March 28, 2011 issue
West Africans overcome isolation
3 national churches draw closer to MWC
By Mennonite World ConferencePage:
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ACCRA, Ghana — Anabaptists in West Africa are a scattered group who often feel isolated from Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in other parts of Africa and the world.
West Africans take part in a Mennonite World Conference regional workshop in Accra, Ghana. From left are Emelia Amexo of Ghana, Victor Umohabasi of Nigeria, Ruth Anane Zohr of Ghana, Theophilus Tetteh-Akoso of Ghana, Thioro Bananzaro of Burkina Faso and Monday Ekpo of Nigeria. — Photo by Tim Lind/MWC
That reality has shown signs of shifting in the last few months through two events facilitated by Mennonite World Conference: a regional workshop to orient leaders to MWC’s Africa Caucus and a visit by an MWC Deacons Commission-sponsored delegation.
MWC representatives held a workshop Feb. 27-March 1 in Accra to strengthen connections among the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso, Mennonite Church of Nigeria and Ghana Mennonite Church, as well as between them and churches in other parts of the world.
The gathering was the second of four regional workshops in Africa this year designed to build a continental structure called the MWC Africa Caucus.
Composed of MWC member churches in Africa, the body’s mandate is to facilitate relationships among Anabaptist churches, further MWC’s purposes in Africa and bring African Anabaptist perspectives to the global communion. More than one-third of Anabaptists worldwide are in Africa.
Toss Mukwa, a consultant from Congo, facilitated the workshop sessions with support from Tim Lind, an MWC staff person.
Larry Miller, MWC general secretary, in his first-ever visit to West Africa, led the group in discussions on the history of MWC and its transformation over time, the MWC constitution, the roles of MWC General Council delegates, and mutual expectations between MWC and its member churches.
Suffering in Ivory Coast
Three established churches became acquainted with a newer member of the Anabaptist family in the region: the Eglise Protestante Anabaptiste de Côte d’Ivoire.
Its leader, Affouka Eba, spoke of the history of the church, its encounter with Anabaptism and its current suffering due to conflict in the country.
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Comments
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Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ our lord. I read your article and so far as i am a member of the church in Ghana i have a role to play in the church. How can the gap between the Mennonite churches in Africa and the world be bridged? I think there is much to be done especially in Africa. Moreover what are the leaders in Africa doing based on the isolation among them. I was really happy when the general secretary came to Ghana, I don't know what transpired but i hope measures are put in place to solve this problem. More of this workshop should be organized annually and programmes could be organized by African churches to bridge the gap. This means that an executive body could be setup and representative from each country will be on board. Thank you
YEVU KOJO EDEM UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST GHANA
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