A GLIMPSE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ZIMBABWE

Established in 1893 by the American Board Mission, the church became self-governing in 1973. There are now about 125 congregations and about 12,000 members.

The General Synod is the governing body of The UCCZ, presided over by Rev. E.M. Matuvhunye, who is serving a four-year elected term. The Synod's members are elected by each church with standing. Between Synod meetings, the National Ministries of the UCCZ are entrusted to the office of the President. The National Ministries are 7 in number, each with a president and an executive council. The seven are:

• The national Women's Fellowship - The Ruwadzano Council. They run women’s projects, conduct leadership training, concern themselves with the spiritual welfare of the family, women, children, the aged and the church in general. They hold an annual worship conference attended in 1995 by 5000 women.
• The Christian Youth Fellowship that focuses on the spiritual and material needs of young people as they grow into full church membership - a process with several steps. Their annual revival meeting had 4000 in attendance last year.
• The Volunteers Council has a weekly chapter meeting in each congregation. It is a men's guild that works with men, women and young adults to volunteer their resources, time and services for the welfare of their communities and their church.
• The Education Council currently oversees the running of four high schools, eight junior high schools, and a horticulture training college. They are working on the establishment of a UCCZ related University in Chipinge. There are 10,000 students in all the schools.
• The Medical Council oversees two major hospitals, a number of clinics and rural health outposts. It will soon re-open a nursing school.
• The Station Council oversees several Mission Stations wherein people live communally and they include a church, hospital, schools, agricultural institution and income-generating projects. Mission Stations are self-contained worshipping communities.
• The Local Church Ministries have a separate and very important standing in the structure of the church. Local churches are members of the Conference, headed by a Conference Minister, who is elected every four years. Leadership and program oversight comes from the Conference office and is the heart of the UCCZ. The work and life of the UCCZ is best experienced at the local church. Most pastors have a 3 to 7 point charge, so lay leadership is very important in the worship life of the church as well as its programs.

The UCCZ has a Development Plan that covers many programs and a full-time development officer works in this arena with the churches.

Evangelism and extension work is going on with Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania as on-going mission outreach. The UCCZ is an active member of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches which is involved in discussions on political plurality, national economic development and human freedoms.