THE 20KM CHURCH WAR!

THE 20KM CHURCH WAR! Bread of Life International Church has distanced itself from a new church reportedly established by former senior church leader Bishop Shadreck Chisulo in Lilayi, declaring that the new assembly has no ties to the denomination. Bishop Chisulo is a former long-serving pastor of Bread of Life Church in Chilanga and previously served as the Presiding Bishop for Lusaka Province. He resigned from Bread of Life last year following disagreements with the church leadership. His…

THE 20KM CHURCH WAR!

Bread of Life International Church has distanced itself from a new church reportedly established by former senior church leader Bishop Shadreck Chisulo in Lilayi, declaring that the new assembly has no ties to the denomination.

Bishop Chisulo is a former long-serving pastor of Bread of Life Church in Chilanga and previously served as the Presiding Bishop for Lusaka Province.

He resigned from Bread of Life last year following disagreements with the church leadership.

His establishment of Soul Harvest Global Church in Lilayi has now triggered a response from the Bread of Life leadership, particularly over the location of the new church.

In a memorandum addressed to branches and members in the Lusaka West Region, Regional Overseer Bishop Lungu said Bishop Chisulo had opened the new church in Lilayi despite an earlier understanding reached with General Overseer Bishop Imakando that he would establish the church in Shatumbu.

The memorandum states that Bishop Chisulo had even shown the agreed location to Bishop Bambe before the location was subsequently changed to Lilayi.

At the centre of the dispute is a 20-kilometre policy said to govern the establishment of new churches by pastors who leave Bread of Life.

According to the regional leadership, the policy requires a pastor leaving Bread of Life to establish another church at least 20 kilometres away from the nearest Bread of Life congregation.

The leadership says the rule exists to prevent confusion, rivalry and division among churches.

“Be therefore informed that this new church in Lilayi has no ties with Bread of Life,” the memorandum states.

The regional leadership has further warned Bread of Life members against joining the new church, saying doing so would amount to acting contrary to the official position of Bread of Life.

The matter has reportedly been communicated to nearby branches, including Chilanga, Jack and Lusaka South, so that members are aware of the denomination's position.

The development brings an interesting perspective in the relationship between Bishop Chisulo and the denomination where he served for many years, including as pastor of the Chilanga assembly and Presiding Bishop for Lusaka Province.

With Soul Harvest Global Church now operating in Lilayi, the dispute raises broader questions about how churches manage the transition of pastors who leave established denominations and establish independent ministries within areas where the former denomination already has congregations.

For now, Bread of Life has made its position clear: the church in Lilayi is not recognised as being affiliated with Bread of Life.

Bishop Chisulo and representatives of Soul Harvest Global Church had not responded to the memorandum by press time.

- Church Newspaper Zambia