When Religious Appointment Meets Political Election

Last week, i witnessed (via television) a rather vibrant ceremony in the
South Western part of Uganda in which a new bishop of Kabale was
elected.
The excitement surrounding the selection was rather strong but it was
troubling
because it was reminiscent of a political rally and not the manner that
is should accompany the call to serve in the church.

A rather unrelated event had led me to this point in time....It had been
ages since my visit to my local church (Calvary Chapel Kampala) and in
my view i am sure i have missed a good measure of battles, but when i
arrived, i witnessed the commissioning of a new pastor and his wife. The
portion of scripture used came from the book of 1 and 2 Peter.

I was struck by the weight of the responsibility that seemed to emerge
from the
commissioning and the portion of scripture that was used.
But is the call to ministry a call to political office. Maybe it is...in
so far as some definitions of politics go.
But it is more than this. It is an awakening call that an Apostle Peter
hears as he is confronted by a counsel of ministers after he is seen to
react negatively towards saints of a different ethnic group. It is that
supernatural call that seems to take place in the book of Acts where a
massive door swings open to embrace the gentiles in a clearly Jewish
faith.

Maybe this is the unavoidable legacy of a life that places so much of an
emphasis on culture and tribe.
Perhaps these are the effects of the inevitability of change...and the
results of rough times. It is said, after all that in times of distress
people will tend to return to the groups with which the identify with
most.

I think though, that people who are going to make a difference must be
different. I think that people that will stand out have to set their
barriers across a different plane.