Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry in international development has a particular focus on the situation of women and children affected by armed conflict. The people of DR Congo, within the wider Great Lakes region, have been acutely affected by over two decades of conflict. During this time the Anglican Church of Congo has remained alongside its communities. When government and NGO services have ceased, the churches stay in their local areas, continuing to provide pastoral care and health and education services in the most challenging of contexts.
The Archbishop of Canterbury follows the situation in DRC closely, and speaks out with the Archbishop of Congo on issues of peace and justice. The Archbishop’s International Development Secretariat (IDS) visits DRC regularly and supports the churches in their response to peace and development issues. The recent focus has been on sexual violence and HIV. IDS has worked with other NGO and UN partners to assist the Church in Congo to respond to these issues in their local communities. The Church adopts an integrated approach to HIV, encompassing prevention initiatives through its schools and churches, treatment programmes through its health facilities and pastoral care and support through its community outreach.
The Anglican Church of Congo has initiated a specific initiative to combat sexual violence, used as a weapon of war in the conflict but now becoming endemic within communities. The Church has established the Women’s Union for the Advancement of Peace in Society, which works in collaboration with the Mothers’ Union. It works to prevent sexual violence through raising awareness of the laws that punish perpetrators and to support survivors of sexual violence through care programmes and by sensitising communities to challenge related social stigma.
The IDS works to facilitate support for the social development and peace building work of the Anglican Church of Congo. The Archbishop of Canterbury regularly advocates for peace and for the protection of children and women from the impact of conflict and social disruption.
Recent items relating to the Democratic Republic of the Congo are shown below:
July 2012
House of Lords: Archbishop asks about Democratic Republic of Congo
19 July 2012
In the House of Lords on Thursday morning, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, asked a supplementary…
December 2011
In Congo or in Croydon, God is there for us
24 December 2011
The following article by Archbishop Rowan Williams was published on Christmas Eve in The Times newspaper,…
November 2011
Archbishop's Advent letter to Anglican Primates
30 November 2011
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sent the following Advent letter to the Primates…
July 2011
Into the Heart of Africa - Church Times article
1 July 2011
Earlier this week, the Archbishop of Canterbury made a pastoral visit to the Church in north-east Congo,…
June 2011
Archbishop returns from the Congo
27 June 2011
The Archbishop of Canterbury today returned from a pastoral visit to the Anglican Church in the Democratic…
Archbishop to visit Congo and Kenya
17 June 2011
The Archbishop of Canterbury is to embark on a pastoral visit to the Anglican Church in Eastern Congo…
April 2011
Archbishops of Canterbury and Congo Urge for Global Action on World Malaria Day 2011
25 April 2011
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, and the Archbishop of the Democratic Republic of the…
March 2011
'Silent no more': Faith leaders, aid agencies and the church speak out against sexual violence
21 March 2011
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, today welcomed senior church leaders and international…
November 2009
Statement on DRC violence from Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop of Congo and Bishop of Winchester
19 November 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Congo and the Bishop of Winchester…
December 2008
Archbishop's response to the catastrophe in Congo
3 December 2008
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Commissioner Betty Matear of the…