International BIC Association all about cooperation
The September 12 -13 meeting of the executive committee of the International Brethren in Christ Association (IBICA), set the stage for a new way of relating among and between national conferences of BIC churches. As Thuma Hamukang’andu, bishop of the Zambia BIC Church and president of the IBICA executive committee, expressed in his opening devotional, an international association of BIC churches can have a part in “turning the world upside-down” in the way that God wants. 
The executive committee looks forward to the day when IBICA will be a catalyst for developing common statements on dogma (core doctrines), doctrine (distinctive convictions) and discretionary (non-essential) issues. Additionally as IBICA matures and more conferences join the association, it can help to broker conversations among BIC entities, serving as a clearing house for appeals, a channel of communication, and a means of nurturing trust within the worldwide BIC fellowship. But first, there are basic infrastructure issues to be addressed as the fledging organization takes shape, including: criteria for national and/or general conferences; determining how to fund and staff the new organization; and defining linkages between IBICA and Mennonite World Conference. It was these issues that filled the agenda for the September meeting, which continued the work begun at a March 2006 meeting in Pasadena, Cal. in conjunction with Mennonite World Conference. At that time, the group made the initial decision to change from an informal fellowship to a more structured association. Over the next twelve months, the committee members will seek an official response in writing from the Executive Board of their general conference(s) with a report to or endorsement from the respective general conference—North America (including Canada), Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Asia (Orissa, Bihar and Nepal) and Cuba. At the same time, overtures will be made to BIC leaders in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico, Columbia, southern Africa (including South Africa), Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, and Japan, toward the goal of fostering wider ownership and acceptance of IBICA. In addition to their IBICA business, members of the executive committee met with leaders from BIC congregations in England to help clarify the relationships to and among UK churches and their sponsoring national conference. The committee also met with BICWM staff members Chad and Beth Long, and toured the Operation Mobilization facility. The IBICA executive committee includes: Felix Rafael Curbello (Cuba): Thuma Hamukang’andu (Zambia);Warren Hoffman (USA); Don McNiven (USA); Danisa Ndlovu (Zimbabwe); and Bijoy Roul (India). Hear comments from international leaders regarding the importance of IBICA: |
 |
 |
 |
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Sitemap | Home | Make a Donation
