The Sunday Mail
Does the church need a code of conduct over and above the Word?
Fatima Bulla – Religion Editor
So the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe launched the Code of Ethics and Conduct last Wednesday in the presence of representatives of its 565 member church organisations. According to the EFZ, the code will be a guideline for leaders of member churches in issues that include Personal, Domestic, Ministerial, Public, Organisation and Corporate Ethics.
THE code is a very small document with 12 pages but surely tackles major issues that have riled the church.
One question, however, that has been raised with the launch of the code is: Is it not a tragedy that despite the Bible laying out how the church is supposed to live, a code of ethics is now required to police the church?
Doesn’t it send out alarm bells as to where the church is headed to when institutions that are supposed to be built on a foundation of ethics from the Bible now need a code to ensure everyone is behaving in a proper manner?
EFZ president Dr Shingi Munyeza noted the challenge facing the church due to the increase of incidents of unethical, immoral,unaccountable and unprofessional models of church leadership.
“This apostasy era people do whatever they want to do anywhere. We noted we need the code to self regulate so that we weed out error done without us knowing.
“With globalisation comes cultures and behaviours in to society, the environment is volatile and it’s changing in many ways. We have seen abuses by church leaders and we are saying at least our members should be seen not to be violating this code.
“The Bible says we are the salt and light and you can have wheat and tares together. Paul warns the church that in the end you will have wolves in sheep clothing.
“So to make sure we qualify we have to subscribe to a high code of behaviour. We have to up our game to be accountable. We are not augmenting the Bible,” Dr Munyeza said.
Reverend Geoffrey Mukwananzi of the Assemblies of God said in the Bible there were many churches which were expected to live as one. Hence the code also makes the EFZ members one.
“The Bible in the book of Luke 2v40 says, ‘Jesus Christ grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. But beyond this text the Bible declares in verse 52 that the same Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man’. God’s plea to Cain is as relevant now as it was then. ‘If you do well will you not be accepted,’ Genesis 4:7,” Rev Mukwananzi said.
“It is this same plea which this code and ethics seek to propose to us. It seeks to promote Godly character, calling, conviction and behaviour at all times,” added Rev Mukwananzi.
Vice-president of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa, Dr Goodwill Shana said something has gone wrong with the church as people are now preaching the word for various reasons.
“People can’t tell genuine leaders from those that are not.
“So the code will help to produce a criterion for what is genuine so that people are not taken advantage of.
“There has been an outcry in Zimbabwe of church leaders who are not accountable, financially and morally.
“Part of the remedy is what the EFZ is doing,” Dr Shana who is also the senior pastor of Word of Life International Ministries said.
Revival United Church of Christ International Bishop, Marvellous Mhloyi said because the Bible is subject to individual or denomination interpretation the code will give a standard that bind and identify us as a body of Christ.
“As the body of Christ we believe in prayer and practice with one hope. We didn’t have one guiding document. We hope it will help us,” Bishop Mhloyi said.
With churches fighting and dragging one another to court Zimbabwe Council of Churches acting general secretary, Gabriel Manyangadze said the code comes at a time when the church and the nation needs the guidance of Christ.
“The Bible is policy and the code is the operational manual used on a day to day life of where we need to go. It gives one commitment to do good as we are looking at being the salt as the Bible tells us to be.
“We are having church leaders in courts because they have lost the reason why we have the church.”
While churches have sprouted from all corners of the country and some with huge following not part of EFZ, Bishop Sindah Ngulube of Brethren in Christ Church said if the members become true models the impact will be felt.
“Through modelling we can impact on members outside. The church is the light of the world and salt of the earth.
“This code of ethics is like an extract of what obtains in the Bible. But it simplifies day to day operations.
“In our churches we have different codes of ethics whether evangelical or mainline. The key is if the behaviour of the church is in line with the word. Words and actions have to go hand in hand,” Bishop Ngulube said.
