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WESLEYAN WISDOM: Taking a look at wealth and the church

Aug. 19, 2010 United Methodist Reporter Nothing is so confusing to us as how Jesus felt about wealth and material assets, such as land, stock, CDs, gold, cash. For the most part, our preachers have been taught to say that if we really follow Jesus’ teaching, we will have no pension, no stock portfolio, nothing to leave in our will to our children, and no savings for a rainy day or old age. This leaves us feeling that any material wealth taints us and makes us second-class Christians. No clause in the Lord’s Prayer needs more study than this: “Give us this day our daily bread.” I am convinced we have misrepresented, for the most part, the real Jesus when it comes to his relationship with wealth. full story

Church growth often requires starting small

Aug. 18, 2010 United Methodist News Service ROSCOE, Ill. — Gladys Hibbard drove down Main Street, past the brick United Methodist church with the pristine yard, many times a week. "I ought to give that church a try," she thought to herself many times. But she never did. Then she discovered a friend and her spouse belonged to the congregation. "My husband and I asked if we could go with them," said the 66-year-old Hibbard. "We joined the church, then joined several small groups in the church. That made it easy to get to know people." Several recent studies support the idea that growing congregations such as Roscoe United Methodist Church tend to offer more small groups than churches that are losing members. Small groups are an effective means of helping church members develop relationships with one another, which helps drive church growth. full story

COMMENTARY: The enemy within

Aug. 18, 2010 United Methodist Reporter On a not-too-infrequent basis, Christian commentators will rant and rail against secular and non-Christian forces conspiring to destroy our faith. Any given day, the Muslims or the scientists or the atheists or the Jews or the secular humanists or the liberals or the homosexuals or Planned Parenthood or ... well, you get the point. Google any of those and you will find articles citing them as a threat to the Christian faith. Yet as I listen to the hate and bile being spewed by those governed by fear and violence rather than by faith, it occurs to me that the greatest threats to the Christian faith are Christians. full story

Pakistan floods threaten millions of children

Aug. 17, 2010 United Methodist News Service For some 3.5 million children, Pakistan’s worst floods in 80 years could have deadly consequences. That’s the United Nations’ estimate of how many are at risk for diarrhea, cholera, typhoid and other water-borne diseases. In response, relief workers like Matt Capobianco, director of emergency programs for GlobalMedic, are on the front lines of the disaster, trying to provide clean drinking water to those displaced by the floodwaters. “It’s definitely a dire situation for a lot of people,” he said. A partner of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, GlobalMedic has been providing 40,000 liters of clean drinking water a day in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. But the crisis has worsened since Capobianco arrived on Aug. 7. “The rains are continuing,” he explained during a telephone conversation from the Punjab province, where he was helping set up a new relief station. “The areas that are being affected are increasing, it seems, almost daily.” full story

Global AIDS Fund provides help, comfort

Aug. 16, 2010 United Methodist News Service An AIDS orphan in Kenya, Purity had few prospects for the future. At the age of 14, she had become the caregiver for a younger brother and sister and a mentally disabled older brother. They had a piece of family land, but no food. Purity became involved in a United Methodist-supported project that linked her with a group of 12 families in her community. The Champion Working Group, as it is known, helped her plant grass — feed for the family cow — and cultivate greens to sell for profit, sharing the income. The next year, Purity added maize, carrots and potatoes to her crops. Soon, she had two goats, two cows and enough produce to feed her family and put money in the bank. Zoe Ministry, which runs the Giving Hope Empowerment Project, is one of the grant recipients of the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund. full story

Discipleship board builds partnerships to sustain work of building disciples

Aug. 16, 2010     News media contact:   Steve Horswill-Johnston * 615-340-1726 *   Nashville General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Directors of the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD), meeting Aug. 4-7, celebrated their partnerships and began the process of discussing how the church reaches more people. In her opening remarks, the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, general secretary of GBOD, reminded board members that “there are people out there who are asking, who are seeking and who are knocking.” She asked, “How can the board prioritize its work to answer these people?” full story

Checking the ‘numbers': Debunking myths on pew-pulpit gap

Aug. 13, 2010     News media contact:   Wayne Rhodes *  202-488-5600  *  Washington General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church WASHINGTON — Numbers USA recently urged its members to fax political and religious leaders to oppose reform. Numbers USA falsely claimed that religious leaders who support immigration reform are out of step with the people in their pews, according to Faith in Public Life (FPL), which identifies itself as a strategy center advancing faith in the public square as a positive and unifying force for justice, compassion and the common good. FPL said Numbers USA’s claim has been soundly debunked by recent polling. FPL also asserted that key polling data’s being missed: While recent polling has found strong support for the “misguided and draconian” Arizona immigration law, it's also found even higher support for a federal solution. full story

International ecumenical conference addresses overcoming violence

Aug. 13, 2010     News media contact:   Wayne Rhodes *  202-488-5600  *  Washington General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church ELKHART, Ind. — Jamal, a Muslim refugee from Zanzibar, and Matthew, a Jew, got acquainted as their children played in a neighborhood parkette in Canada’s largest city, Toronto. Learning of Jamal’s computer skills, Matthew found him a job. Later, as the events of Sept. 11, 2001, unfolded, Jamal came to Matthew’s house, shaken. “I’m so sorry, but I don’t know who to say sorry to,” Jamal said. Matthew invited Jamal’s family to share dinner with them. The relationship of these neighbors represents ‘a testimony to the possibility of peace among peoples.’ The relationship of these neighbors represents “a testimony to the possibility of peace among peoples,” said Mary Jo Leddy, addressing the opening worship of an ecumenical conference, “Peace Among the Peoples,” July 28–31. full story

Churches struggle to stay connected to college students

Aug. 13, 2010   News media contact: Vicki Brown *  615-340-7383  * Nashville, Tenn. General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Congregations routinely celebrate college-bound youth with farewell gifts and parties featuring slideshows of pre-school Christmas pageants, high-school mission trips, and almost everything in-between. But youth leaders and pastors who want to extend the relationship into the months and years ahead often struggle to find the right approach. “It’s hard,” says Carol Ellis, director of Youth and Children’s Ministries at Main Street United Methodist Church in Bedford, Va. “Each church comes up with its own strategy, not only in terms of resources but within the context and culture of that congregation. Some congregations find there is a great deal of interest in engaging with college-age students; others don’t.” full story

Jacobs resigns as director of Native American ministries

Aug. 13, 2010   News media contact: Stephanie Drum *  828-454-6730  * Lake Junaluska, N.C. Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — Darlene Jacobs, director of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Agency on Native American Ministries (SEJANAM) at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, recently announced her resignation in order to accept a position as director of Robeson Church and Community Center in Robeson County, N.C. full story

United Methodists lose pounds, gain health

Aug. 13, 2010 United Methodist News Service Eighteen months ago, the Rev. Mark Del Giudice and his wife, I Hyong “Song,” were overweight, had Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, took several medications and needed frequent physician visits. Then they heard about the Virgin HealthMiles physical activity program, which the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits was piloting. full story

COMMENTARY: Time for courageous conversation

Aug. 12, 2010 United Methodist Reporter A recent conversation that I had with my wife focused on Shirley Sherrod, the U.S. Agriculture Department’s former director of rural development in Georgia, and the political and media firestorm over a speech she delivered in 1986 that resulted in her firing. Race and racism are at the center of the firestorm. In a matter of a few days, apologies and retractions were added to the finger-pointing, as the full content and context of her speech was reviewed. As secretary of the Agriculture Department Tom Vilsack extended an offer for Ms. Sherrod to return to a job at the department, the spotlight shifted from our daily tracking of the oil spill to the volcanic nature of racial bias — and how social media has become a factor in our conversations on race. Political posturing — void of any pursuit of truth and understanding — has often polluted such conversations. Our conversations must have less blame and shame and more guts and grace. full story

COMMENTARY: Proposal for a truce on homosexual issues

Aug. 12, 2010 United Methodist Reporter Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana recently recommended that leaders in his party declare a truce between those who have differing opinions about homosexuality and abortion, and come together to help improve educational opportunities for all children and youth and provide jobs for unemployed people in our nation. It occurred to me that it might be helpful if United Methodist leaders also called a truce in the conflict in our denomination over homosexuality, and called all United Methodists to work together to make the world hunger-free and AIDS-, malaria- and tuberculosis-free. full story

Church AIDS work makes a difference

Aug. 12, 2010 United Methodist News Service In rural Zimbabwe, there is not much relief — physically or emotionally — for those dying from the complications of HIV/AIDS. But, by training nurses at United Methodist-related Mutambara Hospital and other hospitals, as well as educating volunteer community caregivers in hospice skills, the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa is making a difference. full story

Young adults learn the ropes on Capitol Hill

Aug. 12, 2010 United Methodist News Service Meredith Duarte has strong ties to her Native American heritage. The La Mirada, Calif., resident is of Seneca and Apache heritage. Her family was proud of and embraced this culture. “Being Native American is where I come from and who I am,” Duarte said. “I was taught about the many issues facing Native Americans at a very young age because my family was so involved and because they wanted me to know the truth.” It was this heritage, in part, that enticed Duarte to apply for the Ethnic Young Adult Summer Internship program of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. Young adults, ages 18-22, are selected annually from the five ethnic caucuses of The United Methodist Church to participate in the internships. full story

COMMENTARY: Tour de Faith: road rules

Aug. 11, 2010 United Methodist Reporter American church culture has grown used to the comforts of “SUV Church.” We are consumed by opulent surroundings and convinced that sleek design and flashy technology will lure outsiders into our stadium seating. From inside the climate-controlled cabin, safe from the bugs and the heat and potential accidents, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would not want to be where we are. We have plenty of horsepower to keep up with a fast-moving world and enough features to occupy us while we ride the HOV lane to heaven. But what if the way we travel really matters more? full story

COMMENTARY: Christ-like leadership in a postmodern world

Aug. 11, 2010 United Methodist Reporter Many of us carry a model of leadership learned in childhood. Parents have all the answers — at least for a while. They are big and powerful, can solve any problem and provide us with everything we need. In adulthood, we find plenty of leaders who promise these same things, but inevitably, they cannot deliver on their promise. And in trying, they leave us as children. Jesus models a different kind of leadership — one suited to the challenges of our postmodern world. full story

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