General Board of Discipleship to Trim Staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 19, 2008/GBOD -- The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) is reducing staff in response to a deteriorating U.S. economy and an effort to align resources around its strategic directions and the four areas of focus approved by the 2008 General Conference.
Karen Greenwaldt, top executive at GBOD, after consultation with the president of GBOD, Bishop Charlene Kammerer, and other key board leaders, announced staff is being reduced in GBOD’s Upper Room Ministries, which does not receive apportionment dollars, and other apportionment-funded units (those receiving World Service dollars). Overall, this will result in 15 positions being eliminated, five of which are not presently filled. The staff reductions will begin at the end of January 2009.
“We deeply regret that this announcement is being made during this Christmas season, and we will miss our valued colleagues. However, we feel that we must start the New Year ready to serve the denomination with a leaner and focused organization that also recognizes the economic reality facing our churches and the larger society,” said Greenwaldt. “These changes are being made after a thoughtful and careful review of our operations and a strategic decision to align our ministries around the denomination’s goals for the next four years,” she said.
Although GBOD will be reducing staff in some areas, New Church Starts, a new unit responsible for training and equipping 1000 church planters to start 650 churches over the next four years, is acquiring four new staff members. “We are excited about this new area and the direction it is taking the church. The impact of its service to the denomination has already been felt,” said Greenwaldt.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
A Word of Hope
I was reading an article by Tom Wilkinson who works with the Florida Conference United Methodist Foundation. I think the beginning of his article reflects what all of us are facing in these days. He writes:
“No one needs to be reminded that 2008 has been a horrible year for the world economy.
Home foreclosures, the credit crisis, unemployment, steep stock market declines and shaken consumer confidence have led many church leaders to question how church members and friends will continue to support the vital mission and ministry of our churches in the Florida Conference. And it is during times like these that the church becomes even more important, as we seek to reach out and serve people in our communities, people who are reeling from the loss of a job or home, wondering how to pay for college tuition, and worried about shrinking retirement savings plans, feeling alone and scared.”
I think in times like these we have to remember we trust our Lord to be our Shepherd even more than it good times.
I know many of our people and churches are suffering with a loss of giving. Sometimes these kinds of times cause us to evaluate what is really important. Budgets will reflect our priorities.
I do believe God will see us through this time of difficulty. It may require us to live more simple lives.
Robert F. Sharpe Jr., president of the Sharpe Group, a Memphis planned giving consulting firm, says, “While no one knows the exact extent of the economic crisis we now face, we can take to heart some of the lessons of the Great Depression (of the 1930s).”
Sharpe notes giving did not decline dramatically in the immediate aftermath of the 1929 stock market crash. In fact, giving to Community Chests, which were predecessors of many United Way organizations, rose 15 percent between 1930 and 1931.
While these historic macroeconomic trends may provide some comfort, the current financial crisis still presents real problems for United Methodist churches and agencies.
Remember, we are made in the image of God, the ultimate giver of all that we are and all that we have. We look the most like God when we are generous. We reflect the face of Jesus when we compassionately and generously share what God has given us. Generous giving grows from our need to give as part of our spiritual journey, rather than the church’s need to receive. In other words, the question is, “What is God calling me to give?” rather than “What does my church need from me?”
Together we will make it through these difficult times.
May the Christ Child be the center of your life this Christmas.
Dick Wills
Bishop
Nashville Area
The United Methodist Church
I was reading an article by Tom Wilkinson who works with the Florida Conference United Methodist Foundation. I think the beginning of his article reflects what all of us are facing in these days. He writes:
“No one needs to be reminded that 2008 has been a horrible year for the world economy.
Home foreclosures, the credit crisis, unemployment, steep stock market declines and shaken consumer confidence have led many church leaders to question how church members and friends will continue to support the vital mission and ministry of our churches in the Florida Conference. And it is during times like these that the church becomes even more important, as we seek to reach out and serve people in our communities, people who are reeling from the loss of a job or home, wondering how to pay for college tuition, and worried about shrinking retirement savings plans, feeling alone and scared.”
I think in times like these we have to remember we trust our Lord to be our Shepherd even more than it good times.
I know many of our people and churches are suffering with a loss of giving. Sometimes these kinds of times cause us to evaluate what is really important. Budgets will reflect our priorities.
I do believe God will see us through this time of difficulty. It may require us to live more simple lives.
Robert F. Sharpe Jr., president of the Sharpe Group, a Memphis planned giving consulting firm, says, “While no one knows the exact extent of the economic crisis we now face, we can take to heart some of the lessons of the Great Depression (of the 1930s).”
Sharpe notes giving did not decline dramatically in the immediate aftermath of the 1929 stock market crash. In fact, giving to Community Chests, which were predecessors of many United Way organizations, rose 15 percent between 1930 and 1931.
While these historic macroeconomic trends may provide some comfort, the current financial crisis still presents real problems for United Methodist churches and agencies.
Remember, we are made in the image of God, the ultimate giver of all that we are and all that we have. We look the most like God when we are generous. We reflect the face of Jesus when we compassionately and generously share what God has given us. Generous giving grows from our need to give as part of our spiritual journey, rather than the church’s need to receive. In other words, the question is, “What is God calling me to give?” rather than “What does my church need from me?”
Together we will make it through these difficult times.
May the Christ Child be the center of your life this Christmas.
Dick Wills
Bishop
Nashville Area
The United Methodist Church
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Background Information on English-only
The proposed Metro Charter amendment reads: “English is the official language of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. Official actions which bind or commit the government shall be taken only in the English language, and all official government communications and publications shall be in English. No person shall have a right to government services in any other language. All meetings of the Metro Council, Boards, and Commissions of the Metropolitan Government shall be conducted in English. The Metro Council may make specific exceptions to protect public health and safety. Nothing in this measure shall be interpreted to conflict with federal or state law."
• The proposed charter amendment is “English-only,” not “English-first.” The initiative is an attempt to eliminate the use of all non-English languages by Metro government. The word “only” appears in the proposed language, and not the word “first.” People are understandably less supportive of English-only measures because an outright prohibition against non-English languages is excessive and dangerous.
• English-only laws are not about the importance of learning English; they are about how we treat immigrants in transition. Many people who express support for this type of initiative really just want to affirm the importance of the English language in times of cultural change and insecurity. The truth is, immigrants understand the importance of learning English better than anyone, and they are learning just like our grandparents did. It serves everyone's interests that they be able to interact with the government in the meantime.
• City leaders have decided overwhelmingly that English-only is bad for Nashville. On August 7, 2008, the Metro Council voted 25-8 urging voters to oppose an English-only charter amendment. Mayor Dean himself addressed the council: “I wanted to take this time, this opportunity to make sure my voice, as mayor of this city, is heard on this issue, and to assure that everyone fully understands the consequences of passing a law that will tie our hands in the global economy, that will detract from our appeal as an international tourist destination, and that will damage our reputation as a welcoming and friendly city.”th
The proposed English-only charter amendment is:
Unnecessary, and Actually Bad for English
• English is already the “official and legal language” of Tennessee. In November of 2006, the Nashville Metro Council passed resolution RS2006-1650, clarifying that TN state law already establishes English as the official language, and expressing concern that further English-only legislation could actually be bad for English acquisition.
• Today's immigrants are learning English the same way our grandparents did—by getting out into the community and interacting with native speakers of the language. This proposed charter amendment seeks to further isolate immigrants, making it much more difficult to learn English. If the concern is that immigrants are not learning English quickly enough, we should create more opportunities for them to learn.
• Research indicates that 98% of Latinos think it is “essential” that their children learn English. In fact, 80% of foreign-born children from Mexico learn English "well" or "very well," and 92 percent of second-generation Latinos are fully fluent in English. By the third generation, only 28% of Latinos are still proficient in Spanish (Migration Policy Institute).
• Immigrants are required to demonstrate English proficiency before they become U.S. citizens, with only a few exceptions for older people. However, the citizenship process is long and arduous, and immigrants must interact with government agencies while they are still learning English. When refugees come to Tennessee from Sudan, they don’t learn English in a refugee camp in Chad. They learn English once they get here. There are over 45,000 foreign-born individuals in Davidson County who are still working towards their citizenship.
• When the Metro Council passed its pro-English resolution in 2006, it found that English-only legislation has a “potentially detrimental impact on those who are already linguistically isolated; and…increased linguistic isolation for LEP individuals may have the unintended consequence of slowing their rate of English acquisition.”
Costly to Taxpayers
• This unnecessary ballot initiative will cost Nashville taxpayers approximately $500,000, during a time when the nation is facing a financial crisis and local governments are being forced to cut essential services.
The proposed Metro Charter amendment reads: “English is the official language of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. Official actions which bind or commit the government shall be taken only in the English language, and all official government communications and publications shall be in English. No person shall have a right to government services in any other language. All meetings of the Metro Council, Boards, and Commissions of the Metropolitan Government shall be conducted in English. The Metro Council may make specific exceptions to protect public health and safety. Nothing in this measure shall be interpreted to conflict with federal or state law."
• The proposed charter amendment is “English-only,” not “English-first.” The initiative is an attempt to eliminate the use of all non-English languages by Metro government. The word “only” appears in the proposed language, and not the word “first.” People are understandably less supportive of English-only measures because an outright prohibition against non-English languages is excessive and dangerous.
• English-only laws are not about the importance of learning English; they are about how we treat immigrants in transition. Many people who express support for this type of initiative really just want to affirm the importance of the English language in times of cultural change and insecurity. The truth is, immigrants understand the importance of learning English better than anyone, and they are learning just like our grandparents did. It serves everyone's interests that they be able to interact with the government in the meantime.
• City leaders have decided overwhelmingly that English-only is bad for Nashville. On August 7, 2008, the Metro Council voted 25-8 urging voters to oppose an English-only charter amendment. Mayor Dean himself addressed the council: “I wanted to take this time, this opportunity to make sure my voice, as mayor of this city, is heard on this issue, and to assure that everyone fully understands the consequences of passing a law that will tie our hands in the global economy, that will detract from our appeal as an international tourist destination, and that will damage our reputation as a welcoming and friendly city.”th
The proposed English-only charter amendment is:
Unnecessary, and Actually Bad for English
• English is already the “official and legal language” of Tennessee. In November of 2006, the Nashville Metro Council passed resolution RS2006-1650, clarifying that TN state law already establishes English as the official language, and expressing concern that further English-only legislation could actually be bad for English acquisition.
• Today's immigrants are learning English the same way our grandparents did—by getting out into the community and interacting with native speakers of the language. This proposed charter amendment seeks to further isolate immigrants, making it much more difficult to learn English. If the concern is that immigrants are not learning English quickly enough, we should create more opportunities for them to learn.
• Research indicates that 98% of Latinos think it is “essential” that their children learn English. In fact, 80% of foreign-born children from Mexico learn English "well" or "very well," and 92 percent of second-generation Latinos are fully fluent in English. By the third generation, only 28% of Latinos are still proficient in Spanish (Migration Policy Institute).
• Immigrants are required to demonstrate English proficiency before they become U.S. citizens, with only a few exceptions for older people. However, the citizenship process is long and arduous, and immigrants must interact with government agencies while they are still learning English. When refugees come to Tennessee from Sudan, they don’t learn English in a refugee camp in Chad. They learn English once they get here. There are over 45,000 foreign-born individuals in Davidson County who are still working towards their citizenship.
• When the Metro Council passed its pro-English resolution in 2006, it found that English-only legislation has a “potentially detrimental impact on those who are already linguistically isolated; and…increased linguistic isolation for LEP individuals may have the unintended consequence of slowing their rate of English acquisition.”
Costly to Taxpayers
• This unnecessary ballot initiative will cost Nashville taxpayers approximately $500,000, during a time when the nation is facing a financial crisis and local governments are being forced to cut essential services.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Novel Was Inspired by True-Life Mission Experiences, Says Lay Speaker
John I. Carney, a certified United Methodist lay speaker and a member of First UMC Shelbyville, has self-published "Soapstone," a novel inspired by his short-term mission trips since 2003, especially his trips to Kenya in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Carney, who is the city editor for the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, takes his foreign mission trips with LEAMIS International Ministries, a small, non-denominational missions group based in Marion County, and he recently joined the LEAMIS board. In addition to Kenya, he has been on trips to Nicaragua, Bolivia and Costa Rica.
"I wrote the first draft of the novel in November 2007," said Carney, "as part of a writing exercise called National Novel Writing Month. The exercise calls for you to write 50,000 words during the month of November -- an average of 1,667 words a day. That doesn't leave you much time to second-guess or edit yourself, and so the manuscript comes out looking pretty rough. But it also brings out creative elements that wouldn't be there if you had the time to think about them."
Carney decided to create a fictional story which would give him a chance to incorporate some of his real experiences and memories. Although he admits the main character Jeff Doerman, inspired by his own experiences, he consciously avoided basing any of Doerman's teammates on individual people with whom he has served on previous trips.
"Plus," he laughed, "Jeff gets to have a little bit of a romance on his trip -- something that, sadly, hasn't happened to me."
After speed-writing that first draft, Carney tinkered with it in the following months before deciding to self-publish it through a publish-on-demand firm.
Carney says the novel isn't meant as a serious treatise on the benefits of short-term mission trips, a subject of some discussion in recent years. But he said he'd be pleased if it inspires a reader to think about the possibility of ministry in a foreign country.
Carney, the son of retired United Methodist minister Jack Carney, became the first lay speaker to preach during an evening worship at Tennessee Annual Conference during the June 2008 event. In October through December 2008, he taught the basic lay speaking class at Scott UMC in Shelbyville. He is also a former long-time board member for Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project), and continues to volunteer with Mountain T.O.P.
"Soapstone" is available from Amazon.com or at createspace.com/3358275 .
John I. Carney, a certified United Methodist lay speaker and a member of First UMC Shelbyville, has self-published "Soapstone," a novel inspired by his short-term mission trips since 2003, especially his trips to Kenya in 2004, 2005 and 2006.Carney, who is the city editor for the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, takes his foreign mission trips with LEAMIS International Ministries, a small, non-denominational missions group based in Marion County, and he recently joined the LEAMIS board. In addition to Kenya, he has been on trips to Nicaragua, Bolivia and Costa Rica.
"I wrote the first draft of the novel in November 2007," said Carney, "as part of a writing exercise called National Novel Writing Month. The exercise calls for you to write 50,000 words during the month of November -- an average of 1,667 words a day. That doesn't leave you much time to second-guess or edit yourself, and so the manuscript comes out looking pretty rough. But it also brings out creative elements that wouldn't be there if you had the time to think about them."
Carney decided to create a fictional story which would give him a chance to incorporate some of his real experiences and memories. Although he admits the main character Jeff Doerman, inspired by his own experiences, he consciously avoided basing any of Doerman's teammates on individual people with whom he has served on previous trips.
"Plus," he laughed, "Jeff gets to have a little bit of a romance on his trip -- something that, sadly, hasn't happened to me."
After speed-writing that first draft, Carney tinkered with it in the following months before deciding to self-publish it through a publish-on-demand firm.
Carney says the novel isn't meant as a serious treatise on the benefits of short-term mission trips, a subject of some discussion in recent years. But he said he'd be pleased if it inspires a reader to think about the possibility of ministry in a foreign country.
Carney, the son of retired United Methodist minister Jack Carney, became the first lay speaker to preach during an evening worship at Tennessee Annual Conference during the June 2008 event. In October through December 2008, he taught the basic lay speaking class at Scott UMC in Shelbyville. He is also a former long-time board member for Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project), and continues to volunteer with Mountain T.O.P.
"Soapstone" is available from Amazon.com or at createspace.com/3358275 .
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