(Churches And Clergy Making Headlines This Past Week)
September 04th, 2021
The Headlines:
SDA Urges Members To Get Covid Vaccine
Johane Marange Apostolic Church Apologizes Over Anna Machaya’s Death
Govt Bars Children From Attending Church
Churches Ban: Unvaccinated Congregants Seek High Court Reprieve
Church Group Urges Govt to Enact Legislation On Enforced Disappearances
Hindu Temples To Reopen In Harare For Vaccinated Devotees Only
Stories In Detail:
*SDA Urges Members To Get Covid Vaccine*
THE Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church has become one of the leading religious groups to openly encourage its members to embrace the Covid-19 vaccination exercise.
The development comes at a time government eased lockdown, Level 4 to allow vaccinated members only to attend sit-in church services.
This was expected to trigger a spike in vaccinated citizens considering that 70% of Zimbabwe’s population is religious with the majority being Christians.
The indirect coercion towards vaccination, from workplaces to churches – has been interpreted as the beginning of the end-times era within religious circles.
Some Christian denominations have linked the ongoing vaccinated exercise with the Biblical mark of the beast prophecy in the book of Revelations chapter 13, verse 16/18.
However, SDA General Conference (GC) – the governing body of the church through its Health Ministries distanced the vaccination exercise from the end-time prophecy.
“One of the things that the rumours are going on there is that this vaccine is the mark of the beast. Now I don’t know what Bible you are referring to or whose authority you are getting it from but according to the statement of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, you see what we actually understand that the mark of the beast is really whom you give your allegiance to, your loyalty, it is not a vaccine,” said SDA-GC Health Ministries director Alexis Llaguno in a video communique that was shared with its churches globally.
Source : News Report
*Johanne Marange Apostolic Church Apologizes Over Anna Machaya’s Death*
MUTARE – The Johanne Marange Apostolic Church in Marange, which is reeling under massive pressure from local and international human rights activists and organizations after a 14 year old girl died giving birth at the church’s shrine recently, has opened up emphasizing that it is a law abiding religious sect that condemns child marriages.
The church’s remarks comes after some disturbing reports of a 14-year-old girl – Anna Machaya – died recently while giving birth at the church’s shrine in Bocha in Marange area.
The mother, Shylett Mabika was allegedly denied access to her when she was giving birth and after she died, was also denied access to her burial.
Machaya was allegedly denied medical assistance by leaders of the apostolic sect because of their church beliefs that bars them from receiving any medication.
She finally succumbed to complications from the incident.
The alleged husband to Machaya – Hatirarami Momberume – has appeared at Mutare Magistrate Court where he is facing rape and murder charges.
Momberume, also known as Evans Momberume, recently appeared before magistrate Lucy Mungwari, who denied him bail and remanded him in custody to September 3.
In an interview with this publication on Wednesday, The Johanne Marange Apostolic church spokesperson, Nyasha Marange, said the church regretted the incident describing it as ‘unfortunate.’
“First of all, we are sorry of the incident and it was so unfortunate. But, we want to make it clear that our church abides and respect the laws of our government,” said Marange.
“Our leader High Priest Noah Taguta and the followers of the church, we all respect the laws that govern Zimbabwe. LolWe have high respect to our government and as a church we also have our laws that clearly state that girls under the age of 18 are not married,” said the church’s spokesperson.
Source - Eastern Review Media
*GOVT BARS CHILDREN FROM ATTENDING CHURCH*
GOVERNMENT has advised religious congregations not to allow minors to attend church services.
The development comes at a time government eased lockdown, Level 4 where it, inter alia, opened churches to vaccinated members.
Government further went on to lower the age limit of eligible persons to be vaccinated to 14 years from 18 years.
However, there is confusion among church goers as to whether minors can attend services.
Most parents and guardians have been taking children below the minimum age of vaccination to attend services as the SI has been subject to varying interpretations.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said only fully vaccinated members were allowed to attend church.
“Statutory Instrument clearly talks to allowing fully vaccinated people in church,” said Mutsvangwa when reached for comment.
Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “We enforce what the Cabinet has instructed or prescribed.”
Technically, this means that all children below the age of 14 years cannot attend church services – a situation that has not gone down well with most church going parents.
Most parents who spoke to New Zimbabwe.com said it defies logic for parents or guardians to attend church services in the absence of their children.
“I don’t think that this will work, especially for me or any other parent for that matter,” said Locadia San’anza.
“You cannot open up a family constituted institution like the church to parents only. This probably works within the workplaces but not the church,” said San’anza.
Another church goer, Evans Momberume said the regulation contravenes Biblical doctrine where Jesus Christ spoke against the forbidding of children to come to him and the kingdom of God in Mathew Chapter 19, Verse 14.
“What we are now seeing is in clear violation of our faith and religion, which are not only Biblically rooted but also provided for in the Constitution. We are slowly allowing politicians to choose who should and should not attend church.
“Such violations should not go unchallenged,” said Momberume.
“Politicians who are making these decisions have not compelled their party members to be vaccinated but they choose to bully the church,” said another irate church goer, Lameck Mutezo.
Several other members said they will continue to attend online church services as they cannot afford to have their children segregated on matters of faith.
Most congregations have been making use of home worship, televangelism or conducting church services on social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and online platforms such as Zoom following the advent of Covid-19.
“It’s better to continue with online services because I’m thriving to be saved together with my family. Besides people make up a church and not the building structure,” said Theresa Moyana.
Source : NewZimbabwe.com
*Churches Ban: Unvaccinated Congregants Seek High Court Reprieve*
A HUMAN rights lawyer, representing unvaccinated church congregants across the country, has filed an urgent High Court chamber application seeking to nullify the government ban on unjabbed worshippers from attending sit-in sermons.
Obert Kondongwe, who is founder of Lawyers for Truth, Health, Justice and Freedom, on Friday lodged the application at the High Court in Harare.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, Health minister and Vice President Constatino Chiwenga, and the Attorney General, are cited as first, second, third and fourth respondents, respectively.
In the founding affidavit deposed by lawyers from Mundida and Mudhara law firm, Kondongwe argued the directive to stop unvaccinated congregants from attending church was not only discriminatory, but illegal and unconstitutional.
“Take notice that application is hereby made for an order in terms of the provisional order annexed to this application on the grounds that on 11 August 2021, first respondent issued a statement on behalf of Cabinet to the effect that churches could now gather for physical meetings, but only for sit-in congregants who have received two sets of the Covid-19 vaccine doses.
“In essence, all unvaccinated sit-in congregants were prohibited from attending physical church meetings. The effect of the statement was also to criminalize any church gatherings of unvaccinated sit-in congregants,” said Kondongwe.
Source - Newsreport
*Church Group Urges Govt To Enact Legislation On Enforced Disappearances*
The government of Zimbabwe has been called upon
to lobby for states in SADC and Africa to investigate and bring closure to cases of Enforced Disappearances
and to put in place legislation that will protect its citizens, The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) said yesterday.
In a Statement released to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the ZCA said in most cases responsible states have not done investigations 4 to the disappearances of these people to establish their whereabouts for the families to get closure.
"We as the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance call upon the government of Zimbabwe to:
● to put in place legislation that will protect people from Enforced Disappearances
stop the culture of enforced disappearance to instil fear amongst citizens
● to investigate and bring closure to cases of forced disappearances
● Guarantee the victims’ families closure of what happened, rehabilitation and compensation
● The government must revisit the missing person’s act and ensure its implementation." Said the ZCA.
The ZCA is a group of like-minded Christians working together for peace and conflict transformation.
Source - churchnewszim.co.zw
*Hindu Temples Reopen In Harare For Vaccinated Devotees Only*
Two Hindu temples in Harare, run by Hindu Society Harare (HSH), which have reportedly been closed for months due to COVID-19, have reopened.
However, entry is restricted for community members “who have had both doses of COVID 19 vaccination”.
The Hindu Society’s notice issued on August 27 states:
…The Anson Road Mandir is also open for all prayer and bhajan groups who wish to recommence their sessions…Please show the guard your vaccination card at the point of entry of the Anson Road Mandir…
Janmastami (which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna) day ceremonies; which include bhajans, thaal arti, prasad; will be held at Anson Road Mandir on August 30 from 03:30 pm to 05:30 pm. But the evening Janmastami ceremonies, performed by the priest and his family at Anson Road Mandir will be broadcast live on YouTube and Society’s Facebook.
Commending HSH for attempting necessary precautions and actions to combat deadly coronavirus and educating the community, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) Saturday, urged Hindus to draw closer to God through prayer during COVID-19.
Zed, who is President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, suggested Hindus pray at least twice daily in their home shrines with total devotion and pure heart. These prayers might include making offerings to ista-devata, chanting mantras, reading sacred texts, performing aarti and bhajans, doing puja, etc. Rajan Zed said:
"Hindus are God’s people, full of courage and generosity. "
Source : NewsDay
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