As the Anglican African Bishop’s Conference held in Entebbe, Uganda, drew to its close on Sunday, 29^th August, 2010, there was little left for discussion on whether the African church is ready to unlock its potential to secure its future in the mission field. The writing is clear on the wall - the church is yearning for mission with arms wide open.

“In Sudan, we need empowerment and capacity, not money.” said Most Rev Daniel Deng, Sudan's new (Primate) Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, (ECS).

His counterpart,  Most. Rev.  Henry Isingoma from D.R. Congo called on mission agencies to respond to various grass-root initiatives in Congo such as Catechist’s training and to respond to the needs of about 80,000 displaced persons in North Kivu Diocese.

As Africa rises to fight poverty, disease, hunger, war and its aftermath - majority of the dioceses felt the need to explore Business as Mission (BAM), bio-gas, solar energy, land development, and training of mission personnel – wholistic mission packages that CMS Africa is ready and willing to offer.

CMS Africa’s ‘sermon’ on the 'model' church that showcased Machakos Diocese as an empowered church, was well received by the bishops. Many began to see how an empowered church can be of great importance in transforming the community.

“I have over 20 acres of trees in my own land,” said Bishop Joseph Kanuku of Machakos Diocese in Kenya as he summed up the presentation by CMS Africa’ Executive Director Dennis Tongoi. “I hope to plant over a million trees before I die.” He concluded.

The role of a shepherd leader was also highlighted. In his sermon, the Most Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, challenged the bishops to ‘come down’ to the level of the people; to shepherd and listen to their flock so that the messages they preach is real and relevant.

One could not help but gaze about this hugely significant gathering – drawing bishops from dioceses in as far as Cairo in Egypt,  down to Cape Town, South Africa, and to the Indian Ocean dioceses in the Island nation of Madagascar. Little wonder,  Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni saw this as an opportunity to lash out at African religious leaders about their inability to tolerate one another like Jesus said in his parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10: 25-37.

“In this country, barely 11 years after the missionaries had set foot; the Protestants and Catholics fought and killed each another. You are a Christian and I am whoever I am, so what? Let’s learn to live with each other.” he echoed as his opening remarks.

For CMS Africa and other mission agencies engaging with the church and the community, it is now clear that the task ahead is great – the goal is to transform individuals, communities and nations. CMS Africa and the Church Mission Society (CMS) worked as a team in this conference.

According to CMS' Trans-Cultural Manager Stephen Burgess, "The conference was for All Africa Bishops, yet CMS was influential in the presentations and emerging discussions. This helps us to reflect more about CMS and CMS Africa's roles in supporting the church, but in a pioneering way and that people -  Mission Partners and Champions  are a valuable resource."