wfn.org | Changes in Congo

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (306
notes).

Note 304 by UMNS on Sept. 9, 1997 at 15:40 Eastern (3060 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Bloom                              492(10-71B){304}
          New York (212) 870-3803                    Sept. 9, 1997

Bishops in Congo
see progress there

     NEW YORK (UMNS) -- The new government of the Democratic
Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) has remained open to
consultation from United Methodist leaders there, both on the
national and local levels.
     The church's three bishops in the Congo still believe "the
Kabila government represents real progress," according to the Rev.
John McCullough, associate general secretary for mission personnel
at the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries here. He spoke
about the situation during a Sept. 9 briefing.
     It is uncertain what effect the Sept. 7 death of Mobutu Sese
Seko -- who ruled Zaire for 31 years before losing power to
Laurent Kabila last May -- will have. Richard Williams, an
assistant general secretary with mission personnel, said that if
Mobutu's body is buried in the Congo "this could create a whole
new dynamic and could have some repercussions."
     Despite the destruction caused by the civil war and
continuing political uncertainties, "the church is growing in all
areas of the country," McCullough said. Both old members and new
converts are joining congregations.
     The annual conferences in the episcopal areas have been
renamed to reflect the new Congo. What was formerly North Shaba,
under the leadership of Bishop Ntambu Nkula Ntanda, is now the
North Katanga Conference. Southern Zaire, led by Bishop Katembo
Kainda, is now Southern Congo. Bishop Onema Fama oversees the
newly-named West Congo, Upper Congo, Northeast Congo and Central
Congo conferences.
     The episcopal areas also are expanding to reach refugees from
the Congo still living in Tanzania and Zambia.
     Both for the church and the country, there is "a tremendous
amount of work to be done, according to McCullough. Besides
finishing half-constructed churches and initiating approved
building plans, the United Methodist Church in the Congo is also
being challenged to assume broader responsibilities for education
and health care, he said.
     Although the church can reclaim land used for educational
facilities, its former schools were mudbrick structures meant for
temporary use and "are totally inadequate to meet educational
needs," he added. New facilities would have to be built.
     United Methodists also are concerned about the internally
displaced in the Congo and are developing a program to provide
agricultural tools to such people.
     Since evacuation during the civil war, 13 United Methodist
missionaries have returned to the Congo. The other missionary
personnel assigned to the Congo remain in the United States,
either on leave or waiting for an indication from the bishops that
it is safe to return to their specific areas.
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