2 minute read
AU Grads Playing Vital Roles in the Upcoming GC
More than 50 Africa University graduates, representing conferences in Africa, will participate in the postponed 2020 General Conference scheduled for April 23May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. About 30, representing clergy and lay, will be among Africa’s delegates; other graduates will serve as alternates, marshals, translators, and media crew.
This General Conference’s 862 voting delegates were elected to serve and reflect the diversity of The United Methodist Church. Attendees will be from the U.S., Africa, Europe, Asia and concordat churches from The Methodist Church of Great Britain, The Methodist Church of Mexico, The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico and The Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas. Overall attendance is anticipated to be around 5,000 people. (umc.org)
From the North Katanga Episcopal Area, Rev. Betty Kazadi introduced herself: “I am Kazadi Musau Betty, a delegate to the General Conference. I am an alumna of Africa University, where I was trained to love and lead in the Wesleyan way of building relationships and loving without measures. I am what I am because of Africa University. Forever, I will treasure and protect United Methodist assets.”
Rev. André Cassule Zundo Vieira, an elected delegate for the Angola East Conference, studied at Africa
University from 2006-2009. He explains, “I am now an ordained clergy since 2009. I served in five churches as a local pastor. I am also serving as a lecturer in the Faculty of Theology of Quéssua, where I was the Dean from 2012-2018. From 2019-2023, I served as the Bishop’s Assistant.”
Participating in a General Conference is a remarkable opportunity to witness a unique gathering of United Methodists from all over the world who have accepted the responsibility to come together to pray, worship, and make decisions in support of the denomination’s global mission—to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
