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OCMS (www.ocms.ac.uk) -
The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies
Advancing Holistic Mission through Scholarly Engagement
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OCMS (www.ocms.ac.uk) -
The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies
Advancing Holistic Mission through Scholarly Engagement
Conference at OCMS - 15th September 2010
Date item posted: 21st July 2010
On the 15th of September 2010, OCMS will be hosting the conference: ‘Ministering to the Diaspora: A Case Study of Zimbabweans in Britain’.
When Zimbabweans in Britain reflect on their condition as immigrants, the following expressions often emerge: traumatized (by what their country, and they themselves, have been through), alienated (in a new culture), dislocated (from what they knew as home, and the changes their homeland is going through), de-skilled (in that Zimbabweans are often not afforded opportunities to work in the roles for which they were trained), identity dilemmas, and other challenges both peculiar to their circumstances, and common to the experiences of other immigrants. What are Christians doing to meet these needs? Are they reaching out in compassion? Or is all this just an irrelevance, someone else's problem? A day-long symposium at OCMS on the 15th of September will bring together Zimbabweans from all walks of life, a panel of international scholars, pastors and Christian aid workers, and other interested parties to understand the nature of the people and their dilemmas, the obstacles they face, the lost opportunities, and the compassionate responses that some local Christians are engaged in, as well as reflections of what further work needs to be done. Speakers include Tecla Wight (Policy Officer in the Equalities Unit, City of Fife, Scotland), Professor JoAnn McGregor (University College of London), Pastor Oobolwakhe Mayisa (OCMS alumnus and co-ordinator of the Association of Zimbabwe Christian Leaders in the UK), and Dave Smith of the Boaz Trust.
The conference will run from 9.30am to 5pm and will include complimentary lunch and refreshments.
The conference is free, however, delegates must register in advance to ensure a place. For more information and registration forms, please contact Dr. Clayton Peel (capeel@ocms.ac.uk).