Reaching out to People by Church Music

UEM Conference of Co-Workers and Scholarship Holders elaborates recommendations to the Member Churches.

Following the invitation from ELCT-NWD, from November 5 to 11, the UEM Co-Workers in the African Region as well as some present and former scholarship holders gathered in Bukoba, Tanzania.
The Conference takes place every three years and is focused on getting insight into one special theme, getting to know one member church in the Region, exchanging working and life experiences in a foreign country as well as reflecting on theological questions and celebrating together. This year the Conference was themed "Music as a Tool for Evangelism".

On September 10, the North-Western Region of Tanzania was hit by a heavy earthquake. The participants of the conference, coming from Namibia, Rwanda, the DRC, Germany and Tanzania, visited damaged and destroyed buildings owned by Christians in the North-Western Diocese and, by taking part in various Sunday services, expressed their solidarity on behalf of the communion of churches in UEM.

During Bible studies and devotions, the subject of "music in the bible" was reflected on. Co-workers and scholarship holders participated in an all-day workshop at Ruhija School of Music and visited the Tumaini Children Centre in Bukoba. The hosting church took many opportunities to give the participants insight into the variety of their work in the field of music.

After an intensive exchange throughout the week, the participants of the conference issued a list of recommendations to the UEM member churches, such as a stronger integration of church music in theological studies as well as the promotion and increased professionalization of church musicians.

UEM/ Jörg Spitzer