Forbes Matonga: An African Perspective on American Racial and Social Unrest

I continue our “Conversations about Race” series by chatting with the Rev. Forbes Matonga, a pastor in Zimbabwe and prominent African United Methodist leader.

For an introduction explaining the vision and purpose of this series, click here.

So far in these conversations, I have interviewed only black American United Methodists (all past and/or present General Conference delegates). Of course, there are plenty of others with worthwhile ideas. But in beginning this series, it seemed that we were at a particular moment in which one specific part of the body of Christ – my African American brothers and sisters in the Lord – was crying out in pain from past and present sufferings, and the least the rest of us could do was seek to listen.

Now that we have already posted several such interviews, I am expanding things a bit. Just as the proverbial fish do not realize that they are wet, all of us are caught up in our respective cultures in ways that can be difficult to recognize. One great potential of a truly global denomination is how we all us can have our social blind spots lovingly challenged by brothers and sisters without the same culturally shaped blinders.

Pastor Matonga is the Secretary of the Africa Central Conference of the United Methodist Church, a veteran General Conference delegate, a board member of the UMC’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), and a member of the governing council of the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA). He has previously served as a lecturer at Africa University and a Connectional Table member.

He recently spoke with me to share his perspective on George Floyd, America’s global reputation, democratic values, overcoming past injustices, and reverse racism. He also offers a sobering warning about the polarized direction in which he sees American political culture trending, in light of what he and so many other Africans have experienced.

You won’t want to miss our discussion below:

If you prefer, you may instead download an audio-only version of our discussion via Soundcloud below: