wfn.org | Russia seminary to open new building in 2000

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

October 14, 1999	News media contact: Linda Bloom*(212) 870-3803*New
York    10-21-71B{540}

By United Methodist News Service

A new building for the Russia United Methodist Seminary in Moscow should be
renovated in time for a Fall 2000 opening.

The former kindergarten building also will house the offices of Bishop
Rudiger Minor and the annual conference. A multipurpose auditorium will
allow the space to be used for Sunday worship by a local United Methodist
congregation. Minor said the building is significant because of its
"integration of the worshipping, the learning and the institutional church."

Currently the seminary in Moscow is crammed into two rooms, sharing a third
room  which serves as the bishop's office. Enrollment is 27 students in
three classes.

The new building will have 10 times the present space of 1,500 square feet.
"But it needs extensive repairs because it's 40 years old," Minor said.

Cost of the building cost, at nearly $700,000, is covered by a grant from
the Millenniium Fund of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries,
Minor said.  Renovation is expected to  cost between $300,000 to $500,000,
including the possible addition of a floor for dorm rooms.  

A U.S. advisory committee, comprised of representatives from five United
Methodist seminaries, assists the Russia seminary by supporting and
recruiting faculty and helping with financial and logistical issues. The
seminaries are Iliff, in Denver; Wesley, in Washington; Candler in Atlanta;
Perkins in Dallas; and Saint Paul in Kansas City.

Several Advance projects support the work of the seminary. More information
is available by calling the Rev. Bruce Weaver, director of the Board of
Global Ministries' Russia Initiative, at (214) 826-3797 or sending e-mail to
rbw101@aol.com.

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United Methodist News Service
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