Bishops ask assembly to make Africa a missional priority
11/11/2003 News media contact: Tim Tanton · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn.
NOTE: A photograph and video piece are available with this story.
By Ginny Underwood*
Aiding Africa, Photo number W03087, Accompanies UMNS #545
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The
Republic of Liberia in West Africa has 3.2 million people and is 37,189
square miles. Its official language is English. A UMNS graphic by Laura
J. Latham. Photo number 03-443, Accompanies UMNS #545, 11/11/03
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Bishop John Innis, Photo number W03090, Accompanies UMNS #545
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Bishop Edwin May, Photo number W03088, Accompanies UMNS #545
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WASHINGTON (UMNS) - United Methodist bishops have
unanimously called for a four-year effort to help African nations
address issues of famine, floods, drought, disease and malnutrition.
"How
many television programs, how many newspaper headlines, how many
statements from bishops and leaders will it take to motivate us to say
to our people: 'Let us give out of our surplus to care for the
horrendous plague that is covering a portion of the world and will
consume us if we don't address the issue?'" asked Bishop Felton Edwin
May, chairperson of the Holistic Strategy for Africa Task Force. May
gave a report to the denomination's Council of Bishops during its Nov.
2-7 meeting.
With little debate, the 69 active bishops voted
unanimously to ask the 2004 General Conference, the denomination's top
legislative body, to establish a coordinating committee and assign a
bishop to focus on aid to Africa during 2005-08. If Africa becomes a
missional priority, church agencies will be asked to prioritize their
program work to support a holistic approach to ministry there.
The
Holistic Strategy for Africa task force is also calling on churches to
commit to giving 100 percent to apportioned funds. Such a commitment in
2001 to 2004 would have resulted in an additional $61 million for
ministry in Africa, according to May. The group is not asking for
additional money in 2005 through 2008, just that churches give the full
100 percent.
"For the first time, we as bishops in Africa can be
as one body," said Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo of the Democratic
Republic of Congo. "Holistic Africa is the first time that we can see
all agency general secretaries at the table with all African bishops to
deal with problems facing Africa."
In addition to worship and
Christian education, the church offers food distribution, schools,
health clinics and hospitals, economic development programs and tools
for cultivation.
For example, the Mushroom Project, headed by
Africa University graduate Margaret Tagwira, teaches Zimbabwe children
how to grow and cultivate mushrooms to eat and sell. The project enables
Lineah Mazambuka to feed her family. Lineah, who lost both her parents
to AIDS at age 7 and was forced to become head of her household, is now
able grow and sell mushrooms, making a profit equivalent to US$16 a day.
Other
projects enable hungry children in West Africa to receive a meal on a
makeshift rooftop restaurant in Dakar, Senegal. In Malawi, East Africa, a
pastor is teaching men and women how to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Bishop
John Innis of Liberia says this kind of presence in Africa, where life
hangs in the balance, is crucial. He recalls the words of Methodism's
founder as he emphasizes the need for the church to work together in
addressing the continent's problems.
"John Wesley said 'the world
is my parish,' so the church in Liberia, the church in Angola, the
church in Mozambique, the church in the Congo belong to the people
called United Methodists. It is our duty for people to gather here in
America and in Europe to work to stop disease and suffering of the
people."
Innis himself is a success story. He attended a
Christian school in his village, and today he is one of the leaders in
the denomination. "We need to continue with this kind of love for God's
people," Innis said.
Other African bishops affirmed the work of
the church's agencies and looked ahead to a better day for their
continent. "We have been given the fish, (but) we want to learn how to
fish," said Bishop Jose Quipungo of the Eastern Angola Area, speaking
through a translator. "It is possible for us to cease being a poor
continent. When we are able to do that, all of your efforts will have
very positive results."
The United Methodist General Council on
Ministries, the agency responsible for recommending missional priorities
and special programs, is proposing that General Conference adopt two
special programs as missional priorities for 2005-08: "the Holistic
Strategy for Africa" and a "Holistic Strategy for Latin America and the
Caribbean." General Conference meets April 27-May 7 in Pittsburgh.
# # #
*Underwood is director of United Methodist News Service.
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