This content is the opening of the 135th Conference of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, marked by prayer, welcome, and the formal establishment of the conference proceedings, including the roll call and committee appointments.
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Come let us pray. And after this prayer
we will sing the Our Father in English.
Oh God of holiness, joy and peace,
we come before you in thanksgiving this afternoon.
afternoon.
When we last met in this fashion in
we had no knowledge whether we would see
But you are God Ebenezar who journeys
We come before you from the various corners
corners
convicted that there is no holiness
So even as we come to this meeting, we
pray that you will convict us even
further so that the decisions that we take
take
We are grateful, oh God, for the
opportunities that you continue to
afford us to serve you in the world and
But even as we come, we come before you
in confession.
For you are a God of mercy and forgiveness.
We confess, oh God, that we have sinned
through our own apathy.
We confess that as a leadership, we have
become grumpy and negative
and at times worried about our own needs.
needs.
Instead of thinking of those who are disadvantaged,
we confess that we have put ourselves at
an advantage and taken more than we need.
And so in this holy space of holy conferencing,
conferencing,
won't you show us the vision of your kingdom?
kingdom?
A kingdom where everyone has enough and
So as we gather as a people called Methodists
Methodists
continue to breathe your breath of life.
Continue to breathe your breath of wisdom.
wisdom.
Continue to breathe your breath of unity.
unity.
and breathe on us your breath of love.
Prepare our hearts and minds and hands
to remain open to your voice and your
heart and your guidance.
Surprise us, oh God, as you lead the
MCSA into a more vibrant future that
bears witness to the world that you are God.
So at the start of this conference, we
commend every discussion,
every delegate unto your hands,
asking that by the power of the Holy
so that the work relocates us and
repositions us.
We thank you oh God for your constant wisdom
wisdom
and presence.
Lead us today and always
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Savior.
Amen. Our father
be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
as it. [Music]
[Music]
Give us this day
our daily
bread. And forive
us our spies
spies
as we forive
those who tread pass again. us
us
and lead us not into temptation but
but deliver
deliver
us from evil. For
For thine
thine
is thy kingdom thy
thy power
power
forever [Music]
[Music]
Welcome Methodists
to the 135th Conference of the Methodist
Church of Southern Africa.
We praise God for this moment of holy conferencing.
conferencing.
And I welcome especially those who join
or who are present at conference for the
first time. And I just see by a wave of
hands who are those who are here for the
first time.
So those who have come to this place for
a number of times,
please make sure that you just rope them
in and make them feel at ease.
As I welcome you, I do want to welcome
our forebears who are present here with
us, former leaders of the Methodist
Church of Southern Africa. And I would
request that as I call you, I
respectfully ask you to stand so that
conference know who is who in our former
leaders who are present. Some of the
conference members have merely seen your
names in yearbooks.
But today they get to see fathers and
mothers live in this space.
And so let me ask the Reverend former
presiding bishop Reverend Purity Malinga
shine.
And I'm calling them in no particular order.
order.
former presiding bishop, the Reverend Dandala.
Conference, are you tired?
>> Then please do better.
Thank you. Right.
Right.
Former presiding bishop, the Reverend Abrahams.
Then of course we have our former lay
I also want to acknowledge the presence
of Omama, the wives to two of our former
There are other conference guests who
would be with us during the course of
our time together and they will be
introduced when they are with us.
However, allow me to introduce the
Reverend Dr. Muinga who is the general
secretary of the African Methodist
Council and he comes as a guest to this conference.
conference.
Welcome. Welcome to this space.
I now hand over to the hosting district
Lord Lord
He said
he said come
[Music] by
by goodbye
[Music] Go.
Goodbye. Goodbye. Never he
members of Ireavior
It is with great joy and heartfelt gratitude
gratitude
that we welcome you to the 135th
Methodist Conference of
of 25.
25.
We are exhilarated to have you in the district
district
We feel honored and blessed to host this
prime meeting of our of our church
as Methodist people.
We welcome you to district 10,
a district composed of two countries,
South Africa and the Kingdom of Esadini.
We are at
Today we are hosting you from district
number one 101
one of the townships of Katlehong.
Collectively they are known as Cathuras.
We are meeting on Kumalo Street.
Kumalo Street which is known in our history.
Catheras
were a principal background for the
political violence
that engulfed South Africa in the early 1990s.
1990s.
As the country navigated transition from
upper fate
to democracy
within this highly voltage region,
Kumalo Street
emerged as a key epicenter,
a literal and symbolic front line
where supporters of African National Congress
Congress
and Inata Freedom Party engaged in brutal
brutal
often indiscriminate conflict.
These conflicts left deep scars
and tested the resilience of our communities
in the midst of adversity.
Senior leaders, leaders of the Methodist Church,
Church,
Abu Baba or Reverend Dr. emerged
emerged
and championed peace and reconciliation.
Across Kumalo Street are the hostels
where they were bringing people together
We welcome you
in the district
of peace
and love.
That is why we are able to host the two
conferences which is the mission
congress and the conference
If I may be allowed, I can still invite
Presiding bishop and the Methodist
people, may your presence enrich our community
community
and may our time together be filled with
joy, with peace and spiritual growth.
Bishoping bishop
secretary of conference president the
bishop's guest
bishop's leaders delegates of conference
the directors of various unit I greet
you all in the wonderful name of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
We as you have been told we are in Togoa
and the name toa means rejoice
and so we hope that whilst you're with
us you'll have many moments to rejoice.
So while we are here in the house of
rejoice um we have our ushers. Please
Ash users stand who are wearing red and
black sashes who will direct you in any
places that you need during your stay
here today. On my left through that door
out towards your left you'll find all
our restrooms both men and females. Our
medical clinic is on the right through
that right door. There is a medical
center if you need any support and facilitation.
facilitation.
We are busy
organizing the the water coolers. They
will arrive shortly and so I know it's
hot. Just bear with us. They are on
>> Thank you to the district. Shall we give
And the reason for that is that in
probably the longest time they are the
only district to host mission congress
and conference backto back. So the
connectional executive met from Friday
uh till um Sunday but Sunday we
worshiped and went to a service in Graa.
On Monday we were hosted at Nutfield
uh in our mission congress and today we
are present here for the opening of
conference. It makes a total of 10 full
days and our lives and our stomachs and
sleep are all in the hands of the
Highfeld and Swadini district. So thank
you ma'am to you and your team for the
work that you have done and for
extending that word of welcome and hospitality.
hospitality.
We now move then to the calling of the
role for this conference and I invite
Thank you preciding bishoping
bishop former
lay president the guest of the preciding
bishop bishop's presence lay leaders
unity or of the orders and dedicates of the
the
conference of the church of southern
Africa I
name of our lord and Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop, I present the role of the
members of this conference as per our
book of order 5.5.
I will call the names of the officials
and when I get to the district, I will
just call the name of the district and
the bishop will just indicate how his or
her delegation is represented at this
conference. Will that been order? Thank
you very much, ma'am.
I now present the role to this conference.
conference.
first precided bishop Reverend Purity Malinga
Malinga
Thank you ma'am.
nine in all.
Thank you sir.
But when we say present, what we
actually mean is that we have three
clergy, three lay, one youth, a bishop
and a lay leader. And that's for the
those districts that do not have
countries linked to them. If you your
your district is linked, then you are
going to actually inform us that you
have four tr and four lay one youth lay
leader and the big
Thank you so much ma'am. We will not
that. Thank you so much. Namibia district.
[Music]
We are all here except the device on the traffic.
traffic.
Thank you sir.
use the mic ma'am if you don't mind.
It's five clergy
and five rating
and plus one youth member. Thank you
very much.
Thank you very much sir.
Natal West.
>> Thank you GS. We are all present with
the quot. It's just our bishop is unwell
today. He will join you tomorrow. Dispensation
Dispensation
>> dispensation granted. Thank you.
>> Thank you ma'am. M central.
>> Thank you. Central district all present
and accountable.
>> Thank you ma'am. I felt natin district.
>> Thank you ma'am. We are all present.
>> Thank you ma'am. Mozambi
is all here.
>> Thank you sir. Thank you so much Mozambi.
>> We were five delegates but the delay leader
leader
is not here. He as
us four were here
to lay
the Minister.
>> Thank you ma'am. Dispensation has been
>> Thank you Bishop Blackberry
all present.
one youth representative,
representative,
two ministerial reps, the bishop and
that makes six.
>> Thank you ma'am. Mopo
>> we are all here.
>> Thank you sir. Thank you ma'am. And now
I move to the units of our church. The
present ma'am.
>> The finance youth unit representative
Mrs. Linda Malasunana [Music]
[Music]
mission unit Reverend Wu Miss Kelly and
Morgan Rabush Shaka.
Thank you say I am here. They will be
joining us later. They're just wrapping
up mission congress work. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
I skipped emmu. Sorry.
Present
ma'am and Reverend Bosman is not with
us. Thank you.
>> Thank you ma'am. Seth Moki Jimmy
>> Thank you sir. Um the local preachers
department is also represented by the reverendu
reverendu
bosman whom dispensation has been granted
granted
youth unit
present present them both of us thank
you communications unit Mrs. Bongi boyango
thank you a communical affairs unit
Reverend Kil Makubalo
>> present
you organizations representatives men's
work we have Reverend Musay Seama
>> All right. We note that.
Thank you ma'am. Then we go to
connectional music association. Reverend
Jalamba Tasha,
local preachers association. Reverend boys,
boys,
women's work,
Mrs. Nulongazi,
decon fosia madre women's association
Mrs. Beth P women's auxiliary
the wardens of the orders the deacons
deacon foia madre ma'am is present
conctional committees representatives
connectional trust properties we have
Mr. Kinga [Music]
the doctrine ethics and worship
Thank you ma'am. That covers the list of
those who are members of this conference.
conference. Y
just to provide clarity conference. Um
there is work that needs to to be done
with the alignment of uh the book of
order and um the documents of SMMS.
Whilst the SMS documents provide room
for the president in her absence to send
a representative, our book of order
simply says composition is the president
of SMMS. And so we note that as
something that needs to be looked into
by the revisions committee and hence if
there's a question then of uh the
presence of the head of formation
instead of the president it is for that
reason and the alignment work will be
done accordingly. This conference agreed.
agreed.
just to inform the conference at the
bishop that Reverend Pik is not in the
>> Thank you. That is noted accordingly.
Thank you sir.
>> Thank you PB. We request permission to
be granted by this conference for the
following observers to be in attendance
with the privilege to speak but no
voting powers.
The first one is the recording
secretary, Miss Vanessa Peters,
and also the logistic coordinator, Miss
Tony Randi.
>> and PB, we just need to note that there
are also those who have registered as
observers to this conference. So we will
now and again if this conference goes
into committee we will request
We PB need to note now the presiding
bishop's guest that are present here. The
The
first would be the Reverend Ivan
Abrahams who is our preacher at the
memorial service.
the Reverend Zandi Leo. I'm not sure
whether he is in but he's also a guest
to this conference who will be leading
us in the Bible
and your guest that you have mentioned
ma'am. So
the GS says I must ask conference to
accept you. Conference do you receive
Thank you m just want to request
conference to note the presence of the
following communication services uh
service providers sorry we have
technical team IT staff at MCO and other
communication services providers led by
Mr. Rosh Ajuda and also Miss Bongin Nub
>> For the purposes of our records, we just
want to note that now this conference
has given dispensation to the following
people. Mr. Samuel Ma,
Reverend Bosman, Dr. Rowan Mari, and the
Thank you ma'am. Then having called the
role of the members of the 135th
conference as per our laws and
discipline 5.5, I now request the
preciding bishop to duly constitute this conference.
conference.
With all righteousness fulfilled then
and duly observed, I now declare this
conference duly constituted as per 5.3
of our book of order is conference agreed.
Thank you PB. As for us to note in terms
of compliance in respect of the standing
1.44 44 on representativity of 4020 in
the 2020 yearbook page one.
This conference is having 154 members.
members.
50% of those are female
and 26% youth.
youth. 77%
77%
77% male and 77% female.
female.
We have ma'am. We have m we are compliant.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. There's an error on
my side. I meant number 77. 777 154.
154.
The body. I see you.
>> Thank you. Let's give ourselves a round
This is progressive indeed. Let's keep
it up even in future conferences. Thank
you very much to the districts for
ensuring that representivity is observed accordingly.
accordingly.
You now then move on to the appointment
of um the committees that will be
working on various uh business matters
for us in the course of conference and I
invite then the GSU leaders in that.
>> Thank you PB. Um I want to move that
conference consider the appointment of
an assistant secretary uh in the name of
Reverend France Mabuza uh together with
being assisted with the recording
secretary Miss Vanessa Peter
>> conference agreed.
>> Thank you PBA. Um now move for the
committee of scrutiny.
I move three names ma'am for conference
to consider. Decon Fosia Madre, Reverend
Sia Bonga Mandanda and Miss Leopo Mosu
with Decon Fosia as convenient ma'am.
PBN conference. I don't I do not think
three would be enough. So I propose that
at least we add two names of
of
>> a proposal for an addition of two names
of scrutiners. Uh I think that is
something that's doable. It's better
safe than sorry. Let's do that. Let's
hear then from the floor addition of two
up.
Mumal Kumal. Thank you. That name is
before us. Are we agreed?
Thank you. Can we have another name?
Bellini
is conference agreed.
Thank you. That concludes this
Thank you ma'am. This conference will be
having commissions. Ma'am, I want to
move the following to be conveners of
these commissions with one person extra
as the convenor of the facilitators or
conveners of the commissions. Uh the
convenor I move for the commissions
I take them all.
Thank you ma'am. and for spirituality,
disciplehip and evangelism. I move the
name of Bishop Mabeni for prophetic
witness and social justice and
inclusivity, diversity and
intergenerational engagement. The
Reverend Pesil Cuku, leadership,
governance and ministerial well-being,
Mrs. Tande Matibu,
sustainable resources and innovative
communications, Mrs. Pilander
Pilander
Yeah. Thank you. African identity and
contextual theology. I move the name of
Reverend Sabongan Tombella
and for LNG editorial review of the book
of order chapter 13 edition I move the
name of Miss Sibo Jodina. I present
for strategic direction. Ma'am, I
propose the name of Reverend Zamu Must B
to be the convenor working together with
the following. The Reverend Ruth Jonas,
Reverend Meuchi,
let Mavo, Mrs. Besman,
conference those names are before us for
the various commissions and those will
be the conveners doing the work is
conference agreed.
Thank you
>> for the resolutions committee. Ma'am, I
move the name of Reverend Senzon Jovu as
convenor working together with H
Reverend Luba Balot Uluba, Reverend
Juliet Vanfel
Gh
>> All right, that is the proposal then for
the resolutions committee. I see a hand.
Let's try to use the mics. If you want
to speak, just approach a mic. There are
two here and another one in the front.
>> Thank you. I just wanted to verify again
the composition in the resolutions
committee. How many people are there? Le and
>> it's for le
and and yeah for ledge and one lay.
>> Can we do some amendments, please?
>> Yes. Let's balance that out.
Let's add two lay people.
Thank you. So we open then conference
the floor for you to propose two names
of lay people to join that committee. Sir
Sir
PBN conference may I move the name of
conference agreed.
Thank you. The next name will not be a
lay leader. Let's balance also for all
other leoty. Mr. Jung, I say your hand
was up.
Thank you.
All right.
Uh, let me get that hand at the back.
The one I can't see.
All right. Yes, we need a female to
balance it out. Um, coming back to you, Bishop.
Bishop. >> Yes.
>> Sister Away surname
Deo from William Gama right is
conference agreed.
Thank you very much. That concludes the committee.
committee.
All right. We move now then to uh almost
a pastoralia section of our agenda. If
there's been any significant birthdays
or any news that the GS would like to
communicate to us that would be of
significant pastoral concern to us.
Thank you PB. We have heard about Bishop
Jamini. We have also noted again in that
was presented to us by the
Kama district of those who are not well.
We note those. And again also I just to
note the fact that one of who arrived
what day are we now? Wednesday who
arrived on Monday yesterday was
celebrating his birthday
in one of our first lay president in the
Methodist Church of South Africa Mr.
Zandle Jagavula I won't ask how old did
you turn yesterday I'll just note the
fact that it is it was your birthday
we congratulate you sir and we pray long
life upon you and thank you for the gift
that you are to the Methodist people.
So also note then on pastoral matters uh
and when we have appointed a late a
letter writer there will be pastoral
letters that will go out. We note that
the bishop of the Mosambi district
Reverend Maria uh lost her father in the
last week and so we hold her in our
prayers and the family. The Reverend
Batup Bosman, coordinator for late
training, has been unwell and has been
hospitalized but is now at home uh
recovering. The Reverend Fu Lamini uh
bishop of the Natal West District is
also uh unwell but will join us uh in
the course of of conference. And so
those are the matters we bring before
you of pastoral uh concern. If there are
any other matters that we've missed,
please feel free during breaks to just
nudge us. Uh because at the end of the
day, we are each other's keepers even
when we do this serious business of conferencing.
conferencing.
Over to you G.
>> Thank you ma'am for that and just to
make conference aware of the fact that
uh our information technology and
communications will be under the
administration of Mr. Rosh Audia and
Bongim and Bongi Moyo Bango. Those are
the three people who will be helping us
with live streaming and and all of that.
Uh and secondly then just to inform this
conference that as we go through the
work of conference we will be using this
email address. Should there be anything
that we need to communicate to you as
members or if there are any documents
that we need to give to you, I want you
just to write on your notepad or
somewhere in your pack this email
address conference with small letters at mco.org.za.
Conference at mco.org or.za
and just for conference to note that we
will be having live streaming of some of
the open sessions of conference and all
the services to allow Methodist people
an opportunity to observe both sessions
of conference as well as all servicees
from their various comfort spaces.
and we would also make um the program
Thank you GS. I believe you've already
mentioned that we do have observers in
this conference and permission has been
given for that but at the relevant time
observers please do not take offense
when we say we are going into committee
and we would like you to uh leave the room.
We now then move to the adoption of the
hours of session. I will invite the
bishop of the Highfeld and Esadini
district, the hosting district, Reverend
Silanguana to come and propose the hours
of session.
preciding bishop and the conference. I
Third hours of session have been moved
and I would then request you ma'am lay
leaders to second.
I second the hours of session for post.
>> Thank you. The hours of session have
been moved and seconded by the host and
I therefore request conference to adopt
the hours of session as published in the
agenda of conference. Is conference agreed?
You would have received by now the
agenda which was on your seats. We
recognize that some people could still
be in the process of registering and may
not have your full conference pack. But
one thing we are certain of is that on
your seat when you arrived there was the
program the set agenda the uh prescribed
agenda for conference. And so I will ask
the general secretary to propose for the
adoption of this agenda.
>> Thank you. Presiding bishop bishop I
>> Right. The agenda has been moved for
adoption. Mr. Bi
seconded Mr. Buddy. Thank you sir. Is
conference agreed?
now conference by adopting the hours of
session and our order of business we are
committing that when it's time to leave
the hotel breakfast room and come into
session we will do that we are also
committing that we will not be uh
leaving the conference venue to pursue
other business during conference time
that is what it means so this is
actually a commitment for all of us to
observe the hours uh that we we have um
now adopted just to indicate to us
conference that conference ends on
Sunday. It does not end on Saturday when
the business ends but it concludes with
the adoption ordination
of those who are being ordained into the
ministry of word and sacrament word and
service respectively. And so ensure that
your flights do not clash with that and
delegates will be expected to be present
at the ordination service. Please note
that any other movements will be
communicated by the GS on a daily basis
in terms of where we would go for
various services or anything else that
will be required of us. But we commit to
be fully present at this conference. Is
conference agreed?
Right. GS where do we go from here? What
Thank you PB. those there will be
documents that made available to members
of conference as we could with our
business and as I said earlier on that
email address would assist us in making
those documents available for you.
Should you have any challenges in terms
of probably connecting uh maybe your
phone not allowing you to do so or you
don't have your laptop with you please
do let us know so that we can see if
>> Thank you very much. GS
GS
I don't see any hands. It means that we
We move now then to the first item of
business which is one that we will take
in committee. And so I would request for
observers to please recuse themselves
and that is a report that needs to come
before conference.
And we would
and we would also ensure that at this
point we do not live stream. So if
there's any live streaming happening in
the room, please switch it off. We are
going into comedy and conference. Maybe
let me say this. Maybe this is the
opportune time to say this. Conference
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