The Sunday Mail
APOSTOLIC Faith Mission AFM International president Reverend Frank Chikane said their recent International Conference was never meant to discuss conflicts in individual churches despite unending divisions in the local assembly.
This comes even as AFM in Zimbabwe leader Dr Aspher Madziyire was elected international vice-president at a week long conference in Harare.
The conference was attended by representatives from more than 35 countries.
Themed “Being a Missional Church in a Globalising world”, the week-long leadership conference shifted to Rufaro International Conference Centre in Masvingo, where the curtain comes down today.
With the church having grabbed the limelight following fights between congregants and pastors, with some taking the church to court, Rev Chikane said the conference’s sole aim was to enhance spiritual well-being.
“We don’t discuss conflicts here, we are here to worship the Lord, to pray and to fellowship. AFM is a big church, an international church, hence we cannot say whenever we meet we start discussing problems no! There are platforms for that.
“As an international church we have many responsibilities. For example, we need to pray for nations and on Monday we prayed for Zimbabwe to continue enjoying peace. We have been planning for evangelism and many other things that was the business of this meeting,” he said.
AFM Zimbabwe secretary-general Rev Amon Madawo said the conflicts did not require the international council for resolution.
“Just like any other institution or organisation we encounter problems, but I can safely say that as the church national leadership in Zimbabwe we are able to solve them.
“I guess we do not need international interference in solving our problems, as you might have seen in the past we have managed to successfully solve some of the conflicts that erupted within the church’s lower structures on our own,” said Rev Madawo.
“This meeting was never going to discuss our so-called conflicts because it is us who are supposed to approach them if we feel that we cannot manage. And we haven’t reached that stage.”
Late last year, pastors Kefias Mujokeri and Paymore Murefu sued the president, Dr Aspher Madziyire, and other top officials for not carrying out an audit for the past 12 years. Pr Murefu was expelled for taking the church leader to court.
Congregants have also turned riotous to protest decisions taken by their leaders, with such cases reported early this year at assemblies in Southlea Park Central and Budiriro North in Harare, and El Shaddai in Chitungwiza. Congregants were protesting against the transfer of pastors.
