Bishop representatives of A.M.E.C.E.A, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, met in Nairobi from 3-5 September. A.M.E.C.E.A has eight country members: Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia, Malawi, Eritrea and Sudan and two affiliate members: Gibuti and Somalia.
Many central themes will be discussed at the meeting: The Instrumentum Laboris, the “work document” which will guide the synodal assembly; current tendencies in society and their influence on the evangelisation mission; the strategies that the Church can adopt to reach people’s hearts and new frontiers of communication.
The President of Kenya’s Episcopal Commission for Social Communications, Mgr. Martin Kivuva, had a great deal to say on the last topic: The prelate gave an interactive presentation on the importance of priests being “friends” of the mass media and not escaping from new technologies. “If we do not take part in communication - Mgr. Kivuva stressed - we will be swept away by it.”
Hence the call to introduce communication courses in seminaries, to prepare future priests for interaction with and use of mass media in the work of evangelisation.
“The Church today - Mgr. Kivuva concluded – must be where the mass media is.”
Among those present at the meeting in Nairobi was the Vice-President of A.M.E.C.E.A, Mgr. Emmanuel Obbo, who is also Bishop of Soroti (Uganda).