2018 East Congo Annual Conference

Location of conference gathering: Tokolote Motomoto United Methodist Church, Kindu, Congo

Date: July 24-30

Officiating bishop: Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda

Guest speakers and memorable points or quotes by speakers:

The work of the sixth session of the East Congo Annual Conference was attended by two guests: George Howard, a General Board of Global Ministries missionary from the United States, and Jacqueline Lohahe, from New York, coordinator of the centennial preparations for The United Methodist Church in East Congo.

Howard actively participated in the work of the conference. On the penultimate day before leaving Kindu and returning to the U.S., he congratulated the East Congo Conference for the $1 contribution initiative to be used to build the church.

"It's up to the annual conference to prioritize who your $1 contribution will go to," Howard said.

He also appreciated the transparency with which finances are managed. "I liked the fact that every secretary and treasurer of local churches and districts has lists of faithful who contributed the money and the fact that the audit is done in full annual conference through the roll call of each name of the faithful who contributed and how much," he said. "This way of proceeding and this transparency surprised me a lot."

Howard invited all the faithful and delegates present at the East Congo Annual Conference to appropriate the initiative of the contribution of $1 per month per faithful. He said he plans to return soon to East Congo to see the project that will be made thanks to the contributions.

He also asked the faithful to pray for The United Methodist Church in the world and for the special 2019 General Conference.

Lohahe presented a plan for organizing the celebrations and preparations for the centenary of The United Methodist Church in East Congo since the first missionaries came to evangelize the peoples of Maniema in Tunda.

The festivities will be organized in 2022 in Tunda. Lohahe pointed out that preparations for Tunda's centenary are accessed on nine key points:

1. Redevelopment of the airstrip of 1,300 meters in length;
2. Rehabilitation of houses and villas to provide accommodation and accommodation for delegates;
3. Rehabilitation of the Tunda Mission Temple and Boarding Site;
4. Development of water sources and water tower in Tunda;
5. Tunda Mission Lighting;
6. Installation of the internet;
7. Livestock rearing;
8. Field cultivation;
9. Rehabilitation of the Kibombo Lomame road that will be taken over by the government.

Lohahe calls on all people of good will to support the Episcopal Region of the Eastern Congo in this process of preparations for the centenary by taking charge of a commission for the total success of the festivities.

Main actions enacted by the conference:

• The women who are supervised by the Mama Lynn Center have carried out various activities including literacy training in French, English and Swahili, sewing, making baskets and culinary service.
• There also was a training workshop for women pastors in three areas: leading in a conflict setting, church development and leadership. A dozen female pastors took part in the training.
• The East Congo Annual Conference also awarded wedding diplomas to eight couples celebrating many years of marriage. The goal, according to Unda, is to celebrate couples who have been married many years and to encourage young couples to fidelity. The special Golden Jubilee Diploma was offered to the couple with more than 75 years of marriage, while the Golden Jubilee went to the couple with 50-74 years of marriage.
• In relation to human sexuality, the delegates to the East Congo Annual Conference rejected same-sex marriage and asked pastors to multiply the teachings so that the faithful could continue to observe heterosexual marriages.
• The delegates recommend to the church to respect the genre of marriage since it was created by God who, at the beginning, distinguishes two beings: the man and the woman, while remaining in prayer for the unity of the church. However, the delegates of the East Congo Annual Conference resolved to adopt a convenient attitude toward our brothers and sisters. One option is to let them see that their option is not at all consistent with Bible teaching. In addition, the speakers expressed their concern for the sacred unity of our United Methodist Church at the universal level.
• The same delegates from the 2016 General Conference were renewed. There were, however, the election of four substitute clergy and three laypeople to complete the list. Clergy alternates: Joseph Bituka, Okende Kelanga, Kombe Lokonga, Baukwaga; lay deputies: Roger Kasongo, Njolo Lufungula and Kasusula.

​Number of people ordained, commissioned or received into associate membership, and average age:  20; average age is 35 years old.

Number of people retired: 2: Useni Yuwakali, from the Ecclesiastical District of Kindu Sud; and Olango Marcel, from the Ecclesiastical District of Kibombo.

Membership is at 419,911, up 408,654 from the previous year, an increase of 3 percent.

Church attendance is at 10,902, up from 10,447 last year, an increase of 4 percent.
 
Attendance at the church is 26,017, up from 19,384 last year, a 34 percent increase.
 
Professions or affirmations of faith for 2017 is 1,132, up from 778 in 2016.
 
Adults and young adults in small groups for 2017 is 278, up from 268 in 2016.
 
The faithful committed on mission for 2017 is 543,236, up from 541,198 in 2016.

To strengthen the four areas of focus, the annual conference has made a commitment to:

• Malaria control, including a project to raise public awareness about the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets;
• Maternal health project on the involvement of men in the follow-up of prenatal consultations of pregnant women;
• The struggle for nature conservation and biodiversity with the cultivation of trees in our concessions and missions;
• Pastor capacity-building continues to be a priority and encouragement for youth to do theology at Kindu United Methodist University.

Chadrack Tambwe Londe, communicator for the East Congo Conference.