Bishop Dr. Alfred Kalembo inducts new Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) Executive Board

Former Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary Rev. Dr Suzanne Matale has called on the CCZ to be bold and fearless in a homily entitled: “Better Together, Moving Forward in Faith”- PICTURE by Michael Mazakaza

And speaking when she delivered her homily message, former CCZ General Secretary Rev. Dr Suzanne Matale has called on the CCZ to be bold and fearless.

Rev. Matale said the Church must preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness and courage.

Former Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary Rev. Dr Suzanne Matale, former CCZ President Bishop Dr Alfred Kalembo bid farewell – PICTURE by Michael Mazakaza

She said the Church must operate like a lizard which she described as a fearless creature which can find itself even in a King’s Palace.

COUNCIL of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary Rev. Canon Emanuel Chikoya thanks former CCZ GS Dr. Suzzane M’membe-Matale and Bishop Alfred Kalembo – PICTURE by Michael Mazakaza

Rev. Matale said the Church is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ hence must not fear to speak for the voiceless in advocating for justice.

Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) inducted by former CCZ President Bishop Dr Alfred Kalembo – PICTURE by Michael Mazakaza

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

She said it is only by planning and preparing for eventualities that the Church would not be caught napping on issues that affect them.

She also expressed concern over the competition for materialism by the Church today.

She 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.

Council of Churches in Zambia  (CCZ) General Secretary Reverend Canon Emanuel Chikoya thanks former CCZ President Bishop Dr Alfred Kalembo – PICTURE by Michael Mazakaza

She called on the Church to instead use material things they acquire to the glory of God.

Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary Reverend Canon Emmanuel Chikoya presents a gift to a Youth Board Member  at Saint Mark’s United Church of Zambia (UCZ) branch in Lusaka’s Chilenje South – PICTURE by Michael Mazakaza

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.

He said the new Executive Board must 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 has become.

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

The mandate of the newly inducted Executive Board runs up to 2021.

Update, but on Sunday 10^th March 2019, United Church of Zambia Synod Bishop Sydney Sichilima  resigned as President of the Council of Churches in Zambia and withdrawn his participation in the three Church mother bodies.

In a letter addressed to the Three Church Mother Bodies, CCZ General Secretary and Bishop Sichilima said the move is meant to preserve the integrity of the United Church of Zambia.

Bishop Sichilima said he had withdrawn his participation from the grouping.

He said as UCZ leader, there are certain biblical ethics that he cannot compromise in executing his pastoral duties hence his withdrawal from the church mother bodies and resignation from CCZ.

Bishop Sichilima has however thanked the United Church of Zambia for seconding him to serve other ecumenical organisations.

He also thanked the member Churches of the Council of Churches in Zambia for their confidence and mandate entrusted in him to serve as President.

Bishop Sichilima’s resignations comes in the wake of differences regarding the CCZ ‘s position over the suspension of Prime Television Broadcast license for a month by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA).

The CCZ issued a letter signed by General Secretary Reverend Emmanuel Chikoya to condemn the suspension without the approval of Bishop Sichilima.

on Tuesday, March 12th 2019, CCZ General Secretary (GS) Reverend Canon Emmanuel Chikoya told News Diggers Newspaper that he could only comment once a formal resignation letter had been deposited at the CCZ Ecumenical Office on Lusaka’s Bishops Road in Kabulonga.

Later in the year, on 3rd Nov 2019, the Council of Churches in Zambia -CCZ-elected Reverend Sauros Phaika of the Uniting Presbyterian Church as its new President.

This follows the resignation of Bishop Sydney Sichilima of the United Church of Zambia on March 4 this year.

Reverend Phaika was elected CCZ president at the extraordinary general conference held in Lusaka.

The clergyman’s mandate as president of the Council will run up to 2021 when the next general conference will be held.

CCZ vice president Bishop Charles Nseemani of the Brethren in Christ Church has been Acting President following Bishop Sichilima’s resignation until yesterday when Reverend Phaika took over the presidency.

This is according to a statement issued by CCZ communications officer Michael Mazakaza