Joy, grief and oneness in the Lord

The Reformed family in Uganda meets

Monday February 12 2001

By 5pm more than one hundred participants have arrived from all over Uganda. Pastors, women's leaders, elders, Sunday school teachers and youth from each of the seven Reformed churches find their seats while the musicians - at least two from each church - put the finishing touches to their opening improvisation. Then drums, percussion and voices invite us to praise God who, through the diligent work of coordinator Hosea Nelson Kyasooka and the interchurch planning committee, has gathered together the Reformed family in Uganda to search for new expressions of mission in unity. And with Andrew Muwowo, gifted music enabler from Zambia, we dance and shout out our common conviction: "Oh yes, we're one in the Lord".

Tuesday February 13

Each of the seven churches summarizes who they are and what they regard as their mission today. Few participants are aware of the full spectrum of the Reformed family in Uganda, and the profiles immediately spark off ideas: Perhaps our choir can share in your service some time? Shouldn't we get together as women concerned with violence and abuse? Can our Bible colleges work in a more complementary way than at present? The role-play on the church in Corinth, with all the tensions and dilemmas inevitable in such a diverse group of believers, brings recognition and the question: What would Paul write to us, today, about being "body of Christ" in Uganda? The Reformed presence here is only some twenty years old. What is its specific contribution to Christ's mission here? How best to engage in these tasks together? And what role do overseas partner organizations and sister churches play to foster such united witness? The Kenyan, British, Nigerian, Zimbabwean, American, Swiss, Canadian and Korean visitors attending the consultation become aware of the need to examine existing relations and projects carefully, lest unwittingly they hinder what the Spirit is doing through these pioneering Reformed communities.

Wednesday February 14

While the musicians practise on traditional and modern instruments and study African music and song composition, the rest of the consultation engages with key aspects of the Reformed heritage in Uganda and worldwide. Are we "Reformed" over against others and in isolation, or are we sharing what we love in our tradition with the wider church? To what extent do we allow factors like personality, power, property, pride and prejudice to play a role in maintaining present divisions? Change is never easy, but the delegates interviewed by one of Uganda's main TV channels articulate what many feel as they speak of the growing closeness and the great similarities of teaching, forms of church government and understanding of life in Jesus Christ.

Thursday February 15

How fragile life is! In disbelief and shock we learn that during the night one of us, the Rt Rev Robert Chepkuto, Moderator of the Reformed Church of East Africa [left in the photo, with Esther Kudoyi and David Mahia], has passed away. He was only 49. Two days ago his morning meditation on Nehemiah invited the group to identify clearly what our mission is here and now. Last night he and Dr Jesse Kamau of the other Kenyan sister church present, discussed ideas of strengthening the bonds developed here through a series of fellowship meetings in the Eldoret area. We cannot but take our grief to the Lord in prayer and song. That Robert may rest in peace. That his family and church may experience God's comforting love in those around them. That we all may live out Robert's vision for united witness in East Africa.

The coordinator's summary paper captures the mood: "Through worship, singing, Bible study, exchanging information and discussing issues of common interest we have come to recognize that God, through the power of the Spirit, urges us to leave behind the barriers which separate us and to establish new lines of communication and collaboration. We have heard Christ's call to witness together to the people of our country. Reformed Christians are only a small minority in Uganda but as we strengthen the bond of unity among our churches, our voice may become more credible. Therefore we commit ourselves to common witness and service, to common prayer and worship, to the sharing of resources and support". The ensuing discussion on how this can be given concrete shape and content is passionate.

Friday February 16

The closing day is dominated by further discussion of the areas for proposed common action, like evangelism, community development, care for families affected by Aids and coordinated theological training. The planning committee [above, with Jet den Hollander] becomes the interim committee on the way to the inauguration of an Alliance of Reformed churches in Uganda, hopefully by December this year. As the musicians present their newly composed songs on unity and mission, set to folk tunes in a variety of East African languages, the Uganda mission in unity consultation 2001 ends as it began, with praise and thanksgiving in drumming, song and dance. To God be the glory, great things he has done!

Jet den Hollander, mission in unity project