wfn.org | ACNS - BULLETIN No. 41/02 October 21, 2002 (a)

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

AANA Bulletin is an ecumenical initiative to highlight all endeavours and 
experiences of Christians and the people of Africa.  AANA Bulletin is 
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AANA Bulletin	: Acting Editor - Mitch Odero		
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NEWS  SECTION

Churches, ECOWAS Urged To Help Prevent Civil War

GENEVA (AANA) October 21 - Alarmed by escalating hostilities in Ivory 
Coast, World Council of Churches WCC general secretary Rev Dr Konrad Raiser 
has encouraged WCC member churches there to "do all in their power to 
prevent the conflict from deteriorating into a civil war".

Two letters - an October 10 WCC letter to Ivory Coast member churches, and 
a second letter to the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS - 
note that the country, long "an example of political and social stability 
in Africa" now seems "threatened by the curse of fragmentation and internal 
oppositions fuelled by ethnic and religious divisions".

While the WCC reproves the rebel forces' attack on a democratically elected 
government, Raiser suggests to both the churches and to ECOWAS that the 
primary responsibility of all concerned is to resist the temptation to 
respond by military action.

In his letter to the churches, Raiser reminds them that rejecting violent 
conflict, even when your adversary has taken up arms, is in the spirit of 
the Decade to Overcome Violence, to which WCC member churches committed at 
their last (1998) assembly in Zimbabwe.

Calling on the churches to facilitate ECOWAS efforts to promote a 
negotiated solution, Raiser praises "the spirit of toleration and religious 
reconciliation" evident in a joint declaration by Ivory Coast Roman 
Catholic and Methodist church leaders; the declaration referred to mosques 
as well as to churches.

"There is a real danger of religion becoming another factor in the 
conflictthe WCC joins you in your call to prayer and mobilization in 
favour of peace," Raiser tells the churches. And concludes by encouraging 
them "to analyse the underlying causes of the crisis, and to remedy these 
to the best of your ability".

His letter to ECOWAS expresses WCC support for its mediation efforts, and 
encourages the organization to continue to seek ways of bringing the 
parties to the negotiation table.

It also informs ECOWAS of WCC efforts to assist its Ivory Coast member 
churches to "promote dialogue and mutual understanding between the various 
ethnic and religious communities, and to contribute to a peaceful solution 
of the present conflict".

Prepared by Claudia Hoffmann-Denarii

  Humanitarian Principles Crucial At Somali Peace Talks

NAIROBI (AANA) October 21 - The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian 
Coordinator's Office for Somalia has urged Somali representatives to adopt 
a set of Humanitarian Principles, for the on-going peace consultations.

The recommendation, circulated in a press statement here, was issued ahead 
of the peace and reconciliation conference organized by the 
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development IGAD on October 15 in Eldoret, 
Kenya.

With hundreds of thousands of Somalis in desperate need of food, water, 
shelter and basic security, respect for humanitarian principles, human 
rights, and humanitarian access in order to assist vulnerable communities 
is imperative.

"It is important that the Somali leaders who gather in Eldoret understand 
their responsibilities in this key area," the statement said, adding that 
the United Nations promotes the respect for humanitarian principles in 
every forum.

Therefore, the UN calls on Somalis to ensure all rights and freedoms laid 
down by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1981 African 
Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Conventions on the Rights of the 
Child and all relevant international legal instruments on Human Rights, 
Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons, and Humanitarian Law.

In return, international aid agencies have committed - when delivering 
assistance in Somalia - to impartiality, proportionality, accountability, 
transparency, participation of local partners and sensitivity to local 
culture, laws and customs.  As well they pledge to support Somali efforts 
at peace and reconciliation.

The UN has repeatedly expressed its concern that humanitarian access in 
Somalia has dropped sharply in several locations over the past year. 
Fighting in parts of northeastern and southern Somalia, as well as a series 
of kidnappings in the capital Mogadishu, have curtailed UN and other 
humanitarian operations.

SOURCE: UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator's Office for Somalia/For 
further information, please contact: Sonya Laurence Green, Information 
Officer E-mail: sonya.green@undp.org

  Exchanges Over Ordination Of Women Finally Resolved

BLANTYRE (AANA) October 21 - At last the row over women ordination has 
calmed	down in the Central African Presbyterian Church CCAP following the 
licensing of  theologian Gertrude Kapuma, a fearless crusader of women's 
rights in the Church.

There was rejoicing when, during a colourful ceremony on October 6, she 
walked the aisles of St Michael and Angel Church she joined two other women 
theologians being prepared to become fully-fledged ministers of the Word.

Kapuma had been campaigning vigorously for ordination of women and was at 
the centre of controversy when, in1995, she was nearly suspended from her 
duties as director of Chigodi Women's centre in Limbe for leading a 
demonstration against oppression of women in the Church which led to the 
withdrawal of some of her privileges by the Blantyre synod authorities.

Kapuma was the first woman to graduate from Zomba Theological College in 
1980. But events did not turn out well for her because the church offered 
stiff	resistance to the idea of ordination of women.

The question was first presented in a mini referendum when all the 
presbyteries, then totalling 13, were asked to discuss it with their 
various congregations, almost 800 at that time.

Those voting in the affirmative were overwhelmed by those against by over 
two thirds majority. She was not discouraged . She found her way to South 
Africa where she continued with studies at Fort Hare University.

However, the Church authorities pursued the matter by engaging a Canadian 
ordained woman Reverend Peggy Reid to animate the position of a woman 
minister in the Church in Malawi.

After spending close to eight years, another ordained woman minister Alice 
Kyei Anti was also engaged from Ghana.

At least the two foreign church ministers changed the hearts of the 
congregations in Malawi. They were now in agreement with the plan to treat 
women theologians as well as the men folk in the Church.

Kapuma has served the Church in several capacities since she graduated from 
Zomba theological college in 1980.

She was once director of Chigodi Women's Centre and co-ordinator of women's 
work in the synod, positions she held concurrently for 15 years.

In 1995, she went to Amarillo, Texas in the United States where she served 
as a missionary for four months.

Kapuma holds a masters degree in theology and has passed through the 
corridors of  Mindolo Ecumenical College in Zambia and St Colms College in 
Scotland for her education.

She will go for pastoral practicals at St Michael and Angels Church for 
about six months before joining the holy ministry as a full fledged pastor.

A couple of months ago, Blantyre synod held a similar function for Mirriam 
Chipeta, another theologian who holds a Bachelor degree from Chancellor 
College. The ordination of Kapuma brings  the number of women ministers in 
the synod to three.

The synod ordained the first woman minister, Rev Edna Navaya last year. 
Commenting on this development, the General Secretary of Blantyre Synod, 
Reverend Daniel Gunya expressed satisfaction that the Church was heading 
for the right direction.

Reported by Hamilton Vokhiwa

AACC Calls On Kenyans To Uphold Peace During Polls

NAIROBI (AANA) October 21 - The All Africa Conference of Churches AACC has 
called on Kenyans to uphold peace in the period ahead of the East African 
country's third multi-party elections expected to be held by the end of the 
year.

In a press statement, the Nairobi based pan-African organisation observed 
that the transitional period Kenyans were going through as they face the 
general elections was a crucial period requiring political tolerance for 
the sake of peace.

The AACC Interim General Secretary, Mr	Melaku Kifle, pointed out that 
Kenya has for many years remained a model in Africa as a peaceful nation 
"where African refugees from other troubled nations found peace and healing".

He went on: "It is our prayer that this image of Kenya will be maintained 
in the trying moments when electioneering tends to provoke violence in many 
countries".

AACC also called on its five million members of its member churches in 
Kenya, and churches throughout Africa as well as the ecumenical movement 
throughout the world to offer special prayers for peace in Kenya and for 
peaceful transition.

AACC is a fellowship of 168 national member churches in 39 African 
countries with a total congregational membership of 80 million 
Christians.  Its associate members include national Christian councils in 
Africa.

SOURCE: AACC/ For further information contact:
Mitch Odero AACC Information Desk
E-mail: infodesk@aacc-ceta.org