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Rev. Zenda Chipaka, the first deaf pastor of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe, through a sign language interpreter shared reflections on the importance of listening to advice in her devotion during the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) 8th Biennial General Assembly. The assembly was held 28-29 August.
Acknowledging the reality of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in some assembly participants physically present and the majority participating virtually, Chipaka challenged her audience to pay heed to COVID-19 protocols articulated by health authorities. She said, “Are you listening and adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines?”
Participants said they were moved by the woman pastor with a disability preaching at a major ecumenical gathering.
The ZCC put into action recommendations of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network, which call for churches to embrace people with disabilities and facilitate their leadership. Many participants hailed the initiative, acknowledging that they had been challenged to reflect on their own attitudes towards people with disabilities in church and society.
At the assembly, the ZCC adopted an Inclusive Policy. The policy presented obligations to churches, society and government to craft policies and assume practices that ensure inclusion of people with disabilities, women, children and minorities.
Speaking after the historic adoption of this Inclusive Policy, Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, ZCC general secretary, said: “We are really glad that the ZCC adopted the Inclusive Policy at this assembly…it was an important breakthrough.”
He went on to emphasize that having the policy was the first step. “What is left now is to accompany the churches to implement it,” he concluded.
World Council of Churches interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent greetings to the ZCC assembly acknowledging the churches’ contributions to health care services, education, and humanitarian challenges.
“We are deeply aware of the difficult situation the church is passing through in Zimbabwe and we call on the church of God to unite and stand together in such a difficult times,” Sauca wrote.
Read the full text of Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca's greetings to the ZCC assembly
Learn more abou the WCC's Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN)