2021 East Congo Annual Conference

Led by Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda, the ninth session of the East Congo Annual Conference convened June 13-19, 2021, at Moto-Moto United Methodist Church in Kindu, Congo.

Joining delegates and visitors were Excellency Affani Idrissa Mangala, interim governor of Maniema Province; the president of the Church of Christ, Maniema Province; a representative of the Catholic bishop, Kindu Diocese; and other guests from area Christian and Muslim groups.

The Rev. Collins Etchi Ako, a United Methodist Global Ministries missionary in Congo, preached from John 15:1-5, focusing on spiritual growth.

In a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Unda dedicated the Uni Kindu Methodist orphanage. Built with Global Ministries funding, the new facility is home to orphans formerly living with United Methodist foster families.

Unda also presented self-care kits to 80 women who recently completed more than six months of training and apprenticeship in various trades at the Mama Lynn Center. Pastors’ spouses, survivors of sexual violence and impoverished women learn various trades at the center. Each woman received a reintegration kit, consisting of a sewing machine, 11 pounds of wheat flour, four pounds of sugar, a gallon of vegetable oil and two pounds of caustic soda.

In order to encourage the local entrepreneurship of clergy spouses and others, Unda gave startup funds for women to begin small businesses and provide for their families. Encouraging young people to become entrepreneurs, The United Methodist Church presented a motorbike to a young man launching a taxi service. He was the second person to receive a motorbike. Each recipient leases the motorbike for six months. Funds repaid by each young person go toward the purchase of a new motorbike for another individual.

The COVID-19 pandemic was paramount throughout the annual conference sessions. To avoid contamination between delegates and the spread of the virus, barrier measures were observed. Handwashing devices were placed at entrances, temperatures were taken before participants entered the conference hall, and masks were distributed daily to all delegates. The health department installed a mobile clinic.

Delegates urged all United Methodists of the Congo East Annual Conference to respect the measures taken by the authorities at the country level to fight against the coronavirus and other diseases.

Delegates reiterated their refusal of marriage between people of the same sex and between people and animals. They recommended that women who cannot read and write register and learn literacy and other trades at the Mama Lynn Center. In order to combat the precarious security situation in eastern Congo, delegates recommended that each parent prohibit their children from engaging in armed groups and organized crime.

While no new clergy were ordained, commissioned or granted associate membership, one clergyperson retired. The statistical report was positive, recording increases in all areas: membership, 6,612; worship attendance, 561,313; church school attendance, 50,048; professions or reaffirmations of faith, 4,084; adults and young adults in small groups, 573; and mission engagement, 5,385.

Chadrack Tambwe Londe, French News Editor, Congo Central Conference.