Ecumenical Ministry and Dialogue with other Churches

In the multiplurality of Nairobi, the collaboration among churches and other religions, what we call ecumenism is an important and meaningful ministry.

There are many things that unite all the believers. They share certain values, and the care for those in need. The desire to build a better society is basic to most religions. In the slums as in the rest of society problems are common to all believers, and it is important to come together to solve them for the good of the people.

This is the foundation that brings churches and other believers together. At the level of the country there is the Kenyan Religious Council where the leaders of the different religions: Christian Churches, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs come together to collaborate in certain issues affecting the country and to solve problems wherever there are difficulties.

In Nairobi, since 1994, there has been ecumenical meetings and collaboration, especially between the Catholic St Paul's University Chapel and the Presbyterian Parish of St Andrew's. The first initiatives date from the year 1994.

Twice a year NEG organizes an Ecumenical Round Table on the general theme 'Christian Churches in the City'. Themes previously discussed include: Christians facing modern culture in the city; Poverty - a challenge to Christians; Building Christian solidarity in Nairobi; Politics as a service and Christian responsibility; Spirituality of unity; Social Justice; and Called in Christ to be healing and reconciling communities in Nairobi; God in your grace transform the World (Theme of the 9th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches. - WCC Geneva) ….

In January each year the NEG focuses its activities on an ecumenical prayer service held in turn in the two churches.

The Kibera Ecumenical Encounter
The Kibera Ecumenical Encounter brings together the pastors and representatives of several local parishes and communities such as the Anglican, Catholic, and Evangelical Lutheran parishes, Legion of Mary, several evangelical and Pentecostal communities and the Inter-religious Forum for Peace and Development, and the "African Peace Point" - Kibera .

They invite each other every month during their Encounter, in their local communities and Worship places, to join in Christian brotherhood. In a fraternal spirit they pray and share there common concerns.At their meeting, held on a regular base during the week, they share the Word of God, and Pray for their common needs. In a fraternal way the local news is shared at every encounter.

The core of the Ecumenical Encounter is their pastoral care for their local communities, stressing on some particular issue taken out of a social analysis worked out by "Christ the King Catholic Parish". (See "Parish transformation in Urban Slums. Voices of Kibera" Ed. Paulines 2005)
Spiritual subjects are shared such as "Prayer in a Christian Family", The Word of God in our Worship and Families" .
The regular meetings take place in turn at each of the different communities in an open and fraternal spirit. Info: Fr Jan Lenssen 020- 2717009

The Mustard Seed Ecumenical Network (MUSEN)
MUSEN is composed mainly of the Greek Orthodox Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Catholic Parishes of the Consolata Shrine and Kahawa West, with the occasional collaboration of the Presbyterian Community of St Andrew's Parish and several other churches. The group was born in the context of the Ecumenical Week of Prayer 2003, held at the Consolata Shrine. Their regular encounters led to the mutual visit of different parishes and communities during Sunday celebrations. Recently members of the Network took part in the Spiritual Retreat organized by the Orthodox Church.The youth groups of the churches, members of MUSEN, meet in an inter-church youth get-together around the theme: 'One Body, Many Gifts' (1 Cor. 12:12).The Consolata Parish has a specific committee in the parish council to take care of this dimension of unity among Christian churches in their parish community life. During the Universal Prayer Week, during the daily Eucharist, members of different Church Communities give witness of their Spirituality and Church Life.Info: Ms Catherine Mwango 0722-212073

Umoja Ecumenical Group
Since 1993, different Christian Churches in the Umoja/Buruburu area have joined in a common ecumenical effort and constituted a common programme of seminars and meetings to relate in a real Christian Spirit. THE Umoja Ecumenical Group brings together the Catholic Church - Umoja, the local Presbyterian Church, the African Inland Church, and the Anglican Church. Their Prayer Week is organized in the period of Pentecost, time that seems more convenient for them. They come together during the Prayer Week in different Churches at the beginning and the end of the Week.

The encounters of the local small Christian Communities, every day of the Prayer Week, welcome Christians of other Churches in prayer and sharing of spiritual issues.

They organized several Seminars on Ecumenical subjects and on the improvement of "The prophetic voice of the Church".Info: Mr Michael Munyi: 0722-238557

KOSLA. Korogocho
The Different Christian Churches of Korogocho meet several times a year.
On the 1st of January the organize a Peace pilgrimage to several Churches. The Prayer Week for Unity a an other opportunity to meet each other. The Catholic Parish brings several pastors together in mutual fellowship. Info: Fr Daniel Moschetti 0733-70972

Kahawa West Ecumenical Group
The recently founded Kahawa West Ecumenical Group (1995) brings together during the Universal Prayer Week for Unity in January the local Churches open to Encounter and Fellowship. They are planning ahead and foresee regular initiatives during the year. Fraternal contacts improve mutual understanding and collaboration.Info: Fr Franco Cellana. 0722 - 52 3978

Regular 'Ecumenical Encounters'
2. The Ngong Road Ecumenical Encounter is the expression of a Christian neighborhood relationship among the pastors of the seven Christian communities between the two roundabouts of Ngong Road, from the City Mortuary up to Adam's Arcade.
In their meetings the participants read together the Word of God, share their prayer intentions and enter into more personal insights and pastoral questions. The encounters forge a real fraternal spirit among them, and since four years mutual knowledge and friendship brought them near to each other.Info: Fr Jan Lenssen 020-2717009

3. The Africa Refugee Programme (ARP) offers a real spiritual dimension and practical assistance for refugees coming from the Great Lakes. A specific ecumenical care and attention is part of the Programme.
In daily life, the refugees are sharing their sufferings and joys in a Christian way, but for their worshipping they became aware of the separation according to their respective religious belonging. That is the reason they started regular meetings of sharing and formation to know each other and to reinforce their solidarity.

The need for a fraternal acceptance of all in communion became one of the themes of their daily activities.

In their pastoral programme and meetings they stress unity and acceptance among themselves and express this occasionally through using the spiritual traditions in their common prayer celebrations of the different churches they belong to.

III. Parishes
Several local Parishes prepare an ecumenical service during the Universal Week of Prayer for Unity, and organize common ecumenical services in turn.

In some parishes Holy Week is an occasion for a real Christian Encounter, for example: palm benediction and a common procession that leads the different communities to their local Church. The Way of the Cross is sometimes a common devotion between some Churches.The mutual invitation to assist in 'mixed marriages', funerals … , is another way of building mutual relationships and recognition in fellowship. Schools and Hospitals are a common ground for understanding and collaboration in an Ecumenical Spirit.Cooperation among Justice and Peace Groups is another way to relate in fellowship and brotherhood.