Embraces people of all cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations;

Allows people to express their doubts and ask important questions;

Sees science as a window into the wonders of the universe;

Serves and empowers rather than controls and manipulates;

Rejects dogma;

Gives people a chance to serve those in need, here and around the world.

Africa University Update

As her legacy for years of teaching, Grace Clark, on her 100th birthday, established the Grace Clark Scholarship Endowment Fund, for women attending Africa University. We at SOTH have continued to support this most important endeavor. Following is an update from Andra Stevens, Director, Information & Public Affairs.


"Warm hellos to you. Here is the campus situation update that you requested.

Zimbabwe’s presidential run-off election period passed uneventfully for Africa University. This is the long vacation (southern winter) period, so the majority of students and staff are away from campus.

The University closed its administrative offices on Wednesday, 25 June and gave staff the day off on Thursday, 26 June to allow those who needed to travel to get to their respective polling stations, to do so. After reviewing developments around the election, the Dean of Students addressed the 20+ international students who are remaining on campus through the vacation period and advised them to stay within the campus during the immediate pre-election and post-election period.

By and large, students heeded this advice and both they and the staff members who live on campus had a very quiet weekend. There were no incursions by anyone onto the campus and staff and students on the campus were not disturbed in any way.

For the past two weeks, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and other national security personnel have maintained a roadblock at the Fairview Road turnoff to campus (but along the main road to Nyanga that bypasses the campus). This is one of dozens of similar roadblocks on major roads throughout the country. Motorists using the Nyanga Road are randomly stopped for vehicle checks and asked to produce driver’s licenses. University staff members are going through the roadblock daily and report that the process is smooth and they have not been harassed in any way.

I trust that I have been helpful. Take care,
Andra Stevens
Director, Information & Public Affairs
Africa University
P O Box 1320
Mutare, Zimbabwe
Tel/fax: +263 (0) 20 66169 (direct line)
Cell: +263 (0) 11 617 332
Tel: +263 (0) 20 60075 or 60026 or 61611 (switchboard)
Fax: +263 (0) 20 61785
E-mail: dipa@africau.ac.zw
URL: www.africau.edu

"Anything you can do or dream you can, do it. Begin it now. Boldness has genius and power in it." - Goethe

In a recent sermon, Jack Hennings, Minister Emeritus, offered a helpful perspective. Following are some highlights from that Message.

As Progressive Christians, how do we "hear" the Scriptures? What do we get out of the Scriptures? What does it mean to say that the Bible is the word of God?

In order to answer these questions for ourselves, we need to remember that ‘God is still speaking,’ still revealing God's nature and plan for our lives. We need to ask how God reveals the Loving Spirit in our lives outside of  the Scriptures. At Shepherd of the Hills, we experience the Loving Spirit in our music, our children, our fellowship together just as powerfully as we experience that Spirit in the Scriptures.

Scriptures are stories handed down over thousands of years. Today's stories, like the children's story we  heard today, can also reveal  the Loving Spirit and we can learn from them. Both the formal Scriptures and the contemporary stories have a powerful mythology that attempts to describe a mystery that can't really be described – the character of God.

We are not called or required to take literally the words of Scripture but to listen openly to the Spirit behind the words and ask the questions together. This is the essence of worship.

As Progressive Christians we are called to embrace a tripod of faith: Scripture, Tradition, and Reason (what we believe must make sense). We each, singly and in community, must articulate our vision and live into it.

Scripture calls us to create our own unique vision in response to the Spirit behind the words… to answer the question: How is our life impacted by the grace of the Loving Spirit? (What is the character of God revealed in the Scriptures?)

Our hearts can be opened to a new way of being, a way of peace, a way of justice, a way of sharing the good news of God's love.        

At first the disciples couldn't understand Jesus' message. But they grew to an understanding by asking the questions together and they gathered together time and again and ultimately were transformed. We too seek that transformation.

We need to commit to our vision with all the passion we possess. We are to be forgiving, loving people: we are the instruments of peace, standing for justice throughout the world.

Our world needs healing. Let it begin in and with us.