wfn.org | Estonia Seminary Plans

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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 (546
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Note 544 by UMNS on Jan. 14, 1998 at 17:05 Eastern (2269 characters).

CONTACT: Linda Bloom					17(10-71B)544
		New York (212) 870-3803		Jan. 14, 1998

Seminary in Estonia expects
building completion by fall

by Alice Smith*

	MARIETTA, Ga. (UMNS) -- After holding classes in cramped quarters for the
past four years, the Baltic Theological Seminary in Tallinn, Estonia, is
expected to have its new building open by fall.
	Concrete plans for completion were made during a Jan. 9-10 meeting at First
United Methodist Church here.
	The announcement of almost $100,000 in donations -- most of it from North
Georgia churches and individuals -- provided the momentum for some ambitious
planning to raise the remainder of the $400,000 to $500,000 that will be
needed. Representatives of 14 United Methodist annual conferences attended the
meeting.
	Volunteers-in-Mission work teams are being scheduled from May to September in
an effort to finish the building.
	The Rev. Wes Griffin of Carrollton, Ga., associate director of world
evangelism for the World Methodist Council, said there was "a real
possibility" the building will be completed by September.
	The seminary occupies one end of the multi-purpose Baltic Mission Center,
which has been under construction for three years. Finishing the seminary has
been the first priority, followed by completion of a sanctuary for Tallinn
United Methodist Church. The first sanctuary was destroyed in 1944 during
bombing by the Russians.
	Established in September 1994, the seminary will graduate its first four-year
class in May. Current enrollment is 80 students, making it the second largest
Methodist theological seminary in Europe. Griffin served as the founding dean
and has continued to build support from North Georgia.
	Cooperating in strategic planning at the meeting were representatives of the
World Methodist Council, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries,
Volunteers in Mission and Friends of Estonia, a volunteer group.
	Donations to the seminary can be made through Advance No. 010923-5AN or
through World Evangelism of the World Methodist Council. Information about
forming work teams is available by contacting Peter Baldwin in Chester, Va.,
at (804) 530-1640.
# # #
*Smith is executive director of the Georgia United Methodist Communications 
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