CALLS FOR MACULUVE TO STEP DOWN

MBABANE – There are calls from some pastors for Bishop Vusumuzi Maculuve to step down as a bishop.

They have raised concerns about the bishop’s conduct of being involved in a street fight, where he was seen wielding a bush knife. Two pastors, who voluntarily called this publication to share their disapproval of the bishop’s conduct, stated that he needed to consider stepping down. “He is an embarrassment to the church and the body of Christ. He must step down. People of his calibre cannot share the Word of God and then be seen wielding bush knives, it doesn’t work that way,” one of the pastors said.

Embarrassment

Another pastor said the bishop’s conduct was such an embarrassment to the whole church fraternity and called on church bodies to have firm and binding disciplinary measures for their members. Other pastors interviewed said Maculuve had set a bad example for the Christian fraternity yet he should be exemplary.
Reverend Dr Absalom Muntu Dlamini said for anyone to venture into the ministry of preaching, there must be a calling. Dlamini said the right calling should be approved by the elders where one grew up through the use of scriptures. He said people had a tendency of saying they were called by God yet they did not subscribe to any church.

Dr Dlamini said of late, people thought that once they had a Bible and a desire to preach, they could be preachers. He quoted a verse in the Bible where Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy showing him how to behave and handle the Word of God. “He (Paul) said take care of yourself and your doctrine as well,” said Dlamini. He said this meant that as a preacher, one had a responsibility to take care of oneself and the folk that he or she was leading. “It is the Word of God that tells us and shows us how we should behave and how we should do the work of God,” said the reverend.

Circumstances

Reverend Bhekibandla Dlamini of the Anglican Church, when expressing his personal point of view, said in such circumstances, he did not look at the act, but the reason behind the act. He said as church leaders, they should be exemplary and said it was also worth recognising that the calling of being a pastor came while one was also a mere human being hence as pastors, they all had feelings and emotions that ordinary people had, which included anger. Dlamini said nevertheless, as pastors they were expected to behave differently from someone else who was not a church leader. He said as church leaders, they should have a clear conscience and not behave like non-believers.

The man of the cloth discouraged Maculuve’s act. He said pastors, when they found themselves in certain situations which pushed them into being angry, were encouraged to move away from that situation before they found themselves getting into trouble. He, however, noted that it was good for Bishop Maculuve to acknowledge that he needed prayer. “He is correct, he really needs prayer, more especially because he has been through many controversial situations like this one,” said Reverend Bhekibandla. He said Bishop Maculuve could be facing some challenges and needed counselling as well. Reverend Bhekibandla encouraged Maculuve to seek professional help and added that he was also available to help him wherever he could.

Condemn

“We condemn the act of being violent, irrespective of the situation one may find himself in,” said the reverend.  Apostle Jeremiah Dlamini appreciated that Bishop Maculuve was seeking prayer despite the situation he found himself in. He said that was an indication that Maculuve realised that there was something wrong going on. The apostle noted that everyone had some wickedness he or she was facing that needed to be uprooted. He said one should realise his or her wickedness and be able to deal with it. Bishop Samson Hlatjwako, President of the League of Churches where Maculuve’s church is affiliated, could not be reached for comment as his phone rang unanswered. He was called yesterday morning, but he said he was driving and asked to be contacted later. When contacted later, he did not answer his phone.

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