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“Self-sustainability and unity, a priority for our Church,” Central Africa Primate
The Archbishop emphasised the need to foster unity across the Province and working towards one common goal
By Bellah Zulu
ACNS
August 27, 2014
The Primate of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA), the Most Revd Albert Chama has emphasised that self-sustainability and unity remain top priorities for the church in the Province.
The Archbishop said this in an interview with ACNS yesterday at the Zambia Anglican Council (ZAC) offices in Lusaka shortly before chairing a meeting with the Zambia bishops to discuss the sustainability of the church.
Need for more investments
“As a transnational Province, we’re encouraging investments in the various countries to make sure that the national churches and subsequently the Province is self-sustainable,” he said.
“As a Province, we’re coming up with various programmes such as training workshops and conferences to make sure that everyone including bishops, clergy and laity, especially the youth, get involved in the development and growth of the church and other aspects of church life.”
Archbishop Chama said resources raised from the different activities and investments will be used to improve missions across the Province. However, he also acknowledged the different stages of economic development of the countries making up the Province: Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
“The Church in Zambia for instance needs to do more in the area of investment and only then will it become easy to do various missions and grow the church,” he said. “But we continue to share best practices from the dioceses and parishes across the Province so that we can learn from one another and grow together.”
Fostering unity
The Archbishop emphasised the need to foster unity across the Province and working towards one common goal. “A bigger family means a bigger voice,” he said. “CPCA has been able to contribute immensely to the global Anglican Church because of the unity we enjoy.”
Archbishop Chama spoke of how the Province was able to help the church in Zimbabwe during the persecutions endured by the Anglicans there when excommunicated former bishop Nolbert Kunonga and his supporters grabbed church properties.
“Provincial unity is crucial because when one part is affected, we’re all affected,” he said. “When Zimbabwe had challenges, the Province came in and helped where it could.”
He added: “It is because of the unity we enjoy that our Episcopal Synod even resolved to invite ACC-16 to Lusaka, Zambia within our Province. We believe it’s because of this unity that we strongly feel the need to share with the Anglican Communion.”
However, the Archbishop emphasised that for unity to be promoted and upheld, there was need for consistent communication and sharing of information both within the Province and the rest of the Anglican Communion.
“Information needs to be shared on the best practices of evangelism and other aspects of church life that can help transform ministry,” he said. “We also need to keep learn from each other on how we can appropriately contribute to the socio-economic development of our countries.”
Need to lead by example
Archbishop Chama reiterated the importance of church leaders "leading by example".
“When people see a leader in the forefront advocating for a cause or even involving themselves in activities, they see the seriousness of that activity.”
The Anglican Church in Zambia has been brainstorming various areas of possible investments including an ambitious plan for a housing project that could help the Church's finances in the long term.
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