wfn.org | Bishops Visit Burundi Colleague

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3370 notes).

Note 3369 by UMNS on Jan. 10, 1997 at 13:07 Eastern (3331 characters).

SEARCH: Ndoricimpa, Burundi, Kenya, Solomon, Hearn
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                    15(10-21-71B){3369}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             Jan. 10, 1997

'Pastoral visit' made to
Burundi bishop in exile

                 by United Methodist News Service

     Three United Methodist bishops made what was described as a
"pastoral visit" to exiled Burundi United Methodist Bishop Alfred
Ndoricimpa in Nairobi, Kenya, early in January.
     The three bishops -- Dan Solomon of Louisiana, J. Woodrow
Hearn of Houston, and Joao Samane Machado of Mozambique -- arrived
in Kenya Saturday, Jan. 4, and departed Jan. 8. Accompanying them
was the Rev. Randolph Nugent, staff executive for the church's New
York-based Board of Global Ministries.
     Solomon, president of the board's governing body, said
Ndoricimpa and his wife Sabina "are doing well but longing to
return to Burundi ... The sense of hope that marks the life of
both Bishop and Mrs. Ndorocimpa and the Burundi church in exile is
a witness to their deep faith and absolute confidence that God
will see them through," he said.
     The Louisiana bishop said he took expressions of "deep
concern" from the Council of Bishops, which is considered the
"church home" for episcopal leaders and their spouses.  "I
expressed our solidarity with them in their faith journey," he
said.
     The bishops worshipped in Nairobi Sunday, Jan. 5, with the
Ndoricimpas and a congregation of more than 200 United Methodist
Burundi exiles.
     "It was a celebrative and encouraging experience of joy in
Christ and confidence in the future," Solomon said.
     Ndoricimpa is continuing to be intimately involved in the
life of the church in Burundi, according to Solomon, through
telephone calls, faxes and visitors from Burundi.  
     The exile community in Kenya has opened a hospitality center
for Burundi refugees.  "I was inspired that mission continues to
dominate the life of the church in a setting where survival could
be the primary concern," Solomon said.
     The bishop reported that Ndoricimpa has taken the lead in
establishing a Burundi international peace committee.  He said
hope was expressed that a group of representatives from the United
Methodist Church could visit Burundi as soon as possible.
     The small, land-locked country in Central Africa has
experienced conflict between Hutu and Tutsi tribes since a
military coup in 1993.  United Methodist bishops appealed to
President Clinton in November of 1993 to push for international
intervention.
     A sore point with the bishops and other United Methodists is
the refusal of the U.S. State Department to grant Ndoricimpa a
visa to attend meetings of the Council of Bishops and the
quadrennial General Conference in Denver in April.  Solomon said
the bishops are determined to continue their effort to have the
impediment removed.
                              #  #  #
     
NOTE:  People wishing to assist with the Burundi problem may
contribute through the United Methodist Advance Program. 
Designate contributions to Mission Appeal for Africa -- Burundi,
Number 101275-4.

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