Synod meeting 13th July

We overslept but still managed to be ready for a 6.30 pick-up and 7am bible study. The theme for the Jubilee synod was based on Luke 4v16-18/Isaiah 61 was ‘125th jubilee year transforming life in Jesus Christ’. Then we had breakfast before synod sessions. The section report for the activists was received with acclaim, that is with song and dance. This section of young couples brought forward new by-laws / constitution for their work. There remains confusion between legal state marriage and church marriage in Mozambique and they want to encourage couples to make sure they are married in both ways as government clarifies and simplifies the process. Currently obtaining state marriage can be costly and involve travel and therefore is prohibitive. This group also want to continue to expand their work with HIV/AIDS projects and education.

Then special guests were welcomed and made presentations. Doug Tilton from the Presbyterian Church (USA) but based in South Africa told of a dispute that went to law between a presbytery and the wider church. He used this illustration to stress the importance of good governance and management. Rowena offered greetings from the URC and presented a communion chalice and plate that had been used at the URC General Assembly until this year when a new set for the 40th anniversary were dedicated. Didier Crouzet of the Reformed Church of France presented a picture of their logo of a cross with the dove of the Holy Spirit below and talked of the significance of resistance in his church's history and for the IPM’s identity. The son of a missionary pastor who was born in the 1980’s in the now derelict house at Antioch and lived there until he was seven and his daughter Nicole also made a presentation. Northern Synod was acknowledged when the sewing project, that we raised funds for, presented a communion cloth that had been embroidered by them.

A competition had been held for the best hymn based on the history of IPM and the jubilee theme. Before lunch we learnt one of the runners up. The winning hymn which was great and learnt later was sung in front of the country’s president during the jubilee. Rather than stave music IPM use ‘do re me’ notation so everything is taught by cantor.

After lunch the synod executive report was presented. The two students with scholarships for a Brazilian theological college are now not going until 2013. This gives us in Northern synod a bit longer to raise funds for one of their flights. Do consider this in your churches – it would be good to have the £3000 by the end of this year. Meg’s visit with Rosa and her return visit as a pastor’s exchange was also mentioned.

There was a discussion on which languages should be used with a request for local languages to prevail. But the executive resisted this out of concern for not having adequate skills and resources to translate everything. Some said that the evangelists could be used more but then there is anxiety about the quality of their Portuguese. This is already a concern and the pedants in synod were quick to correct Portuguese grammar. In Mozambique there is an even more pronounced North / South divide than in England. A pastors' refresher course had been held in the South and there is a strong desire to hold one further North. But finance and transport costs are a real issue. Although there was a suggestion for regional or clusters of presbyteries we are not sure this issue was resolved. IPM would like partners like us to fund a gathering for Northern pastors and presbytery officers. However this probably needs much more thought first.

There was then a debate on a single development plan for the buildings of IMP and a proposal that all new building projects should in future be agreed by synod (assembly). Both of these proposals were rejected. However it was agreed that presbyteries and parishes’ should inform the synod of any building developments taking place. It was anticipated that the synod meeting would finish its business at 6.30pm but guests were given a tea break at 5.30pm and when we returned there was the most heated debate yet. It was gone 9pm when we got to dinner.

So what was the debate that caused this? IPM is concerned to improve governance and transparency and have therefore set up in the last year a verification committee and its work is now impacting on the presbyteries. Their report led to protracted and heated debate. Before closure for the night the Mozambique Christian Council (ecumenical body) whose general secretary is an IMP minister shared a poem written for the occasion. There was also a presentation from pastors asking for a living salary and to be assured of payment. They asked for a commission to be set up but others felt that finances were simply not available. This is an on-going concern for IPM. It was gone 10.30 pm when we returned to our guest house and tackled getting the door opened due to a temperamental lock.