United Methodist Men slate new methods, officers

Larry Malone (left), director of United Methodist Men's ministry, discusses ministry opportunities with Brett Clemmer, an executive with Man in the Mirror ministries. UMNS photos by J. Richard Peck.

By J. Richard Peck*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)--In the same year that the ministry of United Methodist Men is celebrating its 100th anniversary, annual conference presidents of United Methodist Men learned of new methods to reach men in the next 100 years.

The National Association of Conference Presidents (NACP) of United Methodist Men, meeting Feb. 28-March 2, also elected new officers and set plans for its 2009 national gathering, to be held in Nashville after a long tradition of meeting at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

"I'm more excited than I've ever been before about men's ministry," said the Rev. David Adams, top staff executive of United Methodist Men.

While noting the long history of ministry through chartered groups of United Methodist Men, Adams said "we need to be invitational and provide many entry points for men."

To help churches launch new efforts in men's ministry, the commission has established a process whereby men can become "men's ministry specialists."

The specialists will be certified by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry following recommendation and mentoring by their pastors, training experiences in men's ministry, a course in United Methodist history and polity, and experience in leading a local or regional event. There also will be opportunity for people who have completed courses in lay speaking ministries to receive additional training to become men's ministry specialists.

Change of venue
The 10th national gathering will be held July 10-11, 2009, on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville. Held once every four years, the event next year will include speeches by Chicago Area Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and the Rev. Kevass Harding, pastor of Dellrose United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kan.

A planning team is negotiating with other nationally known speakers and singers. An informal worship service will be held on Sunday, July 12, for those remaining in the Nashville area.

United Methodist Men is a ministry to and through all men of The United Methodist Church. Among other ministries, it supports the Upper Room Prayer Line, youth-serving agencies including scouting and Big Brothers/Big Sisters; and hunger relief efforts through the Society of St. Andrew.

Men's ministry formally became part of the denominational structure in 1908 when the Methodist Episcopal Church authorized the creation of Methodist Brotherhoods. During 2008, United Methodist Men's groups have held a series of celebrations and special events across the United States in honor of the organization's centennial.

New Officers
A new slate of officers was elected for the 2008-2011 term:
.John Dowell, president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of United Methodist Men, elected NACP president;
.Dean Holloman, president of Oregon-Idaho Conference, elected president of the Western Jurisdiction;
.Dan Ramsey, vice president of the South Central Jurisdiction, elected president;
.L.W. Smith, chairman of the Strength for Service Committee, elected president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction;
.Lee Donley, president of Detroit Conference, elected president of the North Central Jurisdiction.
.Wayne Custer, president of the Northeastern Jurisdiction, reelected to that post;
.Carl Young, an attorney in Edmond, Okla., elected president of the United Methodist Men Foundation. Robert Powell, Dotham, Ala., continues as executive manager.

In other business, the conference presidents:

Ingram Howard presents a plaque to the Rev. David Adams with the help of Glenn Wintemberg and Gilbert Hanke.

.Presented the 2007 "Bud the Spud Award" to Virginia Annual (regional) Conference United Methodist Men for the largest increase in giving to Meals for Millions. The award honors the late Nelson Curtis of the Detroit Annual Conference for his efforts to eliminate hunger in America;
.Endorsed a resolution asking the 2008 General Conference, the top legislative body of The United Methodist Church, to make the Society of St. Andrew the denomination's official hunger agency;
.Learned that conference prayer advocates had contributed $8,741 for the Upper Room Prayer Line and that the United Methodist Men Foundation had paid the full 2007 watts-line $14,689 phone bill for the prayer ministry. The ministry receives 30,000 calls each month and 7,000 e-mail requests for prayer;
.Inducted Adams into the John Wesley Society, which recognizes people who exemplify the characteristics of the founder of Methodism.
.Previewed a six-minute video celebrating the 100th anniversary of United Methodist Men's ministry to be presented to General Conference;
.Learned the United Methodist Men Foundation has a net worth of $2.5 million.

*Peck is the communications coordinator for the Commission on United Methodist Men.