ETHIOPIA: Evaluate the Origin and Mission of AMECEA, Urges General Secretary

The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) Secretary General Very Rev. Fr Ferdinand Lugonzo calls on bishops to deeply evaluate the origin and mission of AMECEA for future growth of church in Africa.

In his presentation on 14th, July, 2018 during 19^th AMECEA Plenary in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Fr. Lugonzo said AMECEA founding fathers intended to bring development among conference members with philosophy of thinking globally and acting locally. “Thinking more of what is common and what we can do together in building a strong church within the region,” he said.

The Secretary General said that by the time AMECEA was established as an association it was the first one in the world, something which members should be proud of reporting that, since the first AMECEA Plenary held at Msimbazi Centre in Dar es Salaam Tanzania in 1961, bishops set seven agenda which conference members of AMECEA were tasked to work on for the development of AMECEA region.

“After reflecting on the seven agenda we need to have long term strategy of the future of the church in Africa,” he said.

The first agenda was Church and Media. He said that Bishops in those days discussed about the establishment of a Regional Television, Radio Station and Printing Press to promote evangelization in AMECEA region. The other agenda were Spiritual formation for Diocesan Priests, Need for a Centre for Pastoral Renewal and On-going Formation, Possibility of a Regional University or at least a University College which he said has been achieved, Comprehensive Self-Reliance Program, The Future of Catholic Schools and Catholic Education (need for a Christian Religious Syllabus) and Justice and Peace Issues in the Region.

Presenting at the same time, Archbishop Emeritus of Lusaka, Zambia, Most Rev. Telesphore Mpundu encouraged unity and solidarity among bishops. “We need to strengthen our solidarity, collaboration and spirit of faith especially on Pastoral Renewal,” he said.

He also talked about the Small Christian Communities (SCC) that begun in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) but got strengthened in the AMECEA region and lately embraced by other African churches and other churches in the west.

He said that it is an initiative of AMECEA which brought the idea of deepening evangelization through Small Christian Communities insisting that there is need to reflect and renew commitment in this matter. “We need to think beyond our dioceses, if we really want to strengthen our Church in the region,” he said.

He urged the Bishops to show concern for each other from national, regional and global level while keeping the spirit of AMECEA in solidarity, a role that should have a long term strategy on how to evangelize the people and to involve more laity in church activities. “We also have to reflect deeply on how we are supporting women in the Church who play a big role in developing our church,” he said.

By Rose Achiego and Sarah Pelaji