Message from Chairperson:
I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Liberator Jesus Christ.
It is a privilege to lead the Black Methodist Consulation (BMC) as a movement and a formation within the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). The history that informs the BMC is long and deep. It is history founded on the dreams and hopes of our mothers and fathers who cried out to God “Nkosi siphe nathi abethu ooDaniyeli nooDebora”.
The genesis of the BMC is informed by a lamentation of a people in struggle “Senzeni na! sono sethu bubumnyama!”, whilst refusing to accept that their skin color is a sign of a curse from God but rather boldly asserted “I am Black and I am Beautiful”.
We are of the stock of Mokitimi, Mvusi, Mokgoba, Mathabathe, Phamla, Mgojo, Gqubule and many others who helped shape the character of the MCSA. It is the faith, struggles and triumph of the black people within the MCSA that continued to save its ministry and mission at a time when racism, oppression and Christianity as represented by missionary intolerance and land conquest extended by Apartheid oppression undermined the credibility of the Christian faith.
We receive a history of a people who dared to hope for that which is from God: a place of equality, dignity, respect and honor to all people. We know a people whose faith in God active in history gave them strength to overcome the evil of apartheid.
In 2015 BMC turns 40 Years, started in 1975 – this is the year of “Looking back, witnessing an overflowing fullness and pressing-on towards a new generation”.
The MCSA – Lilifa Labazali, Lefa Labatswadi Barona!
