KENYA: Catholic Bishops Change the name of the Conference
 |
| Very Rev. Fr. Vincent Wambugu |
The Catholic Bishops in Kenya have changed the name of their
Conference from Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC) to Kenya Conference of
Catholic Bishops (KCCB).
The official launch of the name is on 28th June
2013, where there will be a celebration of Holy Mass at Consolata Shrine to
mark the new name and to launch the Ten Year Strategic Plan of the Conference.
2013, where there will be a celebration of Holy Mass at Consolata Shrine to
mark the new name and to launch the Ten Year Strategic Plan of the Conference.
According to the Secretary General of the Kenya Conference
of Catholic Bishops, Rev. Fr. Vincent Wambugu, the change has been inspired by
the desire to have an identity that is striking and that clearly defines what
the conference is about. “There are many Protestant churches going by the name
Episcopal Churches, and therefore when we talked about Kenya Episcopal
Conference, it was easily misunderstood as one of those Evangelical Episcopal
Churches.” Fr. Vincent explained adding that the word Episcopal was also not
easily understood by the majority of Christians to mean Bishops. It is this confusion
that often arose in reference to the conference that comes as the major reason
for this change.
of Catholic Bishops, Rev. Fr. Vincent Wambugu, the change has been inspired by
the desire to have an identity that is striking and that clearly defines what
the conference is about. “There are many Protestant churches going by the name
Episcopal Churches, and therefore when we talked about Kenya Episcopal
Conference, it was easily misunderstood as one of those Evangelical Episcopal
Churches.” Fr. Vincent explained adding that the word Episcopal was also not
easily understood by the majority of Christians to mean Bishops. It is this confusion
that often arose in reference to the conference that comes as the major reason
for this change.
Fr. Wambugu explained that it took a long time for the
process to reach the final approval according to the statutes of the government
of Kenya and that of the Holy See. Fr. Vincent revealed that the process has
taken more than six years. The whole process involved consultations with the
Holy See, Preparation of the Statutes, Presentation of the Statutes to the Holy
See for approval and the civil process back here in Kenya.
process to reach the final approval according to the statutes of the government
of Kenya and that of the Holy See. Fr. Vincent revealed that the process has
taken more than six years. The whole process involved consultations with the
Holy See, Preparation of the Statutes, Presentation of the Statutes to the Holy
See for approval and the civil process back here in Kenya.
In his concluding remarks, Fr. Wambugu said, “The chosen
name is clearer, straight to the point and easily identifiable to our Catholic
identity; moreover, it is unique and cannot be mistaken for anything else.” He
further said that the Secretariat of the KCCB is the technical arm of the Church
in Kenya. It has its Mission, Vision and Objectives that is formed by the
Social Teaching of the Catholic Church. It stays vigilant at all times to
issues affecting the society. He added that in terms of structural realignment,
nothing much has changed and that no substantial change has either been made in
terms of the activities of the Secretariat except for the strategic directions,
which have been made clearer. The change of name is to ensure clarity and
enhance the Catholic identity.
name is clearer, straight to the point and easily identifiable to our Catholic
identity; moreover, it is unique and cannot be mistaken for anything else.” He
further said that the Secretariat of the KCCB is the technical arm of the Church
in Kenya. It has its Mission, Vision and Objectives that is formed by the
Social Teaching of the Catholic Church. It stays vigilant at all times to
issues affecting the society. He added that in terms of structural realignment,
nothing much has changed and that no substantial change has either been made in
terms of the activities of the Secretariat except for the strategic directions,
which have been made clearer. The change of name is to ensure clarity and
enhance the Catholic identity.
SOURCE: AMECEA Communications Office
