It was a wonderful opportunity representing the Southeast Association and the Wisconsin Conference at General Synod 2011. As a 33 year old delegate I can tell you that there was a great presence of youth by many Conferences and it was exciting to see so many ministers just out of seminary or about to be out of seminary. Personally, I enjoyed and was honored to serve on a committee that offered a resolution regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This resolution sought to raise awareness of and engage settings of the church in advocacy regarding the violent conflicts and human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, related especially to the exploitative mining of resources for export and industrial application.  This resolution passed and was adopted by our denomination and hope that many of our churches get involved with Democratic Republic of the Congo Week 2011, which is scheduled for Oct. 16-22.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is an African country that is full of minerals such as Coltan, Copper, Cobalt, and Uranium just to name a few.  Even Gold and Diamonds are found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Large mining companies are destroying the country and practically taking these resources without paying their fair share.  Furthermore, the mining has created internal war and struggles that have resulted in millions of women raped, child soldiers, and nearly six million killed. The Potential of Democratic Republic of the Congo is amazing.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo has 34 % of world’s cobalt and 10% of its copper, is the  second largest rainforest in the world behind the Amazon,  has the hydro capacity to provide electricity for the entire African continent, southern Europe and parts of the Middle East, and has agricultural capacity to feed the entire world through 2050.

Thanks to General Synod I am able to advocate for the people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who are powerless. I am able to ask my local church, my association, and the Wisconsin Conference to advocate for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Please consider learning more at www.congoweek.org or at www.globalministries.org.

Thank you and in God’s humble service,

Brydie Hill

New Hope UCC, Jackson