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Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

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ALL AFRICA CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES<br />

As the mother <strong>Church</strong> of Africa, the <strong>Coptic</strong> Orthodox <strong>Church</strong> has been keen to<br />

actively participate in the life of the AACC since its inception in 1963. The AACC is<br />

a fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and only Saviour<br />

according to the Scriptures and therefore seek to fulfil together their common calling<br />

to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Christian councils may be<br />

associate members and Christian organisations may be associate organisations.<br />

Aims and functions, main concerns and activities<br />

1. To keep before the churches and national Christian councils the demands of the<br />

gospel pertaining to their life and mission, for evangelism, for witness in society,<br />

for service and for unity, and to this end to promote consultation and action<br />

among the churches and councils;<br />

2. To provide a common programme of study and research;<br />

3. To encourage closer relationship and mutual sharing of experience among the<br />

churches in Africa through visits, consultation and conferences, and the<br />

circulation of information;<br />

4. To assist the church in finding, sharing and placing personnel and utilising other<br />

resources for the most effective prosecution of their common task;<br />

5. To assist the churches in their common work of leadership training, lay and<br />

clerical, for the task of the church today;<br />

6. Without prejudice to its own autonomy, to collaborate with the WCC and other<br />

appropriate agencies, in such ways as may be mutually agreed.<br />

STRUCTURE OF AACC<br />

The AACC comprises of 147 member churches and national Christian Councils in 39<br />

countries. There are 16 national Christian Councils that are associate members of the<br />

AACC. The following units coordinate the various activities of the Council.<br />

UNIT I: GENERAL SECRETARIAT<br />

This involves finance and administration information and communication, and<br />

International Affairs.<br />

UNIT II: SELFHOOD OF THE CHURCH<br />

This entails youth desk, women’s desk, Christian and family life, education, theology<br />

and interfaith.<br />

UNIT III: SERVICE AND WITNESS<br />

This embraces emergency and refugee services, research and development<br />

consultancy service, communication training centre.<br />

ORGANISATION OF THE CONFERENCE<br />

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