United Methodism grows in East Africa
9/1/1998 News media contact: Linda Bloom · (646) 369-3759 · New York by United Methodist News Service Congregations in the newly expanded East Africa United Methodist Annual Conference continue to grow, despite poverty and internal conflicts.
Formerly known as the Burundi Annual Conference, East Africa now includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda. Statistics are being collected to document the growth.
More than 100 representatives from those districts gathered in early August at the Naivasha Lakeside Tourist Hotel in Kenya. Bishop J. Alfred Ndoricimpa, based in Nairobi, presided, assisted by retired U.S. bishops David Lawson and Forrest Stith.
Representatives from southern Sudan, struggling with disease, hunger and the need for shelter, asked for help from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
UMCOR is contributing to famine relief efforts in the Sudan through Action By Churches Together (ACT). Donations can be made to UMCOR's International Disaster Response No. 982450-8, designated "Sudan Famine" and dropped in church collection plates or mailed to 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115.
Another relief agency with United Methodist ties, Stop Hunger Now, also is appealing for emergency funds to assist the more than 2 million Sudanese in immediate danger of starvation. Its director, the Rev. Ray Buchanan, will visit Sudan in early October to coordinate his agency's efforts with other relief groups. More information is available by calling (888) 501-8840.
The Ugandan delegation reported a problem with United Methodist leadership in that country, particularly in terms of administrative and financial abuses. The delegation said it had been discovered that the church was legally registered with the government of Uganda as a company completely controlled by three members of a family.
East Africa delegates voted to cease association with that registered entity and to allow the Ugandans to register as a new church under a new name, East Africa United Methodist Church. The conference membership of the Rev. Solomon Muwanga, a former district superintendent in Uganda, also was terminated.
The official district superintendents in Uganda now are the Rev. Eliezer Ona, Arua district; the Rev. Daniel Wandabula, Kampala/Jinja district; and the Rev. James Mwoho, Busia district.
Growth was reported in Rwanda, the five districts of Burundi and in the fledgling Kenyan churches located primarily along the border with Uganda, in the Busia area. Despite the internal conflict in Burundi, stability has returned to some areas, according to the delegation.
The women of all 11 districts reported that they had organized as United Methodist Women and were working hard to support women and children in East Africa, despite limited resources. They appealed for denominational support for relief and long-term self-help projects.
Following the annual conference, several executives of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries led a consultation on church growth. However, meetings were suspended for three days following the U.S. embassy bombing in Nairobi, about 80 kilometers away. A memorial service for all victims took place during the national period of mourning.
# # #
|
Back : News Archives 1998 Main
|
|
“We believe in God and in each other.”The people of The United Methodist Church
Still Have Questions?
If you have any questions Ask
InfoServ
Purchase a $20 buzzkill t-shirt and help save a life
Buy a t-shirt
|
Korean News