ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma took his charm offensive to the pulpit yesterday when he was made an honorary pastor at a meeting of independent charismatic churches at Ntuzuma, north of Durban.

In the past few weeks Zuma has been seen embracing Afrikaners and other church groups and travelling overseas to meet diplomats and presenting himself as a statesman.

At Ntuzuma's Full Gospel Community Church yesterday it was a day of long speeches as priests and bishops proclaimed their support for Zuma, saying they would back him all the way to Limpopo in December when the next ANC leader is chosen.

Church leaders said they wanted a leader who would listen to the people.

In an apparent sideswipe at President Thabo Mbeki, Pastor Qiniso Shabalala said: "We want a leader who sees poverty and walks and lives among poverty stricken people in Nkandla rather than a person who learns about poverty through the internet."

Zuma was later brought to the podium where a prayer was dedicated to him while some of his supporters changed hymns into song praising him.

Bishop Ben Mthethwa then put a pastor's collar on Zuma and declared him a priest.

Zuma thanked them and said he would go to the communists and the workers and preach to them about God.

Zuma said independent churches were born during the difficult time of apartheid oppression.

"The church played an important role in our fight for freedom. Now that we achieved this freedom the church must speak out and make sure that we use this freedom to uplift our people. We must not leave it to government alone," he said.

With acknowledgement to Chris Makhaye and Cape Argus.