e-Review archive
Global Connection
July 2008
 

United Methodists provide artificial limbs in Africa

July 2, 2008      United Methodist News Service FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — A limb-fitting center in Bo has provided more than 200 artificial limbs for amputees since the end of Sierra Leone's civil war. Most of the center's patients lost their limbs during the West African country's 11-year conflict. The center receives funding from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries through its Health and Welfare Department. full story

Church agencies voice dismay at ruling on gun control

July 2, 2008      United Methodist News Service Two United Methodist agencies, disappointed with a U.S. Supreme Court decision on handgun ownership, are urging church members to advocate for legislation that would tighten federal laws on gun control. In a joint statement July 1, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and the Commission on Religion and Race said they were "deeply disappointed by the U.S. Supreme Court decision to strip local municipalities of the right to enact sensible and necessary gun restriction laws." A week earlier, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 that a Washington, D.C., ban on handgun ownership was unconstitutional. "The Supreme Court's decision stands in direct contrast to the stance of our denomination," the church agencies said. full story

REFLECTIONS: Celebrating nation’s freedom prompts commitment to ideals

July 2, 2008 United Methodist Reporter Bishop Woodie White reflects upon how Christians can blend of the duties of citizenship and the discipleship of faith in this patriotic-themed essay. full story

Q&A: The case for Christianity

July 3, 2008 United Methodist Reporter In "What's So Great About Christianity?," Dinesh D'Souza fires back at the new, suave face of atheism presented in recent bestselling books. full story

Flood buckets help towns soak up damage

July 3, 2008      United Methodist News Service Teresa Daniels of Oakland, Ill., has a message for United Methodists who donate tools and cleaning supplies to fill five-gallon pails for storm relief. "I love flood buckets!" she exclaimed. Oakland is a rural community of about 1,000 people and is located miles from a major river. But after 12 inches of rain fell June 7, its storm drains backed up, and homes all over town flooded.In the storm's wake, flood buckets were shipped to Oakland on June 11 from the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, Ill., after a request from Judy Doyle, disaster response coordinator for the United Methodist Illinois Great Rivers Annual (regional) Conference, and Bunny Wolfe, missions and outreach coordinator. full story

United Methodist to do 'magic' for Disney

July 3, 2008      United Methodist News Service PITTSBURGH — As a church music director and Disney Parks' first-ever "chief magic official," Justin Muchoney wants to build meaningful relationships and help people experience the wonders life has to offer. "Whether literally or figuratively, I love helping everyone believe they can fly!" says the lifelong United Methodist from Seven Fields, Pa. In late April, Muchoney, 29, emerged victorious in a four-week contest across the United States for the "Disney dream job." Online voting vaulted Muchoney into the top three after being selected as one of 10 semi-finalists from among 1,300 applicants through Careerbuilder.com. His initial support was based largely on a video shot at Ingomar United Methodist Church, where he works. A live competition determined the winner among the three finalists April 17-18 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. full story

Church leaders call for fair treatment of relief workers

July 7, 2008      United Methodist News Service Concern about a lack of safety, healthy working conditions and basic rights has compelled three church leaders to call for just treatment of the day laborers assisting in clean up flood-ravaged Iowa. United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer, who leads his church's Iowa Annual Conference, has joined with two other religious leaders — Bishop Alan Scarfe of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa and the Rev. Rich Pleva of the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ - in urging employers of flood relief workers to fairly compensate them for their work. full story

Rising costs: Gas crunch tests congregations

July 7, 2008 United Methodist Reporter Rising gasoline prices are affecting church food pantries, meal programs, capital campaigns and pastoral visitation. Bill Fentum takes a look at how churches are adjusting. full story

GEN-X RISING: Avoiding discomfort sidesteps discipleship

July 8, 2008 United Methodist Reporter Should joining a congregation be a comfortable process? Should we be able to do it without standing up front and professing our faith? Gen-X Rising’s Andrew Thompson doesn't think so. full story

California United Methodists react to same-sex ruling

July 9, 2008      United Methodist News Service On the heels of a California Supreme Court ruling that opened the door to same-gender unions, two United Methodist legislative bodies in California have approved gay-friendly statements that are stretching the denominational promise of "open hearts, open minds, open doors." full story

Terrorism makes us face moral challenges

July 10, 2008 United Methodist Reporter A native of Northern Ireland, Dr. Billy Abraham understands living under the threat of terrorism. He shared his thoughts at a conference in Nashville last month, addressing terrorism, morality and faith in an excerpt from his unpublished book. full story

United Methodists gear up for Missouri flood relief

July 10, 2008    News media contact:   Linda  Bloom * (646) 3693759*  New York {287} United Methodist News Service Dawn Martin pointed out one flooded home after another in Winfield and Foley, Mo. "One of 'my kids' lives there," she said, sadly. For the two weeks in June before the earthen levees failed in the river towns along the Mississippi River, residents anticipated the coming floods and packed, moved and stored as many of their possessions as possible. The United Methodist Committee on Relief, in close cooperation with the denomination's Missouri Annual (regional) Conference, has begun the long process of recovery in the river towns of Lincoln County. The effort will draw on people like Martin, as well as resources and organizations throughout the community. full story

Faith leaders call for end to U.S. 'poverty train'

July 10, 2008    News media contact:   Kathy  Gilbert * (615) 7425470*  Nashville {289} United Methodist News Service WASHINGTON — Faith leaders say it is time to stop the "poverty train" in the United States and rescue its 37 million citizens living below the poverty line. The Democratic Faith Working Group (DFWG) and the Out-of-Poverty Caucus (OPC) held a panel discussion June 12 aimed at bringing awareness to the worsening problem of U.S. poverty, as well as exploring solutions. Faith leaders from eight denominations and organizations participated in the discussion held in the Sam Rayburn House of Representatives office building. full story

The kairos and chronus of worship and music

July 11, 2008     News media contact:   Dean McIntyre * 877-899-2780, ext 7073 *  Nashville General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church   We United Methodists pay much attention to time — minutes, hours, days, weeks, seasons, years — as we plan and lead worship and music. The Greeks called this chronological and sequential aspect of time chronus, and it is with us in every worship service and choir rehearsal. In fact, we may be such slaves to chronus that we become unable to also experience what the Greeks identified as kairos, or God-time. These are the moments when God’s Spirit breaks through our scheduling and chronologizing to become truly present. It can be a powerful experience. Kairos and chronus are both important and necessary. This article will help you be aware of both in worship and music. full story

Does Satan really exist? Many United Methodists see evil as more subtle

July 11, 2008 United Methodist Reporter Methodist founder John Wesley preached about Satan, but The United Methodist Church has no official doctrine on the devil. Mary Jacobs explores why the church seems to shy away from discussion of the demonic. full story

Annual conferences see youth, diversity as priorities

July 14, 2008    News media contact:   Linda  Green * (615) 7425470*  Nashville {291}  United Methodist News Service The need to reach out to a broader demographic was a central theme for the shrinking United Methodist Church in the United States as 63 U.S. annual (regional) conferences met this May and June. In the words of the Rev. Lovett Weems, a denominational researcher and speaker who addressed the Mississippi Annual Conference, "Can the church change to reach more people, younger people and more diverse people?" The church answered affirmatively as conferences celebrated new churches, planned future church plants and worked to improve existing faith communities. full story

World food crisis especially impacts the poor

July 15, 2008     United Methodist News Service The skyrocketing cost of rice is affecting how Stop Hunger Now and other relief organizations do their work. Rice is the main component of the nutritious meal packages dispensed worldwide by the group, which is based in Raleigh, N.C., and led by the Rev. Ray Buchanan, a United Methodist pastor. "It (the cost) is having an absolutely direct impact on what we're going to do," Buchanan said. As a result, Stop Hunger Now may have to reduce its goal to package 5.5 million meals during 2008 or rely on more donations from volunteers who put together the meals, he added. Jeffrey D. Sachs, the well-known economist and special adviser to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, has described the worldwide food situation as "the worst crisis of its kind in more than 30 years," according to The New York Times. full story

UMCOR trains farmers to expand food supply

July 15, 2008     United Methodist News Service When June Kim recently visited Ghana as an executive with the United Methodist Committee on Relief, she asked people there if they were aware of a worldwide food crisis. They were not, but acknowledged to Kim that the price of a cup of rice had doubled in the past year. Prices for fuel, materials and labor also had risen. UMCOR is addressing the food crisis in Ghana and other parts of Africa through its Sustainable Agriculture and Development Program. When Kim visited Ghana and Liberia in late May and June, what she saw "reinforced the fact that we're using the right approach." full story

NEJ affirms Calif. clergy on same-gender marriages

July 18, 2008    United Methodist News Service HARRISBURG, Pa. — In sharp contrast to the action taken at the United Methodist General Conference last spring, delegates to the denomination's Northeastern Jurisdiction Conference voted July 17 to support clergy in California who choose to perform same-gender marriages. The delegates approved a resolution expressing respect for pastors in the California-Pacific and California-Nevada annual (regional) conferences "who as a matter of Christian conscience, spiritual discernment and prophetic witnessing" opt to participate in the celebration of same-gender marriages that are not approved by the church. The resolution also asks for lenient disciplinary action against clergy who disobey church law on the issue. full story

Lease of property issue heads to United Methodist 'supreme court'

July 18, 2008    News media contact:   Linda  Green * (615) 7425470*  Nashville {306} United Methodist News Service DALLAS — A faculty member of Southern Methodist University wants The United Methodist Church's highest court to rule on whether the leasing of property to The President George W. Bush Foundation violates the university's articles of incorporation and subsidizes a political view point. The Rev. Jeannie Trevino-Teddlie, director of the Mexican-American program at Perkins School of Theology at United Methodist-related SMU and a delegate to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference from the Central Texas Annual (regional) Conference, asked for a decision of law that will go to the United Methodist Judicial Council this fall. "The main thing I am most concerned about is that by leasing property to the Bush Foundation, at less than fair market value, we are in effect subsidizing a policy institute that has a specific political ideology and ideological point of view," she said, adding the denomination's law book, the Book of Discipline, allows church property "to be used for the work of the church and not to subsidize a political point of view." full story

Bishop rules Cal-Nevada statement on same-sex unions 'void'

July 18, 2008    News media contact:   Marta  Aldrich * (615) 742-5133*  Nashville {305} United Methodist News Service PORTLAND, Ore. — Retired United Methodist clergy in northern California and Nevada could face disciplinary charges if they perform same-gender marriage ceremonies in the wake of a California court ruling that allows gay couples to marry, their bishop says. While the church's California-Nevada legislative assembly approved a resolution in June commending retired clergy who have offered to perform such ceremonies, Bishop Beverly J. Shamana has issued a ruling declaring the statement "void and of no effect." "While the resolution is a commendable gesture to the congregations of the conference in offering the pastoral counsel of a number of retired clergy to persons contemplating same-gender marriage under the laws of California, it steps over a disciplinary line when it commends these clergy to the congregations for the purpose of 'performing same gender marriages or holy unions,'" Shamana wrote in her ruling of law. Meanwhile, an organizer of the retired clergy said the bishop's ruling would not deter the pastors from performing the ceremonies. full story

Southeastern United Methodists assign bishops

July 19, 2008    News media contact:   Tim  Tanton * (615) 7425470*  Nashville {308} United Methodist News Service LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The new United Methodist bishop in the Southeastern United States has been assigned to the denomination's Alabama-West Florida Area for the next four years. Bishop Paul L. Leeland will oversee the Alabama-West Florida Annual (regional) Conference, which encompasses southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle. The assignments for 13 episcopal areas were announced July 18 during The United Methodist Church's Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and will take effect Sept. 1. The conference, which began July 16, concludes July 19 with a consecration service. full story

Not dogmatic: religion survey gives Methodists optimism for interfaith dialogue

July 18, 2008 United Methodist Reporter Though most Americans consider themselves religious, a new survey shows they are not very dogmatic about their faith being the only path to salvation. full story

Penny Project nets big bucks: collecting enough copper coins makes a difference, youth learn

July 18, 2008 United Methodist Reporter A youth's question, "What if we collected one penny for each of the 22 million people affected by HIV in Africa?" launched the Penny Project of First UMC in Birmingham, Mich. full story

United Methodists elect, assign U.S. bishops for 2009-12

July 21, 2008    News media contact:   Tim  Tanton * (615) 7425470*  Nashville {311} United Methodist News Service United Methodists in the U.S. elected and assigned eight new bishops and re-assigned the rest during jurisdictional meetings held in five regions last week. It was an often-intense week as delegates worked to fill leadership vacancies created by seven retirements, one resignation and a death. Bishops are the top clergy leaders of the denomination, and the 50 or so U.S. bishops oversee some 7.9 million of the church's 11.5 million members worldwide. The United Methodist Southeastern Jurisdiction wasted no time, taking its first ballot on opening day, July 16, and announcing the first elected bishop of the 2008 group-Paul Leeland-the next morning. full story

Churches prepare for Olympics visitors

July 21, 2008 United Methodist Reporter Christians in China are busily preparing to welcome the world as China hosts the 29th Summer Olympic Games, Aug. 8-24. full story

Western Jurisdiction challenges homosexuality stance

July 22, 2008     United Methodist News Service PORTLAND, Ore. — Challenging the United Methodist stance on homosexuality, the church's Western Jurisdictional Conference approved four statements aimed at changing denominational policies and beliefs on human sexuality. With no debate, the legislative assembly voted July 18 in favor of resolutions that presenters said will serve as "a witness to the general church." full story

Pastor is church's first openly gay bishop candidate

July 22, 2008    United Methodist News Service PORTLAND, Ore. — Standing before an assembly that would elect two bishops, the Rev. Frank Wulf shared his problem as a candidate for one of the top clergy positions in The United Methodist Church. "The problem is that I come as a gay man, and I know where our church stands on the issue of same-sex orientation," Wulf said in his candidacy address before the Western Jurisdictional Conference, which represents United Methodists in the western United States, Guam and other U.S. territories in the Pacific. full story

Candler embraces new faculty, old roots

July 23, 2008     United Methodist News Service Candler School of Theology is strengthening its ties with The United Methodist Church by welcoming seven new faculty members, six of whom are United Methodist. The hiring is part of strategic plans adopted by both Candler and Emory University in Atlanta "to ensure that the university draws on its United Methodist heritage," according to Jan Love, dean of the theology school. The Rev. Anne Burkholder has been named associate dean of Methodist studies, a new position designed to coordinate curricular and non-curricular programming for students interested in being ordained in The United Methodist Church and other Wesleyan denominations. full story

United Methodists in Africa elect first female bishop

July 23, 2008     United Methodist News Service The Rev. Joaquina Filipe Nhanala was elected July 23 as the first female United Methodist bishop in Africa. Nhanala, 51, the pastor of Matola United Methodist Church in Mozambique, was elected during the July 22-24 meeting of the denomination's Africa Central Conference at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Effective Sept. 1, she will succeed Bishop João Somane Machado, who is retiring as the leader of the Mozambique area. full story

GEN-X RISING: 'Wall•E' is not just a kid flick

July 24, 2008 United Methodist Reporter The new Pixar film Wall•E isn't just a cute robot love story; it's a biting commentary on humanity's lack of good stewardship, says Andrew Thompson. full story

Judicial Council sets docket for fall meeting

July 25, 2008     United Methodist News Service The United Methodist Church's Judicial Council will include five new faces when it convenes Oct. 22-25 in Minneapolis. The meeting will be the first of the new quadrennium for the denomination's "supreme court." Issues covered on the 13-item docket include the ban on United Methodist clergy from performing same-sex marriage ceremonies, questions relating to who is eligible for membership in the local church, and the creation of a U.S. regional conference, which was part of the debate at the recent General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. full story

Delegation decries human rights violations in Philippines

July 25, 2008     United Methodist News Service Killings and abductions in the Philippines "continue without let-up," according to a United Methodist delegation from the U.S. that recently visited the country. The visit was the second time a delegation from The United Methodist Church's California-Nevada Annual (regional) Conference has traveled to the Philippines to hear about human rights violations, which have been ongoing since 2001. The conference's first visit in February 2007 led to a meeting with U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in which the group advocated for a U.S. inquiry into the issue. Eighteen delegates, including seven young adults, traveled to three regions of the country June 24-July 7. The California-Nevada Conference has sent more than $12,000 to the Philippines to support families of victims of human rights violations. full story

Helping those abused by human trafficking

July 28, 2008 United Methodist Reporter   United Methodists may connect it to natural disaster recovery, but the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) works on other efforts, too. The Anti-Trafficking Project helps human trafficking victims rebuild their lives. full story

Inhaling substances like playing Russian roulette

July 29, 2008 United Methodist Reporter Easily accessible and hard to detect, inhalants are used even by elementary-aged children, says Andrew Weaver. Churches can help by educating their communities on the health threats of inhaled substances. full story

Church-supported program assists Haiti food crisis

July 29, 2008    United Methodist News Service Struggling in the grip of a worsening world food crisis, Haitians in the island nation's remote Artibonite and northwest regions are gaining food security through a church-supported sustainable agriculture program. Church World Service, the global humanitarian agency, is the lead agency for the program, which also has support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Mennonite Central Committee, Reformed Church World Service and the United Church of Christ. A new grant from the U.S.-based Osprey Foundation will help expand the program to provide more people, particularly women, with opportunities to grow enough food for their families and increase income for other basic needs through access to credit and training. full story

Advocates for immigrants speak out against treatment of pregnant woman

July 29, 2008    United Methodist News Service NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Juana Villegas' trip to the doctor for a prenatal visit became a nightmare when, at nine months pregnant, she was stopped for a minor traffic violation, jailed and ended up giving birth to her son with two sheriff's deputies standing guard. full story

Scholarship program builds recruitment database

July 29, 2008     United Methodist News Service NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Leadership Scholars program awarded 129 scholarships in 2007 and 2008 and created a database of almost 30,000 young United Methodists who are prospective college students. The scholarship program is designed to encourage active United Methodist students to attend a United Methodist-related college or university by offering up to $3,000 in scholarship funds. The program is sponsored by United Methodist churches and participating colleges and universities in the church's Southeastern Jurisdiction and is supported by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. full story

COMMENTARY: Caring for FLDS kids impacted Methodists

July 31, 2008 United Methodist Reporter The Methodist Children’s Home in Waco, Texas, helped care for children removed in April from a compound established by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. President and CEO Bobby Gilliam reflects on the experience. full story

Methodism supports teaching of evolution

July 31, 2008 United Methodist Reporter The United Methodist Church’s General Conference 2008 quietly moved Methodism into the 21st century by passing three “evolution-friendly” petitions, putting us alongside many other denominations in recognizing that science and theology are compatible rather than contradictory. full story

Conference helps Korean clergy, laity to partner

July 31, 2008     United Methodist News Service PARAMUS, N.J. — In 1998, the Rev. Sang E. Chun sought to strengthen lay leadership within the Korean United Methodist Church by starting a lay leadership conference. Ten years later, he was overwhelmed with the response at the 2008 event in New Jersey. "I couldn't be happier seeing this event help Korean Methodists serve the church effectively and successfully with the Methodist spirit and pride," said Chun, former director of Korean, Asian-American and Pacific Islanders Ministries of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. full story

Mending broken bikes repairs broken community

July 31, 2008     United Methodist News Service HIGH POINT, N.C. — A tangle of bikes in various stages of readiness await their turn as volunteers apply chain grease, adjust rear hub shifting, tighten spokes and examine brake pads and cables. "Do we have clippers?" asks Emily Fox, a college student in Greensboro. "Maybe that will be our next donation." The scene is neither that of a bike store or a repair shop. On Saturday mornings in the summer, Ward Street United Methodist Church becomes a first-aid station for bikes--a place where High Point children can trade their broken bikes for newly repaired ones, then saddle up for supervised neighborhood rides. full story