Contact: Connie Nelson
Phone: (404) 727-8880
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NEW YORK, NY -- The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) has authorized the return of most mission personnel to their previous places of assignment within the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), following consultation with the region's three United Methodist bishops. Bishop Onema Fama, Bishop Katembo Kainda and Bishop Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda report that conditions within the country generally have improved, although some areas in the northeast and Great Lakes region--where no GBGM missionaries are assigned--remain unstable. According to the Rev. John McCullough, Associate General Secretary of the Board's Mission Personnel Unit, the decision to redeploy these GBGM missionaries comes after months of consultation with the U.S. State Department, the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), and the episcopal leaders. The decision means that the mission personnel, who have been restricted to work in Lubumbashi, now are making plans to return to work in rural areas. The exceptions are Gail and Stephen Quigg, assigned to Kananga, and Laura and Lawrence Hills, assigned to Kilwa, whose return has not yet been deemed advisable. Missionaries currently in the U.S. for home assignment or medical leave also have been notified that they may return to their places of assignment. Mission families with young children have the opportunity to request reassignment. According to Rev. McCullough, the bishops emphasized that the presence and witness of these missionaries and the vital services they bring to the church and numerous communities is urgently needed. Aviation and agricultural ministries are a major part of a broad mission program in the Democratic Republic. The Board's primary concerns, according to Rev. McCullough, have been for the ability of the church's ministry and mission to prosper, and for the safety of persons serving in remote regions--particularly the children of missionaries. In cases where mission personnel are not yet able to return to their places of assignment, Rev. McCullough emphasized, the church continues to grow and mission is ongoing with local leadership. The United Methodist Church in Congo has a community of more than 1.5 million people, of which 750,000 are financially contributing members. The situation for United Methodist missionaries within the former Zaire has been monitored closely since the first personnel were withdrawn from GBGM ministries with Rwandan and Burundian refugees in Goma and Uvira 13 months ago. It was there in the country's eastern corridor that opposition troops loyal to Laurent Kabila began the successful overthrow of the 35-year government of the late President Mobutu Sese Seko. In March of this year, at the height of the country's civil war, GBGM missionaries were relocated to Zambia or brought to the U.S. for home assignment at the request of Congo church leadership. Essential personnel were returned to Lubumbashi in April, where they have remained until now. According to Rev. McCullough, missionaries temporarily based in Zambia have begun to return to their places of assignment in the Congo. It is anticipated that mission personnel in the U.S. for home assignment or on medical leave will begin returning within seven to 10 days. GBGM Mission Personnel Assignments
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