I read in the Sunday newspaper (City Press) in South Africa, Johannesburg about the formation of a "new" church in Washington D.C by the first Black woman Dr.of Divinity called Kalafong ("healing place") A.M.E church. Can you please follow up this story to get the detail - Is this just a special kind of Ministry or a real split within the A.M.E. I am very concerned that we get such "inaccurate" reports from the press without us (members of the church) not having any idea about them. It becomes difficult to deffend. Please help me out!

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2000

Answers

Below is an extract of the article:

Headline: Taking African religion right into the US Date: 000910 Author: By ILDA JACOBS FORMER South African struggle activist and founding member of the Azanian People's Organisation, the Rev Dr Mankekolo Mahlangu-Ngcobo, is starting a church in the United States for people born in Africa. Caption: CLOSER TO GOD . . . The Rev Dr Mankekolo Mahlangu- Ngcobo, seen here at a reception at the South African embassy in Washington DC with Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Bridgitte Mabandla, is founding a new church in the US to cater for African- born immigrants Picture: Cliff Matheson/AENS The Kalafong African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Mission church will cater for the approximately 200 000 Africans in the Baltimore area of Washington DC on the east coast.

Mahlangu wants her church to be a ``God-centric political force'' with enough weight to be able to affect US foreign policy.

``I do not understand how it is possible that Africa in the 21st century could be a continent without progress,'' said Mahlangu, who has been ministering for the past 12 years and is the first black South African woman to receive a doctor of divinity degree.

``God has given the continent diamonds, oil, gold and human resources. I am wrestling with God about that. That is what this ministry is about,'' she said.

Kalafong is a word in Sesotho, Sepedi and Setswana, which means a ``healing place''.

Mahlangu said most Africans in the US were in the country either because they are victims of war or because of economic reasons. Other Africans are mostly students or part of the diplomatic community.

``The church is about how we can sing the Lord's song in a strange country, because this is not our home,'' Mahlangu said.

``The African-born do not relate well to the ministries in America, because of who they are and their context.''

Mahlangu explained she battled with the idea of Christianity as the white man's religion, but she has witnessed how it could transform society if it was God-centered.

Her church will play an active role on issues of immigration, employment and education.

``If we organise Africans, we can become a political force.'' African Eye News Service. ...unquote ..

This is exactly what my point is all about ? ... Now a new Mission church .. if Africans in America feels ostracised from there country men ...we in Africa do not have a snow-ball in hell's chance of ever coming in to our own. Bye, bye indigenous leadership.... People please wake up when .....

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2000

Perhaps it would help the body of Christ if we could begin to make this forum "a healing place." Can you help us to understand what the roots of the dichotomy are? The article states that Africans cannot relate to American ministries. This is too vague. Togheter we must explore both need and solution, and see how we view things differently. Then we can get to the core of the matter - caring for each other, as the Lord has commanded us.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2000

I have a simple question - Is the name Kalafong AME Church cleared by the AME's General Counsel Office? I ask this because the article cited by Clive suggests that the new church seeks a form of denominational independence. THere also seems to be a presumption that the AME Church is no longer sensitive to the needs of Diasporic African men and women. I remember quite vividly the electrifying call by Stokley Carmichael, "Africa for Africans"!! But as seductive as this revolutionary rhetoric is I for one reject the presumption in its application to church matters because a preponderance of the evidence suggests otherwise. I also recall that a similar "breakaway" movement led by the charismatic Catholic clergyman George Stallings in DC during the 80s was met with stiff opposition by Rome. The AME Model may indeed be imperfect in some respects but overall it does attempt to promote ecumenical harmony across continental boundaries. The hymnologist raised the question "Is there a Balm in Gilead"? I say yes and it doesn't require unnecessary seperate movements to acquire it.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2000

Why are you people so insecure? I believe that is about time that we as a Zion and as a people recognize that Black people from the continent of Africa who are immigrants to this country have issues that are very different from those of us who are the descendants of former slaves. Their issues are similar to those of all immigrants and sometimes in our focus on "our" issues we pass over the issues important to African immigrants. The AME church should be big enough to support and encourage healing ministries. When will we as a church wake up and understand that the bullying tactics of the past will not and cannot be allowed to continue. Young people are leaving this church en masse because it has consistently has denied growth for the sake of tradition. It's about time that we AME's started trusting in the Lord.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2000

Perhaps it would be helpful if someone would frame a question. I feel like we're all talking past each other here. I for one am not insecure, just trying to understand what all the issues are: immigrant or otherwise.

Let there be peace in the house.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2000

its refreshing to see that a number of people are interested in the formation of the new ministry. today i will travel to baltimore to observe and record the first meeting/service of the new organisation. watch the press for our report. i also welcome any comments direct to me at juluka@erols.com (washington, d.c., u.s.a.)

-- Anonymous, October 29, 2000

I am very excited about the formation of the Kalafong church, Dr Mankekolo Mahlangu Ngcobo is a dynamic leader who needs our support. I am eager to attend the church service and plan to take some of my seminary studentd to visit and experience this church but I need cotact adress. Wishing you Gods blessing in your ministry. Professor Bonganjalo Goba. Lancaster theological Seminary.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

I am very excited about the formation of the Kalafong church, Dr Mankekolo Mahlangu Ngcobo is a dynamic leader who needs our support. I am eager to attend the church service and plan to take some of my seminary students to visit and experience this church but I need cotact adress. Wishing you Gods blessing in your ministry. Professor Bonganjalo Goba. Lancaster theological Seminary.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001