Congolese Anglicans, Europe Convocation explore partnership opportunities
Episcopal News Service. February 26, 2008 [022608-01]
Matthew Davies
Bishop Pierre Whalon of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe embarked on a February 6-15 mission trip to the Anglican Province of the Congo to seek possibilities for forging companion relationships, stir up interest in the upcoming meeting of the Anglican Communion's Francophone Network, and deliver funds collected from the Episcopal Church's bishops for Congo Archbishop Fidèle Dirokpa's transportation.
The Anglican Province of the Congo includes nine dioceses in Congo's Republic and Democratic Republic, two neighboring countries in Central Africa. Congo-Kinshasa, a former Belgian colony, makes up the Democratic Republic, and Congo-Brazzaville, a former French colony, forms the Republic.
During his nine-day visit, Whalon said he was struck by "the contrast between the countries' extraordinary wealth and its peoples' extraordinary poverty; and the faithfulness and joyousness of the people and clergy, with their bishops."
"The Congolese put me up in the best hotel in Kinshasa, an ivory tower of wealthy people insulated from the squalor right at the front door," said Whalon, who could not continue to stay there. "It reminded me of what the white colonizers did to the country," he added, noting the millions of people murdered in the late 19th century under the rule of King Leopold II of Belgium.
Whalon asked Dirokpa to relocate him to a residence near the archbishop's home. "It was a vast change to live like they do, and I continue to mull over the experience," said Whalon, who was visiting the war-torn country for the first time.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's civil war has claimed four million lives since 1994 and is largely recognized as the bloodiest conflict since World War II. In 2006, the country held its first multi-party elections since independence in 1960, but fighting still continues in the east.
"Congo is incredibly wealthy in natural resources, yet the people live on an average of less than $1 a day," said Whalon. "Corruption severely hampers the development of a market economy. And one thing is for sure: the colonizers are still at work; most recently, the Chinese."
The Anglican presence in Congo, formerly known as Zaire, was established by Ugandan evangelist Apolo Kivebulaya in 1896. Following independence in 1960, the church expanded and formed dioceses as part of the Province of Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and Boa-Zaire. The new Province was inaugurated in 1992 and changed its name in 1997.
The Convocation of American Churches in Europe is a jurisdiction of Episcopal parishes, missions, and specialized ministries serving in eight countries of Europe and central Asia.
Whalon, who has served as bishop of the Convocation since 2001, said Congo's Anglican province lies in the largest French-speaking country in the world and "has spread from one solitary Ugandan missionary in Boga to well over 500,000 Anglicans in both Congoes -- with very little help from outside."
"Unlike the Nigerian, Ugandan, or Kenyan Anglican provinces, which inherited mission structures from their missionaries, the Congolese began at square one -- with one man -- and with everything done in French," he said. "They receive help from the Congo Church Association, and from other friends, but overall they have grown by their own efforts."
Despite this growth in the face of such adversity, "it is clear they have done as much as they can with what they have," Whalon said, noting that most of their clergy are virtually unpaid. "They need help to achieve the next level of growth and development."
Whalon said he encouraged Congolese Anglicans to be proud of what they have accomplished, and "rather than ask for aid, to develop projects in mission for which they seek partnerships."
During his visit, Whalon was seeking a possible companion diocese relationship between the Anglican Province of the Congo and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe. None of Congo's nine Anglican dioceses currently has a companion relationship, he noted, urging dioceses throughout the Anglican Communion interested in developing such partnerships to contact Suffragan Bishop of Kinshasa and Provincial Secretary Jean Molanga Botala.
Whalon has already started to imagine some of the benefits of forming such partnerships. "We could help the dioceses create revolving loan funds for their parishes," he said, acknowledging the difficulties people encounter when trying to buy land since there is no credit market in Congo. "Even a small fund of $30,000 would enable the Diocese of Kinshasa, which includes all of Congo-Brazzaville, to expand significantly. Money goes a long way in Congo."
Whalon also delivered funds to purchase a car for Dirokpa and another vehicle for Boga Bishop Henri Isingoma. Some parishes in the Congo stretch for distances of 124 miles, causing logistical difficulties for clergy and bishops who are expected to travel throughout the region supporting their parishioners.
In his capacity as vice president of the Francophone Network of the Anglican Communion, Whalon also hoped to generate interest in its July meeting in England. "The four million francophone Anglicans need to gather resources for education and evangelism -- we have virtually nothing in French other than the Book of Common Prayer and the Bible," he said.
During a 2007 visit to the Episcopal Church Center in New York City, Dirokpa shared sobering perspectives from his war-torn country and was eager to explore ways in which to collaborate with the Episcopal Church to assist future development in Congo.
Episcopal Relief and Development has worked with the Diocese of Katanga to combat malaria and HIV/AIDS in the region and the Episcopal Church has provided financial support to the province in urgent situations throughout the war. The Office of Anglican and Global Relations sends regular appropriations to the province and the United Thank Offering has provided several grants throughout the years.
Whalon was advised not to travel to Bunia because of political unrest in Kenya and the need to change planes in Nairobi. He hopes to return to the east of the Congo in the future.
In the meantime, he has promised to help the province procure a healthy supply of French translations of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, "and to serve as their ambassador," he said.