AMECEA: Pastoral Department Meets Rectors of Major Seminaries on Safeguarding
Rectors of Seminaries in AMECEA region during meeting in Malawi, March 2023
George Thuku
Abuse and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults continues to persist within the Association on Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) despite efforts by various actors to curb the same. As such, safeguarding remains a major commitment of the AMECEA Bishops.
Guided by the belief that ‘Every Child Matters’ and inspired by the centrality of Children in Jesus Ministry, AMECEA has unveiled a programme to scale up safeguarding in seminaries. The programme aims to cultivate the culture of safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and make the Church in the region safe. This was communicated by the AMECEA Secretary General, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Makunde during a three days consultation forum with rectors drawn from Major seminaries across the region held between March 21st and 23rd 2023 in Malawi.
Addressing the participants during the forum, the Secretary General appreciated the participants for their presence. He urged them to take up the responsibility to ensure seminary formation played a critical role in forming future priests who would actively safeguard the interests of the children in the church. Fr. Makunde explained that the forum offered an opportune moment to reflectively discern on the unique opportunities presented by the seminary in respect to safeguarding. He emphasized that the forum was not meant to be an academic process but rather an encounter whose primary purpose is to listen to each other, discern and dialogue on the issue at hand. He reminded them that African values coupled with solid scriptural teachings should be at the center stage in setting a basis upon which safeguarding must be premised.
The AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo informed the participants that the forum meant to help the Rectors understand the issues of safeguarding in the region, propose ways to address the issues and to define role of the Seminaries in safeguarding.
Following guided reflections on the state of children in the region, actions being taken to address the challenge of abuse and the role of seminaries in the same, it was clear there was need to put more effort to prepare the seminarians to handle the challenges of abuse. This would contribute to making the church safe for all children.
The rectors made firm commitments to use every opportunity to form priestly candidates who are well grounded on care and ministry to children and vulnerable adults.
