See Also: Update September 25, 1998

United Methodist missionaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being temporarily relocated to Zambia.

"They will be leaving the Congo on Thursday (Aug. 20)," said the Rev. John McCullough, associate general secretary for mission personnel, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

A rebel uprising has spread in the African country, leading to clashes with the government forces under President Laurent Kabila. Both foreigners and citizens started fleeing the capital of Kinshasa on Aug. 14, unsure that the government could keep the rebels at bay. On Aug. 17, rebels in control of a hydroelectric dam again cut electricity and power to Kinshasa.

Although no United Methodist missionaries are based in Kinshasa, personnel in the country are being moved as a precaution. Since the conflict is restricted to a certain region of the Congo, McCullough said it is not expected to be a long-term relocation.

He added that he had been in contact with the mission boards of the Swiss and Danish United Methodist conferences, which also anticipated pulling their own missionaries out of the Congo.

Some missionaries assigned to the Congo already were out for home leave, vacation or other reasons. Larry Bropleh, a Board of Global Ministries executive, will meet the remaining missionaries in Ndola, Zambia. Those being evacuated include Tom and Elizabeth Ryder, Vivian Woodyard, Tom and Sharon Crowe, Bob Walters, Ellen Hoover, and Dan and Rachel Gabler.

August 19, 1998