“I think every day I am surprised by the potential of the university to really transform the continent and the world.” — Munashe Furusa, Africa University’s vice chancellor.
Africa University leader
reflects on first year
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Africa University Vice Chancellor Munashe Furusa sat down with United Methodist News Service for a question-and-answer session about his first year at the United Methodist university in Zimbabwe. He talked about efforts to get more professors with doctorates, changes in awarding scholarships and the university’s potential.
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Council of Churches helps
Sierra Leone flood victims
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — The Council of Churches in Sierra Leone has distributed relief supplies ranging from containers of food to health kits to about 5,000 flood survivors who — three weeks after devastating floods — are living in the National Stadium in western Freetown and Braima Attouga Stadium in eastern Freetown. The donations came mainly from Christian World Service and The United Methodist Church through the Sierra Leone Conference. Phileas Jusu reports.
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Video series aims to spark
dialogue on racism
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race announced a new interactive video series, "Vital Conversations: An Interactive Video Series on Today's Realities of Race and Racism." The series, available online beginning Oct. 28, features educators, theologians, pastors, and community activists hosting discussions on race and racism.
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Preserving our African-American Methodist Heritage
MADISON, N.J. (UMNS) — The African American Methodist Heritage Center seeks to be “more than a museum of musty old records,” said Barbara Ricks Thompson, president of the center. “The ministry of memory celebrates the recovery, preservation and sharing of the history of African Americans in Methodism.” Collections of memorabilia and writings are gathered, preserved and archived at the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History.
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Playboy, pornography and the gospel
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Bishop Scott Jones and his son, the Rev. Arthur Jones, note that Playboy magazine’s recent decision to stop running nude photos came only because pornography is so readily available on the Internet. The church must speak more candidly about the “lies” of pornography and the hope offered by the gospel, they argue in an essay for Ministry Matters.
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Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.
Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 22-24
"Great Expectations for Boomers and Beyond" Conference — Event at First United Methodist Church in Winter Park, Florida. The gathering aims to equip church leaders to cultivate the spiritual gifts of older adults as disciples of Jesus Christ. Missy Buchanan, adult advocate and author, and Marc Middleton, founder of the Growing Bolder web-based media group, will be speakers. $125. Details.
Saturday, Oct. 24
Western Jurisdiction United Methodist Men's president addresses retreat — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT. Larry Dozier, Western Jurisdiction United Methodist Men’s president and a certified lay minister, will speak about "Winning Men to Christ" at the retreat at Malibu (California) United Methodist Church, 30128 Morning View Drive. The men of Thousand Oaks United Methodist Church organized the retreat. The Dozier Singers Family also will perform. To register, call Thousand Oaks United Methodist Men President Bill Williams at 310-601-6751 or email [email protected].
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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