Get fearless courage of a lizard in a King’s Palace Rev. Dr. Suzanne M’membe-Matale prods Zambians

… Bishop Dr. Alfred Kalembo inducts New Council of Churches in Zambia Executive Board

By Michael Mazakaza and Derrick Sinjela in Chilenje South, Lusaka, Zambia

THE Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has inducted its new Executive Board elected at the 31st General Conference held at Fatmols Ndola, Copperbelt Province in September 2018, with General Secretary Reverend Canon Chikoya vowing to maintain its prophetic voice.

The induction which took place at Saint Mark’s United Church of Zambia (UCZ) branch in Lusaka’s Chilenje South on Saturday, 15th December 2018, was attended by former CCZ General Secretary Reverend Dr. Suzanne M’membe-Matale, former CCZ President Bishop Dr Alfred Kalembo and other Church leaders from among CCZ member Churches.

The Council of Churches in Zambia Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service and Commissioning of New CCZ Board Members was convened on the theme: “Arise and Shine, with Bishop Dr. Kalembo as Commissioning Minister, Rev. Dr. M’membe-Matale as Preacher, Reverend James Phiri as Liturgist and UCZ Saint Mark’s spiritual head, Reverend Silishebo Silishebo as hosting Minister.

And Former Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary (GS) Reverend Suzanne M’membe-Matale in a homily entitled: ” Better Together, Moving Forward in Faith” delivered during the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service and Commissioning of New CCZ Board Members on Saturday 15th December 2018 on the theme: “Arise and Shine” at Saint Mark’s United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Chilenje South Congregation in Lusaka, prodded the CCZ 244-affiliate member family to be bold and fearless as a beacon of truth and justice.

Former CCZ Gen Sec Rev Dr. Suzanne M’membe-Matale, Bishop Sichilima, Dr. Kalembo and Rev Canon Emmanuel Chikoya at UCZ Saint Mark’s congregation – Picture by Derrick Sinjela

The CCZ New Board elected at the CCZ 31st General Conference at Ndola’s Fatmols led by UCZ Synod President Bishop Sydney Sichilima was introduced by CCZ General Secretary (GS) Reverend Canon Emmanuel Chikoya and Commissioned by Bishop Dr. Alfred Kalembo.

Rev. Dr. M’membe-Matale said the Church must preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness and courage and operate like a lizard which she described as a fearless creature which can find itself even in a King’s Palace. ‘

Rev. Dr. M’membe-Matale has also called upon the Church to be on top of things by planning in advance for eventualities.

“It is only by planning and preparing for eventualities that the Church will not be caught napping on issues that affect Christians and society as a whole,” pleaded Rev. Dr. M’membe-Matale as she expressed concern over insatiable competition for materialism by the Church today.

Rev. Dr. M’membe-Matale said competing for materials things must not be at the centre of the Church but rather preaching the gospel and winning souls to Jesus Christ must be at the Centre of the Church.

“The Church must instead use material things they acquire to the glory of God. Each time you wake-up ask God for spiritual guidance on how to use a car and other possessions to spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,” Rev. Dr. M’membe-Matale admonished.

Former CCZ General Secretary Rev. Dr Suzanne Matale has called on the CCZ to be bold and fearless

And speaking after inducting the new Executive Board, CCZ immediate past President Bishop Alfred Kalembo reminded the new Executive Board that CCZ is a prophetic ministry that tells people what they need to hear and not what they want to hear.

Bishop Dr. Kalembo advised the new CCZ Executive Board to stand for the truth in the execution of its duties no matter what, saying such is the role of a prophet, which the new executive board had become.

Bishop Dr. Alfred Kalembo thanked past Council of Churches in Zambia heritage of leaders for a water tight constitution that does not allow a Third Term.

Bishop Dr Kalembo encouraged religious leaders and Christians to always stand for the truth and justice.

Bishop Dr Kalembo recollected that during his six-year tenure, the CCZ had been disparaged for defending good governance.

“When one has done a term or two, our Constitution is clear on leadership transition and it is difficult to alter the law for one to serve a Third Term,” stated Bishop Kalembo of the Pilgrim Wesleyan Church.

And new CCZ President Bishop Sydney Sichilima has pledged that the new Executive Board under his leadership would follow the footsteps of the immediate past Executive board.

Former CCZ Gen Sec Rev Dr Suzanne M’membe-Matale with UCZ Minister Rev Siishebo Silishebo and Derrick Sinjela – Picture Arnold Nyirenda

“I pledge to build on my predecessors contributions,” said Bishop Sichilima, currently serving as United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Synod Bishop.

Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary Rev. Canon Emanuel Chikoya thanks former CCZ President Bishop Dr Alfred Kalembo – Picture Michael Mazakaza 

On his part, CCZ General Secretary Reverend Canon Emmanuel Chikoya vowed to always act as a beacon of hope beyond Zambia.

The three-year mandate of the newly inducted Executive Board runs up to 2021 from 2018 and the Council of Churches in Zambia has been in existence since 1914, and the General Conference was first called the General Missionary Conference with its main responsibility being to promote cooperation between the missionary societies in areas such as education, health and religious broadcasting.

The name was later changed to the Christian Council of Northern Rhodesia (CCNR) in 1944. At the eve of independence in 1963, there was pressing need for the Council to begin responding to the growing social demands of the people.

Upon independence in 1964, the CCNR changed its name to Christian Council of Zambia, and at the 26th General Conference, the current name, Council of Churches in Zambia, was adopted to conform to the current duties and composition of the member churches belonging to CCZ, during the Reverend Japhet Ndhlovu leadership reign.

The 24- Church affiliate members of the Council of Churches in Zambia are the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC), Anglican Church, Apostolic Faith Mission, Brethren in Christ Church(BICC), Central African Committed Church (CACC) , Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP), Community of Christ, Coptic Orthodox Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Greek Orthodox Church (Patriarchate of Alexandria), Kimbanguist Church, Lutheran Evangelical Church, Moravian Church, Pilgrim Wesleyan Church (PWC), Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ), Salvation Army, Salvation Deliverance Church, United Church of Zambia (UCZ), United Methodist Church (UMC), Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (UPCSA) and the World Baptist Evangelistic Association (WBEA).

CCZ’s 18- affiliate members include Bible Society of Zambia, Boys’ Brigade (BB), Girls Brigade (GB), Christ World Volunteers, Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), Ecumenical Development Foundation, Girls’ Guides Association of Zambia, Jubilee Centre, Lutheran World Federation, Makeni Ecumenical Foundation, Mennonite Central Committee, Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation, Theological Education by Extension, True Christian Youth Outreach

Former CCZ Gen Sec Rev Dr Suzanne M’membe-Matale with UCZ Minister Rev Siishebo Silishebo and Derrick Sinjela – Picture Arnold Nyirenda

World Baptist Evangelistic Association, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and the Zambia Student Christian Movement (ZSCM).

CCZ works in partnership with a number of 12 local, regional and international organizations that include Fellowship of Christian Councils of Churches in Southern Africa (FOCCISA), All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), World Council of Churches (WCC), Norwegian Church Aid, Act Alliance, Danish Church Aid, Diakonia, ICCO, United Church of Canada, Christian Aid, Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and Publish What You Pay Zambia (PWYP).