Church leaders have been urged to uphold the example of Jesus Christ by helping to ease the burdens of the helpless, who have lost their human dignity.
Reverend Dr. Setri Nyomi, General Secretary of the World Council of Reformed Churches (WCRC), made the call in a sermon at an
ordination and thanksgiving service to close the 2nd General Assembly of the E.P. Church in Peki on Sunday.
It was under the theme: "Enhancing human dignity." A total of seven new Pastors were ordained.
Rev. Dr Nyomi challenged the attitudes of many church leaders, who like the "religiously correct" overseers of the synagogue,
resorted to theological analysis to reprimand a woman for receiving healing from Jesus Christ on the Sabbath.
He said when Church leaders were seen as religiously correct, it made things to appear as if suffering people deserved to be
suffered.
Rev. Dr Nyomi said it was unfortunate that many church people laughed and stigmatised people affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty or unemployment. He said even some husbands denied their wives their dignity and vice versa.
Rev. Dr Nyomi said, when people aspired to be religiously correct, they failed to challenge the forces of evil that compromise the
dignity of many people.
"We often collude with the privileged to blame the poor for their poverty."
He said the choice had to be made between remaining "religiously correct or we follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ
recognizing hypocrisy of inaction and taking action to heal, to reconcile, to enhance human dignity."
Rev. Dr Nyomi told the seven newly ordained Pastors to be mindful of "the full essence of their calling and avoid being like the
religious leader of the synagogue. Anything less will not be pleasing to the Lord who called you into this mission."