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ACK Cathedral Diocese of Kitale
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ACK Cathedral Diocese of Kitale
By The Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chemengich
On the Occasion of Consecration and Enthronement
as the Second Bishop of the Diocese of Kitale
Embracing the New Things
God is About to Do
Isaiah 43:19-20
Greetings to each and all of you, in the Name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen!
On my own behalf and that of my family and the entire fraternity of ACK Diocese of Kitale, allow me to take this earliest opportunity to thank each of you for honoring our invitation to come and grace this service of Consecration and Enthronement.
I register my utmost appreciation to the Almighty God for the many blessings He has showered on Kitale Diocese since its inauguration on 20th July 1997. I acknowledge with gratitude the sacrificial service of the First Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Stephen and Mama Rael Kewasis Nyorsok, who for the past 21 years labored to set the foundation upon which today I can stand on, to steer the diocese through the next phase of its growth.
Today's consecration service offers our diocese the unique opportunity to review the nature of our ministerial calling and to look to the future by discerning God's vision for the diocese.
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same God works all of them in all men... All of these are the work of the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is many parts, and though all its parts are many, they are from one body."
— 1 Corinthians 12:6, 11-12
The best vision for our diocese is to identify what God wants to do in and through Kitale diocese and then we gain the courage to join God in accomplishing the same.
"A vibrant diocese empowering churches to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission."
In accomplishing this vision, our priority ministry goals will be to ensure a diocese that is spiritual, resourced and missional.
Form the core or heart of our collective ministry
Facilitate realization of foundational pillars
The core business of the church is spiritual formation or discipleship of its membership as Jesus clearly states in the Great Commandment in Matthew 22:36-40. Our current reliance on Sunday worship services for spiritual nourishment is inadequate resulting in low spiritual levels among our Christians.
This reality is confirmed by the common phrase that describes African Christian spirituality, namely, "a mile long and an inch deep".
Establish a bookshop or spiritual resource center where individual Christians and churches will access spiritual related materials.
Facilitate structured diocesan-wide discipleship teachings in form of bible study programmes and spiritual renewal conferences as well as systematic forums for the practice of spiritual disciplines.
Streamline and renew worship services through clergy, lay readers, and worship leaders' training and renewal forums to equip them for dynamic and spiritually-uplifting worship experiences. We shall endeavor to establish a Music School to ensure high quality music ministry across the diocese.
Utilize the rallies and conferences of existing mission departments (Mothers Union, Kenya Anglican Men's Association, Deaf community, Young Adults, Kenya Anglican Youth Organization, Children's Ministries) as avenues to provide learning and renewal resources.
Establish Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) in all our parishes and churches as key avenue to building strong spiritual foundations for our Children and Teens.
Prioritize healing and reconciliation in our diocese to restore trust and brotherly love and unity within the body of Christ, the Church.
"Seek first God's Kingdom and all things will be added unto you."
— Matthew 6:33
The Bible is filled with passages that invite us Christians to be faithful stewards of the resources entrusted to us. The region covered by our diocese (Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties, with some parishes in Bungoma and Elgeyo Marakwet) is well known as the food basket of Kenya. We thus boast of abundant material resources and rich human resources.
Despite this fact, our diocese is indebted to some of our funding partners, is unable to adequately compensate its clergy and staff, and is yet to attain financial self-sustainability.
Establish a new, standardized diocesan-wide stewardship programme incorporating harmonized annual parish stewardship framework, common teaching themes and resources, and financial accountability structures. We shall implement the 'Diocesan Stewardship Handbook' launched in 2016.
Streamline management of existing diocesan investment projects (Bishop Muge Guest House and Conference Center, Kapomboi Farm) into viable investment entities, including value-adding investments for more effective returns.
Introduce new revenue streams beyond Sunday offerings and parish quota remittances by establishing a diocesan non-profit company to manage income-generating ventures: funeral services, Anglican academies, real estate, elderly care centers, micro-finance SACCOs, hotel/catering services.
Motivate and facilitate parishes in initiating income-generating projects for increased revenue sources towards self-sustainability.
The Kenyan society, including the region served by our diocese, is affected by myriad social ills and challenges including corruption, social injustices, poverty, HIV/AIDS pandemic, poor healthcare, food insecurity, marginalization, negative ethnicity, insecurity, sexual immorality, drug abuse, environmental degradation, youth unemployment...the list seems endless.
It is in view of these contexts that God invites the church in every generation to be the prophetic voice for awakening the conscience of society, but also be an agent of transforming and restoring her into a God-fearing society and nation.
Use the Mission and Evangelism department to witness Christ and Christian values of love, justice, compassionate outreach and Christ's deliverance from our sin-filled and self-destructive fallen humanity.
Partner with like-minded Mission Partners (Just Earth, Business as Mission) in transforming society through anti-poverty programmes, inculcating moral values to eradicate corruption, and initiating sustainable, environmentally-friendly development activities.
Engage proactively with government and its agencies at National and County levels in promoting initiatives geared towards transformation of our society from its many destructive social ills.
Utilize and streamline existing School-sponsorship and institutional chaplaincy programmes and initiate structured programmes that build godly virtues and values in our youth.
Motivate and empower parishes to initiate one or more social outreach programmes that addresses prevalent social ills in their immediate communities.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men."
— Matthew 5:13
Our diocese will grow and fulfill its mission only when it is shepherded by leaders of integrity, character and passionate commitment to serving God and humanity. We must recognize that talents and skills alone are not enough. It takes a heart of integrity and service to glorify God.
"And David shepherded them with integrity of his heart, and he led them with skillful hands."
— Psalm 78:72
Servant-leadership is characterized by values of integrity, humility, fairness, accountability and sacrificial commitment. Servant Leadership values others and puts service to others first.
Ensure that theological training prioritizes and mainstreams spiritual formation courses and other spirituality forums and practices for effective character formation of the clergy.
Establish discipleship, mentorship and prayer partner programmes for and among diocesan clergy to deepen their relationship to God and ingrain servant-leadership in them.
Mainstream the culture of integrity, accountability and sound performance in the management of the church's resources entrusted to our leadership.
Establish a Leadership Institute to coordinate enrichment forums and devotional programmes to equip the lay and clerical leaders and to promote Christian virtues and skills needed for servant-leaders.
Promote clergy and lay leaders welfare and support programmes including establishing welfare associations and clergy/spouse retreats.
"Now that I, your Lord, and teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."
— John 13
Every vibrant and effective organization needs strategy to execute or realize its objectives. Strategy involves planning for the right things and engaging the right ways of accomplishing them. And this is best done on the basis of right information and innovative methods that will ensure success.
The church has often fallen victim to poor planning and strategy in executing its mandate resulting in low quality management practices, such as inadequate statistics, poor record-keeping, lack of risk-management analysis, lack of strategic planning, ineffective policies, neglecting innovation, and ineffective implementation of committee-based resolutions.
Initiate a Strategy and Planning department in the diocese to conduct research and identify innovative and best ministry practices and ensure their results inform decision-making processes and mission goals of our diocesan departments and parishes.
Promote strategy-oriented approach by building capacity of our parish clergy and lay leaders to formulate and implement their parish and local church strategic plans.
Utilize modern media technology in setting up effective communication of the vision and mission of the diocese and model ministry activities across the diocese. This inspired us to establish the new diocesan website (www.ackkitalediocese.org) as an information hub for crucial ministry activities.
As we prepare to officially begin the episcopacy entrusted to us, I plan to submit to the first meetings of the Diocesan Standing Committee of Synod for its review and approval, the above-stated 5 Pillars and respective initiatives and activities under each Pillar.
I am fully aware that to accomplish these priorities and goals demands all we are and all we have. It will take a united and committed team of all the men and women of this diocese. My leadership will strive to bring all on board, so we can fully benefit from the diverse and rich gifts and resources God has endowed upon our members.
"Unity in Diversity" will be the banner to guide us as we honor our differences and accept our common divine calling as the body of Christ.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
Philippians 4:13
Are you ready for this new beginning?
Are you ready to be used of God and for God?
Are you ready to offer your gifts joyfully and willingly for God to use in building His kingdom in our diocese?
If your answer is yes, then I say a big Karibu
And together, let us "embrace the new things God is about to do"
Thank you and God bless you.
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen!
Let us Sing together the Hymn: "Standing on the Promises of God"
Help spread the Bishop's vision for the Diocese of Kitale