Pastoral

Leadership

Chairman: Rt. Rev. Gervas Nyaisonga, Bishop of Dodoma

Vice Chairman: Most Rev. Paul Ruzoka, Archbishop of Tabora

Executive Secretary: Rev. Fr. Gallus Marandu

 

THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PASTORAL DEPARTMENT

 

1. RoleThe Pastoral Department co-ordinates and facilitates Pastoral activities of the Church.

2. Relations

 

The Pastoral Department is chaired by the Bishop Chairman. The Person in charge of the day to day running of the Department is the ExecutiveSecretary who works closely and under the Bishop Chairman and keeps him and all the Bishops informed of the activities of the Pastoral Office on aregular programmed basis. The Executive Secretary also stays in close personal contact and collaboration with the Secretary General of theConference and other administration personnel and organs of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference.

 

Administration

The Executive Secretary of the Pastoral Department, organizes the National Episcopal Conference’s Pastoral Office: heads and leads the PastoralManagement Team. This includes having an up to date filling system, records of all relevant information on Church pastoral activities and plans.

 

He produces an annual report before the Plenary Assembly and proposes a budget. In accordance to the TEC’s policies, he submits projectproposals to the Bishop Chairman of the Department/President of the Conference/ TEC Secretary General, for funding from Donor Agencies orPartners.

 

4. Planning

 

Under the direction of the Bishop Chairman of the Department, the Executive Secretary of the Pastoral department facilitates:

 

• The formulation of a unified Pastoral Vision of the Conference and Mission

• The identification of the pastoral priorities in line with the Pastoral Vision, Mission and Objectives;

• The setting up of suitable organization concrete structures at all levels of the Conference;

• The designing of a concrete Pastoral Plan of action: immediate, short and long term according to the Pastoral Priorities of the Conference;

• The indication of implementation strategies including the determination of human and material resources required;

• The regular evaluation of the Pastoral Programme built within the Pastoral Planning Process.

 

5. Communication

 

In response to the desire of Ecclesia in Africa No. 123, “The Church should promote communication from within through a better diffusion ofinformation among her members”

 

The Pastoral Department passes all relevant information from above and below levels of Church life such as Magisterial Documents: encyclicals,synodal documents, AMECEA/SECAM decisions, pastoral letters of Bishops, Lenten programmes, Bishops directives and all relevant informationwith the objective that such communication(s) reach Christian Communities at grassroot level.

 

6. Identifying Areas of pastoral Concerns

 

Guided by the Gospel mission of the Church which is the Evangelization of humanity and the promotion of God’s Kingdom (Ecclesia in Africa 68) thePastoral Department, in collaboration with other Departments at the National level, and through constant research explores, understands PastoralAreas of concern and suggests to Pastoral Agents: Laity, religious, clergy and the way forward.

 

Basing ourselves to Magisterial documents, and reading the signs of the times, the following challenges are urgent:

 

• Deeper Evangelization;

• Development and maintenance of Small Christian Communities;

• Inculturation of Theology and Liturgy;

• Dialogue with African Traditional Religions and Muslims;Ecumenism;

• HIV/AIDSJustice, Peace and Reconciliation;

• Promotion of Women;Youth Ministry;

• Self-Reliance;Research, Reflection and Discernment;

• Ongoing formation of all Church groups;

• Communication and networking with AMECEA, Dioceses and Church groups: Laity, Religious, Clergy, through Team Building;

• Biblical Apostolate.