Ps Maurice Davantin, President of the Presbyterial Committee, and Miss Rindra Razanatovo, Administrative Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Mauritius (PCM), travelled to Malawi from 17 to 22 March as delegates (observers) of the PCM to the Africa Region Assembly of the Council for World Mission (CWM).
Following this Assembly, a CWM delegation visited the PCM from 25 to 28 March as part of the Church’s application to join this international organisation.
During their visit to Mauritius, the delegates held meetings with the Presbyterial Committee, the English-speaking parish of St Columba, and the Bienvenue Kindergarten in the parish of St Pierre in Pointe-aux-Piments. These meetings allowed the visitors to better understand the context and goals of the Presbyterian community in Mauritius.
At their first meeting, held on 25 March at the Jean Le Brun Centre, the General Secretary of CWM, Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, stated: “We have come to witness how God is at work in your community.” He then gave an overview of the history of the Council for World Mission. This organisation took over in 1977 from the London Missionary Society, established in 1795 (Editor’s note: Rev. Jean Le Brun, founder of the Presbyterian Church in Mauritius, was sent by the LMS to the island in 1814 and was a pioneer of free education in Mauritius). The PCM is therefore delighted at the prospect of establishing a partnership with CWM. The visitors shared the journey of CWM since its formation in 1977. Among its goals: helping member churches grow through a “Mission Programme” that includes theology, education, training, and exchanges. The motto: “Rise and Shine.”
There was also a video presentation tracing the history of the Presbyterian Church in Mauritius under the Church of Scotland up to today (with autonomy since 1979). Gift exchanges followed, leading into dinner.
On 27 March, a workshop was held at St Jean Church between the Presbyterial Committee executive and the CWM delegates.