AMECEA - Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa

PASTORAL DEPARTMENT AND JUSTICE AND PEACE DESK

Established in 1994, its purpose is:

to offer inspiration and support to pastoral departments of AMECEA churches.
to facilitate the exchange of ideas, research, efforts, pastoral experiences and initiatives with sister churches.
to identify pastoral problems and propose relevant pastoral strategies and policies. This is achieved through visits, meetings, seminars and publications.

The Pastoral Department is headed by Rev. Fr. Joseph Kato.

AMECEA Pastoral Department
P.O. Box 21191, 00505 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (+254-020) 2 444 935/854
Email: pastoral@amecea.org

Since the last plenary in Dar es Salaam 2002, the Bishops incorporated the following three desks under the Pastoral Department.

1. JUSTICE AND PEACE DESK

Promotes Justice and Peace in society and in the Church and works towards a change of unjust structures as part of the evangelising mission of the Church.

Established in 2002, the JP Desk works towards:

The establishment of a network of the Justice and Peace Commissions in the AMECEA region and the formation of a Global African Justice and Peace network.
Capacity building and supporting the formation of new Justice and Peace Commissions where they do not exist yet.
Formation programs on Justice and Peace and Social Teaching on the Church, in order to create awareness on these issues and foster a commitment.
Building a culture of peace and working towards the resolution of conflicts in the region.
Developing and fostering a Spirituality of Justice and Peace.
Fostering the commitment of the Church and Christians to live the preferential option for the poor.
Lobbying Regional and International Organizations, to make the voice of the Church heard on issues influencing the life of the people in the AMECEA region.
Networking and supporting the JP Commissions and dioceses working with Refugees.
Formation of Pastoral Agents working with Refugees.
Giving information on and analyzing issues related to Justice and Peace affecting the region.

The Justice and Peace Desk is headed by Rev. Fr. Jude J. Waweru

AMECEA Justice & Peace Desk
P.O. Box 21191, 00505 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (+254-020) 2 013 363
Email: justiceandpeace@amecea.org

2. APOSTOLATE TO THE NOMADS OF AMECEA (ANA)
Established in 1976, it aims at evangelizing to the pastoralist people, nomadic or semi-nomadic.

It is a particularly demanding task because of their unique way of life, social organization, culture in general and of their traditional religion in particular. It deserves therefore a particular attention from the local churches. ANA's office of the AMECEA has been an expression of this attention to the church in East Africa.

3. COUNCIL OF THE LAITY FOR EASTERN AFRICA
This desk is in charge of COLEA (Council of the Laity for Eastern Africa) re-established in 1997. Its aim is:

to assist and encourage the laity to understand and fulfill their evangelizing mission.
to promote dialogue between the laity and Bishops, priests and religious in order to build up the church as a family.
to foster human and Christian formation and technical training of the laity.
to encourage the exchange of information/experiences among the AMECEA laity.