wfn.org | United Methodist bishops hear grim report on Africa

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Nov. 8, 2001 News media contact: Thomas S. McAnally7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.     10-21-31-71B{524}

NOTE: For other coverage of the United Methodist Council of Bishops'
meeting, see UMNS stories #520, #521, #522 and #523.

By Tom McAnally*

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) - Of the 12 African countries in the central
conferences of the United Methodist Church, eight are in the
"least-developed country" (LDC) economic classification, according to the
Rev. Paul McCleary, a consultant since 1996 to the bishops' initiative of
children and poverty.

Speaking Nov. 7 at the Council of Bishops' semi-annual meeting, McCleary
explained that the LDC status means a country is incapable of stabilizing
itself without massive outside assistance.  LDCs are ranked at the bottom of
the economic ladder, after "developed," " in transition" and "developing"
countries. Of the 49 LDCs worldwide, 40 are in Africa.

McCleary, a United Methodist clergyman, is executive director of ForChildren
Inc., an international, non-governmental organization. His grim report
prompted some bishops to call for an effort like the Marshall Plan, which
rebuilt Europe following World War II. Others called for more input on the
"complicity" of Western countries in creating poverty in Africa.

Even if the most optimistic scenario for poverty reduction set forth by the
World Bank could be accomplished, McCleary said 2.3 billion people would
still be living on less than $2 a day in the year 2015. "Thus the war on
poverty is likely to be with us well into the 21st century," he said.

One of the major factors influencing resource distribution, and therefore
poverty, is population growth, according to McCleary. About 83 million are
being added to the world's population annually. Of those, only 1 million
live in developed or industrialized countries.

One of every six children born in LDCs does not survive to his or her fifth
birthday, McCleary said. Unlike the rest of the world, which experienced
extension in life expectancy from 1970 to 1997, sub-Saharan Africa
experienced a reversal of the trend, largely due to HIV/AIDS.

The World Bank considers primary school enrollment the most critical
indicator of poverty, according to McCleary. "Without education, these
countries can't build the needed infrastructure. Between 1995 and 1980, the
basic or primary school enrollment rate actually declined." At this point,
he praised efforts of the United Methodist Church to build educational
institutions throughout Africa's central conferences.

Funds for these efforts are coming largely through a "Hope for the Children
of Africa" initiative launched by the bishops in 1998. United Methodists
have contributed more than $6.15 million toward a $12 million goal, the
bishops learned. African bishops reported on the progress of some of the
construction projects. 

Childhood in Africa is disappearing, McCleary exclaimed. "More and more
children are being called to assume the role of adults much earlier in
life."

The erosion of Africa's share of world trade between 1970 and 1992 has meant
a loss of more than $68 billion in income to the region, the bishops were
told. As a result, Africa has moved from trade to aid dependency.

McCleary expressed hope that the church, a value-based, person-centered
institution, could provide a holistic and long-term commitment to social
transformation on the continent. The Christian church is growing rapidly in
Africa, he said. The number of adherents at the turn of the last century was
estimated at 9 million. By 1990, that number had grown to 255 million, and
by 2025, the number is projected to be 600 million or 48 percent of the
total population.

Using projections and percentages of growth from the World Christian
Encyclopedia, McCleary said Methodist/Wesleyan denominations in Africa could
have nearly 12 million members by the year 2025 and might surpass U.S.
membership. 

As the denomination seeks to alleviate poverty in Africa, McCleary said,
"our concern for responding to the needs of individuals ought to be matched
with an equal concern to put into place the indigenous organization capable
(of) dealing with the root causes of poverty in society."

These "root causes" prompted lively discussion following McCleary's
presentation. Bishop Jose Quipungo, of Eastern Angola, told his colleagues
they should understand the causes of poverty, not just the effects. "Africa
is not poor," he said. "Africa is being made poor. It does not need to beg.
It is a rich continent."  

Rich countries have turned African countries into poor countries, he
asserted. "No one granted us independence as a favor," he said. "We had to
struggle for it. ... The problems we face today come to us from the West."  

Shunning pity, he said Africa needs assistance to attack poverty's root
causes. "America has sufficient technology to prevent further war in
Angola," he said. "The millionaires financing war in our country are members
of your churches."

In response to Quipungo's assertions, the African bishops were asked to
create a document spelling out how policies of developed countries
contribute to poverty in Africa. 

While the church has made significant contributions to central conferences
in Africa, retired Bishop James Mathews said those aren't enough. "This is
playing around the shallows," he declared. "We should advocate a coalition
for social and economic justice in Africa. We should stand shoulder to
shoulder with other denominations and other faith groups to present a
Marshall Plan" for Africa.  

He suggested encouraging United Methodist-related universities to increase
the number of people competent to deal with issues related to Africa. He
also urged direct contact with government officials, including the U.S.
secretary of state. "We must reach beyond this or we will not be worthy
servants," he said.

The Council of Bishops includes 50 active bishops from the United States; 17
active bishops from Europe, Africa and the Philippines, and about 50 retired
bishops. Serving a one-year term as president of the body is Bishop Elias
Galvan of Seattle. The church has 8.4 million members in the United States
and more than 1 million in other countries.

# # #

*McAnally is director of United Methodist News Service, the church's
official news agency.

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United Methodist News Service
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