Congregational

Chronicle
Volume 1:Issue 2

Inside this issue:

Lenten Journey

Executive

Newsletter Date: February 2015

As we begin our Lenten journey, let us reflect on the reality that without God we
are nothing and to give thanks that God loved us into being. Let this be an opportunity to change what we ought to change but have not. Let this be about becoming, doing and changing whatever it is that is blocking the fullness of life in us right
now. Let it be a summons to live anew. Let it be the time to let life in again, to rebuild the worlds we've allowed to go sterile, to "fast and weep and mourn" for the
goods we've foregone. If our own lives are not to die from lack of nourishment, we
must sacrifice the pride or the sloth or the listlessness that blocks us from beginning again. It ought to be a self-emptying. It is learning again what it means to be
truly human, which is to worship God. Read this months articles and join the conversation. You can e-mail us at admin@uccsa.co.za or find us on Facebook at Congregationalists (hyperlink)
Mthobisi Wellington Sibanda : UCCSA Communications Officer

Yes We Can

The UCCSA Executive which will be held on 16-19 March 2015. The meeting will be
held in Balaza Congregational Church, Inhambane Region, Mozambique.
Mathew 6:1-6, 16-21

Churches Together for an

Economy of Life
Stories from
local churches
Invitation to a
pilgrimage and
Peace
Naming God in
a
Missional
Congrega-

The Executive members are expected to arrive on Monday 16th in the afternoon.
The departure date is Friday 20th soon after breakfast. The synods are to present
written reports for all the standing committees; Ministerial, Finance and Mission Council. All the reports must reflect
how each of the organs of the Church is seeking to live-out
the theme of our denomination Christ is Calling us; participating in suffering and struggle. Kindly note that all reports that will be submitted after the 27th February will
not be included in the book of reports. Members will be
hosted by families and I would like to suggest that it might
be a good thing to bring a little gift for your hosts. This way
we can develop a culture of appreciation and hospitality
that will hopefully spread thought the denomination.
UCCSA General Secretary ; Rev Alistair Arends

Congregational Chronicle

Page 2

We Can Do It, Yes we Can- By Rev Steve Titus( Former UCCSA General
Recently we received a letter from our
UCCSA General Secretary outlining the financial predicament in which our denomination finds itself. I have since then paid another visit to our central office in Brixton
and wish to report in just a few words that
the situation is dire. Staff morale is at its
lowest and our building in Caroline street is
in a distressing state of disrepair. Our house
in Florida Glen is likewise dilapidated and deteriorating daily. And there is
no money for repairs and maintenance.
The UCCSA Executive is proposing that we increase our tithing with 2%.
The 2% is to be paid directly to the UCCSA. This is theoretically a viable
proposition, but will it ever be achieved in a constituency where so many
local churches at present fail to pay the tithe, and where several churches do
not state their full income? 12% , by the way, is not a tithe, just as the 5
points goal in rugby is not a try. Many people will object that they are not
able to increase their contributions in the way suggested.
I say that by the
grace of God WE
CAN DO IT!
The UCCSA can
again become a
financially
viable church.
J

This is exactly what happened when I introduced the Executives proposal to

the Samuels Memorial Congregational Church Council where I serve as acting minister. This is the alternative they suggested: For some time now we
are taking two collections at every Sunday service. The first collection is for
church funds. The second collection at communion services goes into our
Poor Fund for the care of the aged and needy. The second collection on the
2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays is for outreach work. Our church council has voted
unanimously that these last named collections (for outreach) be paid directly to our central office on a monthly basis from February 2015. This will
mean that the S.A. Synods Planting the Seeds project will be losing out, but it
is necessary that we reach out to where the need is most urgent.
The Samuels Memorial congregation is sub-economic and their collections
are small. So what would be the result if other bigger and economical stronger churches in our denomination would do something similar?
I say that by the grace of God WE CAN DO IT! The UCCSA can again become a
financially viable church.
Rev Steve Titus(Randfontein)
For more detailed information on the statement you can e-mail us at admin@uccsa.co.za or gensec@uccsa.co.za find us on Facebook at Congregationalists
(hyperlink).

Page 3

J
Churches Together for an Economy of Life: An African Initiative
John 10: 10: I came so that they may have life and have it abundantly (RSV)
Preamble
As representatives of the CWM Africa region member churches, we have convened in Windhoek,
Namibia from the 11-16 January 2015, to reflect upon the critical challenges of pervasive economic, social and ecological injustice and widespread poverty which continues to devastate communities and countries within our continent and the rest of the world. This gathering, being the first in
a series of three colloquia on the economy of life within the Africa region, deliberated on and affirmed the challenges highlighted in the Sao Paulo Statement, engaged with various presentations
on the subject concerned, and undertook exposure visits to local community projects. Arising
from this engagement the colloquium presents to our churches some of the more urgent and
pressing challenges emanating from current global unjust systems that are shaping socio-political
and economic environments. As an overall focus the gathering calls for a commitment towards a
covenant process of Churches Together for an Economy of Life: An African Initiative.
The Sao Paulo Statement an Affirmation
The Sao Paulo Statement which arises from a global ecumenical conference on a New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA), seeks to engage the proponents of diverse proposals and solutions, set criteria and a framework and develop a plan of action towards constructing just, caring and sustaining global and economic structure.The colloquium reflected critically
on the overall message of the Statement, welcoming the theological, socio-political and economic
affirmations contained therein. The colloquium further recognized that within the African context, particular attention needs to be paid to issues such as the wanton exploitation of natural resources; unjust tax and trade arrangements; land-grabbing; inequitable land distribution; capital
flight; bad governance; lack of transparency in decision-making processes; brain-drain and systems of indebtedness all of which perpetuate grinding poverty, economic hardship and ecological destruction.
Committing and Covenanting
We commit and covenant to working together in:

Advocacy that is evidence-based, grass-roots informed, prophetically inspired, ecumenically

supported and multifaceted in its approach

Research on the root causes of the challenges concerned such as inequitable wealth distribution and gender injustice.

involvement of those communities most affected with the aim of, amongst other things, influencing policy makers.

Celebrate and share stories of successful alternatives.

Epilogue
In prayerful humility and faith, we recognise our absolute dependence on the triune God in this
undertaking designed to contribute to the on-going building of the Kin-dom of God. We recognise
that we are partners with God, with Gods people and with all of Gods creation in the journey of
transformation. We affirm that the poor and oppressed of this world should never be treated as
objects of charity but as subjects of their own transformation in all initiatives and processes. We
affirm our belief in the realisation of another world order in which justice, peace and the integrity
of Gods creation becomes the lived reality This is a journey to which we wholeheartedly commit
and joyfully covenant ourselves together with all of Gods creation.
For more detailed information on the statement you can e-mail us at admin@uccsa.co.za or gensec@uccsa.co.za find us on Facebook at Congregationalists (hyperlink).

Stories from our local Churches-Rev Peter Anderson (Retired)

In the last newsletter we were told to be a Missional church and there must be Missional transformation and somehow we must get some Missional DNA, and so on.
What does this new word or concept mean? I would see Missional in this way.
We are to link the gospel, the good news of Jesus for Salvation to practical caring as
He did. He healed and fed the people, cared for women who were in trouble and
scruffy kids on the streets. The good news must be illustrated in a practical way.
This is what has happened over the years at East Claremont Congregational church.
Some years ago the Sterrenburg family in the church bought a holiday cottage in
Lamberts bay. They then noticed the abject poverty of the folk living there. There
was simply no work for the vast majority of people. So they bought a huge trailer
and started taking food and clothing and household goods to the people, and distributing this through the Dutch reformed church. The church got involved and we
put up a veggie tunnel to grow fresh food and then a jungle jim for the kids, working with the DRC folk.We helped out with the local school providing bedding and
stuff for the kids. All the time the DRC church shared the good news, with Ds Johan
Phillips leading. Through contact with the social welfare, the ministry started
spreading to other areas round Lamberts bay and continues to this day. The latest
outreach is at Chatsworth near Malmesbury.Rev Grant Peers and our leadership got
to work. Now the Local church could really get involved as we took food and other
stuff to this township that is only about 40 km away. We worked with Adam and his
wife a lovely Christian builder as we expanded his home to house a creche for about
80 kids and facilities to cook for pensioners. We put in a borehole as the water supply was unreliable and expensive. Again we put in a veggie tunnel, but there was
still a great need for medical help. There are no doctors anywhere near this community.
Last year March we invited Rev Bob Naidoo, church of the Nazarene to lead a medical mission to this community over a long weekend. A medical team arrived from
the USA and together with members of Bobs church at Steenberg, we offered a clinic and eye testing and free glasses. No one received medicine or glasses until they
had been to one of our counsellors to hear the good news for decision. More than
40 church members tried out their Afrikaans in counselling over the four days.
We ran a kids club in the yard surrounding the hall that we had hired for the occasion so that the little ones could receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour. It is interesting
that when you reach out in love ,people are able to receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour so much easier. You can see the gospel in action. This I believe is Missional.
When I race the Argus cycle tour, I take a first aid kit and tools, for I have discovered that if you stop and give someone a hand, their ears are opened to the gospel,
so we can be missional in our personal lives as well.

Page 4

An Invitation to the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace

Page 5

We intend to move together. Challenged by our experiences in Busan, we

challenge all people of good will to engage their God-given gifts in transforming actions. This Assembly calls you to join us in pilgrimage. May the churches
be communities of healing and compassion, and may we see the Good News so
that justice will grow and Gods deep peace rest on the world. Message of
the 10th Assembly
The WCC 10th Assembly called the churches to join a pilgrimage of justice
and peace. This call sets the direction for the WCC in the coming years. All
WCC programmes aim to support the member churches and ecumenical
partners to journey together, promoting justice and peace in our world as
an expression of faith in the Triune God. Today the WCC focuses its work in
three programme areas:

3.

Unity, Mission, and Ecumenical Relations,

Public Witness and Diakonia,
Ecumenical Formation

The overall objectives of the Council for the coming period reflect basic dimensions of a pilgrimage for justice and peace. These are:
Strengthening the fellowship: while walking and working together in
the pilgrimage member churches and ecumenical partners experience the gift of unity;
Witnessing together: while moving together churches and ecumenical
partners are able to advocate together for justice and peace;
Encouraging spirituality, reflection and formation: while witnessing
together the fellowship is strengthened through building spirituality
Building trust and understanding: while working together for justice
and peace, partnering with all people of good will is needed;
Inspiring and innovative communication: while journeying, witnessing, learning, and partnering, inspiring and innovative communication is needed to become visibly effective.
Churches together and with their ecumenical partners, both in their own
context and cooperating internationally, will be the main actors of the pilgrimage. Still, this pilgrimage is an invitation as well as an opportunity for
individuals, parishes, and communities to participate in the movement of
justice and peace. This process of transformation will include experience,
sharing, listening, praying, penance, witnessing, awareness-building, reflecting and acting.
More information visit http://www.oikoumene.org/en

Page 6

Newsletter Title

Ash Wednesday Reflection- Rev Dr Prince Dibeela( Former UCCSA G Secretary)

Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and penitence. Fasting is the act of placing self-limitation upon oneself,
which includes denying oneself of food and all pleasures
of life. Jesus spent time in the desert fasting and away
from the comfort of family and friends. During that time
he wrestled with the devil and encountered all manner
of challenges and temptations. It is small wonder that
according to Mathews when he returns from the desert
he teaches about fasting. Jesus had observed that fasting
had become a mere ritual for many. They fasted in order to show the world their piety whilst in
actual fact they participated in evil deeds such as oppression of the poor and connivance with
the empire system. Some of the people who would have practiced fasting religiously could have
included people such as Zacchaeus, Nicodemus and Jairus. These are people Jesus later confronts
with his message of metanoia (repentance). Whilst Jesus does not condemn them he raises the
bar by arguing that true fasting should not be about a public display of what you are doing. Fasting is about letting go of our preoccupation with the self. This text is a harsh critique of the
showmanship that is rampant in the modern church. Jesus says go in private when you pray, do
not seek to have the world see your piety or your religious gifts televised to the world. It is allowing ourselves to go into that space where we can focus on qualitative relationships with our
neighbours and God.

UCCSA Mission Council & Youth Executive Committee Members -February Meeting

Page 7

NAMING GOD IN MISSIONAL CONGREGATIONS PARADIGM

(The article is meant to challenge the missional congrega-

tion as on of those theological gymnastics. You can engage the author sindisoj@yahoo.com the full article will
presented to the Southern African Missiological Society
{SAMS} annual conference 2015)
It is in this context of missional Congregations that the
human kind not only name God, but make a reflection
on their participation in the missio dei and His salfivic
plan.
Naming God in the poverty: Naming God challenges the tradition theology of the voice of the
voiceless as absolute and against the Jesus Christ mission paradigm. The Jesus Christ mission
paradigm was framed on the discourse of empowerment, giving those without voices their own
voices and language. It argues that if missional congregations paradigm takes ones experiences
as an expression of the relationship with God, therefore the poor must name God from their on
language and voice.
Naming God in the context of the empire The concept of naming God is the opposite of the principles of the Empire, whose political ideologies are but a program to see a poor and submissive
community that will keep them in power and thus create a dependent on the system, with no
program to empower them. The empire has taken away a polite and progressive voice of the
poor and replaced it with the language of violence in service delivery protest.
Naming God is contextual: The men, all must be able to recognize God in their context. The name
do not always reflect the persons assumed character of God, but how that character is perceived
in a particular life setting. It argues that the poor, the oppressed, women and children, must fight
the element of timidity and the gospel of the voice of the voiceless. It is through the lack of the
voice that the Empire would name God on their behalf because they do not have the language to
extract the name of God though they have the experience as the bases of naming.
Therefore naming God is important in missional congregations paradigm as it refuses to accept
poverty and social asymmetry as legitimate natural phenomena; it declares war on economic
vandalism that has caused immiseration of the people of the world, creating stateless African in
Africa (economic and political refugees) and that negates the positive principle of naming God.
Rev Sindiso Jele

Business Tagline or Motto

UPDATE NO. 1
The 38th Assembly of UCCSA will be held 19-25 August,
2015 at Windhoek, Namibia. The Assembly will be hosted
Rev Alistair Arends
by the Namibia Synod. Registration fee will be announced
The General Secretary
after the Executive Meeting. This biennial Assembly will
Email:gensec@uccsa.co.z
bring together delegates from Botswana, Mozambique, Naa
mibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is a special time of celebration and worship for the whole church.
Rev Kudzani Ndebele
Media Liason Officer
Mr Wellington Mthobisi
Sibanda
Communications Officer
Email: wellosacha@yahoo.com

The UCCSA President, Rev Phillip Strydom, will preside over

the Assembly. President-Elect, Rev Mosweu Simane of Botswana, who was elected in 2013 will be inducted as President of the UCCSA. The Assembly Planning Committee continues the preparations for this years Assembly and continues to request your prayers. Pray and plan with them by
honouring special prayer on Sundays.

Tel: +27 11 837 9997

Fax: +27 11 837 2570
Friends we thank you for remembering in your prayers the
Email: telvarious meetings and activities for 2015 of the Denominalus.uccsa@gmail.com
Website: www.uccsa.co.za tion, Synods and Regions; as well as the activities in your

Local Churches. The upcoming denominational events to

remember and pray for include:
March 2015
16-19 UCCSA Executive (Mozambique)
21- Namibia Day
21 -Human Rights Day
29 -Palm Sunday
30 -Start of Holy Week
We want to here more stories from our local churches, Regions
and Synods on the next issue. As we look back over the years together in the UCCSA, we are profoundly thankful to God for the
way in which he has led us and for his power enabling us to walk
with him and with one another according to all that he has made
known to us or will make known to us. We are so grateful to
those who have led the UCCSA at Denominational, Synodical, Regional and local levels. Their vision, enthusiasm, courage, faith
and hard work have made it possible for us to celebrate this union with joy and forward-looking hope. Together we are THE
people of God, his worshippers, His workers and His witnesses in
the Church and in the world. We are dependent on Christ and on
one another and it is that INTERDEPENDENCE which has characterised our life together in the UCCSA.

UCCSA Communications Officer

Wellington