Tearfund photo |
Adapted from Anglican Communion News Service
The Archbishop of Congo, the Most Rev. Henri Isingoma, has stepped down, the Province de L’Eglise Anglicane du Congo (Anglican Church of Congo) announced today. Archbishop Isingoma, who is also Bishop of Kinshasa, plans a health-improvement break and will return to academia.
His resignation comes three years before the completion of his second five-year term of office and seven years before the usual retirement age of 65 in the Anglican Church of Congo. He has previously served as bishop of Katanga and Boga.
“He has worked hard [and] contributed so much to the Christian unity, transparent and apolitical management of the Anglican Church of Congo,” said the Ven. Anthonio Kibwela, provincial secretary.
Kibwela said that Archbishop Isingoma has worked to develop the province’s management for “effective growth and its viability” and that he has built “missionary partnerships” with churches and organizations of the Anglican Communion, the Church of Christ in Congo, and the Ecumenical Council of Churches.
“He had always expressed his interest for the joint initiative of the Anglican Church of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda with the Association of the Catholic Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEAC) to establish peace in the Great Lakes’ region,” Kibwela said. “He and his wife, Madam Mugisa Isingoma Godelive, have been involved in fighting against gender-based violence since 2004.”
The Rt. Rev. Funga Lambert, Bishop of Kisangani and dean of the province, will convene a meeting of the House of Bishops in May for election of a new archbishop.