Iranian President fields questions at Church Center for the United Nations

by YVETTE MOORE*

New York City, Sept. 27--Ecumenical leaders peppered Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with questions about peace, Iran’s nuclear program, the Holocaust and the state of human rights in his country during a 2 1/2-hour interfaith dialogue at the Women’s Division-owned Church Center for the United Nations in New York City yesterday.

President Ahmadinejad is in the city for the opening of the United Nation’s General Assembly.

Women’s Division Deputy General Secretary Harriett Jane Olson opened the event with a welcome to the gathering that shared a bit of United Methodist Women history.

“This ‘set aside’ space is designed to offer both the hospitality and the testimony that is part of the Christian calling to stand for the ‘things that make for peace,’” Ms. Olson said. “Based on our understanding of that calling, we have offered this space to ecumenical dialog and witness since 1963.

“We know that women and children are particularly vulnerable to violence and to war, and so we stand for them. We stand with the women and children of Iraq … Israel ... Palestine … the United States.

“We engage in this work because we are part of the Wesleyan theological tradition. In our tradition, as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, we express our personal piety by taking action to make the world more loving and just.”

President Ahmadinejad cited the biblical prophets’ message of justice and peace as God’s desire for the world in his opening statement replete with religious language and concepts. Six church leaders followed in turn with comments and questions. Ecumenical panelist included Albert Lobe, executive director, Mennonite Central Committee; the Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, Executive Secretary, Canadian Council of Churches; Mary Ellen McNish, general secretary, American Friends Committee; Fr. Drew Christiansen, editor of America; the Rev. Chris Ferguson, representative to the United Nations, Commission of the Churches on International Affairs; and Dr. Glen Stassen, professor of Christian ethics, Fuller Seminary.

When asked about human rights violations against Christians and other minorities in his country, the Iranian leader said Jews, Christians, Armenians and Assyrians have political representation in the nation’s government greater than their percentage of the population.

Church leaders who met with the leader previously said President Ahmadinejad did not deny the Jewish Holocaust, but called it part of 50 million people killed during World War II. Calls for a clear public acknowledgement of the Jewish Holocaust resulted in the president reiterating his position that it should be studied as an academic subject.

On peace, President Mahmoud said it is Iran rather than Israel or the United States that should be concerned about the use of nuclear weapons in the region.

“Who are the ones to really be concerned, you in the United States or Iranians?” President Mahmoud said. “In the Middle East, who’s the one who has 200 nuclear warheads? We’re the ones who should be concerned when 100,000 troops are on our border threatening us everyday. But we have not expressed concern. That’s the irony.”

President Ahmadinejad said international inspections confirm that Iran is enriching uranium at energy-use levels.

The dialogue was the third with President Ahmadinejad for some church leaders at the event. Forty-five U.S. religious leaders met with him in New York City September 2006 and another 13 met with him in Tehran in February.

Ms. Olson said the day’s dialogue was part of a long haul to peacemaking.

“We haven’t reached the point of hard truth-telling,” Ms. Olson said. “But this dialogue may help to de-escalate the language of hostility, which is a necessary part of building bridges.”

Ms. Olson said opening the doors of the church center for the dialogue was a decision based in the Christian faith.

“The Christian Gospel calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27); to love even our enemies (Luke 6: 27); and to open dialogue with those with whom we are in conflict for the sake of peacemaking (Matthew 18:15-17),” Ms. Olson said.

Co-sponsors of this interfaith dialogue include:

.Friends Committee on National Legislation
.American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
.World Council of Churches, Commission of the Church on International Affairs
.Mennonite Church Canada
.Pax Christi USA
.Church of the Brethren (General Board)
.World Council of Religions for Peace
.Sojourners
.Mennonite Church – USA
.Mennonite Central Committee

Women’s Division is the national policymaking arm of United Methodist Women, a nearly 800,000-member organization within the United Methodist Church in the United States. The organization’s purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice.

*Yvette Moore is an executive secretary for communications for the Women’s Division of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.

Volunteer creates ministry for diabetics
By John Gordon*

Registered nurse Patty Larraga, founder of the Institute of Minority Health Education and Research, discusses diabetes management at an assisted-living center in Wichita, Kan. UMNS photos by John Gordon.

WICHITA, Kan. (UMNS)-Making her rounds as a home-health care nurse, Patty Larraga noticed something unusual: a dangerous disease that seemed to hit the Hispanic community especially hard.

"Diabetes is a very insidious or sneaky disease," says Larraga. "People walk around for many years, often times, and don't even know it."

Larraga began volunteering her time to find those with diabetes--and teach them how to lead healthier lives and avoid life-threatening complications. She founded the Institute of Minority Health Education and Research as an outreach to Hispanics living in the Wichita area. A $50,000 grant from United Methodist Health Ministry Fund is helping the organization expand its programs.

"We know now that no one has to die blind, no one has to lose their feet nor do they have to end up on dialysis," says Larraga, whose husband was diagnosed with the disease two years ago. "These are the three complications that we know we can prevent."

Institute volunteers conduct screening clinics to help diagnose diabetes. The organization also holds bilingual classes to show diabetics how to manage the disease by watching their diet, exercising and regularly checking their blood sugar.

Larraga's organization has developed a relationship with GraceMed, a Wichita health clinic supported by the United Methodist Kansas West Annual (regional) Conference. GraceMed is the biggest source of referrals for the classes.

Dave Sanford, the clinic's executive director, says 12,000 patients are treated there every year. Most of them are uninsured or under-insured.

"The No. 1 chronic disease state that we address is diabetes," says Sanford. "We see a lot of health-care disparities when it comes to the minority population. And so when it comes to Hispanics or African-Americans, there's a higher rate of diabetes."

Jose Gasca knows well the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Gasca, 63, is a GraceMed patient who was referred to Larraga's classes to learn more about managing his diabetes.

"I myself have lost brothers, relatives that have left this earth way too early because they weren't getting a full guidance as how to manage their diabetes," he says.

Adjustments in his diet are also part of Gasca's plan. "With Latinos, we just love our food and we tend to overeat," he explains. "So it's important to exercise. It's something we live with, that we can manage every day."

Diana Juarez, an institute volunteer who is the group's director of education, meets those who have completed the educational courses for walks in the park to put into practice what they learned in the classroom.

"It concerns me that people (who) do not know they have diabetes will probably wait until there's a major complication to come down and learn that they have to treat it every day," she says. "So, it becomes a public health issue. Someone is paying the bill."

The United Methodist grant will allow the institute to become certified by the American Diabetes Association. According to Larraga, the organization will then be able to receive payments from Medicare and Medicaid for its educational programs, helping the mostly-volunteer group pay overhead expenses and other costs.

One of Larraga's goals is to train other health-care workers-promotores-to help spread the facts about diabetes and how to manage the disease.

"One community health worker can reach approximately a thousand people a year," she says, "and touch that many lives and make a difference. It's almost like we're cloning ourselves so they can help others."

*Gordon is a freelance writer and producer in Marshall, Texas.

United Methodists show hospitality to Jena, La., marchers
Protesters head for a rally from the parking lot at Nolley Memorial United Methodist Church in Jena, La. The church opened its doors to provide water and hospitality during the Sept. 20 march. A UMNS photo by the Rev. Dan Krutz.

UMNS Report By Linda Green and Yvette Moore*

A United Methodist church welcomed demonstrators and a churchwide agency called for equal justice in the wake of racially charged events at a high school in Jena, La.

On Sept. 20, tens of thousands of people from across the United States converged on tiny Jena to show their support for six black students facing criminal prosecution in the beating of a white student. The students, who have become known as the "Jena Six," were charged as adults for attempted murder in the beating, but charges were later reduced following protests of racial bias. The white student was treated and released from the hospital the same day and attended a school event that evening.

The beating was the latest in a series of incidents at and around Jena High School that included a group of white students hanging nooses from a tree at the school.

While businesses in Jena, a small, rural town of 3,000, were closed Sept. 20, the predominantly white Nolley Memorial United Methodist Church remained open and provided hospitality to some of the primarily African-American marchers.

The church had erected a sign with the denomination's welcoming message of "Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors" at the edge of town, "but I am not sure they saw the sign," said the Rev. Lyndle Bullard, pastor of Nolley Memorial.

When he, members of the 400-member congregation and annual conference officials arrived at the church at 7 a.m., the parking lot was full, and cars were also parked in the cemetery. "We just started greeting people and finding out where they were from," Bullard said. "We thanked them for coming and welcomed them to Jena. We talked about hospitality.

"We were the only church that was open in Jena," he said. "As the sign said, we were open. We did the right thing. We could have closed and said, 'we don't want you here,' but that was not an option. It was obvious that the only option was to be open."

The size of the march concerned Jena citizens so much that many closed businesses and left town, the pastor said. One automobile dealer moved the cars out of town. News reports estimated that between 20,000 and 50,000 people attended the Jena rally.

"But the people (the protesters) were wonderful, and it was a great surprise," Bullard said.

The Rev. Darlene Moore, pastor of Camphor United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, attended the Sept. 20 rally with members of the congregation and students from Louisiana State University.

"Throughout history, many people have had to stand up for what is right," she said. "So must the church stand up for justice. After all our country has been through, why do we have this climate today? There are things that all Christians can do to make a difference. First and foremost, we must read the Bible and live by the Bible, practicing those teachings. We can organize and participate in dialogues that build a climate of listening to one another and respecting each other."

Working for healing
"The United Methodist Church in Louisiana is continuing to play a role of support as the parties involved seek justice, reconciliation and healing," said Betty Backstrom, director of communications for the Louisiana Annual (regional) Conference. "Bishop William W. Hutchinson, along with other statewide ecumenical leaders, recently participated in conversations with church and community leaders in Jena in an effort to resolve the issues at hand. ... The entire conference is praying for justice and for healing as we assist in finding ways to work toward a godly resolution."

The Jena rally was one of many held around the United States on Sept. 20 in support of the Jena Six.

Some commentaries and editorials have observed that the Jena Six situation may have sparked the next movement of African-American youth. College students from across the United States traveled to Jena to make a stand for racial justice and equality as their parents and grandparents did in the 1950s and 1960s. They were concerned not only about the Jena Six case but about inequality throughout the country.

"It is important that young people of all races are paying attention and responding to this controversy," said Erin Hawkins, top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race. "Many of them have experienced racism, violence, threats and unfair punishment from authorities. Some can relate to what has happened to their peers in Jena. Some fear it could happen to them."

Women's Division speaks out
The Women's Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries issued a statement on the case and sent letters urging Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana Donald Washington to intervene.

"What is happening in Jena is the reflection of much deeper institutional racism in our nation," the statement said. "Fifty years after the gains of the civil rights movement, we are witnessing a 'new Jim Crow' racism that functions through unequal schools, courts and police forces that disproportionately criminalize and jail poor young black and Latino youth.

"Like our Methodist foremothers whose local missionary societies led the Southern anti-lynching societies and created The United Methodist Church's first Charter for Racial Justice Policies in 1952, we are compelled to speak out about what Jena, La., means for us as a nation today."

The letter from the Women's Division called on the government officials to:
+Investigate and monitor the criminal cases against the youth;
+Guarantee the youths' constitutional right to fair and equal treatment under the law; and
+Pursue justice in the situation.

The division called on United Methodist Women members to send similar letters to government officials in Louisiana and elsewhere. The division asked members to pray for the Jena community, in particular:

+For the six young men and their families, and that they receive justice;
+For justice, healing and reconciliation for all the families of Jena;
+For the faith communities of Jena and of Louisiana, that they continue efforts to bridge the racial divide and witness to God's work of justice and mercy in the world;
+For the United States to mend "a failed criminal justice system that incarcerates black men at alarming rates in an unequal application of the law."

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn. Moore is executive secretary for communications for the Women's Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Proposed Social Creed seeks global acceptance

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - Fresh off its world tour, a "user-friendly" United Methodist Social Creed faces its biggest audience next spring in its bid to become the church's "roadmap to making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

A small task force of six under the leadership of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society has been working on a 2008 Social Creed to replace the revised 1972 version.
The original creed was written in 1908 as a denominational statement decrying child labor and supporting the economic rights of workers, better workplace conditions, better wages and worker safety.

The 2004 United Methodist General Conference designated the period of 2005-2008 as a time of celebration, education and study of the Social Creed and Social Principles leading up to the 100th anniversary of the 1908 Social Creed.

As part of that celebration, the Board of Church and Society took on the task of writing a contemporary, timeless version to offer for future generations.

The final document was presented and approved at the directors meeting of the Board of Church and Society held Sept. 13-16. The creed now goes to the 2008 General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body, which meets April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Book of Discipline, the denomination's book of law, recommends the Social Creed be emphasized regularly in every congregation and used frequently in Sunday worship.

However, even Bishop Susan Morrison acknowledged that she wasn't sure what the creed said or where it could be found when she was asked to chair the task force.

"My experience is that is what has happened to the Social Creed. I have used it, but it wasn't part of me," she said. "One of the first decisions we made as a task force was to make it user-friendly."

On the road
Another priority was to make sure a new Social Creed reflects the global nature of the church. The task force took a draft to Europe, Africa and the Philippines for feedback and suggestions.
The first stop was last March in Oslo, Norway. The five European United Methodist bishops chose 12 delegates to attend.

"There were moments when I literally felt a chill at the joy of being in a setting with our sisters and brothers from across Europe and Euro-Asia and hearing them dialogue about this Social Creed," said Bishop Jane Allen Middleton, who began chairing the task force when Morrison retired in 2006.

"To be given the opportunity to discuss the Social Creed from a European perspective was both useful and interesting," said Bishop Øystein Olsen, episcopal leader for the Nordic and Baltic Area. "I was inspired by the level of enthusiasm and the knowledge among the participants, and look forward to seeing a global perspective in the final draft."

The second consultation was held May 25-26 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, where 36 participants from across the African Central Conferences gathered to review the text.

The consultation so inspired Albert Tyre that the composer and organist from Sierra Leone stayed up all night to compose an accompanying musical arrangement.

"It was a great encounter we all had in Kinshasa, and that has made a lot of difference in our lives," Tyre said. "We Africans have been so excited about the Social Creed more especially as it has been put into a song we could be singing."

Nathanael Arnel De Pano, a songwriter and musical director at Kamuning First United Methodist Church, Quezon City, Philippines, said he liked the idea of a more "reader-friendly, easier-to-digest" Social Creed.

"I like the collegial and consistent building style the participants have taken," he said of the Aug. 9-11 consultation held in Tagaytay City, Philippines. "Everyone is prepared to put forth a draft that is representative of the general disposition of the Philippines conference."

Singing creed
"At the three consultations, every time we got to the music was the most exciting time," said the Rev. Grace Cajiuat, a musician, conductor and associate pastor at Appleton (Wis.) First United Methodist Church. "Everyone got more excited about the Social Creed after experiencing it set to music."

The musical version, which was presented to the group in the Philippines and the directors meeting in Washington, was written by Carol Simpson, a 23-year-old music graduate attending Claremont School of Theology and serving as director of contemporary music and outreach ministries at Glendora (Calif.) United Methodist Church.

Her version is written in a "call and response" style. "I have attempted to create unity by choosing a melody and rhythm that all cultures can embrace," she said.

The task force will send the creed to other musicians in hopes of receiving different arrangements in a variety of genres including jazz, hip-hop, gospel and rock 'n' roll.

Marching orders
The United Methodist Social Creed has been the inspiration for other faith traditions to develop their own creeds including the National Council of Churches, according to Morrison.
The new creed is poetic and follows the sequence of the Social Principles from the natural community to the world community.

"It is written as marching orders for social holiness," said Rev. Mike McKee, a task force member. "If you read the document closely, you will see some phrases that are familiar to you from great hymns and Scripture."

The ending phrases are from Jesus' first public sermon in the Book of Luke. McKee notes that those same verses also were used by Methodism founder John Wesley to describe the character of the itinerant pastor.

"I can't tell you how profoundly we have felt the movement of the Holy Spirit in our midst," Middleton said. "Obviously we had a lot of choices from many recommendations over the last few years. But as we worked with the final language, it truly felt it was coming together as a wonderful whole."

Morrison said approving a new creed could be an important milestone at the upcoming General Conference.

"... If in the end we can approve a Social Creed that becomes part of the DNA of the future generations' faith stories, praise the Lord," she said.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

Women Division joins call for justice in Jena, La.

By Yvette Moore*

Sept. 20, 2007, New York City – The Women’s Division joined nationwide calls for equal justice for six black students facing criminal prosecution in the wake of racially charged events at their high school in Jena, La.

The students, known as the “Jena 6,” were charged as adults for attempted murder for beating up a white student at school after a series of racial incidents at and around the school. The white student was treated and released from the hospital the day of the fight and attended a school function the same evening.

Women’s Division issued a statement on the case and sent letters urging Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana Donald Washington to intervene in the case. The letters called on the government officials to:

.Investigate and monitor the criminal cases against the youth;
.Guarantee the youths’ constitutional right to fair and equal treatment under the law; and
.Pursue justice in the situation.

The division called on United Methodist Women members to send similar letters to Louisiana and other government officials. The division asked members to pray for the Jena community, in particular:

.The six young men, their families, and that they gain justice;
.For justice, healing and reconciliation for all the families of Jena;
.For the faith community of Jena and of Louisiana, that they might continue efforts to bridge the racial divide and witness to God’s work of justice and mercy in the world;
.For our nation to mend a failed criminal justice system that incarcerates black men at alarming rates in an unequal application of the law.

“What is happening in Jena is the reflection of much deeper institutional racism in our nation,” the Women’s Division stated. “Fifty years after the gains of the Civil Rights Movement we are witnessing a ‘new Jim Crow’ racism that functions through unequal schools, courts and police forces that disproportionately criminalize and jail poor young black and Latino youth.

“Like our Methodist foremothers whose local missionary societies led the Southern anti-lynching societies and created the United Methodist Church’s first Charter for Racial Justice Policies in 1952, we are compelled to speak out about what Jena, La., means for us as a nation today.”

The Women’s Division is the national policy-making body of United Methodist Women, a nearly 800,000-member organization in the United Methodist Church in the United States. Its purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. United Methodist Women members give more than $20 million a year for programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and around the world.

*Yvette Moore is an executive secretary for communications for the Women’s Division of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.

Agency calls for targeted divestment in Israel, Sudan

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - The United Methodist Church's social action agency wants the denomination to divest from companies providing products or services used for "illegal destruction" in Palestinian areas or that are doing business with the government of Sudan.

Resolutions on the two divestment issues will be sent to the 2008 General Conference for consideration when the church's top policy-making body meets April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The resolutions came out of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society's fall board of directors meeting held Sept. 13-16 in the nation's capital.

A related resolution calls for the establishment of a churchwide "socially responsible investment task force."

"In a world primarily defined by economic transactions, the next steps should be targeted divestment with businesses directly involved with the oppression of Palestinians and the humanitarian crisis in Darfur," said the Rev. Steve Sprecher, chairman of the Peace with Justice work area, which wrote the resolutions for the board's approval.

"Divestment and Caterpillar" calls for the church to divest from the heavy-equipment manufacturer based in Peoria, Ill., because of bulldozers and other equipment supplied to the Israeli Defense Forces used for the "illegal destruction of Palestinian homes, orchards and olive groves in the Occupied Territories and to clear Palestinian land for illegal Israeli settlements, segregated roads and the Separation Barrier."

Struggling to do the right thing
Over the past three years, the board of directors has invited comments on possible divestment from various perspectives within the Jewish, Palestinian and Arab communities as well as representatives from the United Methodist Board of Pensions and Health Benefits.

"The United Methodist Church has a long history of unwavering support for Israel's right to exist," said Sprecher. "We have also long supported human rights for Palestinians. We, like many, are frustrated by the increasing harsh conditions Palestinians continue to endure under Israel's 40 years of illegal occupation."

"We need to do something now; there is an urgency," said Toyomi Yoshida, a young adult member of the work area on Peace with Justice.

Yoshida said members of the work area struggled with the decision. "We waited too long," she said. "There was a lot of resistance but, for me, it was the right thing to do."

If approved, the resolution calls for general agencies, annual conferences, local churches, conference boards of pensions, United Methodist foundations and all other entities that invest United Methodist funds to divest of all equity and debt holdings of Caterpillar Inc., by Jan. 1, 2009.

The resolution asks every United Methodist to "prayerfully consider taking the same action with the personal and pension assets under their control, and request that other investment managers such as mutual fund companies, pension plans and bank trustees do the same."

Crisis in Sudan
The United Methodist Church has called repeatedly for action to end the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, and additional steps are needed to bring economic pressure on the government of Sudan "to end the genocide," states the resolution on "Divestment and Sudan."

"The Sudanese government is susceptible to well-placed economic pressure because of its dependence upon foreign investment," reads the resolution.

The resolution states the church "should not own or profit from companies whose products or services are used by corrupt governments or regimes to murder, suppress or displace its citizens and neighbors."

Targeted divestment from companies doing business with the Sudanese government will not harm those in need, according to the Sudan Divestment Task Force, a project of the Genocide Intervention Network.

Responsible investing
The proposed "socially responsible investment task force" would include the United Methodist boards of Church and Society, Global Ministries and Pension and Health Benefits; the United Methodist Church Foundation; and the National Association of United Methodist Foundations under the leadership of the United Methodist Church Foundation.

Its purpose would be to establish a common standard for determining prohibited investments and positive investment principles consistent with the United Methodist Social Principles.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

Bridges to Life gives prisoners new perspectives

Inmates listen to victims speak about the impact of crime on their families' lives during the Bridges to Life program at a Texas prison near Bryan. More than 300 volunteers, many from United Methodist churches, are involved in teaching the 14-week course at 22 Texas prisons. UMNS photos by John Gordon.

By John Gordon*

BRYAN, Texas (UMNS) - Prison inmates seldom talk about their crimes and why they committed them.

But getting prisoners to tell their stories-and bringing them face-to-face with crime victims-are part of the philosophy of Bridges to Life, a program taught by volunteers at 22 Texas prisons.

"We look at confession, accountability, responsibility," says Margie Blazier, regional coordinator for Bridges to Life. "And we discuss those topics with the offenders."

Doug Wilson of Spring, near Houston, tells inmates with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Hamilton how crime has affected his family. Wilson's son is serving a life sentence for his role in a robbery and double murder.

"My son made a choice that changed his life and ours forever," Wilson says. "Two young people died, and four young people were arrested three days later."

Wilson wants inmates to understand how crime steals hope and opportunity, and how it affects other family members.

"A lot of them believe that they are not affecting anybody at all but themselves. They're looking at it from their perspective," he says. "I think once they hear it from somebody else's perspective, they realize what type of impact they've had."

Reaching out
Bridges to Life started in 1998 and was founded by John Sage, whose younger sister, Marilyn, was murdered in 1993. More than 300 volunteers are involved in teaching the 14-week course at Texas prisons, and the program also is launching at prisons in Louisiana and Colorado.

Most of the volunteers in the Bryan program come from area United Methodist churches.

"This is not a Bible study; it's not a worship or preaching group," says the Rev. Guy Pry, a retired United Methodist pastor. "But this interaction in following the steps of accountability, accepting responsibility, confession, forgiveness, reconciliation, restitution-those steps are part of it."

Attendance at Bridges to Life meetings is voluntary. But inmates who sign up are much less likely to return to prison.

Blazier said the recidivism rate for those completing the program is 13.9 percent, compared with a national average of 67 percent re-arrested for serious crimes within three years of their release from state prisons.

'I'm not all bad'
"I've started thinking about the crime that I committed and why I committed it," inmate Robert Smith tells a group of other inmates and Bridges to Life volunteers at the Hamilton unit. "It can stop with me. I have that hope for my son (that he) doesn't have to see the inside of this place."

Lonnie Jones was 16 when he killed a homeowner who surprised him during a burglary. He expects to be released soon after serving nearly 30 years for murder. He has taken the Bridges to Life course three times and hopes to counsel inmates after he gets out.

"(Bridges to Life) was the program that I was looking for all the time, all these years," says Jones. "Bridges to Life just really solidified that feeling that I am worth something. I do have some good in me, you know. I'm not all bad."

James Benson, who has served 21 months of a six-year sentence for selling drugs, is determined not to return to prison after his release. "The choices I made were bad choices," he says. "But now that I get to see how it affects other people, it makes me change my outlook on everything."
Blazier says the program's impact on other inmates is equally dramatic.

"We have had men listen to the stories at the impact panel at the very beginning. And before they even get into small groups, they're crying," she says.

More volunteers are needed, however, as the program expands to other prisons.

"Basically, (we need) just a person who wants to help, who knows that they can make a difference," Blazier says. "And if we can change one person's way of thinking as far as crime, I think we've done a lot."

*Gordon is a freelance producer and writer based in Marshall, Texas.

Centro Latino: “Doing Jesus’ Job” in the Immigrant Community

The Rev. Ruben Mendoza ministers to Spanish speaking people in Council Bluffs. Ron Whitlatch

CAMP WESLEY WOODS, IOWA, Sept. 7, 2007—A church within a church is thriving in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The pastor says that one of his first tasks is to help the members of his Spanish-speaking flock overcome their sorrow at being separated from families back home in Latin America.

The Rev. Ruben Mendoza, speaking through an interpreter, talked with a group of seventy Justice for Our Neighbors attorneys and volunteers meeting at Camp Wesley Woods on September 7.

Centro Latino Church meets every Sunday in the facilities of the Broadway United Methodist Church and is the first congregation of its kind in the town of 50,000. On Sunday Sept. 9, 14 more people take their membership vows. “But there is more to be done, as people still feel anguish,” said Rev. Mendoza.

His three-year assignment is at the invitation of the pastor of the English-speaking Broadway church, Rev. Marvin Arnpriester, who saw the need for outreach to the growing Hispanic population in Council Bluffs. Broadway members volunteer at the nearby Omaha, Neb., Justice for Our Neighbors clinic, one of 21 around the US providing legal services to immigrants.

Justice for Our Neighbors, a program of United Methodist Committee on Relief, serves immigrants and asylum seekers with professional legal assistance at low or no cost. Attorneys and volunteers active in the program were in Iowa for a three-day annual gathering.

Rev. Mendoza said there are about 6,000 Spanish-speaking residents in Council Bluffs, and some are undocumented. The town’s proximity to the agriculture belt of Iowa makes it a prime location for meat packing and food processing plants, and attracts workers wanting a better life for themselves and their families. Through their ministries of outreach to such communities, Centro Latino and Justice for Our Neighbors, in the words of one familiar with both, are “doing Jesus’ job” in serving “the least of these.”

Establishing the trust of a family atmosphere is only the first step in Rev. Mendoza’s ministry.

He assists parishioners who are contending with violence in the home. Depression and domestic violence are common issues faced by immigrants in the US, he said. Women whose immigration status is in jeopardy are especially vulnerable and may feel unsafe in asking for the help they need. Rev. Mendoza’s ministry also includes preaching in Spanish at local prison facilities.

Rev. Mendoza worked with the United Methodist Church of El Sembrador in his hometown of Rio Bravo, Tampulipas, Mexico, and graduated from Juan Wesley Methodist Seminary in Monterrey. Before coming to Iowa, he served two churches, provided pastoral counseling in the community, and operated a soup kitchen for impoverished children.

To his audience of attorneys and volunteers Rev. Mendoza said, “Look at your hands. These are the only hands God has.” And echoing the words of Jesus to his disciples, Rev. Mendoza said, “Whenever you provide justice to one person with your hands, you are delivering it to many.”

Support for Justice for our Neighbors can be provided through the Advance for Christ and His Church. Checks can be sent to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087, indicating Justice for Our Neighbors Advance #901285 on the memo line. Gifts may also be made by credit card online at givetomission.org or at the toll-free number 1-800-554-8583.

United Methodist interns embrace diversity, justice issues

A UMNS Feature By Xochitl Garcia*

Ethnic Young Adult interns gather on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. The interns, sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, spent this summer living together while working in organizations that address social concerns. A UMNS photo by Shalom Agtarap.

On summer weekdays, interns from all over the United States flood Capitol Hill in Washington on their way to government buildings.

Once on the Hill, many of the interns head for congressional offices. But this past summer, like many others, 14 interns departed from the group and reported to the United Methodist building just across the street from the Supreme Court.

These are the Ethnic Young Adult interns, selected by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society to spend two months interning at places all over the District of Columbia. They are chosen for their leadership qualities, involvement in The United Methodist Church and ethnic heritage.

The interns range in age from 18 to 22 and represent African, African-American, Indian-American, Hispanic/Latino and Asian-American heritage.

"The internship is a unique leadership program because it is geared towards persons of color, historically representing the racial ethnic caucuses and communities of The United Methodist Church," said the Rev. Neal Christie, the board's intern program director. "It is unique in that it's multiracial, it's intentionally seeking out persons that otherwise would not be represented in Washington D.C., especially on Capitol Hill and advocacy settings."

He added that although ethnic diversity is prevalent in D.C., most of those working in the district and on Capitol Hill are Anglo-American. Having the multiracial interns on the Hill brings voices that are not fully represented and allows these young people to be seen and heard, he said.

'Changed my outlook'
Senior intern Elaine Atim -- raised in the Philippines until age 10 -- was chosen to return two years after her first internship and lead the new group.

Atim, who is passionate about justice issues, is attending Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington this fall. "This internship just seemed something great for me to try," she said. "I wanted to return this year because I had a sense of gratitude towards the program because it totally changed my outlook on life. I wanted to give back to the program and wanted to have a personal hand in impacting other people in the way that I have been impacted by the program."

Susan Jacob, a 20-year-old Indian American and student at St. John's University in Queens, N.Y., appreciated that chance to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. "I am coming to realize the importance of faith-based organizations in advocacy," she said. "Jesus worked for justice, he cared for the poor, sick, hungry and dying, and it is important for the church to stand for those issues."

The interns typically work at governmental and non-governmental offices, faith-based advocacy agencies and grassroots organizations. Every Friday at the United Methodist Building, they attend workshops designed to generate fellowship and address issues such as race in politics and policy making.

Diverse cultures
Alfonso Noel Estes, a 21-year-old student from San Francisco State University, found the internship to be a "unique experience" because of the diversity represented.

"We have students from Liberia and Gambia and then one from Georgia, so we are coming from all these different experiences," explained Estes, who is of African-American and Hispanic/Latino heritage. "It makes it real beautiful to sit down in a Friday meeting and share our different experiences at the table."

James Edward Stevenson, an African-American student at the University of Arizona, agreed. "The diversity here has changed my experience because I got to learn a lot of everybody's culture. I got to understand people and where they come from, their traditions and folklore."

Having felt the call to ministry, Stevenson said he has now found a new and more socially conscious way to preach God's word. "When I become a pastor," he added, "I won't be afraid to be outspoken. By outspoken, I mean to preach about social injustices and things that are relevant to our society, as opposed to just using the Bible as a comfort zone."

*Garcia served as a summer intern at United Methodist Communications this year, and she was in the 2006 group of Ethnic Young Adult interns at the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.

Schedule for Responding With Faith to Immigration, Blakemore UMC, Nashville, Tennessee, September 29, 2007

8:30-8:45 a.m. Registration, Coffee/Bagels
8:45 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

Panel Presentations
9:00 Jan Snider--Justice for Our Neighbors, Legal Consultation to aid immigrants to understand realities of law
9:20 Small Group interaction
9:30 Emily Snider and Steven Miles--“Stranger no Longer”
9:50 Small Group interaction
10:00 Tom Negri--Economics of Immigration
10:20 Small Group interaction
10:30 Stephen Fotopulos--TIRRC, Tennessee Immigration Reform Coalition Immigration policy
10:50 Small Group interaction
11:00 Panel response to questions from small groups
11:30 Review of Resources for further action
Presentation of Bible Study
12:00 Worship
12:30 Dismissal