The Ecumenical Support Services (ESS) in partnership with the Netherlands Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation last Friday launched a Development of Theology Dialogue Series
aimed at encouraging the Church to speak out on political issues affecting the transitional government.
“The Church is not doing enough.–That is our concern. And we do not know why. We suspect it is because of lack of preparation and these dialogues are ways of preparing it [the Church] to be more visible in issues that affect the nation. In fact these dialogues are going to serve in facilitating and
sharing of information among Christians and also looking at what they can practically do together.
So, critically, one of the outcomes of these dialogues is to see more collective actions being taken by
different groups in the country. And we are going to move around the country organizing these meetings and encourage Christians to think and act together,” ESS Director, Jonah Gokova, told RelZim on the sidelines of the project launch.
Speaking at the launch of the project, the visiting Secretary General of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands Reverend Arjen Plaisier, said the Church should be wary of infiltration in this endeavor. “It is important for you to speak with one voice. You have the forum to meet each other, and it qualifies you to speak with one voice. It is not enough to speak as individual churches to present a common case. I mean churches not bodies that pretend to be churches. They are always Wolves in sheep’s clothing. After doing that, it is not to me to tell you what to say, but I think God gave you the courage to seek and look through the things, to have the courage to name things by name,” he advised.
The non-involvement position of the Church in processes such as national healing has seen the process faltering, as the political leadership is not sincere in implementing the process that could ensure transitional
justice and a wholesome national reconciliation. Hitherto, churches have been silent and, consequently, it is the ordinary people who have suffered.
I THINK THIS THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE COUNTRY. IF OUR POLITICAL LEADERS AGREE THAT ZIMBABWEAN VALUES ARE CHRISTIAN VALUES THEN CHURCH MUST BE VISIBLE IN ALL FACETS OF THE GOVERNANCE OF THE COUNTRY INCLUDING POLITICS. EVERY ONE IS HAPPY THAT ZIM IS A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY BUT ONE WONDERS WHY THE CHURCH IN ZIM IS SO DOCILE NAD ALWAYS QUICK STAND ALOOF WHEN THINGS GO THE OTHER WAY. CHRISTIANS LET US STAND UP AND STEER THE SHIP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. GOD HAVE MERCY ON ZIMBABWE AND ZIMBABWEANS