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e-Review archives
March 2007
United Methodists continue debate over immigration
| United Methodists continue debate over immigration |
March 1, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0629}
An e-Review Feature
By Erik J. Alsgaard**
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — Most people agree: the immigration system in the United States is a mess and needs to be reformed. That, however, is where the agreement ends. How to fix the problem is the hard part.
United Methodists from around the country gathered in early February at Lake Junaluska Assembly in the mountains of western North Carolina to explore how the church could respond to the issue of immigration. full story
| Faith groups explore collaboration, feasibility of risk pooling
‘Revolutionary’ bishop celebrates 100th birthday
| ‘Revolutionary’ bishop celebrates 100th birthday |
March 2, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0631}
An e-Review Feature
By Steven Skelley**
INVERNESS — Some people call the career of Bishop Ralph Edward Dodge a beacon of interracial healing and acceptance. Others call him revolutionary.
His friends and family were able to share those sentiments and what his ministry has meant to them at the celebration of his 100th birthday earlier this year. full story
| In Brief — March 8, 2007 {0633}
| In Brief — March 8, 2007 {0633} |
March 8, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0633}
An e-Review News Item
This series includes:
n Bethune-Cookman College earns university status, changes name;
n Clergy celebrate 25th, 50th anniversaries at annual gathering. full story
| United Methodists urged to put weight behind support of children
| United Methodists urged to put weight behind support of children |
March 9, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0634}
An e-Review Feature
By J.A. Buchholz**
LAKELAND — Children don’t often have a voice when it comes to their welfare, but organizers of one event hope to shine the spotlight on the needs of Florida’s youngest citizens.
It’s Children’s Week March 25-April 1 in Tallahassee, and the Florida Conference’s episcopal office, United Methodist Women and Council of Bishops’ Initiative on Children and Poverty (BICAP) task force are urging United Methodists from across the state to celebrate the week and participate in planned activities. full story
| Conference Table participants say children should be top priority
| Conference Table participants say children should be top priority |
March 10, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0635}
An e-Review Feature
By Tita Parham
SPRING HILL — The goal for the day was ambitious: identify one social justice issue all Florida Conference churches can embrace and act upon.
Although participants attending the “Shaping a Common Social Witness” Conference Table Jan. 27 did not identify a specific strategy, they did agree conference churches should collectively focus on the needs of children. full story
| Oviedo church undertakes ‘epic’ task to reach youth
Conference looks at ways to recruit, retain young clergy
| Conference looks at ways to recruit, retain young clergy |
March 15, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0637}
An e-Review Feature
By Erik J. Alsgaard**
ORLANDO — The average age of a United Methodist clergyperson is 57. The most represented age of an ordained elder in the church is 60. The typical United Methodist clergyperson retires at age 62.
These are the facts and experts agree: The United Methodist Church is heading for a leadership crisis in the near future if the trend continues. full story
| Lockmiller donates $700,000 to Florida Conference
| Lockmiller donates $700,000 to Florida Conference |
March 16, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0638}
An e-Review Feature
By Suzanne McGovern**
FORT MYERS — Retired Fort Myers businesswoman and philanthropist Alice W. Lockmiller has donated $700,000 to the Florida Conference for construction of a worship-program center at the conference’s Riverside Retreat Center in LaBelle. full story
| Florida Conference pastor faces possible church trial
Conference retreat center gets facelift
| Conference retreat center gets facelift |
March 16, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0640}
An e-Review Feature
By Jenna De Marco**
Along with refreshing outdoor scenery, a breath of fresh air is making its way into the rooms and buildings at the Florida Conference’s Life Enrichment Center (LEC) in Fruitland Park.
Thanks to an $85,000 grant from the Florida Conference’s board of trustees, frequent visitors will notice a number of changes taking place in the lodging areas and dining hall. full story
| Churches make children priority
| Churches make children priority |
March 22, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0641}
NOTE: See also related stories — “Conference Table participants say children should be top priority” {0635} and “United Methodists urged to put weight behind support of children” {0634} under More Headlines on the e-Review home page at: http://www.flumc.info/index.shtml
An e-Review Feature
By Steven Skelley**
The United Methodist Church has a rich history of ministry to children around the world. According to the church’s Social Principles, “Children have the right to food, shelter, clothing, health care and emotional well-being.”
Even as Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker and other religious leaders participate in a press conference at the state capitol March 27 to encourage political leaders and Floridians to ensure a high quality of life for children, churches around the state are already having a positive impact on children in their communities. full story
| Ministry, leaders give kids can-do attitude
| Ministry, leaders give kids can-do attitude |
March 22, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0642}
NOTE: See also related stories — “Conference Table participants say children should be top priority” {0635} and “United Methodists urged to put weight behind support of children” {0634} under More Headlines on the e-Review home page at: http://www.flumc.info/index.shtml
An e-Review Feature
By Jenna De Marco**
Esther Kelly never uses the word “can’t” in her vocabulary, and she doesn’t allow her Prime Time After-School Program students to use it either.
At 56, she says she keeps her can-do attitude at all times, despite being diagnosed in 2000 with non-Hodgkins bone cancer, an incurable form of the disease. Meanwhile, about 34 elementary-aged children depend on her leadership at Prime Time to help them face their own challenges. full story
| Conference launches Internet community
| Conference launches Internet community |
March 23, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0643}
An e-Review Feature
By Erik J. Alsgaard**
LAKELAND — The Florida Conference and several other conferences and national United Methodist agencies have partnered to create a new kind of online network in The United Methodist Church.
Called 7Villages, the goal is to create an online system that will allow United Methodists and others to connect locally and nationally — to share stories, ideas, resources, needs and more. full story
| Bishop urges churches to get involved with children
| Bishop urges churches to get involved with children |
March 23, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0644}
An e-Review Commentary
By Pamela S. Davis
An education summit sponsored by Florida Conference United Methodist Women last month at the Life Enrichment Center will serve as a model for district events throughout the conference this year — events designed to inform the community of issues affecting children and public schools.
A diverse group of presenters, led by Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker, shared ways each United Methodist can make a difference in the lives of Florida’s children. full story
| Africa Malaria Day set for April 25
| Africa Malaria Day set for April 25 |
March 29, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0645}
NOTE: This article was first distributed by United Methodist News Service March 15.
An e-Review Feature
By United Methodist News Service**
United Methodists are urged to give up lunch and save lives by using that money to buy an insecticide-treated bed net.
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, president of the denomination’s Council of Bishops, is asking United Methodists and others to skip lunch on Africa Malaria Day and use their lunch money to buy a lifesaving mosquito bed net. full story
| Teens delay college to work in Africa
| Teens delay college to work in Africa |
March 29, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0646}
An e-Review Feature
By Steven Skelley**
Molly McEntire knows God called her to missions in the sixth grade. In the six years that followed, she has responded to that call over and over again, including a three-month mission to Africa in 2006.
“My entire life I have been doing different types of missions, and I’ve come to see that nothing makes me more happy than serving others,” she said. full story
| Agency director says homelessness, poverty on the rise
| Agency director says homelessness, poverty on the rise |
March 30, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0647}
An e-Review Feature
By John Michael De Marco**
Donna Ratzlaff says her organization saw a huge increase in the number of homeless people needing a meal during the last months of last year. The number of calls for rent and utility payments tripled.
“The demand always increases in the winter months because Florida is such a wonderful place to come to, but the number of people that have shown up has almost doubled,” she said. “That’s a phenomenon we haven’t seen at that level.” full story
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