The 56th session of the North Katanga Annual Conference convened July 5-8 in Kamina, the capital of Haut-Lomami Province. Presiding was Resident Bishop Mande Muyombo, North Katanga and Tanzania Episcopal Region.
More than 500 pastors and lay delegates from the conference’s 13 ecclesiastical districts (Kanene, Kamina Cité, Kamina Ville, Kimé, Kitenge, Kaniama, Kayamba, Katongola, Kilubi, Lubiayi, Lubiji, Nord-Baluba and Lwembe) participated. The theme, “Enlarge the place of your tent” (Isaiah 54:2), served as a shared slogan for both the North Katanga and the Upemba annual conferences.
Sessions took place in the “Ville” local church building, which is still under construction. This venue choice was made by Muyombo and realized through the efforts of the Ville local church pastors, the conference treasurer and the Kamina Ville District superintendent. The structure, built solely through contributions from local church members, accommodated congregations from both Kamina Ville and Kamina Cité, as well as delegates from the 13 districts. It stands as a symbol of self-reliance and a call to mobilize funds for the building’s completion.
The opening worship service featured a colorful procession led by choirs selected from the two Kamina districts, an orchestra and the group Bana ba Zebende.
In his address, the bishop presented the episcopal region’s 2027-2031 strategic plan, centered on the church’s mission, its new vision and the continuation of self-propagation, self-sufficiency and self-determination. This vision, the bishop noted, is already active among the members through church construction and an unwavering commitment to God’s work. Muyombo also expressed gratitude to God for 10 years of episcopal ministry.
Delegates heard and adopted reports from 19 commissions: Evangelism; Administration and Finance; Church and Society; Laity Affairs; Health; Ministry; Christian Education; Higher and University Education; Christian Stewardship; Youth Council; Women’s Ministry; Men’s Ministry; Archives and History; Development; Pensions; Worship and Music; National Education; Property Administration; and Aviation and Communication. Several recommendations were included in the 2026 conference’s document of wishes and resolutions.
The Aviation and Communication Commission recommended strengthening training for communicators and establishing a special fundraising day to support aviation operations. The Development Commission recommended that a mandatory plot of at least 2.5 hectares (6 acres) be set aside for food security in every district that has a farm.
The conference took the following actions regarding pastoral ministry: one deacon ordained; eight itinerant pastors; four elders consecrated as pastors; five pastors retired; one pastor placed under observation; three suspensions issued; one suspension lifted; one sabbatical granted; three pastors declared deserters; and three district superintendents completing their terms of office (in Kitenge, North Baluba and Lubiayi districts).
The promotion of gender equality was a highlight of this session. Clergywomen were appointed to three positions: episcopal secretary, administrative secretary in the bishop’s office and conference evangelist, the latter succeeding the late Pastor Mbayo Mwepu Maxime.
Delegates — including youth, women and men, both clergy and laity — also elected representatives for the 2028 General Conference, which will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
July 7, the day The United Methodist Church worldwide celebrates the ministry of women ordained and consecrated as pastors, coincided this year with the 56th session proceedings in Kamina. Under the leadership of Muyombo, women ordained to pastoral ministry in North Katanga marked this dual occasion — including the 70th anniversary of this ministry — with a special service praising God and honoring the Rev. Mutombo Ilunga Kimba Rose Espérance. She was the first woman ordained as a pastor in The United Methodist Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Communications Department distributed polo shirts and bags printed — in Swahili and French — with The United Methodist Church's new vision: “Love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously
The session concluded with words of appreciation to the conference secretariat, the catering service, the protocol teams and delegates now sent forth to expand the space of their own tent.
— The Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau, head of the communications team for the North Katanga, Upemba and Tanzania conferences.