Soon after Reverend James Makaza’s sermon on giving and tithing,  some members of his church’s women’s association were overheard remarking:  “Priests of  today have nothing else to preach about except money, wealth and luxury. Unlike the old missionaries, who lived humble lives like Jesus Christ himself, they are always asking us to contribute more money for their hefty salaries and luxury items as if they work in the corporate world. Their wives and them seem to have an unquenchable appetite for good living”

Churches across the world are built and sustained by members’ contributions. These are known by various names, for example; offerings, pledges or tithes depending on the church’s tradition. Priests and their families also derive their livelihoods from the same income. Unlike in the past when they were known to lead very simple lives, today’s pastors and their households are perceived to be always pursuant of a luxurious lifestyle. And in Zimbabwe,  the disparity between them and their poor flocks  mainly of pensioners, widows and domestic workers is quite flagrant

Priests as trendsetters
“Even priests from the traditional churches like the Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists and Salvation Army, who built most schools and hospitals during the colonial era, seem to have also moved from humility and simplicity.” Mary Makudo, an Anglican church elder complains. “Now  they need luxurious cars, design furniture and  their children need to attend expensive crèches and schools. Their wives spend hours at beauty parlours  and wear the most expensive jewelry in town.”
Gospel of wealth and prosperity

But today’s young and dynamic pastors, in response to  their fierce critics, always point out  that they are guided by the scriptures and a loving God who called them into his church ministry in order to proclaim the gospel of  wealth, prosperity and happiness and not to preach  poverty, gloom and backwardness.
   

“We want to change the archaic mindsets of most of our elderly parishioners, originally expounded by our predecessors, especially missionaries. People should know that as priests, our business is to minister to them full-time without engaging in other shameful activities, simply in order to survive. It’s not proper to go into the church ministry on a part-time basis. Can you imagine a funeral or wedding service being cancelled because of an employed priest being denied time-off to conduct such duties during working hours?” explained Reverend Willie Sibanda.
 

Charisma lures youth
These days well-built and rich churches quickly and easily snatch away young people, who have an insatiable appetite for the gospel of wealth, prosperity and spiritual revival blended with entertainment. The youth want to be associated with trendy, eloquent, charismatic Obama-like priests and not those who even struggle to read a few verses in the Bible with clarity.
 

After the mass, members of  Reverend  Makaza’s women’s association organized a kitchen top-up party for Mrs. Makaza. The latter decorated her modern home for the occasion and the previously grumbling and conservative congregation was immediately quiet, feeling even proud of their modern priest.

Listen below to the comments of Rev Vincent Fenga Anglican Church Harare about the importance of congregations looking after their priests and families so that they focus on their ministry:
 

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