| NEWS | Africa University professor elected bishop By Andra Stevens
UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE The Africa Central Conference, meeting Aug. 19-21, elected a seasoned educator and evangelist, the Rev. Eben Kanukayi Nhiwatiwa, as a bishop.  | Nhiwatiwa | Nhiwatiwa, a longstanding member of the faculty at United Methodist-related Africa University, was assigned to Zimbabwe Area. He succeeds Bishop Christopher Jokomo, who retired in June due to ill health. Nhiwatiwa will begin his duties as bishop Sept. 1. Two other bishops, Jose Quipungo of East Angola Area and Gaspar Joao Domingos of West Angola Area, were re-elected for life. The two were first elected to the episcopacy in 2000. Nhiwatiwa has been involved with Africa University in Zimbabwe since its inception. In its planning stages he hosted site selection and other meetings at Old Mutare Mission, where he served as pastor-in-charge. He joined the staff in the Faculty of Theology in February 1992 to teach pastoral theology. On campus, his colleagues reacted to his election with great pride. “We'd like to keep him in the faculty but we see that there is need for leadership in Africa today and Africa University is producing leaders, not only in the students we are training but from amongst our lecturers and administrators,” said David Yemba, dean of the Faculty of Theology. “Dr. Nhiwatiwa has played a huge role in developing the faculty and university as a whole, so we're pleased that the church has recognized his many strengths and seen fit to elect him to this level of leadership,” said Rukudzo Murapa, vice chancellor of Africa University. “Through his many years of service, he has demonstrated loyalty, commitment and real devotion to nurturing young pastors and strengthening and equipping the church in Africa.” Speaking just hours after the election, Nhiwatiwa said he would continue to serve The United Methodist Church in much the same way as he has since he was ordained as a deacon in 1974. He stressed consultation and trust and consensus building as aspects of his leadership style, saying that motivating and unifying the membership of the Zimbabwe East and Zimbabwe West annual conferences would be among his priorities. “We are going through very difficult times economically and politically, so each church member must feel that he or she is part and parcel of the church and has something to contribute, no one will be sitting on the sidelines,” said Nhiwatiwa. Having served as conference secretary for Zimbabwe Area since 1992, the 55-year-old Nhiwatiwa is knowledgeable about the challenges and concerns facing The United Methodist Church in southern Africa. He is also well known and respected across the five annual conferences in the Africa Central Conference. He's been general secretary of the Africa Central Conference since 2000. Packing supplies for Africa 
| JOHN COLEMAN JR./UMCONNECTION BALTIMORE—Volunteers prepare boxes of donated supplies Aug. 14 for United Methodists in impoverished Sierra Leone, West Africa. The conference Committee on Africa collected and shipped more than 430 items including textbooks, school supplies, computers, hospital beds and medical equipment. Along with committee leaders, the Revs. Victor Sawyer, right, and Earl Mason, rear, the small group of volunteers included these four women from Northwood-Appold UMC in Baltimore and others from St. John UMC in Lutherville. Neighbors who live near the Johns Hopkins University warehouse where the container was loaded also helped. Volunteers are needed again – this time in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore – on Friday, Sept. 10, and Saturday, Sept. 11, to pack boxes and load another container for shipment to United Methodists in Liberia. For locations and more information, contact the Rev. Rudolph Bropleh at (410)-982-1134 or
. More information will also appear in e-connection and on the conference Web site. | |
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