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Mission co-worker will report on work in Palestine

The Rev. Loren McGrail, a minister, theologian, poet/artist who has served the YWCA of Palestine as a Global Ministries co-worker, will be available in the Pacific Northwest UCC Conference and the Northwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to give presentations and preach in congregations from Monday, Nov. 12 through Saturday, Dec. 6. She will have an art display at University UCC in Seattle from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17.

Loren McGrail

Mary Olney and Ruth Brandon of the regional/conference Global Ministries Committee are arranging for Disciples and UCC congregations to host her.

Loren, who served five years at the YWCA as communications advocacy and church relations officer, focused on advocacy with women. She related to churches and wrote newsletters and Action Alerts.

She coordinated the Fabric of Our Lives Project, which supports women’s livelihoods and calls attention to Palestinian refugees’ rights, including the Right of Return. She also accompanies delegations to site visits in Jerusalem.

In 2011, she first went to Palestine and Israel as a short-term Global Ministries ecumenical accompanier with the World Council of Churches, and since then has written a blog to share theologically on what is happening there.

The YWCA supports women’s leadership so women can realize their rights and capabilities in terms of women’s economic development, women’s rights, youth leadership and civic engagement, and children’s education.

The Church of Scotland has also supported her work. Many of her sermons and mission stories are on the Global Ministries website or agarmentofdestiny.blogspot.com.

Loren, a 1976 graduate of the University of Oregon in English literature, earned a certificate in international mission and ecumenism at Boston Theological Institute in 1976. She was a foreign language teacher in Spain and France from 1980 to 1984, and worked in language and adult literacy in Boston and Durham, N.C., until 2003.  She earned a master of divinity at Andover Newton Theological School in 2005 and was a multi-faith chaplain at Hartford Hospital until 2010.

Churches may invite nearby UCC or Disciples congregations to attend.

For information, contact Mary Olney-Loyd, maryolneyloyd@gmail.com or Ruth Brandon, arembe@mac.com.

 

Copyright © September 2018

 

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