Through the Global Health Initiative, The United Methodist Church has joined a worldwide response to rapidly scale-up our efforts in the fight against malaria. At General Conference 2008, we committed to a major, five-year campaign in partnership with leaders in global health to help overcome malaria – a devastating, but preventable disease of poverty.

We ask each annual conference to identify two leaders who can represent the conference and the bishop’s dedication to Imagine No Malaria with districts and congregations within the annual conference. These positions will be Global Health Advocates.

We ask for Global Health Advocates to be selected and communicated to the office of the Global Health Initiative. Gary Henderson, Executive Director of the Global Health Initiative, can be reached at (615) 742-5768.

An ideal leader may be:

· A dedicated conference staff person;

· A retired bishop or highly-recognized clergy; or

· A determined and/or high-profile lay leader.

Responsibilities of the Global Health Advocates include the following:

· Champion Imagine No Malaria in the annual conference and encourage its success;

· Help set the conference plan (with the bishop or other conference leadership) based on the congregation’s potential to achieve maximum human impact in overcoming malaria;

· Assist in identifying and recruiting leadership for districts in the conference, and approve appointments of district leadership; and

· Manage the educational and fund-raising plan and provide direct leadership to district chairs within the conference.

If you are interested in this position, please let the conference office know, 333-5050.