Livingstonia, Nkhoma synods regret border row
Leaders of Livingstonia and Nkhoma synods of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Sunday said they regretted their wrangles over boundaries and vowed to work in unity.
The synods’ leaders said since boundary wrangles were resolved in 2005 after both synods agreed to plant churches in either Central or Northern regions, some Christians think the two synods relationship is still sour.
Livingstonia Synod General Secretary, Reverend Levi Nyondo, said the two synods realised that their dispute divided their flock.
He was speaking when Nkhoma Synod leaders decommissioned Reverend Hamilton Yassin Gama from Mzuzu CCAP Nkhoma Synod to Mvama CCAP of Lilongwe.
Nyondo said it was sad that when church leaders fight, the word of God gets compromised.
“We are here to shame the devil. We want to prove that we are one. We want to tell Christians that the past is gone. Livingstonia and Nkhoma synods serve one God. We have agreed to serve in our church without looking at the synods boundaries but the Christians,” Nyondo said.
However, Nyondo asked Nkhoma Synod ministers serving in the Northern Region to co-exist with fellow Livingstonia Synod ministers for the sake of peace, unity and love.
Nkhoma Synod Deputy General Secretary, Reverend Brian Kamwendo, agreed with Nyondo saying the church should always prioritise spreading the gospel instead of verbal fights.
“We are happy that the statement is coming from top leadership of the [Livingstonia] Synod. We are in the North not to compete but to complement our friends in spreading the gospel,” Kamwendo said.
In his remarks, Gama thanked Christians for both synods for working together in preaching love, peace and unity.
“It was not easy to preach the gospel but I am happy that with the knowledge I had of Tumbuka language, it helped me. I have served in accordance with God’s will and time has come to serve others at Mvama. Glory to God,” Gama said.
Nkhoma Synod Mzuzu congregation was officially commissioned on November 27 2016 and Reverend Gama was inducted as the minister on the same day.
Nkhoma Synod has over 5,000 Christians in the Northern Region with churches in Mzimba, Rumphi, Karonga and Songwe border, among other areas.
The wrangles between the two synods ensued when Nkhoma Synod, which is mainly in the Central Region, was allegedly accused of establishing a church at Dwangwa in Kasungu North, an area which Livingstonia Synod claimed it was its territory.
Later, Livingstonia Synod, which has many churches in the Northern Region, planted a church at Kanengo, Lilongwe; a development which did not please some Nkhoma Synod Christians.
