ECLAS at the Anglican Francophone Bishops’ Retreat
ECLAS was represented by two team members at the Anglican Francophone Bishops’ Retreat in Nairobi this week.
The event was organised by the Francophone Network of the Anglican Communion, the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA), and the Episcopal Ministry (EMAC) team at the Anglican Communion Office.
Prof. Diphus Chemorion, director of the ECLAS Africa hub, and Revd Steve Muneza, ECLAS co-director for global engagement, were both in attendance. Steve presented the ECLAS project as a whole, while Prof Chemorion shared with participants some of the work currently being done by ECLAS Africa.
Revd Steve Muneza and Prof Diphus Chemorion presenting the work of ECLAS
More than 34 bishops attended the retreat; among them were three members of the Anglican Communion Science Commission, Bishop Evariste Nijimbere (Burundi), Bishop Bertin Subi (DRC), and Bishop Jaomandiny Jean-Baptiste (Indian Ocean).
Revd Steve Muneza said: “It was a privilege to be invited to the Anglican Francophone Bishops’ Retreat to share some of the work ECLAS is doing across the world.
“One of the themes that emerged was the role of science in the mission of the church. Several bishops noted that, although the conversation between faith and science has sometimes been conducted in a mutually antagonistic manner, science remains an important gift to churches as they engage with God’s mission in their specific contexts.
“The local languages – Swahili, Lingala, Kirundi, Malagasy, French, and others – in which this conversation happens is central to effective and fruitful engagement. We hope that the work that ECLAS is doing will continue to be a blessing to church leaders and their communities in these contexts.”
Prof Diphus Chemorion said: “On behalf of ECLAS Africa, I welcomed the Bishops to participate in the ongoing research on attitudes of church leaders towards science, and shared with them a draft curriculum on Bible, Science and Development for pastors and lay leaders.
“The Bishops expressed the need to mainstream science lessons in the curricula for training pastors so that they can communicate scientific concepts to their congregations. They also welcomed ECLAS Africa to partner with them.”
More details on the event are available from the Anglican Communion News Service.
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