News media Contact: Linda Bloom · (212) 870-3803 · New York, N.Y.
Approved by board directors during their Oct. 9-13 annual meeting, the project will return agricultural land, transportation routes and the grounds of social institutions to full productivity. The agency will set up its own company, purchase state-of-the-art equipment and hire experts to train local workers. Mines will be removed from United Methodist property in Mozambique and from at least an equal number of acres of other land.
The agency hopes to expand the land mine removal project into Angola and is pursuing an agreement with Office of the U.S. Secretary of State for Global Humanitarian De-mining to add federal funds to the project.
In other business, directors elected new officers for the quadrennium. Bishop Joel Martinez of San Antonio is president. Vice presidents are Genie Bank of Lexington, Mich., who also serves as president of the board's Women's Division; Bishop Joseph Humper, Sierra Leone, West Africa; and Bishop Jonathon Keaton, North Canton, Ohio.
Bishop Lindsay Davis of Atlanta leads the Health and Relief division. Chairpeople of standing committees are Cashar Evans of Kitty Hawk, N.C., finance; Charlene Black of Young Harris, Ga., mission development; the Rev. Sally Dyck of Wooster, Ohio, personnel; Daniel Soliz of Dallas, nominations and legislation; and Phyllis Ferguson of Seattle, policy and bylaws.
Other large grants approved by Board of Global Ministries directors included:
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