Dear Friends,
Greetings and peace to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour! In one of my recent quiet devotional times, I was deeply struck by the words uttered in Zechariah 8: 1-3: "Again the word of the Lord Almighty came to me. This is what the Lord Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her. This is what the Lord says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain."
These words reflect the promise of God to bless Jerusalem again in the midst of her struggles brought about by her own refusal to listen to God. The words "jealous for Zion" and "burning with jealousy for her" are especially powerful and mind-consuming. I could not help but think that this is precisely how God feels for his church in spite of her unfaithfulness, imperfections and failure to listen to his voice. He is jealous for her to be his Holy Bride and "City of Truth" as she proclaims his love to the world. However, this begs the question: "Are we equally jealous for the church; to protect her holiness and Truth? To proclaim the message of salvation, hope, love and peace to a broken and suffering world? Are we jealousy guarding the identity, mission and unity of the church or are we jealously protecting our own interests? We need to each pursue a deeper reflection on this question as we engage and exercise ministry in our congregations and in the wider UPCSA.
I love the conclusion to these thoughts in the words of the prophet after expressing words as to how Jerusalem and Judah should relate to each other (verses 16-17), "Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going." (v.22) He realizes the need to return to the Lord for wisdom and direction. Further, he observes what will happen if they call on the Lord: "And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him." And they will say, "Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you."(v.23) How wonderful it would be if people today would turn to the church to seek the Lord? However, that will only really happen if they hear that "God is with us". Is that the message we are sending out to the world around us as the UPCSA?
Recently, the Executive Commission of our Church met to discern God's will on a number of matters, too many to list in this short letter. However all the proceedings and decisions from this meeting were sent to Session Clerks in congregations, Presbytery Clerks and the full text has been place onto the UPCSA website. I wish to encourage members of our denomination to take some time to read these, if you have access to the internet. It is important for us to keep in tune and in touch with some of the dialogues and discussions that are taking place in our Church. Some of the key decisions taken at the EXCOM are as follows:
Supportive/Lay Ministries were recognized and accepted as essential in the life of congregations and the denomination at large. In line with this, it was decided to establish the Order of Supportive/Lay Ministries. This means that our recognition of ministries in the UPCSA goes broader than that of ordained ministers and elders.
We approved the contents of the Belhar Confession embracing all its sentiments and values, and commended it to all ministers, Sessions and Presbyteries for study, discussion and use as a resource for preaching and teaching.
The Manual Committee was instructed to arrange for the translation of key sections and/or chapters in the Manual into some of the major languages used within the UPCSA family.
It was decided not to implement a centralized system of stipends within the UPCSA.
A Travel Policy was adopted referring comments from the Insaka groups to the Finance Committee to look at and report to the 2012 Assembly.
Presbyteries were instructed to draw up an Action Plan (by 30th November 2011) to implement the Presbytery Empowerment Plan adopted by the 2010 Assembly.
The terms of reference of the Assembly Committees were approved. The 2010 General reduced the number of Assembly Committees from 66 to 14 to establish a more efficient and cost-effective structure.
The initiatives of addressing the matters related to the Church Associations were commended and these groups were instructed to work towards peace, healing and reconciliation in congregations and Presbyteries.
8 Ministers will retire before the next General Assembly. They were duly recognized and granted the state of minister emeritus from the date of retirement. They are: the Revs. AA Harrower, M.O. de Kock, S. Ezekiel, N. Hlatswayo, AT Mpongoshe, A. Rodger, H. Munnings and L. Scott. We give thanks and praise to God for these wonderful and faithful servants of God and pray that they will settle well into their years of retirement. .
The St James Church in Bedford view was re-admitted into the UPCSA family with certain provisions which have now been completed.
Well, if you want to learn more, visit the UPCSA website. In conclusion, let me return to my initial thoughts in this letter as I briefly reflected on Zechariah 8. I feel very strongly about the role of the Church in our modern society and its future impact and relevance in the centuries to come. It is important for us to know that God has a "burning jealously" for the church that is you and me, for we are the church. Let us be the people of God on the march so that the world may see and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord!
May God bless and keep you as you keep the Christ light burning!
Blessings!
