Methodist Order of Deacons - Southern Africa

The annual Convocation for the Methodist Order of Deacons of Southern Africa begins will be held from Monday 23/3/2015  to Friday 27/3/2015, at eMseni. Let us together hold this gathering in prayer, that it be a time of great fellowship in Christ, encouragement in ministry, and inspiration to be part of God's transforming work in the world. 

Field visit to John Wesley Community Centre 25 km from meeting venue at eMseni

 Rev (Deac) Dr Vernon van Wyk is the Warden, 2015-2017.

Rev Deac Dr Vernon van Wyk

Methodist Church of Southern Africa

Vernon van Wyk is the Warden of the Methodist Order of Deacons. and oversees the training of deacons throughout the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). The vision statement of the Deacons in the MCSA is: 'To share Christ's love through service, and to help the church respond to the needs of the wider community'. Deacons are service-oriented and build bridges between churches and communities.
Vernon is also the HIV/AIDS Coordinator for the Highveld and Swaziland District of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.  Education is high on its agenda, with 47 schools, mostly in Swaziland. AMCARE is one of its flagship programs. It was established by the Alberton Methodist Church as a community outreach program, with 8 social workers and 30 home-based care-givers. AMCARE feeds approximately 3,000 people a week.  It feeds and nurses over 350 HIV & AIDS patients, and cares for some 350 orphans and child-headed families.  The HIV Voluntary Counseling, Testing and Wellness Clinic has 2 registered nurses and 3 full-time counselors and locum doctors. Twice a week, AMCARE supplies about 400 litres of soup and 800 loaves of bread to 5 clinics and 240 children at 2 schools. Facilities also include a fully equipped training center, which accommodates up to 60 people and 3 large vegetable gardens to provide patients with fresh vegetables in food parcels. AMCARE also has a Victim Empowerment Shelter in Alberton which houses up to 20 abused women and children, and provides social work and early childhood development services. (Source: Game for the World). 

Please remember Vernon and his ministry in your prayers.

Recently, Vernon visited Deacons in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), comprising the Natal Coastal District and Natal West District, as part of his role as Warden of the Methodist Order of Deacons. Wendi Tiedt (see photo below) will be one of the Deacons ordained at the Methodist Church of Southern Africa ordination service on Sunday 21st September, 2014. She is involved in a number of mission and outreach projects including a primary school reading programme, a municipal clinic feeding scheme, AIDS Outreach, hospital library ministry, and economic empowerment, in addition to preaching and pastoral care and visitations. Please remember Wendi in your prayers, and especially as she prepares for ordination. 

KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa

Back row (L to R): Harry Gerber, Ernie Nightingale (former warden), Vernon van Wyk (Warden). Front row (L to R): Jackie Foster, Wendi Tiedt (Ordinand) and Bruce Templeton (Probationer 2015)

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Methodist Diaconal Convocation (UK) 2014

The Methodist Diaconal Order Convocation (UK) has meeting, May 6-8th. On the final day of their annual Convocation Methodist Deacons plan to take part in an act of rededication. Here is one section of the liturgy:

Let us give thanks to God for the privilege of this ministry to which we have been called, within the fellowship of the Order:
For Gods sovereign love promising to make all things new;
for the good news of Jesus Christ crucified and risen for all the world;
for his abundant grace, our example and hope;
for the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the people of God and for the church which has nourished and sustained us;
for the call which we heard and the ways in which it has since been renewed;
for the power of Christs gospel to search us out and reclaim us when we have lost the way;
for the ways in which God has sustained us in times of doubt and difficulty and enabled us to learn from weakness and failure;
for the joy of serving others in the name of Christ;
for the privilege of sharing in the pilgrimage of faith and the ministry of others;
for what we have received from those we sought to serve.

The 2013 Convocation received this report, which raised a number of issues including appointments for Deacons. 'As the number of Deacons available for stationing continues to rise, and as many circuits seek to consolidate staff teams as they engage with the Regrouping for Mission process, and the effects of the current economic climate which has forced many circuits to close existing diaconal appointments. The situation is serious and it is likely that up to 30 new appointments will need to be created if all the Deacons available for September 2014 are to be matched with circuits. The number of Deacons married to Presbyters continues to rise. This brings another dynamic into the stationing process'.

It is wonderful that the Warden of Deacons in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Vernon Van Wyk, has been able to be present at the 2014 Convocation.

Methodist Church in South Africa (MCSA)

Highlighting the MCSA:
Vernon van Wyk regularly posts updates on the Methodist Order of Deacons Facebook page, with news of Methodist Church of South Africa (MCSA) as well as issues of interest to the wider church. It has been interesting to read his updates from the MCSA Conference held in Mthatha in the last week.

Rev Elize Goddess (2nd left), Rev Ray Goddess & Deacon Vernon van Wyk

For instance, the Conference heard a report from the Child Care Desk which included this statement:

The Child Care Desk affirms the Methodist heritage to care for the poor by encouraging the people called Methodist to serve children and youth who are vulnerable and at risk due to displacement, and high unemployment.
War threats, poverty, disease, HIV/AIDS and deprivation continue to destroy many children’s livelihoods and future.
The collective family of Methodists, through their efforts are committed as they serve the structures established at district levels to attend to children who are vulnerable and at risk.
MCSA Districts are working hard towards becoming a compliant church and body of Jesus Christ fulfilling Gods intended mission for all children.
The Desk wants to ensure that “No Child is not Known”

Yesterday, the world news reported that South African police had lied about events in the "Marikana Massacre' last year, with the mass shooting of striking miners at Marikana last year, according to a commission of inquiry set up by President Zuma to investigate the killing of 34 miners at a mine run by the platinum giant Lonmin in August 2012. The report accuses police of falsifying and hiding documents, as well as giving false accounts of events. The accusations are bound to increase anger among miners. Last week they held a protest in Pretoria over the government’s refusal to pay legal fees for those giving evidence.

In response to the first anniversary of the 'Marikana Massacre', the MCSA Presiding Bishop Ziphozihle Siwa issued this statement:

"As we pause to reflect on the anniversary of the Marikana Massacre, we should take a moment to pray for the still grieving families and together mobilize resources in cash and kind to ease their plight.  To sympathise verbally is not enough. Our actions should include supporting the call for funding their legal representation at the Farlam Commission. Failure to represent workers and victims of the massacre at the commission would be a travesty of justice.

The Methodist Church pleads with all the mine workers and community members in Marikana, irrespective of union or political affiliation to work towards peace and stability as the on-going senseless killings are worsening an already intractable situation. We pray that the first commemoration of the Marikana tragedy on 16 August 2013 will be a solemn occasion devoid of political overtones and that both the mining authorities and Government will do everything within their power to ensure that the commemorative events are treated with the dignity they deserve.

May God guide us to find a just and sustainable solution to one of the darkest periods of our nation. God's heart bleeds when his people are treated unjustly and we implore the various stakeholders to heed the pain of God and His people. Our humanity is at stake". 

The ministry context for the MCSA is very complex. Please hold the MCSA diaconal ministers in your prayers, as well as the diverse work of the MCSA.