wfn.org | [ACNS] Anglican Church of Tanzania invests in the future

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 4077     |     TANZANIA	 |     17 NOVEMBER 2005

Anglican Church of Tanzania invests in the future

The Anglican Church of Tanzania (ACT) is embarking on an educational
project that will see the establishment of an Anglican university in the
country. The institution to be known as St. John's University is set
tentatively to start operating in September 2006 and will be located in
Dodoma, capital city of Tanzania.

"Starting a university is a crucial enterprise to the future of our
nation and our people," said Archbishop Donald Mtetemela, Primate of ACT
in a fundraising appeal for the project.

The churches' role in education was critically weakened when the
government in the late 1960s nationalized all church social services
institutions. However, through the network of its 19 dioceses, ACT has
been trying to regain its educational initiative by building new
secondary and primary schools.

Youth are a huge proportion of the church, hence the project is a
concrete outreach to them. "It was exiting to see the enthusiasm and
excitement for a post secondary education by the delegates especially
the youth who attended the ACT 13th general synod," said Jill Cruse, the
Anglican Church of Canada's mission coordinator for Africa who visited
Tanzania recently.

As a way forward, in June 2005, the government handed over to the church
Mazengo secondary school that had been taken by the government during
the nationalization process. The school will be used as the headquarters
of the proposed university.

The university will have both secular and theological academic programs
offered in the first five years. "This will increase our partnership
with Tanzania as they will require instructional staff professors to
start the programs running," said Ms Cruse.

Ms Cruse was invited to attend the 13th General Synod of the Anglican
Church of Tanzania and to visit other projects and programs run by the
church. The Anglican Church of Canada supports ACT with grants for
meetings such as the general synod. Through the scholarship program, the
Anglican church also provides bursaries to enable students to attend
seminaries in Africa and Canada.

Some graduates have gone on to become bishops and seminary professors.
Currently Rev. Bethuel Mulula from diocese of Central Tanganyika is
studying at Wycliffe College in Toronto, for a Master's Degree in
Divinity.

For further information please contact:

Jill Cruse
Anglican Church of Canada
Regional Mission Coordinator for Africa
Tel: + 1 416-924-9199 ext.315
Email:jcruse@national.anglican.ca

For Information about the Anglican Church of Tanzania visit their
website
http://www.anglican.or.tz

Article from Anglican Church of Canada by Diana Mavunduse

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