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IN a bid to save the church from scandal and false prophets, local churches have crafted a code of ethics and conduct which deals with questionable miracles, adultery and cheating church members of their hard- earned cash.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the mother body of more than 500 churches in the country, came up with the code which deals with a number of issues which are bedevilling churches.
Recent developments have ignited debate about the sanctity of the church and the genuineness of the new breed of clergy.
Following revelations that a number of religious leaders have been sexually abusing members, the code prohibits pastors from being involved in “compromising relationships”.
“All individual members, pastors, leaders and office bearers shall actively and manifestly avoid relationships and associations that compromise and or undermine biblical models and conventional EFZ principles of Christian conduct, testimony and witness,” reads the code in part.
“All individual members, pastors, leaders and office shall treat their spouses and family with love, honour and dignity and shall not participate in, encourage or ignore individual and family degradation and or abuse. Members should treat as honourable and sacrosanct their marriage covenant to their spouses and acts of adultery or fornication shall result in disciplinary action being taken.”
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe members will also “avoid relations and associations that may cause speculation, disrepute or compromise to their marital and sexual integrity”.
There are several cases of church leaders being accused of adultery and fornication with some having appeared in court.
The high-profile trial of End Time Message church leader Pastor Robert Martin Gumbura triggered debate over the behaviour of men of the cloth, with society eagerly awaiting judgment which is set to be delivered on 8 January next year.
Mount Olives Church leader Pastor Wilson Duncan Kwambana is also accused of seven counts of rape. He is accused of luring victims into being intimate with him through claiming that it was the will of the Holy Spirit.
Another man of the cloth, a Pastor Murerekedzwa, recently grabbed headlines after being humiliated by a prostitute for allegedly failing to pay for “feeling” her private parts.
A church pastor who resides in Harare was also recently caught on camera demanding to touch a prostitute’s private parts for just $50.
There are also allegations that church leaders were duping their members of cash and goods in the name of praying for blessings.
Spirit Embassy founder Prophet Uebert Angel made headlines after being accused of fraud involving a Bentley vehicle reported to be worth $300 000. Prophet Angel reportedly demanded the vehicle as a “seed” on the promise that the one seeding would reap a three-fold harvest.
According to the code, EFZ members must have functional internal governance systems that ensure good financial administration and accountability.
The code also states that members should publicly embrace a non-partisan position and not be a member of a political party nor adopt a public partisan stance.
Church members who will be found to be violating the code will face disciplinary action.
The code reads: “failure for members to abide by or comply with the provisions of this code of conduct shall be grounds for individual and corporate members to be subject to disciplinary process and procedure.”
EFZ president Dr Shingi Munyeza could not be reached for comment.
Online Reporter