News from around the Province

ISThA c/o PO Box 25586 Kampala UGANDA

Many of the students are having problems getting to ISThA but they are arriving and the program continues, albeit based in Bunia and not at the ISThA campus for security reasons.

Bukavu BP 134 Cyangugu RWANDA

From July 18th to 23rd,2001, there was a teaching retreat for the pastors of Bukavu diocese (41 participants). It was the moment for God’s servants to meditate on the word of the Lord; mainly on their call to the work of God. It was for each of us the opportunity to see how the church ministry is going on in our parishes or offices.
Here are the three subjects studied by the pastors during the seminar:
1. Inculturated liturgy: Taught by The Rt. Revd Dr DIROKPA BALUFUGA Fidèle. His aim was to show how to make worship exciting and interesting responding to African needs; how to worship in an African culture.
2. Baptism: Taught by Revd BYANDI MWILARHE Emile. He talked about the deep meaning of baptism.
3. Stewardship: Taught by Revd MBUSA BANGAU Etienne.
After the teaching retreat, 6 commissions were formed to learn how to improve the church ministry in the diocese of Bukavu in its different aspects.

The 7th ordinary synod of the diocese of Bukavu should have taken place in 1999, but this was not possible because of the war. This synod will now take place on April 14 – 21 2002. Four commissions have been chosen:
1. The liturgy commission.
2. The commission for the amendment of the diocesan constitution.
3. The commission dealing with the practical organisation of the synod.
4. The commission to follow up the work of other commissions.
About 60 participants will come from seven archdeaconries of the diocese which are the archdeacons of : GOMA, RUTCHURU, BUKAVU, LAC TANGANYIKA, EASTERN KASAI, MBUJI- MAYI and KABINDA (WESTERN). It will be the first time to meet the servants from the three archdeaconries of Kasaï since the war broke out in 1996. There is no straight way from Kasai to Bukavu because of the war. So travellers must move around passing by Katanga, Zambia, Kenya and Rwanda before reaching Bukavu. They, thus, need much prayer so that God can provide for their travel and make it safe.

Boga c/o PO Box 25586, Kampala, UGANDA

and Aru PO Box 226, Arua, UGANDA

The main problem for the diocese has been the continuing instability caused by the tribal conflicts and by rumours. However, much work has been able to continue and the church is able to take a positive role in encouraging reconciliation. Archbishop Njojo is in England at the moment for the primates meeting so we hope some of you will have heard his news first hand.

Kisangani c/o PO Box 25586 Kampala UGANDA

Bishop Funga Botoleme has been consecrated Bishop of Kisangani at a difficult time. The diocese has many debts, partly due to expenses relating to Bishop Tibafa’s death. His latest news is that the his house has been damaged by a falling tree, necessitating expensive repairs.

Kinshasa Archdeaconry

With Bishop Isingoma's departure Bishop Funga expressed his willingness to supervise the church in Kinshasa and in January Bishop Isingoma went to Kinshasa for the hand over. He was there when Mrs Mugisa conducted a training seminar for the Mothers' Union members of Kinshasa funded by Mary Sumner House. So on Sunday 27 January they had a big service including three important events; the confirmation, the Mothers' Union seminar report and the presentation of new leaders of the church in Kinshasa. Until Bishop Funga makes any other arrangements the leadership of the church in Kinshasa will be entrusted to:
1. Venerable M'vunzi Ne Nkita, Vicar general and honorary archdeacon of Kinshasa. He is the oldest clergy member.
2. The Reverend Etsa Lombomba, administrative Secretary. Priest in charge of Limete Parish, he has worked for several years within the Anglican church in the area of national education in Kisangani diocese and Kinshasa. He is a former lay leader of the diocesan synod of Kisangani and the National Council of the Anglican Church of the Congo.

The church in Kinshasa now has an office which replaced the one on Limete. It is situated on Basalakala Avenue, IMMO-Congo area, in Kalamu Township on the principal University Road. The official address is still the same: P.O. Box 16 482 Kinshasa1, D.R.Congo; tel: + 243 99 22544; E-mail: anglikin@yahoo.fr. The Church has in total three archdeaconries and 10 parishes. It has seven priests (including three archdeacons and vicar) and several evangelists. Christians are estimated at 1,300 members.

North Kivu c/o PO Box 25586 Kampala UGANDA

There are unfortunately problems in the Diocese following Bishop Munzenda’s reinstatement after a period of suspension. The Christians are refusing to accept him in some of the archdeaconries.

Kindu c/o Ven Assumani, Eglise Anglican du Congo, BP 458 Gisenyi RWANDA

Bishop Masimango has been chosen as one of the delegates from the region to the Inter- Congolese dialogue. He has a very good understanding of the issues involved in the current conflict, particularly in the areas occupied by Rwanda. It remains to be seen how far the non- political advocates of peace will have a voice in the proceedings.

For more news of Kindu see elsewhere in this newsletter.

Katanga

Diocese of Katanga, Lubumbashi DRC c/o United Methodist Mission, P.O .Box 22037, Kitwe; ZAMBIA Tel + 243 8899992/ 9989288

Bishop Isingoma writes: Concerning the Diocese of Katanga, I am back with my family to Lubumbashi at the head office. On our arrival, the warm welcome which we received from the church members inspired us to continue with our ministry in Katanga. First we organised a retreat with all clergy members from Lubumbashi and around to thank our Lord for his protection and to ask Him to continue protecting His church victim of the current trouble and war in the Great Lake region. We took advantage of this time to meditate on the future of our diocese under God's guidance.

In Katanga province, the northern part almost 700 kilometres from Lubumbashi is still under rebel control with a lot of fighting. We receive many people fleeing war in our Archdeaconry of Malemba Nkulu. Most of them are refugees in the houses of our church members. We do not have any news from our Archdeaconry of Vyura along Tanganyika Lake which is today empty of all the church members of Tutsi origin. The pygmy and other Christians fled their villages destroyed by war. They are mostly in the bush without food and clothes. In our Archdeaconry of Malemba Nkulu in north Katanga, churches and schools buildings were burnt during war. People are not yet back in their villages. They are occupied by either rebels or Maï-Maï militias forces. Our Archdeacon Ngoy Wa Kabila has gathered some of our church members in their displacement camp almost 100kms from their villages. They need clothes, tents, blankets, food and medicines to survive. We did not have enough for him when he arrived to seek help from us.

From the missionary perspective, we are planning to train more leaders in the theological and biblical arena, to have several refresher seminars and spiritual retreats. We want to create real soon our biblical school to ensure a permanent and solid training of our future pastors. Within our parishes we are planing to intensify our theological education by extension (TEE) for church members. To enhance Christianity in our local churches, we are planning to start a missionary partnership project directly between our local parishes and the Anglican and Episcopal parishes in the world. This will lighten administration at the diocesan level and help to consolidate communion of our churches with others in the world.

We have 32 parishes under 7 archdeaconries; 22 priests, 10 Deacons and 18 evangelists and 8,500 church members in our diocese. The Katanga Diocese covers the vast administrative province of Katanga of approximately 497,000 square kilometres. We are expecting to have our diocesan synod in June 2002.

From a social point of view, we must associate ourselves with other Non- Governmental Organisations and Churches to respond to the urgent needs of vulnerable people. We are planning to initiate, through our diocesan Development Office, peace and reconciliation activities in order to contribute in developing local leadership for peace consolidation among people who have been victims of violence and hatred for almost five years.

We should also rehabilitate our medical sector and educational programme by rebuilding our health clinics and schools. This will help people to have basic health services and to provide schooling to many children who are exposed to unemployment and early recruitment as child soldiers. We need to encourage women in our diocese through the Mother's Union organisation and Youths through their diocesan organisation "Vijana vya maji ya uzima"(= Youth of Living Water) to perform their activities. All will be oriented by the real faith which provides peace.

For the diocesan infrastructures, we are going to encourage construction of church buildings as faith expression. Practically, the diocesan office will help the church members in covering the roof of the churches built by parish members. We also need to provide bicycles or motorcycles to our pastors to facilitate their transport over long distances.

For our evangelisation and Mothers' Union departments, we will need to get a vehicle for each department to facilitate the progress of their activities in order to sustain the life church.

Finally, let us express our gratitude to all our partners and friends who continuously contribute in supporting the work of God for whom we are all labourers. Your involvement encourages our ministry. May The Lord, our God bless you all and His Grace inspires our common action and support us forever. Yours in Christ, Bishop Isingoma K. Henri , Lubumbashi, 01 February 2002