Africa Outline Map
The UMC Africa Initiative, a movement of African clergy and laity leaders of the three United Methodist Central Conferences of Africa, has scheduled a pre-conference gathering of delegates from the 30 annual conferences and provisional annual conferences of Africa for a prayer summit and 2016 General Conference consultation. The gathering will take place at a Christian retreat center near Portland, Ore., May 4-6, 2016. A preparatory meeting will take place in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, from Jan. 11-16, 2016.
The Rev. Dr. Jerry Kulah, coordinator of the initiative and dean of Gbarnga School of Theology at United Methodist University in Liberia, said in a press release: "Designed for African delegates to General Conference 2016, these gatherings will bring us together for a time of worship, prayer and intercession for the peaceful and successful meeting of the 2016 General Conference at the Portland Convention Center. This will also be an important time for fellowship, learning and sharing about our common struggles and collective successes as United Methodists in Africa. We will also use these gatherings to prepare for our participation in 2016 General Conference.
"Since 2012, we have always cherished our semi-quadrennial meetings that foster worship and fellowship, intercultural activities, teamwork, partnership, and prayer network for the common good of our United Methodist Church. Our gatherings strengthen our connectional and missional ties, and facilitate the sustainable growth and development of the United Methodist Church in Africa."
The initiative's press release said the gathering also will provide African delegates with time to recover from travel stress prior to General Conference. "Many [African delegates] will have traveled for about two days to get to Portland," said Dr. Kulah in the release.
Dr. Kulah and his associate coordinator for French and Kiswahili regions, Dr. Evariste K. Kimba of Kamina, Democratic Republic of Congo, said the pre-conference gatherings were endorsed by the African College of Bishops at their fall 2015 meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The coordinators said the pre-conference gatherings are for "the purpose of empowering African leadership and participation in General Conference and the general church.
"These meetings will adequately prepare us for a full and informed participation in our 2016 General Conference. We solicit the prayers of our leaders, partners, and friends for the success of these meetings. We too will be praying for you and for the strength and growth of our General Church. May God richly bless you," the release concluded.
This press release was edited from its original form for United Methodist Insight publication.