Moderator's visit to MozambiqueOur synod moderator visited the Presbyterian Church of Mozambique (IPM) together with Jane Rowell, URC Secretary for World Church Relations, March 12-17 2010. The following is an account by Rowena of her visit.
It was great at last to visit the Presbyterian Church in Mozambique (IPM) with Jane Rowell t after three years of being Moderator when there has been little contact for various reasons. Hopefully this year our partnership can gather momentum now that face to face contact has beenrenewed. In our meetings there was enthusiasm and commitment for the partnership.
Our transport throughout the time we were there was the minibus that Northern synod raised the funds to buy. However, the roads in terms of pot holes were much worse than ours.
We took one of the synod office computers that have been replaced and it was delightful to see the joy with which it was received. The new President (General Secretary) Revd Ernesto Lange had neither office space nor equipment; but by the time we left he was set up with a room in the guest house with a desk and computer although not yet internet connected.
IPM has a vision of providing each Synod (Assembly staff member) with a computer and also their pastors in the different consistories (Presbyteries). They are already mobile phone savvy and seem to spend their lives on them like youngsters here. It would be great if anyone in Northern Synod has a redundant lap top that they would be willing to give. This can be wiped of all data and given to our partners on further visits later in the year. Desk tops are more difficult to get there and also need a cash supplement to pay for monitor, surge protection, keyboard etc. but may be possible. Let the synod office know of available computers and then we can work on how IMP can best receive them.
IMP consistories (similar to our Mission Partnerships) all have their leadership meetings monthly on the same Saturday, so we were able to travel around and share with three different ones. We were presented to one meeting in the seminary that we looked around. Then we met with a rural one and shared refreshments under the shade of a tree before sharing with a third one over lunch.
It was great to be greeted with singing and dancing in four part harmony in the local language. English was the third language for many of those we shared with. Gathering people from small churches spread over a distance was a problem common to both churches. I hope that IPM’s rich musical tradition with most churches having a youth, young married’s, women and men’s singing group will be something that they can share with us.
Buildings was also a common issue but for very different reasons. The IPM is growing and is establishing new ‘parishes’ and building new churches. We shared worship on the Sunday with a congregation that is building a church property around itself. They were delighted now to have a roof and windows.
Also following the war for independence and eleven years of civil war the government has taken possession of many buildings previously run as schools and hospitals. 
The church would like to have them back and the government would like to return them but needs assurance that there is the capacity in the church to both refurbish and run the properties – an assurance that the church currently cannot give due to its poverty.
The issue of tithing and giving to the church is a concern. The Pastor of the church we shared in worship in on the Sunday felt that once the church is built it will be full. Currently people are put off attending because of the expectation of making a financial contribution to the building.
Many of the churches we visited had large pieces of land that the church was trying to use to develop sustainable agricultural practices for families in the parish. There is great scope for training and development in this area.
There are women and men pastors. Local churches as in congregational days here are responsible for paying their pastors direct and therefore only a church than can afford a pastor has one. Many parishes have an evangelist – a local leader. I do not think I will ever complain about a URC manse again having seen the standard of some of IPM’s pastor’s houses but then we are not in a developing country.
Revd Ernesto Langa and Revd José Tovela junior are coming as overseas guests to General Assembly in July. They will be in Northern Synod for nearly a week beforehand so folk will have a chance to meet them. It is hoped that during Assembly we will have a get together for friends of Northern Synod with them.
In late August early September the Synod will be taking a party of people especially 18-30 year olds out to visit the IPM. Nominations for sharing in this trip are being gathered now. Next year there will hopefully be a return visit with youngsters probably accompanied by their synod youth secretary equivalent.
During the next couple of years it would be good if a minister or two as part of EM3 would consider an exchange visit funded by grants. This may involve 2 weeks EM3 study leave plus release from a church for a further two weeks. The minister would work alongside an IPM pastor for 4 weeks, possibly resident with the pastor and therefore needing to be able to cope with basic living standards. The IPM pastor would then come and spend a month in Northern Synod with the minister who had visited with them.
The purpose is twofold: firstly to be enriched by one another’s ministry and faith and secondly to enable improvement of the IPM ministers English. This would only be open to IPM ministers who already have basic English. Any minister interested please talk to Rowena or John.
From the wider URC it is hoped that we may provide some support for an external financial audit, strategic planning and support in establishing an English speaking liturgy in Maputo.
The aim is for this to be a partnership between Northern Synod and IPM and not a one way street. Poverty and the need for English language amongst church leaders is a strong pull towards the URC being seen as the giver and IPM being seen as the recipient. However music, youth and training programmes, theological reflection on our different contexts and challenging questions mean that there is a mutual richness to the exchange which makes this a genuine partnership for IPM and Northern Synod.
I give thanks to Revd Langa and Revd Tovela (who was called away for most of our visit due to the death of a brother) for the programme they put together and for their warm welcome, hospitality and detailed care of Jane and me while we were in Mozambique. I rejoice that we are partners together and can grow in Christ through recognising and sharing our unity and common engagement in God’s mission. Please pray that this partnership may be enriching to all whom it touches.
Revd Rowena Francis
Synod Moderator