*Evangelical* *Lutheran* *Church* *in* *Zimbabwe* *Women* *Fellowships* *_(Vashandiri)_* *Continue* *to* *Grow*
…… *_as_* *_the_* *_Eastern_* *_Diocese_* *_Successfully_* *_Convenes_* *_the_* *_Annual_* *_Revival_* *_Virtually_*
*_By_* *_Dr_* *_Tinashe_* *_Gumbo_*
*_The_* *_Church_* *_Set_* *_Up_*
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ), which is almost 118 years old (having celebrated its centenary in 2003), has remained a key player in spiritual and development work in the country.
Administratively, the Church is divided into three Dioceses. The Eastern Diocese, led by Bishop Rt Rev Vushebwashe Mhaka, geographically, covers Masvingo province stretching to Chiredzi and Malipati; Manicaland; Harare; Mashonaland Central and West and parts of the Midlands. The Central Diocese under Bishop Rt Rev Kenneth Sibanda (who is also the Presiding Bishop), covers mostly the Midlands and parts of Mwenezi in Masvingo province. It hosts most of the mission schools and hospitals as well as training centres which are Masase, Chegato, Msume, Mnene and Masvingo Mbuya Nehanda, all in Mberengwa and the Vashandiri Training Centre in Gweru. The Western Diocese, led by Bishop Rt Rev M.M. Dube, covers Matebeleland South and North as well as Bulawayo where Manama mission school and hospital are located (Matebeleland South) and the famous Njube Training Centre in Bulawayo.
The work of the ELCZ is hinged on its voluntary arms that are found in each congregation. These are _Vashandiri_ (Women Fellowship); _Zvapupu_ (Men’s Fellowship) (meaning The Witnesses) and the Luther League (Youths). However, evidence shows that it is the _Vashandiri_ which has remained the pillar of the Church.
The Eastern Diocese _Vashandiri_ led by Mrs Regai Mratu of the Mabvuku Congregation, Harare East Parish, presided over a successful 2021 Revival meeting which was held virtually (due to COVID-19 challenges) from 16 to 21 August 2021. A unique but successful methodology indeed!
*_The_* *_History_* *_of_* *_Vashandiri_*
It is important to refresh our minds regarding the history of the _Vashandiri_ , as a voluntary movement in the Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe. Söderström _et_ __al_ , (2003), trace the history of _Vashandiri_ to the 1930s (or even before), being associated with the early female missionaries, Miss Ida Granquist, Miss Ingegärd Ehn and Mrs Elisabeth Bernander. These women arranged Bible Knowledge sessions as well as practical lessons for issues such as cookery, child care, sewing, helping the sick and the needy, visiting non-Christians and other spiritual and social tasks for the women in the Church.
It is noted that Mrs Ester Ngwenya, wife of an Evangelist, Peter Ngwenya, became the pioneer leader of _Vashandiri_ . The _Vashandiri_ idea is reported to have originated from both Zululand and Zimbabwe. Mrs Bernander had met the Lutheran Prayer Women in Zululand and the _Ruwadzano_ (The Peace Fellowship) in the Methodist churches in Zimbabwe (Söderström, _et_ _al_ , 2003:52). The _Vashandiri_ concept was developed during very sensitive moments, hence the initially adopted name of The Mothers’ Union was withdrawn as it was thought to be associated with trade unionism. Thus, the name _Vashandiri_ was formally adopted in 1937.
A _Mushandiri_ was supposed to undergo some probation period (currently two years) before one could be a full member of the arm. One would commit herself to be a good Christian, wife and mother if she wanted to be accepted into the _Vashandiri_ .
By 1962, the _Vashandiri_ had become the pillar of the Church, hence the need to have a full time Secretary to coordinate the work of this arm, thus Mrs Anna Söderström occupied this position until 1971.
*_Visibility_* *_of_* *_Vashandiri_*
The _Vashandiri_ are visible in the ELCZ because of their unique uniform, a grey skirt and purple top with grey belt and collar as well as a hat inscribed with ELCZ logo. The _Vashandiri_ regard the colour of their uniform, loosely as “ _Gatawa_ ” (Shona name for purple). Purple is a combination of red and blue while grey is a combination of black and white. These colours have their symbolic meanings to the Church. Blue represents everlasting life; red is for the blood of Jesus; black shows that we were formerly deep into sin while white symbolises cleanliness from sin.
It is a requirement for _Mushandiri_ to be always in her Church uniform when fulfilling Church tasks including weddings, funerals and Church services.
The social and political challenges of the 1970s did not allow the Church to grow in terms of its membership. Yet, the _Vashandiri_ component grew from about 2000 in 1970, 3000 in 1976 and 5000 by 2003 (Söderström et _al_ , 2003: 54). These numbers could have been conservatively picked by the above authors as they could be lower than the reality. While current statistics could not be accessed for this piece, my experience in the ecumenical movement, where I work, shows that indeed, the numbers have grown steadily in the ELCZ and also in churches under the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), an ecumenical body made up of thirty Protestant Churches.
*_ELCZ_* *_Vashandiri_* *_in_* *_the_* *_Ecumenical_* *_Church_*
The ELCZ fellowship arrangement is similar to that of the ZCC where the Women Local Ecumenical Fellowship (WLEFs) or _Mubatanidzwa_ _WeMadzimai_ ( _Umanyano_ ) is the backbone of the ecumenical work in Zimbabwe. The WLEFs bring together all the women from the ZCC member churches in a given locality. In the different member churches, the women fellowships are known by different names such as Mothers' Unions, _Vashandiri_ , and others.
Like other ZCC member churches, the ELCZ Eastern Diocese has continued to be visible and active in ZCC’s women fellowships. The current, Eastern Diocese _Vashandiri_ Chairlady, Mrs Mratu is in the leadership of the ZCC women fellowship in Mabvuku-Tafara. In the ZCC, the women fellowships are responsible for coordination, organisation and mobilisation at local level for local urgency on critical processes.
In the same manner, the ELCZ Eastern Diocese _Vashandiri_ has been instrumental in the implementation of various projects such as farming, education, sewing and entrepreneurship.
In terms of supporting education, the case of the Gurungweni Secondary School project, in Chikombedzi, remains the pride of the _Vashandiri_ . The _Vashandiri_ constructed 5 by 2 classroom blocks and furnished them as well as 2 semi-detached staff houses and they drilled a water borehole for the school. The school is yet to be officially opened.
*_The_* *_Concept_* *_of_* “ *_Revival_* ” *_in_* *_the_* *_ELCZ_*
The year 2020 was characterised by many challenges caused by COVID-19. Church gatherings were restricted as a way of preventing further spreading of the corona virus. Yet, the Church’s survival is hinged on gatherings (fellowships). Thus, the ELCZ was affected just like any other institution in Zimbabwe. The Church could not physically fulfill its annual routines such as annual Revival meetings. The challenges continued to rock the nation in 2021.
Innovatively, the ELCZ Eastern Diocese _Vashandiri_ fulfilled this key process virtually. The online Revival meeting was consistently attended by about two hundred and fifty _Vashandiri_ per each whatsapp platform created. Participants who are resident in different countries attended the meeting. I checked from my wife (Angela Zvipo Gumbo)’s phone and noted that some participants are resident in other ELCZ Dioceses, in Europe and in other African countries. My wife is an active and committed _Mushandiri_ (together we have been members of the same Church since our days as Sunday school students at Mavorovondo Parish in Mberengwa in the early 1980s). Five whatsapp groups with approximately two hundred and fifty members each had been created. Thus, an estimated record number of around a thousand people participated.
For me, the hosting of a Revival meeting virtually, was an effective way of evangelising as the word timeously touched the hearts of more people than normally reached physically. The word went beyond the twenty four parishes that make up the Eastern Diocese.
Mrs Mratu had this to say, “We really needed to meet despite the pandemic that separated us physically from each other for more than a year. It is during such moments that we revive one another’s spirit especially in such times as these under COVID-19. The _Vashandiri_ were particularly challenged by congregants to remain relevant, hence we decided to meet virtually…”
Britannica (2019: n.d.) has defined revivalism, generally, “as renewed religious fervour within a Christian group, Church, or community, but primarily a movement in some Protestant churches to revitalize the spiritual ardour of their members and to win new adherents”.
Clearly, Revival in the ELCZ context, is a moment for the congregants to meet, reflect on their Christian lives, renew their faith and together map their spiritual future. In the case of the Zimbabwean Church in general, in 2020/2021, such a moment, became a necessary and important calendar event as the congregants have not been meeting due to COVID-19 restrictions.
People’s faiths need to be “revived”, congregants need to engage and encourage each other, messengers of God need to reassure them that they are not supposed to fear as God is there to “fight” on their behalf.
As a Lutheran myself, I personally congratulate the Eastern Diocese _Vashandiri_ leadership for successfully convening this year’s Revival meeting under very difficult conditions-but here we are, it worked!
The challenges faced, lessons learnt and recommendations shared by the leadership after the meeting, will surely inform the broader Ecumenical Church, that, congregants can still connect and fulfill their Christian obligations even in such difficult situations.
The main challenges noted included connectivity problems, high cost of communication data and some congregants did not have smart phones which are compatible. Moreover, according to Mrs Mratu, they could not fulfil some of the Revival routine sessions online such as exhibitions and music competitions.
However, opportunities also presented themselves: in relative terms, virtual meetings are cheaper; participants continue with their daily activities while attending the meeting and indeed, more people attended than could have been the case had the meeting been convened physically. Furthermore, congregants from other denominations had the opportunity to attend.
*_Excellent_* *_Speakers_*
The week-long meeting was graced by a team of great people in the Church. Bishop Mhaka and _Amai_ were instrumental in shaping the whole process and content. They also presented on some key topics at the meeting. The Bishop’s powerful “singing voice” would be heard in between presentation sessions, motivating participants spiritually.
The presentations by the ELCZ Deans, S. Hove, M. Zano and T.V. Gambiza on various socio-spiritual topics, equipped the _Vashandiri_ with critical and necessary knowledge that will be shared to all the congregants from the pulpit beyond the Revival moment.
I have already reflected on the presentation by Dean Hove on Women Empowerment and Development, where he touched on Sustainable Development Goals and the work of the _Vashandiri_ . I was convinced that the Church is very rich in terms of human capital.
As I continue to reflect on the other presentations, I have also concluded that the organisers need to find ways of compiling them into a small booklet for sharing with the Ecumenical Church beyond the ELCZ. Mrs Mratu indicated that, indeed, her team has plans to compress all the presentations for sharing via various channels including radio, social media and others in translated languages to cater for every congregant in the Church.
The other presenters who are experts in their various capacities on development, gender, theology and administration also led different sessions. These are Rev E, Moyo, a gender specialist; Rev Mangena; Rev K. Gora (who spoke on ambassadorial role of a Christian); Mrs R. Hove; Rev N. Mazetese; Dr Chabaya; Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata; Rev P. Javedu; Rev J.S. Mashavira; Rev S. Maphosa; Rev S. Kanyekanye and the hosting Chair, Mrs Mratu and her team of _Vashandiri_ leaders from the greater Eastern Diocese.
*_The_* *_Theme_* *_Explained_*
The meeting ran under the theme (they call it _Singwisingwi_ in the Lutheran circles) “ _Do_ _not_ _be_ _afraid_ _or_ _discouraged_ _for_ _the_ _battle_ _is_ _not_ _yours_ _but_ _God’s_ …..” (2nd Chronicles 20:15-17.
The theme was excellently explained by Rev Mtata, who is a Lutheran Pastor and also the current General Secretary of the ZCC. With my wife, we had the opportunity to carefully and thoughtfully listen to Rev Mtata’s presentation. Thus, in this brief, I attempt to summarise the theological reflections done to elucidate the Revival Theme from my own understanding of the presentation.
Contextually, the audience was reminded of the fear and dismay that characterised Israel following the death of Moses, who had provided some unique form of leadership. Indeed, the Lord would quickly remind Joshua and the people to be strong for he was going to lead them in the fulfilment of the task ahead.
In Isaiah 43, the Lord promises restoration (a “Second Exodus”). The Lord had done it before through Moses, and the same is being promised in Isaiah 43 where God would restore his people from the Babylonian exile, thus, they were not supposed to fear.
The 2021 Revival meeting was directly hinged on 2nd Chronicles 20:15 as indicated above. Jehoshaphat is advised by God through Jahaziel that he should not fear and or discouraged for the "insurmountable" battle before him was going to be fought by God himself. The words pronounced by God remind of those made by Moses at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13).
Rev Mtata explained that indeed, in the three cases of Joshua, Isaiah (43) and Jehoshaphat, the people had strong reasons to fear and be dismayed. The passing on of Moses at a critical moment created a potential leadership crisis that almost broke the faith of the Israelites. In Isaiah 43, the Babylonian exile had also created moments of fear and discouragement. Yet, the seemingly insurmountable battle before Jehoshaphat and his subjects presented fertile ground for fear and loss of faith.
This could be the case with the current situation in Zimbabwe socially, economically and even politically in 2021. Things may not be well for individual _Mushandiri_ , _Vashandiri_ collectively, the Church at large and nationally. Fear and loss of faith in institutions and even in God himself have engulfed the people. They may generally be feeling powerless to face the realities on the ground.
Thus, the Revival meeting came at the right time to strengthen the women in our Church and the rest of the citizens who would follow the meeting proceedings virtually. In a similar moment, Isaiah reminds the people that they were his; in Joshua, God was there for his people and in 2nd Chronicle, God reminds of his past efforts to free his people from bondage. The same promises and reminders can still apply to our situation today hence we should not fear or feel discouraged. The battle itself is God’s but only if we are faithful in him. Losing faith at such challenging moments is not a show of being a true Christian. Furthermore, submission to God is the only weapon to a war. The Revival meeting was an opportune time to encourage each other spiritually and morally in a situation of challenges.
Congratulations Eastern Diocese _Vashandiri_ for a job well done!
*References*
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2019, Revivalism, Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/revivalism-Christianity.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe, Eastern Diocese 2021 Vashandiri Presentations (with my own interpretations added).
Mratu, R, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe Eastern Diocese, Vashandiri Chairlady, Interview, 21 August 2021, Harare.
Söderström, H., Bergman, S., and Bergman, T., (2003), The History of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe 1903-2003, Uppsala Stift, Uppsala.
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