wfn.org | Africa University and Kenya Methodist University

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org (United Methodist News list)]

Reply-to: owner-umethnews@ecunet.org (United Methodist News list)
"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 (319
notes).

Note 319 by UMNS on Sept. 16, 1997 at 08:56 Eastern (6257 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                             507(10-31-71B)319
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470            Sept. 15, 1997
     
Distinction between two universities
in Africa confusing some United Methodists

     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-- The fundraising arm of Africa
University reports that some United Methodists are confused about
the distinction between two church-related universities in Africa.
     Meeting here Sept. 12-13, the Africa University Development
Committee was told that some gifts intended for Africa University,
the United Methodist-related school in Zimbabwe, have been sent to
Kenya Methodist University.
     The Rev. Roger Ireson, top staff official at the United
Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, told the 38-
member committee that the confusion occurred "because people are
not clear about the different countries in Africa and the
different Methodist denominations at work there." The Kenya
Methodist Church is an autonomous Methodist body. 
     The Africa University Development Committee, established in
1993, works with the Africa University Development office here and
with affiliated governing and promotional agencies of the United
Methodist Church to raise money for the capital, endowment and
operational needs of the university.  Assistant vice chancellor
for development, with offices here, is James Salley.
     Ireson told the committee that one of the utmost challenges
the office and the university has to overcome is the
misunderstanding United Methodists and others have of General
Conference approved educational projects of the United Methodist
Church and other educational entities in Africa. In addition to
the Kenya Methodist University, Ireson said networks are being
developed across the United States to support enterprises of the
Liberian Methodist Church. 
     Last year, many United Methodists received a fundraising
newsletter from the Kenya Methodist University Development
Association. Contained in the newsletter was a report of a trip to
the United States by Methodist Bishop Lawi Imathiu. Accompanying
him was Norman Lawson, executive director of  the association. 
     The newsletter reported that Imathiu found "substantial
support" among United Methodists and United Methodist bishops.
Quoting Lawson, the report said, both Kenya Methodist University
and the development association "is 100 percent behind Africa
University" and "seeks to build support for Africa University."
"Yet," said Lawson, "throughout the church there is a recognition
that dozens of United Methodist universities need to be developed
in Africa." 
     Ireson told the committee that it must make clear to the
United Methodist constituency that, "Kenya Methodist University is
a project of the Kenya Methodist Church and is not a United
Methodist Church project." 
     Africa University, officially opened in 1992, is the only
United Methodist-related, degree-granting university for all of
Africa and is the first fully accredited private institution in
Zimbabwe. 
     As the meeting continued, Ireson declared, "resources of our
denomination should be directed toward Africa University in
Zimbabwe so that dreams of United Methodist institutions of higher
education can be fulfilled." 
     He said the "university is on its way toward being fully
developed through the tremendous resources of the church along
with others." Of the outpouring of resources from non-church-
related enterprises, Ireson announced that on Sept. 10 USAID,
agreed to give Africa University $3 million to build a library.
     Bishop Alfred Norris of Albuquerque, N.M., committee
chairman, expressed dismay that United Methodists are confused
between Africa University and the school in Kenya. He said 
although each institution is making education possible for African
citizens, "any other institution that carries the Methodist name,
although by good intention, is not a project of the United
Methodist Church."
     The need for a language laboratory at Africa University was
expressed by William Humbane, executive director of the church's
Africa Church Growth and Development Committee.  Humbane, a member
of the university's board of directors, is a native of Mozambique.
He and his wife Maria are studying at the Mission Resource Center
in Atlanta, being trained as missionaries.  They plan to join the
Africa University faculty to teach English to student from non-
English-speaking countries.
     Humbane said a language laboratory would enable students to
practice speaking and listening skills. He also told committee
members that a language laboratory could be an income generating
project for the university. He said business people in Zimbabwe
could use the lab to learn a foreign language, such as Portuguese,
to increase trade in neighboring Mozambique. "A laboratory will
open ample opportunities," Humbane said. "Although we do not have
the money for it now, we can't do without it."
     Committee members received thanks from Artemus Gaye, an
Africa University theology student who is studying pastoral care
at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan. He told of the impact education
has made on his life.
     Gaye said his calling to the ministry came as a refugee of
the Liberian Civil War. Wounded emotionally and physically, he
said he "was given hope when I got the opportunity to go to Africa
University." 
     Pushing for greater involvement by the Africa conferences,
Gaye said, "Students don't always need money, but need words of
love, care and concern." 
     In other actions, the committee:
     * learned that 48 Africa University graduates are making an
impact across Africa;
     * learned that the first graduate of the University's
master's degree program has become minister of agriculture in
Zimbabwe, a top post in the government of Zimbabwe;
     * received $7,000 from Ben Hill United Methodist Church,
Atlanta, for the endowment fund;
     * learned the university's endowment fund has exceeded $13
million.
     
                              #  #  #

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 To make suggestions or give your comments, send a note to 
 umns@ecunet.org or Susan_Peek@ecunet.org

 This article sent to both the umethnews list <umethnews-request@ecunet.org>
 and also to the Worldwide Faith News list wfn-news <majordomo@wfn.org>
 Look at the header files to figure out which this is.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------