United Methodists asked to participate in socially responsible investing survey

General Conference task force seeks input.


United Methodists are invited to participate in an online survey about socially responsible investing.

The 2008 General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body, established a task force to develop a common standard for determining investments to be avoided and those considered to have a positive social impact.

General Conference decreed that the standard should be consistent with the United Methodist Social Principles, and be applicable to both individual and institutional investors.

Byrd Bonner, executive director of the United Methodist Church Foundation (UMCF), convened the task force. It comprises representatives from the General Boards of Church & Society (GBCS), Global Ministries (GBGM), Pension & Health Benefits (GBPHB), General Council on Finance & Administration (GCFA) and the National Assn. of United Methodist Foundations.

“The task force recognizes that numerous other individuals and institutions affiliated with The United Methodist Church invest funds,” Bonner said. “We want to ensure that the task force considers the opinions of as many UMC investors as possible.”

The task force developed a brief survey regarding investing practices and standards. “The survey is designed to assess where we are as a denomination in the area of socially responsible investing,” explained Wesley Paulson, editor of the survey. “Some investors follow a do-not-buy investment policy, while others seek to encourage engagement with corporations through shareholder advocacy.”

Paulson, who is chief financial officer of GBCS and the General Commission on Religion & Race, said the survey solicits information about types of socially responsible investing, methods used to determine investments in general, and actions that may stem from investment decisions. It also asks about social justice issues, including human rights issues, important to investors.

The survey should take no more than five minutes, according to Paulson. It is being handled through a secure server to ensure confidentiality of information.

To access the survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=1oaTQLcQDQqWw8xU3m5%2bNwJIn%2fEba%2fZe6JE0e28bGNI%3d&

Deadline to fill out the survey is March 10.

The task force will report its progress to the 2012 General Conference.

You may contact any task force member for more information.

Members of the Socially Responsible Investing Task Force besides Bonner and Paulson are the following: the Rev. Faith Fowler, GBCS board member; Dan Gara, treasurer, California-Pacific Conference and GCFA member; Bill Junk, president, Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation; the Rev. James Mentzer, director of planned giving, United Methodist Foundation (North Carolina); Vidette Bullock Mixon, GBPHB director corporate relations; Wayne Moy, GBGM associate treasurer and co-executive director, United Methodist Development Fund; John Redmond, GBGM board member; and Dave Zellner, GBPHB chief investment officer.

Bonner can be reached at (615) 308-9178 or bbonner@umcfoundation.org.

Shockley to Head New Church Development in the U.S.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., February 16, 2010 / GBOD / -- The Rev. Gary Shockley has been named executive officer for New Congregational Development in the U.S. for the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD), where he will be leading the Path 1 Team, effective July 1, 2010.

Bishop Lindsey Davis, chair of the Path 1 Team; Bishop Charlene Kammerer, president of GBOD’s board of directors; and Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, General Secretary of GBOD, made the announcement.

Shockley, currently New Church Systems Strategist for Path 1, will succeed the Rev. Tom Butcher, who is taking an appointment in the Desert Southwest Conference beginning July 1, 2010. Butcher, who was appointed the first executive officer in 2007, will continue in the role through the end of June.

Shockley will lead the Path 1 staff, based at GBOD headquarters in Nashville, and will continue to work with Path 1 steering committee and the Council of Bishops toward the goal of building and implementing the denomination's collaborative effort to train 1,000 new church planters who will start 650 new churches by 2013.

“Gary has shown strong leadership in working toward this goal with Tom and the others on the Path 1 Team,” said the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, top executive for GBOD.

“While we will miss Tom greatly as he moves to a new role in the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, we know that Gary will build on the success already demonstrated by the Path 1 Team.”

Shockley, who has served as a New Church Systems Strategist since February of 2009, began his service as a pastor in the United Methodist Church when he was 18.

In addition to more than 30 years of ministry, he has more than 12 years of experience in New Church Starts.

An elder in the Florida Annual Conference, he has a master’s of divinity degree, has an M.A., and lacks only his dissertation toward his doctorate in spiritual formation. A published author, he is also a strong verbal communicator. He also has experience as a leader in the annual School of Congregational Development.

“Gary brings specialized knowledge to the executive officer position with his extensive training and expertise in church consulting focusing on new church development, extensive fund development experience, visioning and strategic planning, new church design experience, team building with supervision experience and conflict resolution,” said Greenwaldt.

In making the announcement, Davis, Kammerer and Greenwaldt all pointed to the fact that as a New Church Systems Strategist, Shockley has been developing a nationwide coaching network, assessment resources, funding strategy workshops, annual conference contextualized consulting and numerous other resources.

They also note the work he’s doing to implement a coaching and training system for deploying 100 trained and endorsed Path 1 coaches to work with church planters. As New Church Systems Strategist, Shockley worked to organize the inaugural three-day Path 1 Coaching Forum held in January in Nashville.

Approximately 80 men and women from throughout the United States attended the forum that was conducted by 18 mentor-coaches, a diverse leadership group linked by their dedication to planting new United Methodist Churches throughout the United States.

The reason for initiating this event was that “planting new churches – now – is vital,” Shockley said at the time.

“We are doing a parallel thing at the School of Congregational Development each summer where we will focus on the other two key components of our coaching model -- consultation and facilitation,” he said.

The plan is for coach training to be carried out at both annual gatherings.

Shockley has played a key role in church growth as a pastor, consultant and coach and has been active in revitalizing existing congregations and planting new churches in Pennsylvania and in Florida.

His wife, Kim Shockley, is a consultant and facilitator who coaches pastors and mentors coaches in the Florida Annual Conference. They have two sons, Aaron and Jake.

GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. Visit www.gbod.org for more information or call the Communications Office at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1726.

McCord Named to Campus Ministry Staff

General Secretary Jerome King Del Pino is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Michael McCord as director of Campus Ministry Resources and Training in the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Division of Higher Education.

McCord joins GBHEM on May 1, upon the recommendation of the search team and approval of the appointment by Bishop James R. King.

Rev. Michael McCord

“With this appointment, we continue to strengthen the Board’s commitment to campus ministry and chaplaincy as integral to The United Methodist Church’s mission in higher education,” Del Pino said. “Michael brings unique gifts and experiences through his work as a founding campus minister at the Wesley Foundation at Mercer University, Macon State College, and Wesleyan College.”

McCord was appointed in 2002 to start a Wesley Foundation at Mercer University with a $10,000 grant. A small board was formed and three students were recruited. That Wesley Foundation now serves more than 260 students on three campuses in Macon, Ga.– Mercer, Macon State, and Wesleyan.

Through his work at the Wesley Foundation, McCord has gained an in-depth knowledge of the work involved in building, developing, and maintaining a fruitful campus ministry. He has used these experiences to mentor and train other campus ministers around the nation.

McCord has served as a consultant for two campus ministry events, the Retreat at Student Forum and the biennial United Methodist Campus Ministers Association gathering. An ordained elder in the South Georgia Annual Conference, he received a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercer University.

In his role as director of Campus Ministry Resources and Training, McCord will oversee the development of a comprehensive program for resource development and training of campus ministers and chaplains and continuing formation of campus ministry professionals. That includes development of materials for both print and electronic publication, training for new campus ministers and chaplains, and resources and training for annual conference Boards of Higher Education and Campus Ministry.

He will also work with international student movements to promote their effectiveness and develop resources that are relevant in multicultural settings across our global church. In addition, he will handle assignments associated with implementation of GBHEM’s Strategic Plan.

Jan. 28, 2010


On behalf of the Methodist Church in Haiti and the Haitian people, we thank you. Thank you all for your outpouring of love, support and Christian brotherhood in our great hour of need. Haiti has suffered a great tragedy, and to rebuild, recover and strengthen, it will take us all.

You have kept us in your prayers and we are grateful. You have sent donations through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). We thank you for your generosity. You have expressed your selfless interest in volunteering your time to come to Haiti to help with the recovery effort and we look forward to welcoming you.

In the coming days and weeks, the Methodist Church in Haiti will complete an assessment of thedamage and communities impacted by the earthquake, and will prioritize areas for relief and rehabilitation in partnership with UMCOR. Teams of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission will be integral in the long-term recovery of the church and communities in Haiti, and opportunities will soon be available to come and help in meaningful ways.

In the short-term, the immediate needs of providing emergency aid of food, water, shelter and medical care are being addressed by UMCOR and a host of national and international relief organizations and technical specialists. Soon, the work of clearing debris in preparation for rebuilding will be done by teams of locals in cash-for-work programs led by these same aid groups and local community groups, including the Methodist Church in Haiti. The participation of international volunteers is welcome after this initial emergency phase is complete, at which time the Methodist Church in Haiti will work closely with UMCOR and UMVIM to identify rehabilitation projects which match the needs prioritized in the country.

With great appreciation for the outpouring of support and offers to come in person to help volunteer in Haiti as quickly as possible, the Methodist Church in Haiti, in partnership with UMCOR, requests that volunteer teams consider delaying their arrival into Haiti in light of the following:

•  The Methodist Church in Haiti and UMCOR are still undertaking assessments and evaluations in the 6 circuits most impacted by the earthquake, to determine the extent of the damage in church communities and beyond. Suitable projects and assignments for volunteer teams wishing to contribute to the recovery effort will not be identified until this process is complete.
• The Methodist Guest House is currently being assessed for structural integrity, and will undergo some rehabilitation and reconstruction of the security wall before being brought to full capacity and security to host teams of volunteers.
• Commercial flights into Haiti are currently suspended and all travel into Haiti must be done via the neighboring Dominican Republic. Once in Haiti, transportation and logistics are further complicated due to the influx of international aid groups and the reality of debris and closed roads.
• The emergency relief and debris removal phase may last at least another one or two months, depending on the severity of the impact to the communities. Volunteers wishing to work on the programs identified as priority by the Methodist Church in Haiti and UMCOR can begin to schedule trips for late March and April, once this initial emergency response and recovery phase is completed.
• Volunteer teams with pre-existing travel plans to Haiti are urged to reconsider the timing and nature of their trip, in order to allow for re-assessment and prioritization of earthquake recovery programs.

Please continue to communicate with us your interest in volunteering for the recovery effort, and we will connect you with recovery projects and rehabilitation programs as soon as possible. We thank you again for standing by us in this time of great need, and look forward to working in Christian partnership to build a better Haiti.

Blessings,
Rev. Gesner Paul
President, Eglise Méthodiste d’Haiti

Central Conference Pension Initiative Visits Define $25 Million Challenge Goal

Nashville, Tenn. – For the Rev. Charles Horace, a retired Liberian pastor, life without a pension was a daily struggle. He recalls weeks in which he would “just live on water” for two or three days.


But through the Liberia pension fund, Horace now receives a quarterly pension benefit made possible by gifts to the Central Conference Pension Initiative (CCPI). “If I were not a United Methodist pastor, who would have thought about me?” said Horace to an audience of the Grand Bassa District of The United Methodist Church. “Let nothing take you from this caring and loving church.”

To provide for the needs of Horace and other retired clergy outside the U.S., the CCPI initially sought to raise a minimum $20 million endowment—$19.2 million has already been pledged or donated. CCPI leadership recently established a challenge goal of $25 million, reflecting the needs discovered through on-site visits to each of the growing 19 Episcopal areas served by this initiative.

“We received almost $6 million in contributions in 2009,” said Dan O’Neill, managing director for Central Conference Pensions at the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits. “If we could raise the same amount this year, we will have the funds that will enable us to support current pension initiative activity.”

Emergency grants were authorized in 2004 for retired clergy and surviving spouses in all central conferences. When a country’s pension plan launches, emergency grant payments cease.

Liberia’s CCPI-funded pension program has been in place since 2007, Mozambique’s began in 2009 and a third pilot project was launched this year in Angola.
United Methodist members and friends who would like to support the CCPI may make a donation or pledge through their church or online at http://www.ccpi-umc.org/. For further information, contact Colette Nies at cnies@gbophb.org.