The World Methodist Council April 2021
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First Friday Letter The World Methodist Council April 2021 Greetings from the General Secretary Greetings in the name of our Crucified and Risen Lord, Jesus Christ! For many, this past Coronavirus (COVID-19), which has affected every family, has been a time of loneli- ness, disillusionment, suffering, and loss. During Holy Week, we were encouraged to cast our burdens on Jesus, who stands in solidarity with us through his torment and suffering on the cross. This is the second Eastertide that we experience the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic that has af- fected every facet of life and exposed the fault lines in global health, security, social structures, and the economy. As never before, we need to reset, recalibrate and reimagine “a different church” and “a dif- ferent world.” The center is no longer holding. Furthermore, we need to celebrate the greatest and the immovable miracle that God, in Jesus Christ, is with us in our struggles to deal with the challenges of the day, namely, climate justice, racial inequality, growing nationalism, and gender-based violence. These are some of the burning issues the World Methodist Conference identified at Houston in 2015. The President of the World Methodist Council’s Easter message (https://youtu.be/V3alKKjZxL0) and this edition of the First Friday Letter bear testimony that “the people called Methodist” are alive to the issues of the day. Climate Justice For All, Praying with and for Migrants and Refugees, Peru Nazarenes respond to flooded communities and more stories in our newsletter emphasize on some of these issues. We are an Easter people, a people committed to justice and grounded in the hope that the Risen Lord, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20) I pray that you will stay safe and healthy, that your hope will be renewed, and that your life will be filled with joy this Easter. Shalom, Ivan World Methodist Council First Friday Letter page 1 World Methodist Council Museum Statement To everything, there is a season and a time for every purpose under the heaven Ecclesiastes 3:1 The World Methodist Council announces that the Museum contents in entirety will go to Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology and SMU Libraries at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. The Archival Committee carefully reviewed all the proposals that were received from institutions and individuals, and after prayerful discernment, chose Bridwell Library as it will allow the World Methodist Council Museum collection to continue. “Having been to the World Methodist Museum of the World Methodist Council several times, I was saddened to hear about its closing. Then I was surprised to be asked to help direct the deaccessioning of the holdings,” explains Robert J. Williams, Retired General Secretary of the United Methodist Church General Commission on Archives and History. “But now I am relieved and excited that the collection will remain intact and under the care of the Bridwell Library. All who care about this collection can be confident that its future impact for faithful ministry in theWesleyan tradition is assured.” In addition to Williams, other Archival Committee members included the CEO and General Secretary of the Council, Bishop Ivan Abrahams; recently Retired General Secretary of the United Methodist Church General Commission on Archives and History, Alfred T. Day; WMC Headquarters Coordinator, Jackie Bolden; and other experts as needed throughout the process. “The long history of the World Methodist Museum and its collections is distinctly vital to the church, and it is im- portant to maintain that historical continuity. We are honored to be chosen as the recipient of the WMCM’s collections and will continue to oversee and curate these items with the highest quality and standards. In this stewardship, we are also committed to expanding public engagement in a major US city like Dallas with as broad a public as possible that reflects the global nature and endeavors of the worldwide church,”Anthony J. Elia, Director and J.S. Bridwell Foun- dation Endowed Librarian, said upon learning his institution had been chosen as the repository. Longtime contributors to the Museum also expressed pleasure at the decision. “My family and I are delighted that the collection in its entirety will be maintained at SMU for study and research about the early Methodist movement and its founder John Wesley. I shall continue to support the collection in whatever way I can to help spread Wesley’s Christian message of, ‘The best of all, God is with us,’ said Thelma Barclift Crowder. The Crowders have shared Wesley artifacts, information, and finances with the Museum for many years. Charlotte and Winston Rhea were excited to hear that the items they and their family had secured for the Museum would soon be only 30 miles from their residence. “My parents, Jimmy and Fleeta Davis enjoyed providing funds to the World Methodist Council under the direction of The Rev. Dr. Joe Hale for the purchase of historical items for the Wesley Museum. Since their death, my husband and I have continued to make donations from the James H. Davis Foundation,” Charlotte explained. “We are very excited that the entire collection will remain intact in the Bridwell Museum at Southern Methodist University. This is especially exciting since we met at SMU in 1955.” “We thank the many people who have contributed to the life, witness, and ministry of the World Methodist Council Museum at Lake Junaluska for the past 65 years,” Bishop Abrahams said. “This is a historic undertaking that will create a larg- er footprint for the Council and allow many more people to utilize the collection in a new way. It will allow the Council to become even more global as it moves into the future. We are very pleased and feel this is a great moment for Methodism. The Council is also in final negotiations with the Lake Junalus- ka Assembly regarding the closing of the Council’s properties there. It will allow Junaluska to enhance their educational op- portunities and allow us to broaden the mission and ministries of the Council.” Bridwell Library World Methodist Council First Friday Letter page 2 Nominees sought for 2021 Peace Award If you have been planning to nominate someone who exemplifies Courage, Creativity, and Consistency for the World Methodist Peace Award, you must act now. Applications submitted by 31 May will be considered for this year. Any application received after 31 May will be reviewed later for 2022. All supporting documents must be included at the time of submission. The nominee should show courage in regard to physical danger or putting personal interest at risk. Creativity should include opening new initiatives and attracting others in working for the cause of peace. Consistency is judged by effort over a period of time and intensity, despite setbacks. Here is the link to read the full criteria: http://worldmethodistcouncil.org/whatwedo/world-methodist-peace-award/ The recipient receives a medallion, citation and US $1,000 which is symbolic of the larger recognition achieved in working for peace, justice and reconciliation. The recipient is included in the World Methodist Council Peace Award booklet and a featured article in WMC and Wesleyan/ Methodist publications. Go to www.worldmethodistcouncil.org and click on the “What We Do” tab and then click on the “World Methodist Peace Award” tab and complete the online application. Please send all nomination forms to Bishop Ivan Abrahams at [email protected] Climate Justice for All launches 5 April On Monday, 5 April, Climate Justice for All (CJ4A) is To enable communities to listen, CJ4A is releasing month- launching its youth-led campaign calling the global Meth- ly short films and worship resources to tell the stories of odist family to take climate action leading up to the UN’s Methodist communities taking action for the planet. COP26. CJ4A is inviting Methodist communities world- wide to engage with the issue of the climate crisis and To find out more about CJ4A and to check out the up- declare, ‘We believe in Climate Justice For All.’ coming short film and worship resources, visit the WMC website and CJ4A social media accounts listed below For Climate Justice For All to be a reality, CJ4A believes starting on 5 April. there should be fairness with the highest emitters being the most ambitious in reducing their carbon to net-zero. https://worldmethodistcouncil.org/cj4a/ Communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis must be equipped with the right resources. https://www.instagram.com/climatejustice4all/ The campaign asks Methodist communities to do three things prior to COP26: listen, call and commit. https://www.facebook.com/CJ4All “First, we will listen because as a team as we realize that https://twitter.com/Climatejust4all telling our own stories and listening to others was an important tool for learning about and responding to the https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg1kqmLvWxwV- effects of the climate crisis. Second, we will call because P3HEiUwqS8Q we know that it was not enough to just talk about climate justice within our Methodist communities but take that Submitted by Climate Justice For All Team message to our political representatives. Third, we com- mit because it ensures that as communities make personal commitments to enact change, the work of the campaign is sustained after the COP and change is truly embedded in the lives of Methodist communities,” said Iemaima Vaai, Fijian CJ4A Worker. World Methodist Council First Friday Letter page 3 WMC Webinar in the Week of Prayer on COVID-19 Praying with and for Migrants and Refugees “So let us not reject the refugee or mistreat the migrant.