Sept. 12-15, in Jinja, Uganda
East Africa Episcopal Area Bishop Daniel Wandabula demonstrates the Christian Docrine of Reconciliation with Rev. John Kiviri
The 2019 Uganda-South Sudan Annual Conference was held at Wanyange Central United Methodist Church, Jinja district. The theme was “I will build my church,” delivered from Mathew 16:18.
The annual conference was presided over by Bishop Daniel Wandabula, the resident bishop of the East Africa Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church, which has four annual conferences namely the Burundi Annual Conference, Kenya - Ethiopia Annual Conference, Rwanda Provisional Annual Conference and Uganda - South Sudan Annual Conference.
Reconciliation, healing and repentance were the epitome of the conference, and with reconciliation followed promises of a fresh start, uniting and working together for the betterment and growth of the church in the East African Episcopal Area.
Bishop Wandabula, whose message of reconciliation continues to shape his ministry, reached out to the Rev. John Kiviri for this memorable gesture and it was the central message that exhorted the annual conference to be reconciled with God and with one another.
After many years of conflict between Bishop Wandabula and Kiviri — which started with the circulation of anonymous letters and court cases — the long-awaited reconciliation between the two happened when Kiviri was invited for a cabinet meeting of the Uganda/ South Sudan Annual Conference held on 10th August at Humble United Methodist School in Lukoojo village, Mukono district.
Bishop Wandabula recalls that this had a negative effect on ministry in the entire East Africa Episcopal Area and contributed to the current embargo imposed on the East Africa Episcopal Area by the United Methodist Council on Finance and Administration and the Board of Global Ministries. He called GCFA and GBGM to remove the embargo for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There was a visible sign of joy on the faces of the cabinet members when Kiviri joined the cabinet to which he had served for many years as superintendent of the Mukono district. After the reconciliation, Kiviri was re-appointed as superintendent of Mukono.
Both Bishop Wandabula and Kiviri committed to hold a service at a later date to receive all the members of The United Methodist Church who have been working with Kiviri, as well as the new churches that have been planted during this time. There was a call to the church to continue praying for this process until everyone is back in the fold.
Bishop Wandabula said, "I must say that I am very grateful that we were able to reconcile not only as clergy but as friends and brothers. Apostle Paul said that we preach a gospel of reconciliation. This reconciliation has brought peace and healing in my life and in the life of the church."
During the cabinet meeting, Kiviri said he was happy that he and the bishop were able to reconcile, leave their differences in the past and focus on working together to unite the church.
"I am sorry for anyway that I hurt you, your family and church. I thank God that you found it in your heart to forgive me. Let’s leave our differences in the past and focus on uniting the church in the East African Episcopal Area to ensure it grows,” he said as members of the cabinet cheered on.
The Rev. James Mwoho, superintendent of the Busia district, was very thrilled by Kiviri’s humility in returning, telling other cabinet members that he and Kiviri were very close friends who rode bicycles together, went to preach the gospel in different United Methodist churches across the country, and sometimes slept on the floor of those churches.
“The anonymous letters written by Rev. John Kiviri's son against our bishop had put a strain on our relationship. My brother Kiviri, it is good that you have decided to join us again; it is good to have you back my brother,” said Mwoho.
As a public sign of reconciliation, forgiveness and commitment to work together, a forgiveness and healing service characterized by communion, passing of the peace, handshakes, laughter and hugs was organized during the recently concluded third session of the annual conference.
During the service, under the theme “I will arise and go,” the Rev. David Muwaya challenged the leaders present to arise and go meet those in the congregation they have had issues with.
“Forgiveness can only come after realizing you have been hurt, and forgiveness and reconciliation is two-sided. Reach out to anybody you feel you hurt or hurt you, reconcile privately or publicly and forgive them,” he said.
And a number of leaders took the opportunity to publicly commit to resolving their issues for the good of ministry in the conference.
To consummate the reunion between the two, Bishop Wandabula bought a whole cow to celebrate with the rest of the congregation for this special occasion.
The conference was a beehive of activities — among them electing delegates to the 2020 General Conference and Central conference, third graduation celebration for the United Methodist Theological Collage students, ordination of elders and deacons, the commissioning of provisional members, recognition of orders, and recognition of associate members and retiring clergy.
The conference was also graced by guest preacher and speaker the Rev. Stephen Bredesen, a retired ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference USA who now fully ministers with Eagles Nest Ministries in Mengo, a Kampala suburb.
In his sermon, Bredesen asked the congregation whether they know who Jesus is. “Jesus does not waste words. He asks, ‘Who do men say I am?’ No more important question for the people of God than this.”
Bredesen said there is enormous amount of confusion in church even in the denomination of who people are and what they proclaim, adding that “All of us say many good things, but do not say how good Jesus is, and this breaks my heart.”
He affirmed that Jesus Christ is not one of the ways but only way, and source of truth and life, and the church should preach so.
Bredesen also told the worshippers that it is Jesus’ responsibility to build the church, and Methodism should be at the forefront in building the church.
“Our theology is very powerful because it is built on the very word of God. If you want The United Methodist Church to grow, proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. People of God, ministers of the gospel, stand up and say who Christ is. Set it in your mind, proclaim it, confess it and live it,” he said.
Need to establish budgets
Retired Rev. Fred Dearing, who currently serves as the superintendent of the South Sudan district as a full-time volunteer in missions, met with the clergy to discuss budgets. Dearing urged all local churches and district pastors to have budgets in place and continuously run church activities so that in case the donors go away, churches are not crippled.
He pointed out that few churches have budgets, and advised those without to learn from those who have.
“All local churches must have budgets to help you in doing missionary work like helping the widows and orphans, reach out to the sick, the grieving and the hungry,” he said.
On the other hand, he tasked the pastors to be united regardless of their tribes, countries of origin or race and to also share what they have with those in need.
“We need to give, we are created to give, but we keep accumulating. If all of us gave what we can, we could have enough. We do not just keep taking God’s blessings, we are blessed to be a blessing to others,” he stated.
The Conference elected delegates to General Conference 2020. Joyce Jaka was elected lay delegate and head of the delegation and the Rev. Isaac Kyambadde is the clergy delegate. Also elected were 20 reserve delegates (10 laity and 10 clergy).
Bishop Wandabula explained the high number of reserve delegates is insurance if people are denied visas, adding that if that happens, then there can still be good representation at the conference.
Membership stands at 20,253.
Appointed local pastors: 128
Pastors enrolled into Course of study: 20
Pastors reinstated after reconciliation under Rev. Kiviri: 11
Ordained deacons/deaconess: 2
Ordained elders: 17
Ordained probationary elders: 22
Retired pastors: 13
The fourth session of the Uganda-South Sudan Annual Conference will be held in Busia, Uganda in 2020.
— Vivian Agaba, communications officer for the East Africa Episcopal Office of The United Methodist Church in Kampala, Uganda.
East Africa Episcopal Area Bishop Daniel Wandabula demonstrates the Christian Docrine of Reconciliation with Rev. John Kiviri
The 2019 Uganda-South Sudan Annual Conference was held at Wanyange Central United Methodist Church, Jinja district. The theme was “I will build my church,” delivered from Mathew 16:18.
The annual conference was presided over by Bishop Daniel Wandabula, the resident bishop of the East Africa Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church, which has four annual conferences namely the Burundi Annual Conference, Kenya - Ethiopia Annual Conference, Rwanda Provisional Annual Conference and Uganda - South Sudan Annual Conference.
Reconciliation, healing and repentance were the epitome of the conference, and with reconciliation followed promises of a fresh start, uniting and working together for the betterment and growth of the church in the East African Episcopal Area.
Bishop Wandabula, whose message of reconciliation continues to shape his ministry, reached out to the Rev. John Kiviri for this memorable gesture and it was the central message that exhorted the annual conference to be reconciled with God and with one another.
After many years of conflict between Bishop Wandabula and Kiviri — which started with the circulation of anonymous letters and court cases — the long-awaited reconciliation between the two happened when Kiviri was invited for a cabinet meeting of the Uganda/ South Sudan Annual Conference held on 10th August at Humble United Methodist School in Lukoojo village, Mukono district.
Bishop Wandabula recalls that this had a negative effect on ministry in the entire East Africa Episcopal Area and contributed to the current embargo imposed on the East Africa Episcopal Area by the United Methodist Council on Finance and Administration and the Board of Global Ministries. He called GCFA and GBGM to remove the embargo for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There was a visible sign of joy on the faces of the cabinet members when Kiviri joined the cabinet to which he had served for many years as superintendent of the Mukono district. After the reconciliation, Kiviri was re-appointed as superintendent of Mukono.
Both Bishop Wandabula and Kiviri committed to hold a service at a later date to receive all the members of The United Methodist Church who have been working with Kiviri, as well as the new churches that have been planted during this time. There was a call to the church to continue praying for this process until everyone is back in the fold.
Bishop Wandabula said, "I must say that I am very grateful that we were able to reconcile not only as clergy but as friends and brothers. Apostle Paul said that we preach a gospel of reconciliation. This reconciliation has brought peace and healing in my life and in the life of the church."
During the cabinet meeting, Kiviri said he was happy that he and the bishop were able to reconcile, leave their differences in the past and focus on working together to unite the church.
"I am sorry for anyway that I hurt you, your family and church. I thank God that you found it in your heart to forgive me. Let’s leave our differences in the past and focus on uniting the church in the East African Episcopal Area to ensure it grows,” he said as members of the cabinet cheered on.
The Rev. James Mwoho, superintendent of the Busia district, was very thrilled by Kiviri’s humility in returning, telling other cabinet members that he and Kiviri were very close friends who rode bicycles together, went to preach the gospel in different United Methodist churches across the country, and sometimes slept on the floor of those churches.
“The anonymous letters written by Rev. John Kiviri's son against our bishop had put a strain on our relationship. My brother Kiviri, it is good that you have decided to join us again; it is good to have you back my brother,” said Mwoho.
As a public sign of reconciliation, forgiveness and commitment to work together, a forgiveness and healing service characterized by communion, passing of the peace, handshakes, laughter and hugs was organized during the recently concluded third session of the annual conference.
During the service, under the theme “I will arise and go,” the Rev. David Muwaya challenged the leaders present to arise and go meet those in the congregation they have had issues with.
“Forgiveness can only come after realizing you have been hurt, and forgiveness and reconciliation is two-sided. Reach out to anybody you feel you hurt or hurt you, reconcile privately or publicly and forgive them,” he said.
And a number of leaders took the opportunity to publicly commit to resolving their issues for the good of ministry in the conference.
To consummate the reunion between the two, Bishop Wandabula bought a whole cow to celebrate with the rest of the congregation for this special occasion.
The conference was a beehive of activities — among them electing delegates to the 2020 General Conference and Central conference, third graduation celebration for the United Methodist Theological Collage students, ordination of elders and deacons, the commissioning of provisional members, recognition of orders, and recognition of associate members and retiring clergy.
The conference was also graced by guest preacher and speaker the Rev. Stephen Bredesen, a retired ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference USA who now fully ministers with Eagles Nest Ministries in Mengo, a Kampala suburb.
In his sermon, Bredesen asked the congregation whether they know who Jesus is. “Jesus does not waste words. He asks, ‘Who do men say I am?’ No more important question for the people of God than this.”
Bredesen said there is enormous amount of confusion in church even in the denomination of who people are and what they proclaim, adding that “All of us say many good things, but do not say how good Jesus is, and this breaks my heart.”
He affirmed that Jesus Christ is not one of the ways but only way, and source of truth and life, and the church should preach so.
Bredesen also told the worshippers that it is Jesus’ responsibility to build the church, and Methodism should be at the forefront in building the church.
“Our theology is very powerful because it is built on the very word of God. If you want The United Methodist Church to grow, proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. People of God, ministers of the gospel, stand up and say who Christ is. Set it in your mind, proclaim it, confess it and live it,” he said.
Need to establish budgets
Retired Rev. Fred Dearing, who currently serves as the superintendent of the South Sudan district as a full-time volunteer in missions, met with the clergy to discuss budgets. Dearing urged all local churches and district pastors to have budgets in place and continuously run church activities so that in case the donors go away, churches are not crippled.
He pointed out that few churches have budgets, and advised those without to learn from those who have.
“All local churches must have budgets to help you in doing missionary work like helping the widows and orphans, reach out to the sick, the grieving and the hungry,” he said.
On the other hand, he tasked the pastors to be united regardless of their tribes, countries of origin or race and to also share what they have with those in need.
“We need to give, we are created to give, but we keep accumulating. If all of us gave what we can, we could have enough. We do not just keep taking God’s blessings, we are blessed to be a blessing to others,” he stated.
The Conference elected delegates to General Conference 2020. Joyce Jaka was elected lay delegate and head of the delegation and the Rev. Isaac Kyambadde is the clergy delegate. Also elected were 20 reserve delegates (10 laity and 10 clergy).
Bishop Wandabula explained the high number of reserve delegates is insurance if people are denied visas, adding that if that happens, then there can still be good representation at the conference.
Membership stands at 20,253.
Appointed local pastors: 128
Pastors enrolled into Course of study: 20
Pastors reinstated after reconciliation under Rev. Kiviri: 11
Ordained deacons/deaconess: 2
Ordained elders: 17
Ordained probationary elders: 22
Retired pastors: 13
The fourth session of the Uganda-South Sudan Annual Conference will be held in Busia, Uganda in 2020.
— Vivian Agaba, communications officer for the East Africa Episcopal Office of The United Methodist Church in Kampala, Uganda.
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.