Dear Friends,

Directly following my last newsletter we experienced "a kairos moment" here in the Synod of Livingstonia, Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) of Malawi. "Kairos" is the Greek word that means "the time of God’s fulfillment." It is a decisive time, the time of God’s favor, an essential time, a benchmark in salvation history. It was just such a time as this on Sunday, October 31, 1999, at the Ekwendeni Church, when the Ekwendeni Presbytery licensed Mrs. Martha Mwale, to serve as the first Malawian female pastor of a CCAP congregation. Perhaps it was not coincidental that the date for this event was rescheduled from October 24th to take place on October 31, Reformation Sunday. Our own Book of Order, PC(USA), reminds us that as Presbyterian Christians of the Reformed tradition we affirm that we are "‘The church reformed, always reforming,’ according to the Word of God and the call of the Spirit."

A CCAP licensed pastor, like a PC(USA) seminary intern, performs all the duties of a pastor (with the exception of administration of the sacraments and officiation of marriages) under the supervision of an ordained pastor. The licensing of a candidate, a presbytery responsibility, became, on this historic kairos occasion, a Synod event. Members of the Women’s Guild, from various churches within the Synod, sang and danced praises to God. Those who officiated included The Reverend Dr. Overtoun Mazunda, General Secretary of the Synod; the Reverend H. M. Nkhoma, Deputy-General Secretary of the Synod; and the Reverend Henry Mvula, Moderator-Elect of the Synod.

The Reverend Heather Jones, a CCAP School Chaplain—Presbyterian Church in Canada pastor, and I presented Martha with a black alb, and people from Eastern Oklahoma sent clergy shirts to her as part of the celebration. Martha radiated the peace and joy of our Lord as a calling, which had been on hold for over two years of Synod deliberations on the ordination of a woman as pastor, came into fulfillment. Martha will serve the Mombwe congregation at Engucwini and be ordained at next year’s Synod Assembly, which will take place in August or November 2000.

My own responsibilities as a female pastor of the Zolozolo CCAP church have recently included baptism of 48 infants, baptism and reception of 40 youth and adults as new members, and the administration of communion at both the English and Chitumbuka (with translator) services. Eight elders of the Zolozolo church added to this blessing in their recent visit to my home to officially welcome me as their pastor. They came bearing the gifts of their lives (sharing their faith stories and vision for our common ministry) and gifts of food (rice, oil, potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, onions). In awe, with humility and great joy, I received the gift of our mutual ministry, the weaving of a beautiful tapestry of partnership.

To add "icing to the cake" this past week I received "a visitation from our Lord" in the guise of a remarkable Malawian woman, Mrs. Rose Chibambo. She came to tell me about her recent visit to Eastern Oklahoma. She spoke of the places she visited, the faithfulness of the people and the gracious and warm hospitality of her hosts. Then I asked her to tell me her story: the spiritual journey of a woman who took on a leadership role in the Malawi National Congress and served as the first female Member of Parliament. I was spellbound as she told me about the Spirit of God at work in her life, drawing this lone female into male-only circles to advocate for independence from colonial rule.

When the new president of an independent Malawi, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, proved to be a ruthless dictator, Rose was one of a group of eight who refused to capitulate and was forced to flee to Zambia on threat of losing her life, leaving behind four children at boarding schools in northern Malawi. Shortly after arriving in Zambia her husband became ill and died. It was thirty years before the Banda regime came to an end and Rose was able to return to her homeland and her family. Throughout her story, with true meekness, Rose viewed herself as a servant of God and a servant of the people of Malawi as she spoke of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

In sharing Rose’s story with you, I am reminded of St. Augustine’s description of his desire to be a faithful leader of the people and servant of God: "For you, I am a bishop, but with you I am a Christian. The first is an office accepted, the second a grace received; one a danger, the other safety. If, then, I am gladder by far to be redeemed with you than I am to be placed over you, I shall, as the Lord commanded, be more completely your servant."

Ucizi na Mtende (Grace and Peace).

Your servant,

Debbie Chase

The 1999 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 180