United Methodist bishop praises Bush's Africa policy
5/17/2001 News media contact: Tim Tanton · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn. NOTE: A head-and-shoulders photograph of Bishop Felton Edwin May is available with this report.
By Dean Snyder* WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- One of United Methodism's most vocal advocates on behalf of Africa says he is pleased by President Bush's economic policy toward the continent.
After attending a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House on May 16, Bishop Felton Edwin May of Washington applauded the president's efforts to encourage a stronger economy in sub-Saharan Africa.
The new administration is aggressively supporting the African Growth and Opportunity Act passed by Congress last year, according to the bishop. Bush announced that he will host an economic development forum of ministers from 35 African countries in October. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who attended the Rose Garden ceremony with the president, is touring four African countries during May.
"A bipartisan effort is being developed to build a stronger sub-Saharan Africa," said May, who has advocated for stronger U.S. ties with Africa since he first visited the continent in 1974. "It is a dream come true."
The president's policies are consistent with the perceptions of African church leaders, said May, who had recently returned from a meeting with African United Methodist bishops held May 4-5 in Phoenix.
"The African bishops said the two top issues are poverty and HIV-AIDS," May said. "If we do not address the economic issues, we will not be able to deal with other issues like AIDS, poor education and joblessness."
Bush announced his administration's Africa policy in a statement addressed to Senegalese Ambassador Mamadou M. Seck, designated representative of the African diplomatic corps, while about 100 spectators, including members of Congress and other invited guests, looked on.
"We Americans want to be more than spectators of Africa's progress," the president said. "We want to encourage a brighter future through policies that nurture and support freedom."
When Congress passed the African Growth and Opportunity Act last year, Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., chair of the House Subcommittee on Africa, said the legislation would dramatically change the relationship between the United States and Africa. "With this trade bill, the U.S. moves away from a relationship based on aid to Africa towards a relationship based on trade," he said. "It's legislation Africans want because it helps bring them into the world economy. And it's legislation Americans want, as shown by the wide support we have seen from U.S. business and civic associations."
Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., who cosponsored the bill with Royce, saluted Bush during the Rose Garden ceremony for endorsing the legislation and supporting it enthusiastically.
Bush said the bill "holds real promise for helping to integrate African economies into the world trading system."
May, who has visited Africa more than 40 times, believes the October summit may help African leaders organize to better engage in international trade. "I've always thought there needs to be something like a sub-Saharan common market that would have greater parity in the world markets," he said.
The bishop personally thanked Bush for his efforts at the conclusion of the White House ceremony.
May is vice president of the board of directors of Africa University, a United Methodist-related school in Zimbabwe that serves students from throughout the continent. As president of the United Methodist General Council on Ministries from 1988 to 1992, he played a principal role in founding the university.
He also chairs the Consultation on a Holistic Strategy for Africa, a coalition of African and U.S. church leaders seeking to strengthen the United Methodist Church's ministries on the continent.
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*Snyder is director of communications for the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
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