Notes on the Role of Worshipping Communities amid Pandemic
Gary R Gunderson
Sr. Vice President for Faith and Health Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare, Memphis, TN.

What is the role of congregations when a community faces possible epidemic?
Contemplating a potential flu pandemic makes us all aware of the remarkable range and depth of community assets that protect the health of the population and provide comfort and care to those may fall ill. The United States has a particularly rich array of churches, mosques, temples and places of worship that represent nearly every faith tradition in the human experience. They have particular strengths that are especially valuable when trust, caring, comfort and confidence may be as important as our medical technologies in the face of epidemic disease. The particular strengths of congregations are certainly part of the community’s capacity to respond in crisis.

We never know when a new flu virus may emerge that creates new threats and challenges. Congregations develop the webs of trusted relationships all the time that turn out to be extremely useful in a crisis. Congregations have unique strengths which, when linked, the complementary strengths of healthcare and public health organizations can create a strong, resilient community capable of confronting many challenges.

Congregations in Memphis that are associated with the Congregational Health Network or the United Methodist Conferences are already linked to a broad set of connections that help you and your members find out what to do and where to go in crisis. Your Liaisons know the Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare navigators. They are always a good “first call” when confused. But your congregation has important strengths on its own that are important upon which to build in a time of community need.

The strength to accompany.
Faith entities commonly are welcomed into the lives of those who would otherwise be isolated. They tend to know which of their own members and neighbors may be likely to be confined at home or in institutions. They can often move across barriers of family, race, ethnicity, class and other distinctions to create the bonds of relationship across which valid information and help about pandemic flu might flow. Key questions to ask:
1. What likely-to-be overlooked people do we accompany already, such as the homebound elderly or adolescents estranged from school or family?
2. How might we form appropriate relationships of trust with others who may need us in crisis?
3. Do we have outreach or inreach committees that could be prepared to play an explicit role around a possible pandemic, such as prayer groups who may be tuned to care for others easily overlooked?
4. How might we act to ensure the public authorities know about these isolated people that might otherwise be bypassed by the community?

The Strength to Convene.
Faith entities often gather in very small and very large groups that cross many lines in order to care for people, or to discuss important moral issues. Sometimes faith leaders work together to form coalitions that are the building block of larger community efforts, such as we’ve seen recently in the wake of Katrina.
4. What groups is our congregation already part of that might help convene people in the context of pandemic flu?
5. How might we work with other faith leaders to help create a network of trust and confidence that can extend the capacity of public agencies?
6. Are there particular groups in the community that might need special attention or preparation, such as recent immigrants? Could we help convene to ensure they are included in community planning?

The Strength to Connect.
Worshipping communities gather people from many backgrounds, ages and interests. These relationships build significant networks of trust that are crucial in the context of emergencies, which often face breakdowns in normal lines of coordination. These complex relationships often extend into neighborhoods and groups that may not even be visible to high level formal authorities. Thus faith groups can be crucial connectors in pandemic conditions and prevent the instinct to work alone.
7. Let your members know about the numerous connections members already have to multiple agencies and institutions in your community.
8. Notice to what agencies your members work in and provide some level of leadership. These may be especially useful when formal lines of relationship are damaged or stressed by crisis.
9. Personal relationship augments the formal lines of collaboration among institutions. Consider having different members become familiar with the kinds of paperwork or policies that might govern access to services in a time of crisis so they can help others who may need assistance.

Strength to Frame or Story.
Worshipping communities often are trusted to get the story correct, to place disturbing or difficult information in the context of a hopeful and compassionate framework. A pandemic may create swirls of rumor and fear that make effective community response difficult. From crucial “simple” information such as where to access vaccine, to potentially complex and controversial instructions for quarantine, faith groups will be expected to get the story correct. Public sources of information are not trusted by some groups, who may look instead to faith leaders and congregations.
10. Do we know where to get timely and accurate information about flu and health challenges?
11. Have we considered what kind of theological or ethical issues may need to be addressed around pandemic flu? If needed, where would we seek trusted advice from other faith leaders facing similar challenges?
12. Have we considered how we will communicate to all age groups and their caregivers, including children, parents and those that may be isolated?

Strength to give Sanctuary.
From ancient times houses of worship have been considered to be sanctuaries in times of crisis. Faith groups extend that meaning to include the idea of providing safe space for for making available vaccine and health services, care and comfort for those that are ill and to those that may care for them.
13. How might our building be useful to the community as a safe space amid flu?
14. Are there things we should prepare for to make sure our building is as safe and accessible as neighbors may expect it to be? Do we need to consider having masks and other sanitary aids on hand?
15. Should we plan on ensuring that we are able to secure resources and material that may be needed to provide safe shelter in crisis?
16. Should we think about how our pattern of public gatherings may need to be altered in light of the potential risks of infectious spread? Should we prepare policies in advance so that people will know whether our public gatherings are proceeding as planned or in an altered form?

Strength to Bless.
While public institutions have legal authority to enforce public policies, worshipping groups have a special power to offer blessing, comfort and encouragement. Pandemic flu has the potential to make people fearful, inflaming old prejudices and divisions. Faith leaders should focus on holding up community values of trust, inclusion, fairness and compassion, on which all public policies rest.
17. How might we form open relationships now with groups most likely to face exclusion or isolation in the context of pandemic?
18. How can we anticipate the pattern of fears most likely to arise in pandemic and practice messages aimed at alleviating those fears in advance?

Strength to pray and offer ritual.
Worshipping communities worship. In a time of pandemic faith groups will face challenges to continue to offer up prayer, rituals of many kinds that undergird the hope, trust and compassion of their members and the community.
19. How can we plan to offer worship and participation in key rituals even when faced by pandemic?
20. Can we anticipate the need for new kinds of ceremonies or, perhaps those less commonly used in non-pandemic times?
21. Should we consider meeting with other faith leaders to think about interfaith services that may be appropriate amid pandemic?

Strength to Endure.
All of our faith traditions have seen many other pandemics and catastrophes before. This historical perspective is a great strength. While we prepare to protect the community and its vulnerable members, our faith leaders can be confident that this potential pandemic will be endured and survived as have many others.
22. Are we familiar with how our faith tradition has responded to other pandemics and large scale challenges?
23. Are there particular revered leaders whose memory may offer relevant guidance to us amid another pandemic season?
24. In what way can we learn from other generations who have faced difficult times? How did they do it? What sustained and encouraged them?

By focusing on the strengths of our worshipping communities, our preparations for pandemic conditions build on the foundations that have stood against fear and panic many times before, offering our community reality-based encouragement that lets us go about the work of prevention and care that honors God’s hope for us all.

Swine/Novel Flu Facts, April 2009

What is Swine/Novel Flu?
Swine flu is a contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs and can be transmitted to humans. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is a mix of human and animal versions.

Why should I be concerned?
Because of a recent outbreak of swine/novel flu in Mexico and some cases in the U.S., we are taking precautions to increase public safety and limit the virus.

How common is swine/novel flu infection in humans?
In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine flu virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.

What are the symptoms of swine/novel flu in humans?
The symptoms of swine/novel flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu and include fever, tiredness, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

How does swine/novel flu spread?
Though not common, flu viruses may be spread directly from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs.

Human-to-human transmission of swine/novel flu can also occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu virus on it (like secretions from the nose of an infected person) and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can human infections with swine/novel flu be diagnosed?
A respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness or in some cases, 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine/novel flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to the State or CDC for laboratory testing.

What medications are available to treat swine/novel flu infections in humans?
CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for the treatment of infection with swine/novel flu viruses. At this time, there are no vaccines available.

Center for Disease Control Quick Reference Guide for Public Information on Infection Control -- Resources for Public Information on Swine/Novel Flu and Infection Control

General Swine Flu Information

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_internal_003


http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm:
Provides facts about Swine Influenza

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm
Swine Flu and You: Provides answers to questions about Swine Influenza

http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=11226
Swine Flue Video Podcast: In this video, Dr. Joe Bresee, with the CDC Influenza Division, describes swine flu - its signs and symptoms, how it's transmitted, medicines to treat it, steps people can take to protect themselves from it, and what people should do if they become ill.

http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=11072
All you have to do is wash your hands Podcast: This Podcast teaches children how and when to wash their hands properly.

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/rss/
Swine FLu RSS feed: Receive automatic updates on Swine Flu from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention right on your desktop or browser.

http://www.pork.org/PorkScience/Documents/PUBLICHEALTH%20influenza.pdf
INFLUENZA: Pigs, People and Public Health: Public Health Fact Sheet from National Pork Board

The National Swine Flu Situation Page (tm). Content on the page updates automatically and contains information from multiple web sites in one location. CDC, health, maps, RSS news feeds and more.
http://www.vuetoo.com/vue1/Situationpagenews.asp?af=&sit=4540&z=&np=&tp=14



Flu Information for Children/Parents & Child Care Providers

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/2008-09/parents_guide.htm
The Flu: A Guide for Parents: Questions and answers about the flu, how to protect your child, treatment, and more

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/childcaresettings.htm
Preventing the Spread of Influenza (the Flu) in Child Care Settings: Guidance for Administrators, Care Providers, and Other Staff: Flu recommendations for schools and child care providers

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/qa.htm
Questions and Answers: Information for Schools: Printable version of answers to questions commonly asked by school administrators, teachers, staff, and parents

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/infantcare.htm
Protecting Against the Flu: Advice for Caregivers of Children Less Than 6 Months Old: Research has shown that children less than 5 years of age are at high risk of serious flu-related complications.

http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/home_work_school.htm:
Fact Sheet on stopping germs at home and school

http://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention/
Ounce of Prevention: Tips and streaming video for parents and children about the steps and benefits of effective hand washing

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/index.htm
Center for Disease Control Free Flue Materials: This year’s seasonal flu materials are free for download—no printed versions are available. They may be printed on a standard office printer, or you may use a commercial printer. Emphasis remains on outreach to high-risk groups, as well as parents of all children, health care workers, and people in the workplace.

Prevention Methods

http://www.cdc.gov/cleanhands/
Clean Hands Saves Lives: Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/
Hand Hygiene in Healtcare Setting: Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings - 2002.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5605a4.htm
Hand washing to reduce Disease: Recommendations to Reduce Disease Transmission from Animals in Public Settings

http://www.bam.gov/teachers/epidemiology_hand_wash.html
BAM! Body and Mind, Teacher's Corner: In this activity, students will conduct an experiment on washing their hands. They will learn that "clean" hands may not be so clean after all and the critical importance of washing their hands as a way to prevent the spread of disease.

http://www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/HandsTogether/
Center for Disease Control TV - Put Your Hands Together: (Video) Scientists estimate that people are not washing their hands often or well enough and may transmit up to 80% of all infections by their hands

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/covercough.htm
Cover your Cough Posters: Stop the Spread of Germs that Make You and Others Sick! ... Printable formats of "Cover Your Cough". Posters only available as PDF files.

http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/materials/home_work_school.pdf
Center for Disease Control flu information: Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/pdf/qa.pdf
Questions and Answers: Information for Schools: Information about preventing the spread of flu in schools

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/
Information for Schools & Childcare: Cover Your Cough Materials. View larger image. See the Cover Your Cough page on this site for poster and flyer formatted for use in schools.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htm
Stopping the Spread of Germs: Stop the Spread of Germs Healthy habits at home, work, & school; Printable Materials, flyers & posters, Cover Your Cough, Germ Stopper Poster.

http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/materials.htm
Center for Disease Control - Be a Germ Stopper; Posters and Materials: For Community and Public Settings Like Schools and Child Care Facilities). ... Cover Your Cough also available for health care settings.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/resphygiene.htm
Cough Etiquette in Health Care Settings: Tips to prevent the spread of germs from coughing; Information about Personal Protective Equipment Demonstrates the sequences for donning and...

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab4.html/
Workplace Planning: Includes flyers and posters, in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Chinese...

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/workplace/
Seasonal Flu Information for Workplaces & Employees: Resources for Workplaces & Employees

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic/preparednesstools.htm
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Tools for Professionals: Resources to help hospital administrators and state and local health officials prepare for the next influenza pandemic.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/patiented.htm
Patient Education Materials: This season’s materials reflect outreach to high-risk groups, including caregivers and parents of infants...

School Materials and Posters

Germ Stopper Materials
"Be a Germ Stopper" posters and screensavers. Simple reminders for good hygiene for use in classrooms, cafeterias or laminated for bathrooms. See the Stop the Spread of Germs site at www.cdc.gov/germstopper.

Cover Your Cough Materials
See the http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/covercough.htm Cover Your Cough page on this site for poster and flyer formatted for use in schools.

"It's a SNAP" Toolkit
Program materials to help prevent school absenteeism Activities for school administrators, teachers, students and others can do to help stop the spread of germs in schools. See the handcleaning section of the "It's a SNAP" site at www.itsasnap.org/snap/about.asp.

VBS kids TREK across God’s beautiful world

Transform, Rejoice, Experience & Know God with the Society of St. Andrew’s free VBS mission project featuring “Go Green” facts

Each day during Vacation Bible School, students are “sent” on a mission adventure with the Society of St. Andrew’s new VBS mission project, “TREK.” The adventures put them on the front line of learning the importance of eating healthy, sharing with others, and using their hands to help God’s hungry children.

“TREK Mission Adventure” is offered at no cost by the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA), Advance #801600 and Resolution #4093 of the United Methodist Church. It is designed to supplement VBS programs and can be easily adapted to any VBS theme.

This year’s program features daily “Go Green” facts with such information as how much it costs the U.S. to dispose of all its food waste. Daily activity sheets for all ages also contain short scripturally based stories, facts about hunger and SoSA’s hunger-relief ministry, potato trivia, and pencil activities.

“Through this program our kids learned about hunger … and things they can do to help,” said the VBS director of St. John’s UMC, Kansas City, MO, regarding last year’s Vacation Bible School.

In addition to the fun and educational aspects of these daily “mission adventures,” the goal for each VBS is to raise enough through student offerings for the Society of St. Andrew to save and donate 1,000 pounds of fresh produce that will end up on the plates of hungry Americans. At about a nickel a pound, that’s a goal of $50.

The Society of St. Andrew’s national hunger-relief ministry uses thousands of volunteers to glean (save) excess fresh vegetables and fruits that are perfectly good and nutritious but can’t be sold because of market factors. Instead of letting this food go to waste, SoSA ships it to agencies throughout the nation that feed the hungry, and does it at a cost of a little over 5¢ a pound! “It’s a simple and effective way to obey Jesus’ command to feed the hungry, while also being good stewards of our nation’s abundance,” explained The Rev. Jennifer Vestal Moore, SoSA’s director of church relationships.

The VBS director at Athens First UMC in Athens, GA, last year said, “We sent home your handouts each day to reinforce the focus and to educate parents and children about hunger. The kids talked about how much better they would feel helping others versus buying another toy.”

Last year 157 churches used the Society of St. Andrew’s VBS mission project. The children attending VBS enthusiastically answered Jesus’ call to feed the hungry by donating $36,846 – enough to provide more than 2.1 million servings of food to hungry men, women and children! On average, each participating VBS raised more than four-and-half times the goal of $50.

All materials are free and available now. Order a sample kit today. There is no obligation. Call Rev. Moore at the Society of St. Andrew, 800-333-4597; email church@endhunger.org; fax your request to 434-299-5949; or order online at http://www.endhunger.org/vbs.htm. If your materials do not arrive within two weeks of placing your order, please call the Society of St. Andrew.

More information about the Society of St. Andrew and its hunger relief ministry, including the Gleaning Network, Potato & Produce Project, Harvest of Hope, and Hunger Relief Advocate programs, is available at www.endhunger.org.

Statement by Bishops of The United Methodist Church on news that President Obama will take up immigration reform in 2009

We join other religious leaders in thanking President Obama for placing immigration reform on his political agenda for 2009. As United Methodists we believe that immigration is a human rights issue that needs serious attention. We stand firmly in believing that the inherent value of all immigrants means that all of their civil liberties should be respected and maintained regardless of their legal status. We believe, however, that our present immigration policies violate these basic rights.

We encourage President Obama to work for comprehensive immigration reform that would…

.Provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants;
.Reunify immigrant families that have been separated by immigration itself or due to work place raids and ensuing indefinite detentions and deportations;
.Increase the number of visas for short-term workers to come into the United States to work in a safe, legal, and orderly way.
.Extend legal protection to all workers who come to stay for a certain period of time as well as for those who stay permanently including the right to bargain for higher wages, to protest against poor working conditions, and to preserve their human rights as workers, be they documented or undocumented;
.Eliminate privately-operated detention centers, which are not regulated by the federal or state governments, and end all indiscriminate raids.

We stand ready to assist President Obama in this mighty work of comprehensive immigration reform that would truly serve the common good.


Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño
Bishop of the Phoenix Area
of The United Methodist Church
and Chair of the United Methodist
Task Force on Immigration

Bishop Gregory Palmer
President of the Council of Bishops
of The United Methodist Church
and Bishop of the Illinois Area

Bishop Kenneth L. Carder
Professor of the Practice of Christian
Ministry Duke Divinity School

Bishop Jane Allen Middleton
Bishop of the Harrisburg Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky
Bishop of the Denver Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop Judith Craig,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Hope Morgan Ward
Bishop of the Mississippi Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop Joe A. Wilson,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Roy I. Sano,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Peter D. Weaver
Bishop of the Boston Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop C. Joseph Sprague,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop George W. Bashore,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Elías G. Galván,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Joel N. Martinez,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop S. Clifton Ives,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata
Bishop of the Portland Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop Susan Murch Morrison,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Richard J. Wills, Jr.
Bishop of the Nashville Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop William Boyd Grove,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Jesse R. DeWitt,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar
Bishop of the New Jersey Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop Felton Edwin May,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Julius C. Trimble
Bishop of the Iowa Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr.
Bishop of the San Francisco Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop Grant Hagiya
Bishop of the Seattle Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop Jeremiah Park
Bishop of the New York Area
of The United Methodist Church

Bishop Marshall L. Meadors, Jr.,
Retired
The United Methodist Church

Social justice agency saddened by shooting deaths

U.S. Congress urged to create 'effective gun legislation' to stop increasing violence.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) expressed sadness at the “unnecessary and heartbreaking” gun-related violence of the past weekend in the United States.

Fourteen people, including the alleged perpetrator died at the American Civic Assn. in Binghamton, N.Y., on Friday. On Saturday, three Pittsburgh police officers were shot and killed while answering a domestic dispute.

Last year, The United Methodist Church’s highest policy-making body adopted a resolution that declared “the need to prevent the incidence of firearm-related injury and death is an issue of increasing concern and a priority public health issue.” In the resolution on “Gun Violence,” the denomination calls for social policies and personal lifestyles that bring an end to senseless gun violence.

GBCS’s statement, signed by Jim Winkler, top executive of the agency, points out that the shootings in Binghamton were “particularly sad” because the majority of those killed were refugees. They were “immigrants who had fled war-torn and violent parts of the world to come to the safety of the United States only to meet a violent death,” the statement emphasizes.
GBCS states that its sadness at the tragic loss of life is equaled by its “continued disappointment” at the inability of the U.S. Congress “to enact necessary, common-sense gun regulations.” The statement cites several necessary issues for Congress to address: instituting background checks on all gun sales, including at gun shows; limiting bulk sales of guns intended to be illegally sold; and reinstating the ban on sale of military assault weapons to civilians. GBCS contends these would help lessen the increasing violence associated with the current absence of “effective gun regulations.”

“In the face of mounting killings due to gun violence, it is imperative for Congress to take action,” states GBCS, the denomination’s social justice agency. “In the interest of public safety, we cannot afford to allow the power of the gun lobby and its efforts to ensure ownership without responsibility to keep Congress silent and inactive.”

The General Board of Church & Society is one of four international general program agencies of The United Methodist Church. The agency’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.

The statement on gun violence follows.

GBCS Statement on Shooting Deaths in Binghamton, N.Y., and Pittsburgh, Pa.

The General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church is saddened by the gun-related violence of this past weekend. Fourteen persons died in the shooting at the American Civic Assn. in Binghamton, N.Y., on Friday, and three police officers were killed on Saturday while answering a domestic dispute call in Pittsburgh, Pa. These tragic events are unnecessary and heartbreaking, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ families.

What is particularly sad about each of these events, which occurred just hours apart, is that the majority of those killed in Binghamton were refugees. These immigrants had fled war-torn, violent, and poverty-stricken parts of the world to come to the safety of the United States only to meet a violent death.

In Pittsburgh, the accused murderer lay in wait for the police. He was wearing a bullet-proof vest and used an assault weapon.

Theologian William Sloane Coffin has said we are in a “world awash with weapons.” The United Methodist Church believes, “the need to prevent the incidence of firearm-related injury and death is an issue of increasing concern and a priority public health issue. The United Methodist Church is among those religious communions calling for social policies and personal lifestyles that bring an end to senseless gun violence” (2008 Book of Resolutions, “Gun Violence”).

Our sadness at the tragic loss of life is equaled by our continued disappointment at the inability of Congress to enact necessary, common-sense gun regulations. Background checks on all gun sales, including those at gun shows, limiting the bulk sales of guns intended to be illegally sold, and reinstating the ban on military assault weapons to civilians would be necessary steps to start. These steps would help lessen the increasing violence associated with the current absence of effective gun regulations.

In the face of more and more mass killings due to gun violence, it is imperative for Congress to take action. In the interest of public safety, we cannot permit the power of the gun lobby and its efforts to ensure ownership without responsibility to keep Congress silent and inactive.

As followers of Jesus the Peacemaker, we yearn for leadership of those who will restore safety and security in our public spaces. The right to own guns should be measured by the enormous responsibilities attached to it.

It is clear from the increasing gun violence in the United States that these responsibilities are not being taken seriously. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Congress to take action and ensure that these responsibilities and regulations be enacted.

Jim Winkler
General Secretary
General Board of Church & Society
The United Methodist Church
April 7, 2009

Nashville Clergy Issue United, Community-wide Call to Action to Obtain Federal Aid for Metro Nashville General Hospital

Services to Community, Education for Physicians, and Jobs in Local Economy Are Threatened by Reductions in Local & State Funding

Nashville clergy have issued a united, city-wide call to action to secure federal aid for Metro Nashville General Hospital. Clergy members announced their effort on behalf of the hospital at a news conference on March 31. Among the people participating in the news conference were (left to right) Reverend Jerry Maynard II; Reverend Henry Blaze, Progressive Baptist Church; Reverend Judi Hoffman, Edgehill United Methodist Church; and Reverend Jay Voorhees, Antioch United Methodist Church. More than 70 Nashville clergy have already signed a declaration of support to secure federal funding for Metro Nashville General Hospital

Nashville, TN – Nashville clergy have announced a united, city-wide call to action to secure federal aid for Metro Nashville General Hospital as the hospital faces reductions in local and state funding that threaten the hospital’s unique role as a provider of medical care to thousands of Nashvillians and as an education partner with Meharry Medical College. During a news conference on March 31, Reverend Henry Blaze, Progressive Baptist Church, and Reverend Judi Hoffman, Edgehill United Methodist Church, said that more than 70 Nashville clergy have already signed a united declaration of support to seek and secure federal funding for Metro Nashville General Hospital. They urged Nashville citizens and community, business, civic, and health care leaders to join them in this effort.

Bishop Jerry Maynard, Cathedral of Praise, said, “Health care is a matter of justice and morality. We talk about Nashville being a great city. However, our city’s greatness must include access to healthcare for all of our people. If our city fails to provide this, Nashville falls short of greatness no matter how many businesses move here or how many tourists visit.”

“Metro Nashville General Hospital faces a financial crisis that threatens the city’s healthcare infrastructure. Because of the economy, Nashville has an increasing number of uninsured residents who need to know that their city has not forgotten them and their need for access to a hospital. Metro Nashville General Hospital is our city’s safety-net for acute care medical services,” said Rev. Blaze.

Metro Nashville General Hospital serves more than 30% of the uninsured patients in the city. The hospital incurred $70 million in expenses for uncompensated care in 2008, while receiving $34 million from Metropolitan Government as a subsidy for the indigent care services.

Rev. Judi Hoffman explained, “We know that the State of Tennessee and Metro Government of Nashville Davidson County face tough economic times. However, we believe that our city has a moral obligation to operate a fully accredited public safety net hospital to serve the health care needs of Nashvillians.”

Need for a Fully Accredited In-patient Facility
The clergy stressed that it is crucial that Metro Nashville General Hospital continue to operate as a fully accredited, in-patient facility.

“We can be proud of the network of primary care clinics that operate in our city. However, people who have acute illnesses need to receive care in a hospital. Without Metro General Nashville Hospital, there would be nowhere for them to go,” said Rev. Hoffman.

Rev. Hoffman also noted that without this accredited in-patient facility, the education of hundreds of Meharry medical and dental students is threatened because of the unique partnership between Metro Nashville General Hospital and Meharry Medical College.

The clergy stressed that the hospital’s funding crisis could have a long-term impact on the health of the nation because the training for thousands of future physicians could be curtailed. They noted that the Metro General – Meharry Medical College partnership is a unique national health care resource that is deserving of federal financial support.

United Methodist Minister Fred Cloud, seen here with Pastor Maurice Harris of the Hosea Community Church, is one of the United Methodist ministers speaking up for Metro General Hospital.

Meharry Medical College is the largest private, comprehensive historically black institution for educating health professionals and scientists in the United States. Metro Nashville General Hospital serves as Meharry’s principal teaching facility. The Meharry-General Hospital partnership is part of the nation’s health education infrastructure.

Hospital’s Economic Impact
Freda Player, Change that Works Tennessee, spoke at a public rally following the March 31 news conference. Addressing more the 100 people who attended the rally, she pointed out that the hospital has an annual budget of $95 million and a payroll of over 700 employees.

“The hospital is a major employer in Nashville. In the current economic situation, where would 700 people find jobs in our city? Federal funding for Metro Nashville General Hospital is important for many economic reasons.”

Seay-Hubbard United Methodist Church pastor Kennard Murray, conversing here with the Rev. Jay Voorhees, also is supporting financial aid for Metro General Hospital.

Reverend Jay Voorhees, Antioch United Methodist Church, summarized the clergy’s reasons for undertaking this effort. He said, “We have faith that many people will join us in this effort because we know this city and its people. We believe that:

. Nashville is a caring, compassionate community that wants to provide quality care to people in need in an accredited facility;
. Nashvillians want to help their neighbors when they lose their jobs and provide the assurance that you can receive acute care health services if needed;
. Nashville is doing a good job in providing primary care services in health clinics, but needs to continue to operate an acute care hospital to serve clinic patients; and
. The people of Nashville and its leaders will join us in working to secure federal funds for the continued operation of Metro Nashville General Hospital because it is the moral and right thing to do.”

For information about the Nashville clergy’s Declaration of Support, visit http://www.faithleadersforall/of us.com or call 481-9246.

Social justice agency's directors announce grants, issue statements
Peace with Justice, Human Relations and Ethnic Local Church grants total nearly $270,000.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Directors of the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) issued statements at its meeting here this month that call for Middle East peace and urge the Obama administration not to boycott the United Nations conference on racism. The directors, who comprise more than 60 lay and clergy from around the world, also approved grants totaling $268,784 for peace, justice and human relations ministries.

GBCS is one of four international general program agencies of The United Methodist Church. The agency’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 Deborah Kiesey, GBCS president, said in her report to the directors that she believes it is the role of the agency “to not only care for the least, last and lost, but to be the prophetic voice that speaks to and works toward changing the very structures that are keeping people ‘bent over.’” She called GBCS “that Word of Hope to the world.”

Jim Winkler, GBCS’s chief executive, told the directors that priorities of the United States and every nation need to be reordered “toward human needs and away from greed, to peace and not war.” He cited GBCS efforts that contributed to the recent repeal of the death penalty in New Mexico, and helping facilitate nearly 200 prayer vigils around the country for immigration reform. He also described ongoing efforts to reform the U.S. health-care system, and GBCS’s advocacy on environmental and economic justice.

“Our focus in The United Methodist Church remains putting those on the economic margins at the center of our economic recovery, both in the United States and around the world,” Winkler said. He added that it will “require bold global leadership to build a just, sustainable future.”

Call for Middle East Peace
The “Call for Middle East Peace” was issued on the sixth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The statement says the directors are “deeply grieved by the continuing conflict and loss of life on all sides, and pray for its earliest possible end.” The statement also advises the fastest possible withdrawal of military forces from Iraq and cautions against too rapid expansion in Afghanistan.

A “just and durable” resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is critical to peace in the region, the directors emphasize.

The directors urged the Obama administration to reverse course on its decision not to participate in the U.N. Durban Review Conference on Racism April 20-24 in Geneva, Switzerland. “The United States cannot afford to vacillate on such an urgent issue as racism,” GBCS’s directors contend.

The directors assert that the crucial issues to be discussed in Geneva cannot be relegated to silence and inaction. “Silence will only postpone the debates,” they declare. “Inaction will only exacerbate the many ways people are being violated.”

Peace with Justice Grants
The Peace with Justice work area approved 28 grants totaling $52,805. The projects went to ministries geographically dispersed from the Philippines to Mozambique and from Iowa to Jerusalem. The grants are funded by The United Methodist Church’s Peace with Justice Special Sunday offering. Recipients comprise diverse ministries, such as to empower women, immigrant legal services in Iowa, justice and peace work in Jerusalem, training election observers in Mozambique, conflict management and mediation, and a water justice project.

The board’s Ethnic Local Church grants totaled $185,231 for 13 ministries. Notable among the awards was a grant to the denomination’s Hispanic/Latino caucus, MARCHA, for advocacy training related to racism and immigration. Other grants were directed to a seminary program for Native Americans in Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, an African-American Heritage program in New Jersey and a community garden program in Chicago by a multi-racial congregation.

GBCS’s Ethnic Young Adult Summer Internship Program also received funding. Last summer the program brought 12 persons to Washington, D.C., to work in social justice-related ministries. The 12 participants came from around the globe, including the Philippines and Africa.

Human Relations Day Grant
A Human Relations Day grant for $30,748 was awarded to “Redemption Church,” a Tulsa and Oklahoma City restorative justice ministry that incorporates advocacy and reunification of families among its programs. The grant is funded through The United Methodist Church’s Human Relations Day Special Sunday offering in January.

GBCS’s directors award grants in two cycles, spring and fall, in conjunction with their board meetings. Application information is available through the agency’s website: www.umc-gbcs.org

The Finance Committee of the Board of Directors reported that the United Methodist Social Justice Endowment Fund had grown to a market value of $47,503 at year-end 2008. This included $28,000 of new contributions last year. The fund was adversely affected by the economic crisis, though, holding gains down.

Cost-savings efforts on discretionary expenses, such as travel and supplies have been held to 2008 levels, in light of the economic downturn, according to the finance committee. GBCS is expected to meet its budget despite the downturn because of these measures along with sharing of accounting, financial and human relations functions with the General Commission on Religion & Race, which is also headquartered in the United Methodist Building in Washington, D.C.

In other activities during the spring meeting, directors made calls on their members of Congress, hosted a reception in the Cannon House office building in cooperation with Rep. James Clyburn, Majority Whip, and learned about Obama administration plans to engage the faith community. Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to Valerie Jarrett, assistant to the president for intergovernmental relations and public liaison, told the directors during lunch on March 20 that what the president wants to achieve “is motivated by his faith, and he’s not ashamed of that.” He said the faith community has a role to play in the debate over national priorities.

Bishop Kiesey urged the directors to review the denomination’s Book of Discipline about GBCS’s purpose (¶1002). She pointed out that ¶1004 says the board and its executives shall provide forthright witness and action on issues of human well-being, justice, peace and the integrity of creation that call Christians to respond as forgiven people for whom Christ died.

"That’s an amazing mandate,” Kiesey said, “not just for those of us on GBCS, but it is a mandate for every Christian.”

General Board of Church and Society Directors urge Obama to send delegation to racism review conference

U.N. conference to review progress since South Africa event that U.S. walked out of in protest.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Board of Directors of the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) issued a statement this week that urges the Obama administration to send a U.S. delegation to the Durban Review Conference on Racism in Geneva, Switzerland, April 20-24.

In their statement, GBCS’s directors declare that silence and inaction are not the ways to engage the painful issues stemming from racism. The statement calls President Obama to fulfill his commitment to diplomacy and engagement in U.S. foreign policy.

The United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries and GBCS will send delegations to Geneva to review progress since the U.N. World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in September 2001 just days before the atrocities of 9/11. The United States and Israel walked out of the Durban conference in protest of a resolution that equated Zionism with racism.

In Durban, United Methodists were part of a faith-based presence, which produced a 10-point Ecumenical Caucus statement that declared: “Racism is a sin.” The 10-point statement was read to the media on Sept. 5 by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. (The 10 points are available on the World Council of Churches website: www.wcc-coe.org.)

GBCS Assistant General Secretary Liberato Bautista chaired the committee that prepared the 10-point statement. He directs GBCS’s United Nations and International Affairs ministry. He is also president of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO).

“Some quarters described the Durban Conference as a ‘fiasco,’” Bautista said, “due to bitter wrangling on issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and slavery reparations. The United States and Israel walked out just before the resolution by Arab nations was dropped from the final conference declaration.”

Some U.N.-member states and non-governmental organizations are wary of the review conference, according to Bautista. He said they fear conferees may use the platform to attack Israel. The draft declaration of the review conference contained references to Israel and Palestine, as well as to “defamation of religion.”

Bautista identified paragraphs in the draft that were problematic to the United States and others, including Israel, Canada and Australia. All have withdrawn from the review conference.

Offensive paragraphs in the draft include the following:

Paragraph 53: “Acknowledges that a most disturbing phenomenon is the intellectual and ideological validation of Islamophobia …”;

Paragraph 160: “Calls on States to develop, and where appropriate to incorporate, permissible limitations on the exercise of the right to freedom and of expression into national legislation” (relating to the defamation of religion, which the U.S. identifies as a threat to freedom of speech and expression);

Paragraph 156: “Urges States that have not yet condemned, apologized and paid reparations for the grave and massive violations as well as the massive human suffering caused by slavery, the slave trade, the transatlantic slave trade, apartheid, colonialism and genocide, to do so at the earliest.”

The Obama administration inherited a Bush administration stance that distanced itself from the process, according to Bautista. He said President Obama “reengaged” by sending a team to Geneva to explore rewriting the outcome document in hopes of dropping objectionable language. The team returned dissatisfied with revised draft language, though.

According to the Irish Times, a new compromise draft, circulated to diplomatic missions, removed all specific references to Israel and the Palestinians. "Passages relating to so-called ‘defamation of religion’ were also dropped from the reworked draft,” the Times reported.

“Prior to this reworked version, the Obama administration said it will not officially participate,” Bautista pointed out. “Instead, the administration said it will send a ‘note taker,’ who will not sit behind the U.S. delegation name.”

Bautista said there are other active calls for the United States to send a delegation to Geneva. He mentioned the TransAfrica Forum, which described U.S. non-engagement as a “painful irony” because it is happening under its first African-American president. The forum asserted that U.S. non-engagement will be felt throughout the African-American and African-diaspora communities. The forum urged the Obama administration to reconsider its decision, participate in the preparatory meetings and send an official delegation.

The General Board of Church & Society is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church, which has more than 11 million members worldwide. 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.

The GBCS statement follows:

The Durban Review Conference on Racism
Geneva, April 20-24, 2009

The General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) of The United Methodist Church urges President Barack Obama to send a U.S. delegation to the Durban Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, this April. The conference is a follow up to the 2001 United Nations World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa.

The United States cannot afford to vacillate on such an urgent issue as racism. U.S. participation in Geneva will demonstrate President Obama’s commitment to diplomacy and engagement in U.S. foreign policy.

Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are crucial issues. We cannot relegate them to silence and inaction. Silence will only postpone the debates. Inaction will only exacerebate the many ways people are being violated.

It would be disappointing if the Obama administration chose inaction, or worse, absence, from the Geneva conference. It is imperative that we discuss racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance in an open debate. Engaging the issues now will surely help usher in, sooner than later, a world that is diverse and plural, equal and equitable, just and peaceable.

We must deal honestly and openly with racism that for too long has perpetuated violence and has killed far too many in the name of slavery, colonialism and occupation. Surely, we have reached a point in human history where we can abandon racism and hatred, and instead pursue tolerance and equality. Abandonment of hate and pursuit of peace and justice cannot be postponed, let alone ignored.

The Durban Review Conference is an opportunity for members of the world community to speak openly with one another to resolve the issues stemming from racism. We must not be sidetracked by contentions over our varied understandings of racism, painful and dissonant as they may be.

Differences can be turned into blessings as we collectively identify the many ways to address the complexity of racism. Embracing the exchange of views will no doubt develop advocacies.

The General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) holds a common purpose with the United Nations in pursuing human rights, social justice, sustainable development and a just, peaceable governance in communities and nations. To this end we, as GBCS, will be present at the Durban Review Conference.

We therefore urge President Obama’s leadership in healing the painful wounds of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.

Washington, D.C.,
March 21, 2009

Pennsylvania Methodists Name Capitol Veteran, Church Leader Drachler to Lead Advocacy Effort

HARRISBURG – Stephen Drachler, a longtime United Methodist leader and veteran state capitol staffer and journalist, has been named to lead A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania, the Rev. Dr. Keith Benjamin, chair of the denomination’s statewide advocacy organization said today.

“A United Methodist Witness is entering a new era,” said Benjamin of Carbondale, in announcing Drachler’s appointment. “Stephen Drachler brings important leadership and advocacy skills to UM Witness. He has served as the highest levels of the church and state government. And he was a widely respected political and investigative reporter and editor for two decades.”

A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania is the social justice advocacy arm of The United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania. The members of its board of directors represent nearly 2,300 congregations with nearly 490,000 members across the Commonwealth.

Drachler, 58, is relocating to Harrisburg from Nashville, TN, where he operated Drachler & Associates, a public relations/crisis communications firm. He started the firm in 2006 after serving as executive director of public information at Nashville-based United Methodist Communications. In that role he served as a spokesman for the denomination and provided media relations counsel to its worldwide Council of Bishops.

In Pennsylvania, Drachler served as press secretary to former House Speaker John M. Perzel from 1995 to 2002, and served as the Harrisburg bureau chief for the Allentown Morning Call and Ottaway Newspapers, a chain of community newspapers. His reporting for the Morning Call was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

An active United Methodist, Drachler also served as director of communications for the Central Pennsylvania (regional) Conference, on the board of directors of The United Methodist Publishing House, and was twice elected as a delegate to the denomination’s top legislative body, the General Conference.

“In these uncertain times, we believe more than ever that the church is called to serve as a voice for the voiceless, and an advocate for those who are in need,” Benjamin said. “It is at the core of our beliefs as United Methodist Christians.”

Drachler will represent the church’s interests before the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the executive branch of state government. He will work closely with the state’s United Methodist bishops and with grassroots church members on social justice issues.

Pennsylvania is one of two states – Iowa is the other – where United Methodists employ a person as a lobbyist/advocate to represent its interests before state government.

General Board of Church & Society executive testifies before House subcommittee

Represents National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Working Group in urging legislators to avoid economic injustices in any global warming bills.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The director of Economic and Environmental Justice at the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) told the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee March 12 that the faith community supports strong and quick action to address the dangers of climate change. He emphasized, though, that solutions must mitigate rather than compound economic injustices.

John Hill testified at a hearing on Capitol Hill on “Consumer Protection Provisions in Climate Legislation.” He spoke on behalf of the National Council of Churches (NCC) as a member of its Eco-Justice Working Group. The NCC represents 35 Christian denominations in the United States.

“Global climate change is a real and growing threat to Creation with profound and potentially devastating environmental, economic and social consequences,” Hill said.

4 principles guide policy solutions
Hill pointed out that for more than 15 years, the NCC has worked to educate and equip its members and congregations to take action to reduce their own contributions to climate change. “And, [we] have petitioned our government to provide strong leadership in developing domestic and international frameworks to lower greenhouse gas emissions,” he added.

Hill was one of six persons asked to speak at the subcommittee hearing. Primary emphasis of the hearing was to examine a proposal to assist consumers under a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Hill identified four principals that guide the faith community in considering potential policy solutions: justice, stewardship, sustainability and sufficiency. He said a just climate policy must contain effective, mandatory emissions reduction targets “to prevent catastrophic impacts” for the people and planet.

“For too long climate change advocates have minimized the potential impact of climate legislation on the poor,” Hill said, “and opponents have used such impacts as a justification for inaction.” He cautioned the legislators not to “forget the devastating impact of inaction.”

Rising sea levels, more intense storms, floods, droughts and spreading disease were cited by Hill as global warming effects that disproportionately affect persons living in poverty, communities of color and other vulnerable communities. “The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2004 demonstrated all too painfully the devastating consequences that occur when storms of nature interact with the storms of poverty and racism that batter communities in the United States and around the world,” he said.

Least responsible are most vulnerable
In developing policies, Hill urged the legislators to ensure that solutions don’t push families deeper into poverty due to higher energy-related costs. He said there are proposals that can “efficiently, effectively and justly” provide benefits to offset cost increases for low-income individuals and families. He mentioned one outlined by the Center on Budget Policies and Priorities, whose executive director, Robert Greenstein, also testified at the hearing.

“Those least responsible for the emissions that created this problem,” Hill said, “are most vulnerable to its effects. Let us not perpetuate further this injustice by forcing those same individuals to shoulder additional and disproportionate cost of proposed solutions.”

Hill said financial help for those living in poverty in the United States and international adaptation assistance for vulnerable communities abroad must be a part of any climate policy.

Using established, proven methods that provide funds sufficient to offset all energy-related price increases to deliver benefit for low-income consumers would be supported, according to Hill. He said mechanisms such as an electronic benefits transfer card and an expanded earned income tax credit would allow individuals and families flexibility to adapt to price increases for a variety of goods and services.

Hill said proposals that would use local distribution companies or other utilities to deliver a consumer rebate ignore over half the estimated costs to low-income families. He said these proposals require new delivery systems and outreach programs to encourage participation. "We believe established methods offer a more effective and efficient approach to reach the greatest percentage of low-income consumers," he said.

Four other persons testified before the subcommittee. They were Sonny Popowsky, Pennsylvania Office of the Consumer Advocate; Steve Kline, vice president of Corporate Environmental and Federal Affairs, PG&E Corp.; Steven Hayward, American Enterprise Institute; and Mike Carey, Ohio Coal Assn.

The full text of Hill's statement is available on GBCS's web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. Under "Issues and News," go to statements.

HELP SAVE TENNESSEE’S MOUNTAINS!

To find out additional information about LEAF and view a video on mountaintop removal mining click here http://www.tnleaf.org/

Dear LEAF supporters,

First and foremost, Wow! Several of the Senators we listed as key last week told me you rang their phones off the hook!! That is exactly what it takes to get to the top of the giant pile of bills on their desks. The mountains are now on the top of those piles, right where they belong! Thank you.

So, the Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act is off and running. LEAF had four folks on the ground talking with legislators this week and the National Parks Conservation Association had one. All made bits of progress that really added up. Due to that progress and your calls, I think we have the votes in the Senate Committee. However, a vote will not be scheduled in the Senate Committee until we prevail in the House Sub Committee; a scheduling matter beyond our control.

A summary for the week is that your contacts to the Senate worked. We lined up the votes. We will, of course, revisit those folks just before the Senate vote, but for now, on to the House!
The House sponsor (Rep. Bill Dunn) has put the bill “On Notice,” meaning that it is ready for the Sub Committee to consider. He has requested that it be placed on the Sub Committee calendar for Tuesday, March 17. It is not uncommon for a bill to be “rolled,” or moved to a future date for a variety of reasons; however, we will likely have a vote in the Sub Committee, if not on March 17, within a few weeks after. We can’t ever promise that something important will happen at a particular committee hearing, but if you want to come to Nashville and watch, that could be a good one.

This Sub Committee defeated the bill last year by two votes. Everyone knows this committee is the pinch point, the toughest of our five big votes. The members of this House Sub Committee will decide the fate of the mountains. The Sub Committee has some of the same folks as last year, but enough new ones to make the difference. Also some of last year’s “no” votes could change.

If it is voted out of this Sub Committee, it will be hard to stop. So the action for this week is to contact the House Environment Sub Committee members. They are listed at the end of this alert.

As usual, if you live in the Representative’s district, say so. If you know folks who do, send them this action alert. Encourage them to contact the legislator. Whether you live in the district or not, the methods of contact from the most effective to the least are: personal contact, paper letters, faxed letters, phone calls, and emails. LEAF has received copies of lovely emails in support of the bill. If you are going to compose a letter, we’d love it if you would print it out and mail it to the representative and copy us at http://www.tnleaf.org/@gmail.com. Hard copies can be mailed to Pat Chastain, 663 Gulfwood Rd. Knoxville, TN 37923. A quick, hand written card carries more weight than 20 emails. But do whatever you can.

One legislator said he has gotten a contact or two that called him, “UnChristian” for his opposition to the bill last year. Making judgments about the standing of others before God is not only counter-productive, there is Scriptural authority against it. We are all children of God with spiritual journeys unfolding before us. Let’s begin with that baseline. Stay positive and keep the dialog open.

LEAF has been hesitant to prepare a form letter. The variety of contacts has been a strength. However, after several requests, we are providing something to get you started:

Dear Representative ____:
I live in ______, Tennessee. I am a ____________. ( whatever you think would help identify you in a meaningful way. I.e. retired teacher, high school student, environmental engineer, local chair of your party, minister, a United Methodist, your mother’s hairdresser ,your former scout leader. etc. )I voted for you. (If you really did.)

Please support the Tennessee Scenic Vista’s Protection Act. HB 899/SB1406. I oppose mountain top removal coal mining because…( A beautiful essay or just a sentence or two could go here. If your faith is part of the reason, say so. )

I appreciate your service and consideration of my views.
Sincerely,

Vary that some, and include your name and return address. Print the addresses and put paper and envelopes on your kitchen table, or where you pay your bills, so you can write letters as you have time this next week. We have made considerable progress as a group of Christians doing small acts with great love. If this bill passes, that is how it will happen.

Please pray for every policy maker in the state, for the coal industry leaders, for the coalfield communities, for the emerging creation care community, all of the worker bees at LEAF, and for our mountains.

Thank you for your letters, prayers and support,
Dawn Coppock,
Legislative Director, LEAF

----------------------------------------------

HOUSE CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEES
House Committee & House Sub-committee

McCord, Joe, 4504 Montvale Road Maryville, TN 37803
Phone: 865-984-5881
House Committee Chairman, House Sub-committee
Episcopalian, Republican, 8th District
For: Parts of Blount & Sevier Counties
Nashville Address/Contact: 214 War Memorial Bldg.,Nashville, TN 37243-0108, 615-741-5481, 615-253-0220 Fax; Staff: Phyllis Piercy
Rep.joe.mccord@capitol.tn.gov

Tidwell, John C., 158 Harbor Circle, New Johnsonville, TN 37134
Phone: 931-535-2619
House Committee Vice Chair, House Sub-committee Chair
Methodist, Democrat, 74th District
For: Houston, Humphreys, Perry & Parts of Hickman and Maury Counties
Nashville Address/Contact: 22 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0174, 615-741-7098, 615-741-4324 Fax; Staff: Debra Webb
Rep.john.tidwell@capitol.tn.gov

Floyd, Richard, 306 Altoona Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37415
House Committee Secretary
Baptist, Republican, 27th District
For: Part of Hamilton County
Nashville Address/Contact: 205 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243-0127, 615-741-2746, 615-253-0304 Fax; Staff: Jennifer Young
Rep.richard.floyd@capitol.tn.gov

Rowland, Donna, P.O. Box 10355, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
House Committee
House Sub-Committee Vice Chair
Baptist, Republican, 34th District
For: Part of Rutherford County
Nashville Address/Contact: 209 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243-0134, 615-741-2804, 615-253-0322 Fax; Staff: Sherry Smith
Rep.donna.rowland@capitol.tn.gov

Borchert, Willie Butch, 120 Post Oak Road, Camden, TN 38320
House Committee
House Sub-Committee
Baptist, Democrat, 75th District
For: Henry, Benton & Stewart Counties
Nashville Address/Contact: 23 Legislative Plaza,Nashville, TN 37243-0175, 615-741-6804, 615-741-2405 Fax; Staff: Connie Murray
Rep.willie.borchert@capitol.tn.gov

Kernell, Mike, 3583 Allandale Lane, Memphis, TN 38111-5601
Phone: 901-454-1113
House Committee
Unknown, Democrat, 93rd District
For: Part of Shelby County
Nashville Address/Contact: 38 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0193, 615-741-3726, 615-253-0320 Fax; Staff: Kyle Faulkner
Rep.mike.kernell@capitol.tn.gov

Fraley, George, 1350 Bible Crossing Road, Winchester, TN 37398
Phone: 931-967-3564
House Committee
House Sub-Committee
Church of Christ, Democrat, 39th District
For: Franklin, Moore Counties & Part of Lincoln County
Nashville Address/Contact: 24 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0139, 615-741-8695, 615-741-5759 Fax; Staff: Stephanie Peterson
Rep.george.fraley@capitol.tn.gov

Gilmore, Brenda, 3009 Vista Valley Court, Nashville, TN 37218
House Committee
House Sub-committee
Baptist, Democrat, 54th District
For: Part of Davidson County
Nashville Address/Contact: 22 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0154, 615-741-1997, 615-253-0361 Fax; Staff: Lenekra Starnes-Hill
Rep.brenda.gilmore@capitol.tn.gov

McDonald, Michael, 1695 A. B. Wade Road, Portland, TN 37148
Phone: 615-888-3081
House Committee
House Sub-committee
Church of Christ, Democrat, 44th District
For: Part of Sumner County
Nashville Address/Contact: 37 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0144, 615-741-1980, 615-741-4322 Fax; Staff: Kristin Smith
Rep.michael.mcdonald@capitol.tn.gov

Hawk, David, 407 Crockett Avenue, Greeneville, TN 37745
House Committee
House Sub-committee
Lutheran, Republican, 5th District
For: Unicoi County & Part of Greene County
Nashville Address/Contact: 219 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243-0105, 615-741-7482; Staff: Brenda Moore
Rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov

Lollar, Ron, 7559 Olivia Hill Drive, Bartlett, TN 38133
House Committee
House Sub-committee
Baptist, Republican, 99th District
For: Part of Shelby County
Nashville Address/Contact: 209 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243-0199, 615-741-7084; Staff: Phyllis Piercy
Rep.ron.lollar@capitol.tn.gov

Niceley, Frank, 1023 Creek Road, Strawberry Plains, TN 37871
House Committee
House Sub-committee
Methodist, Republican, 17th District
For: Part of Jefferson & Knox Counties
Nashville Address/Contact: 113 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243-0117, 615-741-4419, 615-253-0347 Fax; Staff: Ruth Adams
Rep.frank.niceley@capitol.tn.gov

Growing Need for Hospice Chaplains
By Vicki Brown*

Hospice chaplains handle many things for patients. Chaplain Donald Hohne performed a wedding for a patient of Gilchrist Hospice Care, an affiliate of Greater Baltimore Medical Center, in Baltimore, Md. The patient was a homecare hospice patient and the wedding took place in the couple’s home.

The need for hospice chaplains is growing, say endorsement officials and chaplains. They attribute the growth to a number of factors – aging baby boomers, the growth in for-profit hospices, and changes in federal regulations.

“The greatest need for chaplains is still the military, particularly the Army, because of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but we are seeing an increase in endorsements for hospice chaplains, too,” said the Rev. Tom Carter, director of Endorsement and Pastoral Care, United Methodist Endorsing Agency, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

In 2008, UMEA endorsed 16 hospice chaplains, out of a total of 100 endorsements in all settings. In 2007, 21 hospice chaplains were endorsed out of total of 105 endorsements. Carter attributes that to the number of aging Baby boomers, “Hospice adds dignity to death. Chaplains can connect the person’s life story to the end of life, helping family say goodbye and helping resolve conflicts if there are any,” he said.

The only setting with more endorsements was hospital chaplains. UMEA endorsed 32 hospital chaplains in 2007 and 33 in 2008. The need for hospital chaplains is always present since when chaplains retire, replacements are being hired, Carter said.

The Rev. Beth McGuire, director of Bereavement Services Hospice of Medina County and Barberton Hospice and Palliative Care, also says changes in federal regulations have amended the spiritual component. Bereavement care is also required, but McGuire said there is little direction for how that is to be done and no funding available.

The Rev. McGuire, director of Bereavement Services, Hospice of Medina County, Ohio, talks with a young girl at a Kids Grief Camp, Plum Creek Park, Brunswick, Ohio.

The Rev. Carolyn Burrus, a United Methodist elder endorsed as a hospice chaplain, also believes the field is growing because more for-profit hospices are being opened.

“Hospices used to all be volunteer, then evolved to non-profit,” said Burrus, a chaplain at the Hospice of Alamance-Coswell in Burlington, N.C.

“I feel my call to ministry has been to chaplaincy, out of my healthcare background and my personal losses,” said Burrus. Among those losses were her grandmother’s death in the early 1990s and the death of a brother from AIDS in 1995, which spurred her interest in ministry at the end of life. “I saw him fail to ask for help because he was afraid people might retaliate.”

Who do hospice chaplains see?

“I tend to see two groups people, those with and without an affiliation with a faith community. Both tend to want to be at peace with their lives as they die,” Burrus said.

She adds that death is the ultimate faith journey and views her role as a midwife to the dying process.

Medical knowledge is important, since a chaplain can ask, “Did you understand that?” and serve as an extra set of eyes and ears checking on things, knowing when to call the nurse, just being an advocate in the medical setting, Burrus said.

“I listen to where folks are in their faith. I’m not trying to get them in church, or get them to make a donation, just trying to support them where they are spiritually. Often I find that if they have a past church connection, they are trying to reconnect to that tradition and reconcile it with their current relationship with God,” Burrus said.

If a hospice patient is connected to a church already, she tried to work with that connection. “For instance, if they are connected to a church and they want to be baptized, I wouldn’t necessarily do it, I would work with that church pastor,” she said.

McGuire believes those who have an active faith community have more support for the process of dying and of grieving. She says how the hospice organization offers bereavement counseling varies. That may include letters, phone calls, support groups, or actual counseling by qualified professionals.

She sees a great need for the service, though, and said when she was involved in organizing a workshop for clergy and Stephen ministers – lay ministers trained to work with the sick and dying – 50 people signed up.

*Brown is an associate editor and writer in the Office of Interpretation, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

Four Endorsed as Life Coaches

One new area of endorsement in the United Methodist Church is life coaching, approved in March 2008. UMEA endorsed four chaplains or pastoral counselors for that service from January 2008 to January 2009.

Life coaching is a partnership between a coach and an individual who wants to make positive life changes. The Rev. Jim Robey, a United Methodist elder endorsed as a life coach, views the process as a way to help a person move into the “fullness of life” which Jesus offers.

Coaching sessions are usually done by phone, and provide a method of accountability and support for making life changes. A session might focus on reporting of actions that had been agreed upon, Robey said.

People who seek help from a life coach may feel “stuck,” Robey said. “The focus of coaching is moving forward in your life. Overly simplified, counseling focuses on the present-past and coaching focuses on the present-future.

Robey, who does pastoral counseling and life coaching at the Gulf Shores United Methodist Church in Gulf Shores, Ala., said most of his time is spent coaching ministers, district superintendents, and lay folks. He believes his coaching empowers the ministry of others.


To learn more about United Methodist chaplains, visit www.gbhem.org/chaplains.

2009 Gathering -- Trauma Healing: Preparing Churches to Receive Returning Military Personnel, Nashville, Tennessee, April 1-2, 2009

JUSTPEACE, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the General Board of Discipleship (UMC) will co-sponsor the annual Gathering event April 1-2, 2009 (1:00 p.m. on 1st to 12:00 p.m. on 2nd) at the Upper Room Denman Building of the United Methodist Center, 1908 Grand Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee.

This year's event will focus on Trauma Healing – Preparing Churches to Receive Returning Military Personnel. Our speakers will include Shelly Rambo and Laura Bender. Shelly is Assistant Professor of Theology at Boston University School of Theology. She is the author of Trauma and Redemption: Witnessing Spirit between Death and Life, forthcoming by Westminster John Knox Press. Laura is a chaplain with the US Navy. She is a United Methodist minister, who is currently the command chaplain on the USS New York.

On WEDNESDAY, April 1, Dr. Rambo will help us understand the phenomenon of trauma and its effects on persons and communities. She will also help us explore how our theology informs and is informed by trauma and healing

On THURSDAY, April 2, Chaplain Bender will present ways in which churches can more effectively respond to the needs of returning troops. We will conclude our time together with a panel of military and church leaders.

Participants will receive a draft of materials to be provided to local church leaders to assist them in a healing ministry with returning veterans, with an eye to both their needs and our ability to address these needs. We will also have a chance to add our suggestions for improving these materials. The Gathering is open to all.

This year's Gathering is the ninth annual event for the JUSTPEACE movement - committed practitioners on the journey of the ministry of reconciliation. Practitioners and friends in the JUSTPEACE Network will be with us. Staff colleagues of the Nashville agencies of the United Methodist Church are invited to participate. Leaders within the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church of America will join us. Military chaplains will be invited to attend.

REGISTER TODAY!
You can register online at http://www.justpeaceumc.org/ or send an e-mail to the JUSTPEACE office at
justpeace@justpeaceumc.org. State that you would like to come to the Gathering and provide your complete contact information (name, title, mailing address, phone fax, e-mail, etc.).

The participation fee for this year's Gathering is $100. A meal on April 1st, and snacks during the Gathering time are included in this fee. Participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging arrangements. Please make your check payable to JUSTPEACE and send it to our office at 100 Maryland Ave NE, Washington DC 20002.

JUSTPEACE Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation is a mission of The United Methodist Church to engage conflict constructively in ways that strive for justice, reconciliation, resource preservation and restoration of community in and through The United Methodist Church and with the Church universal to the world in which we live.

The General Board of Discipleship is an agency of The United Methodist Church committed to Christian discipleship and leadership development.

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry leads and serves The United Methodist Church in the recruitment, preparation, nurture, education, and support of Christian leaders—lay and clergy— for the work of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

United Methodist Leaders Call for Hope, Outreach in Economic Crisis

NASHVILLE: The global financial crisis underscores the importance of a renewed focus on mission and ministry for the church and reminds Christians to maintain hope during fearful times, said three key United Methodist leaders.

In an open letter to the people of The United Methodist Church, church leaders acknowledged that the global financial crisis is bringing hardship and suffering to people in every part of the world as well as generating increasing global unrest and violence, while all levels of the church are also facing economic constraints that require them to assess how they carry out ministry to a world in need.

“We are reminded that our faith does not rise and fall with the financial markets but resides in the enduring love of God who is present with us as we struggle and strive to love God and our neighbors,” said the letter.

The letter is signed by Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the Council of Bishops, Bishop John Hopkins, chair of the Connectional Table (an organization within the church that reviews missions and ministries), and Neil Alexander, chair of the Table of General Secretaries (top staff executives of the church’s general agencies).

Church leaders said that the current economic climate only underscores the need for the four long-term “areas of focus” adopted by The United Methodist Church in 2008 at General Conference, a meeting of the denomination’s top legislative body which occurs every four years.

“We urgently need principled Christian leaders for the church and the world. People searching for meaning are seeking new places of welcome and hospitality for worship, prayer and spiritual growth. It is abundantly evident that United Methodists must engage in ministry with the poor and tackle the diseases of poverty that rob people of the fullness of life, health and wholeness.”

The letter suggests that the beginning of Lent be a time to recommit to practice the traditional Wesleyan values: do no harm, do good and stay in love with God.

A church-wide conversation called “Rethink Church” is asking United Methodists to envision ways to reinvigorate the denomination’s outreach to a hurting world and offer hospitality to those seeking deeper spiritual understanding.

To read the entire letter in its entirety CLICK ON www.umc.org/messageofhope

General Board of Church & Society praises quick passage, parts of stimulus package
Calls bill flawed because of tax breaks for wealthy at expense of education, housing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) applauds the U.S. Congress for passing the $787 billion “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” (ARRA) because it will provide funding for critical programs that serve those hit hardest by the ongoing recession. The statement also praises efforts to orient the U.S. economy towards a sustainable environmental future.

The statement by GBCS General Secretary Jim Winkler points out, though, that the package is not perfect. “We regret the decision to include tax provisions whose benefits accrue exclusively to relatively well-off persons,” the statement says. “While some relief for those taxpayers may have merit, it should not have been pursued at the expense of other low-income priorities and projects designed to promote the common good such as education and housing.”

ARRA passed primarily along party lines on Feb. 13. The bill, according to its proponents, which include President Obama, will create or save 3.5 million jobs. It breaksdown to $575 billion in spending and $212 billion in tax breaks

No Republicans in the House of Representatives voted for ARRA, which passed by 246 to 183; seven Democrats opposed the bill. That evening, the Senate passed the bill, 60 to 38, relying on three Republican votes to reach the 60 necessary to avoid a filibuster.

Republicans and most Democrats perceive the solution to the economic crisis differently. Democrats proposed a massive program of government spending to create jobs. Republicans favor more tax cuts.

GBCS saluted Congress for acting quickly on ARRA. “It is increasingly clear, though, that the cost of inaction or delayed action is a far great threat to our economy,” its statement emphasizes. “Our present financial system mismanagement is forcing the U.S. government to borrow resources from our children’s future.”

President Obama said he will sign the act into law this week.

GBCS is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church, which has more than 11 million members worldwide. 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.

The GBCS statement follows:

Statement on U.S. Congress passing 'American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009'

Our collective failure to serve as stewards of God’s great abundance is now wreaking havoc on the global economy. As always, the storms of greed, unchecked individualism, and predatory profiteering hit hardest those living in or near poverty. Our message to the U.S. Congress has been and will continue to be that the concerns of our brothers and sisters on the economic margins must be squarely at the center of our recovery efforts.

We applaud Congress for providing much-needed funding for critical programs that serve those hit hardest by the recession as part of HR 1, “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.” Food nutrition assistance, including significant increases for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Woman Infant and Children (WIC), National School Lunch Program, and Emergency Food Assistance Program are essential. In addition, unemployment benefits, Medicaid aid to states, and the state stabilization fund are critical to the health and well-being of millions of men, women and children across the United States.

Likewise, we appreciate the efforts to reorient our economy towards a sustainable future. By providing increased funding for weatherization, energy efficiency, renewable energy programs and green infrastructure projects, this legislation takes strong steps toward protecting God’s creation.

No package or process is perfect, however. We regret the decision to include tax provisions whose benefits accrue exclusively to relatively well-off persons. While some relief for those taxpayers may have merit, it should not have been pursued at the expense of other low-income priorities and projects designed to promote the common good such as education and housing.

It is increasingly clear, though, that the cost of inaction or delayed action is a far great threat to our economy.

Our present financial system mismanagement is forcing the U.S. government to borrow resources from our children’s future. Weighed against the cost of inaction, this is a regrettable necessity. We must make certain as we spend these monies that we are leaving our children not simply a legacy of debt but a legacy of life where God’s creation is valued and all God’s children share in its abundance.

—Statement by Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society, The United Methodist Church