IMBISA TEAM PROFILEIMBISA:The Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa.

known as IMBISA is an organ of Liaison and Pastoral Cooperation between Episcopal Conferences of Angola and São Tome & Principe (CEAST), Lesotho (LCBC), Mozambique (CEM), Namibia (NCBC), South Africa which is made up of Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland (SACBC) and Zimbabwe (ZCBC).

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Theological Reflection and Exchange Department:

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION AND EXCHANGE

Following the proposals made to the IMBISA Plenary Assembly in Windhoek, Namibia in April / May 1995, the office of co-coordinator of Theological Reflection and Exchange was established. The Bishops felt that such an office would correspond better with the present needs and available resources rather than opening a Theological Institute which was costly in both human and financial resources and which would also compete with established or planned institutions.

The aim of this office was to facilitate and foster theological reflection and research on the meaning of the Good News and the mission of the Church in the IMBISA region. This aim is to be achieved by fostering exchange on existing efforts of reflection and research and to plan and co-ordinate future efforts in the region. For all practical purposes, the office functions as a department of IMBISA under the Director of IMBISA.

Fr. Josef Elsener SMB was the first Co-ordinator of the department in August 1995 . At the end of his contract he was replaced by Fr. Peter Mufaro Siziba. Fr. Mufaro passed away in 2007 and since then the department is vacant.

This office has maintained active contacts with other theological bodies like ATISCA (Association of Theological Institutions in Southern Africa). Seminars have been organised and are envisaged for rectors, spiritual directors and deans of studies of Seminaries to stimulate an exchange of experiences and an exploration of ways and means to help each other. This is quite apart from the ‘Occasional Publications’ that this department produces.