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AACC - Kenya Foreign Affairs Minister Praises Church Social


From Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>
Date Fri, 16 Apr 2004 14:41:48 -0700

All Africa Conference of Churches
Information and Communication Desk
P. O. Box 14205
00800 Westlands
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254 - 020 - 4441483 / 4441338/9
Fax: 254 - 020 - 4443241, 4445835
E-mail: infodesk@aacc-ceta.org
Website: www.aacc-ceta.org

Church Praised for its Social Programmes

By Mitch Odero

Kenyas Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka gave the church a 
pat on the back for the effectiveness of its programmes aimed at 
alleviating the suffering of the poor.

The Minister who was speaking at a reception hosted by St. Marks Coptic 
Orthodox Church in Nairobi (April 13) hosted in honour of the visiting 
delegation from the World Council of Churches (WCC) singled out the role of 
the church in the war against HIV/AIDS, conflict resolution and peace
building.

Recalling that WCC and the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) 
brokered in Addis Ababa the 1972 peace pact for Sudan which lasted for 10 
years, he expressed the hope that a final peace agreement for Sudan will 
be signed in a matter of days.  Sudanese peace talks have been taking 
place in Kenya.

The Minister said that he hoped that churches will be active in social 
programmes in post war Sudan for at least next six years which will be the 
transitional period before a referendum in which Southern Sudanese will be 
engaged in determineing the kind of government they would prefer.  The 
choices will be between a North-South government of unity or 
self-governance for Southern Sudan.

Earlier the WCC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Sam Kobia paid a glowing tribute 
to the Coptic Orthodox Church noting that it was one of the founding 
members of WCC and continued to be an active member to date. The Orthodox 
Church has taught us the significance of spirituality in our lives.  As we 
continue in the 21st century, spirituality should undergird our work such 
as healing, he stressed.

The General Secretary of the AACC Rev. Dr. Mvume Dandala noted that 42 per 
cent of health centres and hospitals in Africa were owned by churches.	The 
fact, he noted did not seem to be appreciated by the funding agencies  The 
church through its network of health-care institutions bore a heavy burden 
in the war against HIV/AIDS.

The host, Bishop Paul, who heads St. Marks Coptic Orthodox Church had 
earlier invited Rev. Kobia to officially inaugurate a new pharmacy and a 
private wing of the churchs hospital which was newly constructed.

For further information contact
Mitch Odero
All Africa Conference of Churches
Information and Communication Desk
P. O. Box 14205
00800 Westlands
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254 - 020 - 4441483 / 4441338/9
Fax: 254 - 020 - 4443241, 4445835
E-mail: infodesk@aacc-ceta.org
Website: www.aacc-ceta.org 


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