Delegates celebrate centennial of men’s ministry
Gilbert Hanke, president of the Commission on United Methodist Men, answers a question during a press conference following a celebration of the 100th anniversary of United Methodist Men at the 2008 General Conference. A UMNS photo by John C. Goodwin
By Robin Russell*
FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) — General Conference delegates celebrated on April 30 the 100th anniversary of ministry to men in The United Methodist Church and its predecessor denominations.
“This is huge,” said the Rev. David C. Adams, top executive of the Commission on United Methodist Men, in a six-minute video presentation. “Other men’s ministries over the years have come and gone. But United Methodist Men has been steadfast.”
At the 1908 General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, delegates officially authorized the newly created Methodist Brotherhood.
Men’s ministry was launched that year because two-thirds of Methodists worshipping on Sunday morning were women, the video stated.
That hasn’t changed, Adams said, which is what makes the ministry of United Methodist Men so essential.
“The number one crisis in the church today is the lack of men in church, and the lack of men growing spiritually,” he said in a press conference following the presentation. “We need to address this and find ways to bring men back into the life of the church.”
New programs initiated
FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) — General Conference delegates celebrated on April 30 the 100th anniversary of ministry to men in The United Methodist Church and its predecessor denominations.
“This is huge,” said the Rev. David C. Adams, top executive of the Commission on United Methodist Men, in a six-minute video presentation. “Other men’s ministries over the years have come and gone. But United Methodist Men has been steadfast.”
At the 1908 General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, delegates officially authorized the newly created Methodist Brotherhood.
Men’s ministry was launched that year because two-thirds of Methodists worshipping on Sunday morning were women, the video stated.
That hasn’t changed, Adams said, which is what makes the ministry of United Methodist Men so essential.
“The number one crisis in the church today is the lack of men in church, and the lack of men growing spiritually,” he said in a press conference following the presentation. “We need to address this and find ways to bring men back into the life of the church.”
New programs initiated
The Rev. David Adams speaks about United Methodist Men. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey.United Methodist Men has initiated new programs to achieve this goal, and recently received the top award from the ecumenical National Coalition of Men’s Ministries, which represents 100 men’s ministries across the United States. Plans are under way to host a national gathering of men in Nashville in 2009.
Many men find it hard to engage in spiritual conversations, said Gil Hanke, a member of Peritte Memorial United Methodist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas, and president of the Commission on United Methodist Men, because they have not developed the kind of relationships in which spiritual growth is nurtured.
“Very few men have men they are accountable with,” Hanke said at the press conference, “men they can sit down with and say, ‘These are the things that are hurting me’ or ‘These are things I’m rejoicing over.’”
Yet most men will say that it’s been the influence of another man in leading them into a spiritual relationship, Hanke added, so United Methodist men should not be hesitant to share their faith journeys.
“We demonstrate the gospel very well with various work projects,” agreed Adams, “but we need to get better in telling our stories. Every man can tell what knowing Christ means in their lives.”
‘Men need a place in the church’
Toward that end, United Methodist Men has established a Men’s Ministry Specialists program to train men in local congregations in leading effective men’s ministries. In June, the agency will work with churches that sign on as teaching centers to provide regional training.
“Men need to have a place in the church,” Adams said in the press conference. “Now’s the time. I believe we have the opportunity with this vision to reach all men in our local congregations.”
United Methodist Men has also expanded its outreach over the years to include scouting programs, hunger-relief efforts through the Society of Saint Andrew, the Upper Room Prayer Line, providing a daily devotional book for members of the armed forces and mentoring boys through Big Brothers.
Dale Long of Dallas has been a big brother to six boys over the past 30 years. During the celebration, he invited delegates to also participate as a mentor in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and introduced his newest little brother, 16-year-old LaDarious Douglas.
LaDarious has autism, pervasive development disorder and cerebral palsy, according to his mother, Pamela Nwachukwu. On a recent Sunday, LaDarious spent the day with Long, who took the teen to Hamilton Park United Methodist Church in Dallas for morning worship. They also went out to breakfast, attended a Texas Rangers baseball game and had dinner together.
“It’s meant a great deal,” said Nwachukwu, a single mother. “It’s really helped [LaDarious] a lot with social skills. I’m really blessed to have this.”
Long said he’d like other United Methodists to “see the value of Big Brothers and how well it works.”
“To be a man, our young people have to see a man,” he said.
*Russell is managing editor of the United Methodist Reporter.
Many men find it hard to engage in spiritual conversations, said Gil Hanke, a member of Peritte Memorial United Methodist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas, and president of the Commission on United Methodist Men, because they have not developed the kind of relationships in which spiritual growth is nurtured.
“Very few men have men they are accountable with,” Hanke said at the press conference, “men they can sit down with and say, ‘These are the things that are hurting me’ or ‘These are things I’m rejoicing over.’”
Yet most men will say that it’s been the influence of another man in leading them into a spiritual relationship, Hanke added, so United Methodist men should not be hesitant to share their faith journeys.
“We demonstrate the gospel very well with various work projects,” agreed Adams, “but we need to get better in telling our stories. Every man can tell what knowing Christ means in their lives.”
‘Men need a place in the church’
Toward that end, United Methodist Men has established a Men’s Ministry Specialists program to train men in local congregations in leading effective men’s ministries. In June, the agency will work with churches that sign on as teaching centers to provide regional training.
“Men need to have a place in the church,” Adams said in the press conference. “Now’s the time. I believe we have the opportunity with this vision to reach all men in our local congregations.”
United Methodist Men has also expanded its outreach over the years to include scouting programs, hunger-relief efforts through the Society of Saint Andrew, the Upper Room Prayer Line, providing a daily devotional book for members of the armed forces and mentoring boys through Big Brothers.
Dale Long of Dallas has been a big brother to six boys over the past 30 years. During the celebration, he invited delegates to also participate as a mentor in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and introduced his newest little brother, 16-year-old LaDarious Douglas.
LaDarious has autism, pervasive development disorder and cerebral palsy, according to his mother, Pamela Nwachukwu. On a recent Sunday, LaDarious spent the day with Long, who took the teen to Hamilton Park United Methodist Church in Dallas for morning worship. They also went out to breakfast, attended a Texas Rangers baseball game and had dinner together.
“It’s meant a great deal,” said Nwachukwu, a single mother. “It’s really helped [LaDarious] a lot with social skills. I’m really blessed to have this.”
Long said he’d like other United Methodists to “see the value of Big Brothers and how well it works.”
“To be a man, our young people have to see a man,” he said.
*Russell is managing editor of the United Methodist Reporter.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 6:16 AM
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