The Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA) continued to create new synergies with churches across the region. Informed by its current strategic plan with the main theme of “Empowering, Strengthening and Deepening PROCMURA at the Grassroots”. This is to enable PROCMURA strengthen its structures at the grassroots level as well as develop and deepen partnerships and collaborations in realization of broader synergies for greater impact.

The collaborations, through the Learning and Skills Development programme through which this is implemented and as enshrined in PROCMURA’s Strategic Plan, provide platforms that bring together PROCMURA and various key stakeholders to build the capacity of church leaders, Men, women, laity and the youth, on contextual and emerging issues in Christian- Muslim relations around given thematic areas.

It is in this spirit that PROCMURA and the Anglican Church of Kenya, Diocese of Eldoret organised capacity building workshops for key leaders and women leaders in the diocese. The Leaders workshop with the theme “Exploring Challenges and Opportunities for Mission in a Religious Pluralistic Context” was run concurrently alongside a capacity building workshop for women leaders in the diocese which had the theme “Empowering Women in the Church as Pillars of Development in the society”. The programmes were held at the ACK Guest house in Eldoret from 23rd to 28th of October 2022.

The Leaders Conference on one hand, provided an interactive learning platform bringing various stakeholders of the diocese such as clergy serving in urban areas, Chaplains working in various diocesan schools and administrative staff within the diocese to build their capacity and help them understand how to work in a religiously pluralistic context.

While gracing the official opening of the workshop, the Rt. Rev. Dr Christopher Ruto, the Bishop of the Diocese of Eldoret, thanked PROCMURA for reaching out to the diocese and using the intra approach to build the capacity of the churches directly stating that the current context we live in has changed drastically and the church, as a stakeholder in society, needs to be abreast with what is happening both at the local and global context and partner with strategic organisations that help it to carry out its mission in a more practical manner.

The workshop opened up interactive sessions and conversations as the participants interacted openly by sharing their experiences in their specific context. Rev Sheilam Chebichii, a Chaplain at the ACK Chepngoror girls, shared her experience and difficulties in her role which includes handling both Christian and Muslim students as a Chaplin, sometimes she was not sure how she could address and handle some of the issues affecting the Muslim students and if at all she handled them correctly or not.

She was enthusiastic about the training as she felt it had helped her learn a lot about Christian-Muslim relations. In the end, she and several others of her colleagues in attendance recommended that it was important for chaplains and teachers in schools to undergo programmes and trainings of this nature. Such workshops empower them to handle their work from a practical point of knowledge and understanding.

The women leaders conference, on the other hand, facilitated by Pastor Phylis Ndoro focused on women issues only using the PROCMURA’s approach which argues that in Christian-Muslim relations it is difficult from the contextual framework for a man to enter a woman’s world. Christian and Muslim women are better disposed to enter one another’s world and vice versa.

Other facilitators present explored different aspects of interfaith relations and the challenges that women face in development of the society.

On her part, PROCMURA’s Team Leader – Finance and Administration, Ms. Joy Wandabwa, reiterated PROCMURA’s resolve to partner with churches noting that partnerships and collaborations with the churches was very important and would help in addressing contextual issues and challenges that affect the social change and transformation in the society.

Many at times the context of one church may vary and differ from the other. Empowering churches and church leaders enable them to avoid polemics that jeopardises the spirit of good neighbourliness with their religious other in the society.

Ven. Birech the Diocesan Administrative secretary gave the vote of thanks and on behalf of the diocese assured the PROCMURA team that they were now better informed as a church and will ensure their clergy and laity through such sessions, work towards promotion of interfaith relations in the region.

This area he noted has emerged as a growing challenge as the context in society was now more religiously pluralistic. There was therefore need for the church to learn how to witness the gospel in an interfaith environment.

A Memorandum of Understanding between PROCMURA and the diocese will be developed and signed in the new year 2023.