MAKERERE UNIVERSITY: Rev Dr. Lydia Nsaale Kitayimbwa has today been installed as the Chaplain of St Francis Chapel, Makerere University, in a colorful ceremony presided over by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and Bishop of the Diocese of Kampala, The Most Rev Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, in which she outlined 14 ministry focus areas.
In her Charge, Rev Lydia, who has made history as the first female Chaplain of the 81 year old Chapel and the 12th Chaplain since its inception, said she will focus on spiritual formation by encouraging activities that will foster and lead to spiritual growth for all St Franciscans.
She further noted that she will focus on mission and evangelism through developing and training mission teams and sending them out into the communities both in Makerere University and beyond Uganda.
Rev Lydia, who late last year attained her PhD in Practical Theology from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, with her thesis on, “Communicating the gospel in a digital age: A case study of the dioceses of Kampala and Namirembe in the Anglican Church of Uganda,” pledged to transform the Church’s digital evangelism.
“We shall use technology and media in the propagation of the gospel, strengthen St Francis online and ICT ministry to increase our reach to wider communities through the use of multimedia in the communication of the gospel,” said Rev Lydia.
Her other ministry focus areas include; discipleship and mentorship, leadership development and training, home cell ministry, pastoral care ministry, creation of a counselling department, strengthening the youth department, growing the worship, strengthening family life, strengthening partnerships, strengthening fellowships, and infrastructure development.
To ensure a financial stable Chapel, Rev Lydia pledged to ensure good stewardship of Church resources and investments and enhancing accountability at all levels of Church operations.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and Bishop of the Diocese of Kampala, The Most Rev Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu who was the main celebrant commended the newly installed Chaplain for her efforts in transforming the digital evangelism in Church of Uganda.
“During COVID-19 pandemic, when Churches were closed, Rev Lydia began the Online Church of Uganda which ministers virtually to the whole world. The Church will never be the same again after COVID-19. We now have congregations on Facebook, Zoom, YouTube, Twitter and many other platforms. We must utilize them fully to preach the good news of Jesus Christ,” said Archbishop Kaziimba.
He said that the Church of Uganda is committed to empowering women in ministry especially in ordained ministry by strategically positioning them because of their flexibility, zeal and determination to preach the gospel.
Archbishop Kaziimba reiterated Church of Uganda’s firm stand against same sex marriages, urging Christians to stand firm in defence of Biblical values especially on family.
“Church of Uganda is committed to keeping Biblical values. We are now focusing on building a self-sustaining Church because we cannot kill our values because of money. That is why corruption should be stopped so that we can share the little we have,” said Archbishop Kaziimba.
The immediate former Chaplain and Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese, Rt Rev Onesimus Asiimwe who joined the Service via Zoom, pledged his full support and blessings to the new Chaplain and called upon her to beware of a lot of heretical teachings in the City where most of her Parishioners live.
Makerere University’s top leadership including Prof. Ezra Suruma, the Chancellor; Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the University Council, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor, and Mr. Peter Kizza, the People’s Warden, welcomed the new Chaplain and pledged total support to her ministry.
