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The
Sixth General Assembly: Harare, Zimbabwe
Theme: Abundant
Life in Jesus Christ
John 10:10
25-29 October 1992
Speakers and
Presentations
• President’s Report, AACC President
Desmond Tutu: Archbishop Tutu was thrilled to announce that
AACC finances were finally in the black. He also highlighted
exciting political developments on the continent; Namibia had
become independent and Benin elected a government. In the last
five years, the AACC had also worked to:
• Regain
credibility
• Streamline its operations
• Become a
voice for the victims of human rights abuses
• Form a
closer relationship with member churches
• General
Secretary’s Report, AACC General Secretary Rev. José Belo
Chipenda: The General Secretary highlighted many of the same
areas of AACC progress, adding that the AACC had successfully:
• Revamped the Training and Communication Centre
•
Hosted workshops on conflict, peace and reconciliation
•
Completed its home office building in Nairobi
Chipenda
warned against denominational divisions which can hinder
humanitarian efforts. A divided church cannot offer the
nations advice on unity. The Church also needs to improve its
relations with Islam, so the religions can work together –
particularly in the fields of education and medicine.
• Dr. Aaron Tolen, WCC Vice-President: To hope is not
to sugar-coat the harsh realities of conflict and poverty. To
hope is to be open to also see the positive developments on
the continent. He highlighted the strength of Africa, for no
other continent has survived what Africa has – specifically
the Passage. Dr. Tolen concluded optimistically that Africa
had many allies around the world who wish it success in future
socio-political development.
• Pastor Mirana
Diambaye-Ralonolosoa, Senegal: Bringing a perspective from
many women in Africa, the Pastor discussed the disturbing
social trend towards superficial signs of acceptance. She
recounted how traditional societies valued the whole person,
while consumer culture led people to live false, shallow
double-lives. Pastor Diambaye-Ralonolosoa told the Assembly,
“True life in abundance is a life based on being, not on
appearances” (Utuk, 217). She closed by highlighting the need
for a feminist theology in the Church.
• Closing
Remarks, Prof. Kwesi Dickson: Rev. Dickson said that the
issues discussed during the Assembly were not new. In fact the
church may be making some of the problems worse with inaction.
The Reverend challenged the Assembly with the question, “Are
we cold? Or are we hot?” (Abundant Life in Jesus Christ, 1994,
p.83). He referenced examples of how the Church can get caught
up in rhetoric, muting the important voice of protest. He
closed by asking that instead of focusing so much on structure
and organizational detail, the church needs to see itself in
terms of worship.
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