Eighth Plenary Assembly – 2007
The eighth plenary assembly of IMBISA took place in Luanda, Angola from 20 to 27 July 2007, with 83 participants including non-bishops. The theme of the 8th Plenary was Good governance for Development, which was a logical follow-up to the 2004 plenary theme on Self Reliance.
Archbishop Buti Tlhagale on good governance
Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI, President of IMBISA (Photo: Southern Cross)
Archbishop Tlhagale, the president of IMBISA pointed out that the theme of the plenary would help Church leadership and the people of IMBISA to deal with the major challenges of the region, which include wars, the need for respect for life, integrity, the need to raise the standard of living of the people and the need for closer collaboration in the region. Through communal discernment, IMBISA can respond to these challenges and provide moral leadership for the region.
SECAM commends plenary theme
Fr. Terwase Akaabiam, the 1st deputy secretary general of SECAM, commended the plenary for choosing the theme. It confirms the recognition of and the concern for the persistence of maladministration and its incapacitating power in Africa. He called on the Church to muster courage for positive confrontation and making her prophetic voice heard on issues affection the people, such as corruption, mismanagement and lawlessness.
Propaganda Fide Prefect reminds IMBISA of its nature
Cardinal Ivan Diaz (Photo: infovaticana.com)
Cardinal Ivan Dias, the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of the Peoples conveyed the blessings and greetings of Pope Benedict XIV to the Bishops of IMBISA. He pointed out that IMBISA has the primary aim to serve communion and mission among the bishops of Southern Africa.
On implementing strategic action plans on self-reliance
The bishops pointed out the lessons drawn from the episcopal conferences’ experiences in the three years since the previous plenary on self-reliance. It remained a priority to conscientise clergy and laity to develop a sense of ownership of the Church. Good governance will continue the move towards self-reliance.
Remembering deceased members
Archbishop Buti Tlhagale in his presidential address on the first working day remembered the members of IMBISA who had died since the last plenary. They were Bishop Paul Mngoma, Bishop Mansuet Biyase, Bishop Dominic Khumalo, Bishop Michael O’Shea and Bishop Hans Brenninkmeijer from SACBC, and Bishop Alberto Setele from CEM.
Plenary resolutions
Here are some of the resolutions adopted by the plenary assembly. Each episcopal conference is to
- Do strategic planning and implement the key areas identified as important for the establishment and maintenance of good governance in Church and society.
- Promote participation by everyone at all levels and encourage formation of the laity, in order to involve everyone in a dialogical process in building consensus.
- Revisit formation programmes in seminaries and houses of formation enabling ‘servant’ future leadership in the Church in IMBISA region.
Mpinda Port of Soyo
On Thursday, 26 July 2007 the participant had a trip to Mpinda Port of Soyo where the first Catholic Mass in Southern Africa was celebrated by six missionaries on 3 April 1491. During that mass, an Angolan Christian, Mani-Soyo and his son received the sacrament of Baptism.
New IMBISA President
Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi CSSp (Photo: Vatican News)
The plenary assembly elected Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi of Lubango as the new president of IMBISA.
Sources
IMBISA. 2007. Report of the 8th IMBISA Plenary Assembly: Good governance for development. Luanda, Angola, 20 – 27 July 2007. Harare: IMBISA.
On synodal journey for 50 years
In celebration of the golden jubilee of IMBISA, formed in 1975, we publish snippets of history once a week.