Thato Chwaane
16 April 2008
It has been 27 years since a woman headed the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) Synod of Botswana.
But come this Sunday, another woman will ascend to the UCCSA top seat when Reverend Malebogo Muriel Mothibi takes over as chairperson. She will be inducted at a ceremony in Maun this Sunday. Born 55 years ago in Kanye to a father who was a reverend of UCCSA, Mothibi says that she grew up in a mission.
"Often this dictates how you live," she explains to Mmegi. Her father taught her Christian principles. In her early childhood, she attended Sunday school and was naturally an outspoken person and a leader.
Mothibi attended secondary school at Moeding College and proceeded to teach in junior secondary schools for 22 years.
She has served the church as secretary of the southern and Moeding regional councils. She has sat in international and local committees of the church and performed ecumenical duties at the Botswana Council of Churches. She has been a convener of BCC Gender Commission. Mothibi became the first woman lecturer at Kgolagano College where she also worked as the registrar. She was ordained a church minister in 2000. "I am an activist of gender and HIV/AIDS," she says.
"We have had women as leaders within the church, although it has been very slow. Perhaps this is because of socialisation. Women have been reluctant to assume leadership positions," she says. Mothibi is quick to point out that her church constitution has always been gender sensitive.
She says the UCCSA has been very excited about her rise in the hierarchy. She believes leaders need to rediscover themselves if they want to lead successfully. This is what she underwent while studying at university.
Her mission is to give lay-people especially women a chance to train. Currently there are only eight female pastors and about 40 male ones in the church.
Mothibi says that with so many young girls coming into the ministry, she would like to concentrate on the youth and children in the church.
She intends to have a strong youth programme in the church. She wants the church to step-up the fight against HIV/AIDS and tackle poverty, family problems and violence. She says it is not a sin to use condoms. She supports the use of condoms and talks to pastors about the subject. In her free time, she engages in counselling on matters like marriage, rape, homosexuality and delinquency.
She has five children and a grandchild she calls the apple of her eye. She says her services go beyond the church because she works for the country.
She likes reading and discussing her sermons with family members. "I travel a lot outside Botswana and Africa to preach in countries like the US and the United Kingdom." Mothibi is studying Theology through the University of Pretoria.
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