Africa-Press – Angola. The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, recognized yesterday, in Luanda, the role of the Church in the process of training cadres in the country, both during the period of colonial domination and after National Independence, in November 1975.
Speaking during the ceremony that marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Episcopate of the Methodist Church of the Annual Conference of Western Angola, in the Multipurpose Pavilion of Kilamba, the Head of State said that the country owes a lot to the Methodist Church, for its vision in the formation of cadres, either through the missions built in various locations, or through scholarships granted abroad.
“As a Nation does not live only on faith, but, above all, on the knowledge of its children, we think that the country should be very grateful for the role that the Methodist Church and others played in the formation of cadres during the colonial period, as in independent Angola”, said President João Lourenço at the ceremony, also witnessed by the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço, and the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa.
The Head of State said, by the way, that despite not being a practitioner, he assumes himself as a son of the United Methodist Church, at the same time he addressed wide praise to Bishop Emeritus Emílio de Carvalho, and to his wife, for the fact that they had committed themselves to bringing , 50 years ago, a church currently run by an Angolan.
“We have been following the trajectory of the Methodist Church over these years. We would like to say that we are satisfied with the direction it has been taking”, declared the President of the Republic, who also praised the Church’s delivery to society, as well as the their role in the formation of young people, many of whom today are “great cadres” of their parents.
He recalled, by the way, that in October 1972, when Bishop Emílio de Carvalho was crowned, he had just arrived in Luanda, coming from the province of Bié, to continue his studies at one of the capital’s educational institutions.
Bishop Emeritus Emílio de Carvalho, throughout his sermon, reviewed the different moments of growth of the United Methodist Church in the country, recalling that the historic episcopate of Angolan nationalism was pioneered by Bishop William Taylor, on March 18, 1885.
“The Angolan Methodist Episcopate and the affirmation of the Angolanity of The United Methodist Church in all its aspects, biblical, social, cultural, leadership and financial, which after the first 50 years remains faithful to the fundamental principles of the Bible of World Methodism ”, he stated.
The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Luanda, Dom Filomeno Vieira Dias, took the opportunity to appeal to the union of the faithful and of all churches, stressing that the party that yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the Episcopate of the Methodist Church belongs to all Christians.
“It is a joy to participate in this feast that belongs to all, above all, for the faith that unites us and for the joy that it transmits to the hearts of all”, said the prelate of the Catholic Church, stressing that “in Christ we are one body, one soul and one heart.”
The event, which brought together several Methodist believers and from other religious denominations, was marked by several moments: praise, homage, prayers and the cutting of the cake. The occasion was also used to honor the deceased Bishop Moisés Fernandes.
Offers and tributes
Tributes, offerings and songs marked, yesterday, the commemorations of the 50 years of the Angolan episcopate at the United Methodist Church in Angola (IMUA).
On October 21, 1972, the Reverend Emílio de Carvalho was consecrated to the Episcopate, elected at the Central African Conference gathered in Limbe, Malawi, as the first Angolan to direct the IMUA.
The tribute was made during a Thanksgiving service, attended by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, accompanied by the First Lady, Ana Dias Lourenço, and the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa.
On the occasion, Bishop Emílio de Carvalho, 89 years old, thanked the Church’s commitment, highlighting the contribution of Angolans in preserving the faith in the country.
With the election, Emílio de Carvalho opened the period of native leadership in the United Methodist Church in Angola, 87 years after the establishment of the IMUA, previously led by seven foreign missionary bishops.
In yesterday’s celebration, the bishop of the Methodist Church in Angola, in office, Gaspar João Domingos, said that the church remains firm with the legacy of the former leaders.
During the service, two Bibles were offered: one to President João Lourenço and the other to Vice-President Esperança da Costa.
The Jubilee Bible and the 2023 Liturgical Calendar of the United Methodist Church in Angola were also released.
In addition to Emílio de Carvalho, the bishops Moisés Domingos Fernandes, José Quipungo and Gaspar João Domingos were also honored.
The celebration of the jubilee of the Angolan episcopate took place under the motto “Angolan Methodist Episcopate: 50 years at the service of the Church of Christ”.
The bishop is an elder, set apart for the exercise of a specific administrative task. He is the general superintendent of the Church.
The specific responsibilities of a bishop were set out in the “First Book of Discipline in 1784” and in 1928 the Central Conferences were given the right to elect their bishops.
The United Methodist Church was established in Angola in 1885 by William Taylor and until 1972 it was run by foreigners until the consecration of Emílio de Carvalho, who served for 28 years, retiring in 2000.
With the expansion of Methodism in the East of the country, in 1988 the second Angolan bishop, Moisés Domingos Fernandes, was elected to lead that region, leaving Angola with two Annual Conferences. Currently, the Church is directed by Bishop Gaspar João Domingos.
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