Church breakaways worry minister

The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Edwin Batshu, has expressed worry over the breakaways and mushrooming of churches in the country, saying that such a problem is a clear indication that churches are failing to solve their problems.
Batshu was speaking during the official opening of the Francistown Temple Church in Francistown at the weekend.
The minister further expressed his discontentment with churches saying that more often, churches break apart because of fights over money, assets and control of the church.
“We are seeing the mushrooming of new churches almost everyday and my main worry is that there are many breakaways which lead to people forming their own denominations. I am not happy with these because it shows that we as churches are failing to solve our problems such that we decide to disband. Many of the times fights are over money, assets and control of the church,” he said.
He advised the churches to set up proper systems that determine how assets and money should be managed and to ensure such systems are followed. As for the control of churches, Batshu said it is high time that churches have proper succession plans and formally train their leadership to avoid fights in the event one leader dies or if there is poor leadership. He further advised churches to open bank accounts to be able to manage their finances.
“I have reports that some misdeeds have led to the moral decay of churches and consequently a lot of people are losing trust that churches can handle their problems, the church must rise above these abominable acts and stay intact if it requires its credibility to stay put,” he said.
The minister said that he is currently working with various churches to address the issue of breakaways and mushrooming of new churches. He further said that his ministry has proposed stiffer measures for the registration of churches to ensure that they minimize these breakaways. He said that such a decision will allow churches time to introspect and mend their problems.
“You should understand that conflicts are natural, there is a saying that to err is human and to forgive is divine. You must engage each other with mutual respect, compromise for the sake of settling matters and forgiving one another,” Batshu said.
He emphasized that churches should deal with internal conflicts and avoid rushing into disbanding to form new churches. The Minister also raised concern over some churches led by con pastors adding that most of the time these pastors are foreigners. He however added that there are some local culprits who are also involved in such acts.
“I have nothing against foreigners as long as they come here with good intentions, but some have formed about churches that seek to impoverish people by deceiving people to contribute money for their personal gain. Mostly these pastors live lavishly and the money contributed does not go into the development of congregants and the country but rather money flows to their homes outside of the country,” he said.
Batshu said that government is aware of this malpractice and will ensure that those responsible are brought to order. The Minister also raised worry over a practice by some churches who baptize their members on rivers adding that caution must be exercised not to lose lives with people drowning and some getting contaminated.
“As a result, a lot of lives have been lost and to avoid this I want churches to follow the law, take precaution in their baptism particularly in rivers and other natural water spots. Churches should ensure they engage health workers to test the river waters to determine their safety as required by the Societies Act of 1972,” he said.
On a positive note Batshu lauded the churches for playing a great role in charitable responsibilities to attend to the needs of the poor, the needy, the widows, orphans and vulnerable children. He further commended the churches for doing a great job in partaking in funerals and comforting individuals, families and communities who lose their loved ones to different atrocities of life.