Key Points:
- The Rev. Kongolo Clement Chijika died April 12 in South Africa.
- Chijika had suffered briefly from cancer.
- Chijika was president of the Methodist University of Katanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a delegate to General Conference.
The Rev. Kongolo Clement Chijika, president of the Methodist University of Katanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a delegate to General Conference, died April 12 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was 68. The cause was cancer.
Chijika “was a great GBHEM partner and friend, a true United Methodist leader and a gifted African educator,” said the Rev. Greg Bergquist, top executive at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The agency confirmed Chijika’s death.
“With his passing, he leaves a great void in his homeland, his university and his church in the DRC and worldwide,” Bergquist added. “In this hour of loss and mourning, we celebrate his life and legacy and express our deepest condolences to his family and community.”
A well-known United Methodist leader and educator in Africa, Chijika studied theology at the Mulungwishi Mission of The United Methodist Church. After earning his doctorate in theology at Laval University in Quebec City, he returned to the DRC, where he worked as a professor of Old Testament, dean of the School of Theology and then president of Methodist University of Katanga.
Chijika was born April 3, 1957, in Dilolo, Democratic Republic of Congo. He was the third born in a family of 14 children, including three sets of twins, said his daughter, Sheka Appoline Olenga.
“Our dad was a wonderful husband, an amazing father, a faithful servant and a friend who showed respect and honor to those in his life,” Olenga said, representing her siblings. “As his children, we have always known how much our dad loves us, but nothing in this world brings more joy, love and peace to children than to see the love your dad has for your mom.”
Chijika was active in the Africa Association of United Methodist Theological Institutions, the Africa Association of Methodist Institutions of Higher Education (serving as its president from 2019 to 2023), the Commission of the Central Conference Theological Education Fund and the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities. He collaborated with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries on various projects in Africa and other parts of the world.
“Though the Rev. Kongolo was dean, professor, treasurer, president and Central Conference education and ministry leader, I knew him as friend, caregiver and brother in Christ,” said Tom Stanton, general counsel at the Texas Methodist Foundation and Wesleyan Impact Partners, who has done missionary work in Africa.
“He and I laughed when I told him I learned French so that I could better learn from him,” Stanton said. “One of my many fond memories was standing to his left surrounded by our Congolese- and U.S.-based mission team one year and translating for him into English as he spoke the words of the Gospel and led us in worship and Holy Communion.
“That evening and in so many ways, he was my pastor.”
Chijika faced challenges at his work at Katanga Methodist University in Mulungwishi, including COVID-19 and rising grain prices, Stanton said.
“Though we often talked and interacted through the miracle of digital communication, each year a tired group of doctors, nurses and development folk would arrive at night in Mulungwishi,” Stanton said. “There was the Rev. Kongolo standing on the road into Mulungwishi, surrounded by a hundred or more other saints to greet us with prayer, song, laughter and encouragement.
“I think that the Rev. Kongolo looked forward to those moments as much as I did to see the surprise and joy and encouragement among all as we began — even for a moment — to learn to love each other with the love of Christ a bit better.”
Funeral services were held in Lubumbashi, DRC, at Kasangiri Cemetery.
Survivors include wife Musolo Kalingwishi Godlive; mother Ihemba Ndona; children Ihemba Dona Ngandu, Kalingwishi; Anny Kalingwishi Kapundu; Kabeya Emmanuel Kongolo; Kapeshi Flavier Kongolo; Kapeshi Flavier Kongolo and Sheka Appoline Olenga; grandchildren Merdi Kongolo, Samuel Ngandu, Ian Kapundu, Gabriel Ngandu, Dan Kapundu and Tim Kapundu; and his siblings.
Patterson is a UM News reporter in Nashville, Tennessee. Contact him at 615-742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.
