The AACC General Secretary, Rev Dr Mvume Dandala, visited member churches of the AACC in northern Africa between March 29th and April 1st to consult with church leaders and general secretaries of the councils of churches. Keeping members informed on change in AACC structure Dandala and his delegation updated the church leaders in the northern region about the new structure of the AACC after the Yaoundé Assembly and the progress made so far in the preparation for the ninth General Assembly. He also reported on the progress of the review of the AACC Constitution. Dandala took the opportunity to invite the Imam, Pope Shenoudal and other church leaders, including the Imam of Egypt to the Assembly which will be held in Maputo, Mozambique in December this year.
A call for interfaith co-operation
During the meeting with the Imam, Dandala said that other than God the ultimate authority, nobody had the right to declare anybody?s religion as fake. He told the El Azar that in his view, all prophets are equal and therefore deserve respect from all irrespective of one?s religion. Rev Dandala said there should be co-operation and unity among different faiths and called on the all people to respect each other?s values. The General Secretary said AACC was open to the acquisition of knowledge about Islam. Sheik El Azar thanked the General Secretary and his group for their courtesy visit.
A full schedule
The delegation also met with the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy See of St Mark, His Holiness Pope Shenoudal III, The Patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Bishop Nicolas Antoniou, Bishop Paul of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Most Rev Dr Mouneer Anis of the Episcopal Church in Egypt and North Africa with the Horn of Africa, Rev Magued Fakhry of the Evangelical Church Synod of the Nile, Pasteur Jean-Teddy Ramaherijaona of Eglise Evangelique au Maroc, Rev Dr Safwat El Bayadi of the Protestant Churches of Egypt and other church leaders.
A courtesy call was also made to the Imam of Egypt, Sheik Sheick El Azar.
Other participants included Rt Rev Andudu Adam Elnail of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Pasteur M Michael Schlick of the Eglise Evangelique au Djibouti, Fr Moses Shafik who is a member of the AACC General Committee, Mrs Joy Kwaje, also a member of the AACC General Committee and Mrs Josephine Kamel Youssef, a Consultation Facilitator.
Accompanying Dandala were senior staff members including the Director of Finance and Administration - Mr Bright Mawudor, the 9th Assembly Coordinator - Rev Dr Japhet Ndhlovu, the acting Director of Advocacy, Research and Communications - Ms Mbari Kioni, Dr Comlan Deh and Ms Vivi Akakpo. Representing the AACC?s North Africa region were the two vice presidents, Rev H E Seraphim Kykkyotis and Rt Rev George Shaker. North Africa member churches included Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Mauritius and Morocco. Due to unavoidable circumstances, the AACC President, Rev Dr Nyansakoni- NKU did not join in the visit.
The AACC delegation attended a church service at the Ard El Golf Coptic Orthodox Church on 30th March. They also had the opportunity to visit some historical sites, including the great pyramids of Egypt.