e-Review archive
Global Connection
December 2006
 

Commentary: God's hand is all over Nothing But Nets campaign

Dec. 1, 2006      United Methodist News Service Moments of clarity are gifts from God. For some, they come as naturally as breathing. For others, they are few and far between. My moments stand out in my memory. Years ago, I was in an exercise class when I heard a voice say, "Go home!" I immediately left class and hot-footed it to the house. My son had fallen from a second-story balcony and had a head fracture. He fully recovered, and today I still vividly recall that insistent voice. I was not a practicing Christian then, but I now recognize what I heard came from God. full story

United Methodists marked historic firsts, anniversaries in '06

Dec. 4, 2006      United Methodist News Service 2006 started with a United Methodist becoming the first woman elected head of state in Africa and ended with the denomination's Council of Bishops making a historic visit to that continent for its first meeting ever held outside the United States. full story

Survey to help shape 'future of urban ministry'

Dec. 5, 2006      United Methodist News Service Ten years ago, the United Methodist Church adopted a strategy called "Holy Boldness" to shape the denomination's ministry in urban areas of the United States. Now, as United Methodists prepare for the meeting of the 2008 General Conference, their top legislative body, that plan is being evaluated and revised. To assist in the process, a survey, "Shaping the Future of Urban Ministry," is being conducted by the Office of Urban Ministry, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, and the related National Urban Strategy Council. full story

Finees Flores, leader in Hispanic ministries, dies at 78

Dec. 6, 2006      United Methodist News Service The Rev. Finees Flores Jr., 78, former editor of el Intérprete magazine and an influential figure in the United Methodist Church's Hispanic ministries, died Nov. 18 at his home in San Antonio, after a long struggle with cancer. full story

North American Methodists build bridges on immigration

Dec. 7, 2006     United Methodist News Service TUCSON, Ariz. — Concern for people migrating across political borders is motivating increasing mission collaboration between The United Methodist Church in the United States and the Methodist Church of Mexico. Simultaneously, United Methodist general agencies are stepping up their collective attention to U.S. immigration policy and legislation. Bishops and others from annual (regional) conferences north and south of the U.S.-Mexican border met Dec. 1-2 in Tucson to formalize what will be called the Methodist Border Mission Network. It was the third meeting of its kind in the last 15 months. full story

College fellowship leads to devotional cookbook

Dec. 7, 2006      United Methodist News Service Graduating seniors involved in the fellowship program at a United Methodist-related college wanted to leave a legacy, so they turned the recipes for the meals they shared into a cookbook. The result is the Fellowship Cookbook, produced by students in the religious life program at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. The book was inspired by a weekly dinner and devotional program started four years ago by the Rev. J.J. Whitney, the school's assistant chaplain and coordinator of the Hendrix Lilly Vocations Initiative program. full story

Who is Mary?

Dec. 8, 2006     News media contact:   Dean McIntyre * 877-899-2780, ext 7073 *  Nashville {05082} General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church Christians are not of one mind on many things, Mary being one of them. We agree that Mary gave birth to Jesus. We acknowledge her lineage, the birth story in the Bible, and other details of her life. She was an important presence to the disciples and the early church. In the centuries since, some churches have developed a complex web of theology and liturgical practice around Mary, and she remains a commonly portrayed subject in many art forms. full story

Emerging church — pointing the way for UMs' future?

Dec. 8, 2006 United Methodist Reporter Say the term "emerging church" and most people will likely scratch their heads. "There's no one way to define what the emerging church is," says Rev. James Henry, pastor of St. James United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Va. "It depends on what you're looking for." While it may be easier to say what it's not, the emerging church does have a few common characteristics. It's generally geared toward 20- and 30-somethings as a way to attract them back to church; beliefs and basics are traditional, but worship is casual and interactive; members connect mainly in small groups and are very mission- and outreach-oriented. full story

Music directors seek gifted United Methodists for '08 assembly

Dec. 8, 2006      United Methodist News Service MADISON, N.J. — Local church choirs, ensembles and bands, instrumentalists, singers, dancers and dance groups, as well as visual, video, textile and performing artists from around the world, are invited to send audition tapes for a chance to perform at worship services at the 2008 General Conference. full story

WESLEYAN WISDOM: Social stewardship is still urgent call

Dec. 8, 2006 United Methodist Reporter Local church budgets should not reflect the protectionism of religious clubhouses but instead be rescue missions, run by lay and ordained Stewards, ministering beside the gates of hell, says Donald Haynes. full story

Churches offer ways to keep 'holy' in holidays

Dec. 8, 2006      United Methodist News Service Here they come again, the traditions of the late-year holidays — sumptuous party food, families reuniting, brightly wrapped gifts, soaring carols — and head-pounding stress, frayed nerves and overheated spending. This year, take a breath, and take heart. Within reach is a world of alternative ways to buy gifts and to focus on the multilayered spirituality of Advent, leading to a meaningful Christmas. full story

UMCOR marks 10 years of work in Azerbaijan

Dec. 11, 2006     United Methodist News Service During the past decade, thousands of citizens and refugees in Azerbaijan have received health care through the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The work has been accomplished through grants from UMCOR and the agency's major partners there, including the U.S. State Department, the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. full story

United Methodist Communications' leader testifies before FCC

Dec. 12, 2006     United Methodist News Service NASHVILLE, Tenn. — At a Dec. 11 public hearing regarding the Federal Communication Commission's media ownership rules, the head of The United Methodist Church's communications agency told FCC commissioners that relaxing the rules on ownership of media has resulted in a form of censorship. full story

United Methodists fill 62 seats in new Congress

Dec. 12, 2006     United Methodist News Service WASHINGTON — Sixty-two United Methodists will serve in the 110th Congress — the same number as in the 109th Congress-and the denomination remains in third place among all religious groups. full story

Red Bird Mission experiencing financial shortfall

Dec. 12, 2006     United Methodist News Service A significant decline in contributions has created a crisis that may result in the closing of the school at Red Bird Mission, according to the mission's executive director. Red Bird is one of four mission institutions of the United Methodist Red Bird Missionary Conference. The conference is in an isolated area in the heart of Appalachia, a geographic region that stretches along the Appalachian mountain range from Mississippi to southern New York. Red Bird Mission School in Beverly, Ky., has been in existence since 1921. full story

NCC policy helps member churches join biotechnology debates

Dec. 13, 2006     United Methodist News Service NEW YORK — Should people of faith join the debate on stem cell research, speak out about questionable methods of human "enhancement" and push for adequate regulation of the biotechnology industry? The National Council of Churches, representing some 45 million church members, adopted a policy in November advocating just that type of action. full story

Korean congregation serves Hispanic/Latino 'street angels'

Dec. 13, 2006     United Methodist News Service ENGLEWOOD, N.J. — Steve Chung would drive past the day laborers lined up on the streets of Palisades Park, N.J., each day, a Bible verse from the Gospel of Matthew constantly on his mind. "Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me," is how Chung recalls the words. "That Bible verse kept pounding my heart." An immigrant from Korea, Chung felt a kinship with the Latino immigrant workers. "I didn't know what to do," he admits, "so I keep praying for 100 days. And when I prayed, God gave me the idea that they're all angels." Soon afterward, Street Angels was born. full story

Senator gives little hope to interfaith coalition on Darfur

Dec. 14, 2006     United Methodist News Service INDIANAPOLIS — U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar gave little hope to an interfaith coalition of Hoosier religious and community leaders including native Darfurians who asked him to step up his efforts to end ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan. full story

Hunters provide venison to hungry in Tennessee

Dec. 14, 2006     United Methodist News Service BOLIVAR, Tenn. — When Larry Ross spots a deer on his property, he can tell immediately how many meals it will provide for a hungry family. "We think a pound of venison feeds four meals," he says, pointing to his latest kill in Bolivar, Tenn. "So if that's the case, that's 160 meals for this one deer. Not bad is it?" Ross and a team of local United Methodists provide venison to area food banks and soup kitchens through a program called Hunters for the Hungry, operated by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. full story

LAYPERSON RESPONDS: Listen to the 'Silents'

Dec. 15, 2006 United Methodist Reporter Dick Turner says the oft-overlooked Silent Generation, now ages 61 to 70, still have some wisdom for younger generations getting ready to lead the denomination. full story

New UMC.org will offer more services, create communities

Dec. 15, 2006     United Methodist News Service NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications will relaunch the denomination's Web site to become the "front door" to the online faith community in early January. UMC.org has been retooled to incorporate innovative technologies to bring people together in new ways. full story

Nothing But Nets campaign gets Advance designation

Dec. 15, 2006     United Methodist News Service NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodists are being challenged to a full court press in the fight against malaria. Now church members can help slam dunk malaria by supporting the global Nothing But Nets campaign through the United Methodist Church's second-mile giving program, the Advance for Christ and His Church. An Advance number — #982015 — has been added for Nothing But Nets, a global anti-malaria campaign. One hundred percent of each gift to the Advance will go to the purchase and distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets to protect families against disease-carrying mosquitoes. Partners in Nothing But Nets include the people of The United Methodist Church, the United Nations Foundation, Sports Illustrated, the National Basketball Association's Foundation NBA Cares, Millennium Promise and the Measles Initiative. The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist Communications are coordinating the church's participation in the campaign. full story

Summit recognizes United Methodist anti-malaria work

Dec. 15, 2006     United Methodist News Service The United Methodist Church's commitment to eradicating malaria was recognized at a Dec. 14 forum hosted by President and Mrs. George W. Bush. The Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, was among those invited to the White House Summit on Malaria in Washington. The New York Times called the gathering "the Who's Who" of the global opponents of malaria. full story

Movie spotlights church's role in saga of homeless man

Dec. 18, 2006     United Methodist News Service In his 40-plus years at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco, the Rev. Cecil Williams has met many of the homeless folks who have come through the church's homeless shelter and soup kitchen. But he won't forget Chris Gardner. "He was one of the few men I've seen who had a baby with him at all times," Williams recalled. "And I remember him because he had the gall to say that, without a doubt, he was going to break out of the cycle of poverty." Gardner's remarkable story is the basis of a new film, "The Pursuit of Happyness," which opened Dec. 15, starring Will Smith. full story

Former hostage visits Upper Room

Dec. 18, 2006      United Methodist News Service "While I was kidnapped, you were in captivity here praying for me until my release.  Because of your tears and prayers, the Lord has brought me back," the Rev. Tongkhojang Lunkim told worshipers in the Upper Room Chapel Dec. 13. Lunkim, publications coordinator for four editions of the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide in northeast India, was captured Jan. 16 by a group of rebels called the Kuki Liberation Army. Held in solitary confinement for 61 days, he was released in mid-March. "I am alive. It is me," Lunkim, 87, told the staff of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship during the weekly chapel service. Gesturing toward the carved picture of The Last Supper in the front of the Upper Room chapel, Lunkim recalled first seeing it when he spoke there in 1980. As a captive, "I prayed to God to let me see it one more time, and here I am, standing before you today." full story

United Methodist leaders demonstrate support of global health initiative

Dec. 20, 2006     United Methodist News Service WASHINGTON  — Singing "nza mu ranza" from an African praise song, an advisory council of United Methodist bishops, pastors, agency executives and lay leaders demonsrated their support for a global health iniative by spontaneously placing $868 on a conference podium. With hands raised and singing in unison, they responded to a challenge to save lives issued by Bishop Thomas Bickerton during the Global Health Initiative Dialogue Dec. 18-19 at the National Press Club. Sixty United Methodist leaders and health experts met to raise awareness of global health issues and to mobilize United Methodists for action. "Buy a net. Save a life," said Bickerton, president of the United Methodist Commission on Communication. He was referring to the Nothing But Nets campaign to buy anti-malaria bed nets for families in Africa. Partners in the campaign include the people of The United Methodist Church, the United Nations Foundation, Sports Illustrated, the National Basketball Association's foundation NBA Cares, Millennium Promise and the Measles Initiative. full story

REFLECTIONS: Christmas draws out the child in each of us

Dec. 22, 2006 United Methodist Reporter Recently our 5-year-old twin grandchildren came running from the playground into our home quite upset. One was in tears, the other near them. A 7-year-old playmate had just told them there is no Santa Claus. The children went straight to their mom, my daughter. Saved! I thought. A few days later while visiting our home, my little granddaughter posed the question to me directly and personally: "Pop Pop, do you believe in Santa Claus?" I began to lament the reality that children today grow up much too quickly. They seem to leave that magical children's world of wonder, where anything conceivable is possible. It is a place of innocence and trust, a world free of the "-isms" and suspicion. full story

LAYPERSON'S MUSINGS: A theology of Santa Claus

Dec. 22, 2006 United Methodist Reporter The days leading up to Christmas often highlight the "culture wars" more than any other season. Advent's lessons and celebrations must compete with a multimedia barrage inviting us to an all-out consumer orgy. The view of God Incarnate in the manger often gets obscured by tinsel, fudge, twinkling lights and credit-card bills. An inherent tension exists between our faith in the one who called Himself "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" and a certain jolly, red-suited, imaginary elf who dominates the popular imagination. This conflict of being in-the-world but not of-the-world poses problems for Christians who are raising children. Even the most faith-centered family observations of this holiday allow for the happy yarn of a visit from St. Nick. full story

The Advent war

Dec. 22, 2006     News media contact:   Dean McIntyre * 877-899-2780, ext 7073 *  Nashville {05082} General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church By the day of this article (December 22), most of the Advent versus Christmas war will be over for another year. By the time the fourth Sunday of Advent comes around, all but only the most genuinely liturgical will be singing the carols in sanctuaries fully decorated for Christmas. Most churches will have already had their choir concerts and parties, Sunday school programs, and children's activities. The handbells will have already played in the nursing homes, and the young people will have completed their caroling to the shut-ins. In this year (2006), we'll have had to be a bit careful not to go too far too soon with Christmas during Advent because Christmas Eve is a Sunday. We need to hold most of our Christmas celebration for that service. If we don't, if we've done all there is to do with Christmas by the morning of the fourth Sunday of Advent, then why should our people come out for Christmas Eve services? full story

PASTOR'S STANCE: Keep Christ in Christmas? That's the role of church

Dec. 22, 2006 United Methodist Reporter During the last few years, I have faithfully waved the banner for keeping Christ in Christmas. I still believe we need to remember the reason for the season, but my thinking has been altered. Last year, some major retailers were pressured by people of faith to display traditional Christmas symbols and keep using the word "Christmas" in their advertisements. Some retailers caved in to the pressure. Wal-Mart, for instance, declared this year that it would recognize Christmas as well as Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Other retailers remain holdouts, using the words "Happy Holiday" rather than "Merry Christmas." It's occurred to me that perhaps Christians are clinging to a misguided position. We exude a tremendous amount of passion over using "Christmas" as a title or image, while people within a block of our churches remain unreached. What if we put holiday shopping and gifting back into the hands of the retailers, and put Christ back in the church? full story

GEN-X RISING: The missing link

Dec. 29, 2006 United Methodist Reporter See if this sounds familiar. You are baptized into the church as a baby. You attend Sunday school as a child and go through Confirmation Class in the sixth grade. Church is important to you. And besides, even if it wasn't, your mom and dad would make you go anyway. As a teenager, you get to be a part of the church crowd you've wanted to join for years: the Youth Group. And through junior and senior high school, you grow to appreciate the sense of connection you have with other struggling teenagers. Maybe you even have a conversion experience, a first-hand encounter with God's redeeming grace. Then college happens. And you don't go to church so much. In fact, you probably don't go much at all. In your twenties, you move around a lot. You put off marriage, because there's just so much to do. And being a part of a church never really crosses your mind. Was that your experience as a young adult? Or the experience of someone you know? With luck, the wandering nomads we call young adults make their way back into the church. But more and more often, young adults are choosing not to go back to the church they knew in their youth. Statistics suggest that Generation X-ers are the least churched generation in American history. full story