Dennis Tongoi, executive director of CMS Africa, and Tim Dakin, general secretary of CMS, sign the memorandum of understanding (Photo: © CMS)CMS and brand-new CMS Africa pledge to “take up cross together”
A new voice can be heard in African mission this Easter.
Speaking loud and clear, and in its own accent, CMS Africa aims to bring a fresh and African-led agenda to the work of global mission.
Born out of the 210-year-old Church Mission Society (CMS), which planted many of the Anglican churches on the continent, CMS Africa is now set to take the lead in implementing the vision for mission in Africa.
As an independent non-profit organisation registered in Kenya and governed by an all-African board of trustees, there is no question of who is now in charge.
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“We hope this will actually be a new beginning that will bear much fruit for the kingdom,” said Dennis Tongoi, the Kenyan executive director of the new agency.
The CMS Africa office in Nairobi, Kenya, is already a busy hub for a number of partner organisations involved in equipping Christian leaders for mission.
CMS Africa sees its mission as “envisioning, mobilising, and equipping leadership for God’s mission, through the Church in Africa and beyond.” It functions in a role of catalyst and consultant, aiming to “multiply models of excellence”.
The new agency signed a memorandum of understanding in February with CMS based in the UK, and the two agencies pledged to continue to work closely together.
“We have a shared vision,” said Canon Tim Dakin, general secretary of CMS, “but when it comes to mission in Africa, Africans must call the shots.”
For Dennis Tongoi too, it was a moment of optimism: “It’s actually the beginning of a new process of mission in Africa, from the church in Africa to the global community.”
For supporters in the UK, he said, practical details need not change. British mission partners will continue to work alongside African churches at their request and British supporters could still donate to mission in Africa through CMS in the UK.
“I think this is a new era for CMS and it represents a deepening of partnership,” said Tim Dakin at the signing of the memorandum.
“Together as CMS and CMS Africa we will seek to follow Christ. We will take up our cross and we will believe in him for the resurrection and I think we will see lives changed as we share Jesus.”