Mozambican president welcomes bishops, receives resolution
By Robin Russell*
Nov. 1, 2006 | MAPUTO, Mozambique (UMNS)
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President Armando Guebuza
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In a special welcoming service for the United Methodist Council of
Bishops, the president of Mozambique said the denomination's efforts in
that country have greatly impacted the well-being of his people.
Mozambican President Armando Guebuza told 75 bishops - who gathered
Nov. 1 in Maputo for their first-ever council meeting outside the United
States - that the church's commitment to social justice had created the
conditions that helped Mozambique become an independent nation and
begin to tackle its poverty.
"This church has contributed to the rescue of our self-esteem," he
said. The United Methodist Church helped Mozambicans "gain the awareness
that colonization was not a fact of life," he added.
"As we learned that foreign domination was not a fact, I hope
Mozambicans will also learn poverty also is not a form of divine
punishment and can also become something of the past."
He praised United Methodists for seeking a "culture of peace" and
helping the nation develop water resources to battle poverty, and called
for a continued partnership with health and education initiatives.
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Bishop Janice Riggle Huie
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Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, the council's president, presented Guebuza
with a resolution that included a pledge "to promote the welfare of
Mozambique" and promises of prayer support for his continued leadership
of the nation.
"I believe his excellency has given us a challenge for our work this
week," she said. She noted that the church's partnership on education
and health initiatives would be taken to a new level.
"Through our presence, we are showing our solidarity, partnership and
continued promise of prayers for the people of Mozambique. It is our
honor and privilege to be here at this time."
'Happy and proud'
Three area choirs presented welcoming songs during the celebratory
service, and local United Methodist leaders added their greetings.
"We are not exaggerating if we say we are blessed," said the Rev.
Arlindo Romao, Maputo East District superintendent, of the council's
meeting in Mozambique. "We are very happy and proud that what we have
heard about is now a reality."
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Bishop Joćo Somane Machado
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He told the welcoming gathering that "it was hard to describe the joy we
feel when we heard for the first time in the history of the United
Methodist Church that the bishops were meeting outside the U.S. and they
chose our country - not Europe or Asia, but they chose Africa and our
country of Mozambique."
He said that from this journey, Mozambique can "write one more page of Methodism."
"Please see us as only beginners, as pioneers in this task, and if you return, you will see we are doing even better."
Bishop Joćo Machado of Mozambique, host for the council's meeting,
told the audience that the United Methodist Church was "greatly
advanced" in having female bishops, and he teased that Portuguese, the
official language of Mozambique, defines the word "bishop" only as male.
"We have to insert this in our dictionary because the United
Methodist Church has many women bishops," he said, as he introduced
Bishop Huie to the near-capacity audience at the Joaquim Chissano
Convention Center.
*Russell is managing editor of the United Methodist Reporter.
News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
Council of Bishops
Mozambique Country Profile
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