The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) has announced that the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and all of its member churches will host the conference’s assembly, 12th general assembly, and 60th anniversary celebrations .
It is the first time in history that Nigeria will have the honor of hosting Assembly, according to Dr. Israel Akanji, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the AACC, and Rev Dr. Fidon Mwombeki, General Secretary of the AACC, who announced this in a press conference yesterday.
The historic event, with the theme “The Love of Christ Compels us,” is scheduled to take place in Abuja from November 17 to 23, 2023, he stated.
“This 12th assembly is not only a celebration but also a testament to the growth and cohesion of the Christian community in Africa since the idea of the AACC was conceived 64 years ago in Ibadan, Nigeria. There is no question that the All Africa Conference of Churches remains the broadest and most inclusive ecumenical organization on African soil.
“The assembly will be a great space to strengthen the ongoing efforts in addressing the complex issues facing the African continent and the entire inhabited universe, as well as to seek out new biblical and theological perspectives to help us complete the task at hand.
“The assembly’s business session will also review the organization’s mission and primary areas of focus until the next assembly in 4 years in another African Country.
“We acknowledge the complex issues facing our continent in the areas of conflict and peace-building, economic development and poverty alleviation, human rights and social justice, and religious freedom and interreligious co-existence. We are deeply concerned about the sporadic occurrences of coup d’etats and military takeovers, and regret that this is still an option in our continent,” he said.
Akanbi further said that while they do not condone in any way the high rate of corruption that manifests in many political circles on the continent, thereby condemning military coups and rejecting them as an option that is befitting for the African continent at this stage of its development.
“We believe that dialogue – both political and interreligious – is always the best option towards justice. We also wish to counsel our African countries not to mortgage the future of the continent by the humongous amount of loans being received at the moment which has enormous negative consequences for the coming generations.
“AACC and its member organizations and churches in Nigeria believe that faith and dialogue are powerful tools for change. As such, we are committed to playing a pivotal role in the continental efforts towards eradication of militancy and all forms of violence.
“Instead, peacebuilding, religious tolerance, economic development, and poverty alleviation are to be vigorously pursued. We shall also champion human rights and justice for all, the economy, and ecological conditions of the earth which includes respect for the purity of our lands, forests, rivers, seas, and oceans.
“This upcoming Assembly will welcome 600 delegates from about 43 Countries and it hopes to house cutting-edge theological insights from Christian leaders across Africa on these pressing issues,” he said.
