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The Seventh General Assembly:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Theme: Troubled, But Not Destroyed
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 1-10
October, 1997
Opening
Ceremonies
The conference was opened with the
welcoming address of President Dr. Negaso Gidada of Ethiopia.
The continental situation, though grim, is not one for despair
said President Gidada. He added that complaining about a
situation does not fix it. The church has indeed been active
in Africa’s democratization, but other continents have not
done enough. Even though Ethiopia has a new constitution, the
President asserted that one country cannot have peace and
prosperity if other countries do not experience security. This
introduced a theme of interconnectedness that AACC President
Desmond Tutu would continue in his speech.
Archbishop
Tutu helped open the 7th Assembly by commenting on the
extraordinary political developments of the last five years –
as well as the AACC’s significant role in them. He drew
attention to a plagued Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan. While much
had progressed in the last five years on the continent, there
was still much the church needed to address. Tutu said
“Freedom is cheaper than repression,” and made mention of the
enormous capacity Africans have shown for forgiveness. Looking
forward, the AACC President talked about Jubilee 2000, a
biblically-based moratorium on debt repayment. He concluded by
asking that colonial remnants not divide the continent.
Taking the stage next, AACC General Secretary Rev.
José Chipenda delivered an opening speech entitled Fire and
Hope in the Horizon. His remarks took a historical
perspective, looking back on the triumphs and tribulations of
the last century.
The 20th century saw the end of
colonialism and the formation of new nations in Africa. Men
landed on the moon, yet not one single sustainable society was
established on our own planet. Entering the new millennium,
Christianity’s center is in the developing world. Therefore it
must carefully consider the following problems:
• Food
supply: “Any people unable to feed itself is not free” (7th
AACC Assembly Report, 1998, p.27).
• Land mines: 1/3 of
the world’s 110 million mines are in Africa. In Angola in
1997, there were as many mines as people. In the past 5 years,
the AACC has risen to the challenges before it by reorganizing
as follows:
• Selfhood of the Church
• Witness and
Service And creating new desks:
• Family Life and
Christian Education
• Theology
• Library and Archives
The AACC also saw regular meetings of its committees,
collaborated with both ecumenical and non-Christian
organizations and streamlined its operations. Commenting on
the unreliable nature of church funding, the General Secretary
contemplated registering the Church as an NGO. He finished by
drawing attention to the growing wealth gap in the age of
globalization. Africa, a nation with half of its population
under 15, must look forward in hope and commitment.
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