International Dinner at General Assembly Sponsored by Global Ministries and the Council on Christian Unity
During the recent General Assembly in Orlando, Florida, Global Ministries and the Council on Christian Unity partnered to host an international dinner on Monday, July 15. The dinner, with the theme of “Celebrating the Global and Ecumenical Church,” was attended by over 500 people.
After opening music from violinist Richmond Punch, Rev. Dr. Moiseraele Prince Dibeela,
The Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries and the Council on Christian Unity joined together in celebrating the global and ecumenical church through the sponsorship of the International Dinner that was held at the General Assembly on Monday, July 15. The International Dinner attracted over 500 people!
After opening music from violinist Richmond Punch, Rev. Dr. Moiseraele Prince Dibeela, General Secretary of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, delivered the 27th Peter Ainslie Lecture on Christian Unity. Rev. Dr. Ainslie, an early twentieth-century church leader in the Disciples of Christ, was a strong advocate for the unity of all Christians and the first president of the Council on Christian Union (predecessor of the Council on Christian Unity). Speaking on the theme of the General Assembly, “Lord Teach Us to Pray,” Rev. Dr. Dibeela noted that “when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray they got more than what they bargained for. He offered them words that are subversive. In the midst of thievery, greed, corruption, and excessive opulence, the poor are able to cry to the God of life ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ They are able to claim their share of the resources of the earth and the goodness of God.” Dr. Dibeela called for an ecumenical movement that is a global community of prayer, working together to live out the prophet Isaiah’s words that “they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
The international dinner also served as the official Disciples launch of a new Global Ministries program, the Congo Initiative. This 18 month emphasis will involve many aspects of engagement including Bible study curriculum, People to People immersion trips to the Congo as well as the hosting of delegates from the partner, opportunities to learn about and be involved in advocacy issues which have been identified by partners in the Congo and worship resources designed to help experience God and faith in new and challenging ways. The Congo Initiative was officially launched by the United Church of Christ during a luncheon at General Synod on July 1, 2013, in Long Beach, California. For more information and to see how you and your church can get involved, please click here.
For a copy of the Ainslie Lecture, go to http://ccu.disciples.org/ and click on the link under “What’s New”: 27th Ainslie Lecture presented by the Rev. Dr. Prince Dibeela.