2019 Kivu Annual Conference Report

Officiating bishop: Bishop Unda Yemba Gabriel      

The Kivu Annual Conference was attended by Collins Etchi Ako, a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries. Supporting the Eastern Congo Episcopal Region in project development is part of Collins Etchi Ako's mission in Eastern Congo. Speaking on the third day of the Kivu Annual Conference, Missionary Collins Etchi Ako spoke about the concepts: NIM (National In Mission), Advance and the Project. He insisted that the NIM can be supported for three years with a possibility of extension to six years. "You have to know that the church has to know how to take care of the beneficiaries of the NIM after its end. Those who receive the NIM must also produce visible results in their work," said Collins.

On the subject of Advance, Etchi Ako challenged the Kivu Annual Conference to write true and real stories about the results of projects that are funded. He finally explained to the delegates of the Annual Conference of Kivu to avoid similar projects that have the same activities. Responding to a delegate's question, Collins also explained the essential parts of a project.

The Annual Conference of Kivu was also visited by two bishops of the Church of Christ in Congo, ECC in acronym. The first, Mgr. Levy Mbala Milenge, Bishop of the ECC in the province of North Kivu who also participated in the meditation of the first day of the Annual Conference of Kivu. Speaking, he prayed that God would assist and accompany, with His Holy Spirit, all the delegates of the Kivu Annual Conference for the advancement of God's work.

Mgr. Kuye Ndondo wa Mulemera, president of the ECC in South Kivu, also came to greet the delegates of the Kivu Annual Conference. Mgr. Kuye Ndondo appreciated the way Methodists evaluate their activities. He wished all delegates a good time at the Kivu Annual Conference.

Main actions enacted by the conference:

1. The first action was paused by widowed women gathered in the Tabitha group. Tabitha is a group created to oversee widowed women at the Kivu Annual Conference. In the middle of the conference, the widowed women asked Bishop Unda to give them a day to take care of the daily ration of all the delegates of the Kivu Annual Conference. Thus, on the fourth day of the Kivu Annual Conference, the delegates were fed by the widowed women, a surprise and a great satisfaction for the delegates.

2. The Methodist women of the Ecclesiastical District of Fizi presented during the meetings of the seventh session of the Annual Conference of Kivu, the fruits produced in their fields. In this district of Fizi, United Methodist women made fields of cocoa, beans and peanuts in the ecclesiastical district of Fizi. They presented a sample of their country produce to the great satisfaction of Bishop Unda, who said, "It is better to present the fruits of your fields here at the Annual Conference, so we are convinced and we really see what you have produced, rather than talk to us verbally without sample." The products from their fields were produced at the conference logistics and fed to the delegates.

3. The United Methodist Men of the Ecclesiastical District of Beni presented at the Kivu Annual Conference the cocoa produced in the fields they cultivated. The United Methodist Men of the Beni District see cocoa farming as an economical way to build churches in the Eastern Congo Episcopal Region. They suggested to the Conference to get involved in cocoa farming to support the United Methodist Church in East Congo. Henry Sivanzire of the United Methodist Men's Agency who presented the cultures at the Conference said, "We are convinced that cocoa could allow the church to be built. All we can do now is give some funding to this activity."

Resolutions adopted by the conference:

1. The Kivu Annual Conference decided to create a new ecclesiastical district of Bukavu.

2. Delegates also resolved to continue with the construction and equipment of health facilities in Baraka, Walikale and Beni.

3. Delegates recommended that pastors and lay people wishing to obtain their pensions at the end of their careers contribute with 3% of their salary each month. For laypeople, those who join the pension program must declare their salary to the pension team.

4. The delegates resolved and recommended to all districts to develop agro-pastoral projects. To the districts of Beni and Fizi to continue to bring the samples of their crops to the next meeting of the Annual Conference.

5. The delegates recommended that The United Methodist Church in Eastern Congo continue with the activities of the prevention of Ebola.

Number of people ordained, commissioned or received into associate membership, and average age: four, and their average age is 25-45 years

The conference elected two new delegates for the 2020 General Conference, one clergy and one laity.

Clergy: The Rev. Kombi Ramazani Simon, with the Rev. Milenge Basilwango Alexandre as alternate.

Laity: Mrs. Omba Njovu Therese, with Tchomba Ngoy Adalbert as alternate.

Number of people retired: 7

Membership stands at _25,256_, up _3,235_ from the previous year. 

Worship attendance stands at _21.295_, up _3,615_. 

Church school attendance stands at _4,532___, up _976__. 

Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2018 __461__, up _32_.

Adults and young adults in small groups for 2018 _51_, up _19_.

Worshippers engaged in mission for 2018 _2,914_, down 2,664.

What did your annual conference do to reinforce the Four Areas of Focus, and what commitments has the conference made for the coming year:  

1. Preventative control of Ebola virus disease throughout the Kivu Annual Conference

2. Construction in the future and creation of health structures in the Ecclesiastical District of Beni

3. Malaria control in the Kivu Annual Conference

4. Continue awareness raising to instil peace through evangelism and cultural activities

5. Send the youth to study theology at the Methodist University of Kindu, Zimbabwe and other countries.