National Council of Churches in Kenya verses the Coalition Government

( I am making me a steam pudding first... watch this space)!

Death of Anglicans(nism)?

Fr. Bruce's ( a fellow rapporteur at Lambeth 2008) entry Rumours of our death... provides useful insights for answering this question. (picture of the rapporteurs at Lambeth 2008)

As the conference draws to a close, it is clear that the diversity within the Anglican Communion is a challenge and an opportunity. We share a common mission and vision. Moreover, we are bound together by a sacred Baptismal covenant - one that cannot be undone (not by human beings/disciples of Christ). At the same time, the Communion is made up of autonomous but interdependent provinces (recognising their different cultural and mission contexts). We find our centrality in the generous LOVE poured on us by GOD, which we are commanded to offer /share with one another - mutually.

And as many of us will appreciate, diversity has its challenges; but we do not disconnect from our brothers and sisters just because we disagree with them! Instead, we establish processes and procedures that facilitate an on-going conversation/dialogue. However, this should not be understood to suggest that every question will be answered (eventually) and every conflict/disagreements resolved. The process may serve to open up new revelations and/or even lead to other difficult but necessary questions. The most important thing is that we respect each other, listen to each other, recognise our interdependence, shared identity (Anglican Identity), and affirm our shared doctrine - that we are in GODS MISSION. The process ensures/will ensure that we create more open channels of communication in order to hear the many voices within the Communion. Challenges of living in diversity is not new to the CHURCH OF CHRIST! We need to seek God more in contexts of prayer and theology.

And when all these is said and done, we are and will stay in COMMUNION.

Because UNITY and MISSION are intimately connected....

(Archbishop Rowan lunching with the Rapporteurs and Facilitators)

Midweek!

I know most of you are curious to know what is going on at Lambeth 2008.

Well, it is midweek (Wednesday) and my mind, body and soul is between two worlds... monday blues and the weekend :)

The dialogue between bishops at Lambeth 2008 is too.... my position as a rapporteur at the conference only allows me to disclose that much at this time...

watch out for more...

Public Policy and Church - Budget I

Three months ago, the Kenya finance minister presented a 2008 Budget I now regard theoretical.

Perhaps under different circumstances, this document would have been considered reconstructing.

Read almost immediately after the Post-Election violence that rocked the nation (leading to over 1000 loss of lives, leaving children, men and women homeless), Kenyans anticipated the budget with wounded and broken hearts. Inflation and broken trust between ethnic groups were some of the many issues the country was facing.

Accordingly, Kenyans awaited a budget that would at least put food on their tables, focus on creating jobs to the thousands of unemployed young adults, and empower men and women. A budget that would at least redistribute the wealth enjoyed by a minority - about 20% of Kenyan population. And one that enhances Kenya’s global competitiveness.

At a glance, the 2008 Kenyan budget was impressive. Ideally, it is what Kenyans had hoped. But could they trust the government to implement this otherwise brilliant document?

overview

Titled "Working together to build a cohesive, equitable and prosperous Kenya" - the budget showed a strengthened role of state to improve the welfare of her members. This document was based on realistic priorities of lowering the levels of savings and investment; increasing level of productivity in agriculture and industrial sectors; lowering unemployment especially among the youth; reducing high incidents of poverty; and closing the gaps in regional development.

Highlights

• Ensuring that businesses (especially small businesses run by majority of the population) thrive and that owners gain from them – micro-economic stability.


• Allocation of more funds to improve ICT through the creation of BPO; and the government’s commitment to address the rural-urban digital divide through the National Fibre Optic Network - in partnership with the private sector.


• More funds towards enhancing internal security.


• The finance minister dedicated almost a ¼ of the budget to address youth-elder disparity. He proposed to create employment opportunities for the youth. (he however ignored the gender dimension of youth-elder disparity. Soccer is still largely a ‘boyzone’(minister proposes and allocate funds for a National Football Competition). other proposals included: Reviewing the Armed Forces Act; creation of a National Youth Council; increase Youth Enterprise Fund; create more Youth Empowerment Centres; enhance access to Youth Fund; Support middle level Technical Colleges; creation of eco-villages; and accessibility of recreational sporting facilities to Kenyans.


• Improving Household welfare through zero-rating VAT on wheat four, maize flour, milk, bread and rice (main meals for ordinary Kenyans).


• Construction of low-cost housing for the urban poor.


• Improving quality of both primary and secondary schools, and their accessibility. Recruiting of additional secondary and primary teachers is long overdue (The idea of adopting teaching internship programs to utilise trained teachers before they can be absorbed by TSC cannot be over emphasized.)


• Allocating more funds towards orphans and vulnerable children and elderly persons.


• Zero-rating VAT on motorcycles with engine capacity of up to 250cc.


• Exempt import duty on all gymnasium equipment for use in hotels to increase tourism hotel occupancy (does this mean well equipped gyms attract more tourists?)


• Reducing import duty on cement from 40-25 percent.


• Exempt import duty of telecommunication equipment.


• And of course a relief of interest on mortgage facilities provided by NHC.

If this budget is/was fully implemented, it is/was one that Kenyans certainly need(ed).

Three months later, food prices (the ZERO RATED) remain the same, infact hiked. BUT the Kenyan MPs are instead more concerned about protecting their allowances from being TAXED than seeing to it that the 2008 budget is honoured.

What is the Church saying or doing to keep the policy makers on toes? To make sure our congregants are whole in every way? Are we well equipped to be part of the policy making processes?

conscience of society....

The Churches' 'calling' to be conscience of society is immense, I must say, but one that is biblically mandated.

In March 2007, I attended TEAM 2007 (Towards Effective Anglican Ministry). This was a conference organised by the Anglican Communion to discuss the role of the Church in the campaign and Advocacy for the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Anglicans from all over the world met in context of prayer and theology to share and discuss views on specific social issues; and renew the churches commitment and capabilities to respond to God’s call to service in the 21st century. In other words, take the Churches' ministry outside the pulpit/pews and Church buildings - to the market place.

A similar commitment was demonstrated by about 650 Anglican Bishops attending Lambeth Conference 2008. The bishops, their spouses, ecumenical guests and friends (including the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown) particpated in a 'Walk of Witness'. The Communion joined other voices in keeping the promise of halving poverty by 2015. The walk was based on Micah 6:8 which is a call for justice - inclusion, empowerment, mercy and faith. this verse is key to the Churches' involvement in social justice.

Social Justice is central to the mission of the Church. In some contexts (i.e. Kenya), the Church is probably the only social institution existing at the grassroots. As one friend rightly says, 'In the village, Churches are even more than tiolets' (I know that sounds 'yucky' for some of you - but is the truth). If the Churches took this bilblical mandate seriously, then why is it that it at the grassroots that majority languish in poverty?

The Church needs to be well equipped in order to actively and appropriately participate in issues of social justice. This process of empowerment goes beyond attaining biblical interpretation skills, pastoral counselling skills and Church history. Ministry in the 21st century challenges the Church- both as an institution and a community of faith to adopt a multifaceted framework of mission and evangelism......

A framework that takes into consideration existing and emerging mission contexts. For Anglicans, some of these contexts includes relating to people of other faiths (i.e. Ecumenism), HIV/AIDS, responding to Emergencies, ministry to Migrants, Refugees and Displaced People, Young People, Reconcilliation, Response to Decline (in all spheres), Growth, Economic Viability, and Christian Values.

A framework that relate to (and is true to) concrete experiences of the many collectivities in society - be it Women, Youth, People Living with HIV/AIDS, Children..... but first, we need to be aware of the experiences of these individuals and/or groups.....

(to be conntinued)

GONE TO SLEEP :P

Introducing a new blog!

This new blog is part of my doctoral research (a motivation to keep it updated) on Church and Society. I guess that means it is open for sharing topics and things that concerns the Church and its mission to human and non-human beings (the Created).

Specifically, i look forward to sharing on the prophetic role of the Church - a broader understanding of the role of Churches in public life.

Besides the traditional understanding of prophetic discourse as that of spelling out luring visions of the good society, and of offering courageous public criticism, prophetic discourse in pluralistic society is challenged to engage in technical and policy discourses as well.

Open to share from our different contexts!