SPECIAL PROJECTS
allocated grants by the World Church Action Group
from September 2002
1. L e a r n i n g a n d C a r i n g
2 S e r v i c e
3. E v a n g e l i s m
4. W o r s h i p
5. M i s s i o n s t a t e m e n t
L e a r n i n g a n d C a r i n g
The Church exists to help people to grow and learn as Christians,
through mutual support and care
A S I A P A C I F I C
Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)
Health, healing and wholeness (HIV/AIDS)
This grant is for a training programme to enable member churches of Christian Conference of Asia to engage in the issues surrounding the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Asia. The situation is more than an issue of health. Ethics, spiritual and human rights need also to be addressed. The programme planned is for public awareness and capacity building in creating life together and an environment in which people living with HIV/AIDS can experience love, care and compassion. (£7,000)
World Church Committee (WCC) and Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) Institute of Theology Teachers in Asia
The ecumenical colleges in Asia are losing ground both financially and theologically as more and more denominational affiliations are sought. This is causing concern for theological educators in Asia where the significant thrust is to do things ecumenically. The recent meeting of the Association of Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA) agreed with the WWC and CCA proposal to set up a series of three meetings in North East Asia, South East Asia and South Asia to re-establish a theological base for ecumenical working and training. The concern is to be sensitive to denominational difference but inclusive of those differences in creative and meaningful ways. (£6,700)
Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)
Gender Justice
The CCA has moved from ‘Women’s Concerns’ to ‘Gender Justice’ in the belief that women and men are created in the image of God. The call is for Shalom – wholeness and harmony in community and in all of creation. Yet in many parts of Asia (and the world) women have been denied this fullness due to gender and role stereotyping and the ideology of patriarchy that permeates church and society.
The programme is to establish a women’s development fund to enable women desk offices and other women leaders to participate in training events around the region. In accordance with the WCC decade to overcome violence they plan workshops on eliminating all forms of violence and discrimination against women.
There is a particular programme planned for women in conflict and the Myanmar council of churches is working with a pilot programme. This imitative will enable women to gain confidence (£7,500)
Fiji
Ecumenical Centre for Research Education
and Advocacy (ECREA)
In May 2000 Fiji experienced its third political coup since 1987 and while the initial crisis is over the country remains divided along both ethnic and religious lines. ECREA embarked on a programme of Peace Building and Conflict Transformation. Following further research and conversations it was considered helpful to arrange a study exchange trip to South Africa. The project goals are to learn from the experiences of the South Africa Peace Centres at local, district and national level. The report will include proposals on how to implement a similar programme and plans for the establishment of an Institute for Peace Building and Conflict Transformation. (£3,100)
Asia Pacific
World Association for Christian Communication.
programmes and projects
WACC is a global, ecumenical charitable organisation established by communicators with the aim to give priority to Christian values in the world’s communication and development needs. It is committed to the search for just and liberating ways of ensuring the right to communication.
Seven programmes in the Asia Pacific region.
- Upgrading audio equipment for the Religious Television Association of Papua New Guinea.
- Basic Radio Broadcasting and Training Workshops, WACC Pacific Regional Association, Suva, Fiji.
- Women’s Development Programme, Women’s Development Centre, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
- Media Awareness through Group Media, Puskat Audio Visual Studio, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
- Communication Programme for People’s Development, Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Arasaradi, India.
- Training for Street Theatre on HIV/AIDS, Imayam Social Welfare Association, Gandhipuram, India.
- Communication Equipment, Al-Liqa’ Centre for Religious and Heritage Studies in the Holy Land, Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine. (£15,000)
A M E R I C A S & THE C A R I B B E A N
Bolivia
Higher Andean Institute of Theology (ISEAT) & MC Bolivia
Grants to Methodist Students in Theological Education
In Feb 2002 MC in Bolivia and ISEAT signed a mutual accord of collaboration and service that commits the MC Bolivia to pay the “real costs” associated with the training of students endorsed by IEMB. In return the students would receive quality training endorsed and recognised by the Latin American Biblical University in San Jose, Costa Rica. (£13,300)
Mexico
Frontier Internship in Mission (FIM) for State of Chiapas
Internship one year extension
This grant is to enable existing key work in Human Rights and Mission to make a smooth transition into another area. The Centro De Derechos Indigenas A.C. has requested a one-year extension of this internship so that Rosalina Cruz, a citizen of Chiapas, can make the transition from the Center for Indigenous Rights to a new centre. The new team is called The Training of Ministries for the Spreading of Reconciliation and Resolution of Conflicts. This is a programme aimed at creating greater understanding and peace between Mayan and Christian cultures. (£7,150)
A F R I C A
Kenya
Communications Department Kenya MC
The Co-ordinator of this department is the Revd John Muriungi who is both an ordained Methodist Minister and a professionally trained journalist. The Department produces a magazine called Methodist Digest and other news and devotional media and is also the location of MCK archives. A management board oversees developments and the raising of funds and is also developing business plans to increase income through production and sales. The grant is to help them upgrade their technical capacity. (£9,500)
S e r v i c e
Christians are called to be good neighbours to people in need
and to challenge injustice
A S I A P A C I F I C
Solomon Islands
Churches Association,
Lauru Land Conference of Tribal Community
Methodist missionaries established large compounds with church, schools, medical posts/hospitals but at the outbreak of WW2 the Solomon Islands became a battlefield for the Allies against the Japanese and all expatriate personnel had to leave the country. This left the large properties for the people who had no way of maintaining them. The Lauru Land Conference for Tribal Community was established in 1981 to begin to address the issue of community development. The district is close to Papua New Guinea and Bougainville Island where the strife torn people left their homes by canoe and headed for Choiseul (Lauru Island). Necessities such as schooling and medical care became out of reach for most of the islanders. The LLC focus on communal ownership of traditional lands, conservation and long-term sustainable use of marine and natural resources, the preservation of the environment, the continuance of good customs and Christian values in a community where 99% of the population claim to be Christian. (£40,000 over five years)
Nepal
United Mission to Nepal (UMN)
Rural Development Department
The rural department of UMN is committed to providing training and resources for Nepali staff in order to hand over the running of all programmes. At present there is little or no opportunity for women with limited tertiary education to take advantage of any scholarship/ bursaries available from external source. This grant is for the training and empowerment of women in rural areas. (£5,000)
Nepal
Prison Fellowship Nepal
Victim Support and Rehab programme
Prison Fellowship Nepal is a Christian NGO aiming to provide ‘half-way’ house care for ex-prisoners and their families. One of the areas of concern is the re-habitation of prisoners into the community and a halfway house has been built, not only providing somewhere to stay, but skills training for the ex-prisoners. The skills training on offer are tailoring, market gardening and electronics. These are complemented by sports activities, joint responsibilities for running the house and counselling. (£5,000)
Nepal
Forestry Training
The United Mission to Nepal has worked closely with rural development and agro forestry programmes from its foundation. Mission Partners are expected to support and train Nepalese staff to take over from them. It is becoming increasingly difficult for expatriates to get long-term visas in Nepal, and therefore even more important to train Nepalese for positions of responsibility. The Forestry programme needs well trained staff. This project is jointly funded by the United Church of the Netherlands. (£5,000)
A F R I C A
Kenya
Maua Hospital
Seed money for Kenyan surgeon, Dr Jean Machayo
Maua Hospital’s plan is to build up the surgical services by employing a Kenyan surgeon to augment and then replace Mission Partner surgical personnel. The presence of such a surgeon enables the hospital to increase its range of surgical services, attracting patients from near and far, including private and insured patients. It enables cost-effective management of difficult surgical emergencies. It motivates all current members of staff and also enhances the hospital’s ability to recruit other highly qualified employees. It has been calculated that the surgical unit should be up to full capacity and able to generate enough income to support the salary of the surgeon in three years. Dr Muchayo was appointed in May 2002 and very positive reports have been received of her work. (£11,200)
E U R O P E
Serbia
Methodist Church in Pivnice, Vojvodina, Serbia
Day Nursery Play Area
Pivnice is a village of 4,000 people in Vojvodina, Serbia, 50 kms from Novi Sad. 85% are Slovak speaking. The church is responding to a real community need for a children’s play and day nursery. There is no other safe area in the village for children to play, particularly those who are 6 or under. Like many villages in Serbia, the community is very impoverished – economically, financially and socially. The project means the church will come into contact with parents, particularly mothers and will be able to offer them support as well. (£3,150)
E v a n g e l i s m
Christians are called to make more followers of Jesus Christ
A S I A P A C I F I C
South Pacific Association of Theological Schools (SPATS)
Contextual Theological Support
SPATS is an administrative and facilitating body serving 25 member schools scattered over the South Pacific nations and covering an area of about 100,000 sq kilometres. There are three cultural groups; Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. SPATS aims to strengthen Theological Education in the region, and to enable mutual consultation for theological research. The Weavers’ programme for women is an important development and MCB has supported this in the past. (£5,000)
Pakistan
Chapel of Hope, Church of Pakistan
Following the massacre during the service last October, the Christian community has been working quietly to re-establish itself as a body of peaceable and loving citizens, but anti-western sentiments continue to run high adding to the anxiety of the Christians. With the building of this Chapel of Hope, which is also a community centre, the Church of Pakistan is showing its commitment to her people and to all people of faith. (£4,500)
Fiji
Methodist Church
Youth Brass Band Instructor
The purpose of this post is to engage young people in evangelism through music. Revd Ian White, President of Methodist Church Britain 2002/3 visited Fiji and was convinced of the mission significance of the Youth Brass Band Instructor post. Revd Lai Ratabacaca on his September visit to Methodist Church House also made a special plea for this project. (£7,500)
A M E R I C A S & T H E C A R I B B E A N
MCCA Barbados
Circuit Youth Worker (Ebenezer Circuit)
The Ebenezer Circuit of the MCCA South Caribbean District has recently seen a great increase in population growth due to government policy. This has resulted in an increase in the problems of HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, crime and unemployment. The Circuit Youth Worker will develop and execute programmes aimed at the young people of the church (youth groups, youth camps, planning and preparation of vacation bible schools etc). Beyond the Church, the worker would also assist and inform new youth organisations, lead the circuit in outreach to youth programmes, develop the abilities of young people and represent the church on national and ecumenical bodies dealing with young people’s concerns. (£8,000)
YOUR GENEROUS GIVING TO THE FUND FOR WORLD MISSIONFUNDS THIS WORK
THANK YOU
These are only a few of the Special Grants allocated.
If you would like to know more please contact:
Mission Education - Telephone: 00 44 20 467 5116
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