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November 2, 2006
Special Report:
United Methodist Council of Bishops
Maputo, Mozambique November 1-6, 2006
By Stephen Drachler
Mozambique President Praises, Challenges United Methodists; Urges
Church to Establish University in East African Country
Mozambique President Armando Emilio Guebuza opened the Council of
Bishops meeting on Nov. 1 by praising the church’s role in the
transformation of his nation and challenging it to commit more resources
in the struggle to overcome poverty.
More than 300 bishops, spouses, and local United Methodists filled a
Maputo convention center assembly hall to open the council’s historic
meeting. This is the first council meeting ever held outside U.S.
territory.
In a worship service sparked by the energy of three Maputo area
choirs, the bishops celebrated the church’s 160-year presence in Africa
and its broad influence on the continent’s religious and civic life. The
highlight of the event clearly was the presence of the president, a
Presbyterian who demonstrated a deep knowledge the United Methodist
presence throughout his nation and a close friendship with the nation’s
bishop, João Somane Machado.
Guebuza said the church’s commitment to social justice created the
conditions that helped Mozambique become an independent nation and begin
to tackle its poverty. Mozambique was a Portuguese colony for 470 years.
It became independent in 1975.
“This church has contributed to the rescue of our self-esteem,” he
said, adding the United Methodist Church helped Mozambicans “gain the
awareness that colonization was not a fact of life. As we learned that
foreign domination was not a fact, I hope Mozambicans will also learn
poverty also is not a form of divine punishment and can also become
something of the past.”
He praised United Methodists for seeking a “culture of peace” and
helping the nation develop water resources to battle poverty and
malaria, and called for a continued partnership with health and
education initiatives. Saying education is the key to overcoming
poverty, he specifically asked the church to create a new university in
Mozambique.
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, of Houston, president of the Council of
Bishops responded, with a smiling understatement: “I believe His
Excellency has given us a challenge for our work this week.” She said
the church’s partnership on education and health initiatives would be
taken to a new level.
She told the gathering that the council’s meeting in Maputo
“expresses solidarity, partnership and continued prayers for you and all
the people of Mozambique. It is our honor and privilege to be here
during this time.”
Huie presented Guebuza with a resolution that included a pledge that
the denomination would continue “to promote the welfare of Mozambique”
and promises of prayer for his continued leadership of the nation.
The Rev. Arlindo Romao, Maputo East District Superintendent told the
welcoming gathering that “it was hard to describe the joy we feel when
we heard for the first time in the history of the United Methodist
Church that the bishops were meeting outside the U.S. and they chose our
country. Not Europe or Asia but they chose Africa and our country of
Mozambique.”
Romao said United Methodists in are “happy and proud to see that you
are here and we see that what we were hearing is a reality. Welcome to
our house that is your house.”
“Please see us as only beginners, as pioneers in this task, and if
you return, you will see we are doing even better.”
Council Meeting Is National News throughout Mozambique
The global gathering of United Methodist bishops is big news
throughout Mozambique.
Television, radio and newspaper reporters from the national news
corps covered the opening of the council’s meeting at the national civil
center. Stories from the meeting were on the evening news.
Thursday’s main Maputo newspaper featured a quarter-page sized photo
of Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, president of the Council of Bishops,
greeting Armando Emilio Guebuza, president of Mozambique during
Wednesday’s opening worship service. The headline said “Poverty Not
Divine Punishment.”
Children Add Spice to Council Presence in Mozambique
The sounds of young people are vibrating off the walls of hallways
and eating areas as the Council fills the Avineda Hotel during this
week’s meeting.
A number of active and retired bishops took advantage of the
opportunity to visit Africa by bringing children, grandchildren, and a
niece to the meeting. Retired Bishop Herbert Skeete and his wife,
Shirley, brought two of their grandchildren. Bishop Ann Sherer brought
her grandson. Bishop Thomas Bickerton and his wife, Sally, brought two
of their sons, and Bishop Minerva Carcano brought her niece.
The young people are participating in worship and spouse and family
events. While missing school back in the United States, they are
completing homework assignments, and doing special work. At least one is
writing a daily journal to take back to school.
For more stories and pictures, log on to
www.umc.org.
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e-HUM Announcement copyright
2006 by Indiana Area United Methodist Communications.
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