Unconventional businessman shares profits with the people

By James Melchiorre*

Instead of driving a car, Hal Taussig bikes to work in his hometown of Media, Penn. Taussig and his wife, Norma, live simply, donating all profits from their travel company to help others. A UMNS photo by Mark Melchiorre.

MEDIA, Penn. (UMNS) - Clad in blue jeans and a T-shirt, Hal Taussig, 82, rides his bicycle to work every day and hasn't owned a car since 1971.

"I gave my last car away to a hitchhiker," recalls Taussig.

He does, however, own Untours, a hugely successful travel company. And he has done the same thing with $5 million in profits over the past 15 years that he did with his last car.

He gave it away.

Taussig's Untours Foundation loans money to low-income people trying to start new businesses or otherwise improve their lives.

"It wasn't a vow of poverty, I didn't do anything like that," the United Methodist businessman says of his modest lifestyle. "I said I'm never going to have any money in the bank, no money collected in the bank or have anything in my name. And whatever's left over at the end of the month, whatever's left over, I get rid of it."

Taussig runs Untours, an unconventional travel agency that places travelers in private homes instead of touristy hotels. A UMNS photo by James Melchiorre.

Taussig and his wife, Norma, founded Untours in the mid-1970s. Their goal was to provide a service to travelers wanting to stay in private homes instead of touristy hotels in order to get to know the people and cultures they visit.

In other words, they serve folks who are really kindred spirits with Hal and Norma.
"We wanted to know the ordinary person in Europe instead of knowing just those that tourists got to know when they were just spending money," recalls Norma.

The two defining characteristics of Untours - bypassing "tourist" luxury to live among the people and donating all profits - ensure that Taussig's business reflects his values.

So does his personal lifestyle. He and Norma live in a narrow wood-frame house on the outskirts of Media and dry their laundry from a clothesline running from the back porch.

"I have a mission to fight this consumerism," he says. "I think the direction we're heading in is catastrophic. If we keep taking things out of the earth at the rate we're doing now, there's going to be no society as we know it."

Taussig got the idea to donate profits from Untours five years after he and Norma started their business.

"I had been aware of the rising gap between the rich and the poor, which I believe is not sustainable," he recalls. "I think that can be addressed only by economic means. My idea is to get capital to poor people rather than charity."

As part of its philanthropic mission, Taussig's Untours Foundation has made hundreds of loans to small businesses, including Home Care Associates of Philadelphia, which provides health care services to patients who remain in their homes rather than enter the hospital. Many of the company's employees once received welfare payments.

"Paul Newman and JFK Jr. had given me this award - Most Generous Business in America - and we had $250,000 in award money," he recalls. "We decided to loan that to Home Care Associates, and they doubled their staff that first year and from that year on they've made a profit. There are 50 people who came off welfare and they get dividends now."

The Taussigs attend First United Methodist Church in Media. The pastor there compares Hal to a walking Sunday school lesson.

"You talk about your heart breaking for homeless people and (how) the church should be outraged about poverty, hunger and war," says the Rev. Maridel Whitmore. "Here's a person doing what we preach and I think he's made us all straighten up a little bit and look at ourselves …. If this is what Hal's doing, maybe we should be following his example."

Taussig jokes that the travel business is his third attempt at a career. He first worked as a cattle rancher in his native Colorado and later was a college professor and high school teacher.

He and Norma have raised three children. Their son is a United Methodist minister and a professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. One daughter was ordained a Lutheran priest, and the other daughter is an artist who works for Untours.

"If he decided to leave all his money to his children, I wouldn't argue a bit. I'm not quite the saint maybe that my dad is," jokes daughter Marilee Taussig, the artist, who also lives across the street from her parents.

"But I'm also aware he taught me other things that are going to last longer than any amount of money. He took me all over the world and he continues to reach out to different kinds of people, and I think that lasts longer than any amount of money."

Not surprisingly, Hal Taussig is not comfortable being viewed as a role model.

"I don't particularly like being made the center of attention as I am right now," he says. "I'm only doing this (interview) because I like to have people discuss the problem of poverty - world poverty I find so disastrous - and finding a new way to solve it."

*Melchiorre is a freelance producer based in New York City.

Celebrating Charles Wesley, A Festival of History, Poetry and Music will take place at Epworth By The Sea, St. Simons Island, Georgia September 27–29

Celebrating Charles Wesley, A Festival of History, Poetry and Music

Keynoter will be Dr. Richard Heitzenrater, Duke University Divinity School. Dr. Heitzenrater is best known for “breaking the code” of Wesley’s personal diaries.
Internationally known baritone Dr. S. T. Kimbrough, Jr. will present a one person musical drama “Sweet Singer” as well as lead poetry workshops and participate in a dialogue and book signing with Dr. Heitzenrater. Dr. Milburn Price, recently retired chair of the School of Performing Arts, Samford University, will direct the Festival workshops and choir for the Celebration Event. Dr. Michael McGhee, assistant professor of Music and college organist at Wesleyan College will be the organist. Testament of Praise, arranged by Joseph Martin, will be performed Friday evening.

Tours to Christ Church and Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island, both integral parts of Wesley history in Georgia, will be available. The Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum is on the campus of Epworth and will have special exhibits for the event.

“Tuesday, March, 9th, 1736, about three in the afternoon I first set foot on Saint Simons Island; and immediately my spirit revived.” Quote from Charles Wesley’s diary.

View accommodations and register online: http://www.epworthbythesea.org/

Housing site with easy CLICK to download brochure
https://securewin.bellsouth-hosting.net/ssl.epworthbythesea.org/SharedSSL/wesleyform.html

Vatican stance 'nothing new,' say church leaders

World Methodist Council leaders meet with Pope Benedict at the Vatican in 2005. Responding to a recent papal document on the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, United Methodist leaders say it does not change relations between the two Christian churches. A UMNS file photo courtesy of the World Methodist Council.

A UMNS Report By Linda Bloom*

A recent Vatican statement should not significantly affect relations between United Methodists and Roman Catholics, according to United Methodist officials.

Noting that the two Christian churches have been in dialogue for more than 40 years and "have reached clarity on several major theological issues," the United Methodist Council of Bishops said it found "nothing new or radically different" in the document and added that "all the positives remain in our relationship."

The Vatican statement, titled "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine of the Church," came from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and was ratified and confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI on June 29 and released on July 10. It reasserts the position that only Catholics constitute the true church, while Protestants are merely "Christian communities" and not churches "in the proper sense."

The Second Vatican Council, which occurred in the 1960s under Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI, often is heralded as a turning point in ecumenical relations for the Roman Catholic Church.

That council did not change Catholic doctrine on "the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church," according to the new Vatican document, but more fully explained it.

'The fullness of the Church'
The United Methodist Council of Bishops, in a response released on July 18, said United Methodists affirm "the one true Church, Apostolic and Universal."

"We believe that apostolicity is based on the faithfulness of the Church through the ages rather than on historical succession," the bishops wrote.

The bishops acknowledged that the Vatican does not consider The United Methodist Church to be a church "in the full sense, because we lack from their viewpoint the mark of oneness and sacramental priesthood and the fullness of the Eucharist. We understand ourselves, by God's grace, to share in the fullness of the Church through faithful ministry and mission, and the Table of the Lord. That is a difference we can continue to explore. Someday we pray that this difference will be overcome."

The council's response was signed by Bishop Janice Huie, president; Bishop William Oden, ecumenical officer; Bishop Ernest Lyght, secretary; and Bishop Roy Sano, executive secretary.

"As United Methodists, we share in the pain of the brokenness of Christ's Body and prayerfully long for unity around the Table of the Lord," the bishops concluded.

A statement from the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns points out that the Vatican document "is actually a restatement" of a 2000 declaration titled "Dominus Iesus." A key component of that declaration was "the pronouncement of the primacy of historical continuity and permanence, with the fullness of the Church of Christ subsisting in the Catholic Church."

But the grace of salvation "is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church," said the commission's statement, signed by the Rev. Larry Pickens, its chief executive.

"Within all of our churches are the elements of sanctification and truth that represent the presence of the Holy Spirit and the reality of Jesus Christ."

Continuing dialogue
For decades, United Methodists have engaged in dialogue with Catholic colleagues through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, while an international dialogue has continued between the World Methodist Council and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

"Our dialogues have taught United Methodists and Catholics to realize that by baptism and faith in Christ, United Methodists enjoy a communion, although imperfect, with the Catholic Church," the commission's statement declared.

"Our dialogues have also taught us that there is a positive appreciation that is felt between our two communions and serves as a foundation for addressing other church-dividing issues that face both of our churches."

Representatives of the Commission on Christian Unity visited the Vatican and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in April 2006. "During that time we shared our mutual concern that the national and international dialogues involving the United Methodist Church and the Catholic Church should continue," the statement said.

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

Anglican-Methodist Covenant faces challenges

By Kathleen LaCamera*

July 16, 2007 -- BLACKPOOL, England (UMNS)

British Methodists say the Anglican-Methodist Covenant is facing challenges that some here might call a "bumpy patch."

Signed in 2003, the covenant agreement sets out plans for greater cooperation between the two traditions. Commenting on a report about its implementation during the 2007 annual conference, British Methodist officials say the process has yielded "some encouragements and some disappointments."

The role of women in church leadership and the role of bishops themselves are among issues that still have no formal agreement between Anglicans and Methodists. The British Methodist Church has no bishops.


Bishop William Oden

United Methodist Bishop William Oden, ecumenical officer for the denomination's Council of Bishops and a representative to the British Methodist Conference, expressed concern about the covenant's progress.

"It seems (the covenant) is stalled at the moment when U.S. United Methodist and Episcopal relations are going forward," Oden told United Methodist News Service, referring to progress in dialogue between those denominations. "The Church of England is busy with other issues, and British Methodists seem to have backed off."

Heated controversy over homosexuality and church leadership already threaten to divide the worldwide Anglican communion.

“It seems (the covenant) is stalled at the moment …. The Church of England is busy with other issues, and British Methodists seem to have backed off.”–United Methodist Bishop William Oden

Oden said a delegation involved with the United Methodist/Episopal dialogue in the United States will meet in October in Britain with their British Methodist/Anglican counterparts. The United Methodist and Episcopal churches have an interim agreement on sharing the Eucharist.

While the covenant report points to challenges in implementing the agreement, the Rev. Peter Sulston, the British church's coordinating secretary for unity in mission, said it also contains promising news of cooperation already under way. Feedback from local churches is that the covenant is being "lived out at a grassroots level," he added.

"There is clearly a lot of good work going on, with Anglicans and Methodists sharing in worship and mission, caring for each other and serving their communities," he said. "But there is still more to be done. The passion for mission and evangelism expressed by both churches is a powerful driver for covenant living."

*LaCamera is a UMNS correspondent based in England.

Louisiana Conference plants three new churches

By Betty Backstrom*

The Revs. Trey Harris (from left), Jack O'Dell and Leslie Stephens prepare to start three new churches near New Orleans in the Louisiana Annual Conference. The church starts target areas serving shifting populations due to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A UMNS photo by Betty Backstrom.

BATON ROUGE, La. (UMNS) - Planting a new church has always been a goal for the Rev. Trey Harris.

"Having that opportunity has been a dream of mine since graduating from Asbury Seminary. I was part of a church plant while in high school and have fond memories of those exciting times," said Harris, referring to his days at St. Timothy's on the North Shore in Mandeville, La.

Harris is leading one of three church starts announced by Bishop William W. Hutchinson during his June 4 Episcopal Address to the 2007 Louisiana Annual (regional) Conference.

All three new churches will be developed near New Orleans. They target areas to the city's west and northwest where the population has shifted due partly to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

The conference is using five criteria to choose locations for new faith communities, according to the Rev. Steve Stephens, conference director of Church Extension and Transformation.

"We look at the number of existing churches in the target area; the strategic nature of their location compared to demographic change; the effectiveness of the existing churches in reaching a significant portion of the current population; a population in the area (that) exceeds 10-20,000 persons per existing church; and a projected five-year growth rate of over 5 percent," said Stephens.

"The three areas targeted for new church starts in 2007 have been on our radar because they meet the criteria so well. Due in part to the diaspora caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the influx of people into these areas in the last two years has been between 5 and 10 percent."

New churches for growing areas
The Rev. Jack O'Dell is planting the new church start in the Tangipahoa area. Known as The Well, the church will emphasize serving those who have been displaced or disconnected from the church.

"Some of this disconnectedness is attributed to the events of Hurricane Katrina. For others, the disconnect from The United Methodist Church has happened for other reasons," O'Dell said. The Well will use media, music and drama to re-present the Gospel of Jesus Christ while connecting with cultural norms, he said.

The Well already is involved in one of the key outreach ministries in Tangipahoa Parish called Our Daily Bread. A missions Saturday is scheduled for August in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity to generate local interest.

"The church plans to have a strong local and international missions program," said O'Dell, who plans to start a book club and other small groups in the fall.

Like The Well, the NewSong church start in Prairieville will offer a less traditional approach.

"NewSong will offer a casual dress code, vibrant and uplifting worship, biblical preaching and teaching, and intentional outreach to the community and world," Harris said.

"Ascension Parish has grown at an enormous rate, and Prairieville is an excellent place for the Louisiana Conference to offer a new faith community. The United Methodist Church has much to offer the families as they deal with raising children and living their lives in an often stressful world."

The Rev. Leslie Stephens, who will lead the new church start in the Denham Springs/Walker area, was not as certain about her journey initially.

"When I was asked to attend an informational meeting about starting a new church, I didn't understand why anyone would want to leave the relative comfort of an established congregation for the unpredictable wilderness known as the mission field … least of all me, a newly ordained mother of two small kids. I determined before I even left the house that no matter what I learned at the meeting, this kind of thing wasn't for me," Stephens said.

"I should have known better."

Stephens said she became inspired as she listened to the passion in the voices of the facilitators of that informational meeting.

"Something came alive within me," she said. "I began to get excited about both our current churches and those that had yet to be born. My heart began to ache for the growing number of people who, for whatever reason, were disconnected from the church, and a desire began to grow within me to create new ways to reach them."

Cultivating church planters
The Rev. Steve Stephens said finding and cultivating church planters is a multi-step process that begins when potential candidates are invited to discern whether they are called to this ministry.

"Through an 18-month process, these pastors are trained extensively and assessed through interviews," he said. "After they are appointed to plant a church, they establish goals and strategies by which they will be evaluated. They are supported and coached to give them every tool for success."

All three of the new church starts will lie west/northwest of New Orleans in the Baton Rouge District and are expected to support one another and share resources.

"Each planter will spend 13 to 20 months acquiring a critical mass of people before having the first worship service," Stephens said. "The planters' ministry focus is outward - networking in the community, meeting with people individually and in small groups, gaining critical mass and spiritual momentum.

"In the months to come, each planter will form a launch team who will pray, learn and work together to prepare for the launch of the church's worship. The goal of this process is to ensure that, when the church launches its corporate worship, it will be a vital congregation of 120 or more adults in worship. The size of the worshiping congregation at the launch of public worship is critical to the church's success."

A second class of planters began the 18-month training process in January. The Rev. Leslie Stephens marvels at the process that has brought her to her new role of leading Faith Crossing United Methodist Church, which will serve the Livingston Parish.

"Our denomination is so rich and has so much to offer the world. Our Social Principles, our understanding of grace, our love of mission, and our willingness to open our hearts, minds, and doors to all of God's people is unparalleled. … We are so blessed to have a number of great churches in this area already and I believe that together we will continue to make a difference for both The United Methodist Church and most importantly for Christ."

*Backstrom is communications director for the Louisiana Annual Conference.

Annual conferences focus on starting new churches

A UMNS Report By Linda Green*

Concerns over shrinking United Methodist membership in most of the church's regional U.S. jurisdictions-and strategies for reversing those overall trends-were pervasive as the denomination's annual conferences convened in 2007.

Sixty-three U.S. conferences met during May and June as lay and clergy representatives from local churches gathered to approve regional budgets, speak on social issues, establish conference programs and address administrative and stewardship matters. They also elected most of the 992 clergy and lay delegates that will attend the 2008 General Conference, the top lawmaking body of The United Methodist Church that meets once every four years and will convene next spring in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sixty-six United Methodist conferences outside of the United States meet annually as well, but not always during May and June.

By early July, 59 of the 63 U.S. conferences had filed annual reports, along with 10 conferences outside the United States.

The issue of church growth was frequently addressed-consistent with the denomination's plan to make building and revitalizing congregations one of its four areas of emphasis at the dawn of the 21st century. The United Methodist Church has more than 8 million members in the United States and 11.5 million members worldwide.

"It is most imperative that we embrace the future with hope," Bishop Violet L. Fisher told the Western New York Annual Conference, where membership stood at 56,127 at the close of 2006, down 969 from the previous year. Like most U.S. annual conferences, Western New York also saw a drop in its worship and church school attendance.

In all, at least 32 annual conferences celebrated plans to start new churches and revitalize and redevelop existing ones. At least 13 began campaigns to support camping and campus ministry or received reports about campaigns and efforts under way.

United Methodists in Central Pennsylvania approved an $11.2 million plan to fund a ministry that includes an additional $100,000 for church revitalization and startup. Kansas West Conference initiated a $4.2 million campaign to develop new and existing congregations, camping and campus ministry infrastructures.

Celebrating new churches
The meetings also included celebrations of new church growth and updates on initiatives already in place. The Florida Annual Conference celebrated the launch of nine churches in 2006 and 10 new churches in 2007. The conference has a goal of 23 new church starts by the end of the year.

Since 1995, Florida has created 86 new churches-56 percent of which are congregations with racial, ethnic or language diversity. The conference also approved an African-American Comprehensive Plan to make churches in urban areas a higher priority and improve worship through better technology and training. The conference is considering developing an African-American Church Redevelopment office.

Much United Methodist growth in recent years has been in Africa. The North Katanga Conference in the Democratic Republic of Congo reports starting 150 new congregations in the past year.

Five new church groups were registered during the East Russia and Central Asia Annual Conference session. Three were new church plants in Urals, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, one was a local church that reopened in Vladivostok and another was an independent congregation that applied to become part of The United Methodist Church. The Rev. Steve Johnson of the California-Nevada Annual Conference was appointed to oversee the development of these churches.

Indiana United Methodists chartered the first Hispanic congregation in Indiana as the Christian Getsemani United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, and the South German Annual Conference gave the green light to found a special church for young people in 2008 in Karlsruhe.

Among the four new churches planned by the Arkansas Conference is a Vietnamese congregation in Fort Smith. A Korean congregation is slated to begin in North Georgia, while a Navaho congregation was constituted in the New Mexico Conference in the past year.

In addition to new church starts, 11 annual conferences celebrated growth in membership through profession of faith, baptism or transfer of membership, plans to grow members and efforts to stem the rate of membership loss.

New Mexico members "rejoiced" upon learning that the conference in 2006 experienced the smallest membership loss in more than 20 years. Central Texas celebrated its 33rd consecutive year of growth, and Alabama-West Florida celebrated 27 straight years of growth.

Global Connections
Members of the Florida Annual Conference celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Cuba-Florida Covenant, signed in June 1997. Members of more than 140 Florida churches have participated in the covenant, including traveling to Cuba to serve and worship there, connecting with about two-thirds of the approximately 230 Cuban Methodist churches.

Seven annual conferences called for continuation of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino/a Ministries and also passed resolutions related to Hispanic ministries within their boundaries.

Eight annual conferences addressed immigration and immigration reform in the United States. East Ohio approved a petition urging the U.S. government and the Supreme Court to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to give a visa to an alien who was fathered by a U.S. citizen after 1950 in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea or Thailand.

A resolution calling for Comprehensive Immigration reform was passed by West Virginia United Methodists. The resolution called for reducing the obstacles "for all who want to settle here."

South Carolina approved a resolution that calls "for a workable comprehensive immigration bill that is not harsh and retributive but seeks to meet the standard of effective public policy and biblical faithfulness."

Living healthy, living safe
Encouraging the physical health of clergy has been emphasized across the denomination in recent years, and the issue was revisited during many annual conference meetings.

The two conferences in North Carolina joined the Duke Endowment and the Duke Divinity School in a seven-year, $12 million plan to assess and improve the health of United Methodist clergy in the state.

In Wisconsin, conference members heard presentations on better health practices and had the opportunity to participate in identifying their own health risks through Procheck Health Screening, a blood draw that provides a comprehensive panel of tests. The North Georgia conference held a blood drive.

More than 100 walkers and runners participated in the third 5K run/walk of the Mississippi conference, and nearly 600 people enrolled in the conference's Amazing Pace wellness program. The bishop and cabinet in Arkansas, to model clergy self care, pledged in 2006 to lose 100 pounds. Together, they shed 132 pounds over the past year.

At least 19 annual conferences addressed issues related to health insurance of current and retired clergy. Minnesota and West Michigan voted to provide benefits for domestic partners of eligible lay employees. The action of Minnesota was referred to the Judicial Council for the declaratory decision.

At least 10 annual conferences adopted resolutions or addressed Safe Sanctuaries- guidelines, policies and procedures designed to create an environment where children, youth and the adults who work with them have boundaries of safe space. In 1996, the denomination's General Conference adopted a resolution aimed at reducing the risk of child sexual abuse in the church.

Resolutions and petitions
Much of the annual conference business was directing toward gearing up for next year's General Conference meeting. The nine-day session of the only body that officially speaks for the denomination will be April 23-May 2, 2008.

Throughout the annual conference sessions, members passed petitions and resolutions to send to the General Conference for consideration and action.

Memphis United Methodists voted unanimously to petition the General Conference to rescind the denomination's current pension plan and reinstate its predecessor plan, effective in 2009.
Twelve annual conferences adopted resolutions on the Iraq War, two approved legislation in opposition to conflict with Iran, two approved action on issues related Israel and Palestine, four conferences took action about the war and violence in Sudan and two approved positions about continuing to hold prisoners "hostage" at Guantanamo Bay. Ten annual conferences adopted petitions and resolutions on peacemaking.

Iowa conference members approved a resolution calling for "the United States to remove all troops as soon as logistically practical and to relinquish all military bases on Iraqi soil." A similar resolution from North Alabama calls on U.S. leaders "to use all of the diplomatic, economic and political resources available to assist the people of Iraq in restoring order and justice to their land."

Conference members in West Ohio supported a resolution to end the U.S. military presence in Iraq and pre-emptive military strikes and promoting the efforts of military chaplains, especially United Methodist clergy who minister to the military.

Western Pennsylvania defeated a resolution calling for a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq. While North Carolina United Methodists defeated a resolution opposing the war in Iraq, the conference passed a motion to pray for peace and healing of all people affected by the conflict and to minister to the emotional and spiritual needs of soldiers, veterans and their families.

A resolution urging churches to study the Israel-Palestine conflict and to pray for peace in that region was defeated by West Virginia. Opponents described the measure as being too critical of Israel.

Peninsula-Delaware United Methodists approved Sept. 2 as a day of prayer for peace and for the armed forces, chaplains, advisors and support staff, including families who have lost loved ones in service.

Oklahoma United Methodists approved a resolution opposing torture and urging adherence to the principles of the Geneva Conventions, but they opposed a proposal seeking to establish a U.S. department of peace and nonviolence.

Support of a "roadmap for peace" in the Middle East was approved by Tennessee. The conference urged direct talks with all nations in the region to work toward a climate of "lasting peace, self-determination and recognition of human rights, free elections, freedom of (the) press, speech, religion and assembly for all people." The roadmap also "urges that that a state of Israel is fully recognized to exist by all nations of the Middle East if not the world."

Focusing on Sudan and Israel, Oregon-Idaho is petitioning General Conference to "refrain and divest of companies that harm Palestinians and exacerbate the Sudan crisis."

Homosexuality
Twenty-two annual U.S. conferences noted their support of or opposition to Judicial Council Decision 1032, which gave United Methodist pastors the authority to determine a person's readiness for church membership. The 2005 ruling was prompted by a Virginia pastor's refusal to allow a homosexual man into church membership.

Twelve annual conferences passed resolutions regarding issues surrounding sexuality, homosexuality, same-sex and civil unions.

Western North Carolina sent legislation to prohibit United Methodist pastors from participating in ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions, while Troy advocated that clergy be permitted to bless whatever marriage arrangements are legal in their states.

New York forwarded two resolutions to General Conference calling for equal rights for all people regardless of sexual orientation and that transfer of membership from another denomination is not subject to evaluation by the pastor but by an appropriate letter of transfer. Another resolution called for acceptance of the declaration of faith from any person seeking membership in The United Methodist Church. North Texas adopted a resolution challenging Judicial Council's 1031 decision, declaring that "it misinterprets the authority of clergy in deciding who will be received into membership."

Pacific-Northwest approved an action urging U.S. lawmakers to oppose the appointment of James W. Holsinger as U.S. surgeon general. A United Methodist and medical doctor, Holsinger is president of the denomination's highest court. He has come under fire from gay rights groups for that court's decisions regarding homosexuality and for a 1991 paper that he wrote that gay sex is unnatural and unhealthy.

Arkansas United Methodists adopted a resolution calling the denomination to "a renewed commitment to the Doctrinal Standards and Discipline" while urging General Conference to maintain current language regarding human sexuality, marriage and pastoral authority.

Baltimore-Washington United Methodists voted down proposals to petition General Conference to delete from the Book of Discipline the church's position that "the United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice to be incompatible with Christian teaching."

Declarations
The Greater New Jersey Conference passed a resolution declaring itself an "abolitionist conference" in response to the "growing evil of global slavery." A petition to General Conference asks that the church declare itself an" abolitionist denomination" and calls on companies to certify themselves to be "slavery free."

United Methodists in the Wyoming Annual Conference-300 United Methodist congregations in parts of Northeastern Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York state-"acknowledged the history of our denomination that led to separation and splintering, as well as the treatment we have often visited upon pastors of color who have been assigned to serve our churches, and to people of color who have joined out congregations." The conference, in a service of repentance and reconciliation, also confessed and repented "of our sins corporately and personally."

A resolution adopted by the Western Pennsylvania Conference requires all appointed clergy to attend conference-sponsored training to address racism and strategies for its eradications. During a service at "The Table of Restorative Justice," the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference "owned our history and proclaimed a new story" of repentance and reconciliation.

Mergers
Spring and summer are the most common months for getting married, and United Methodist conferences got engaged or are moving toward unions. Thirteen annual conferences approved plans to reduce districts, increase districts, maintain districts, examine conference boundaries or reorganize in other ways.

The size of the East Africa Annual Conference compelled members to vote to divide into four annual conferences. The action was forwarded to the Africa Central Conference and General Conference for review.

Indiana United Methodists voted to combine their north and south regional conferences after a decade of discussion and debate. They will consider a plan of implementation at next year's annual conference sessions and could meet as a new unified conference as early as 2009.

Conversations among the Troy, New England, North Central New York, Western New York and Wyoming annual conferences are under way to explore jurisdictional boundaries. There is growing interest in the possibility of all or part of Vermont merging into the New England Conference. A special session of the Troy Annual Conference will be held Oct. 6 to act on the proposal and, if approved, the plan will be submitted to the 2008 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference.

United Methodists in the two annual conferences in Michigan received an update from a transition team developing a plan for a new single annual conference in 2009, and the annual conferences in the Northeast passed petitions and resolutions to include Bermuda within the boundaries of the Northeast Jurisdiction.

Mergers of churches and decommissioning of churches in Louisiana are due to damage from Hurricane Katrina, paving the way for new emerging ministries.

Church members in Austria addressed ecumenical cooperation with regard to a common understanding of baptism between the Lutheran, Reformed and Methodist churches and the Alliance of Baptist congregations.

Other news Included in the annual conference celebrations was the recognition of George S. Lightner of the Virginia Conference who has attended annual conference for 73 consecutive years. Also recognized was William T. Stephenson, who due to ill heath could not attend North Texas Annual Conference but answered roll call for the 63rd time from his home after conference members extended the boundaries of the conference. South Georgia celebrated the consecration of Sandi Hortman, the first deaconess from the conference in the last 44 years.

The year 2007 was the 300th anniversary of Charles Wesley's birth, and seven annual conferences acknowledged the occasion with special music and performances. The brother of Methodism's founder John, Charles was a prolific songwriter who penned many of the hymns and songs of traditional Methodism.

The Desert Southwest Annual Conference endowed a chair of health sciences at Africa University and named it in honor of Joel Huffman, the conference treasurer who retired after more than 23 years of service. United Methodists in the Memphis Area contributed $10,640 to establish a "dream farm" at Africa University, buying animals and tools to help the farm serve as model of "sustainable agriculture" for Zimbabwe's small farmers.

The Kentucky Annual Conference voted to settle a dispute with the former trustees of the Good Samaritan Foundation over control of its board of trustees and the foundation's $25 million in assets. Under the settlement, the conference and former trustees have named 15 members to a transitional board with the conference naming all members to the board by 2012.

Annual conferences also ordained clergy, licensed local pastors and commissioned others; conducted memorial services; presented awards to churches and individuals for outstanding service; awarded scholarships; commissioned missionaries; conducted Bible studies; and participated in service activities to help the poor and hungry.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn. This story was compiled from annual conference reports.

Retired Bishop Ben Oliphint dies at 83

By United Methodist News Service

Bishop Benjamin Ray Oliphint, who had an impact on The United Methodist Church at many levels, died July 7 at Methodist Hospital in Houston. He was 83.

The bishop had experienced a cardiac episode recently and undergone an angioplasty procedure. He seemed to be doing well, but had a setback and did not recover, according to the Council of Bishops office in Washington.

Elected bishop in 1980, Oliphint led United Methodists in the denomination's Houston, Kansas and Louisiana areas during the following 12 years. He was instrumental in helping start Africa University, the United Methodist-related school in Zimbabwe.

"Bishop Oliphint was … an extremely well loved and respected bishop by everyone in this episcopal area," said Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, who leads the Houston Area and is president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops.

Oliphint also was respected at the general church level for his work with the boards and agencies, she said. Even in retirement, he was involved in fundraising for the Methodist Global Education Fund for Leadership Development "to help make it possible for people around the world to have access to higher education and seminary degrees," she said.

"Bishop Oliphint believed that education is the way to transform people, society and the world," said Ken Yamada with the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. "He lived out that belief beginning with his service to educational institutions in the United States."

Africa University
Yamada, who serves as special assistant for global education and new initiatives to the board's top staff executive, the Rev. Jerome King Del Pino, worked with Oliphint on the development of Africa University and the Methodist Global Education Fund for Leadership Development.

Oliphint was president of the board from 1988 to 1992, during which Africa University was launched near Mutare, Zimbabwe. Ground was broken for the school in 1991, and the first students were admitted the next year.

"During his tenure as president of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, he was instrumental in handling the difficult negotiations with the Zimbabwe government to allow the first nongovernmental university to open in the country," Yamada said. "He presided over the groundbreaking of the new campus.

"Even after his retirement, he continued his work promoting worldwide education. He was co-chair of the task group that developed and promoted the Methodist Global Education Fund for Leadership Development, which aims to promote global progress and stability through education."

Early career
Oliphint was born May 28, 1924, in Hemphill, Texas. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in 1946 from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and his master of divinity degree from Duke University Divinity School in Durham, N.C. He received a master of sacred theology degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York in 1947 and a doctorate from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1951.

Ordained a deacon in 1947 and an elder two years later, Oliphint began his ministry by serving churches in the Louisiana Area. He was pastor of St. Luke's Church in New Orleans from 1947 to 1949, followed by an appointment as associate pastor at First Church in Alexandria from 1951 to 1952. During the following two decades, he was pastor at St. Paul's, Monroe; First Church, Alexandria; and University Church, Baton Rouge.

In 1972, he transferred to the denomination's North Texas Conference and became pastor of First United Methodist Church in Dallas, where he served until 1980.

Throughout his years as a pastor, he was a delegate to seven General Conferences -leading the delegation four times - and five South Central Jurisdictional Conferences. Between 1966 and 1986, he served as a delegate to five assemblies of the World Methodist Council, and he was a member of the council's presidium.

General church leader
Elected bishop in 1980, Oliphint was assigned to the Kansas Area, where he served four years. He led the Houston Area from 1984 until his retirement in 1992. He also served as interim bishop of the Louisiana Area from 1987 to 1988.

The bishop was an early key supporter of women in ministry, Huie said. "I personally have benefited from his mentoring and his support. A number of clergywomen in the Texas Annual Conference can testify to his leadership in that area."

She added that he "had a great sense of humor and a sense of humility. … He knew how to laugh at himself. He knew how to love people. I think that's part of the reason why so many people loved him."

After retiring from the episcopacy in 1992, he served for 10 years as president of the Texas United Methodist College Association.

Oliphint served on several church boards and agencies, including the Board of Education, 1964-1972; the Board of Global Ministries, 1972-1976; the Committee to Study the Church School, 1972; and the committee to write the concordat with the Methodist Church in Mexico, 1976. He served on the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns from 1980 to 1988 and was its president for four years. He also was on the governing board of the National Council of Churches in the USA from 1980 to 1986.

He provided leadership for the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops, serving as its president from 1984 to 1985. He also was a trustee for Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Methodist Hospital in Houston, along with other institutions.

Survivors and arrangements He is survived by his wife, Nancy Kelley Oliphint of Houston, whom he married in 1952; daughter Mary Brooke Casad of Carrollton, Texas; son Stuart Oliphint of Fort Worth, Texas; son Clayton Oliphint of Dallas; son Kelley Oliphint of La Grange, Texas; brother John Oliphint of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be July 10 at Greenwood Cemetery in Pineville, La. A memorial service is set for 1 p.m. July 11 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Houston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the Benjamin R. Oliphint Scholarship of the Methodist Global Education Fund for Leadership Development, 1 Music Circle North, P.O. Box 340029, Nashville, TN 37203-0029; Nancy Oliphint Playground, Lakeview Conference Center, 400 Private Road 6036, Palestine, Texas, 75801-4350; or St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer, Houston, Texas, 77227.

*Some details for this story were gathered from an obituary in the Houston Chronicle.

General Conference 101: All you ever wanted to know

A UMNS Report

By J. Richard Peck*


The 2008 General Conference will be held April 23-May 2 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. A UMNS photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Convention Center.

The United Methodist Church's top legislative assembly, the General Conference, will meet in 2008 to set direction for the denomination for the following four years. This guide provides an overview of the gathering, how it works and its significance in the life of the church.

What is General Conference?
As the top policy-making body of the international United Methodist Church, General Conference is the only body that officially speaks for the 11.5-million member denomination (13 million if including baptized children who have not become members).

During the nine-day session, 992 delegates will revise the Book of Discipline, which regulates the manner in which local churches, annual conferences and general agencies are organized. The book also sets policies regarding church membership, ordination, administration, property and judicial procedures. The assembly may modify most disciplinary paragraphs by majority vote, but the Constitution can only be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote, followed by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate number of members voting in annual conference session. Delegates may not revoke or change the Articles of Religion or the Confession of Faith unless two-thirds of the delegates agree to change this provision and three-fourths of the annual conference members also agree.

Delegates also revise the Book of Resolutions, a volume declaring the church's stance on a wide variety of social justice issues. The book contains more than 300 resolutions that are considered instructive and persuasive, but are not binding on members.

Where does the conference meet?
Meeting sites rotate among the church's five geographic U.S. jurisdictions. The conference was held in 1996 in Denver (Western Jurisdiction), in 2000 in Cleveland (North Central Jurisdiction), and in 2004 in Pittsburgh (Northeastern Jurisdiction).

The 2008 conference will be in Fort Worth, Texas (South Central Jurisdiction). The 2012 gathering is scheduled for Tampa, Fla. (Southeastern Jurisdiction). There is nothing prohibiting future General Conferences from being scheduled outside the United States.

When will the gathering be held?
The assembly meets once every four years in the months of April or May unless a special session to deal with a particular issue is called by the Council of Bishops or General Conference.

The next session will be April 23-May 2, 2008. The nine-day session is two fewer than in the preceding quadrennium, reducing the cost of the assembly by $163,000. Normally, delegates have a free day on Sunday, but delegates to the 2008 session will worship together in the morning and be back in legislative sessions or plenary for the remainder of the day. Central Texas Annual Conference, host of the assembly, will provide a special program on Sunday evening.

Who are the delegates?
The 992 delegates to the 2008 gathering are United Methodists elected by their annual conferences. Annual conferences consist of ordained clergypersons and an equal number of laypersons elected by their local churches.

Once every four years, annual conferences elect equal numbers of lay and clergy members to represent them at General Conference. Lay members vote for lay delegates and clergy for clergy delegates. The number of delegates from each conference is based on the number of clergy members and the number of lay members. However, even conferences with few lay and clergy members are guaranteed one clergy and one lay delegate. The Constitution permits General Conference to be composed of at least 600 and no more than 1,000 delegates.

Churches in the Southeastern Jurisdiction will have the largest number of delegates from the United States. However, because of membership increases in central conferences (outside the United States), that jurisdiction will have only 252 delegates, down from 278 at the 2004 gathering. North Central will have 138, down from 164; Northeastern, 126, down from 144; South Central, 148, down from 170; and Western, 40, down from 44.

The central conferences will have 278 delegates, up 100 from the 2004 assembly and up 136 from the gathering in 2000. Africa will be represented by 186 of the central conference delegates, up 94 from 2004. The 21 annual conferences in the Philippines will have 42 delegates. An additional 10 delegates will come from "concordat" churches with which the denomination has a formal relationship.

The number of U.S. delegates to the 2008 assembly would have decreased even more if Judicial Council had ruled that the 579,000-member Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Methodist Church was a full member of the denomination. The 2004 General Conference accepted the African church as a member but declared the new annual conference would only be allowed one lay and one clergy delegate to the 2008 General Conference.

The secretary of General Conference normally would have allocated more than 40 delegates to Cote d'Ivoire, so the Commission on General Conference asked the denomination's top court to rule on the legality of assigning the conference only two delegates. In October 2006, the Judicial Council ruled that the Cote d'Ivoire Conference was not yet a full member of the denomination since other steps were contemplated in the membership process. Four of the seven Judicial Council members disagreed, but it takes six members to declare a General Conference action unconstitutional. The decision was reaffirmed in April 2007.

What does the assembly cost?
The projected cost of the 2008 session is $6.6 million, compared with $4.1 million for the 2000 conference and $5.3 million for the 2004 session. Three percent of the cost is for committee functions and Commission on General Conference expenses; 9 percent covers the cost of the offices of the business manager, treasurer and the secretary of the General Conference; 24 percent is for operations; 18 percent for language services; and 46 percent for delegate expenses.

About $1.6 million of the total $6.6 million will pay delegate travel, and $1.4 million will fund the cost of housing and food (each delegate will be given $118 per diem). The Daily Christian Advocate will cost $265,000 and the computer-tracking system will be $230,000. Renting the convention center is expected to total $99,000.

The Rev. Alan J. Morrison

The Rev. Alan J. Morrison, a staff executive with the General Council on Finance and Administration, is responsible for managing the budget and handling hundreds of administrative details. "I don't know how anyone could do this ministry if they didn't feel a sense of call to do so," Morrison said. With help from the host committee, the Commission on General Conference and others, he is responsible for coordinating some 4,000 marshals, pages, legislative assistants and other volunteers who help the assembly wade through approximately 2,000 legislative proposals. He will help recruit retired bishops and former delegates to serve as parliamentarians for each of the 13 legislative committees.

How does the legislative process work?
At General Conference, petitions will be considered first by one of 13 legislative committees (up from 11 in 2004) that may vote to adopt, reject or refer. The Committee on Plan of Organization and Rules of Order is proposing to eliminate language of "concurrence or non-concurrence or concurrence as amended."

Most of the first four days is spent considering proposals in committees. During the second week, the entire gathering considers legislation proposed by the committees. A proposal coming from a committee is called a "calendar item."

Rules of General Conference are approved by delegates prior to any legislative actions. Rules proposed by the Committee on Plan of Organization and Rules of Order will call for legislative committee calendar items with fewer than 10 negative votes to be placed on a "consent calendar." If an item is not removed by a written request of 20 delegates, and if it does not involve funding or a constitutional amendment, the entire consent calendar is approved with a single vote. General Conference may change the specific rules related to the consent calendar, but the process enables the assembly to quickly deal with hundreds of legislative proposals.

If a calendar item with financial implications is passed by a majority of delegates, it is referred to the General Council on Finance and Administration. Members of that agency return the legislation to a plenary session with a recommendation as to how the project or program is to be funded. Only after delegates approve or amend that recommendation is the legislation finally approved.

Prior to the conference, delegates receive an Advance Edition of the Daily Christian Advocate, containing the names of delegates and legislative committee assignments, reports from general agencies and all petitions. The edition is translated into Portuguese and French.

Each day during the conference, delegates receive an English edition of the Daily Christian Advocate containing the agenda, news, features, recommendations from legislative committees and a verbatim report of preceding plenary sessions. Those daily editions enable delegates to know which proposal is being debated and actions taken on previous days. By the end of the nine-day session, delegates will have received more than 2,500 DCA pages.

Plenary sessions are translated into German, French, Portuguese, Swahili, Spanish, Russian and Korean.

A computer-tracking system enables delegates and visitors to determine the status of any petition or calendar item.

The Commission on General Conference will suggest that, in the future, individuals must submit their petitions through local church charge conferences or other denominational organizations. A similar request was defeated by the 2004 gathering. The United Methodist Church is the only denomination allowing individuals to petition their legislative assembly.

What is the conference theme?
The theme of the 2008 General Conference will be "A Future With Hope."

"We're trying to move General Conference from what it now is--an exercise in the management of petitions--to a genuine Christian conferencing with high quality conversation about the most important issues facing the church and the world," said Gail Murphy-Geiss, chairwoman of the Commission on General Conference. "We hope the conference will be more positive and uniting--a movement toward a 'future with hope.'" The commission is asking the conference to change the constitution to limit the number of delegates from a 1,000 maximum to a 600 maximum in order to increase dialogue and reduce costs.

The Rev. L. Fitzgerald "Gere" Reist, a clergy member of Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference, will serve as secretary of the legislative gathering. The former superintendent of the Williamsport District is receiving an appointment to extension ministry from the conference in order to serve as secretary. "I am awed by the discovery of how much my predecessor did," Reist told United Methodist News Service. "Carolyn Marshall set an example that I hope to be able to follow." Marshall served as secretary from 1992 through 2004.

Who are the presiding officers?
One of the denomination's 69 active bishops will preside over each plenary session. However, bishops cannot vote on any of the proposals and may speak to issues only after approval by a majority of delegates. Bishops are selected to preside by a committee of delegates, and a single bishop generally presides over only one plenary session. Since the assembly sometimes gets into some knotty parliamentary problems, presiding officers ask colleagues to serve as parliamentarians. Both active and retired bishops sit together behind the presiding officer.

How does the petition process work?
Any United Methodist individual or organization may petition General Conference. Each petition should only address one paragraph in the Book of Discipline or one subject in the Book of Resolutions. The petition should include a suggested topic, clear indication of the additions and deletions and whether financial costs are involved. Petitions may be sent by e-mail to petitions@umpublishing.org. Petitions may be sent by mail to Petitions Secretary Gary W. Graves, United Methodist General Conference, P.O. Box 188, Beaver Dam, KY 42320-0187. All petitions must be sent by Oct. 26, 2007. A hand-printed or typed petition that must be keyed into the DCA must be received by Sept. 1. For detailed information on submitting petitions, visit http://www.gc2008.umc.org/.

Petitioners may include a 50-word maximum rationale for disciplinary petitions. The rationale will be placed only on the General Conference Web site.

How is hospitality provided at General Conference?
Some 4,000 people will serve in a variety of volunteer roles such as greeters, registration officials, marshals, pages, translators, hosts and hostesses, guides, drivers, musicians, technicians, reporters and emergency-response volunteers.

The Rev. Thomas Childs, director of host operations, told United Methodist News Service that nine teams will operate under the theme "Gracious Hospitality." The teams hope to "create an atmosphere of grace and civility that sets the stage for true Christian conferencing."

The teams, under the general leadership of Bishop Ben Chamness and host operations chairperson the Rev. Allen Goss, will provide special care for international delegates. They also will aid delegates who lose their luggage or experience housing problems.

Among other things, the teams plan to provide health screenings, a daily exercise program, a fun run and a prayer room and labyrinth. They will provide tours, information about restaurants and special services for bishops and their spouses. Cookies have been provided by host committees of preceding conferences, but recently convention center officials have expressed concern about food safety since they have no control over who brings in the food or its contents.

Stay tuned.
The host committee also will provide hospitality for a pre-conference session on Jan. 24-26 for news organizations and heads of delegations.

What is the Area Night?
The international award-winning Texas Boys Choir will perform on Sunday evening. The informal Texas-theme evening will include a general reception taking the place of the bishops' reception, which traditionally was held on the evening before sessions begin.

What will be the major speeches at General Conference?
Daily sessions begin with worship, and in the opening week there will be three speeches: an Episcopal address, Laity Address and a first-ever Young People's Address.

The Episcopal Address will be given by Illinois Area Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher on behalf of the Council of Bishops, which will approve the address before delivery.

Lyn Powell

The Laity Address will be delivered by Lyn Powell, lay leader of the North Georgia Conference and president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction's lay leader association. The title of her speech as approved by Annual Conference Lay Leaders will be "Hope for the Future: Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for a Transformed World." The address will be part of conference theme "A Future with Hope."

The Division on Ministries with Young People will select a youth speaker or speakers at its August meeting and will announce its selection on Sept. 1.

Many bishops will speak in Fort Worth area churches on the Sunday prior to the gathering.

Will delegates have an opportunity for orientation?
In an opening session, three general agencies (Commission on the Status and Role of Women, the Commission on Religion and Race and the Board of Global Ministries) will conduct a 20-minute training session to foster gender, racial and international inclusiveness. Presentations and a video will encourage delegates to allow time for translations, to respect cultural differences, and to include women, people of color and people from other nations in leadership positions.

Prior to their arrival in Fort Worth, delegates will receive a DVD explaining the rules and procedures for General Conference, an introduction to Fort Worth, the duties of legislative committee officers, tips on obtaining a visa to the United States and the importance of inclusiveness.

Prior to the gathering, the Commission on the Status and Role of Women and the Women's Division will hold an orientation session for women, and the Inter-Ethnic Strategy Development Group will hold a session for ethnic minorities.

What is the proposal for making the U.S. church a regional body?
United Methodist churches in the United States may become part of a regional body, similar to church units in Africa, Europe and Asia if the 2008 General Conference approves four constitutional amendments striking out language that says central conferences are only for areas of the church outside the United States.

If those amendments are approved by two-thirds of the delegates to General Conference and two-thirds of the aggregate number of members attending annual conferences, the way would be cleared for the 2012 General Conference to introduce legislation creating a central conference for U.S. churches. The proposal, presented by a task force examining the global nature of the denomination, would allow central conferences to form or continue jurisdictions.

The proposal acknowledges the fact that 30 percent of United Methodist members now live outside the United States and legislation that could be proposed to the 2012 General Conference would eliminate U.S.-specific concerns from General Conference. Those concerns would become the business of a U.S. Central Conference.

The 2008 General Conference will be asked to allow the task force and the Connectional Table to jointly continue their study of the church's worldwide nature and report to the 2012 legislative assembly on the church's characteristics and how the United States could become a regional conference while retaining its five jurisdictions where bishops are elected.

How are seating assignments made?
With nearly 1,000 delegates, gaining the attention of the chair in order to speak to the assembly can be difficult. Therefore, seating assignments become very important.

Delegations seated in the back half of the assembly hall in Pittsburgh will be in the front half in Fort Worth. The Commission on General Conference places the names of 2004 delegations seated in the back half in a hat; commission members pull the names, with those first drawn gaining a seat on the front row. The names of delegations that occupied front row seats in 2004 are drawn only after the other names have been drawn. The delegation from Nigeria will be in the first row at the 2008 gathering.

*Peck is a retired clergy member of New York Annual Conference. He has attended 10 General Conference sessions, including four as editor of the Daily Christian Advocate. He served as an editor for United Methodist News Service at the 2004 assembly.

Agency to share 'women in ministry' study

A UMNS Report

By Linda Bloom*

In 1835, when Methodist ministers barred Rebecca Jackson from speaking in church, a "wicked, drunken man" opened his house and allowed her to preach.

During that same century, Julia Foote, an African-American Methodist, risked both life and dignity to travel and preach the Gospel.

Near the end of the 19th century, Anna Oliver and Anna Howard Shaw became the first and second women, respectively, to graduate from the Boston University School of Theology, but both were then denied ordination by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1880.

The efforts of these and other Methodist women are noted in "Women Called to Ministry," a six-week study session for The United Methodist Church. Designed primarily for use by local congregations, the study is published by the denomination's Commission on the Status and Role of Women and co-sponsored by the churchwide Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

The study will be posted at the COSROW Web site (http://www.gcsrw.org/index.htm) in early July, according to M. Garlinda Burton, the agency's chief executive. "Local churches are free to download it and copy it," she said.

A follow-up to last year's 50th anniversary of the ordination of women in The United Methodist Church, the study is a way to reclaim the "lost history" of women called to preach the Gospel, she explained.

"The full history of the faith is that women have always been carriers of the word of God," Burton said. "It's not about being politically correct; it's about being biblically correct-faithful to our Christian roots and our call."

Studying women's gifts
The Rev. M. Lynn Scott, director of a ministry called Sabbath Way LLC, is the editor of "Women Called to Ministry." The study's main writers are the Rev. Kabamba Kiboko, biblical scholar and the first clergywoman ordained in the Southern Congo Annual Conference, and the Rev. Laceye Warner, a historical scholar on the faculty at Duke Divinity School. Delia Halverson, a longtime Christian educator and author, wrote the leader's guide.

"We almost named the study 'Continuing the Tradition,'" said Scott, "since women's ministry is not new in the past century of women's movement toward full rights and ordination, but continues a long history of women's leadership of our sisters Eve, Deborah, Hannah, the Samaritan woman at the well, the Canaanite woman, Julian of Norwich, Belle Harris Bennett, Thelma Stevens and more."

The first session of "Women Called to Ministry" deals with the concept of the outsider and insider and, as an example, shows how Jesus' ministry was challenged by a Canaanite woman who was an outsider.

Session Two focuses on the call to ministry that all have through baptism. Kiboko writes about how Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well challenged the boundaries of racism, tribalism and gender discrimination "through a transforming conversation" and uses the perspective of women at the well in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Women's identity-often defined by rules and roles in society rather than the acceptance of one's identity as a child of God-is the focus of the third session. The interpretation of the story of Eve in Genesis provides a dialogue for that focus.

The way in which inquiry can lead to faithfulness and a deeper sense of knowing is the topic of the fourth session. Brokenness and wholeness-as related to the full participation of women in the church-is the theme of the fifth session.

The final session focuses on how to move on and explore, challenge and claim the call "to participate in God's reign, where all are called to ministry." Women won the right to ordination in what was then the Methodist Church in 1956.

Biblical, denominational roots
The denomination's Social Principles affirms "with Scripture the common humanity of male and female, both having equal worth in the eyes of God. We reject the erroneous notion that one gender is superior to another, and that one gender must strive against another, and that members of one gender may receive love, power and esteem only at the expense of another."

Scott said she hopes the study will assist both women and men "by learning of our biblical and historical roots, and with the invitation to ask how their life in Christ is ministry in the world."

She believes congregations that have never had a clergywoman could particularly benefit.

Burton noted that the growing number of women in ministry today serves as both a reminder and an opportunity to The United Methodist Church to "see and celebrate and be challenged by the gifts of women."

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

Oct. 26 deadline set for General Conference petitions

By United Methodist News Service

United Methodist members and organizations have until Oct. 26 to submit petitions for consideration by the 2008 General Conference, the denomination's top lawmaking body.

Deadlines for the church's general agencies are sooner: Their reports must be submitted by Aug. 1 and their petitions by Oct. 1. Those will be included in the Advance Daily Christian Advocate, a publication giving advance program information about the assembly. The book will be published in English, French and Portuguese.

The next meeting of the General Conference, which convenes every four years, will be April 23-May 2, 2008, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Comprising nearly 1,000 delegates-half clergy and half lay-the assembly is the only body that speaks officially for the denomination. After each conference, revised editions of the Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions are released.

General Conference delegates can change anything in the Book of Discipline except the church's Constitution, Articles of Religion, Confession of Faith or General Rules of Our United Societies. It also cannot do away with its episcopacy or destroy the plan of general superintendency. Any recommended changes in the Constitution must be ratified by the annual (regional) conferences.
The 2008 assembly will have 13 legislative committees: two for church and society, and one each for conferences, discipleship, faith and order, financial administration, general administration, global ministries, independent commissions, judicial administration, ministry and higher education, local church and superintendency. In 2004, General Conference had 11 committees.

Each valid petition is given a number and title. Each legislative committee deals with petitions related to a series of paragraphs from the Book of Discipline. Petitions related to the Book of Resolutions are sorted by subject matter. A legislative committee can recommend to the full assembly concurrence or non-concurrence with the language as submitted, or the committee may change the language and then recommend concurrence. Legislative committees can also submit majority and minority recommendations.

The Rev. Fitzgerald Reist, secretary of the General Conference, encourages United Methodists to submit their petitions digitally "to enable us to get the petitions processed on time."

"Most of them are submitted digitally today," he said. Non-digital submissions must be received by Sept. 1 and must be typed or legibly printed.

Digitally formatted petitions (http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2762525/k.8FD3/2008_General_Conference_Petition_Submission_Form/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2762525&en=jjINJYMIJcJKLYOKJfJLJ5MVIrIXK3OIIeJTJ7OTLtI9G) may be submitted by e-mail, 3.5-inch diskette, CD or through the Web site of the General Conference, at http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2336161/k.1E1C/General_Conference_2008.htm.

Petitioners also can submit via the U.S. Postal Service by sending the required three hard copies and 3.5-inch diskette or CD to Gary W. Graves, Petitions Secretary, United Methodist General Conference, P.O. Box 188, Beaver Dam, KY 42320-0187. Petitions may be submitted through overnight carriers (Federal Express, UPS, DHL) to Gary W. Graves, Petitions Secretary, United Methodist General Conference, 302 N. Lafayette Street, Beaver Dam, KY 42320. They also may be sent by fax to (270) 274-4590 or by e-mail to petitions@umpublishing.org.

More instructions about preparing petitions can be found at http://www.umc.org/atf/cf/{DB6A45E4-C446-4248-82C8-E131B6424741}/2008_Instructions_for_Petitions.pdf.

United Methodist interfaith body sets global priorities

A UMNS Report By Linda Bloom*

Rev. Larry Pickens

The United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns wants to help the denomination put its interfaith and ecumenical agenda in context.

That means explaining how hard it is to separate the church in the United States from history, culture and government, according to the Rev. Larry Pickens, the commission's chief executive.

"The church, in many ways, has to overcome the legacy of what it means to be a citizen of the United States and, with that, how this country is viewed internationally," he told United Methodist News Service in a July 3 interview.

One question to ponder, for example, is how the U.S. "war on terror" impacts interfaith relations and the opportunity for dialogue. At the same time, Pickens said, it is important for United Methodists to struggle with "what it is that they want in these dialogues."

Interfaith dialogue was one of the priorities established by the commission for the denomination's 2009-2012 quadrennium during its June 25-30 annual meeting in Chicago.

Other priorities include promoting ecumenical formation; continuing dialogue about the church's global nature; carrying out the commission's mandates from General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body; and developing ecumenical and interfaith resource materials.

An operational plan is being developed in the next few months, according to Pickens. Specific actions during 2009-2012 will include:
.Sponsoring a training event on ecumenical formation in each U.S. jurisdiction and in at least two of the denomination's Central Conferences;
.Holding a consultation on the Global Nature of the Church in a Central Conference-most likely in Africa-in 2008, with hopes for additional consultations in the Philippines, Latin America and Europe;
.Making significant interfaith efforts, particularly with Christian-Muslim relations, including a dialogue within the church on how it understands other faiths; and
.Working with the denomination's Board of Discipleship to include ecumenical and interfaith themes in Sunday school materials.

Christian Unity also is working with the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race to develop a DVD on "understanding white privilege" to distribute as a resource for the 2008 General Conference, which meets next April in Fort Worth, Texas.

Commission members approved resolutions for General Conference consideration, including one that would include Spanish among languages for translation services at General Conference. Currently, the official languages are English, French and Portuguese.

The commission is asking the denomination to contribute $50,000 to the development of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Research and Learning Center. The 1996 General Conference apologized for the actions of a prominent Methodist, Col. John Chivington, who led the fatal attack on a Native American village in 1864.

A resolution calling on the church to continue to advocate for a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Israel and Palestine through negotiation and diplomacy also was approved.

The commission is asking General Conference to formally disavow any United Methodist program of proselytism aimed at bringing practicing Jews into Christian church membership "even as we acknowledge it to be our obligation as Christians to continue to witness to the truth of the Gospel."

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

New DVDs focus on history, beliefs, practices

By Linda Green*
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-The media distribution ministry of United Methodist Communications has released three new DVDs as the church responds to requests for learning materials in new formats about basic Christian beliefs and practices.

The Ecufilm releases include a three-part DVD to help acolytes, ushers and greeters understand their responsibilities; an updated DVD to trace the history of African Americans in The United Methodist Church; and a new video that explains the United Methodist position on baptism.

"They represent another step into digital learning and the need for content that informs people about faith in new language and new format," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive at United Methodist Communications.

Acolytes, Ushers and Greeters
San Francisco Area Bishop Beverly Shamana provides narration for "Acolytes, Ushers and Greeters" and familiarizes worship leaders with their responsibilities.

Viewers can learn theological rationale behind these roles, but also general information such as symbols used in Christian worship and the seasons and colors of the Christian year. The $19.95 DVD provides practical suggestions as well, including what an acolyte should do when the candle will not light to how ushers should seat latecomers to worship.

Greeters are reminded of the importance of arriving early, proper etiquette for their task and assisting people with disabilities.

The resource encourages children to become involved in worship ministry by serving as an acolyte who brings forth the light to represent that Jesus is the light of the world - "a role that is an important one for you and your church" and "a first step in a lifetime of service to the church and the world," Shamana said.

Black Methodism: Legacy of Faith-Revival
"Black Methodism: Legacy of Faith-Revival" celebrates the 40th anniversary of pivotal events in the life of The United Methodist Church.

The video explores the legacy of faith that sustained black Methodists through difficult periods and "the sons of thunder" who first exhorted the Gospel.

The resource was developed by the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race, Black Methodists for Church Renewal and United Methodist Communications.

The $20 DVD is an update to "Legacy of Faith," a video first that was first broadcast in 1994 on "Catch the Spirit," a former United Methodist television show. The word "revival" was added to the original title "because it means something restored, or made prominent or useful again," according to the Rev. Hilly Hicks, who provided narration.

Because the word "revival" is also a worship experience that "revives ones spiritual faith and commitment," Hicks says the DVD is designed to help United Methodists celebrate 40 years of black Methodism in the church--the ending of the racially segregated Central Jurisdiction in 1967, the founding of Black Methodists for Church Renewal in 1967, the birth of The United Methodist Church in 1968 and the creation of the Commission on Religion and Race in 1968. The video suggests transformative and restorative projects to strengthen the black church in the future.

Hicks hopes the DVD will help individuals and congregations "appreciate the rich, vibrant history of black Methodists and the legacy of faithfulness and fortitude this denomination celebrates."

The Rev. John W. Coleman, communications director of the Commission on Religion and Race and a co-producer for the project, said the update is timely because "it is history. It cuts through centuries and to points where black Methodist history intersects with the nation's history."

A free leader's guide is available in the "study guides" section of Ecufilm's Web site at http://www.ecufilm.org/.

Baptism in The United Methodist Church
"Baptism in The United Methodist Church" is a companion DVD to By Water and the Spirit, the denomination's official statement on baptism.

The new DVD responds to requests for an updated resource to inform and educate all ages about baptism in The United Methodist Church. Portions resemble an alternative-rock video that contributors say will appeal to confirmation-age youth.

"The examples will illustrate the diversity of our United Methodist Church such as ethnicity, size of congregation and so forth, but it will also show an amazing degree of commonality around our core beliefs and practices of baptism," said the Rev. Ed Phillips, a consultant to the project and associate professor at United Methodist-related Duke Divinity School, Durham, N.C.

The $79.95 DVD includes five segments for children, youth and adults that define the meaning of baptism, the understanding of baptism and why the practice has changed over time.
"Our understanding and practices have changed because we Christians tend to fall into cycles of forgetting and remembering," Phillips said.

The church is trying to "remember the meanings of our sacraments because, frankly, many of us had forgotten how central they are to the Christian life," he said, noting that the meaning of baptism also changes as Christians grow in discipleship.

"It is clear that when the church has a more biblical and theologically profound understanding of the purpose of baptism, we also tend to be more demonstrative in our practices of baptism," Phillips said.

The DVD urges United Methodists to use abundant amounts of water for baptism-preferably immersion-when possible. "This does not mean that more water makes baptism more valid," Phillips said. However, it does mean that immersion and pouring are richer, more dramatic, practices for expressing the importance of baptism in the church.

The DVD explores the changing practices of preparation for baptism, the meaning of baptismal renewal, the living out of our baptismal covenant, and other practical and theological issues.
A free leader's guide is available through Ecufilm (http://www.ecufilm.org/).

Digital learning
Hollon said the value of Ecufilm to mainline communions "is that it can listen broadly to needs and aggregate content in a way that is helpful to a wide range of needs."

A service of United Methodist Communications, Ecufilm serves the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., Catholic Church, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, The Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), The United Church of Canada, the United Church of Christ and The United Methodist Church. It provides an extensive selection of audio and visual materials and products for Sunday school, Bible studies and group and class discussions.

DVDs may be ordered online at http://www.ecufilm.org/. E-mail orders can be sent to csc@umcom.org. To order toll free by phone, call (888) 346-3862 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. central time Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Fax orders can be sent to (615) 742-5499 at any time. Mail orders can be sent to Ecufilm, P.O. Box 440366, Nashville, TN 37244-0366.

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

Costa Rica partnership to train Hispanic ministers

A UMNS Report By Vicki Brown*

A partnership with a university in Costa Rica to train Hispanic United Methodist pastors in the United States addresses a critical new building block in efforts to develop educated leaders for The United Methodist Church.

Under an agreement between Latin American Biblical University and the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, a pilot program will launch in August with an initial enrollment of about 15 students. The agreement was signed in May.

"The signing of this partnership is an affirmation of the global nature of theological education and training that is integral to a leadership development system which transcends regional and national boundaries," said the Rev. Jerome King Del Pino, the board's chief executive.

"The board seeks to foster new and unique opportunities for United Methodist Hispanic pastors to receive the highest quality of theological education in preparation for the challenges and opportunities they face in this 21st century."

The agreement will allow U.S. pastors to complete a bachelor of theology degree at a Spanish-speaking university by receiving credits through several avenues, including online courses, on-campus classes, College Level Examination Program tests and credit for previous academic work and course-of-study classes.

"The purpose of this partnership is to empower the candidates in fulfilling the basic requirements for membership in their annual conferences and to open new avenues for additional theological education at the master of divinity level," said the Rev. Saul Espino, the board's director of retreats and specialized ministries support.

Latin American Biblical University will design a degree completion plan for each candidate, coordinate both distance and residency courses and monitor students' progress. The school will have final say in awarding of academic credits for course-of-study work, experiential learning, training modules, continuing education workshops or seminars.

The Board of Higher Education and Ministry will coordinate the program; provide scholarships for academic courses on campus, lodging and meals; monitor outcomes on an annual basis; and establish a timeline.

Professor Violeta Rocha, president of Latin American Biblical University in San Jose, said the university is pleased with the collaboration.

"The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the Latin American Biblical University have met the challenge by designing a university bachelor's degree program in theological and biblical sciences, with theoretical quality and academic flexibility so the pastors continue their formation without leaving their pastoral work too much," said Rocha.

The program reflects the importance that both the board and the university give to the theological formation of pastors in ministry, she added.

Espino said the program is unique and will foster distance education across borders to take maximum advantage of the educational opportunities in both Costa Rica and the United States.

Del Pino added the agency places the highest importance on training a new generation of Spanish-speaking United Methodist pastors. "This agreement will take advantage of multiple educational modalities in order to accelerate the educational training of UM Hispanic/Latino/a pastors," he said.

To learn more or to apply, contact Saul Espino at sespino@gbhem.org.

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