River Deep and Wide to explore gospel in interfaith, multicultural society
NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 20, 2008 /GBOD/ -- The Academy for Spiritual Formation, a ministry of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship’s Upper Room ministries, presents “A River Deep and Wide: Christian Spiritual Practices for the 21st Century” (http://www.upperroom.org/river), April 20-25, 2009, at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville.
Based on the belief that Christian spirituality is “deep and wide” and the notion that challenges of greater diversity in American culture are an invitation to faithful Christian practice, the conference seeks to address the question: in a world of increasing multicultural and interfaith diversity, how shall the Church respond?
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,” Psalm 46:4a proclaims.
“This river is God’s grace; the source of Christian spirituality, which is what we will explore at this conference from various cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives through worship, lecture, silence, art, dance and interfaith dialogue,” says the Rev. Jerry Haas, director of the Academy for Spiritual Formation.
The schedule (http://www.upperroom.org/river/schedule.html) begins with registration and check-in at 3:00 p.m. April 20 and concludes with a Celebration of Word and Table at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 25.
Co-sponsored by Scarritt-Bennett Center, Weavings Journal and the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, “A River Deep and Wide” includes contemplative spiritual practices from Native, Africana, Hispanic and Euro-American perspectives.
Recognizing that this event may help lead the denomination to a 21st century global outlook, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, of the Chicago Area and member of the design team, sees the event as a time of searching and shaping how The United Methodist Church is responding to the trend towards an increasingly interfaith, diverse, multicultural society.
“We must discern and seek God’s direction as to how we can learn and serve in light of this changing context,” Jung said.
“A River Deep and Wide” will have intentional learning and celebration as a community, with nearly 40 workshops offered under the categories of “Deepening the River” during the morning sessions and “Widening the River” during afternoon sessions.
The design of the conference reflects the schedule used for the Academy for Spiritual Formation with Morning Prayer, Night Prayer and daily Holy Communion. Begun in 1983, the Academy is entering its 26th year. This conference marks the beginning of its second generation.
“Over the last 25 years, the Academy for Spiritual Formation has been a very strong, sustaining community for spiritual leaders,” said Jung. “And now for the next 25 years and in the future, we are going to re-shape [the Academy] to the need and relevancy of the spiritual leadership for this world.”
Among the key plenary leaders (http://www.upperroom.org/river/leaders.html) are:
* The Rev. Barbara Ann Holmes, Ph.D., author of “Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church” (Augsburg, 2004) and vice-president of Academic Affairs at Memphis Theological Seminary;
* Dr. M. Thomas Thangaraj, who serves as faculty at Tamilnadu Theological Seminary in Madurai, India, taught world Christianity at Candler School of Theology of Emory University for more than 20 years and authored “Relating to People of Other Religions: What Every Christen Needs to Know” (Abingdon, 1997);
* Elise Eslinger, editor of “The Upper Room Worshipbook: Music and Liturgies for Spiritual Formation,” worship coordinator for the event and a musician and worship consultant;
* The Rev. Ben Williams, senior pastor of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina; and
* Dr. Don Saliers, author, theologian and musician, recently retired from Candler School of Theology and now teaching at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.
For more information, call 877-899-2781; ext. 7233. Registration before March 1 is $225 or $175 for students. To register online, visit: http://www.upperroom.org/river/registration.html.
GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.gbod.org, or call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7017.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Church, Academic Leaders Gather to Strengthen Connections
By Vicki Brown*
Leaders from United Methodist churches and higher education institutions will gather this spring at five events in each jurisdiction to discuss how the church and the academy can work together more closely.
One of goals of the events organized by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is to consider how to increase the number of United Methodist students enrolled in United Methodist-related schools, colleges, and universities.
Meetings are planned in the South Central Jurisdiction in Arlington, Tex., Jan. 22-24; the Western Jurisdiction in Stockton, Calif., Feb. 5-7; Northeastern, Syracuse, N.Y., Feb. 19-21; North Central, Naperville, Ill., March 5-7; Southeastern, Daytona Beach, Fla., March 27-29.
“It is imperative that we take a look at our connectional infrastructure and invest in making it stronger. We have to reopen the lines of communication between our schools, colleges, universities, and the church. That’s the hope for the future. It’s where our leaders come from,” said Wanda Bigham, interim associate general secretary, Division of Higher Education, GBHEM.
Ingrid McIntyre, director of Connectional Relations at GBHEM, said the events will provide time for networking and connecting.
“We will talk about our roles in ministry with young people, how we can reach out to our United Methodist student leaders and provide current leadership tools that will be helpful in bridging the gap that sometimes inhibits our effectiveness,” McIntyre said.
One of the keynote speakers at three of the events is Duane Anders, who contributed to the book 7 Myths of The United Methodist Church, written by Craig Kennett Miller. The book looks at the attitudes and beliefs that keep the church from fulfilling its call to create disciple-making faith communities. Beginning with the myth "We’re a Connectional Church,” the book challenges leaders to create environments of grace for people disconnected from the local church.
Anders, district superintendent of the Dayton north district of the West Ohio Annual Conference, tells pastors in his district that if their church is growing and the United Methodist churches in their region are not, they have not done their job. Anders is also lead pastor of Stillwater United Methodist Church.
During the Bridging the Gap events, he will highlight United Methodist connectionalism, and use his gifts of teaching and encouragement to connect the people of The United Methodist Church to United Methodist-related institutions. He will attend the Western, Northeastern, and Southeastern events.
Breakout groups at each event include sessions on: vocation and discernment, church relations, student leadership, loans and scholarships, and John Wesley and higher education.
Those who might be interested in attending include: annual conference chairs of Higher Education and Campus Ministry; college and university presidents and deans; conference youth coordinators; youth ministers and volunteers; Christian education leaders; chaplains; college church-relations directors; directors of admissions and financial aid directors; district superintendents; and directors of connectional ministries.
To learn more about these events, visit www.gbhem.org/bridgingthegap.
By Vicki Brown*
Leaders from United Methodist churches and higher education institutions will gather this spring at five events in each jurisdiction to discuss how the church and the academy can work together more closely.
One of goals of the events organized by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is to consider how to increase the number of United Methodist students enrolled in United Methodist-related schools, colleges, and universities.
Meetings are planned in the South Central Jurisdiction in Arlington, Tex., Jan. 22-24; the Western Jurisdiction in Stockton, Calif., Feb. 5-7; Northeastern, Syracuse, N.Y., Feb. 19-21; North Central, Naperville, Ill., March 5-7; Southeastern, Daytona Beach, Fla., March 27-29.
“It is imperative that we take a look at our connectional infrastructure and invest in making it stronger. We have to reopen the lines of communication between our schools, colleges, universities, and the church. That’s the hope for the future. It’s where our leaders come from,” said Wanda Bigham, interim associate general secretary, Division of Higher Education, GBHEM.
Ingrid McIntyre, director of Connectional Relations at GBHEM, said the events will provide time for networking and connecting.
“We will talk about our roles in ministry with young people, how we can reach out to our United Methodist student leaders and provide current leadership tools that will be helpful in bridging the gap that sometimes inhibits our effectiveness,” McIntyre said.
One of the keynote speakers at three of the events is Duane Anders, who contributed to the book 7 Myths of The United Methodist Church, written by Craig Kennett Miller. The book looks at the attitudes and beliefs that keep the church from fulfilling its call to create disciple-making faith communities. Beginning with the myth "We’re a Connectional Church,” the book challenges leaders to create environments of grace for people disconnected from the local church.
Anders, district superintendent of the Dayton north district of the West Ohio Annual Conference, tells pastors in his district that if their church is growing and the United Methodist churches in their region are not, they have not done their job. Anders is also lead pastor of Stillwater United Methodist Church.
During the Bridging the Gap events, he will highlight United Methodist connectionalism, and use his gifts of teaching and encouragement to connect the people of The United Methodist Church to United Methodist-related institutions. He will attend the Western, Northeastern, and Southeastern events.
Breakout groups at each event include sessions on: vocation and discernment, church relations, student leadership, loans and scholarships, and John Wesley and higher education.
Those who might be interested in attending include: annual conference chairs of Higher Education and Campus Ministry; college and university presidents and deans; conference youth coordinators; youth ministers and volunteers; Christian education leaders; chaplains; college church-relations directors; directors of admissions and financial aid directors; district superintendents; and directors of connectional ministries.
To learn more about these events, visit www.gbhem.org/bridgingthegap.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Caring for Creation Teaches how to Go Green
LAKE JUNALUSAKA, N.C. — How can you ‘go green’? This popular way of taking care of the earth will be explored March 5-8, 2009 during the 4th annual Caring for Creation seminar at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. Speakers and workshops will address how to promote justice for the Earth and its people. The seminar will provide 15 workshops, including, how to map your ecological foot print.
Jimmy L. Carr, Lake Junaluska Executive Director, said this is the time to take action in caring for the world.
“Lake Junaluska is happy to host the fourth Caring for Creation event. We believe that churches and individuals will benefit from an event focused on helping the environment. These are crucial times where we have the opportunity be educated and act on promoting justice for the Earth. Being a part of Caring for Creation is one of many opportunities to do our part,” he said.
Dr. Norman Wirzba, Professor of Theology, Ecology and Rural Life at Duke Divinity School and one of the keynote presenters, explained why caring for creation is important.
“Christian scriptures teach that God is at work reconciling the whole world to Himself through the life and ministry of Christ. All members of creation are included in Christ’s salvific action because God loves all that He has made. Christians are called to participate in this reconciling and healing work. We are to care for creation because in doing so we acknowledge that God is not simply interested in the salvation of individual souls. Our most important task as creatures made in the image of God is to serve and keep the gardens of creation. Doing so we learn what it means to be a creature and why the worship of God the Creator is so important,” Dr. Wirzba said.
Other keynote presenters will be:
· Mr. John Hill, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church;
· Mr. Charles Dayton, an environmental attorney;
· Dr. Michael Battle, president of the Interdenominational Theological Center;
· Dr. Matthew Sleet, a physician.
In addition to these presentations, participants will have the option to participate in three of 15 different workshops of interest to them. The new workshops offered in 2009 are:
· Water Quality Issues and Volunteer Stream Monitoring;
· Planning Earth Day Sunday and Earth Day Celebrations;
· Solar Solutions For Faith Congregations;
· Getting Started As A Vegetarian;
· Creating Local Food Systems;
· Back Yard Medicine: Weeds As Healers;
· How One Community Worked At Food Systems;
· Working With Faith Groups on Ecological Issues;
· Defending Creation From Nuclear Assault.
For a complete list of workshops and more information on the event, please visit www.lakejunaluska.com/caring-for-creation.aspx
LAKE JUNALUSAKA, N.C. — How can you ‘go green’? This popular way of taking care of the earth will be explored March 5-8, 2009 during the 4th annual Caring for Creation seminar at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. Speakers and workshops will address how to promote justice for the Earth and its people. The seminar will provide 15 workshops, including, how to map your ecological foot print.
Jimmy L. Carr, Lake Junaluska Executive Director, said this is the time to take action in caring for the world.
“Lake Junaluska is happy to host the fourth Caring for Creation event. We believe that churches and individuals will benefit from an event focused on helping the environment. These are crucial times where we have the opportunity be educated and act on promoting justice for the Earth. Being a part of Caring for Creation is one of many opportunities to do our part,” he said.
Dr. Norman Wirzba, Professor of Theology, Ecology and Rural Life at Duke Divinity School and one of the keynote presenters, explained why caring for creation is important.
“Christian scriptures teach that God is at work reconciling the whole world to Himself through the life and ministry of Christ. All members of creation are included in Christ’s salvific action because God loves all that He has made. Christians are called to participate in this reconciling and healing work. We are to care for creation because in doing so we acknowledge that God is not simply interested in the salvation of individual souls. Our most important task as creatures made in the image of God is to serve and keep the gardens of creation. Doing so we learn what it means to be a creature and why the worship of God the Creator is so important,” Dr. Wirzba said.
Other keynote presenters will be:
· Mr. John Hill, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church;
· Mr. Charles Dayton, an environmental attorney;
· Dr. Michael Battle, president of the Interdenominational Theological Center;
· Dr. Matthew Sleet, a physician.
In addition to these presentations, participants will have the option to participate in three of 15 different workshops of interest to them. The new workshops offered in 2009 are:
· Water Quality Issues and Volunteer Stream Monitoring;
· Planning Earth Day Sunday and Earth Day Celebrations;
· Solar Solutions For Faith Congregations;
· Getting Started As A Vegetarian;
· Creating Local Food Systems;
· Back Yard Medicine: Weeds As Healers;
· How One Community Worked At Food Systems;
· Working With Faith Groups on Ecological Issues;
· Defending Creation From Nuclear Assault.
For a complete list of workshops and more information on the event, please visit www.lakejunaluska.com/caring-for-creation.aspx
Ethnic Local Church and Human Relations Day grants application deadline is Jan. 10
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jan. 10 is the deadline to apply for either an Ethnic Local Church or Human Relations Day grant from the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS).
The Ethnic Local Church Grant program is to strengthen ethnic local churches through education, advocacy or leadership training and development as they engage in social justice.
The Human Relations Day Grant is to support ministries that respond to non-violent young offenders through education, advocacy or leadership training and development
Both grants are awarded through two funding cycles: Jan. 10 is the deadline for March funding; Aug. 10 for October. Grant decisions are made by GBCS’s Board of Directors at its spring and fall meetings.
To qualify for either grant, applicants must be: a United Methodist local church, district, annual conference or other affiliated group/organization; or an ecumenical group/organization working with and through at least one United Methodist agency or organization, whose program affects at least one United Methodist local church.
Ethnic Local Church Grants
Ethnic Local Church Grant recipients must be programs initiated by or developed in partnership with one or more United Methodist ethnic local churches. Racial/ethnic persons shall be the majority of those served by the program.
The project must focus on needs identified by ethnic local churches as they address one or more chronic social problems or concerns, such as housing, employment, health care, human rights, education, the environment and racism.
All applicants must have a supervisory board composed of a majority of ethnic persons that shall make all policy decisions.
Human Relations Day Grants
Human Relation Day Grant funds are raised through The United Methodist Church’s Human Relations Day Special Sunday each year. Human Relations Day is the Sunday immediately following the observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. The observance will be Jan. 18 next year.
The United Methodist Book of Discipline describes Human Relations Day as a call to the Church to recognize the right of all God's children to realize their potential as human beings in relationship with each other. The Special Sunday supports the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program.
To be considered for a Human Relations Day Grant, a project must be initiated by or developed in partnership with a United Methodist church. The project must focus on needs of non-violent juvenile youth offenders as they address one or more chronic social problems or concerns, such as housing, employment, health care, human rights, education, the environment and racism.
Applicants must have a supervisory board consisting of a majority of members of The United Methodist Church that shall make all policy decisions.
Both Ethnic Local Church and Human Relations Day funding requests will be considered on their own merits with no required minimum or maximum amount. Intent of the grants programs is to provide start-up money. Therefore, priority goes to first-time applicants. All funding from GBCS must be used for programmatic components and not for salaries, purchase of equipment, purely administrative costs, and direct delivery of services or building construction.
Priority consideration shall be given to programs that are part of a Comprehensive Plan of an Annual Conference.
Grant applications can be obtained at www.umc-gbcs.org/GBCSGrants or from Marvlyn Scott, mscott@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5643.
For more information, contact The Rev. Neal Christie, Assistant General Secretary, GBCS Education and Leadership Formation, nchristie@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5611.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jan. 10 is the deadline to apply for either an Ethnic Local Church or Human Relations Day grant from the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS).
The Ethnic Local Church Grant program is to strengthen ethnic local churches through education, advocacy or leadership training and development as they engage in social justice.
The Human Relations Day Grant is to support ministries that respond to non-violent young offenders through education, advocacy or leadership training and development
Both grants are awarded through two funding cycles: Jan. 10 is the deadline for March funding; Aug. 10 for October. Grant decisions are made by GBCS’s Board of Directors at its spring and fall meetings.
To qualify for either grant, applicants must be: a United Methodist local church, district, annual conference or other affiliated group/organization; or an ecumenical group/organization working with and through at least one United Methodist agency or organization, whose program affects at least one United Methodist local church.
Ethnic Local Church Grants
Ethnic Local Church Grant recipients must be programs initiated by or developed in partnership with one or more United Methodist ethnic local churches. Racial/ethnic persons shall be the majority of those served by the program.
The project must focus on needs identified by ethnic local churches as they address one or more chronic social problems or concerns, such as housing, employment, health care, human rights, education, the environment and racism.
All applicants must have a supervisory board composed of a majority of ethnic persons that shall make all policy decisions.
Human Relations Day Grants
Human Relation Day Grant funds are raised through The United Methodist Church’s Human Relations Day Special Sunday each year. Human Relations Day is the Sunday immediately following the observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. The observance will be Jan. 18 next year.
The United Methodist Book of Discipline describes Human Relations Day as a call to the Church to recognize the right of all God's children to realize their potential as human beings in relationship with each other. The Special Sunday supports the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program.
To be considered for a Human Relations Day Grant, a project must be initiated by or developed in partnership with a United Methodist church. The project must focus on needs of non-violent juvenile youth offenders as they address one or more chronic social problems or concerns, such as housing, employment, health care, human rights, education, the environment and racism.
Applicants must have a supervisory board consisting of a majority of members of The United Methodist Church that shall make all policy decisions.
Both Ethnic Local Church and Human Relations Day funding requests will be considered on their own merits with no required minimum or maximum amount. Intent of the grants programs is to provide start-up money. Therefore, priority goes to first-time applicants. All funding from GBCS must be used for programmatic components and not for salaries, purchase of equipment, purely administrative costs, and direct delivery of services or building construction.
Priority consideration shall be given to programs that are part of a Comprehensive Plan of an Annual Conference.
Grant applications can be obtained at www.umc-gbcs.org/GBCSGrants or from Marvlyn Scott, mscott@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5643.
For more information, contact The Rev. Neal Christie, Assistant General Secretary, GBCS Education and Leadership Formation, nchristie@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5611.
The Christmas season offers ample opportunity to provide Christian presence at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison
On December 10 there will be a special “holiday” dinner served to unit 6, recognizing their contribution to the smooth running of all the different programs, maintenance and service activities at Riverbend. This is a dinner offered by religious volunteers. You may participate in basically two ways.
+Be at the main gate at 4:30 p.m. to help setup, serve and take down the buffet line (no cooking). If your congregation could provide at least four volunteers that would be GREAT. Names of the volunteers will be needed by November 29th.
+This dinner is not cheap so donations of any amount (preferably $250 per church) will be much appreciated, to defer the estimated cost of $2800.00. We expect to feed, including the volunteers, approximately 350 people.
Christ United Methodist Church will provide “entertainment” featuring Christmas music by the chancel choir.
On the nights of December 16, 17, and 18 Christmas packages will be distributed to the six units at Riverbend Maximum Security prison. This is the culmination of months of work by volunteers and inmates and is a wonderful time to be there as a volunteer to individually hand out the packages. Again, this activity provides two main opportunities to participate:
+On any one of those nights, you may only serve one night of the three, be at the check point at 5:30 p.m. to proceed to the chapel with approximately 50 other volunteers (we need 150 total). From the chapel you will go, with fellow Christians from all denominational traditions, to your assigned unit to hand out the packages. You will make friends that night that will last a life time plus.
+Contributions of a number of items—in quantities of 750 units—are needed to make the Christmas package project a success (A list of specific items is contained in the next paragraph. These items will be picked up at your church or wherever to be delivered to Riverbend.
The church should have received a letter detailing all of this, but if not, request a letter from Jerry Nail (contact information below). Financial contributions are needed as well and will be used to buy items that are not donated. Either way you or your congregation choose to participate (actual package items or financial contribution) know that your gift is totally appreciated.
Items needed in quantities of 750 units
.Toothpaste any brand, any size
.Toothbrushes any brand (plastic)
.Little Debbie Snack Cakes
.Candy Bars, any brand, any type
.Peanuts, individual bags
.Combs/brushes, must be plastic
.Ball point pens clear plastic only
.Colored pens
.Snack crackers
.Cookies (any type but needs to be in individual packs)
This ministry is a vital activity of your United Methodist Church and needs your prayers and your support. If you would like to participate thru-out the year in all manner of activities please contact your minister of conference office. We look forward to your support.
If you wish to make a monetary contribution make your check or money order out to Christ United Methodist Church and send it to Christ UMC Prison Ministry Holiday Project or Dinner, 508 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37069. Make sure your check or money order has on the reference line—Prison Ministry Holiday Project or Dinner.
For additional information contact Jerry Nail, Chairperson Tennessee Conference Correctional Ministry Committee, 615-390-1129, or email jerrybnail@bellsouth.net
On December 10 there will be a special “holiday” dinner served to unit 6, recognizing their contribution to the smooth running of all the different programs, maintenance and service activities at Riverbend. This is a dinner offered by religious volunteers. You may participate in basically two ways.
+Be at the main gate at 4:30 p.m. to help setup, serve and take down the buffet line (no cooking). If your congregation could provide at least four volunteers that would be GREAT. Names of the volunteers will be needed by November 29th.
+This dinner is not cheap so donations of any amount (preferably $250 per church) will be much appreciated, to defer the estimated cost of $2800.00. We expect to feed, including the volunteers, approximately 350 people.
Christ United Methodist Church will provide “entertainment” featuring Christmas music by the chancel choir.
On the nights of December 16, 17, and 18 Christmas packages will be distributed to the six units at Riverbend Maximum Security prison. This is the culmination of months of work by volunteers and inmates and is a wonderful time to be there as a volunteer to individually hand out the packages. Again, this activity provides two main opportunities to participate:
+On any one of those nights, you may only serve one night of the three, be at the check point at 5:30 p.m. to proceed to the chapel with approximately 50 other volunteers (we need 150 total). From the chapel you will go, with fellow Christians from all denominational traditions, to your assigned unit to hand out the packages. You will make friends that night that will last a life time plus.
+Contributions of a number of items—in quantities of 750 units—are needed to make the Christmas package project a success (A list of specific items is contained in the next paragraph. These items will be picked up at your church or wherever to be delivered to Riverbend.
The church should have received a letter detailing all of this, but if not, request a letter from Jerry Nail (contact information below). Financial contributions are needed as well and will be used to buy items that are not donated. Either way you or your congregation choose to participate (actual package items or financial contribution) know that your gift is totally appreciated.
Items needed in quantities of 750 units
.Toothpaste any brand, any size
.Toothbrushes any brand (plastic)
.Little Debbie Snack Cakes
.Candy Bars, any brand, any type
.Peanuts, individual bags
.Combs/brushes, must be plastic
.Ball point pens clear plastic only
.Colored pens
.Snack crackers
.Cookies (any type but needs to be in individual packs)
This ministry is a vital activity of your United Methodist Church and needs your prayers and your support. If you would like to participate thru-out the year in all manner of activities please contact your minister of conference office. We look forward to your support.
If you wish to make a monetary contribution make your check or money order out to Christ United Methodist Church and send it to Christ UMC Prison Ministry Holiday Project or Dinner, 508 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37069. Make sure your check or money order has on the reference line—Prison Ministry Holiday Project or Dinner.
For additional information contact Jerry Nail, Chairperson Tennessee Conference Correctional Ministry Committee, 615-390-1129, or email jerrybnail@bellsouth.net
Monday, November 03, 2008
United Methodist Board of Church & Society organizes work areas
Bishop Kiesey elected president, Winkler to serve 4 more years
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The new directors of The United Methodist Church’s General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) were called to be “prophets of faith, justice and hope” as they prepared to organize themselves into work areas for the next four years.
Bishop Forrest Stith, representing the United Methodist Council of Bishops, issued the call to the 63-member board during a worship service that began the organizational meeting here Oct. 23-26.
GBCS “carries the mantel of faith, peace and justice in behalf of our denomination and perhaps all of Christendom,” Bishop Stith declared, adding that he was honored to be asked to chair the organizing meeting.
Kiesey elected president
Bishop Deborah Kiesey of the Dakotas Conference was elected president of the board. Kiesey, a director the past four years, succeeds Bishop Beverly Shamana. Bishop Robert Hoshibata of Oregon-Idaho Conference was elected vice chair.
“As an agency of The United Methodist Church,” Bishop Stith emphasized to the newly formed board, “you stand at a propitious moment in history, for our nation and for our world. Your calling must be clear, to assure the love of the people called United Methodists is not just vertical, but horizontal, transforming the world, not conforming to the world.”
Chairs of work areas were also elected at the organizational meeting. They are: the Rev. Dr. Tamara Brown (Kentucky Conference), Alcohol, Other Addictions and Healthcare; the Rev. Mike McKee (Central Texas), Environmental and Economic Justice; Bishop Jane Middleton (Central Pennsylvania), Human Welfare; and the Rev. Tracy Smith Malone (Northern Illinois), Peace with Justice/United Nations and International Affairs.
Winkler unanimously reelected
The annual meeting’s opening worship and organizational meeting opened in the Simpson Memorial Chapel in the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill here. The directors then moved to the M Street Renaissance Hotel downtown for a weekend of more worship, work area deliberations and other organizational issues.
The directors unanimously reelected James Winkler to be General Secretary for another four years. He has served as General Secretary, the agency’s chief executive officer, since 2000.
In addition to elections, the directors also awarded nearly $150,000 in 15 ethnic local church grants and $12,000 in a Human Relations Day grant.
A special $20,000 Peace with Justice grant was approved to support the work of the Council on Bishops’ task force to update its statement on “In Defense of Creation.” The original statement, issued in 1986 after two years of study, addressed the nuclear crisis, a just peace and their impact on the planet.
Directors approved $30,000 to continue the 30-year-old Ethnic Young Adult Summer Intern Program. Under it, persons from across the world come to work as interns in social justice placements in Washington, D.C., including at GBCS. In 2008, interns came from the United States, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia and the Philippines.
A guest during the directors’ meeting was actor David Keith, who has more than 100 movie and television roles to his credit, including “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “The Lords of Discipline.” Keith, who is a member of First United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., and Grier Weeks, executive director of Promise to Protect, made a presentation soliciting support of their work against child pornography and sexual abuse of children. The directors voted to endorse their efforts.
Directors also decorated a tent that will be set up Nov. 7 to 9 on the National Mall as part of the “Tents of Hope.” Communities across the United States and abroad have been invited to transform refugee tents into unique works of art that express compassion and desire for peace for the people of Darfur, Sudan.
3 streams of social concerns
In reporting to the board after his reelection, Winkler said that the agency embodies three important streams of United Methodist social concerns. He said one stream is represented by what was once known as the Board of Temperance, Prohibition, and Public Morals. The second is insistence on a better life for working people stated in the 1908 Social Creed of the denomination, and the third is world peace.
“Over time, our consciousness has been raised on many other important matters including health care, civil and human rights, and economic and environmental justice,” Winkler said. “In fact, over the past half century, the world has been transformed by great moral and spiritual movements for equal rights for women, for environmental and economic justice, for an end to the nuclear arms race, apartheid and the Vietnam War, for civil and human rights for all people.
“Often, the church has had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the table, but today we are one of the pillars of these movements, as we should be.”
Winkler emphasized that GBCS’s ministries are biblically based. He also said that the agency is committed to the four focus areas recently approved by the United Methodist General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body. “We offer expertise in the areas of global health, ministry with the poor, and leadership development,” he stated. “And, we stand ready to assist the agencies and annual conferences involved in new church starts to ensure United Methodist faith communities are scripturally grounded and committed to the Social Principles.”
Winkler said he believes that “at its best” GBCS serves to help the church understand the interconnectedness of God’s creation.
“We work hard to help our people join justice and mercy together in their own lives, congregations, and communities,” Winkler said. “United Methodists are excellent at feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and clothing the naked. Freeing the oppressed, confronting the systems that perpetuate hunger, racism, violence and poverty is always the hard part. In many ways, that’s where GBCS comes in.”
The least and the lost
At the closing commissioning service, Bishop Kiesey declared that she is proud “The United Methodist Church has a board such as GBCS to speak for those who have no voice, to always keep before us the needs of the least and the lost.” The Christian mandate to care for these people is “absolutely clear, without a doubt,” she said in describing the directors’ and the board’s call.
“The challenge to our church is to accept the least and the lost of the world,” Bishop Kiesey said at the commissioning service, “not only accept but seek them out and embrace them and welcome them in.
“Our commission on this board is to broaden that circle and offer the Good News to the entire world, but especially to the weak, so no one has to ask again, ‘What prevents me from following Christ?’”
GBCS is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church. The board’s primary areas of ministry are Advocacy, Education and Leadership Formation, United Nations and International Affairs, and resourcing these areas for the denomination. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center at the United Nations in New York City.
Bishop Kiesey elected president, Winkler to serve 4 more years
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The new directors of The United Methodist Church’s General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) were called to be “prophets of faith, justice and hope” as they prepared to organize themselves into work areas for the next four years.
Bishop Forrest Stith, representing the United Methodist Council of Bishops, issued the call to the 63-member board during a worship service that began the organizational meeting here Oct. 23-26.
GBCS “carries the mantel of faith, peace and justice in behalf of our denomination and perhaps all of Christendom,” Bishop Stith declared, adding that he was honored to be asked to chair the organizing meeting.
Kiesey elected president
Bishop Deborah Kiesey of the Dakotas Conference was elected president of the board. Kiesey, a director the past four years, succeeds Bishop Beverly Shamana. Bishop Robert Hoshibata of Oregon-Idaho Conference was elected vice chair.
“As an agency of The United Methodist Church,” Bishop Stith emphasized to the newly formed board, “you stand at a propitious moment in history, for our nation and for our world. Your calling must be clear, to assure the love of the people called United Methodists is not just vertical, but horizontal, transforming the world, not conforming to the world.”
Chairs of work areas were also elected at the organizational meeting. They are: the Rev. Dr. Tamara Brown (Kentucky Conference), Alcohol, Other Addictions and Healthcare; the Rev. Mike McKee (Central Texas), Environmental and Economic Justice; Bishop Jane Middleton (Central Pennsylvania), Human Welfare; and the Rev. Tracy Smith Malone (Northern Illinois), Peace with Justice/United Nations and International Affairs.
Winkler unanimously reelected
The annual meeting’s opening worship and organizational meeting opened in the Simpson Memorial Chapel in the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill here. The directors then moved to the M Street Renaissance Hotel downtown for a weekend of more worship, work area deliberations and other organizational issues.
The directors unanimously reelected James Winkler to be General Secretary for another four years. He has served as General Secretary, the agency’s chief executive officer, since 2000.
In addition to elections, the directors also awarded nearly $150,000 in 15 ethnic local church grants and $12,000 in a Human Relations Day grant.
A special $20,000 Peace with Justice grant was approved to support the work of the Council on Bishops’ task force to update its statement on “In Defense of Creation.” The original statement, issued in 1986 after two years of study, addressed the nuclear crisis, a just peace and their impact on the planet.
Directors approved $30,000 to continue the 30-year-old Ethnic Young Adult Summer Intern Program. Under it, persons from across the world come to work as interns in social justice placements in Washington, D.C., including at GBCS. In 2008, interns came from the United States, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia and the Philippines.
A guest during the directors’ meeting was actor David Keith, who has more than 100 movie and television roles to his credit, including “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “The Lords of Discipline.” Keith, who is a member of First United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., and Grier Weeks, executive director of Promise to Protect, made a presentation soliciting support of their work against child pornography and sexual abuse of children. The directors voted to endorse their efforts.
Directors also decorated a tent that will be set up Nov. 7 to 9 on the National Mall as part of the “Tents of Hope.” Communities across the United States and abroad have been invited to transform refugee tents into unique works of art that express compassion and desire for peace for the people of Darfur, Sudan.
3 streams of social concerns
In reporting to the board after his reelection, Winkler said that the agency embodies three important streams of United Methodist social concerns. He said one stream is represented by what was once known as the Board of Temperance, Prohibition, and Public Morals. The second is insistence on a better life for working people stated in the 1908 Social Creed of the denomination, and the third is world peace.
“Over time, our consciousness has been raised on many other important matters including health care, civil and human rights, and economic and environmental justice,” Winkler said. “In fact, over the past half century, the world has been transformed by great moral and spiritual movements for equal rights for women, for environmental and economic justice, for an end to the nuclear arms race, apartheid and the Vietnam War, for civil and human rights for all people.
“Often, the church has had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the table, but today we are one of the pillars of these movements, as we should be.”
Winkler emphasized that GBCS’s ministries are biblically based. He also said that the agency is committed to the four focus areas recently approved by the United Methodist General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body. “We offer expertise in the areas of global health, ministry with the poor, and leadership development,” he stated. “And, we stand ready to assist the agencies and annual conferences involved in new church starts to ensure United Methodist faith communities are scripturally grounded and committed to the Social Principles.”
Winkler said he believes that “at its best” GBCS serves to help the church understand the interconnectedness of God’s creation.
“We work hard to help our people join justice and mercy together in their own lives, congregations, and communities,” Winkler said. “United Methodists are excellent at feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and clothing the naked. Freeing the oppressed, confronting the systems that perpetuate hunger, racism, violence and poverty is always the hard part. In many ways, that’s where GBCS comes in.”
The least and the lost
At the closing commissioning service, Bishop Kiesey declared that she is proud “The United Methodist Church has a board such as GBCS to speak for those who have no voice, to always keep before us the needs of the least and the lost.” The Christian mandate to care for these people is “absolutely clear, without a doubt,” she said in describing the directors’ and the board’s call.
“The challenge to our church is to accept the least and the lost of the world,” Bishop Kiesey said at the commissioning service, “not only accept but seek them out and embrace them and welcome them in.
“Our commission on this board is to broaden that circle and offer the Good News to the entire world, but especially to the weak, so no one has to ask again, ‘What prevents me from following Christ?’”
GBCS is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church. The board’s primary areas of ministry are Advocacy, Education and Leadership Formation, United Nations and International Affairs, and resourcing these areas for the denomination. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center at the United Nations in New York City.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)