African Methodists pledge to speak out against injustice

Key points:

• Africa Methodist Council conference heads pledge to be catalysts for transformation and speak out against social injustices.
• Bishops Ande I. Emmanuel, Daniel Wandabula and Rosemarie Wenner represented The United Methodist Church at the meeting.
• The summit deliberations centered on youth unemployment, migration issues and the underutilization of technology for mission and service, which pose significant challenges to Africa’s socioeconomic development.

Heads of Methodist denominations in Africa celebrated their churches’ impact on healthcare, education infrastructure and spiritual and ecclesiastical development while committing to speak against social vices that threaten people’s dignity.

The bishops and their representatives acknowledged the important role played by the church especially in health and education with several of The United Methodist Church’s hospitals (Mutambara, Nyadire and Old Mutare) and schools (Africa University and Nyadire Teachers College) in Zimbabwe among the spotlighted institutions.

In a statement crafted, the 55 leaders who attended the historic Africa Methodist Council heads of conferences meeting May 14-18 in Togo pledged to speak out on issues affecting the continent. “The summit therefore declares that the church in Africa cannot remain silent while the dignity of God’s people is threatened. …

“The Gospel of Jesus Christ calls the church not only to preach salvation but also to stand prophetically for justice, peace, truth and holistic human dignity,” the statement said.

The summit deliberations centered on youth unemployment, migration issues and the underutilization of technology for mission and service, which pose significant challenges to Africa’s socioeconomic development.

Delegates recognized the growing realities of poverty, corruption, armed conflict, unconstitutional changes of government, insecurity, religious extremism, environmental degradation, gender injustice, moral decline and the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

In his opening address Africa Methodist Council president, the Most Rev. Paul K. Boafo of the Methodist Church Ghana, said the gathering — held under the theme “Called to Transform the Sociopolitical and Economic Landscape of Africa” — encouraged Methodist leaders to integrate their Wesleyan calling with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 themed “The Africa We Want.”

The African Union is an organization made up of 55 countries to promote unity, cooperation and development on the continent. It is the successor of the Organization of African Unity, which was founded in 1963 in Ethiopia.

“In embracing this mission, we commit to being catalysts of renewal, champions of justice and architects of hope, rekindling the sacred fire that stirs both faith and nations towards a flourishing future,” Boafo said.

Bishop Ande I. Emmanuel of The United Methodist Church’s Nigeria Episcopal Area, which includes the districts of Senegal and Cameroon, told UM News that the African church is reclaiming its prophetic voice.

“One of the strongest messages from the summit was that the church in Africa must no longer remain silent in the face of corruption, injustice, violence and bad governance. Church leaders emphasized that the Gospel requires speaking truth to power and defending the dignity of the poor and vulnerable,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Emmanuel said Africa’s future is filled with hope.

“The gathering affirmed that Africa possesses enormous spiritual, human and natural resources and that, with God’s help and responsible leadership, Africa can rise into a future of peace, prosperity and justice.”

United Methodist Bishop Daniel Wandabula, who leads the East Africa Episcopal Area, said what struck him at the gathering was the strong sense of unity and shared vision.

“The summit reminded us that the church must remain both spiritually grounded and actively engaged in addressing the social, economic and moral challenges facing our continent,” he said.

“I was particularly encouraged by the emphasis on youth empowerment, digital ministry, economic sustainability, women’s leadership and environmental stewardship. The gathering showed that Methodism in Africa is growing stronger, more collaborative and more mission-focused.”

He believes the summit will have a lasting impact by strengthening cooperation among Methodist churches across Africa and helping position the church as a prophetic voice for justice.

George Agyekum Donkor, president of ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, said African Methodists possess one of the richest spiritual and social traditions in Christian history.

“But tradition alone is not enough. Tradition without mission becomes nostalgia. Tradition without innovation becomes preservation. Tradition without relevance becomes a museum instead of a movement,” he told delegates and observers.

Donkor encouraged church leaders to engage with governance systems.

“There is a difference between political partisanship and prophetic responsibility. The Methodist tradition has historically produced principled leaders who shaped society through education, justice, discipline and ethical governance. That legacy must continue.

“We need Methodists serving on school boards, local assemblies, policy platforms, judicial institutions, anti-corruption initiatives and national leadership structures. We cannot continue to criticize leadership while failing to raise credible leaders,” he added.

Donkor urged the church to embrace technology, artificial intelligence and digital communication as young people were already living in digital spaces.

“The question is whether the church will meet them there with truth, wisdom and discipleship,” he said. “The Gospel message remains eternal, but the methods of communication must evolve.”

Retired Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of Germany, who serves as the Council of Bishops co-ecumenical officer and Geneva secretary of the World Methodist Council, attended the African heads of conferences meeting for the first time this year.

She said the gathering gave her a better understanding of the purpose, structure and culture of the Africa Methodist Council.

“For the United Methodist ecumenical witness and work, AMC and other regional Methodist Councils are important vessels to engage in the world regions where we are present as we implement the regionalization legislation in the follow up of General Conference 2020/2024,” she explained.

Regionalization gives The United Methodist Church in the U.S. and church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines the same decision-making authority.

“The AMC is a fairly young regional Methodist council, yet very active and ready to improve structures and programs to fulfill its purpose to work together in mission and ministry,” Wenner said.

She said she would take home the call of African Wesleyan leaders to work together as Methodists as called to serve in solidarity with the poor and marginalized, to improve the transformational ministries of Methodists in education and health, to work with children and youth in a continent with 60% of the population being under 18, and work toward good governance, among other duties.

Wenner said she enjoyed the opportunities to listen, ask questions and learn more about the history, the current work and future plans of Methodist churches in Africa.

“I again realized how blessed I am to be part of the Wesleyan family: One of the beauties of Methodism is that our connection is not defined by national or continental boundaries. We believe that the whole world with all its people and creatures is loved by God,” she explained.

“Therefore, my heart was warmed as we discussed possibilities for local relevance and for global cooperation within our Methodist family and with ecumenical and interfaith partners.”

The Rev. Martin Mujinga, Africa Methodist Council general secretary, said the summit was a time for business, fellowship and strengthening one another as leaders of conferences in Africa.

Delegates discussed and made suggested changes to the Africa Methodist Council constitution, which will be submitted for approval by the group’s General Conference in March 2027 in Zimbabwe.

Mujinga said Christianity has shifted its demographics to Africa and the gathering of the Africa Methodist Council leaders is a testament to these new trends.

“Methodism has grown in Africa, with the council having many families of Methodism operating in Africa. The gathering of leaders brings together the voices, theology and ecclesiology to coordinate the sociopolitical and economic landscape of Africa.”

Chikwanah is a UM News correspondent based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

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