Harambee! It is Not Yet Uhuru for African United Methodists: Amandla! Ngawethu!

by

Special to United Methodist Insight

Harambee! It is not yet Uhuru, the perpetual struggle towards emancipation of the African people through equitable regional structures seems to be on-going, yet a noble cause for humanity and generations to come are counting on us.

In simple terms Uhuru means freedom. In a deeper way, The Uhuru Movement's political theory is African internationalism, which states that colonialism and neo-colonialism was born parasitic through the attack on Africa and its people, and that freedom is essential to our humanity.

Amandla in the Nguni languages means "power." The word was a popular rallying cry in the days of resistance against apartheid, used by the African National Congress and its allies. The anti-apartheid call and response slogan 'Amandla! Ngawethu!' (Power! It is ours!).

On the other side, Harambee is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events, e.g., fundraising or development activities. The word means "all pull together" in Swahili. All these come to define and inspire who we are as a people determined to conquer and attain our freedom and right to self-determination.  

In the past two weeks I felt that these words need to be emphasized now in the history of African United Methodism as we move towards a United future with self-determination and demanding equity in the denomination’s structure. If we work together as a united force, we will get there because we have the power to liberate ourselves and get to be counted as equals among all the regions of the worldwide United Methodist Church.  It is precisely in these past two weeks that we have read articles by Mainstream UMC that raise a lot of questions and seems to be confusing.  As people raised in the context of anti-colonial resistance, it becomes a generational responsibility to challenge colonial, neocolonial and imperialistic acts, and thoughts whenever it emerges.

In the past years, we have been struggling with the Wesleyan Covenant Association and Good News colonial and supremacists’ mentality and agenda, but as often said, such attributes are not camped along theological lines and having addressed it in the past, it is important to reiterate it again when manipulative and neocolonial approaches are employed in the church.

As a United Methodist, I am blessed by the Christian witness of United Methodists from across continents who demonstrate what mutuality in ministry entails. My whole ministry and commitment to social justice was inspired by the likes of the late Bishop Ralph Edward Dodge, the last white American Missionary Bishop of Zimbabwe. He was committed to justice and equality, a selfless servant of the gospel who faced deportation from Rhodesia by the racist Ian Smith government. Dodge stood side by side with the Zimbabweans as we fought for our liberation from colonialism, white supremacy, and racism. This is what faithful witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to.

Why did I begin with concepts that have shaped us as Africans? I must admit that the message portrayed by Mainstream UMC falls far from theological conceptions (whether conservative, centrist, and progressive) and has crossed the borderline to neocolonialism. I know people across these lines who are very gracious and that Mainstream UMC articles do not represent majority of United Methodists in the USA, and it is from this perspective that I hope to address the questions raised in those articles.

There seems to be an attempt to falsify history in a manner that reflects Mainstream UMC’s underlying neocolonial agenda. First, there are serious concerns with the way Mainstream UMC is trying to posture the conflict in the American United Methodist Church. The language in the Book of Discipline “Homosexuality is incompatible with the Christian teaching” was never crafted by Africans and Filipinos. In 1972 the percentage of African delegates at that general conference was less than 5%. And it's likely that the majority of the delegates who were representing Africa at that General Conference could have been white American missionaries with membership within the African conferences. To posture the problems in the American United Methodist Church as the global north vs global south is misinformation, disingenuous and a sign of hypocrisy.

If one is to seriously consider this posture, Mainstream UMC is presenting to United Methodists in the United States and Europe that Africa and the Philippines are expendable. Our call for Harambee becomes even more pronounced. What the Rev. Dr. Mark Holland fails to understand is that The United Methodist Church is a global denomination, and it is an undeniable fact that the center of Christianity is now Africa, experiencing the fastest growth in membership. Amandla! Ngawethu!

The discourse by Mainstream UMC views the United States and Europe as exclusive centers of power that can reject who they choose to do so when they do not align with their beliefs. It may be so in the Western political concept but it's not applicable in a setting where Africa is equally a member of the denomination. The imperialistic thought that some have the power to push others out misreads our current realities. As Africans we are not beneficiaries of ill-conceived hospitability of Mainstream UMC but United Methodists in our own right. To view the US as headquarters of a corporate entity that decides and imposes it’s wish on offshore entities doesn’t apply in the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As Africans we are not beneficiaries of ill-conceived hospitability of Mainstream UMC but United Methodists in our own right.

Efforts by Mainstream UMC to hijack regionalization as a political wedge issue seem to be founded on the wrong premises. The presenting legislation to General Conference focuses on equitable structures for the denomination as God sanctioned equality of people created in His image. The debate isn’t about progressives and conservatives in the US or Europe but rather on ensuring that Africa, Philippines, and other regions are able to engage in mission and ministry in respect of their context without being dragged to political machinations and polarizations in one part of the world. United Methodists recall the negative impact of polarization in our mission and ministry, it derails us from standing for justice, providing safe drinking water, visiting those in prison and working at the margins of society. Unlike the American political discourse that thrives on polarization, the church thrives when we appropriately respond to God’s call of making disciples.

The debate isn’t about progressives and conservatives in the US or Europe but rather on ensuring that Africa, Philippines, and other regions are able to engage in mission and ministry in respect of their context without being dragged to political machinations and polarizations in one part of the world.

In the past few years, I have shared with friends that it is part of the colonial mindset not to accept the majority of those who were previously oppressed as it confronts the egos of colonizers who define themselves based on the privileges they have offered themselves. The unsaid concern of Mainstream UMC is the realization that the rise of the African majority at General Conference challenges their perception of power – the power to dictate is based on maintaining their privileges. Then Mainstream UMC’s strategy is to pit regions against each other and stall any progress being made as they will have no one to blame for the challenges they may face, instead of trusting on cooperation and mutuality as an avenue to success.

Another point is that Mainstream UMC fails to correctly read and interpret ways in which society works. Unlike the US where polls are conducted ahead of elections or surveys done, the African approach is different, hence one does not see resolutions being made by annual conferences in the manner it is conducted in the US and Europe. No group should be coerced into expressing itself in a manner that fits the narrative and goals of another.

Instead of being pessimist, I am optimistic on the future of the United Methodist Church. To claim that we can’t communicate is to assume that Africans should transpose themselves to a contextual understanding they are not privy to in the absence of a relationship or mutual understanding. In fact, as United Methodists we communicate; Mainstream UMC's spokesman just needs to pay attention. The communications coming out of the Philippines Central Conference and Africa Colleges of Bishops are communications that should be appreciated as valid. Communication is not simply eliciting action on the part of the other for one's perceived gain; it also entails being receptive to feedback even when it doesn’t meet expectations.

We Africans have fought against colonialism, and we will not hesitate to stand up to it whenever it shows up and regardless of who defends it. The hard truth that Mainstream UMC may have to appreciate is that dreaming of Africa leaving the United Methodist Church is wishful thinking. We told this to WCA, Good News and the Global Methodist Church with their friends of Africa Initiative. We gave them that message, but they did not listen, and we are saying it again to Mainstream UMC.

We African United Methodists are not going anywhere, and we will not be pushed, and we will not accept colonial posturing. We are working to decolonize the United Methodist Church and that is the reason we joined hands with the Philippines to write and promote the Christmas Covenant legislation. The Christmas Covenant is seeking to decolonize The United Methodist Church structure. We will no longer accept a denominational structure where the USA considers itself as the Church, and Africa and Philippines are just mission outposts. There must be equity and parity in our worldwide structure.

We Africans stand on the ground “We were, We are, and We will always Be United Methodists” Our best days as people called United Methodist are ahead of us. To my fellow Africans I make this cry: Harambee! Amandla! Ngawethu!

The Rev. Lloyd Nyarota is a clergy member of the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference.