News from around the Province
Our news this month is patchy for some of the dioceses and an address for correspondence is included for each diocese so that you can write to ask for news directly. Any resulting contributions for future news letters in French, Swahili, Lingala or English would be gratefully received by the editor.
Bukavu BP 134 Cyangugu RWANDA
The Archdeacon of Goma, Ven Assumani Kirunga, organised four workshops on the subject of peace and reconciliation between September 2000 and February 2001 in Goma, Masisi, Nyarugongo and Rutshuru. Each workshop attracted between 80 and 120 participants of various Christian denominations and ethnic groups. The aim was to encourage Christians to reflect on the causes of the war and to see how they could be involved in working for peace.
The diocese has also held a retreat for 55 pastors from Goma and Rutshuru archdeaconries in March, focussing particularly on management and good leadership, using what was learnt in the seminars help at Kampala last year.
Meanwhile, following a request by pastors in refugee camps in Tanzania to the Bishop of Western Tanganyika, ten Congolese refugees have been accepted for six months' pastoral training at Kasulu Bible School, with the aim that they serve the church in the refugee camps and in due course back in Bukavu Diocese when the day comes that the refugees can return home.
Boga c/o PO Box 25586, Kampala, UGANDA
and Aru PO Box 226, Arua, UGANDA
At present it appears that a peace agreement between both sides, brokered by the rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, is holding. The ITM reopened a month ago. The Archbishop visited the North of the diocese for a confirmation tour.
Please pray for peace and for the restraint of evil. Pray that the immediate needs of the displaced people may be met and that they can all soon be confident to return home and get on with their lives. Pray that even now the seeds of reconciliation may be sown and the fragile plant of trust may be nurtured to enable the survival of the communities.
Kisangani c/o PO Box 25586 Kampala UGANDA
When Bp Funga was on the CAPA new bishops course in Mukono, Kampala with Bp Isingoma he sent us these prayer requests:
Pray that the war would end in general and especially for the city of Kisangani that has really suffered in the war. Pray for the families whose homes have been destroyed and who are just camped under the trees.
Pray for the new bishop Funga Botolome that he would really be used by the Lord Almighty so that all the work brings glory to God.
The need to establish communications is very pressing.
Kinshasa Archdeaconry
Bishop Isingoma writes:
The church here is still young. Pray for their programme and education. There are many sects and modern movements who teach against the true teaching of Christ. There are programmes for teaching church leaders and Christians in the areas of doctrine, Biblical theologie, social development et pastoral administration. To extend the work, we need to combat the problems of poverty and to equip the pastors and evangelists, and also there are some construction projects to complete. We praise God for the evolution of the activities of MU.
Katanga c/o Eglise Anglican de Lubumbashi, PO Box 22037, Kitwe, ZAMBIA
Bishop Isingoma asks for prayers for stability in his pastoral ministry that has been much affected by the troubles of the war in the country and especially in Katanga. His family and himself need your prayers for the future of their ministry: that they would no longer be 'nomads' but have some stability in their lives. He also writes: "We have some hope for the future with the efforts made by the ONU. We need prayer for calm and a peace that is long term. A peace that will allow the diocese to continue normally in all its functions. My prolonged absence handicaps the administration as I am only able to be in regular contact with them by phone."
Pray for the "college of managers" who run the Diocese during his absence, and for the pastors in the different parishes. The diocese has five ordinands in training, 3 in Lubumbashi and 2 at the Protestant University in Kinshasa
Pray also for the Province PEAC that they might find a good solution to the problems in the Diocese of Katanga especially in regard to the Bishop.
North Kivu c/o PO Box 25586 Kampala UGANDA
Building of the Bible School at Mbau continues and should be completed soon. The diocese is trying to help displaced people with funds from CCA and African Palms. No other news.
Kindu c/o Ven Assumani, Eglise Anglican du Congo, BP 458 Gisenyi RWANDA
We have litle current news. We do know that Bishop Masimango feels the security situation has improved to the point where Louise Wright could return. He has invited her to return to Kalima to help Ven. Mwenyemali with TEE work as well as the other aspects of training in the diocese. However, there are great problems with communication; there are still no reputable planes and no postal or telephone facilities. You can no longer even change a cheque without leaving the country. This situation leaves little time or strength for getting down to consistent work.
Mwenyemali is in charge of TEE
for the whole of the Anglican church in Congo. He has
financial help from America and has to travel a great deal.
TEE, Theological Education by Extension, sounds rather grand
and intellectual but all it is is a simple system of Bible
study by programmed learning. Each member has a workbook with
teaching and questions to do every day. Then once a week they
met together, test what they have learned, and discussed
applications to their lives. The great strength of this
system is that the 'book is the teacher'. The group leader
does the same work as the rest of the members, so does not
need qualifications. This is ideal in the situation of the
Anglican church in Congo where the church is growing beyond
the capacity of trained workers.
7 new priests and one deacon at Kindu’s second synod.
The deacon had left the Anglican church for the Lutheran church but has now come back to the Anglican church.