December 11, 2008

MAPUTO, Mozambique – Former Republic of South African President H.E. Thabo Mbeki will tomorrow, Friday 12th December 2008 starting 2.00 pm, give the closing address to mark the end of the ninth General Assembly of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), at the Plenary Hall of the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre. His speech titled "Call of Africa to the African Church" will be delivered to the estimated 1,400 delegates and other participants who have for the last one week been deliberating on issues related to the continent and the Africa church.

Under the theme "Africa, Step Forth in Faith," the ninth General Assembly of the AACC was officially opened on Sunday 7th December 2008 by the Mozambican president, H.E. Armando Guebuza. During the course of week, the assembly was also addressed by dignitaries including former Mozambican president H.E. Joaquim Chissano and the Liberian Minister for Information, Dr. Laurence Konmla Bropleh, on behalf of President Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf. The General Assembly has been organised into nine sub-themes that represent key development issues that Africa and the African church is presently grappling with. They include entrenching human rights in Africa; from political liberation to economic liberation; spirituality and environmental conservation; Global Pan African solidarity; the church responding to HIV/Aids; Malaria and other killer disease; women as agents of peace, reconciliation and development; youth responding to the challenge for renewal of Africa; the challenge for moral regeneration in the continent and the challenge of urban mission.

The sub-themes were presented in workshop formats that ran parallel to the business meetings of the AACC. In attendance were 173 member churches from 40 African countries and representatives of 72 ecumenical partners from 14 countries.

The media are invited for a press conference after the closing ceremony, where church leaders from all over Africa, including the leadership of the AACC will present recommendations from the General Assembly.

All Africa Conference of Churches