Christian who is all about resurrection theology, community

engagement, empowerment theologies for women and children

I work in the church, and I am quite de-voted to that line of work. And over the past month or so, people of my ilk have been obsessively reacting to this Pew survey that seems to unilaterally say that the Mainline church is dying. [Mainline Protestant churches and Cath-olics declined 3.4% and 3.1% in just 6 years. This guy goes ahead and says that the Mainline Protestants are “haemorrhaging.”]So, please be fore-warned: I am about to be opinionated. And my opinion is not warranted by re-search or numbers, but rather “just” ex-

tensive exposure and dedication to The Church, which is in one moment beautiful and miraculous and at another moment maddening, obnoxious, and hurtful. And with that in mind, I say this: The Church is not dying. The Church is failing, and there is a difference

The word “dying” is passive. It is as if we are sitting around quietly wilting away why the culture around us turns against us and decides that they’re not interested in God anymore. It is as if gradually nobody wanted to play with us on the playground anymore. It suggests that we did nothing to engender this re-action. And friends, let’s be honest–we did But, let’s not go on a guilt trip. The point is that. I have never noticed or perceived that people were not interested in God anymore. People are incredibly hungry for God. It isn’t that people don’t want to experience God. It is that The Church of the 1950s is failing to be a place where that happens.I n my life, I have met countless of these “nones” and these Millennialls who don’t like church. They are profoundly hungry to talk about God. Profoundly in need of spiritual guid-ance. Profoundly hungry for acceptance, trust, love. Yes, the establishment church is failing. Yes, the es-tablishment church where people show up out of obligation and listen to the pastor because that’s just what you do–yes, that has failed. And that’s okay, because the Establishment Church of Perennial Obliga-tion was not actually providing spiritual nourishment to all these people. So many are desperate for authentic, real spiritual nourishment without the BS of the establishment church.

The church of the 1950s has failed. It is already gone, and if we try to keep it alive, then we are like the dis-ciples who tried to tell Jesus that he would ride in and restore the Kingdom of David. Then, we will miss the new work God is doing, and we will continue to fail to meet the desperately hungry people in our midst.. The establishment church is failing, but “The Church” is not dying. We are people who tell the new story of God, people who make space for God to work through us, people who listen for God’s call. This is who we say we are. If we, as church people, live out the story of resurrection and God’s love, as the people 2,000 years ago did, then the new ministry of God will take place, and we can build communities that re-spond to God’s call and spiritually nourish people. We can practice communion, create just community, and authentically live into our ancient traditions while encountering God’s work to create new ones. We are able to do this, but it is hard work. We can transcend the failings of a church that was relying on “just because” for too long. We can fulfill our original purpose and help people know the God who knows them. This is possible. People are hungry for it. We just have to step up and tell the story of resur-rection. God will do new work through a failing establishment church, just like God did new work through a dead Messiah.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/05/12/christianity-faces-sharp-decline-as-americans-are-becoming-even-less-affiliated-with-religion/

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9555222/2067-the-end-of-british-christianity/

http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/

http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/

http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/may/nominals-to-nones-3-key-takeaways-from-pews-religious-lands.html


23rd Biennial denominational Conference of the Soldiers of Christ, under a theme: "Live a life worthy of the Calling was held at Orkney in Klerksdorp. Below is an extract from SOC former President Rev OO Mooketsi.

.Our opening service theme is, "God`s household, Jesus Christ the cornerstone. "God's household requires a very specific kind of building material. And such building material include Jesus Christ for He alone is the foundation and cornerstone of God`s household.

Jesus Christ has not be-come the cornerstone by accident nor by His own initiative. He has been chosen by God, the Father as recorded in Isaiah 28:16. Jesus Christ is a tested stone, precious stone, a sure foundation. This is a kind of a cor-nerstone that Paul in-formed the Ephesians about. We know more about the Church in Ephesus than any other

church in the New Testament. We first read about it in Acts 18-20 when Paul visits Ephesus. 1 and 2 Timothy were both addressed to Timothy in Ephesus and were about the church in Ephesus. In Revelation, a letter was addressed to the Church at Ephesus. The three epistle of John and the gospel of John were written in Ephesus. The Ephesian Church is thus, a well known church to us. God`s household, Jesus Christ the cornerstone. It is clear in this theme that there was a religious battlefield in Ephesus. Paul wrote this letter as a defence against different forms of belief and practices. And he provided a clear description and explanation of Christian be-lief and behaviour. During Paul`s days, Ephesus was a big port and was situated at the intersection of major roads running East-West and North-South. Ephesus was a centre of commerce and finances. Within this city there was an enor-mous pagan temple which has multitudes of signs and symbols of goddess Diana. The tourist from across the globe will come to Ephesus, buy and take home this symbols as a form of reverence to the goddess. Paul stayed in Ephesus for two years preaching about the Lordship of Christ and so many worshippers of Diana switched to the true God and the Church of Ephesus grew. Paul emphasised to the Ephesians that the church is the household of God. Those belonging to the Church are no longer strangers and aliens but they are citi-zens and members of the household of God. This household however, differs from other household. It differs from the household of those revering goddess Diana. God`s household, Jesus Christ the cornerstone. at the same time been enemies of the cross of Jesus. Those who declare Jesus Christ their cornerstone must live a

life worthy of their calling.......Amen.

23rd Biennial Denominational Conference of the Soldiers of Christ


CWM Youth Strategic Meeting Africa Region at Lesedi Cultural Village .Young people from 5 member churches of CWM Africa Region and Youth Facilitators appointed by the 2014 CWM Africa Assembly.

News Brief

UCCSA : Issue 7

Some pictures from South Africa Synod Committee Meeting Synod meeting had an opportunity honor some of the UCCSA living ancestors, on celebrating their 60years of Ordained Ministry .Rev B.K Dludla UCCSA Past Chairperson and Rev Sam Arends former UCCSA General Secretary. CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you for your many years of generous service to the people of God.


The Struggle for the Soul of the Church

Below is an edited version of the Keynote deliv-ered in at the United Church of Christ General Synod on June 29, 2015 in Cleveland, by Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush who is the Execu-tive Editor Of Global Spirituality and Religion for the Huffington Post. On The theme of the Synod was "Unexpected Places."

It is great a honor to speak with all of you this morning and I feel very fortunate that I am here, with the United Church of Christ, because walking among you and hearing the important conversations you are having is giving me hope for the church in this historic time for our country. These last few days have been deeply emotional, with a whiplash between outrage and elation. The tears of joy at the Supreme court vote to grant marriage equality to LGBT Americans blends with tears of loss and rage at the burial of Rev. Clementa Pinckney and the rest of the 'Beautiful Nine.' And so, I want to use these few moments I have with you to talk about the church, and what I see as the on-going struggle for the soul of the body of Christ. Church is not a particularly fashionable place these days. The theme of this gathering is "Unexpected Places," and according to current wisdom, the absolutely last place anyone expects to encounter the living God is within the walls of a building with a steeple on top where two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus. In a world that continues to discriminate, denigrate and even murder, God's church can be recog-nized when it provides sanctuary for all people are free to be fully themselves and free to feel the dignity and pride in who God made them -- whatever race, gender, sexuality, culture, religion or size. The church should not be fighting for the freedom to discriminate, but for people to be free from dis-crimination. God's church will be known as really God's church when it is out there on the streets demanding jus-tice, as well as offering spiritual health within its walls using the spiritual resources of our faith. That's the church. And we need to let people know it. Believe or not, there are people who never have met a Christian like you all. And I hope that they do and so I want to urge the UCC to get fired up and get out there, and show the world what the real church is all about. We are living in a crucial moment in history -- in America and around the globe. Let us honor the beautiful nine of Charleston. Let us live out Rev. Clementa Pinckney's vision for the church. The world crying out for redemption, for liberation, for freedom. from sin, freedom to be full of what God intends us to be, and to have equality in the sight of God. " Or to go more immediately to the source we can just listen to Jesus' first sermon when he quotes

Isaiah in Luke 4:18: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me, to bring good

news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the

blind, and to let the oppressed go free"

Let's be God's church -- in both expected and unexpected places -- and respond to the call.

http://www.ucc.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Raushenbush

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Raushenbush


Power and Duties of the Assembly: Among the powers and duties of the Assembly are: 1. To fulfil the powers and duties vested in it by this Constitution. It has

the right to refer specific matters to Regional Councils, Synods, Com-mittees, or local churches for consideration or action.

2. To elect Standing Committees and other committees to carry out its work in various areas of its concerns. It periodically receives and re-views reports of the work of its various committees and provides funds for them where necessary.

3. To act, through its Executive Committee, Ministerial Committee, Fi-nance Committee, Mission Council and other committees on matters initiated by itself or referred to it by Synods.

4. To note the settlement of ministers planned by Synods, and is respon-sible for the acceptance of candidates for the Ministry and for their training, and to grant licences to administer the sacraments on the rec-ommendation of the Assembly Ministerial Committee.

5. To co-ordinate the work of the Synods. 6. To give counsel and to adjudicate in matters concerning more than one

Synod. Such decisions are final and binding. 7. To arrange in consultation with Synods for the appointment and place-

ment of seconded staff from overseas. 8. To act as Field Authority of the Common Global Ministries and the

Council for World Mission in all matters concerning the Church and its personnel seconded by these Bodies.

9. To encourage co-operation and conversations with other communions of the Christian Church and to enter into negotiations with them with a view to organic union.

10. To admit a denomination or group of Churches or any individual con-gregation into membership of the Church.

11. To unite with other Churches upon the approval of the Scheme of Un-ion by all Synods, and upon a three-quarters majority of those present and entitled to vote at the Assembly.

12. To engage in the task of evangelism within Southern Africa and to en-courage the participation of the Church in the worldwide task of evan-gelism through the provision of personnel and funds.

13. To approve constitutions of local churches and to admit congregations to constituent status on the recommendation of the Synod concerned.

14. The Assembly has extraordinary powers to deal with and dispose of any matter which may arise and for which no provision exists in this Constitution or the Procedures, provided a three-quarters majority vote by ballot of those present and entitled to vote at the Assembly, is obtained in favour of extraordinary powers being assumed.

15. The Assembly may only act in terms of 6.5 above in exceptional cir-cumstances which render such action imperative.

Rev Alistair Arends The General Secretary Email:[email protected] Rev Kudzani Ndebele Media Liason Officer Mr Wellington Mthobisi Sibanda Communications Officer Email: [email protected] Tel: +27 11 837 9997 Fax: +27 11 837 2570 Email: [email protected] Website: www.uccsa.co.za

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