wfn.org | AACC - Churches to address Africa's issues and problems

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

January 30, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Churches set to actively address Africa's issues and problems
By Mitch Odero

Stakeholders in the African ecumenical movement have affirmed that African 
ecumenism is experiencing "a renewed sense of commitment" which "comes 
from" their "collective inner-most conviction of the important role of the 
ecumenical movement as a viable instrument" of the Church.

The affirmation was endorsed at the end of their four day consultation in 
Nairobi yesterday.  The stake holders are the All Africa Conference of 
Churches (AACC), the national Christian councils, the sub-regional 
Christian fellowships, theological colleges among other Christian 
organizations in Africa.

Representatives of the organizations expressed their mutual desire to 
strengthen their engagement in addressing the issues, problems, challenges 
as well as exploiting opportunities on the continent.

Ecumenical partners who attended the meeting included World Council of 
Churches based in Geneva, the US based World Church Service, France based 
Communauti d'eglises en mission (CEVAA) among others.

Expressing their commitment to the battle against poverty, they called on 
AACC "to catalyze African marketing where goods from one country would be 
exported and sold in another country."

Accordingly, AACC should also facilitate the formation of cooperative 
societies as well as networking in fair trade with other continents.  As 
such, AACC was urged to "put in place a think-tank to work out the process".

Affirming the need to develop contextual theologies of hope, economic well 
being, family and life, the stakeholders agreed to spearhead a dialogue on 
spiritual theological issues with a view to developing a pan-African 
inter-spirituality as well as the reconstruction of Africa.

Expressing their commitment to the promotion of good governance and good 
citizenship, they pointed out that such good governance should be one that 
ensures that "major beneficiaries are the citizens of Africa."

They also expressed their commitment to the mobilization and legal 
expertise in the promotion of constitutionalism and the promotion of 
sustainable peace.

Advocacy, they pointed out, will be one of the tools to be used towards 
forming alliances that will contribute towards socio-economic liberation of 
Africa. Such alliances will aim at working closely with African Union and 
support to the NEPAD (New Programme for African Development) vision.

Others areas which will receive focused attention - will include health and 
healing particularly HIV/AIDS, malaria and other mass killer diseases.

For further information contract

Mitch Odero - AACC Information Desk
E-mail:  infodesk@aacc-ceta.org
Tel: 254-020-882021/22 (up to February 4th)
Fax: 254-020-4443241/4445835

AACC Information 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