WCC head assesses ecumenical challenges with leaders of historic African-American churches

The HIV/AIDS pandemic, peace processes and reconstruction efforts in Africa, the role of the United States as the only global superpower, as well as ecumenical challenges and the 2004 focus on the US of the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) Decade to Overcome Violence were among the issues addressed by the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia at a gathering of 16 leaders of the historic African-American churches.

In Africa, "the scourge of AIDS is devastating communities, ripping apart the social fabric and having dire economic consequences". But HIV/AIDS "is not an 'African problem' and it is not affecting 'someone else'. It is killing our brothers and sisters, our parents and pastors," said Dr. Kobia

"We must do our part, and that begins with being informed and sharing the facts. But it also means the commitment of our churches to speaking the truth, acting with compassion, and challenging our governments to fulfill their moral obligations in the face of millions of unnecessary deaths each year," he added.

The meeting, held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on 8 March 2004, was attended by heads and senior representatives of the following churches: African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Christian Methodist Episcopal, National Baptist Convention of America, National Baptist Convention USA, and Progressive National Baptist Convention, as well as members of the Black Churches' Liaison Committee.


Kobia praised the churches involved for having been "in the forefront of planning and of launching the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) in the United States," and expressed his hope that the DOV, which during 2004 is focusing on the US, will resonate with African-American congregations and people. "If the Decade is to be more than a nice slogan and a pile of meeting reports, it will depend on your churches and on your leadership," he said.

The on-going peace negotiations in Sudan, the difficult situation in Zimbabwe and the question of Muslim-Christian relations were among other issues Kobia mentioned in relation with a continent that "has been a major concern of the Council since the 1998 WCC Assembly in Harare". He shared his hope that African-American churches will continue monitoring to ensure that the substantial funds for Liberian reconstruction committed by the US administration "actually materialize".

"The challenge of living in a world with one dominant superpower" was also addressed by the WCC general secretary. "US policies, as you know, have consequences far beyond US borders," he said. "As an African, I can understand the anger that so many ordinary people feel at the arrogance" of the US administration, he added.

While recognizing that it is sometimes difficult to encourage US churches to challenge their government "without sounding like we are bashing the United States", Kobia insisted that "US churches, including African-American churches, have a heavy responsibility" that goes beyond their borders. "We know you are working to confront your government. We want to be supportive of your efforts and to encourage you to do more," he said.

In the field of the challenges faced by the ecumenical movement, Kobia pointed to the growth of denominationalism while the support for conciliar ecumenical bodies declines, and to the need to find ways to prepare the next generation of ecumenical leadership. He challenged the gathering to find ways in which the African-American churches "could not only be active in the ecumenical movement but could assume a position of leadership".

Hosted by African-American members of the WCC's central committee Bishop McKinley Young, Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith, Rev. Dr Staccato Powell, and Rev. Dr Tyrone Pitts, the gathering offered an opportunity for heads and senior representatives of the historic African-American churches to express their commitment to the ecumenical movement and their support of the WCC. The invitation to the WCC general secretary to meet with them took advantage of Kobia's presence in the US to participate in the Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice - an annual ecumenical gathering sponsored by a broad range of US churches and faith-based coalitions.

The following representatives of the historic African-American churches participated in the 8 March meeting in Washington DC with the WCC general secretary:

African Methodist Episcopal Church
Bishop Vinton R. Anderson

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Presiding Bishop George W. Walker, Sr.
Bishop Clarence Carr
Bishop Milton A. Williams
Rev. Dr. Staccato Powell

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Presiding Senior Bishop Marshall Gilmore
Presiding Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart
Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr.

National Baptist Convention of America
Bishop G. J. West
National Baptist Convention USA
Rev. Dr. William J. Shaw
Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith
Rev. Dr Robert Scott Jones
Rev. Dr J. Wendall Mapson, III

Progressive National Baptist Convention
Rev. Dr. Major L. Jemison
Rev. Dr. Tyrone Pitts
Rev. Dr John Mendez
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Source: WCC