Bishop John G. Innis elected president of the Liberian Council of Churches

By Konah L. Parker*

MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS)-United Methodist Bishop John G. Innis has been elected president of the Liberian Council of Churches.

Innis was elected during the council's 23rd General Assembly and Silver Jubilee program, held Aug. 2-4 at the Stephen Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church and St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Sinkor, Monrovia.

In his acceptance speech, Innis said the Liberian Council of Churches has God as its president. He described himself and the two vice presidents-elect as coaches on God's leadership team.

Innis praised the leadership of the outgoing president, Bishop Sumoward E. Harris of the Lutheran Church in Liberia, and he noted the role the council has played in fostering national unity and reconciliation in the West African nation following a long civil war.

Innis was elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church in 2000 and has led the church in Liberia since then. He has held a number of leadership positions in the Liberian Council of Churches.

The General Assembly and Silver Jubilee focused on the theme of "The Church and Gender-Based Violence." Keynote speaker Vabah Gayflor, Liberia's gender and development minister, said rape and other gender-based violence against girls and women has become an "alarming" problem, and she called on the Council of Churches to help the government in combating it.

*Parker is director of communications for The United Methodist Church's Liberia Annual (regional) Conference.

Epworth by the Sea Is Offering unique Elderhostel programs during March that are of interest to United Methodists

Epworth by the Sea, the Methodist Conference Center for the South Georgia Conference, is offering unique Elderhostel programs during March that would be of interest to United Methodists. Registration with Elderhostel, Inc. has begun.

March 9-14, 2008 – Program # 7598
Tuition: $493/Dbl.; $558/Sgl. Epworth Elderhostel Singers: A Choral Music Workshop. Join singers from across the nation in an exciting choral clinic at historic St. Simons Island, GA. Learn choral techniques and concepts while exploring secular and sacred works. The group will sing an end of the week performance. The director offers enthusiastic instruction and music scores are provided. An area field trip and evening entertainment are included in the program.

*March 9-14, 2008 – Program #10484
Tuition: $490/Dbl; $555/Sgl) Lighthouses, History & Ecology of three Georgia Barrier Islands A field trip around St. Simons Island and to the Lighthouse, a ferry boat ride to Sapelo Island to see the Sapelo Light and the Hog Hammock community of Gullah slave descendants, and a day trip to Tybee Island and Savannah gives a unique overview of Georgia’s barrier islands and remaining lighthouses.
*This is an alternate program for companions who do not sing.

March 16-21, 2008 – Program # 8165
Tuition: $485/Dbl. $550./Sgl. John Wesley in Colonial Georgia: St.Simons Island and Savannah. John Wesley came from England to the colony of Georgia in 1736 as an Anglican minister to the colonists. He found his ministry thwarted by many residents, especially the women. Discover where he lived and ministered on St. Simons, and spend a day in Savannah to see where he landed and served the new colony. Enjoy a historic district tour and a southern lunch. Rev. Dave Hanson of St. Simons Island will lead the study. A second course will explore great hymns of the faith including many written by Charles Wesley, as participants examine hymn texts and join in group singing. Rev. Ken Fansler and pianist Mary Lu Norris of South Carolina lead this experience.

To register call: 877-426-8056 (toll free). Give the Program # and date.
Questions? Or for complete program listing: Contact Cindy at Epworth.
Phone: 912-638-8688 or Email: cdoehring@epworthbythesea.org
Epworth Website: www.epworthbythesea.org

"Joy Prescription" workshop to be held in Nashville, Tennessee

Ruth R. Williams, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), is leading a workshop on Saturday, September 29 from 9am-3pm at Glendale United Methodist, 900 Glendale Lane in Nashville, on what she calls "The Joy Prescription." Williams, an experienced psychotherapist, brings to the community her alternative prescription at a time when medicinal prescriptions are at an all-time high, with antidepressants heading the list.

Ruth R. Williams

Williams, self-described as a "natural" joy-maker and joy-keeper, started "soaking up the good stuff" at a very early age. She believes this has been the secret to her ability to keep smiling in spite of life's challenges. She takes her own complex but amusing life history, extensive professional experience, and intriguing spiritual journey and weaves them all into a very delightful, joy-filled day of exploration. Participants will learn how to increase their JQ (joy quotient), which Williams affirms will help strengthen their resilience in dealing with the overwhelming stress that inevitably shows up on a daily basis.

Williams (a Scarritt-trained United Methodist) says, "We all have the capacity within us to experience joy on a daily basis. Sometimes we forget we have the tools or haven't used them in a while. Treat yourself to a day apart from the stress, open to the possibility that life really can be more joy-filled!"

Williams, also a singer/songwriter, offers a bonus of both her CD's included in the price of the all-day workshop. "New People for a New World" is filled with original music plus an inspirational story. "Meditation of Joy" is a guided relaxation and meditation CD, a true gift to stressed-out folks!

Prior workshop participants have said, “Better than every stress workshop I’ve been to over the years;” “Refreshing for the mind and soul;” “Thought-provoking and timely.”

Call 615-332-2991 to make a phone reservation for the workshop. The $55 fee (which includes lunch and the two CD's) can also be sent to: Ruth R. Williams, LCSW, P.O. Box 2723, Hendersonville, TN 37077-2723. You can reach Williams for scheduling other workshops or sermons-in-song at the above address and phone number or through her website, http://www.ruthwilliams.com/ or http://www.thejoyrx.com/. Email her at ruth@ruthwilliams.com.

Caucus honors theologian Justo González

By Amanda Bachus*

The Rev. Justo González received awards from MARCHA — Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans — the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the United Methodist Publishing House during the Hispanic/Latino Methodist caucus meeting in Newark, N.J.A UMNS photo by Amanda Bachus

NEWARK, N.J. (UMNS) - The Rev. Justo González holds forth a vision of God calling people into the future, and it is a future that should influence how people live in the present.

González sounded notes of hope as well as concern about issues such as immigration during remarks at the annual meeting of Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans. The United Methodist Church's Hispanic/Latino caucus, known as MARCHA, honored Gonzalez for his contributions and work at a banquet held Aug. 11 - his birthday - during the annual meeting.

"We should live the present in the light of the future," González said during one of three lectures at the MARCHA meeting. "It is the future that pulls forward the present in a theological way.

"God is the future which is calling us today. The vision of the future affects the present," he added.

At the banquet, González seemed surprised when he was called to the podium to receive plaques and gifts from Neil Alexander, president and publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House, Otto Maduro, professor at Drew University in Madison, N.J., and the Rev. Saúl Espino, representing both Bishop Gregory Palmer and the Rev. Jerome Del Pino, top executive of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

"Every time I read what Justo has written, I thank God for the depth of his thought…," said the Rev. David Maldonado, president of MARCHA and director of the Center for the Study of Latino Christianity and Religions at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. He said he is thankful for González's "passion and commitment for the Gospel and his people. Justo is the theological voice of the Latino people. He is a giant within us, but a giant with a humble spirit and a servant."

Afterward, González told the audience: "I am so surprised. I feel like a mosquito in a nudist camp. I don't know where to start!"

A prolific writer, González has more than 100 books to his credit, primarily on church history. Born in Cuba in 1937, he attended seminary there, then studied at Yale University, where he earned two masters' degrees and a doctorate. In 1961, he became the youngest person awarded the historical theology doctorate at Yale.

From Yale, he went on to teach church history at the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico. In 1969, he moved to Atlanta to teach at United Methodist-related Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and he later taught at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He was ordained in the Rio Grande Conference of The United Methodist Church.

During one of his lectures, González told his listeners that hope is the "future pulling us forward. We don't fear the future because we've seen the future in the person of Jesus Christ. The hope and future we see should affect our present."

He specifically mentioned the undocumented immigrant as a symbol of courage, hope and determination. "The immigrant is a man that has the courage to leave his family, home and town behind in order to cross miles and miles of desert, many times on foot, risking his life. He reaches the border and crosses, sometimes not even knowing what to do, continually living under Damocles' sword that Immigration (authorities) may get him."

He added: "Our task is to let this country know that the reviled undocumented immigrant embodies in a much profound way the values we hold dear in this country."

González encouraged his listeners to be people of hope, and to teach others to be "daring in their hope."

*Bachus is the director of Spanish language resources at United Methodist Communications. Associate Editor Humberto Casanova contributed to this story.

Tennessee United Methodists to hear from Africa University representatives--Saturation event scheduled for September 23

Students at Africa University. This Methodist-related school is providing professionally trained leaders across the Continent.

Here’s familiar conversation among United Methodists:
Person 1: “You know I just read that the Africa University choir is on tour in our jurisdiction and I want to go.”
Person 2: “What's Africa University?”

An Africa University Saturation Event will be held Sunday, September 23, in 10 United Methodist congregations in the middle Tennessee area and that’s why. (Information at end tells how your congregation can get involved if it isn't already)

Even though this extraordinary, United Methodist-related university has produced more than 2,400 graduates in its brief, 15-year life, many United Methodists don't even know it exists. The university is not only thriving, it is spreading its wings, making partnerships with major institutions including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Methodist Health Care of Memphis, and Chevron of Africa. It is establishing satellite campuses in other countries in Africa. And yet...did you know any of that?

The AU Saturation Event will be in the form of Sunday morning sermons, presentations in Sunday school classes, or in congregational mission moments. Connecting with the bi-annual meeting of the Africa University Advisory Development Committee, several committee members will be speaking at the following United Methodist congregations in the Tennessee conference: Belmont, Brentwood, Calvary, Clark Memorial, First Church Franklin, Forest Hills, Gordon Memorial, McKendree, Seay-Hubbard, and West End.

Their purpose is to thank the congregations for their support and to introduce the university to others. Presenters want to emphasize the success of AU and its critical role in the future of Africa and explain why Tennessee Christians should care about what happens globally. They will also let congregations know that the 2008 General Conference will be a chance for this global church to voice its continued support of Africa University.

The Africa University Choir has appeared across the United States

"In spite of severe economic conditions and hyperinflation, the university is functioning, providing quality education, housing, food and other needs to students, faculty and administrators, while using creative ways to make ends meet," said Bishop Ernest Lyght, leader of the West Virginia Area and president of the Africa University Development Committee.

The university began in 1992 with 40 students in 10 temporary buildings. “We now have 25 African countries represented among the 1,298-member student body, 32 buildings on campus, including student residences, staff and faculty housing, and 119 faculty and staff from 14 countries,” said James H. Salley, the university’s associate vice-chancellor for institutional advancement. “Government leaders, presidents and dictators come and go, but institutions of higher learning remain.”

If you are interested in having a speaker at your congregation or attending the saturation event, please contact the Africa University Development Office at 615.340.7438, audevoffice@gbhem.org. For information on Africa University, visit http://www.africau.edu/.

*Pamela Crosby is an independent journalist and producer in Nashville, Tenn.

Olson elected to lead church's Women's Division

By Yvette Moore*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Harriett Jane Olson, an executive with the United Methodist Publishing House, has been elected chief executive of the Women's Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Olson will oversee the administrative arm and policy-making body of United Methodist Women, a denominational organization of approximately 800,000 members in the United States. Its purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice, and its members give more than $20 million a year for ministries related to women, children and youth around the world.

She will begin the job Sept. 4 at the board's headquarters in New York. She succeeds Jan Love, who left at the end of 2006 to become dean of the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta.

Olson was unanimously elected Aug. 17 at Scarritt-Bennett Center during a called meeting of the Women's Division board of directors.

"Today is indeed a significant day in the history of United Methodist Women organized for mission," said Women's Division President Kyung Za Yim. "We have all been praying for divine guidance and accompaniment during our period of discernment and as the time for decision-making approached."

In her new job, Olson will serve in other leadership and management roles in the Board of Global Ministries. The board's personnel committee and directors are expected to approve her nomination at their September and October meetings.

Olson expressed excitement about working with the Women's Division, including its role as an advocate for the oppressed and dispossessed, with special attention to the needs of women and children.

"United Methodist Women are called to do something not being done by the rest of the church," she said. "It's a privilege to stand with women, children and youth. It's a role particularly well-connected to our theological DNA as United Methodists - spiritual nurture and action."

Since 1996, Olson has served as senior vice president for publishing, editor for church school publications and United Methodist Church book editor at the Publishing House. She supervised a staff of 125 to 150 people responsible for the development, production and trade distribution of resources from Abingdon Press, Cokesbury and Kingswood Books.

Olson is a 1983 graduate of Harvard Law School and former partner at Pitney, Hardin, Kipp and Szuch, where she worked 1983-96, specializing in environmental law in the firm's real estate department.

She was a director of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship 1988-96 and has been a delegate to four General Conferences of the denomination. She is a member of Morristown (N.J.) United Methodist Church and an affiliate member of McKendree United Methodist Church in Nashville.

*Moore is on the communications staff for the Women's Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Review from the General Board of Discipleship: Worship in Small Membership Churches

By Robin Knowles Wallace and Terry R. Heck

Lyle Schaller, author and consultant, wrote in the 8/3/07 issue of Newscope that in 2004 there were 169 UMC congregations (0.5% of the total number of UMC congregations) reporting an average attendance of 1,000 or more, and there were 10,976 UMC congregations (32.2% of the total UMC congregations) reporting an average attendance of fewer than 35. This is a book written for those nearly 11,000 small membership congregations as well as for the thousands of larger small membership churches.

The authors believe that small membership churches are the perfect size for a variety of worship experiences, that each congregation has gifts for worship, and that small membership churches can meet and deal with any challenges that come their way. They make these points while providing a wealth of information and suggestions in many different areas relating to worship, preaching, and music. In this small 80-page book they discuss:
Introduction -- Passionate Worship , A Theological Understanding of UM Worship , Gifts of Worship in Small-Membership Congregations
.Planning for Worship:
+The Christian or Liturgical Year
+Hints to Altar Guilds
+Where Do We Begin?
+Hospitality in Worship
+It’s More than a Children’s Sermon
+The Ministry of Greeters
+The Ministry of Ushers
+Information for Liturgists, Worship Leaders, and Readers
+Transitions and Movement
+Instructions for Acolytes
+The Prayers of the People
+The Sacrament of Baptism
+Serving Communion

.Resources for Worship -- Lectionary , The United Methodist Book of Worship , The United Methodist Hymnal
.Meeting the Challenges of Worship in Small-Membership Congregations -- Music Leadership,
Maintaining Inspiration
.Best Practices: Some Ideas that Have Worked Well: The Advent Wreath and the Light of Lent,
Good Friday Tenebrae Service , Creating Worship Memories Including an Idea for World Communion Sunday , All Saints’ Celebration , An Alternate Celebration of Holy Communion , The Day of Pentecost , and Encouraging Singing, Including Choruses for Introits, Prayers, Offering, Baptism, Communion, Closing
.Worship Ideas from Our Wesleyan Heritage -- Coventant Services and Resources, Love Feasts, Journeying in Grace
.Other Resources

Though intended for small membership churches, there is much in this small volume to commend itself to churches of all sizes. This book will help your congregation to achieve the primary goal of worship – to bring the people into the presence of God among the people of God.

Robin Knowles Wallace is Professor of Worship and Music at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

Terry R. Heck is an ordained elder in the West Ohio Conference and pastor at Bellbrook UMC in Bellbrook, Ohio and assists in pastoral responsibilities at Oldtown UMC in Oldtown, Ohio.

For more information on this book, or to order, go to:
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=416212&ep_id=1500

Dean McIntyre, music@gbod.org Director of Music Resources
GBOD The United Methodist Church
PO Box 340003Nashville, TN 37203-0003
www.GBOD.org/worship
Toll-free: (877) 899-2780 Ext. 7073

Home-grown pastors to serve Albanian United Methodists

By Kathleen LaCamera*

The modern United Methodist Church in Albania, with the help of United Methodists in former East Germany, began in 1998 by repairing local schools and sharing stories of the Christian faith. A UMNS photo by Frieder Weinhold.

BRATISLAVA, Slovak Republic (UMNS) - Albanian United Methodists have never had a pastor who spoke their language or who has grown up with their culture.

This tiny mission church has always relied on outsiders to help organize and lead their congregations. But that is about to change. Within a year, 23-year-old Rigels Kasmollari will finish his pastoral training and return to Albania to help lead the country's three United Methodist congregations.

Pastors from countries with small Methodist populations - such as Albania, Macedonia and Serbia - must go outside their countries for training. Kasmollari has had a year of German language instruction in Austria, followed by three more years in an Austrian Lutheran seminary.
There, he studied not only theology but also received social work training that will support his ministry with older adults, children and marginalized people. After one further internship year at a United Methodist church in Vienna, he will return home.

A second young pastor, Englantin Lushka, also will finish his pastoral education at the same time and will join Kasmollari in working with United Methodist congregations in Albania.

Facing challenges
Kasmollari was one of more than 1,000 people from across Europe who attended this year's European Methodist Festival Aug. 1-5 in Bratislava. Like many of his eastern European counterparts at the festival, he knows his country faces the huge challenges of high unemployment, poor access to education and lagging investment from the West.

Albania's repressive Cold War dictators left Albania one of the most technologically backward, isolated and poor countries in Europe - a legacy that continues to haunt the southeastern European country. Between 1990 and 2001, 20 percent of the population left. Some estimate that up to 30 percent of Albania's national income comes from those abroad sending money back to their families. A great tension exists in Albania between staying home and making a life abroad.

Into this hugely challenging set of circumstances step Kasmollari and Lushka as pastoral leaders supported by a district superintendent based in the South-Western Balkans and a bishop based in Switzerland.

"I hope I'm going to learn a lot in the next year as an intern," Kasmollari told United Methodist News Service.

United Methodist encounters
The modern United Methodist Church in Albania began in 1998 with the help of United Methodists in the former East Germany. They brought tables and chairs for schools in Kasmollari's rural mountain village of Bishnica and other villages. Then they started repairing the school buildings themselves. When locals asked why they kept coming, they talked about their Christian faith.

At age 13, Kasmollari began coming to United Methodist children's meetings, mostly out of curiosity. "I was interested in the Bible stories. I'd never heard them before, and it was something different," he remembered.

As he got older, he began to enjoy church life in his village, including fellowship with people from Western Europe. "I wanted to practice English, too," he acknowledged. "My parents allowed me to come to take part in dramas and different activities, and eventually my parents came too."

When he finished high school, he began a university course in psychology in Bulgaria but changed direction when United Methodists asked if he would consider studying theology.

"I said I'm not quite sure and it took some months to decide, but I decided to do it because the work of a pastor combines both faith and work with people," said Kasmollari. "I also talked to my family. My mother was impressed with my reasons and said 'we're behind you.'"

He hopes that now he, too, can be a witness to others in his homeland. "Becoming a Christian did not make a better man out of me. I had ups and downs in my faith. … But I became a rebel for the rights and the dignity of every single person," he said.

'A mission situation'
Urs Schweizer is the assistant to Zurich-based United Methodist Bishop Patrick Streiff, who oversees The United Methodist Church in Albania. Schweizer describes the church there as "a mission situation," noting that one of the most pressing tasks for a tiny denomination is to obtain legal status in Albania.

"People have a suspicion of religion with ties to social and humanitarian work," explained Schweizer. "It's important for a church that looks like a church."

United Methodists in Albania still continue to work daily with older people, children and vulnerable people, said Schweizer, adding that it is important to have the clear "face of a church" so that people know who you are.

Kasmollari believes that people are wary of Pentecostals and others who rushed in to a newly opened Albania with a religious agenda behind its humanitarian work. "We Methodists have something new and different," he said.

That is part of the reason why he calls it a priority for United Methodists in Albania to have a building of their own one day. They also have no distinct Albanian United Methodist liturgy yet. "We need to build a Methodist profile," he said.

Building that profile includes establishing more of a presence in urban areas such as the capital city of Tirana.

In Albania, The United Methodist Church is mostly a church of young people, and Kasmollari is hopeful the pressure to emigrate may be beginning to diminish. "Young people want to stay in Albania," he said. "Those that are studying abroad are now coming back and trying to build something new."

Kasmollari is determined that he and The United Methodist Church will be part of "something new."

European Methodist Festival unites cultures

By Kathleen LaCamera*

The Portuguese Methodist folk band Trevo Alegre serenades participants at the 2007 European Methodist Festival in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. UMNS photos by Kathleen LaCamera.

BRATISLAVA, Slovak Republic (UMNS) - More than a thousand Methodists from across Europe gathered in August in the capital city of Slovakia to celebrate Europe's diverse and vibrant Methodist tradition.

Speaking a wide range of languages and dialects, representatives from 25 countries converged on Bratislava in the heart of Europe for the European Methodist Festival, held once every four years. The Aug. 1-5 event included workshops, worship, Bible study and fellowship.

United Methodist Bishop Patrick Streiff, episcopal leader for Central and Southern Europe, opened worship by telling festival-goers to "make the most" of opportunities to share in fellowship, despite the language difficulties.

Teenagers from the London-based Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship choir, who performed at the festival, expressed surprise at how easily they met people from other countries. "You see that we have the same things in common: worshipping God and celebrating (Methodism founder John) Wesley," said Samuel Kwaku, 17.

Members of the Portuguese Methodist folk band Trevo Alegre serenaded people each day as they waited in line for lunch. The band is led by the Rev. Sifredo Teixeira, who also is bishop of the Portuguese Methodist Church. "We just want to bring a little joy to people," said Teixeira.

"I didn't know what to expect here, but I like it," said Nicole Handschin, a nursing student from Switzerland. During a small group session, Handschin talked with Methodists from Germany, Poland, Northern Ireland, Austria and England about how she rejected the church as a teenager.
"You have to trust you have sewn seeds (in children) and that they will come back," she told a man whose 12-year-old daughter no longer wants to go to church.

Participants explored a wide variety of issues including climate change, immigration, family, mission, other faiths and spiritual growth. Creative arts Bible study and workshops such as one called "Charles Wesley Goes Country" encouraged people to express their Christian faith in new ways. During one afternoon recreation session, 11-year-old Michael Loughlin from England went head-to-head with Albania's first home-grown pastor, 23-year-old Rigels Kasmollari, in heated rounds of soccer and ultimate Frisbee.

'Worldwide Methodist family'
"It's good to meet the whole Methodist family in Europe," said the Rev. Bill Lovelace, an American pastor.

Originally from the Holston Conference, Lovelace is now district superintendent for the Ukraine and Moldova Conference. He and his Swedish United Methodist wife, Helen, are both under appointment as missionaries through the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. She is developing a specialist children's ministry and found a British Methodist workshop on human trafficking particularly thought-provoking.

"It leaves you wondering what we can do about trafficking in the Ukraine," Lovelace told United Methodist News Service.

"It's important that we see that being Methodist means being part of a worldwide Methodist family," said Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of Germany, who was delighted to see large delegations from places like Poland, Lithuania, Macedonia and other Eastern European countries.

"It's so helpful to listen and learn from each other," she said. "Our sisters and brothers from former communist countries have many stories and experiences to share."

She also was pleased to see some Americans at the festival and hopes more U.S. United Methodists will make the effort to meet their European counterparts.

"Personal relationships are really necessary," said Wenner. "We receive e-mails from Americans saying 'I'm coming over for vacation, where can I find and meet local Methodists?' We welcome this. Come and visit."

The Rev. George Freeman, executive director of the World Methodist Council, described the festival atmosphere as "joyful" and said he was impressed to see people embracing what they have in common as well as their differences.

"For people here, the church is prominent," Freeman said. "Americans need to be aware there are brothers and sisters in Europe who need our prayers, support and encouragement and from whom we can learn a lot about sharing the Gospel."

Host for the event
The Slovak United Methodist Church has been preparing for the 2007 festival for more than a year. While the European Methodist Council is officially responsible for these events, the festival is a huge undertaking for the host country's church. With only eight churches, five mission projects and 400 members in the entire country, Slovak United Methodists regularly serve 2,000 people a week through worship, outreach and social services activities.

It was an act of faith to undertake the additional responsibilities associated with a major festival, according to organizers.

"Hosting the festival itself is a privilege for us. We were afraid of how we would manage it and almost said 'no,'" confessed the Rev. Robert Zachar, district superintendent of the Slovakia District. "People looked for ways to help despite being already stretched."

One local pastor, Kornelia Francisty, juggled regular pastoral duties in her village with distributing room keys to festival participants, organizing local transportation, serving as interpreter and setting up tents.

"I'm tired," she said with a laugh, "but everyone is helping."

The German United Methodist Church's tent ministry and volunteers provided crucial equipment and set-up for the huge festival tents. Their EMK events bus also provided a mobile café sanctuary serving coffee and tea.

United Methodist Bishop Hans Vaxby of Moscow leads aBible study.

Bishop Hans Vaxby of Moscow led one of the daily Bible studies at the festival. Wearing a T-shirt that read "I believe God talks to us every day if we listen," Vaxby said he hoped that people, especially in smaller churches, left the festival feeling a very real connection with the European and global church.

"I hope people have a sense that there is a Methodist ethos. Methodists are so cultural different, but there are still areas of common ground," said Vaxby. "There is that basic trust in God. We don't need to be in control of everything because God's grace is working in people whoever they are, wherever they are on the journey. God works overtime. The challenge for us is to respond."

*LaCamera is a UMNS correspondent based in England.

Slovak United Methodists hold fast to faith

By Kathleen LaCamera*

The Rev. Robert Zachar is district superintendent of the Slovak United Methodist Church and asks for prayers from the global Methodist family. United Methodists in the Slovak Republic continue to live out their Christian faith under adverse conditions. UMNS photos byKathleen LaCamera.

BRATISLAVA, Slovak Republic (UMNS) - United Methodists have seen hard times in Slovakia.
The Methodist tradition was first brought to this region by Czech Methodists who then left during World War II. In the decades of communist rule that followed, life didn't get any easier.

"The regime made conditions for mission very difficult," said the Rev. Robert Zachar, Slovakia's United Methodist district superintendent.

Those who kept Methodism alive printed hymn books in their basements at night on primitive mimeograph machines. Others hand-copied parts of the Bible and distributed them in secret. While the government reluctantly tolerated Catholicism as a cultural institution, other faith traditions were continually harassed.

In 1989, things changed when communist rule across Eastern Europe collapsed and Slovakia later declared itself the independent Slovak Republic. United Methodists and other religious groups were able to go about their work and worship without fear of reprisal.

Keeping the faith
This heritage made for a powerful moment when Jan Juran from the Slovak Republic's Ministry for Culture spoke at the Aug. 1 opening of the 2007 European Methodist Festival in Bratislava. He told the crowd he is thankful for what Methodists accomplished during communist rule.

"He said, 'You have kept the faith during difficult times, and I expect you to live the life of the Gospel, to live as the real Christians we expect you to be,'" recounted Zachar. "That's quite something to publicly speak out like that. We don't hear that very often from a government minister. That was really encouraging."

It is still a challenge, however, to keep the faith in the Slovak Republic. The average income per capita is about $500 a month, and there has been high and persistent unemployment in recent years. Many feel they have to go abroad to earn better wages.

"Families are broken, children are without parents. Those who are in churches have many burdens. It's difficult," Zachar told United Methodist News Service. "There is still much need, but we must show people a different set of values as well."

Zachar was a "non-believer" in his early 20s when communism collapsed in Eastern Europe. Like so many others during this new period of openness, he took a closer look at these "Christians" who were so keen to pray for him. "It was like a revival in those first years," remembered Zachar.

He said it was a Polish preacher who finally "opened my heart to the fact that Jesus loved me."
Fourteen years later, Zachar is looking after the Slovak United Methodist Church with its 400 members, eight churches and five missions. Through worship, fellowship, social service activities and working with schools, the denomination serves some 2,000 people a week. A scholarship from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries allowed Zacher to have a year of pastoral training at Cliff College in England, where he met his wife. They now have three young children.

Asking for prayers
Philip and Martha Brice, from the West Ohio Annual (regional) Conference, have been visiting Methodist friends in the Slovak Republic on and off for many years. In July, the couple began a two-year term as volunteer missionaries through the Board of Global Ministries.

"The church here has struggled through the survival phase. Now resources are going other places and there's nothing left for the church," said Martha. "People feel they don't have to depend on the church; that the state will take care of them. Those that are interested spend all their time trying to make a living."

She is a former Volunteers in Mission coordinator for her conference, and he is a retired architect. They have brought their 12-year-old adopted granddaughter, Aria, so she can get to know the Slovak people and Methodist church that have inspired and welcomed them over the years.

Martha says knowing they are part of a larger global Methodist family is important to Slovak Methodists, and Zachar agrees.

"The connection to the larger church makes a big difference," he said. "We need Methodists in other countries to pray for us and support us. It makes us feel we are not alone."

Zachar is convinced that despite being spread thin, Slovak United Methodists must continue to go out into the streets and tell the Christian story. "We know people are listening at their windows," he said. "We have to speak out and do it simply. We long for revival."

*LaCamera is a UMNS correspondent based in England.

Church helps senior adults brush up on driving skills

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (UMNS) - In a shelf-lined library at Alpharetta United Methodist Church, 20 senior adults gather around a table with workbooks and pencils for a quick tune-up on life-saving rules of the road that most learned first as teenagers.

Participant Sue Cook says she's gotten some "very good information" from the church's AARP Driver Safety Program course.

"It would pay (for) all the senior citizens to come and do this," says Cook, who is also a member of the suburban Atlanta church.

The nation's first and largest refresher course for drivers age 50 and older, the program emphasizes how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment and offers tips on how to adjust to age-related changes in vision, hearing and reflexes. Graduates can earn multiyear discounts from auto insurance companies in most states.

The United States has about 28 million drivers over the age of 65, according to the American Automobile Association. Traffic studies show that older seniors are nine times more likely to die in a crash than those ages 25 to 69.

Ron Feldman, 71, wants to do his part to improve those odds.

A member at the church and a certified instructor for the program, Feldman tells his students he has a vested interest in their success - literally!

"I tell them in the class, 'I want you to learn how to drive well not only to protect your life, but protect me - because I'm walking the streets, I'm driving the car, I'm out there on the road, too,'" says Feldman.

Never too old to learn
Open to drivers of all ages, the course costs $10 and consists of two four-hour seminars. Feldman has taught it five times at sites around Alpharetta such as the local hospital.

The purpose of the AARP Driver Safety Program, says Feldman, is "to have seniors recognize that their ability to drive changes from when they first got their license, in some cases 50 or 60 years ago. You're tested once to learn how to drive, and you're forever certified. Now the problem is you're not the same driver you were 50 or 60 years ago."

A driver's manual offers reminders about good driving habits including keeping proper following distance at all times and the safest way to change lanes and make turns at intersections. It also goes over the effects of medications on driving, limiting distractions such as smoking and cell phone use, and properly using safety belts, air bags and anti-lock brakes. Video clips illustrate safe driving techniques.

"We are driving bigger, heavier, faster cars and we are driving faster roads and multiple road capacity," says Feldman. "It's not like it used to be when … our grandmother lived on the corner, and two doors away were the one son and across the street was another and the drugstore was right around the corner and they could walk to the grocery store. Now you really feel more isolated if you can't drive because everything is so far away."

Pat Oxford says she learned a lot by taking the course, even though she's been driving for decades. "I was really amazed, but a lot of accidents are caused by left-hand turns and people thinking they have the right-of-way," she says.

Fastened securely in her gray Mazda 6, Oxford carefully looks left, then right, then left again before pulling onto a busy road in Alpharetta. A volunteer at a nearby hospital emergency room, she says the course definitely has changed her approach behind the wheel.

"I know the results of bad choices and bad judgments in driving. And I just think that every time you take it you learn something new," she says.

Adjusting for age
Cases of elderly drivers making costly errors often make the news, but Feldman says those reports shouldn't discourage seniors from driving. "I don't emphasize what we're losing as much as I emphasize … what you still have left and to take care of the stuff that you still have left … so that you continue driving," he says.

Knowing when to give up the keys is important, too, says Feldman, who peppers his presentation with personal anecdotes. He recalls how his own mother-in-law had a tense encounter on the highway while driving with her grandson in the car.

"She knew there was a tollgate there. But what did she do? She went through at 75 miles an hour. Well, it not only frightened my mother-in-law, but can you imagine the face of the person in that tollgate when she went through there? And … my son … was sitting in the passenger seat … hoping she would make it through those two gates."

The scare was enough to convince his mother-in-law to give up her keys. "Sometimes it does take one incident like that … to alter your vision on what's really safest," he says.

*Walsh is supervising producer of UMTV, a unit of United Methodist Communications based in Nashville, Tenn.

Canadian church connects Filipinos in Northwest

A UMNS Report
By Linda Bloom*

Children in Surrey, British Columbia, attend Sunday school class at Samahan United Methodist Church, the only official Methodist congregation in western Canada. UMNS photos courtesy of the Rev. Gani Lazaro.

Filipinos with United Methodist roots have formed the denomination's only congregation in northwest Canada.

Named Samahan, for a Tagalog word meaning "a grouping of people with one purpose or a common interest," the congregation is located in Surrey, British Columbia, southeast of Vancouver and near the Canadian-U.S. border.

The church is part of the United Methodist Pacific Northwest Annual Conference in the United States. A formal charter will be presented during a "Fiesta Metodista" celebration hosted by Samahan on Sept. 30.

Bishop Edward Paup, the conference's episcopal leader, said it was a "great joy" to connect with the Samahan church. "This congregation, which includes several members who were United Methodists in the Philippines, petitioned our conference to become an official United Methodist church," he said.

Canada has not had official Methodist congregations since 1925, when the United Church of Canada was formed by Congregationalists, Methodists and about three-fourths of the country's Presbyterians. The United Church of Canada is Canada's largest Protestant denomination.

The Rev. Isagani "Gani" Lazaro, a recently retired minister of the United Church of Canada, leads the new congregation. He served for 28 years in Ontario before he and his wife, Cynthia, moved in 2006 to Vancouver, where two of their three children live.

An outgrowth of small group fellowship
What started in 2004 as an informal gathering of friends who attended different Canadian congregations grew into "the desire to go back to the United Methodist traditions and practices," according to Lazaro.

He understands that desire. Lazaro was a United Methodist pastor in the Philippines for 10 years before moving to the United States to study. He attended Iliff Seminary and continued on to Ontario.

"When I moved to British Columbia, I was told that there was a group of Filipino United Methodists who wanted to have a pastor who could lead them in their activities," he said.

After the group threw a welcoming party for the Lazaros, a pattern of fellowship and Bible study soon developed. "The interest and enthusiasm that the people showed in response to these studies were overwhelming and inspiring," he said. "I knew it was the spirit that was in our midst and the people were responding to the leading of the spirit."

As more people joined these gatherings, "we started thinking about getting a bigger space, preferably a church which we could rent," Lazaro added. Whalley Presbyterian Church in Surrey became available and the first Sunday school and evening worship took place there on Dec. 3, 2006. "From that time on, it has been an experience of an exciting and amazing journey of growth for Samahan."

Paup introduced Samahan representatives during his Episcopal Address at the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference meeting in June. "Then he prayed for me, my wife and the congregation," Lazaro recalled.

"This action has been fully supported by the leadership of the United Church of Canada, for which we are very grateful," the bishop told United Methodist News Service. "We look forward to the certification of this congregation as a United Methodist church of the Pacific Northwest Conference and for the new opportunities for mission and ministry that it brings."

Open doors
An average of 60 people now attend Sunday services. Although most have a United Methodist background, "we as a congregation are open to anybody," Lazaro said.

"The style of preaching that we nurture in our congregation is one that is Gospel-based, grace-centered - evangelical and prophetic," he said.

One mechanism for growth is small-group Bible study, according to Lazaro. One group currently meets at a member's home in Vancouver and another group will begin in Richmond in September.

The Sunday school program averages 15 to 18 children a week and supports local mission projects through "penny piggy banks" containing pennies collected each week. Last year, the children raised $95 from October to December, which was donated to a local program supporting unmarried, pregnant teens.

Lazaro said he tries to listen, respond and make himself available to his congregants and the community, which includes participating in activities that are part of the Filipino culture, such as the blessing and dedication of homes and vehicles.

The church will host a "Fiesta Metodista" celebration for the conference on Sept. 30, which will include Paup and Bishop Benjamin Justo from the Baguio Episcopal Area in the Philippines.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York

Six young people to address General Conference

A UMNS Report

By Linda Green*

Six young United Methodists will craft the first-ever Young People's Address for the 2008 General Conference. They are (clockwise from left) Jason Rathod, Kira Volkova, Matt Lockett, Becca Farnum, the Rev. Anne Rigo and Andrew Craig.A UMNS photo by Ronny Perry.

Six United Methodists ranging in age from 15 to 28 have been chosen to work together to develop and deliver the first Young People's Address at the 2008 General Conference.

The speakers - five from the United States and one from Russia - will give a 45-minute presentation on the concerns, hopes and dreams of young people in The United Methodist Church.

They are Becca Farnum, 17, of Mount Pleasant, Mich.; Kira Volkova, 24, of Kirov, Russia; the Rev. Anne Rigo, 28, of Grand Junction, Colo.; Andrew Craig, 15, of Denver; Matt Lockett, 20, of Seattle; and Jason Rathod, 23, of Hastings, Neb.

"All six have different voices and gifts, and General Conference will be richer," said Jay Clark, a staff member of the United Methodist Division on Ministries with Young People at the churchwide Board of Discipleship.

The six were selected from 37 individuals and youth groups that submitted video related to youth and young adult issues in the church.

The presentation will be the first time that a Young People's Address has been on the agenda of General Conference, the denomination's top legislative assembly. Historically, the worldwide gathering has included only an Episcopal Address by a bishop and a Laity Address by a layperson.

The 2004 General Conference affirmed the value of the voices of youth and young adults by voting overwhelmingly to add a Young People's Address to the agenda for 2008. The 2004 conference also approved creation of the Division on Ministries with Young People.

General Conference, which meets every four years, will convene April 22-May 2, 2008, in Fort Worth, Texas. It is the only entity that speaks for The United Methodist Church.

Leaders for the future
Craig, the youngest of the six and a member of Park Hill United Methodist Church in Denver, hopes the church hears a message "that they are not only being called to act but that they are being called to interact, too," with both young and old "because we are all Christians."

Rigo, the oldest of the six and an associate pastor of First United Methodist Church in Grand Junction, Colo., said it is important for General Conference to understand that young people include more than teenagers. "I think the church likes to focus on teenagers and youth groups but does not know how to transition with youth into college and beyond college," she said.

According to an Aug. 6 article in USA Today, about one in four Protestant young people have left the church.

Based on a survey by Lifeway Research of Protestants between the ages of 18 to 30, the article reports that seven in 10 who attended church regularly in high school had quit attending by age 23. Thirty-four percent had not returned, even sporadically, by age 30.

Among dropouts, 97 percent cited life changes such as a move. Fifty-eight percent were unhappy with the people or pastor at church, and 52 percent had religious, ethical or political reasons for quitting.

Crafting a message
The six speakers began crafting their message while meeting Aug. 5-7 in Nashville, Tenn., with staff of the Division on Ministries with Young People.

Group members are proficient in technology, dancing, singing, creative writing, preaching, acting, video, photography and legislation. While they do not yet know what the address will look like, they say it will be more than talking in front of a podium for 45 minutes.

They agree that it will be multilayered with multimedia. It will reflect what it means to be a multigenerational church and possibly will show how six people from different backgrounds are connected to one another.

"We will be trying to break away from the 'here's the church, here's the youth' and going more for a more intergenerational piece," said Farnum, a member of First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., and also a youth delegate to General Conference from the West Michigan Annual Conference.

"Something new needs to be done," she said, noting that youth and young adult voices from across the globe need to be included.

Rothad, a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney, Neb., said the denomination "has a rich legacy of promoting faith and social justice and there are some areas where we are not living up to those ideals.

"I would like for us to call the community back together to live out our core values on social justice, evangelism and promoting the general good," he said.

Rigo agrees. She said it is natural for young adults to call the church to action, but the concept of risking community "asks us to go beyond ourselves or our opinions or our theologies to see each other as Christians, to listen to each other and really want the relationship that comes with being a part of a community."

The church and young people
Lockett said it is a daunting task to try to speak in behalf of so many young United Methodists. "We have this great responsibility on us to represent a group of people that we ourselves don't all represent," said Lockett, a member of Fairwood United Methodist Church in Seattle.

Asked how The United Methodist Church could be more inclusive of youth and young adults, Volkova said the United Methodist Church in Russia speaks a lot about young people but "sometimes things do not go beyond talking but remain at this level."

A candidate for ordained ministry and member of Kirov United Methodist Church, Volkova seeks more opportunities for ministries with young people and for the church "to take our young people more seriously."

She also hopes that the church would more fully live into its global nature. "The situation in the church now is old people trying to be global but who many times fail. Young people are flexible and willing to listen to one another."

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

Prayers, resources offered in wake of bridge collapse

By United Methodist News Service

A newspaper ad from the people of The United Methodist Church reaches out to those affected by the Aug. 1 bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Sponsored by the Minnesota Annual Conference, the half-page message ran Aug. 8 in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. A UMNS photo illustration courtesy of United Methodist Communications

MINNEAPOLIS (UMNS) - As the search for missing people continued in the Mississippi River, the people of The United Methodist Church offered up prayers, compassion and coping resources to those affected by the deadly Interstate 35W bridge collapse.

Eight people remain missing and are presumed dead from the Aug. 1 disaster that already has killed five people and injured 100 others.

A half-page advertisement ran in the Twin Cities' two largest newspapers to remind readers that the people of The United Methodist Church are praying with them. The ad was published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Aug. 8 - the one-week anniversary of the collapse - and reached an estimated 550,000 readers.

The headline "For all the days that end in why" appears against a ghosted photograph of the collapsed bridge, along with the message:

"In memory of those whose lives were lost, With compassion for those who lost loved ones, In gratitude for those who risked their lives to rescue, recover, and give care, The people of The United Methodist Church pray with their neighbors."

The ad is sponsored by the Minnesota Annual Conference in collaboration with United Methodist Communications, the denomination's communications agency. The photograph is by Russ Scheffler, an annual conference staff member.

"We felt very strongly that we needed to make a community response because this is the sort of disaster to which we can all relate," said Minnesota Bishop Sally Dyck. "We've all crossed bridges before, and most of us in Minnesota have crossed this particular bridge.

"It causes people to have a sense of vulnerability-of how fragile our lives are. We wanted to give a message to the community as a whole that the people of The United Methodist Church care and we are praying for them."

Last week, Dyck asked United Methodists to pray for those affected by the bridge collapse and urged them to spend a portion of Sunday's worship services to remember the victims, their families and friends, along with those engaged in rescue and recovery.

The annual conference also is providing worship and spiritual care resources to help those struggling to deal with the aftermath of the bridge disaster. They are available at http://www.minnesotaumc.org/.

Meanwhile, flags flew at half staff on Aug. 8 to mark the one-week anniversary of the tragedy, while church bells tolled in downtown Minneapolis the evening before as residents observed a moment of silence for the victims.

The 40-year-old, eight-lane bridge collapsed during the evening rush hour, sending people, vehicles and tons of metal and concrete into the Mississippi River. Dyck called the collapse "perhaps one of the most frightening disasters we have had to face as a state."

United Methodists seek change in tone at assembly

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - United Methodists want to change the tone of conversation and debate at the church's top legislative assembly in 2008.

Organizers of the denomination's General Conference, which meets April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas, have endorsed "Guidelines for Holy Conferencing - What God Expects of Us" as a blueprint for such conversation.

The guidelines are in response to long-held concerns that the General Conference more resembles the style and conduct by secular political bodies than the higher expectations of a faith-focused group, according to Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, who leads the Houston Area and is president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops.

The set of 10 principles focuses on respect, civility and mutual understanding, as well as ensuring that diverse voices are heard in the consideration of legislation and resolutions.

Huie pointed out that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed in the use of Holy Conferencing as an organizing and governing principle. As a method of discerning God's direction for the church, "Holy Conferencing sets United Methodists apart from other organizations," she said in a letter introducing the guidelines.

"We urge all who are involved - local congregations, individual writers of petitions and resolutions, members of interest groups and caucuses, general agency members, and delegates - to grow into the spirit of Holy Conferencing," Huie said.

"In much of the Western world, results are measured in terms of winners and losers," she added. "Holy Conferencing does not work that way. It focuses on discerning where God is leading us. It focuses on prayer, rational and respectful conversation, and a belief that with God, all things are possible."

Bishop Sally Dyck of Minneapolis, who led a working group that refined the guidelines, credited the denomination's young people for bringing the issue to the forefront.

"Our United Methodist young people successfully used these principles when they met in South Africa earlier this year," she said. "Their example is a lesson for the whole church: We can do things differently, respectfully and with God in the forefront."

Dyck, who leads the Minnesota Annual Conference, is encouraging delegations, caucus groups, authors of petitions and resolutions, general agencies and anyone else connected to the General Conference to practice the principles of Holy Conferencing leading up to and during the conference. The guidelines will be posted on the General Conference 2008 Web site, other Web sites and included in delegate materials.

Here are the guidelines:
.Every person is a child of God. Always speak respectfully. One can disagree without being disagreeable.
.As you patiently listen and observe the behavior of others, be open to the possibility that God can change the views of any or all parties in the discussion.
.Listen patiently before formulating responses.
.Strive to understand the experience out of which others have arrived at their views.
.Be careful in how you express personal offense at differing opinions. Otherwise dialogue may be inhibited.
.Accurately reflect the views of others when speaking. This is especially important when you disagree with that position.
.Avoid using inflammatory words, derogatory names or an excited and angry voice.
.Avoid making generalizations about individuals and groups. Make your point with specific evidence and examples.
.Make use of facilitators and mediators.
.Remember that people are defined, ultimately, by their relationship with God - not by the flaws we discover, or think we discover, in their views and actions.

United Methodists urged to divest from 20 companies

By Alexx Wood*

LAWRENCE, Mass, (UMNS) - After two years of research, a United Methodist task force in the New England Annual (regional) Conference is urging its members, churches and investment managers to divest from 20 companies identified as supporting Israel's occupation of Palestinian land.

The companies range from Lockheed Martin, identified as the single biggest overseas supplier for the Israeli armaments industry, to movie rental chain Blockbuster Inc., which the task force says operates kiosks in illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land, contributing to the appeal and growth of Israeli settlements.

The conference, which includes all or part of five states in New England, created the study panel after passing a resolution in 2005 to divest from companies that are significantly supporting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

That resolution said the church "should not profit from the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land or the destruction of Palestinian homes, orchards and lives." It was approved by the regional conference after the 2004 General Conference, the denomination's top lawmaking body, passed a resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation.

A number of U.S. and Israeli Jewish peace groups and religious leaders have called for selective divestment from Israel as a means of ending settlement expansion and illegal occupation.

"Selective divestment is consistent with the United Methodist commitment to a just and sustainable peace for all the people of the Middle East," said William P. Aldrich, chairman of the New England Conference task force. "Resolution 204 and the work of the Divestment Task Force in New England support the General Conference resolution and offer a tangible way of working toward this goal."

Research and dialogue
Since 2005, the task force has researched and examined many companies related to Israeli occupation. Each identified company was contacted in writing with the concerns of the task force and given 60 days to respond. Nine of the companies answered in writing, and their correspondence are included in the report.

For instance, Jerry R Kircher III, vice president of investor relations for Lockheed Martin, directed the task force to its primary customer, the U.S. government, "as they are the decision makers on product distribution and national policy matters."

Blockbuster responded that its operation in Israel is limited to one franchisee that is not violating local laws, according to company spokeswoman Karen J. Raskopf.

Besides Lockheed Martin and Blockbuster, other companies on the list are Alliant Tech Systems (NYSE:ATK); Boeing (NYSE:BA); Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT); Cement Roadstone Holdings (NYSE:CRH); General Dynamics (NYSE:GD); General Electric (NYSE:GE); Globecomm Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:GCOM); ITT Corp. (NYSE:ITT); Magal Security Systems (NASDAQ:MAGS); Motorola (NYSE:MOT); Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC); Oshkosh Truck Corp. (NYSE:OSK); Raytheon (NYSE:RTN); Silicon Graphics (NASDAQ:SGIC); TEREX (NYSE:TEX); United Technologies (NYSE:UTX); Veolia Environnement (NYSE:VE); and Volvo (NASDAQ:VOLV).

Sharing information
Aldrich does not expect United Methodist divestment activity to significantly affect Israel's economy or the bottom line of the companies listed. "This is not the goal," he said. "The goal is to make all United Methodists and other Americans aware of their relationship to companies that benefit from the Israeli occupation, and to give them an opportunity to withdraw from such relationships so they are not participants in human rights violations that go against Christian principles and international law."

Bishop Peter D. Weaver of the New England area said ending the Israeli occupation is a stated goal of the entire denomination. "This report provides concrete information that can be used by New England Methodists in working toward that goal," he said.

The complete report, including details on each company identified and the reasons for the divestment recommendation, can be found at www.neumc.org/divest.

The New England Conference, based in Lawrence, Mass., has approximately 93,000 members in 550 United Methodist and federated congregations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut and Vermont.

*Wood is communications director of the New England Annual Conference.

Transgender issue on Judicial Council's fall docket

A UMNS Report
By Neill Caldwell*

The United Methodist Church's top judicial authority will again be considering questions about sexuality - including the case of a pastor who switched gender from female to male - when it tackles a full docket at its fall meeting.
The Judicial Council, the top court for The United Methodist Church, is scheduled to meet Oct. 24-27 in San Francisco.

At this year's Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference in late May, Bishop John R. Schol reappointed the Rev. Drew Phoenix as pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church in Baltimore. Phoenix, 48, had been minister at St. John's for five years as the Rev. Ann Gordon. After surgery and hormone therapy in the past year, the pastor changed his gender to male and adopted a new name.

"My transition to live fully as the male I know myself to be is very personal and deeply spiritual," Phoenix told the annual conference. "As I continue to transition, to fully claim myself as a male, I find myself coming home to the child God created me to be. I find myself joyful, whole, and peaceful. And I find myself even more effective as a pastor."

Though the United Methodist Church bars self-avowed practicing gay clergy from appointment and does not support gay unions, the Book of Discipline says nothing about transgender clergy.

During discussion around Phoenix in the Baltimore-Washington executive clergy session, two requests were made for bishop's decision of law. The first asked whether a name change based on a change of gender identity should be listed in a category which requires no discussion or approval, or whether it should be placed under another disciplinary area that requires consent and recommendation by the conference Board of Ordained Ministry. The second asked whether transgender persons are eligible for appointment in The United Methodist Church.

In his ruling, Bishop Schol wrote that "There are no paragraphs in the 2004 Book of Discipline that prevent transgender clergy from serving in an appointment."

Both of these questions are docket items for the council's fall meeting. The Judicial Council automatically reviews all bishops' decisions of law, as is required by the Book of Discipline.

Three resolutions from the Northern Illinois Annual Conference that deal with the openness of the church to all people are also on the fall docket. The resolutions - "Affirming All Families," "Conference Affirming Article IV of the Constitution of The United Methodist Church" and "Affirming Inclusiveness of the Church Concerning Membership and Participation in Accord with the Constitution of The United Methodist Church" - all address inclusiveness. One states a desire to "make it clear that the definition of 'status' in Article IV of the church's constitution includes heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual and transgender status of single persons and persons who avow they are in committed, loving relationships."

The paragraph in the denomination's constitution deals with the idea that all people "are of sacred worth" and are fully eligible for participation and membership in The United Methodist Church.

The Judicial Council will review the Minnesota Annual Conference's approval of adding domestic partners of lay people to the conference's health insurance plan. (Asked to rule on a similar plan for the West Michigan Annual Conference, the council in Decision 1030 simply stated that each conference has the responsibility to make sure no church funds are being used to promote homosexuality as stated in Paragraph 612.19 of the Book of Discipline.)

Two annual conferences - Western North Carolina and Pacific-Northwest - have bishop's decisions of law questions related to Paragraph 612.19 in the Discipline, which forbids annual conferences from giving church funds to "promote the acceptance of homosexuality."

Other items on the fall docket relate to more traditional issues within the church including:
.A question from the Committee on Nominations of the 2004 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference on the allocation of membership on general boards and agencies of the denomination by the secretary of the General Conference;
.A request from the Memphis Annual Conference as to whether or not candidates for election as delegates to general and jurisdictional conference can be compelled to disclose their views on issues;
.A question from the Memphis Annual Conference in regard to a conference policy entitled "Identifying and Strengthening Effective Clergy Leadership;"
.A review of a bishop's decision of law in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference concerning the constitutionality of its plan of organization;
.A request from the West Michigan Annual Conference concerning the procedure for a vote for continuance of a local pastor's licensing;
.A review of a bishop's decision of law in the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference concerning whether procedures used by the annual conference with respect to complaints comply with the Discipline;
.A review of a bishop's decision of law in the Iowa Annual Conference concerning a paragraph in the Book of Discipline that deals with conference benevolences;
.A review of a bishop's decision of law in the South Carolina Annual Conference Concerning the legality of the standing rule for the election of the conference secretary;
.A review of a bishop's decision of law in the New England Annual Conference concerning the legality of the conference policy on parsonages shared between local church clergy and conference staff;
.A review of a bishop's decision of law in the California-Nevada Annual Conference dealing with "involuntary leave of absence, administrative and judicial process, and voluntary or involuntary retirement;"
.A review of a bishop's decision of law in the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference concerning the confidentiality of supervisory files.

The Judicial Council's spring meeting will be held during 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

*Caldwell covers the Judicial Council for United Methodist News Service and is editor of the Virginia United Methodist Advocate of the Virginia Annual Conference.

Study: Clergy changes parallel membership decline

A UMNS Report By Vicki Brown*

The number of elders in The United Methodist Church dropped 2.25 percent from 2000 to 2005, even as the number of local pastors and deacons increased, according to a new study by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

An analysis of church membership numbers and clergy data shows 754 fewer elders, while the number of deacons increased 28 percent from 964 to 1,237, and the number of local pastors rose 31 percent from 5,088 to 6,660.

"The study shows the dramatic changes that have taken place in The United Methodist Church in its clergy leadership," said the Rev. Mary Ann Moman, an executive with the Division of Ordained Ministry of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

The study is based on an analysis of annual conference membership numbers provided by the United Methodist Council on Finance and Administration. The analysis was provided by Michelle Fugate, the board's director of research and data management.

Back to circuits?
"The continuing decline in the number of elders and the increase in the numbers of local pastors is a clear sign of the change in clergy demographics of our annual conferences," said Moman.

The numbers, she said, suggest that the denomination may need to consider returning to a circuit system - in which a group of clergy share responsibility to serve a group of churches - even though many small churches want their own pastor.

"Local pastors have filled a critical need for leadership in many of our small-membership churches," she said. "It may be time for the church to look at teams of pastors assigned to circuits. This could mean a local pastor would be assigned to a particular church, but there would also be an elder and possibly a deacon on a circuit ministry team. The elder would be responsible for training, support, supervision and would have sacramental responsibility for the membership churches."

With more congregations being served by local pastors who do not have Master of Divinity degrees, Moman said the church must ask whether it still holds the degree as the standard. "Do we believe that level of education is necessary?" she asked.

Fugate found that while the number of churches and membership declined, the number of clergy actually increased during the same time period, with the increase largely due to full-time and part-time local pastors. Membership in U.S. churches dipped just below
8 million in 2005, while the number of churches decreased 3.5 percent from 2000 to 2005.

Total annual conference clergy membership increased from 44,118 in 2000 to 45,148 in 2005, or 2.3 percent. Nearly 15 percent of all annual conference members in 2005 were full-time or part-time local pastors. Of the 1,572 new local pastors, nearly half were in the Southeastern Jurisdiction and 22 percent were in the South Central Jurisdiction.

If local pastors are excluded, the number of clergy who are annual conference members actually declined from 39,030 to 38,488, or 1 percent.

Other repercussions
Fugate also looked at the number of districts. The number has decreased in all jurisdictions, from 518 districts in 2000 to 488 in 2005. That means there are 32 fewer district superintendents.

"That has implications for the church, too, since fewer districts mean district superintendents supervise more churches," Moman said.

The increase in the number of deacons has implications as well. "Again, we might look at circuit deacons who could serve a group of churches and their communities," Moman said.

"A lack of an appropriate support structure for deacons has caused many problems in the appointment system," Moman said. "The present system hasn't helped the church get deacons to the places where they are needed most. The statistics show that most deacons' primary appointment is to a congregation. It is much more difficult to negotiate a ministry setting outside of the congregation."

She said part of the difficulty is gaining approval within the denominational structure. "If the bishops and district superintendents were more involved in this process, we might find many more creative ways to appoint deacons," Moman said.

"After Katrina, The United Methodist Church could have deployed deacons to New Orleans and surrounding areas to set up community Sunday schools, provide medical care, offer legal support and provide safe child care. We have deacons who are trained in all of these areas."

Moman said the analysis should prove useful as the Study of Ministry Commission prepares its recommendations for the 2008 General Conference, the denomination's top lawmaking body.

To read the full report, go to: http://www.gbhem.org/ResourceLibrary/ChangeChurchClergy.pdf

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

“Build a Foundation for the Future” is theme for United Methodist Appalachian Assembly, September 19-22, 2007

Hagerstown, Maryland. Annual Conferences themes this year have in someway emphasized bringing people under the mantel of being disciples for Jesus Christ.

Participants in the United Methodist Appalachian Assembly, September 19-22, 2007, will explore how their congregation can act on its gifts to “Build a Foundation for the Future.” Ten hours of the Assembly will be devoted to learning how to lead congregations and communities to take action together for strengthened ministry and healthier communities.

Luther K. Snow

Luther K. Snow a consultant and trainer in Asset Mapping, Capacity Building will lead this time of exploring practical and simple tools, and techniques to reverse the negative cycles of need and conflict in our congregations and communities and replace them with positive assets and opportunity.

Snow locates Asset Mapping in a theology of abundance, affinity, and release, and lifts up that theology in word, worship and prayer.

With over 30 years of experience in both faith-based and grassroots community development, he has been a leader of the shift in the rural development field away from “hand-wringing” and toward a positive, asset-based approach. Snow has published an inspirational book of stories and lessions from positive rural development, entitled, The Organization of Hope: A Workbook for Rural Asset-Based Community Development.
His book, The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts, will serve as the guide for participants.

Snow is a graduate of Harvard College and has an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He has consulted for four major denominations and many judicatories, faith coalitions, and congregations. He has been a facilitator and trainer for the United Methodist Church in Town and Country Ministry, Shalom Ministry, and regional congregational coalitions, as well as for the national offices on stewardship and evangelism.

Rev. Dr. Lillie Jones

Rev. Dr. Lillie Jones, the Bible Study leader will challenge participants from a biblical perspective to identify their gifts and use them to build up the reign of God as disciples of Jesus the Christ. Themes for the Bible Study are: “A Faith that Trusts,” “My Hope is in God,” and The Love Obligation.”

Dr. Jones is a nationally distinguished educator who holds an M.S., Ed Administration degree from North Carolina and A&T State University, a Ed.D.and Ed.S. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She holds a Master’s of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary.

A community activist in Mooresville, NC, Dr. Jones also was appointed to serve on a number of community organization’s Boards of Directors. Prior to ordination, she held offices in the North Carolina Conference as a lay person.

She is a seminar leader, consultant and life coach. Currently, Dr. Jones serves as the Ministries Team Coordinator of Ethnic and Justice Ministries for the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Participants in the Assembly will also enjoy traditional Appalachian music, storytelling, and visits to local church and community ministries that are models for ministry in Clay County, NC. Two Continuing Education Credits will be offered that meet the standards of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

For registration information interested persos can go to http://www.hintoncenter.org/ Click Appalachain Assembly

United Methodists respond with prayer to hostage crisis

By United Methodist News Service

United Methodists are offering prayers and expressing concern about the South Korean Christians being held hostage in Afghanistan.

The Taliban kidnapped 23 members of a medical volunteer mission trip July 19 in Ghazni province, southwest of the capital city of Kabul. The group's leader, the Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, was shot to death, and another man, Shim Sung-min, also was executed by the Taliban, which is threatening to kill the remainder of the group unless jailed comrades are released. Eighteen of the Korean Christians being held are women.

The Taliban has said that many of the remaining hostages are sick and two of the women are seriously ill, according to an Aug. 2 report from Reuters.

An Aug. 1 statement from directors and staff of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries offered a "fervent prayer for the safety and quick release" of the hostages.

"We are also remembering the family and the congregation of the Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, a young Presbyterian pastor from Bundang, who has already been shot by the captors," the statement said.

"We join with Bishop Kyung Ha Shin, the head of the Korean Methodist Church, in urging all Christians to join in this work of prayer as negotiations for the release of the group continues.

"We pray also for the captors, that they will come to understand the futility of their actions in seizing and holding the Koreans. We pray for reconciliation and a solution that respects justice and fosters peace."

United Methodist Bishop Hee-Soo Jung of Chicago sent letters to President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asking for "your committed engagement and employment of diplomatic measures to bring about the safe release of the hostages and a just resolution to this rapidly changing situation."

Jung also forwarded Shin's prayer appeal to church members and the United Methodist Council of Bishops.

Jung said United Methodists are asked to pray for safe release of the hostages, for reconciliation and a just resolution to the situation, for all Volunteer in Mission leaders, and for all Koreans and the Korean Methodist Church.

A UMNS Commentary by the Rev. Jin Kook Lee*: God has a plan for Afghans, Koreans

The Rev. Jin Kook Lee and his family are saddened by the death of the Rev. BaeHyung-kyu who was killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. A UMNS photo courtesy of Keihwan Ryoo.

When I returned home July 25, I found my wife sobbing. Her tears told me that something had happened. My daughter ran and hugged me. They told me that one of the 23 Koreans being held hostage in Afghanistan had been killed by the Taliban that day. It was the Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, leader of the team of mission volunteers from Saem-mul (Spring Water) Church in Korea.

Many critical comments in news reports followed the capture of the volunteers: "They were so careless." "They are selfish Christians who ignored the warnings of the government." "Did they go as volunteers or as missionaries?" "Korean Christians are ignorant; they do not respect other religions. They waste their time and money for nothing." "They must be responsible for their own actions."

Those words hurt me deeply, but I do not want to argue about them. It is natural for non-Christians to criticize the volunteers. However, it hurts me more to hear criticism from people of the church. I do not think that we as followers of Christ should attempt to pinpoint what went wrong for this group. It is a time for us to pray for the hostages and their families, for the Afghan people and even for the Taliban militants. It is time to shed tears with them. It is a time to ask God's grace and mercy on them.

I remember the story of a missionary, the Rev. Robert Thomas, who was 26 years old when he died near Pyongyang, North Korea, 140 years ago. By some accounts, he was executed in 1866 by Korean soldiers, but before he was killed gave a Bible to his executioner, who later became a Christian.

Thomas did not do great mission work in the eyes of people, but he gave his life for Korean Christians and churches before anybody else. We know now that because of Thomas' sacrifice, the seed of the Gospel was planted in Korea. Through his love, many Koreans, including me, became believers of Jesus Christ.

After 140 years, Korean churches and Christians have grown enough to send many missionaries into the world.

I understand the criticism of the hostages and their mission. This incident has a huge impact for missions in Afghanistan, Korea and around the world. However, as a Christian and as a Korean-American member of The United Methodist Church, I cannot criticize the hostages. We cannot.

Why did Rev. Thomas go to Korea 140 years ago? What is the Gospel? Why did he sacrifice his own life for those whom he did not know or meet? Somehow, somebody placed a great love in his heart for the people of Korea. I hope and pray that you may look at the Korean hostages in Afghanistan with the eyes of Rev. Thomas.

This is the time to stop pointing fingers at each other. We need to remember people who ran to the land where nobody wanted to go in the name of Jesus Christ. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us pray with them and for their safe return. Let us cry with their families in Korea. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan.

We may not fully understand or know what has happened to Korean Christians in Afghanistan. But I know that God has a plan for the Afghan people and the Korean churches.

*Lee serves at Korean Mission United Methodist Church of Rochester, N.Y.