Please Remember Africa University in Your Will Issue: 03

Vol: 24

June - August 2019

Give Now

Africa University Development Office | P O Box 340007 | Nashville, TN 37203 Tel. (615) 340-7438 | Fax. (615) 340-7290 | Email: audevoffice@gbhem.org

Iowans Invest in Worship, Hospitality at AU The Iowa Annual inspired her Conference has gifted local church, more than $45,000 St. Timothy’s to Africa University to UMC in Cedar complete the kitchen Rapids, to at the Ubuntu Retreat purchase 500 Center—a facility that copies of The hosts training events, Faith We Sing short-term visitors, and for the Africa work teams. University The eight districts of chapel.” the conference collaboW h i l e Under the leadership of Bishop Laurie Haller, Iowa rated to raise the funds serving as and delivered their gifts United Methodists have invested in new equipment s u p e r i n t e n for food preparation and service at the during the opening wordent of the Ubuntu Retreat Center. ship at the Iowa Annual Grand Rapids Conference on Saturday, District of the June 8. The offering surpassed the confer- West Michigan Conference, Bishop Haller ence’s original goal of $40,000. led a campaign to raise $500,000 for the “Our trip to Africa University in the fall construction of the Ubuntu Retreat Center of 2018, and especially the hospitality that at Africa University. About 450 churches in we experienced, inspired our district super- West Michigan contributed to the $500,000 intendents to lead the fundraising,” said gift, which was matched by an anonymous Bishop Laurie Haller. “In addition, one of donor, bringing the total to $1 million. The the laypersons on our trip, Darline Demmel, 24-room facility opened in February 2016.

New Program Targets Theological Educators Twelve students in a new oneyear postgraduate certificate program for theological educators began their first residential block of lectures at the Africa University campus in July. The certificate in theological and religious research is a prerequisite for entry into the first doctoral program to be offered by the Institute of Theology and Religious Studies (ITRS) at Africa University, in partnership with Wesley House Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University in England. “The students will identify gaps in knowledge that will lead to innovative research to produce new knowledge and constructive

Faculty Visit Strengthens Partnership Five Claflin University faculty— including Dr. Verlie Tisdale, dean of the school of natural sciences and mathematics and Dr. Gloria McCutcheon, chair of the biology department—spent a week at Africa University in June. The Claflin University team participated in diversity and cultural sensitivity training, made field visits to neighboring farming communities, and brainstormed about joint projects alongside their counterparts at Africa University. Speaking on behalf of the Claflin University team, Dr. Gloria McCutcheon noted that “the experience was unforgettable, enriching, and extremely rewarding as we began to build projects with AU and determine the direction of various collaborations (that) address global issues.” A two-person faculty team from Africa University is due to visit Claflin University

Claflin University faculty members discuss the journey from idea to commericially-viable product with students and staff during a visit to the Africa University innovation hub. in August for follow-up on a variety of commitments, including plans to have Africa University students participate in the annual Claflin University Student Research Day in March 2020.

theological approaches to real life issues and challenges,” said Prof. Peter Mageto. As deputy vice chancellor, he oversees academic development at Africa University. There are eight countries represented among the students, all of whom are currently in the certificate program, but aspiring to earn the doctoral degree. Most are educators from United Methodist higher education institutions in Africa. Their training is being funded by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Innovation Fund and by the Central Conferences Theological Education Fund, (CCTEF). It is organized in two parts: a one-year postgraduate certificate in theological and religious research which allows candidates to explore various approaches to research, followed by four years of coursework and research leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Your Philanthropic Garden Many of us start our first garden on a bare piece of land. Through the days and years that ensue, the garden takes on an identity from the various plant material we place there, how it is designed, and then cultivated to maturity. Some of us will have glorious gardens, stretching to a far horizon; some will have a few rows of beautiful flowers; others will have entire sections reflecting their interests and involvement. As you plant your life’s garden through your deliberations and deeds, will there be a section devoted to philanthropy? If so, will it include gifts to Africa University? Our hope is that your garden of life will include many wonderful thoughts and experiences regarding your association with Africa University, and that the section on philanthropy might even include a bequest or a gift in trust---like a stand of fruit trees that can yield a harvest for us year after year. Perhaps you’ll have an endowment section where the berries produced

each year hang heavy on the limbs until gathered to feed the program of your choice. There are many possibilities for filling your garden for philanthropy. For more information about how to grow Elaine Jenkins, Director your garden of Planned Giving. of philanthropy, please contact our Director of Planned Giving, Elaine Jenkins, Africa University Development Office, P. O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN, 372030007, (615) 340-7428 (telephone), (615) 340-7290 (fax), ejenkins@ gbhem.org (e-mail address). visit the planned giving website at http://www. africau.plannedgiving.org/ .

Scholarship Gifts Transform Potential into Progress Share the gift of an educational experience that produces global leaders who are principled, bold, and committed to creating lasting change in Africa. The class of 2023 arrives on campus for orientation on August 5th. It is not too late to bring a dream to life by helping a student to enroll. To give online, go to support-africauniversity.org or make your check payable to “Africa University” and mail it to the AU Development Office, P O Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007. To discuss making Africa University a part of your legacy with a gift to the AU Endowment Fund, call (615) 340-7438.

Thank you.

Rev. Dr. Kabamba Kiboko and Bishop Linda Lee led the planning for the retreat. African and African-American clergywomen serving in The United Methodist Church gather at Africa University’s main campus in Zimbabwe from July 13-16 for their first joint meeting in Africa. For the past two years, Bishop Linda Lee, founder and chair of the Sacred Sisters, and Rev. Dr. Kabamba Kiboko, president of the African Clergywomen, have been working with a team to realize their vision for the gathering. "Our first retreat in Zimbabwe this July is a natural progression of our vision for “sacred bonds of unity, trust, love, and respect with our African sisters," said Bishop Lee. The retreat program includes small group discussions and reflection on the shared challenges and opportunities confronting the clergywomen in their ministry contexts. The clergywomen will spend time in worship and reflection as they share their diverse experiences and learn from each other. They will also take advantage of being at Africa University to explore leadership models with female students in Theology and other female student leaders.

General Board of Higher Education and Ministry The United Methodist Church P O Box 340007 Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0007

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Sacred Sisters and African Clergywomen Begin Historic Retreat

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