The Planning Meeting that was in the 19th Episcopal District
By Mxolosi Vilakasi, Contributing Writer
The 19th Episcopal District have sat for its planning meeting on the 07th of December 2020 from 2:00 to 20:30 under the theme “Better together”. The Rev Dimpo Gaobepe preached on the subject “victory is possible” setting the tone for the planning meeting.
The planning meeting amongst other things received a report from Rev Teboho Thobane who reported on the annuity of pastors in the district. The report was overwhelmingly accepted with the progress made to increase the age from 65 years to 70 years which is a great milestone while a push will be pursued to broaden it to 75 years, the year in which pastors retire.
Another important milestone in this planning meeting was the adoption of the Budget of the Districts which has been canvassed and adopted by the Annual Conferences of the five annual conferences. Apart from the adoption of the Budget (which is reduced), the Planning meeting received an Audit Report from the Church Auditors which was also overwhelmingly accepted.
In addition, the Bishop for the first time made public the allocation of the Motsepe Foundation donation of R500 000 indicating that funds will be given to various Annual Conferences, various Auxiliaries for certain purposes. RAYAC was allocated R100 000 for prison and campus ministry while YPD was given R100 000 for scholarship. This gesture was highly appreciated and the Church commended the Bishop for such transparency in the Church. Generally, the planning meeting was very appreciative of the transparency of both the Bishop and the CFO of the Church Mother N Mpye.
Various auxiliaries such as YPD, RAYAC, WMS, Charlotte Maxeke Ladies fellowship presented their reports which were accepted by the planning meeting. In addition, the planning meeting received a report of the Health Commission which provided further guidelines on Covid -19 in the District and in South Africa in general. A report on the Wilberforce Community College and the RR Wright Theological Seminar was also received and adopted. Interestingly, the planning meeting adopted the report of the Board of Examiners which approved that for ordination for eldership both local and itinerant should be an NQF level 8 a move from the previous NQF level 6. This was welcomed by the planning and appreciated such a move by the Board of Examiners which have also prescribed the colleges and universities both private and public which are accredited by the Board of Examiners.
The Bishop in the Planning Meeting welcome Bishop Messiah who greeted the planning meeting emphasizing the importance of working together. Bishop Leath also greeted the Planning meeting emphasizing and applauding the District for using virtual means to transact the business of the Church. He urged that the “members must speak and the leaders must listen” advancing the use of modern technologies in the church.
Various candidates for Bishop and General Officers, Judicial Council including Sis Thabile Ngubeni who is running for Judicial Council.
Additionally, Bishop McCloud established a District Think Tank which has got the planning meeting excited that there will be a think tank in the District to assist the Church moving forward. The WMS President and YPD President of Orangia Annual Conference were appointed to lead the think tank. The Bishop also appointed a mother of the District.
Apart from the busy schedule of the planning meeting, the Bishop made a historic appointment of Rev FJ Manganye as the first female presiding elder of Maxeke Presiding Elder District. Rev Manganye becomes the first female Presiding Elder in the East Annual Conference. The Bishop also appointed Rev Nonkosi Mawisa in the A Church of Ilanga District another milestone that a female pastor is appointed to an A Church in the Ilanga District. This follows the appointment of Rev Teboho Thobane who also became the first female Pastor to be appointed in the A – Church of the Springs Presiding Elder District.
Generally, the planning meeting was a success and the Bishop mastered the intonation of the spoken discourse of the A.M.E Church. The two important quoted from the Bishop during the planning meeting was addressing pastors that “Be gentle to the people and hear what they have to say even if you disagree with them” following on the quote by Bishop Leath that “The people must speak and the leaders must listen”
