Key points:
- Bishop Gift K. Machinga, who oversees the Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana Episcopal Area, made his first visit to Malawi to meet with church leaders and laity.
- The church in Malawi has been embroiled in yearslong legal challenges over leadership positions.
- Machinga called his visit a “fact-finding” trip to address the conference’s struggles but also an opportunity to see the church’s mission work.
Bishop Gift K. Machinga, who oversees the Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana Episcopal Area, visited Malawi at the end of last year on a “fact-finding mission” — his first visit to the region since his election as bishop in March 2025.
The Malawi Provisional Conference has been embroiled in yearslong legal challenges over leadership positions that have effectively paralyzed the formal administrative process, making it impossible to hold the necessary proceedings for ordinations. Malawi was unable to send delegates to the 2024 General Conference because the legal turmoil prevented them from holding an annual conference session since 2019. There are 135 local churches and slightly more than 9,000 members within The United Methodist Church in Malawi, according to conference data.
While the situation was being resolved, episcopal leadership opted to delay any official visits to Malawi to avoid further complicating the court cases. As Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa approached the end of his term, he felt it was more appropriate for matters to be addressed by his successor.
The atmosphere both in Blantyre and Lilongwe was one of anticipation and relief as Bishop Machinga stepped onto Malawian soil Nov. 19-24. He was joined by his wife, the Rev. Mazvita M. Machinga, a chaplain and psychotherapist. Together, they brought a message of healing to a conference that has felt the sting of neglect.
While misinformation and rumors have actively sought to portray The United Methodist Church as a crumbling institution in Africa, Machinga’s presence in Malawi told a different story: one of resilience, restructuring and renewal, church leaders said.
“The most newsworthy aspect of this visit is its symbolic power,” said the Rev. Daniel Mhone, Malawi Provisional Annual Conference superintendent. “It validates the future of The United Methodist Church in Malawi. The bishop’s inaugural visit definitively signals that the church here is seen and has a shepherd.”
The visit began with a meeting between the bishop, conference leaders, clergy and laity.
“I am the bishop for all countries under my care. After the fact-finding, I will sit down to plan,” he said. “I recognize that in Malawi, there are some hindrances, like the legal issues. But God will always make a way on how best I can ensure progress here in Malawi.”
Because of the legal hurdles in Malawi, the bishop announced that ordinations would be conducted next year through Zimbabwe. Machinga also tackled the “pastoral license” crisis. Many clergy in Malawi have been operating without updated credentials since 2016, leaving them in a state of professional and legal limbo.
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“Those fit for pastoral duties, like the administration of sacraments, I will provide for that. IDs should be made,” he promised, signaling a return to order and legitimacy.
One of the most pressing concerns raised by the clergy and leaders was the denomination’s stance on homosexuality. The 2024 General Conference, the church’s lawmaking assembly, made historic changes to the denomination’s policies related to LGBTQ people and also approved a plan for regionalization, which gives the denomination’s different geographical regions equal decision-making authority.
Those decisions have been used in the spread of disinformation in Africa, especially about regionalization — falsely equating the plan with promoting acceptance of homosexuality.
The regionalization legislation, which was ratified by annual conference voters last year, explicitly allows each regional conference to make its own decisions about whom to marry and whom to ordain in line with local laws and the conference’s understanding of Scripture.
Machinga acknowledged the need for clear, written communication to protect the local church. He affirmed a request to craft a statement for newspapers, TV and press releases.
“I can write the letter so that it can be sealed, providing the clarity you need,” he said.
Outside of the meeting, the episcopal party traveled to the Mikundi Dairy Farm to witness the conference’s mission. The hosting team showcased the farm’s impressive infrastructure and high-quality livestock production.
Supported by the United Methodist Committee on Reliefunder the Yambasu Agriculture Initiative, the farm is a beacon of the “income-generating” that Machinga envisions.
Standing among the developing farm locations and the lush fields, the bishop’s face lit up. “What a joy to be here,” he said. “I am learning your work in the ministry despite the challenges of court issues.”
Machinga then dedicated the farm, leading the local church members in a time of prayer. He emphasized that projects like Mikundi are the key to the church’s future.
Malawi farm aims to improve lives, draw people to Christ
“We aim to have income-generating projects for sustainability, for pastors’ welfare and for transportation,” he said. “We are looking for more partners to enable these sustainable projects.”
He also extended gratitude to the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and UMCOR for their unwavering support through the agriculture initiative.
In his concluding remarks, Machinga expressed deep admiration for the Malawian people.
“I am highly impressed with the progress and the growth we are experiencing as the church in the face of challenges. I appreciate the tremendous work that is being done by both the clergy and the laity.”
Nkhoma is a communicator in Malawi.
News media contact: Julie Dwyer at (615) 742-5470 or [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digests.
