 Dr. Tuli Kassimoto gifted the Seminary with a cloth that bears the seal of the Moravian Church. In Tanzania this is worn by women for special occasions. Pictured here, left to right, are Dr. Deborah Appler, Associate Professor of Old Testament, who taught for a semester at TEKU in 2006; Dr Kassimoto, Vice-Chancellor of TEKU; Ann Gibson, Director of Vocation and Enrollment and host of the dinner gathering; and Neoloath Mwakalinga, who is currently studying at Moravian Seminary as a participant in the TEKU exchange program. |
The Moravian community in Bethlehem was honored with a visit by Dr. Kassimoto, Vice Chancellor of the Teofilo Kisanji University (TEKU) in Mbeya, Tanzania, from April 16-18.
Dr. Kassimoto was in Pennsylvania participating in a conference for university administrators at Penn State in State College. While in relatively close proximity, it was arranged for her to come to Bethlehem for a few days to meet with faculty and staff of Moravian Theological Seminary, where her university shares an exchange of students.
Though in Bethlehem only a short time, Dr. Kassimoto had an opportunity to meet with Moravian College and Seminary faculty and administrators, dine with Moravian church officials, tour the historic Moravian buildings in Bethlehem, and foster friendships and working relationships.
Since 2004, Moravian Seminary has supported TEKUs efforts to achieve accreditation from the Tanzanian government. In a cooperative agreement, TEKU faculty members have come to MTS to earn the MA Theological Studies in order to return to Tanzania and enter into doctoral work. Three students have already participated in the program: Revocatus Meza who is currently serving as the Dean of Faculty of the Theological School at TEKU; Mary Kategile, who serves as a faculty member for the Theological School: and Neoloath Mwakalinga who will graduate from MTS and return to Tanzania in May.
Funding for the TEKU-MTS project has been made possible by grants from the Moravian Board of World Mission, the Society for Promoting the Gospel, Moravian Seminary, and individual donors.
The only glitch to Dr. Kassimoto's visit was encountered on her return trip home when her flight from Dulles to Amsterdam was cancelled due to volcanic ash over Europe. Though stuck in Washington, DC, she has been assisted by members of the Faith Moravian Church who have provided hospitality and advocacy with the airline reservationists.
Moravian Seminary looks forward to our continued work with the students and faculty at Teofilio Kisanji University.
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