Livingstonia Synod makes an impassioned call for greater religious tolerance
The Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) of the Synod of Livingstonia has appealed to police officers in evangelism in the northern Malawi to ensure they live in harmony with the people they serve including members of other denominations if the proclamation of good news is to be successful, saying people should be free to hold their religious beliefs, and to act in accordance with those beliefs within the law.
The Synod’s moderator the Reverend Mdoka Chirambo said he was in Salima for some time where he witnessed bad blood between police officers and the society including Christians not in good relationship with other denominations like Muslims.
Chirambo said as servants of God such sowering relations must be checked if police officers entrusted with preaching the gospel are to be treated with seriousness on the pulpit.
He also called on members of other denominations such as the Islam to love police officers and treat them well as their brothers and sisters despite having differences in church’s doctrines.
He made the remarks Sunday in Mzuzu during the induction ceremony of evangelist Willard Collins Phiri, a police officer who has been entrusted to proclaim gospel at Mzuzu Police prayer house.
In his reaction to the statement, Phiri said he believes the borne of contention in the conflict is the fight over the churches’ doctrines where he observed that some churches feel they are more closer to God than others in their deeds , something he said is not good and vowed to guard against if people are to stay in harmony.
But speaking to welcome the evangelist on behalf of Mzuzu Police, officer Incharge Commissioner Martha Suwedi, the senior deputy Commissioner of Police Peter Chasweka thanked the synod for the induction saying bringing police officers closer to the man of God will inspire them biblically as police officers always live stressed life due to the nature of their job.
Chasweka assured the synod that in evangelist Phiri they have a man who will not disappoint in serving God’s purpose and he pledged full support to ease his job.
The St. Andrews Church’s Session Clerk Stella Mwangonde, speaking on behalf of the Parish Minister William Tembo, congratulated Phiri for being inducted an evangelist but she advised him to be strong in the God’s work saying there are many forces that can bring down his faith.
She then thanked the Malawi Police Service for building a prayer house for the law enforcer’s officers saying this demonstrates the love on its people if they are to serve Malawians better.
She on behalf of the church donated a K50, 000 cheque and other gifts to show their happiness.
Mzuzu police Prayer House’s Vestry Chairman Evance Masiyano thanked police and the synod for making it possible to bring Phiri saying they have stayed four years without a church leader since Evangelist Mhango retired in 2011.
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