.png)
It was at exactly 15:45 on the 28th of
October in the year of our Lord 2023, when the Anglican Mens Fellowship and
Evangelism guild in the diocese of Johannesburg, presented its report to the 66th
Synod of the diocese. The president of synod, the Right Reverend Doctor Steve
Mosimanegape Moreo made a request to the representatives of guilds and
organisations to deliver what he termed ‘high level presentations’ in no more
than three (3) minutes. This meant that the detailed report that was submitted
into the synod Agenda book needed to be summarized but maintain the important
details that needed to be brought to the attention of this august house, the church’s
highest decision making body. It was during this three-minute presentation that
I came to realise how dire the situation of the guild is, in particular ‘the
declining membership’. This decline is not only seen in the diocese of Johannesburg
but can be extended to the province and the church in general (a topic for
another day). Most alarming in this decline is ‘the decline of male membership’,
it is for this reason that I pen down this clarion call to the men that have
declared their allegiance to this guild before God.
At its fourteenth (14th) Provincial
Conference held in the diocese of Highveld in November 2022, the AMF & E
provincial leadership reported that ‘there was a general decline in membership across
all dioceses’, even though this report did not give a specific demographic
analysis of the guild, it is a known fact that the number of female members exceeds
that of male members, an irony which left members of the 66th synod
of Johannesburg amused, a rather embarrassing moment for the one who presented
these numbers and certainly for members of this guild who were seated in the audience.
Affiliation numbers in this diocese for the year 2023 were reported as follows,
277 women and 79 men, in a guild which was formed fifty-five (55) years ago, by
men, for men, as envisaged by the founder and first president of the guild,
Reverend S.R. Manentsa in 1967. In an effort to try to explain the prevailing situation,
the presenter made mention of the reality which many members of the guild in
this diocese are shying away from, that ‘there are affiliated and
non-affiliated but active members of the guild’, for various reasons the latter
could not affiliate in the year 2023 and among others is the open secret that
relates to those who’s grievances were not resolved leading up to Pentecost. However,
it is my conviction that non-affiliation for any reason cannot be acceptable,
by virtue of the oath of allegiance taken by members at the time of being robed
into the guild, unless this oath did not mean anything to the individual member.
Out of a total of 356 affiliated
members, the report shows that seven (7) are clergy, six (6) of whom are males
and one (1) female. It is at this point that the idea of this clarion call was
birthed, in the absence of a mandate from either cabinet or the President, the
presenter in his capacity as a member made a clarion call to the priests
(including the President of synod) who had not affiliated or are non-active
members of the guild, to ensure that they affiliate in the year of our Lord
2024 and come back to the guild which they took oath of allegiance to. This
background paints a picture of the elephant in the room that needs to be dealt
with in order for this guild to awaken the spirit and vision of reverend
Manentsa and all the forefathers of this guild, including the elders that
remain loyal to this day, the likes of ntate Madlala from St Mary Magdalene (Protea
South), ntate Rajwili from St Hildas (Senaoane) and others, members who to this
day remain loyal to their yearly affiliation.
One Joshua
Maponga makes a point that ‘the church ought to be honest to itself in order
for it to progress’ (Maponga. J. September 2023), but the truth is that the
church has the tendency to quietly walk away instead of dealing with
uncomfortable subjects. It is my considered view that such a situation is
currently at play in the AMF & E guild in the diocese of Johannesburg. The
growing number of women in the guild and the continued decline of men is course
for concern, the question is “how does the future of a mens guild look like
without the presence of men in it”, and that is the elephant in the room that
requires those who have pledged allegiance to the guild to come together and address.
On December 15th in the year of our Lord 2020, the then ‘Mens
Lekgotla’ executive in this diocese met at St Francis Moroka and resolved that
the guild shall move forward with a theme that says “Retain, Revive and Recruit”.
Another Mens lekgotla meeting was held on the 6th of August 2023
(three years later) at Khutsong Chapel, the meeting discussed and resolved on
the same matters and theme “the revival, recruitment and retention of men in
the guild”. Now as we march towards the 2023 diocesan conference in Munsieville,
one cannot help but wonder if the prevailing numbers and morale will help us
achieve the set goals of revival, renewal, recruitment and retention of male
members, including clergy?. Therefore, it is my considered view that the answer
to this question lies in the hearts and minds of both categories of members I
earlier referred to “the affiliated and the non-affiliated members”, solely by
virtue of the oath they took before God, pledging their allegiance to this
guild.
In his epistle to the people of God in
the church, Apostle James shares his wisdom on how to deal with trials and
tribulations as a people of God. He says to them “my brothers and sisters, consider
yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that
when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the rest is the ability to
endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing,
so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 TEV).
James’ wisdom in this epistle simply deals with “action and faith, in the
practice of Christianity”, he shares with us a practical but yet spiritual
approach to the challenges we are facing, encouraging us to face these
challenges head on by being practical in our approach. Indeed the guild is
experiencing a record decline in male membership, indeed the decline is not
only attributed to the challenges within the guild but the church in general,
as a result of the prevailing challenges of the secular world, but God being
our helper in directing us as we march into action with faith. The action of
standing up as men in honour of Reverend Manentsa and all the founding fathers
of this guild, especially those who lead the diocese of Johannesburg, reverend Joe
Maboe, Reverend Rakale and others. It is my considered view that “it all starts
at the 2023 conference in Munsieville”.
My clarion call is for all of us, men that have pledged their
allegiance to the Anglican Mens fellowship and Evangelism guild (lay and
clergy), to spring into action and ensure that the 2023 conference becomes the
stepping stone towards the “renewal, recruitment and retention” of male
members. Key to this conference are its deliberations on Friday the 24th,
in light of the elective provincial conference in 2024. This conference must
resolve on the participation of the diocese of Johannesburg in the renewal,
recruitment and retention drive of the guild in the province.
Let us learn from the
wisdom of Apostle James as he tells us in verse 12, spiritual maturity leads to
the greatest rewards or benefits available from living this life (James 1:12). Therefore, trials are a huge benefit for which we should
be grateful.
Kgosiemang Phejane
Writing in my personal capacity as a member of AMF & E in the
diocese of Johannesburg
11/11/203
No comments:
Post a Comment