Led by Bishop Daniel Onashuyaka Lunge, the Central Congo Annual Conference took place under the theme “Stop and Know That I Am God” from Aug. 4-11 at Lumumbaville (Wembonyama) in the Sankuru province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The delegates were joined by retired United Methodist Bishop David Kikumba Yemba and Chief Wembonyama VI, a local traditional chief whose ancestor had made an alliance with the American Methodist missionaries who came to the region in 1914.
During the conference, Yemba developed teachings on regionalization, disaffiliation, homosexuality and marriage for the delegates.
He also explained the organization and functioning of The United Methodist Church, starting with the local church, the circuit, the district, the annual conference, the central conference and the General Conference.
Delegates asked questions related to the topics and the bishop helped clear up misunderstandings and shed light on the misinformation spread on social networks concerning resolutions taken by the General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier this year.
Chief Wembonyama also took the floor to explain the links that unite The United Methodist Church and the Wembonyama Chiefdom, where American missionaries established a Methodist mission in 1914.
Wembonyama explained to annual conference delegates the route taken by the American missionaries led by Lambuth Kabengele (Bishop Walter Lambuth) before arriving in Wembo-Nyama and being received in 1914 by Chief Wembo Nyama I, who had granted them space to set up one of the first Methodist missions in Congo.
“I’m telling you this story to tell you that the chiefdom of Wembo-Nyama remains attached to the values advocated by The United Methodist Church, which has brought us change since the arrival of white missionaries in the time of our ancestors,” Wembonyama said. “Whatever movements The United Methodist Church may go through, we will never betray the covenant that unites us to this church.”
Conference delegates voted to support regionalization when the amendment approved by General Conference comes before annual conference voters next year. Regionalization, which aims to give The United Methodist Church’s different geographic regions equal standing in decision-making, needs at least a two-thirds total vote of all annual conference lay and clergy voters to be ratified.
Central Congo delegates also reaffirmed their support for the unity of The United Methodist Church, but expressed their disapproval of same-sex marriage and the consecration of openly gay clergy, as well as homosexuality within The United Methodist Church.
The annual conference has planned several initiatives to foster the church’s self-empowerment from the bottom up within the framework of regionalization.
To support these initiatives, delegates voted for each member of the congregation to contribute $1 USD per year to enable The United Methodist Church and the episcopal region of Central Congo in particular to develop.
The delegates also voted in favor of splitting the Central Congo Annual Conference into two annual conferences, in view of the large number of delegates attending its meetings and the distances that some people travel under difficult conditions to reach the venue.
Delegates also voted in favor of the Book of Discipline of the Congo Central Conference, approved at the 2018 special session of the Congo Central Conference held in Kolwezi, to be used in the episcopal region. When they meet next year, Congo Central Conference delegates will have the chance make adaptations to the Book of Discipline coming out of this year’s General Conference.
The delegates passed a resolution opposing holding an election at the forthcoming central conference to vote in a new bishop to head the Central Congo Episcopal Area. This would enable Bishop Lunge, who has already begun his second term, to complete his program and vision for the development of The United Methodist Church.
General Conference approved a plan to add two more bishops in Africa, increasing the number from 13 to 15 on the continent where the church is growing. The legislation adds one bishop to the current Congo Central Conference, bringing the total to five.
No pastors have retired. Only one pastor was ordained elder and promoted to superintendent in the Upper Lomami Ecclesiastical District. Fifteen others were received as associate members.
The statistical report was positive, recording increases in some areas: Membership stands at 730,266. Church attendance is 730,266. Confessional school attendance stands at 45,800. Professions or reaffirmations of faith for the year stand at 67,104. The conference saw some 70,050 adults and young adults in small groups for the year and 81,289 worshippers involved in the mission.
— François Omanyondo Djonga, communicator for the Central Congo Annual Conference.