wfn.org | Lambeth Conference calls for peace in Uganda's civil war

["Lambeth98" <storm@indigo.ie>]

ACNS LC111 - 8 August 1998

Lambeth Conference calls for peace in Uganda's civil war

by Lisa Barrowclough
Lambeth Conference Communications

The plight of a Ugandan bishop whose wife was killed by an
exploding land-mine brought a resolution into sharp focus for
bishops at the Lambeth Conference Saturday (August 8).

"My wife, Winifred Ochola, was blown to pieces by a land-mine
planted by rebels in May, 1997," Bishop Macleod Ochola of Kitgum
(Uganda) told the bishops at the Conference's final plenary
session. 

"The suffering of [my] people is beyond words," Bishop Ochola
said. 

"The resolution passed unanimously yesterday on the plight of the
people of northern and western Uganda was an encouragement to us
all," he said. Bishop Ochola said the resolution will send a
message to "both sides responsible for this appalling violence to
acknowledge their responsibilities for the ongoing conflict."

"As a church we will always make ourselves available to act as
mediators for peace and reconciliation," he said. "This process
will lead both the victims and the perpetrators through the
process of healing."

Acknowledging suffering

The resolution passed by the Lambeth conference Friday (August 7)
acknowledges the suffering that people of Northern and Western
Uganda have endured because of "continued civil war waged by
rebels, known as LRA and ADF (Lord's Resistance Army and Allied
Democratic Forces) backed by forces from outside of Uganda." 

The resolution urges the Ugandan government to continue to engage
in a process towards reconciliation, peace and justice, which
"must include the Governments of Sudan and the Democratic
Republic of Congo, representatives of the rebels, representatives
of the main religious bodies and opinion leaders of the areas
affected." 

Bishop Eustace Kamanyire, from Ruwenzori (Uganda) proposed a
successful amendment to call upon the Anglican Consultative
Council and the United Nations to "assist in bringing about a
quick settlement of this armed conflict." 

Bishop Kamanyire thanked the Archbishop of Canterbury for his
recent visit to Uganda, and suggested that he could be
instrumental in appealing to the United Nations for the
arrangements of dialogue, because he is held in high esteem by
the Ugandan government.

Lambeth votes against new 'theme decade'

In other business, Friday, the bishops opted against dedicating
the first 10 years of the new millennium to a new theme,
following the pattern of the Anglican's Church's 1990s "Decade of
Evangelism." 

Bishops from the regions of East Central Africa and South
Asia-Middle East floated suggestions to have a "Decade for
Transformation & Renewal" or a "Decade of Peace and
Reconciliation." 

During debate Bishop Bernard Ntahoturi of Matana (Burundi) told
the bishops, "I think we need a theme for our efforts, for our
thoughts, for our concentration."

Bishop Nigel McCulloch of Wakefield (England) told the bishops
that every decade should be a decade of evangelism: "I cannot
believe that this conference wants to be thought to be seeking to
limit and define God's gracious work by designating special
decades for him for the whole Anglican communion."

Call for United Nations to review sanctions

The bishops also voted Friday (August 7) to call upon the
Security Council of the United Nations "to urgently review"
economic sanctions against Iraq and Libya.

In response to a resolution from the regional grouping of South
Asia and the Middle East, the Conference declared itself
"concerned about the plight of the civilian populations of these
countries, particularly those who are vulnerable because
medicines and food are lacking."

Bishop Azad Marshall (Arabian Gulf, Church of Pakistan), told of
his experience with people from Libya and Iraq. "As we all know,"
he said "[they] have no control over how their governments
operate internationally. The sanctions may be to impose or punish
these governments, but their victims are always voiceless women,
children and minorities."

Spouses' Programme presents report 

At the end of Friday afternoon's business plenary, Eileen Carey,
the wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury, offered a report on
behalf of the Spouses' Programme that has been running as a
parallel event during the Lambeth conference. "We would like,"
said Mrs. Carey, "to have a record on file for the future."

Mrs. Carey reported that 630 spouses participated in the event.
She also acknowledged the important development of having
"brother spouses"-the five husbands who attended-among them. 

The Spouses' Programme included four plenary sessions, which
looked at the role of the bishop's spouse, social issues, the
vocation of the Anglican Communion in the 21st century, and
mission and evangelism today and tomorrow. They also shared in
the fellowship and worship of Bible studies, held more than 100
workshops, enjoyed several outings, and presented a musical
titled, "Crowning Glory."

"It is of major significance," said Mrs. Carey, "that we were
able to share in the worship and plenaries of the bishops'
program. Yet our separate identity was of immense value as well."

The plenary also approved 24 resolutions from the Communion's
nine regions stating that the Lambeth Conference:

* Calls on governments, religions and people of good will to work
for peace and reconciliation (V.3).

* Welcomes the peace process in Northern Ireland, supports the
Church of Ireland and other churches in their efforts to build
bridges between communities, and encourages reassessment of
sectarian attitudes or alliances (V.5).

* Encourages continued exploration of creation and funding of
appropriate provincial structures for Anglican Continental Europe
(V.6). 
* Requests Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative
Council and the Primates to consider immediate formation of an
Iberian-Afro-Latin American Consultative Forum (V.7).

* Reaffirms 1988 Lambeth Conference resolution condemning the
United States of America's embargo against Cuba and calling for
its cessation (V.9).

* Requests the Anglican Consultative Council to consider
developing a Millennium logotype that will focus on the birth of
Jesus Christ (V.11).

* Rejects the use of violence in the name of religion and
supports the call for a 72 hour Global Cease Fire, December 31,
1999, to January 2, 2000 (V.12).

* Reaffirms the recommendations of the 1988 Lambeth Conference
Resolution 35 (Concerns of South Pacific Islands) on the right of
indigenous peoples to self determination; supports recognition of
indigenous peoples' land titles; encourages debt relief and
environmental protection; encourages churches and governments in
the Australia-New Zealand area to be aware of activities of
multi-national corporations and to oppose exploitation (V.14).

* Appeals for disarmament, upholding of human rights and harmony
among peoples in the Middle East and South Asia region (V.15).

* Calls upon churches in the Middle East and South Asia region to
cooperate and acknowledge their common values and calls upon the
region's governments to provide universal education, proper
health care and security and refrain from militarism and abuse of
authority (V.16).

* Notes challenges of religious pluralism and calls upon the
Anglican Consultative Council to give high priority to
establishing a Religions/World Faiths desk (V.17).

* Notes severe poverty of South Asian region and urges Western
governments, Church bodies and aid agencies to strive to
eradicate this condition (V.18).

* Expresses concern about the situation in the Holy Land and
Jerusalem; urges rights of all faiths to reside and have their
own institutions in Jerusalem; supports Christians in Israel and
Palestine and encourages continued work for peace in those lands
(V.20). 
* Reaffirms the 1988 Lambeth Conference resolution supporting
claims of the Anglican Church in Iran; awaits a response from the
government of Iran and requests the Archbishop of Canterbury to
pursue these concerns (V.21).

* Calls on Anglican Churches to continue to provide opportunities
and challenges for young people to serve in the ministry of the
Church (V.24).

* Supports economic justice in East Asia (V.25).

* Urges reunification of Korea (V.26).

* Calls on all provinces of the Communion to celebrate the
Millennium as a Christ-centered event, freeing slaves, aiding
refugees to return home and restoring lands to those who have
been deprived of them (V.27).

* Encourages the Anglican Communion and worldwide Christian
community to campaign against the international arms trade
(V.28). 
* Supports restoration of full British citizenship for residents
of St. Helena island (V.30).

* Gives thanks for the end of apartheid rule in South Africa and
welcomes establishment of its first democratic government (V.31).

* Thanks God for end of colonial rule and beginning of
independence for Namibia and sends greetings and prayers to its
president and people (V.32).

* Welcomes Anglicans in Angola into the Province of Southern
Africa and calls upon all involved in political life there to
conclude the peace process (V.33).

* Supports freedom of religion and separation of church from
state in the national states of West Afri

Nan Cobbey, E.J. Malone Jr., and Allan Reeder contributed to this
story. 

For further information, contact:

   Lambeth Conference Communications
   Canterbury Business School
   University of Kent at Canterbury
   Telephone: 01227 827348/9
   Fax: 01227 828085
   Mobile: 0374 800212

   http://www.lambethconference.org