New funding system finding acceptance

Disciples new funding system proposal is finding wide acceptance among the denomination's 73 recipient boards, who receive funding from the denomination's common mission fund.

To date four general ministry partners of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and 18 Disciples regional ministry boards have approved the plan overwhelmingly accepted by the General Board in July. To date two regions -- the Upper Midwest and the Georgia regions -- disapprove of the plan. Go to http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2002/0288.htm for the complete release.

Fellowship groups boost Disciples fund by $24,000

Two churchwide groups financially boosted the support of Disciples general ministries through offerings received during summertime meetings. In a solid show of their financial support to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Disciples women gave the church's common mission fund more than $22,000. Disciples African-American constituent group also received more than $2,400 for general church ministries. Go to http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2002/0289.htm for the complete release.

Global Ministries to offer new-church planters in North America opportunity to learn in other countries

As Disciples work to start new churches and nurture the pastors who lead them, the overseas mission unit of the church plans to help.

The Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Global Ministries, the common witness of Disciples and the United Church of Christ, will offer new-church planters in North America the opportunity to meet and learn alongside new-church planters of partner organizations in other countries. Click here for more information http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2002/0290.htm.

Sir Garfield Todd dies at 94

(Sir) R. S. Garfield Todd a Disciples of Christ missionary from New Zealand and former prime minister of Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe) died Sunday in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, after suffering a stroke. He was 94.

Todd was born in New Zealand and in 1934, he and his wife served as missionaries at Dadaya Mission, a school in Southern Rhodesia. The school at Shabani, 150km northeast of Bulawayo, is home to thousands of students and regarded as one of the finest in the country. High-profile leaders, including president Robert Mugabe, received and provided education at the school.

Todd was prime minister from 1953 to 1958. He backed Zimbabwe's independence for two decades before it was finally granted in 1990.

Todd was kept under house arrest for five years by former prime minister Ian Smith. And earlier this year president Mugabe's government attempted to block Todd from voting and revoked his passport. During this same time, three schools near his Bulawayo home were renamed in honor of him and his late wife, viewed as heroes for their distinguished service to the country.

His wife Grace, died last year. He is survived by three daughters and two grandchildren.

For more extensive obituaries you can visit the Los Angeles Times www.latimes.com/news/obituaries or the Washington Post www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/metro/obituaries/ at the links provided.