wfn.org | Training African Pastors

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (164
notes).

Note 163 by UMNS on June 17, 1997 at 16:05 Eastern (3567 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                              351(10-71B){163}
         Nashville, Tenn.                            June 17, 1997

Ordained Ministry officials
train pastors in Africa
                                 
                 by United Methodist News Service

     An appeal by two United Methodist Bishops for help recovering
and receiving new church leaders took four United Methodist Board
of Higher and Ministry staff to train local pastors and district
superintendents in Africa.    
     At the request of Bishop Emilio de Carvalho, Western Angola
Area, and Bishop Jokomo Christopher, Zimbabwe Area, the Rev. Roger
Ireson, top executive of the board, and three staff members of its
Division of Ordained Ministry -- John Harnish, Robert Kohler and
Arthur Gafke -- traveled to both areas in May to hold training
events.
     "We are now focusing our attention on the training of pastors
because during the war many pastors have been killed, property
destroyed and the work of the church affected," said de Carvalho.
"Now is the time to recover and receive new leaders."
     Harnish, who is the executive in the division's section on
elders and local pastors, said both Angola and Zimbabwe need help
training and recruiting pastors because the church is growing so
rapidly.
     "Thirty years of civil war in Angola have been devastating,"
he said. But the damage to the highway and transportation systems
has not affected church attendance.  "In churches built to seat
600 people, 1,000 are there for worship every week, Harnish said.
"The people's faith is incredible."
     Kohler, director of board of ordained ministry relations,
presented the local pastors with a Course of Study program and
Gafke, director of supervision and support systems, held training
sessions for the district superintendents in both countries.
Courses of Study enable people who have not met the regular
educational requirements of theological education but whose
ministry warrents special consideration to prepare for annual
conference membership.
     According to Gafke, the issues raised by the African district
superintendents are similar to the concerns in America. They
wanted to know how to be a supervising presence without being
abusive and about accountability among clergy and churches. "It is
a delicate balance and they are aware of that," he said.
     The board executives also met with the faculty of theology at
Africa University.
     "Africa University is becoming an important resource for
clergy training throughout," Harnish said.
     Although Zimbabwe has not had the devastation of civil war,
there is still an urgent need to recruit and train pastors for a
rapidly growing church, Harnish said.
     Kohler will take ideas from these meetings to create a Course
of Study to meet the needs of the pastors in Angola and Zimbabwe.
     "One of the important things we are learning is that the
model Course of Study is one that can be flipped and adapted to
various settings ... to train pastors effectively," Kohler said. 
The Course of Study is being used in Bulgaria, Russia and now in
Africa. 
     The board is "excited about this opportunity to be involved
in the ministry in Africa," Ireson said.  "We are hopeful this
initial contact will open the door for more such occasions of
assistance in the future."
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