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2008-01-08 issue:

Mennonite groups find unity in Congo

Fifty men and women from three conferences discuss new church models.

by Tim C. Lind

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Fifty Congolese from different parts of the world’s second largest concentration of Mennonites gathered in Kinshasa, Congo, Nov. 22-25, 2007, for the first National Forum of the Congo Forum for Conversation, a process facilitated by Mennonite World Conference (MWC) to encourage reflection among Congolese Mennonites about the future of their churches and to reflect on new models for relationships with the global Anabaptist-related community.



Eugenie Muangala, left, and Kasayi Ndakume, right, converse with Jackson Benandumbe at the CIFC National Forum meeting in Kinshasa, Congo. Photo by Tim C. Lind.

The group embodied a diversity that has rarely been seen before at Mennonite church gatherings in Congo. Made up of an equal number of women and men, the participants included young and old lay people and some church leaders. Each of the three Mennonite denominations in Congo—the Congo Mennonite Brethren Church, Congo Evangelical Mennonite Church and Congo Mennonite Church—was represented.

The forum’s major ongoing priority is Congolese inter-Mennonite relationships.

“The group was unanimous in citing this as a matter of central importance,” says Toss Mukwa, consultant to the process and member of the Mennonite Brethren church. “It also came as a great surprise to us as organizers.”

Participants expressed a strong desire for greater awareness of the Anabaptist-Mennonite heritage and values and greater unity and cooperation among Mennonites of the three Congolese denominations. The group also decided on a name change to Congolese Inter-Mennonite Forum for Conversation (CIFC).

“It was a particular joy to experience for the first time a sense of communion and inter-Mennonite fellowship, which I had long awaited,” said Jean Ngolo. “This opportunity offered by MWC allowed my brothers and sisters and me to return to our roots, to our identity and to our values, which have seemed in the past to be only empty words.”

The CIFC evolved from discussions over several years among the Mennonite denominations of Congo, MWC, mission and service agencies with history of involvement in Congo, and churches in other parts of the world interested in developing relationships with Congolese Mennonites. All parties noted that in Congo, as in many other parts of the world, past models for relationships between churches are no longer effective or desirable.

The primary structure of the CIFC is 10 reflection groups made up of 15 people each in 10 different locations around the country. Each group includes Mennonites from all of the denominations in the particular location. For the past year these groups have been meeting quarterly to discuss questions such as these:

• What have you learned from the history of relationships of your church with mission and service agencies, and what were the results of learning this?

• What can Congolese Mennonites bring to the global Mennonite community and vice versa?

• What is the appropriate role or roles for central church leadership in a church where the membership plays an active and engaged role?

• Describe the desired models and roles for future relationships among Congolese Mennonite communities.

The November forum was an attempt to analyze the various groups’ findings and to plan for the second year of reflection group meetings. Four representatives of each of the 10 groups attended the Kinshasa meeting. The CIFC is scheduled to continue for another two years of reflection group meetings and annual fora.

“This gathering was unique because it brought together for the first time members of the grass roots,” said Rev. Germaine Kazadi of Mbuji Mayi. “In observing the atmosphere of our work together during these three days, I was struck by the enthusiasm of the participants. They freely expressed their ideas, and they gave the best of themselves in pursuit of changes between the Mennonite churches of Congo on one hand and the global Anabaptist community on the other.”

Currently the costs of the CIFC process are shared by churches and agencies, including Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, Mennonite Church Canada Witness, Mennonite Church USA, Mennonite Mission Network, Mennonite Central Committee and MWC. Groups are welcome to make use of the CIFC structure and/or findings.

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