Father Derrick Muwina explains Government and Church partnership
Father Derrick Muwina
By Derrick Sinjela
THE Anglican Church says that it would welcome Government support towards rehabilitating its 46-year old Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka, but it is also wary of the risk of compromising its prophetic voice.
In an interview with the author, Father Derrick Muwina said that while the church was ready to receive donations of any kind to help rehabilitate the cathedral it did not want a situation that gave the impression that Government was sponsoring its programmes.
Anglicans and Catholics at Masumba in Mfuwe-Way of the Cross pix by Rev William Vwapu.jpg
Father Muwina an Assistant Priest to Dean, Canon Charley Thomas and Sub Dean, Father William Vwapu said that it was important for the church to maintain its independence from state control or influences to be able to continue to retain its free thought.
Anglican-Diocese-of-Lusaka-Bishop-David-Njovu-with-Dean-Fr-Charley-Thomas-picture-by-Derrick-Sinjela.jpg
“WE welcome any kind of help but do not want a state sponsored programme that, with the passage of time, might make people feel that our allegiance is to the state. We exist as an independent b body that is free from all manner of influence; be it political or civic,” Fr Muwina observes.
He implored parishioners to offer whatever support they could to the work of rehabilitating the cathedral as their moral and spiritual obligation.
Father William Vwapu and Father Jackson Jones Katete with Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams
“My prayer is that God will steer our hearts and move us all to respond to His needs, so that we can together restore the grandeur of the cathedral as a monumental place of worship. It is grateful service to God for granting us the privilege of being skilled in a diversity of ways,” Fr. Muwina adds.
He observed that while many individuals owned luxurious houses in plush residential areas country-wide the temple of God remained neglected and in dire need of refurbishment.
“The Church has members whose obligation is to play a part in its maintenance of the cathedral as a House of God. It is our joint responsibility as members to pay particular concern to maintenance of this place of worship,” Fr. Muwina said.
Since it was built in 1962, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross has attained historical significance by hosting major events.
The dedication of Zambia’s attainment of independence on 24th October 1964 was done at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, which is located just across the Supreme Court of Zambia buildings in Rhodes Park. “To us the Cathedral is not any more important than other churches in Zambia. It is not above either the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Trinity or the Catholic Saint Ignatius. It is not just the question of size but also historical role played by the Cathedral. The only difference is that major national events are hosted here because of our historical centrality,” says Fr. Muwina.
