David Yemba
Bishop David Yemba
Retired
Africa
Congo Central Conference

Bishop David Kekumba Yemba is a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church, having served from 2005-2016.
Bishop Yemba has also served in the following capacities:
- 2008-2016: The Moderator of the Committee on Faith and Order of The United Methodist Church
- 2009-2019: Chancellor of Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe
- 2017-2018: One of the three moderators of the Commission on a Way Forward, COB
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Born in Dungu, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bishop Yemba graduated from Université Libre du Congo with Licence en Théologie (Distinction) and from Université Strasbourg II des Sciences Humaines, Strasbourg, France, with Docteur-ès-Sciences Religieuses.
David was ordained deacon and elder in the Central Congo Annual Conference by Bishop John Wesley Shungu. He combines both academic and pastoral activities in his Christian ministry. He taught Systematic Theology and Ecumenical Studies in many institutions of higher learning, including Africa University where he served as founding Dean for almost fourteen years, with a certificate awarded for ten years of pioneer service (2022) to the University. He received the President’s Medallion of Leadership from Martin Methodist College, Pulaski, Tennessee in 2010 and Certificates of Appreciation for Service from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tennessee in 2012 and 2016.
Before moving to Africa University in Zimbabwe, he served also as Dean and then as President of the Protestant Interdenominational Seminary in Kinshasa for twenty-one years. David Yemba is author of one book, Yemba, David K. Seigneur, apprends-nous à prier: une explication contextuelle de la prière de Notre Père. Kinshasa: Éditions CÉDI, 2017. He has also written several articles in theological journals and various church documents and reports.
As to pastoral ministry, he served as chaplain of Katubue United High School and as one of the pastors of the International Protestant Parish of Kinshasa. He was an Administrative Assistant to the Bishop in the West Congo Annual Conference. David was elected delegate to the Africa Central Conference in 1972, 1980, 1984, and 1988 and to the General Conference in 1992. He also served as a member of the African Church Growth and Development Committee of the GBGM.
The Congo Central Conference elected him to the episcopacy on February 12, 2005. He was re-elected in 2008.
In addition to teaching, research, and administrative duties, David has served as a member of the following learning societies and national institutions: National Executive Board of Bible Society in the Congo, Oxford Institute of Methodist Studies, and Editorial Board of Quarterly Review with, for the latter, a certificate of recognition awarded. He was elected President of the Association of Theological Institutions in Francophone Africa, Vice President of the World Methodist Historical Society for Africa, and Moderator of Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, 1998-2006. He was elected one of the five Vice Presidents of The All-Africa Conference of Churches, 2008-2018; and Vice President of the National Board of Ethics and Election in the Rep. Dem. of the Congo.
Henriette K’Untu and David K. Yemba were married on August 24, 1969, at Wembo Nyama Mission. They have five children: Rosalie Ogar, Hélène Ngoy, Emmanuel Yemba, Joseph Yemba and Benjamin Yemba. They also have five grandchildren: Alexandra Ogar, David Ogar, Jonathan Ngoy, Pierre Ngoy, and Nicolas Ngoy.