Church Advocates for Family Stability Reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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On Friday, August 8, 2025, Kinshasa hosted the Congolese Forum on the Family, known as Palabre. This initiative was supported and led by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in collaboration with the National Council of Religions for Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During the forum, a bill was presented that would simplify administrative procedures and make marriage more accessible.

The forum brought together national senators, deputies, religious representatives, government officials, community leaders and civil society members with a common goal: to improve access to civil marriage and strengthen family stability in the DRC.

During the forum, the Honorable Senator José Mpanda Kabangu presented his bill to amend and supplement the Family Code, which he submitted to the Senate Bureau on June 2, 2025.

"Marriage should no longer be regarded as a luxury; rather, it must be considered a right accessible to everyone," he said. He explained that this reform aims to legally regulate dowries, preserving their symbolic significance while reducing or eliminating the costs associated with civil marriage celebrations.

"The current laws are either incomplete or not suitable for today’s situations. It is essential to update the Family Code to reflect the contemporary realities of our society," he added.

Since 2022, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has actively participated in the Marriage Project, working alongside the CNRP to promote the regularization of unions and to raise awareness about the Family Code. The Palabre forum represents the culmination of several years of advocacy, fieldwork and mobilization efforts.

Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, the Africa Central Area President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emphasized that "the goal of all Church activities is to ensure that individuals, whether men or women, along with their children, are happy in their homes and united for time and eternity."

He highlighted the Family Proclamation as a crucial doctrinal and moral guide for creating strong and lasting families. He further stated, "A strong family leads to a stable nation. The Church remains a dedicated partner in fostering united, responsible, and blessed families."

The Minister of Gender, Family, and Children reaffirmed the government's support for the bill, stating, "Civil marriage is a right, not a privilege. A society that makes legal marriage accessible promotes peace, justice, and dignity." She advocated for the removal of fees associated with marriage ceremonies, regulation of dowry practices, and greater accessibility to civil registry services.

Reverend Armand Kinyamba of the CNRP shared the project's results: "To date, more than 800 marriages have been regularized free of charge because of this initiative, and over 10,000 copies of the Family Code have been distributed throughout the country." He also highlighted some ongoing challenges: "High civil marriage celebration fees, the early marriage of underage girls, and a lack of awareness about the Family Code are significant obstacles that need to be addressed."

Boris Kabeya, the Africa Central Area Manager of FamilySearch International, emphasized the significance of family memory and legal identity. He stated, "Family memory is a treasure that can only be passed down within a stable and legal framework." He discussed initiatives to digitize civil and customary archives to ensure that Congolese families have access to their history. He added, "Let’s support this bill so that our children inherit not only names, but also values, landmarks, and a story worth telling."

The event concluded with a final declaration and a closing reception. All speakers called for a collaboration among state institutions, religious denominations and civil society to ensure the success of this reform.

August 8, 2025, marks a significant milestone in the fight for legally protected and socially valued families in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With the active support of the Church of Jesus Christ, the leadership of the National Council of Religions for Peace, DRC and the political commitment of the Senate, a new dynamic is emerging.

However, there is still much work to be done. For the marriage bill to become a reality, it will be essential to maintain mobilization, strengthen alliances and raise awareness among citizens and decision-makers about the urgency of this reform. This effort goes beyond merely amending legal articles; it is about transforming lives, bringing justice to invisible families, and building a society where every child can inherit a name, a story and a stable future.

The Palabre Forum has planted seeds of change. Now it's our collective effort to nurture them.