A Two-Way Street
Diocesan Press Service. April 3, 1967 [53-2]
A diocese's interest in an overseas area can become a two-way street only if information and understanding flows back to that diocese.
Such an exchange is not easily arranged, however, for many younger churches cannot spare the manpower necessary to interpret their work to American, Canadian, British or other "giving" churches.
These obstacles did not stop the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, however, for the desire for such an exchange was present. The Bishop and the diocesan MRI Committee sent a priest from Pittsfield to Port Harcourt, Nigeria and supported his fact-finding stay there.
As the Rev. Malcolm Eckel was involved in an urban situation in his Pittsfield parish, he was able to appreciate many of the problems of the fast-growing Nigerian seaport and to articulate his conclusions to others.
Port Harcourt is located in the Eastern Region of Nigeria on the Niger River Delta, and, since the discovery of oil, has grown from a small shipping port to a modern commercial and industrial center. Its population has risen from 50,000 to well over 300,000 in the past ten years, for foreigners and Nigerians from rural villages have been attracted by the prospects of oil and quick fortunes.
On his return to the Unites States, Mr. Eckel gave a detailed picture of the needs which Nigerians, and other Africans, felt Americans could best meet.
The Nigerian church leadership, and the leadership of the diverse, ecumenically run, Port Harcourt Project felt that Americans could send experts to conduct sociological studies, train Nigerians for urban mission and inaugurate programs to meet the needs of the new city dwellers. They also felt that particularly promising Nigerians ought to be provided with the opportunity to study in America or England, particularly in the area of urban ministries.
Such opportunities would enable Nigerians to gradually assume leadership positions themselves.
Channels of communications have been opened by Mr. Eckel, for his observations have been shared with his Bishop, the Diocesan MRI Commission, the clergy of the diocese and the Overseas Department of the Executive Council.