The New Semuliki Presbytery

members of the new Presbytery
leadership: Kisembo, Jofrey, Charles, Bazara
Travis
Bishop Hannington
and last, but definitely NOT least, FOOD!


Last Sunday, church was packed, surpassing even the crowd that showed the week before to say goodbye to the Myhres. Sprigs of various bushes and trees decorating the windows, pink yarn strung across the sanctuary with toilet paper, pastel colored balloons, and pink ribbon tied to the yarn added quite the air of festivity to the room.

And festivities there were. Those gathered had the pleasure of hearing the Bubandi choir - decked out in matching yellow shirts, the Bundikiyora choir - decked out in their blue collared shirts (who managed to get the church leaders and the congregation on their feet and dancing, hip gyrations and all!) and the Bundimulinga children’s choir. Kisembo Vincent lead worship, Charles Musinguzi thankfully kept the preaching brief from Romans.

After the church service, a brief intermission followed and then the Installation service commenced. Is Installation the right word? I’m not sure…my medical speak, along with my PCA church piety speak have gone to the dogs since moving here…There was singing and then there was prayer. 4 chairs were set up in the middle and the names of 4 men were called to fill them as the leadership of the new Presbytery: Charles Musinguzi (Moderator), Bazara (vice moderator), Jofrey (clerk) and the biggest chair of all and interestingly enough announced as the biggest of the big men, Kisembo Akleo (Treasurer). It’s interesting to me that here the Treasurer is a “bigger man” than the Moderator (I’m just a mere pastor’s daughter with very little expertise in the matter but it’s my understanding that in the US the Moderator is the “bigger man”…).

Then of course, to fulfill all protocols, there were speeches. The LC1 was unable to come, but Vincent Kawa spoke briefly on his behalf (I think I understood Vincent to say he’s the Secretary of Education for Nyahuka Town Council??? I’m never sure if I’m catching all of the details correctly…). Noteable quote: “We are very happy about this new Presbytery because no matter what happens, God knows better.”

Then the LC3 spoke well, with 2 main points: Patience and Cooperation. What he said in regards to the first point seemed particularly poignant for us as a team. He spoke of patience describing the work World Harvest Mission did to start the New Life churches and said something like “and back then we never thought we would have Bishops of our own from Bundibugyo” and used this Installation of a New Presbytery to illustrate the necessity for having patience and perseverance in the work God has given us. Amen. And how encouraging for me (and hopefully for all of you reading who have invested in the church in Bundibugyo) to hear the community testifying to the encouragement it is to them that they now have leadership of their own, that it takes time, but God has been faithful. So, Rick Gray, Dan Herron, Paul Leary, Alan Lee, and many others that I am forgetting, be encouraged. Unfortunately you’re not here to hear all of this with your own ears, and see all of it with your own eyes, but God is good! There was not a single muzungu sitting up front where the “big men” sit…there were Ugandan church leaders from all kinds of churches/denominations gathered and testifying to God’s work.

And as for cooperation, also poignant come to think of it for our little team at this juncture in our lives, he also spoke well. He called for cooperation between all parties, that the church, World Harvest, the government leaders, all of us need to literally co-operate in order to do good work (or from our perspective, to do God’s work, to further His kingdom here). Too true. Might God bless us with cultural agility, a cup overflowing with love and grace, and courage to stand with and against and the wisdom to tell the difference as we feebly attempt to work together with various parts of the community.

Travis was called on to represent “the Mission” and he did well. It was his first “solo performance” as team leader representing the team at a community function. And what he had to say was the core of what we believe to be true, the core of why we are here, and why the church exists. The core = the good news. “Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” There was truth and feet stomping involved, what could make for a better speech?! What is this truth, this good news? It’s that Jesus loves us…He loves us black and white, doctors and church leaders, Ugandans and Americans. That this new presbytery is a demonstration of that, somehow the departure of most of the “old guard” missionaries is a demonstration of that…we can look forward to the leadership of the Presbytery and the cooperation of the Mission and the community, and be confident because of God’s love for us. Plain and simple.

Bishop Hannington brought the speeches to a close, representing the Charasmatic Episcopals. He called the crowd’s attention to the diversity of Christians represented, the Anglicans, the Charasmatic Episcopals, the Baptists, the Church of God, the Roman Catholics. I’m not quite sure what else he said because in my memory it wasn’t translated so was totally lost on my ears for the most part, but the body of Christ rejoicing together seemed poignant as well.

Then of course there was food. Piping hot food, it was 5pm and everyone was hungry. The food preparation started before the church service did, but somehow it was the hottest Ugandan food I’ve ever eaten. Yum!

So, there you have it. The new Semuliki Presbytery in the Presbyterian Church of Uganda. Pray with us that this new entity will first and foremost glorify God.

Today is Sunday, a week later, and we’re playing hookey from church. The all night rain that extended through most of the morning contributed to wanting to stay in, for sure, and the truth is that we’ve spent about 14 cumulative hours in church/celebration services in the last 2 weeks, so today, Anna L. and I worshipped virtually at Redeemer NY via ipod from our couch. Scott Sauls quote of the day: “Stop trying to be like Jesus and start doing what you can to be with Him.” Note to self.