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Religion Forum Index » Christian Methodist Forum » UMNS: mission strategies for Africa, Latin America
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 Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:25 am |
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Delegates to consider mission strategies for Africa, Latin America
Apr. 6, 2004
By United Methodist News Service
In Angola, the United Methodist Church was the first denomination to
establish schools for young people.
In Honduras, 12 new United Methodist congregations were established
during the past four years. Other new Methodist congregations have been
developed in Colombia, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
To continue such vital mission work, special programs for Africa and
Latin America and the Caribbean are being proposed to delegates at the
2004 United Methodist General Conference. The denomination's top
legislative body meets April 27-May 7 in Pittsburgh.
Recommended by the General Council on Ministries, the programs have been
endorsed by others in the denomination, including directors of the
United Methodist Board of Global Ministries during their March 22-25
meeting. Funding will be provided through the budgets of participating
church agencies.
The "Holistic Strategy on Africa" focuses on the needs of the church in
sub-Saharan Africa. United Methodists are present in 21 countries south
of the Sahara Desert.
"United Methodist disciples in sub-Saharan Africa are committed to and
involved in the evangelistic and humanitarian spectrum we identify with
Wesleyan spiritual holiness," according to the "Report and
Recommendations for Themes, Missional Priorities and Special Programs."
Recognizing rapid membership growth as a blessing, the report also
points out that such growth "places heavy responsibility on the
leadership of the churches, increasing the need for trained leaders,
clergy and laity. It also requires increased activity to nurture members
and empower them in witness and outreach that now defines their
discipleship," the report said.
The United Methodist legacy in Africa includes the establishment of
primary and secondary schools, seminaries, Bible colleges, hospitals and
clinics, as well as Africa University. In 2000, the denomination's
Council of Bishops initiated "Hope for the Children of Africa" to help
address critical human needs on the continent, as well as the needs of
the church.
Primary goals of the Holistic Strategy on Africa are to assist the
African church in strengthening and expanding its witness and ministry
and strengthening connections among annual conferences of Africa, Europe
and the United States.
The $35 million estimated cost of the special program for Africa for the
next four years would be funded from budgets of participating agencies.
Another $8 million in funding from agency budgets is requested for the
"Holistic Strategy on Latin America and the Caribbean."
MARCHA, the church's Hispanic/Latino caucus, is urging delegates to
consider mission programs that respond "to the growing number of
impoverished persons in the Caribbean and Latin America, with women and
children being the most affected."
Churches in the regions serve as prophetic voices as well as advocates
for justice and the preservation of human rights, the caucus said. The
complex relations between the United States and Latin American/Caribbean
countries "demand a closer working relationship between the churches in
the United States with the churches in the Caribbean and Latin America
to amplify our effectiveness in our prophetic witness."
Besides poverty, other social concerns include the use of child labor;
the suffering caused by political and economic turmoil; and the
treatment of Afro-Latin, Afro-Caribbean and indigenous peoples.
"The dethroning economic and political contexts increase the demand for
social assistance from the churches in the Latin America and Caribbean
region," the report said. "Regretfully, most churches are suffering
financial crises similar to those that their countries are experiencing.
For example, in Argentina, pastors' salaries are not paid in full, even
if they serve large congregations."
The mission strategy calls for church agencies to coordinate their
efforts with the Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin
America and the Caribbean (CIEMAL), representing 19 countries; the
Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas and other Methodist
churches and ecumenical organizations in the region.
********************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org |
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