Mission: Memo News and Analysis of Developments . I In Christian Misslond-_

July/August 1987

PANAMA. Plagued by continuing a majority of its board members. The political unrest and economic woes, GBGM's World Division contributed Panama appears headed for more $50,000 to help launch the project chaos--possibly even martial last fall, and a two-year Advance law--according to the Rev. Luis Special seeks an additional $150,000 Veagra, a prominent leader of the for the Bible printing. The Rev. Methodist Church in the Caribbean Ewing W. Carroll Jr. director of and the Americas (MCCA). The the denomination's ministry in 52-year-old chairperson of the China, called the Advance Special church's Panama/Costa Rica District, "an opportunity of a lifetime for who was a guest at the recent World grass-roots Methodists to join in Division missionary conference in the growth of the Christian Church Williamsport, Pa., said the violent in China." Mr . Carroll adde d the clashes that have been rocking demand for Bibles in China still far Panama since early June pose a outstrips the supply: "The Chinese serious threat to the military church is an evangelistic church and regime of Gen. Manuel Antonio many Christians like to share the Noriega. The opposition is demanding Bible with others." his resignation and new, democratic elections. Widely viewed as a corrupt ruler, Gen. Noriega has been accused of involvement in drug smuggling and of complicity in the FIJI METHODISTS IN CRISIS. A the 1985 assassination of a popular bloodless military coup on the opposition leader, Dr. Hugo Pacific island of Fiji has caused a Spadafora, who was a symbol of crisis for the Methodist Church broad-based dissatisfaction with the there because many coup leaders are military regime. The crisis has Methodists, says a Fijian Methodist raised doubts about the future of pastor studying in the U.S. on a UMC the Panama Canal, the strategic Crusade Scholarship. "This is a very waterway scheduled to be turned over critical time for the church," said to Panama in 1999. the Rev. Jovili Iliesa Meo, who is studying for a doctorate at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. CHINA BIBLES. The first Bibles are "If the Methodist hierarchy supports scheduled to begin coming off the coup, that will divide the China's new Amity Printing Press in church. If it oppose s the coup, that September. The press is owned by the too wil 1 divide the church," he Amity Foundation, an independent said. The Methodist Church in Fiji, people's organization that promotes started by British Methodist health, education and service missionaries, claims more than projects in the People's Republic. 200,000 members out of an estimated Chinese Protestant leaders comprise national population of 700,000. NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 [291] 3 A VI SIT TO TWO KOREA S. Two World facing the continent, including Divis ion execut ives were part of an women's and children's rights and historic e cume nical delega t i on that education. Joining Catchings in ~~i v i s i t e d b o th No rth and South Korea Harare were Naomi Christensen of ~ in late June. Peggy Bi ll i n g s, deputy Hastings, IA; Janet Kussart of WO RDS ge n e r a l sec r e tary , and Mi chael Hahm, Juneau, AK; and Josephine Merrill of a n area s ecr e tary for As i a, we re Thid Pocomoke City, MD. GBGM provided rension b pa rt of the first official c hurch major funding for the meeting. ttiat is delegat i on to visit both North and irtXlairn South Korea since the country was aete app divided in 1945 in the aftermath of DEATHS. Laura Guinter, a missionary ba] prod World War II. South Korean who served in Nigeria from 1924-1933 maspeci Chr i sti ans, sai d Dr. Hahm, expressed for the UMC's forerunner, the ~litical a "se ns e of jubilation and JOY even Evangelical Church, died June 17 at mdividua while admitt i ng tha t their nation the age of 104 ••• Anne Elizabeth This Sl has a long wa y to go toward the Metz, a Women's Division missionary reruiial o )11l1Uller" democratization they pray for." The who served in China and Indonesia, luringwl NCC group found itse lf in the midst died May 21 at the age of 83 ••• ~es &orr of dramatic political events Herbert F. Kuehn, a retired World occurring i n South Korea, as Ge neral '.JCTecy" Division missionary who served in tice Tl Chun Doo Hwan relented and agreed to Malaysia for 16 years, died June 26 ihrase) l direct presidential elections. at the age of 89 ••• Kathleen McBride, House-Ii Underlying the delegation's tour was a retired World Division missionary I! come the NCC's policy statement on the who served in Nigeria for 18 years, ~verning reunification of the two Koreas, a died June 18 at the age of ~ ndent s subject that continues to stir deep 81 ••• Gunnar T. Teilmann, Jr., a ri~ on S emotions on both sides of the 38th retired World Division missionary ilie summ Parallel. In North Korea, the who served for 32 years in rerberate filct ands delegation found what they called a Singapore, died May 3 at the age of irena oft small but vibrant numher of "house 69 ••• Josephine Abrams, retired , churches," representing perhaps Both su Women's Division missionary who !Cho the c 5,000 Christians. The pain of served in Argentina for 31 years, families separated by the division W~ ter Del died May 24 at the age of !v Law Sci of the two Koreas was a personal 76 ••• Donald F. Ebright, a retired ~empha s reality for Dr. Hahm, a North Korean World Pivision missionary who served observing native who was able to visit his in India for 22 years, died June 10 was conce1 sister, whom he had last seen 37 at the age of 77. ~min gly years ago when she was eight. Dr. ~e people ' Hahm and fellow delegation members lln by fo UJ visited four North Korean house PERSONALIA. Haviland C. Houston, :onsciousl churches, and the worship services chief staff executive of the UMC's !lacks, and the ht observed there were, he said, Board of Church and Society since ~t ~ginnings "genuine ." 1982, will leave her post later this :iodified bi year. The first woman and layperson :reme Col to direct the church's social action word and WOMEN IN AFRICA. The first assembly agency, Houston said she has honored !Xin, pron of United Methodist women from all her commitment to a five-year term illger to als over Africa drew 750 women to the and "now it's time for me to move rtory is Iha University of Zimbabwe campus in on." Bishop Leontine T.C. Kelly will Justice M Harare, June 5-8. The parley grew head a committee to find a ~e notio1 out of the 1985 conference of successor ••• The Rev. Victor Perez, ~ration. He non-governmental organizations that pastor of Bishop Corson UMC in ~lebration illd renew met in Nairobi and included many Ponce, Puerto Rico, assumed the post ,.. ngms, ena Methodists. Rose Catchings, of associate general secretary of ~e miracle executive secretary for women's the UM General Board of Discipleship · ~t docu issues of the GBGM, saluted the on July 1. Among other ~e of the African women for their skill in administrative roles, he will ~hule nt ce1 organizing an assembly that squarely oversee the board's Ethnic Church ~g and sad addressed most of the crucial issues and Resource and Training Project. ~r rn~cho l t angina] Orate the b ~hose Word ineiv into w 4 [292] NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 The electronic word of television an assistant editor at the more evangelism now is viewed with genteel Musical America. increasing skepticism because of But Arthur found his true voca­ Editorials certain deeds called to public at­ tion as· this magazine's editor, the tention. In an effort to alleviate the post he held s ince 1964. He WORDS AND DEEDS burden of debt accrued under the brought to the magazine an ency­ stewardship of Jim Bakker, the clopedic knowledge of church and This summer, the ever-presen t new steward, the Rev. Jerry Fal­ culture. His keen intellect, wit and tension between word and deed­ well auctioned off items consid­ intimate knowledge not only of his tha t is between the words we ered to be " non-essentials to the own church but of Christendom proclaim and revere and our con­ PTL ministry" including such ac­ were reflected in the pages of the crete application of those reveren­ coutrements as a luxury yacht, magazine. His moral and political tial proclamations-is highlighted gold-plated bathroom fix tures, discernment and ecumenical spirit in a special way in our religious and and an air-conditioned doghouse. brought New World Outlook many political life as a nation and as Along with houses, cars and a professional honors and respect individuals. healthy salary, such purchases re­ both from within the church and This summer marks the bicen­ sulted from an income transfer to outside. tennial of that first "long, hot PTL from those, including the poor As editor he traveled widely to summer" in United States history, and the elderly, whose response to mission areas across the world. during which fifty-five representa­ the electronic word was reflected in Recruited for the' press staff at the tives from twelve states "sweat in concrete deeds of sacrificial giving. World Council of Churches' sec­ secrecy" (to use Supreme Court Recen tly televangelist Jimmy ond assembly in Evanston, Illinois, Justice Thurgood Marshall's apt Swaggart, in Chile for a crusade, in 1954, he reported all the subse­ phrase) in Philadelphia's State met with ruling dictator Augusto quent great ecumenical assemblies: House-from May to September­ Pinochet. He praised the general's New Delhi, Uppsala, Nairobi, and to come up with a system fo r bloody 1973 coup for having driven Vancouver. Present at world mis­ governing these "free and inde­ the devil from Chile and gave sion conferences in Mexico, pendent states" and a document to "thanks to God for the liberties Ghana, and Thailand; the faith and sign on September 17, 1787. And enjoyed" in that country. "History order conferences in Oberlin and • the summer also continues to re­ will some day recognize," said the Montreal; and church and society verberate with the chorus of con­ Rev. Mr. Swaggart, " that what conferences in Geneva and Cam­ flict and strife within the troubled Pinochet did was one of the grea­ bridge, he brought to readers a arena of television evangelism . test accomplishments of the cen­ first-hand knowledge of the issues Both summertime reminders tury." But documented deeds of of the day. His trenchant com­ echo the call to be "born anew." substantial human rights abuses in ments on Methodist and ecumeni­ Walter Dellinger of Duke Universi­ Chile call Mr. Swaggart' s words of cal events annoyed some and de­ ty Law School has given theologi­ thanksgiving and praise into more lighted others. cal emphasis to the bicentennial by immediate question. Long an advocate of better un­ observing that "the Constitution It is not surprising that distor­ derstanding between Protestants was conceived in original sin." The tions of word and deed have and Roman Catholics, Arthur cov­ seemingly inclusive phrase "We resulted in a pronounced decline in ered Vatican II for Religious News the people" was an elitist declara­ financial support for TV evangel­ Service. His articles appeared fre­ tion by founding fathers who were ism. Perhaps here too the winds of quently in the Roman Catholic consciously excluding w omen, the Spirit are blowing in the direc­ Commonweal and the Protestant Blacks, and non-property owners. tion of rebirth and renewal. Christianity and Crisis, on whose But the hubris of Constitutional If so, it is a fa miliar yet forever advisory board he long served. beginnings has been reshaped and new reminder that words pro­ During the 1960s he covered the modified by amendments and Su­ claimed are validated only in their civil rights struggle and the Viet­ preme Court decisions to bring concrete application in deeds. For nam War protest. In April of 1965 word and deed into closer cohe­ what does the Lord require, after he summed up these concerns in a sion, prompting Professor Del­ all, but that we do justice, love superb editorial called " Easter, linger to also observe, "Part of the kindness and walk humbly with Selma, and Vietnam." story is that there is redemption." our God? (Micah 6:8) . Arthur is widely known as a lay Justice Marshall has applied the theologian who is a perceptive and same notion to bicentennial cele­ wise interpreter of the Christian bration. He suggests that proper EDITOR AND ECUMENIST faith. Brought up in a mission­ celebration will recognize rebirth Arthur J. Moore minded household, Arthur trav­ and renewal rather than fixed For nearly a quarter of a century, eled the world at an early age, origins, enabling us to "see that the many of the unsigned editorials accompany ing his fa the r and true miracle was not in the birth of which have graced this page were mother as they visited the mission that document, but the evolving written by editor Arthur J. Moore. fields. Arthur's fa ther was a be­ life of the Constitution over tw o He came to the magazine in 1953 as loved bishop of the church who turbulent centuries and the suffer­ assistant editor from Columbia headed the Methodist Board of ing and sacrifice that triumphed University Press where he had Missions from the 1940 unification over much of what was wrong with worked for two years as an editor until 1960. Being the son of a that original document." We cele­ and contributor to the Columbia distinguished father is not easy, brate the birth of a document Encyclopedia. Befo re that he had but Arthur has left his own dis­ whose words continue to be born been a copy boy and police reporter tinctive mark on the mission of the anew into wider application. fo r the New York Daily News and church.

EW WORLD QUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 (293] 5 Home 'The hometown I knew 40 years ago was gone, destroyed by bombs of the Korean conflict!' Theytc ~e place r.ithing I :uildings I teets, ~ ···11 ~wn I J "''! I ~me , de. !'11.. .' :,e Kore ~ : .Jll iOOut thl i' •Ill' Ihad a , ars bef Jw as 19 ~ scho .'.g betw! :i.itwere :iy count :ee of Ja ws earli ily, the ~~et u~ ~rea at ti .. e natio1 By Myong Gul Son (As told to Shelley Moore) ~·!>- " ten Iliv ed ir try, Dr. Myong Cul Son (Above, center) has been affiliated with the General Board oj '.le Soviets ;nJmising Global Ministries in New York City for 11 years. He is currently the assistant ere. I n general secretary for Parish Ministries with the National Program Division. In ~peto t yone I 1986, Dr. Son served on a committee to draft a policy statement for the National :trents,m ~ five br( Council of the Churches of Christ on the reunification of Korea. That assignment ldn't afforded Dr. Son a visit to his North Korean homeland for the first time in almost -1th it. Isuc cess. 40 years. tfrom Prior to joining the General Board of Global Ministries, Dr. Son was affiliated northe1 l ungdan with the United Methodist Church's World Division in Dallas, Texas. He earned l~ r , the D .iblic of his Ph.D. in Religion at Southern Methodist University. '1ted to as Dr. Son is married and is the father of three grown sons. He met his wife, the ~Ublic Ot lJU th Kore daughter of a three-generation family of ministers, in South Korea , before emigrat­ By then ~ aryin ing to the United States 21 years ago. His youngest son is a mission intern, in lreer in th Taiwan. . Yonce, J oss the l Here he shares with New World Outlook readers the story of his reunion. lain Wh· In 1950 c ~an , J~ 6 (294] NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 They told me this was Samdung, this issue, too. The concerns of the the place where I grew up. But I made up my churches were first brought to light nothing looked the same. All of the mind to escape at a 1984 consultation between the buildings, even the layout of the NCCCs of North America and the streets, were different. The home­ . . . I couldn t tell Republic of Korea. town I knew 40 years ago was anyone I was In 1986, the NCCC decided to gone, destroyed by the bombs of develop a policy statement on the Korean conflict. Everything leaving. Korean reunification. The Council about this place was new to me. appointed a ten-member commit- I had already left home several tee to draft the statement. I was one years before the bombing started. South Korean troops. Life in Seoul of the appointed members. One of It was 1947, and I was just out of was relatively peaceful, but there our first tasks as a committee was high school. Tensions were build­ were reports of widespread de- to take a fact-finding trip to the two ing between the foreign nations struction in the North. I worried Koreas in April of last year. It was a that were competing for control of about how my family was doing. trip that would allow me to see my my country. Korea had become I was on my way to the First North Korean homeland for the free of Japanese dominance two Presbyterian Church one day. It first time in 39 years. years earlier. But almost immedia­ was 1951. I was supposed to be Our journey was rather compli­ tely, the United States and the going to the First Methodist Church, cated. With some of the other Soviet Union drew a line across but I had made a mistake. In the members of the delegation, I had to Korea at the 38th parallel, dividing end, however, it wasn't a mistake fly first to Seoul, then to Hong one nation and one people into for me at all. When I got to First Kong and the to Beijing, China. In tw~"temporarily ." Presbyterian, I bumped into my Beijing, we met the rest of the I lived in the northern half of the older sister, whom I hadn't seen in committee, which had flown there country, which was controlled by four years. She had come to South from Tokyo. From Beijing, we all the Soviets. The future did not look Korea a year earlier as a refugee flew into North Korea. promising for young Christians from the war. The rest of the family The night before we arrived, I there . I made up my mind to had stayed behind. I learned from could not sleep. I was almost escape to the south. I couldn' t tell her that my grandfather had died home. I didn't even know if any of anyone I was leaving-not my in 1949. my family was still alive. parents, my grandfather nor any of The United Methodist Church We landed at the airport outside my five brothers and sisters. They awarded me a Crusade Scholarship the capitol city of Pyongyang. My wouldn' t have let me go through in 1957, so I came to the United village lay on the outskirts of the with it. States to study at Perkins Theologi- city. Government officials, church I successfully escaped by fishing cal Seminary for two years. I leaders and young girls with flow­ boat from the port city of Haeju on returned to Seoul but came back to ers greeted us upon our arrival. the northern side of the border to the United States to pursue further The three of us in the delegation Chungdan just to the south. A year study in 1966. I have lived here who were native Koreans were later, the Democratic People's Re­ ever since. immediately given some very good public of Korea, commonly re­ Four decades have passed since news: arrangements had been ferred to as North Korea, and the my country was divided. For years, made for all three of us to be Republic of Korea, now known as Korean Christians in the South reunited with our families during South Korea, were officially creat­ have longed for reunification with our stay. ed. By then, I had already entered North Korean Christians who For Rev. Syngman Rhee of the t· seminary in Seoul to prepare for a never escaped. Korean Christians Presbyterian Church, this was the career in the ministry. Once, and also long for the political reunifica- third visit back to North Korea. He only once, I was able to get a letter tion of all Korea. In recent years, had re-established contact with his across the border to my family to ecumenical bodies, such as the family on an earlier trip. But for me explain what had become of me. World Council of Churches and the and Rev. In Sik Kim, also of the In 1950, the war began. As a National Council of the Churches Presbyterian Church, these would civilian, I ministered to some of the of Christ, have grown interested in be our first family encounters since

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUG UST 1987 [295] 7 about 76 years. One brother had rant thate been killed in the bombing, and a tomy brat 'Our first sister had died of an illness during fue towns the war. No medical facility had hour and encounter been available to her. The price of family uni war had been high for my family. asleep. la was full of After the war and the devasta­ !sensed t~ information tion, one of my brothers started my hand. working the land as a cooperative Ifou nd mi as well as farmer. He did this until his retire­ l:oth in tl emotion' ment five years ago at the age of 65. hands int He and his wife have three daugh­ 1leep. •'' ~I says ters, a son and one grandson. My After a Ii I sister-who was 12 when I last saw next morn Myong Gul her-has a husband, four daugh­ lery. The s Son (left) ters and three sons. ~r and fat Two days after I met with my brought bi I I' as he family, staff from the Committee to had never I Aid Overseas Nationals picked me while they greets a up at the hotel to take me to visit for an hou sister and Samdung twelve miles from I was tak downtown. We arrived at about lunch. My brother in 7:00 p .m . As I said before, I didn't me three recognize a thing. During the war, I' hotel lobby ~orth Kor more bombs had been dropped on I am a fo North Korea than on the entire an estimate European Theatre during World Korean fa1 War II. The destruction was total. parated to\ before the war. We were very all three families were sitting in the My village, as well as my family, each otherl anxious. lobby waiting for us. had risen from the ashes. if their love Our days were filled with tours If I had passed my brother and Thirty people met me at my even to v and meetings concerning Korea's sister on a busy street, I would brother's home. The village leaders parents. future. At dinner one evening, a never have known them. But I had were there. So was my high school And no representative from the Committee been thinking about them and classmate who is now an elemen­ ~gto on the Peaceful Unification of the remembering for several days now; tary school principal. I met my ~entsanc Fatherland announced that our I recognized them the moment I sister-in-law again and my broth­ SISters divi "family reunions" would take saw them. er-in-law for the first time. I met 0 see eacn place the next day. But all that day, Of course, they looked older my niece, my nephew and my must begi there was no sight, nor any men- than they did 39 years ago, but grand-nephew. ~miliesofE ti:on, of our families. We were then so did I. The deep lines in My brother's home was very My children simple. There were no Ju uries, 0 deeply disheartened and frustrat- their faces spoke of a vastly differ­ Wn cousi~ ed. We didn' t hear anything at all ent life than I had known. Al­ except for a black-and-white tele­ the only ex about our families for the next though my sister was younger than vision, but all the necessary fur­ three days. The day before our tour I, she looked much older. nishings were there, and every­ Shelley Mo of the site of the historic North- We ate dinner together at the thing was very clean. Most of the based in South truce meeting, we were told hotel, and then we talked in my people in Samdung live in ingle that we would meet our families room for hours. Our first encoun­ family homes or apartments. All of the next evening. Naturally, we ter was full of information as well their basic needs-hou ing, cloth­ were skeptical. But when we re- as emotion. I learned that my ing, health care-are met. turned to our hotel at about 6:00 father had died during the war; my A banquet wa held in m honor p.m ., there they were. Members of mother in 1968. She had lived to be at Samdung's co perati e re tau- 8 [296] NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 Christianity in. North Korea

Before the country was divided, Son, a special solo, a scripture the North was the heartland of reading, another hymn, the ser­ Korean Protestantism. But then mon, doxology and benediction. thousands of Christians began to There was no offering. Church flee to the South. Thousands more, work in North Korea is supported including those who sought safety by membership fees. Parishioners inside churches, lost their lives to tithe two percent of their income. the bombs of war. Others-like Dr. In his sermon, Kim spoke of Son's family in Samdung-simply blood relationships as the true left the church under the pressures source of peace. He was referring of their new Communist society. not only to the bonds of family but Today, only 5, 000 to 10,000 also to the bonds among country­ rant that evening. Later, I returned Christians remain in the North, men and among Christians, too, to my brother's home, visited with compared with the 10 to 15 million through the blood of Jesus Christ. the townspeople for another half Christians in South Korea. The There was no musical accompa­ hour and then talked with my Christians of North Korea are all niment, but ' the singing was in­ family until 2:00 a.m., when I fell over 50 years old. There are no spired and enthusiastic. The asleep. I awoke at about 4:30 when "new" Christians; there are only hymns were traditional ones. The I sensed that someone was holding those who were already Christians soloist became very emotional as my hand. When I opened my eyes, before the war. she sang-so much so that she I found my niece and my nephew, "To manifest Christianity in broke down in the middle of the both in their twenties, with my places like North Korea takes more second verse of her selection. She hands in theirs, just watching me courage than it does in places like could not continue. sleep. the United States," says Dr. Son. The world is sometimes very After a walk around town the There are approximately 500 small. After the service, the soloist next morning, I visited the ceme­ Christian "house churches" that learned through Dr. Son, the fate tery. The sight of the tombs of my meet in people's private homes of several of her classmates who grandfather and m y parents and apartments. Since there are had fled North Korea long ago. ll brought back painful memories. I only 25 ordained ministers in the Michael Hahn a colleague of Dr. had never said goodbye to them country, services are usually led by Son's, is now in the United States, while they were still alive. I cried lay evangelists. In 1986, the theo­ working with General Board of for an hour and a half. logical seminary had 21 students Global Ministries' World Division. I was taken back downtown after enrolled in a three-year program. Dr. Dae Sun Park is now a universi­ lunch. My family was able to visit They study a traditional curricu­ ty president in Seoul. me three more times before I left lum from pre-1945 textbooks. The When the Christian leaders of North Korea to go to the South. house churches still use pre-war North Korea learned that the I am a fortunate man. There are hymnals, but new editions of the NCCC committee would soon be an estimated 10 million members of New Testament and the Old Tes­ worshiping with Christians in the Korean families who remain se­ tament were published in 1983 and South, they held hands and cried. parated today. They don't know 1984, respectively, by the Korean Once in Seoul, the committee each other. They don't even know Christian Federation. spoke on the Christian experience if their loved ones exist. I was lucky During their visit to North in North Korea at a sharing session even to visit the tombs of my Korea, members of the NCCC with Christian leaders in the parents. policy statement drafting commit­ South. Many South Koreans have And now my generation is be­ tee attended worship services at doubted that Christianity in the ginning to pass away. If Korean local house churches in Pyon­ North still exists. At the sharing parents and children, brothers and gyang. Dr. Son and other United session, the committee played a sisters divided by the war are ever Methodists attended a service just tape of a hymn being sung at one of to see each other alive again, they around the comer from their hotel. the house churches. People in the must begin to do so now. The The church was in a small room room began to hum along. A few families of Korea must be reunited. in an eleventh-floor apartment. Six began to sing along. Soon every­ My children do not know who their women and three men were there, one was singing, and by the third s, own cousins are. My generation is in addition to the committee mem­ stanza, their eyes were filled with the only existing link. o bers. This congregation was only a tears. year old. The lay leader and evan­ "It was the realization that we Shelley Moore is a freelance writer gelist of the congregation was are all one in Christ," Dr. Son based in New York. named Kim. He and his wife were explains. "No truce line. No ideo­ the only married couple there. logical differences. Same Bible, Christianity is not a family religion same hymnal, same blessings and t· in North Korea. repentances in the name of Jesus Kim conducted a simple, tradi­ Christ. To materialize that unity is tional order of service: silent our theological task." o prayer, a hymn, a prayer led by Dr. -SHELLEY MOORE

EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 [297) 9 There nas ni

Thing fy in tht quarter Bishop louis. H all-blaa "didn't! chance ~ si tuatio~ one eleJ represen and som levels of There dally am The Unit not yet ~ race, esR racis m,~ toeas e n Many, !rome th1 ~rva s i ve forms as disappea1 against it which sc struggle, vision ar problems church t~ By Winston H. Taylor Racism thatbe cau Five distinct facial profiles su­ color he 0 perimposed in five colors on the than thos map of one nation, the United ~e inhelE States. A few years ago that was a ~e situati Religion "white ra rather widely displayed lapel pin among United Methodists. U. S. at le The pin is symbolic that the carries th church has a continuing commit­ Whose et ment to achieving equality among never exei ethnic minorities. balance of and Race numbers ' In another respect, the symbol­ ism fails, because the pin has not The hist changed but the church has, and so Odis111 did have many people. The colors are ~ t Was still there and have not dissolved ~twee n · into one-nor was that intended. for its p e ~ intheUMC Blacks · 10 (298) NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 l!\ There is widespread agreement that The United Methodist Church has not reached its goal of defeating racism .

Thing have "changed drastical­ beginning in America but the next There was little change in this ly in the church" during the past nearly two centuries were a patch­ picture until after the 1954 quarter century, in the view of work of relationships among the "Brown" Supreme Court decision, Bishop W. T. Handy Jr. of St. various groups (especially black striking at segregated education. Louis. He recalls that people in the and white), depending somewhat The 1956 General Conference set all-black Central Juri diction upon missionary fervor and the up Amendment IX to allow black "didn' t think they had a prayer of a treatment of people. churches and conferences to trans­ chance in 1956" of eeing today's Relegating Blacks to their fer into "white" units, aiming at a situation-11 black bishops, all but "place" in galleries or back rows­ gradual end to the CJ's separation. one elected inter-racially, good led to two walkouts by Blacks By 1954 only 27 churches had made representation in the bureaucracy which led to new Black Methodist such a move. and some degree of change at all denominations, the African Meth­ A more organized push began in levels of the church. odist Episcopal Zion Church in 1962, when a Central Jurisdiction There is wide agreement, espe­ 1796 and the African Methodist study conference agreed, over cially among people of color, that Episcopal Church in 1 16. taunts of "foot-dragging," that The United Methodist Church has The northern and southern fac­ there should be no movement for not yet reached its goal related to tions of the church fought each some if not available for all black race, especially that of defeating other for years. Things came to a units. However, since the CJ saw racism, although it has done much head when a Methodist bishop inclusiveness as more than merely to ease many of its symptom . from Georgia inherited slaves elimination of the jurisdiction, it Many, especially but not only through his wife. After the church realigned confe rence boundaries to from ethnic groups, see racism as split in 1844, the Southern arm make transfers more logical, so that pervasive, cropping up in new evangelized strongly among Blacks black and white conferences could forms as some of the old ones and then, after the Civil War, merge rather than overlap. disappear. They view the fight helped them to launch their own Annual conference votes and against it as a long-range effort, in denomination, th Colored (now Judicial Council decisions then which some people tire of the Christian) Methodist Episcopal hastened action so that in mid- struggle, in which patience and Church, in 1870. 1964, one-third of the CJ's mem­ vision are needed. One of the The orthern church's effort bers, two of its bishops and three of problems, it appear , i that the was minimal until after the Civil its annual conferences had moved church too often reflects ociety. War, when it took on a largely relief into "integrated" units. Rad m is defined as the belief and educational hue, but that led to The decade of the '60s was that becau ea per on is born ofone some 300,000 black members by decisive in th'e effort, as a 1963 color he or she is inherently better 1916. Most of them were in sepa­ church-wide ethnic convocation than those of another color, plus rate churches, in Black confer­ brought new understanding and the inherent power to profit from ences, with black bishops elected determination among minority the situation. It usuall end up a for them by the general church. groups, the 1966 General Confer­ "white racism" becau e, in the One of the pivotal events for ence fought (somewhat indecisive­ U.S . at least, the white majority Blacks was the 1939 reunion of ly) over whether to end the CJ, and carrie that power. In a church three Methodist branches, a move the first ethnic minority caucus whose ethnic member hip ha which all black conferences op­ (Black Methodists for Church Re­ ne er e ceeded fi e percent, the posed because it created one juris­ newal) appeared in 1967. Today balance of power i e ident in both diction (the Central Jurisdiction) BMCR is the oldest and largest number and hi tory. constituted by race (Black), and ethnic minority church-related The hi tory of ethnic in Meth­ five by geography. The factor con­ caucus in the United States. odi m did not tart with 1960, but sidered to balance continued segre­ A major step in the continuing that wa omething of a di ide gation was the CJ's guarantee of argument between the concept of between in i ibility and vi ibility electing its own bishops and "target" and" deadline" for ending for it people of color.There were guaranteed representation on gen­ the CJ as a prime symbol of Black in the church from it eral boards. segregation occurred in 1966. The

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-A GUST 19 7 [299) 11 "Race relations in the North are worse than 10 years ago ." Bishop Woodie W. White

1968 General Con­ sired Voting Rights Act and the rise and, most importantly, attitudes. 1986 tc ference agreed to do of a black American who eventual­ The period had seen the end to ber of "everything possible to eliminate ly became one of the nation's most nearly all structural segregation in only w any structural organization revered heroes, Dr. Martin Luther the church, though that came them B . . . based on race" by 1972, though King Jr. There were, also, rabble painfully at times. One of the first to 13 some representatives of the south­ rousers both black and white. major moves was the 1964 transfer bishop! ern jurisdictions pleaded for time While the period was character­ of the all-black Delaware Confer­ one Hi to allow voluntary movement. ized by protests and demonstra­ ence into the Northeastern Juris­ passibl Spokesmen for both sides talked tions and growing sensitivity, the diction and its simultaneous merg­ more ti about factors of " trust" and com­ 1968 assassination of Dr. King set er with several conferences. Pen­ Native pulsion. off massive and violent demonstra­ insula was the first " white" had se1 While the reluctance persisted, a tions whose results are still being conference involved and credited tion as seminary professor did a 1966-67 assessed. Jobs and leadership roles its smooth transition to three years GenE survey of local church leaders. for ethnic persons were increasing, of careful preparation, although it duded Though most were from segregat­ partly because of the law and partly had one of the largest of black the tot ed congregations and had experi­ because more people saw that memberships in the church. general enced little inter-racial fellowship, what the law required wasn't that Long viewed as probably one of so ci ate ~ a majority said they wanted struc­ harmful to them. the "toughest nuts" to crack was ~xecuti ] tural inclusiveness by 1968, inclu­ Within the church, the changes, South Carolina, whose black­ mgrou sive worship and social activities. a mix of progression and regress­ white merger was at times rocky to 1984, (U ! I Two-thirds said appointments ion, can be identified within such but was soon considered one of the zero to should not be based on race and subjects as leadership and jobs, best examples of desegregation. blacks, funds, language, church growth zero to 111 " , I\ that a pastor, bishop or superin­ One of its chief worries, as shown

J I tendent of another race would be by minutes of early committee Electec acceptable. meetings, was /1 Are we to have beards Meanwhile, some other racially racial separatism in a merged con­ span of or language-separate conferences ference?'' percent had ceased to exist-many of them Problems arose in Mississippi The 1 of European origin. An Oriental when the conferences merged but changec unit (Chinese, Korean, Filipino) attempted to restrict black district cia ls of t had disbanded in 1952 and the superintendents to supervision of Ministri Japanese in 1964. Within a few black churches. That was soon discussi years, Asian leaders were warning knocked down by the church's nationa about the losses their churches had Judicial Council, so that all segre­ ~ ut the} experienced after losing what au­ gated structures above the local not all thority they had. church had disappeared from the by far st Into this morass of concern, denomination by 1974. able poi instability, even animosity, came a In 1970 the Oklahoma Indian Peggy B1 new concept, with little power but Missionary Conference began retary c with great influence through edu­ operating with all Native American World r cation, persuasion and funds. This leaders (except bishop) and in 1976 the chu was the General Commission on it gained voting delegates on Gen­ iinageof Religion and Race.(See box.) eral Conference. to. one I· The national and world setting In 1965 it was news that eight s1on fro r within which the church found Blacks had been newly appointed White itself was highly influential. The as superintendents of districts pact on '60s were a time which saw enact­ whose churches w ere mostly eluding ment of the U.S. Civil Rights Act, Bishop White: The Commission's first white, progress which surprised executiv1 possibly the most significant event. executive was highly regarded as a bridge­ most black leaders. By 1978 that 0tities, ( It was followed by the much-de- builder. figure had climbed to 39 and by lllajordi! 12 (300] EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 MARVIN ABRAMS, executive director, Native American International Caucus, believes the church bureaucracy too often finds Native American needs cost too much in either people or money es. 1986 to 50. Comparably, the num­ As the '60s neared their close, t( ber of ethnic minority bishops not there was one point of fairly quick nrr only went from five (only two of growth in the ethnic representa­ me them Blacks in desegregated areas) tion-black delegates elected to the firs: to 13 of the nation's 45 active General Conference by newly inte­ sfi: bishops, but included 11 Blacks, grated annual conferences rose to Jer. one Hispanic and one Asian, im­ 24 from 14 a quadrennium before. .. possible to call a "token." But after All of this change occasioned '~· more than a century of work with degrees of backlash from the ma­ en- Native Americans, none has even jority, some labeling efforts to te had serious consideration for elec­ ensure ethnic representation on ~ tion as a bishop. boards and staffs as " reverse dis­ jari General board leadership in­ minority persons for m1ss10nary crimination." Woodie White, now hi! cluded only two ethnic persons at service. One of the most successful bishop of the Illinois Area, pointed (I the top level in 1968 but three areas has been in securing ethnic out in 1978, however, that the general secretaries and several as­ community developers, several of denomination has legislated sociates a decade later and 17 chief whom have then entered the or­ quotas for leadership and employ­ executives in 1986. The gains with­ dained ministry, and at least une is ment, involving all sorts of criteria in groups vary widely-from 1969 now a district superintendent. The other than race-for women, for to 1984, executive posts went from board also is developing new one­ various ages, for ministers, for lay zero to 28 for Asians, 50 to 110 for year internships. But it is strug­ persons, for bishops.and for mem­ blacks, 6 to 29 for Hispanics and gling with the question of whether bers of the former Evangelical zero to 3 for Native Americans. its own selection process is "cul­ United Brethren Church, which Elected membership on those turally bound" and thus prejudi­ merged in 1968 with The Methodist boards changed during the same cial to ethnic persons. Church to form The United Meth­ span of time from 14 percent to 30 Although there have been in­ odist Church. percent ethnic. stances of slowness to hire ethnic Bishop Thomas says that some of The missionary scene too has persons, because of "lack of qualifi­ the calls for "excellence" and changed, but not so greatly. Offi­ cations," there also have been "qualifications" are evidence of cials of the General Board of Global some problems that recruitment of discrimination. Ministries stress two words in their ethnic leaders for higher positions But at all levels of the church, discussion of recruitment-inter­ has stretched thin the available leaders emphasize that the revolu­ na tionality and internationalize. ethnic pool. tion in leadership has been almost But they stress that the program is In its effort to secure ethnic exclusively at the top levels. One "not all we'd like-the majority is leadership, church agencies have Southern conference executive op­ by far still Caucasian." One favor­ relied heavily on affirmative ac­ timistically says "racism has ended able point, however, as noted by tion, depending primarily on goals in higher levels of the church." Peggy Billings, deputy general sec­ rather than quotas. The leadership of a black bishop retary of the Global Ministries' Development of ethnic minority or district superintendent didn't World Program Division, is that leadership has been one of the appear to affect congregations the church has moved from the major focuses of the church for the deeply in most cases, or they soon image of the "Western missionary" past quarter century, through all adjusted. to one including persons in mis­ general boards, the seminaries and For congregations, however, the sion from and to many countries. the more recently established eth­ changes have been less than start­ While striving to gain more im· nic centers, one for each grouping. ling. Though there are many more pact on ethnic communities, in­ A problem pointed out in the inter-racial congregations across cluding the 1986 hiring of an 1984 CORR report was that some the U.S. than before, and though executive especially to reach min­ ethnic persons are being over-uti­ there are cross-racial pastoral orities, Global Ministries finds a lized in leadership roles, to the appointments, the proportion is major difficulty in recruiting ethnic deprivation of others. small. Ethnic leaders are some-

EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 [301] 13 'It will take more than 20 years to end racism, to remove it from the structure.'

Naomi Southard

times hard put to explain the fledgling minority congregations up some steam in the second and Curri need for continuing to start or and have found they wern't third periods. It was continued in strengthen one-race congregations harmed by the process. One white 1984 largely because it was thought while still pressing for inter-racial person, after such an experience, to have only gained momentum groups and for the opening of said her unhappiness at sharing and promise for significant pastorates to all ministers regard­ was replaced by the feeling that achievement. less of race. "they brought us life." That priority, in the view of In 1972 the late Bishop Some 40 of the largest churches Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, was an Charles Golden had pre­ in Alabama-West Florida Annual attempt by the church to recognize member dicted that the Conference report some ethnic the crisis in the ethnic church, and has decli South might be members. each renewal of it an attempt to peak (w slower in erga­ Funds have been another major take the crisis more seriously. The on soci nizational change factor in the changes. Beginning in crisis included the siphoning off of bership but might well be 1964, General Conference decreed ethnics into upper leadership or drop1 "more thoroughly levels, which hurt the local church ~ow in inclusive of all racial because "we had no one in the st rong groups at all levels" than pipeline" for replacements. To him church, was then evident any­ the priority has been "a tremen­ challengE where. dous success if we simply stopped double i! In fact, Bish­ the tide of decline" among minori­ decade. op White now ties. Amoni says race relations in Bishop White says it enabled a sults of t ~~ii}.,..,. the orth are "worse new sense of pride in the ethnic been the [' than 10 years ago." communities. erment 0 At the congregational level, One of the problems that devel­ lloydW Bishop Thomas says the ethnic oped was the tendency to compete !hat this church has paid a high price for the among ethnic groups for larger race rela out-movement of leaders to higher slices of the "pie" available in view partners! positions, and there is need to find of the small size of the funds participat ways to support leadership at all available in comparison to the levels. Naomi Southard: Asian American cau­ Which af~ cus director believes EMLC crea ted aware­ needs which had developed before He is concerned at the lack of the church began to take serious ~try. " H ness that racial change is "a bigger task than pluralism open itineracy-cross-racial ap­ anyone realized ." corrective steps. pointments. While there are a Diverse languages have had a church. "surprising" number of such ap- special help for ethnic minorities­ new chance in the church, as Ano the pointments in the deep South, too first a fund to aid in equalizing hymnbooks, the Social Creed and Don HayJ man y are short-lived, and salary and pension payments for other major church documents ence exec\ churches tend to "rapidly go eth- pastors, then in 1970 a Fund for have been published in at least and ethni nic. " Reconciliation to help meet special Korean and Spanish. One of the strengths It is noted, however, that the needs and directions for each major changes in language has 1980 rene number of interracial membership board to reorder its priorities to been in the evolution of names ~~s , sho~ churches has grown, a statistic make more money available for applied to minority groups. The "Y the cht difficult to pin down. In the San ethnic development. church's (and nation's) largest mi­ need for Francisco District, it is reported In 1976 it began a series of three nority group has moved in the groups. that nearly all congregations have quadrennia of special emphases course of a generation from being .Curtis F minority members, significant in including the Ethnic Minority "colored" to Negro to black, not ron and f that most have small member- Local Church priority. During the only in its own terminology but aina notE ships. first quadrennium it had to com- that of most speakers and writers. changed fr A number of "white" churches pete with priorities on world hun­ Such derogatory terms as "nigger" ind denial have shared their buildings with ger and on evangelism, but picked are rarely heard now. coexisten1 ~nee. lie 14 (302) EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 ' ...The salary gap between whites and ethnics continues to widen.'

Re ne Bideaux

Curriculum too has become cruitment and training for ethnic There has been "some growth in more inclusive in words and pic­ leaders and " the failure to evange­ understanding of the Indians' tures and concepts. While this lize in the ethnic minority commu­ plight, " says the Rev. Marvin might seem "cosmetic" to some, nity" or to organize new ethnic Abrams, executive director of the Bishop Roy Sano (Denver Area) churches. Native American caucus, but " not sees it as the beginning of substan­ In spite of its difficulties, most a lot of seriousness. He echoes tive change. leaders see the EMLC priority as Cruz's complaint of " no follow-up While the total United Methodist having achieved several things. to resolutions." While people at membership (9.2 million today) The Hispanics are more involved the grass roots are supportive of has declined steadily from its 1968 in decision-making, says Dalila change, he notes, " the structure" peak (which some detractors blame Cruz, executive of the Hispanic too often finds that expressed on social concerns), ethnic mem­ caucus, by added membership on needs cost too much, in either . bership that was generally steady boards and staffs. This is especially people or money. or dropping has again begun to true "in terms of being included" Kyoto Fujiu, on the staff of the grow in some areas. Particularly since the election of a Hispanic Commission on the Status and strong has been the Korean bishop in 1984. She is disturbed, Role of Women, mentions that a church, from which came the 1984 however, that the Hispanic agenda mid-1970s hesitancy to receive Ko­ challenge for the denomination to is not being dealt with by most rean churches and pastors into double its membership within the boards and in some conferences, annual conferences has given way decade. that efforts for recruitment of His­ to receptivity and growth in con­ Among the most welcomed re­ panic women for board staffs have gregations, especially among Kore­ sults of the missional priority has been stymied and that one general ans. ·c been the strengthening or empow­ board (which she refuses to name) Concern is expressed, however, erment of ethnic groups. Pastor continues to pass good-sounding by the Rev. Rene Bideaux, chief Lloyd Wake of San Francisco notes resolutions but offers little action as executive of the Board of Global that this has gone beyond "good a result. Ministries' National Program Divi­ race relations" or paternalism to sion, that some United Methodist partnership-'' ethnic minorities agencies have gone along with participating in decision-making shifts in ecumenical funding from which affects their lives and min­ direct ministries-such as with istry." He says the move toward ethnic minorities and the poor-to pluralism has enriched the entire a core or general budget. He also church. sees that some church agencies Another aspect pointed out by which were "very intentional in Don Hayashi, a California confer­ recruiting from ethnic minorities ence executive, is that both whites have given up" and that the salary and ethnics found the latter had gap between whites and ethnics strengths to offer the church. The continues to widen. 1980 renewal of the priority, he Ben Bushyhead, director of a says, showed "we had been heard Native American church center in by the church" as it recognized its Oklahoma, declares that "if the need for leadership from all Christian religion was practiced as groups. it should be, The United Methodist Curtis Ford, a conference Reli­ Church would not have to have an gion and Race chairperson in Ala­ EMLC priority." He continues, bama notes that the picture has "The church has made no move to changed from confrontation, anger recognize the needs of Native and denial (and locked doors) to Rene Bideaux: Mission executive says Americans, and our spiritual expe­ coexistence and limited accep­ some ch urch agencies have given up on rience and needs are ignored." tance. He decries the lack of re- recruiting ethnic minorities. One thing the priority did ac- NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 (303] 15 'The church has paid a high price for the out­ movement of (Black) leaders to higher positions.'

Bishop James S. Thomas

complish, according to Naomi against a black student in a South neighb Southard, executive director of the Carolina military academy. Unem­ The Asian American caucus, is to create ployment remains several times most f: I I an awareness that racial change is higher for ethnics than for whites. t ervie ~ "a bigger task than anyone rea­ While a suburban Washington itinera1 lized." show intimate relationships be­ district superintendent asserts that to rs on . · ~ .. ·l'!·'·•u"•·"'II After a period in which consider­ tween these and racism, the global "suspicion and arrogance are their ri \ · 1~ able change has occurred-ex­ Kirk, i 1-• , ~ aspects of all such issues, are met nourished by the lack of communi­ ... treme or minimal, depending upon with scorn or a shrug . cation," a news columnist reports whow1 ·r. .. ,. the viewpoint-the church contin­ In contrast to widespread aid that the Ku Klux Klan and some Centra. ues in the 1980s in a period of programs and mutual develop­ other extremist groups have estab­ fo rmer contradictory changes within and ment efforts, the nation shall face lished a state of the art computer delicatE around it. The day of extremism the backlash, including violence, network for exchanging views. satisfac from whichever side, has not exhibited by beatings of Asian Bishop Nichols notes that both epiSCOf ended. Americans in Detroit and Califor­ economic conditions and the "cli­ the loci It is easy to strike out at South nia, by beatings of blacks in New mate of the Reagan administra­ It ccJ· Africa as being so much worse, York City and the subsequent tion" have arrested progress for minorit thus an excuse for not doing more retaliation, by black opposition to ethnics. been e to end racism here. Other prob­ Asian business in Washington, A university researcher finds black ci lems-hunger, peace, education, D.C., by fights between black and that the highest black/white segre­ attitudE sexism-gain sway for a time and white baseball fans in Massachu­ gation today is in the North, !€Ives. 111U· f, I! then are lost to apathy. Attempts to setts, by Klan-hooded scare tactics especially in older metropolitan said "t

outside and within the Central of the Illinois Area. of "con Dealing with Jurisdiction, for a new type of White was the person the new There agency-one that would more fully commission quickly settled on, in volved, deal with the nature and needs of 1968, to be its first executive. He 1ession the Needs all the church's ethnic minorities. It came out of an inner~ity church ers of passed. and a bridge-building mission in probabl After a flurry over whether Detroit to develop the same type of portive of Minorities jurisdictions had to elect minorities approach across the church. The black an to fill most of the CORR member­ commission's tasks were to help eyes ar ship slots (the Judicial Council merge the racially separate confer­ words ruled they did not), the:i·e was a ences, to counsel local churches racism t The Commission On Religion and strong recommendation for such seeking inclusiveness, to cooperate This wi Race, which appeared to be born representation-and it happened. with other black denominations, to mergers on the floor of the 1968 General Basically, this was a continuance coordinate support for movements east, an Conference, grew directly out of of the voluntary approach which for justice, to supervise funds and express planning by the new black caucus, satisfied some and dismayed other efforts aimed at more equal counter Black Methodists for Church Re­ others. But it was a new concept in opportunities within the church. uingne newal. allowing minorities to become the In its own bridge-building ef­ There In the recommendations of the majority in this one agency. Out of forts, the commission saw its scope mission Interjurisdictional Commission to it came community-a " family" as helping the church " understand bama d the General Conference, there was relationship which this writer saw the pervasive nature of racism and Souther one calling for its own continuance nowhere else among United Meth­ to move ... to lessen its impact and ~I an for to deal with black conference trans­ odist boards and agencies. to finally eliminate it." lllroacts fer matters. During that debate And it worked " in greater degree It often used the word "con­ ~ly in came a motion from Roy Nichols, than" quotas would have, in the front," but it more often employed tension i who had pastored churches both view of Woodie W. White, bishop the rest of its role characterization s1on mE 16 [304) NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 neighborhoods. moving away from the inner city The United Methodist problem and the black majority. most frequently mentioned in in­ The time element is pointed out terviews for this article is open as a major factor in racism and its itinerancy, the movement of pas­ solution. Southard feels that "it tors on the basis of their ability, not will take more than 20 years to end their race or color. Dr. W. Astor racism, to remove it from the Kirk, a management consultant structure," but the commitment who was one of the architects of the may be lacking because change is Central Jurisdiction's preparation painful, the problem may seem too for merger, calls this still "the most big and people get tired of long­ delicate area," though he finds America's greatest success story" range involvement. However, she satisfaction with changes in the but that progress has to be spread adds, while the white community episcopacy and other levels above to others. A black campus chaplain has the option of forgetting the the local church. in Maryland deplored the attempt issue of racism for a while, "ethnic It could happen for any ethnic to assimilate into mainstream so­ people have no choice, cannot minority, but the warnings have ciety instead of working for an escape dealing with it." She also been especially strong from the organization benefiting the black notes that Asians are often consid­ black community about their own community. An Afro-American ered to be a "model minority" and attitudes that are harmful to them­ studies professor labeled success­ doing well in all aspects. Not only selves. A black news columnist ful blacks as traitors for getting a is this not true, she avers, but the said "the black middle class is good education and job and then concept has been used at times to of "confronter, enabler, initiator." Roy Nichols ble, ethnic minorities were becom­ There is sometimes pain in­ became first ing more self-aware and vocal. The volved, as in an early "sensitivity" black elected commission soon recognized and session requested by women lead­ a bishop utilized the ethnic caucus groups ers of the Southeast. These are outside the that built on the example of probably the most open and sup­ Central BMCR-for Asian, Native Ameri­ portive people in the region, both Jurisdiction . cans and Hispanics. Beyond that it black and white, but most had their helped these groups, and the eyes and ears singed with new church as a whole, to become words and concepts, views of sides of the racism issue and aware of the further diversity with­ racism they had not encountered. struggled to present their views- in all ethnic groupings. This was a year after conference educating both ways. The role of ethnic caucuses con- mergers had begun in the South­ There was pain when the com- tinues strong, even to being pro­ east, and the women were able to mission met in Jackson, Mississip- gram agencies themselves rather express their own fears and en­ pi, where some churches had ex- than merely advocates of change. counter those of others in a contin­ eluded black or mixed-race groups Among Asians, where immigra­ uing new process. from worship. Again, there was tion is high and projected to in­ There was pain when the com­ hearing of both sides, confronta- crease, the caucus has to provide mission met in Birmingham, Ala­ tion, but in a setting meant to transition to American-type bama, during the week when five highlight reason against negative church organization. This is done Southern governors gathered to emotions. largely through helping to adjust plan forceful resistance to further A major part of the commission's differences between cultures and inroads into segregation, particu­ "power" lay in its administration providing acceptance, according to larly in education. Despite the of the Minority Group Self-Deter- Naomi Southard of the National tension that could be felt, commis­ minationFund. Established in 1970 Federation of Asian American sion members heard from both with a potential somewhat invisi- United Methodists. NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 (305) 17 The church can't elimi­ nate racism .. . but it can help to abate it.'

Bishop Roy Sano

make blacks and other minorities that the church recognize that not pies of "look bad." all racial groups are at the same haveP.' Bushyhead holds that the church point in their needs, and thus the Whi "is saying, 'You have to be like us structure and answers need flexi­ "firs t t because we won't let you change bility. churcH us."' He adds: "There is no such Overall the opinion that came conditi thing as separate but equal, espe­ through in interviews for this arti­ He feel cially when one party is subsidiz­ cle was one of promise and hope. unique ing the other. Subsidization creates The church can't eliminate racism, identif] .. . a paternalistic/subordinate sit­ because, says Sano, it can be primaq uation." with ethnic minority emphases, is suppressed and then recur like a that"w Racism doesn't seem to want to an indicator of racism in the view of virus, but it can help to abate it. has be go away," says Cruz of the Hispan­ Abrams. He sees some hope "in Bishop Thomas sees racism as churcn ic caucus. She sees a reluctance maybe another 30 years." covering a "multiplicity of social across the church to " going much Bishc Even the fact of talking about dynamics" not all of them directly Metho further" regarding ethnics, even a inclusiveness is an indicator of racial but concerned also with pulling-back and a development of racism, according to Fujiu, it national and individual aspects. more subtle racism, " the worse shows, she says, that "some are Leaders expressed real opti­ kind to deal with." out and some are in," while we mism. Bishop Thomas says "we Talk in the church about" getting need to find a new definition of can't give up the fight because

"'I I on to other issues," after a decade what the church means. She urges there are some wonderful exam-

,.t II I I ,, I Another rising population is that ed to its education and credibility aspects shared both praise and of Hispanics, and how the church He s was the establishment of ethnic blame in the movement toward are to addresses that potential is crucial, concerns committees among the greater compliance. are the says Dalla Cruz, executive director members. By including representa­ But how effective has CORR ~ ·. of Methodists Associated Repre­ tives of each ethnic group, and Ano been in this effort? Bishop White earlier ..,,,.. t .. senting the Cause of Hispanic whites as well, within each such says that it did "remarkably well" Americans. MARCHA attempts to committee, each member gained in the realm of structural inclusive­ Bishop find models of churchmanship ap­ appreciation for the needs and ness. ~st bis propriate for Hispanic involve­ contributions of the other, and He points out, for instance, that )Urisdi ment and contributions, as well as inter-ethnic rivalry and envy were before 1968, "ethnic" representa­ Within pushing for general church action. abated. White remarks that "most tion in General Conference was credits She points out that one general white people don't know how to be only from the Central Jurisdiction. not neg board has just established a His­ a minority," an experience which Now there are more black dele­ men t s ~ panic advisory committee after the this process provided. While it gates than ever before, all from fundiri caucus pushed for one for eight made many persons uncomfort­ desegregated conferences, there Wit years. able, they also appreciate the expe­ are voting delegates from the Okla­ ership Part of the slowness of action is rience. In this and other ways it homa Indian Missionary Confer­ have , "our responsibility," in the view of worked to make ethnics "less invis­ ence and many delegates of Asian made' the Rev. Marvin Abrams, chairman ible" to each other and to whites. and Hispanic origin. lina dis of the National American Interna­ Another activity for the commis­ As to the racism aspect, Bishop Bethea tional Caucus. He says Native sion was monitoring, not only of White notes that the commission of segre Americans need to become more how the funds were used but also worked hard to develop attitudinal Op po aggressive, to show how things how denominational agencies at all changes but started at the top and action. can work." levels responded to the church's worked down, and was never able The A primary means of operation mandates toward inclusiveness to develop a program that reached &ornt for the commission that contribut- and equality. Its reports on these fully to the local church. encec in 18 (306) NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 Alao ples of what can be done, and they cannot be solved by a campaign have prepared people for change." approach and then forgotten. White said in 1981 that it was the Facing the church, as several "first time I feel the health of the point out, is the growing propor­ church in matters of race is in better tion of ethnic minorities in the condition than that of our nation." population, both nationally and He feels that United Methodism is color-blind church," that much of world-wide. Many U.S. cities now unique among denominations in the change in power has been have an ethnic minority as their identifying racial inclusiveness as a cosmetic, that "we are heading majority of citizens, and the pros­ primary concern. And Wake adds back to the status quo." And Curtis pects are high that some states will that "what has happened in society Ford's feeling that the ethnic mi­ soon have the same situation, or at has been strongly resisted in the nority, especially the laity, are in least a significant minority fraction. church." danger of losing their identity and In this scenario, the church Bishop Nichols believes United are expected to become a "white might do well to consider the Methodism "has done as much as church." "people pin" cited at the beginning any comparable institution to What happens to the current of this article and a similar meta­ dramatize its intention to integrate church-wide priority on the Ethnic phor often used by Woodie White. the church." Minority Local Church looms large Instead of the traditional "melting Against this comes the opinion in thinking this year. Most of those pot" approach, he proffers a salad of Rhett Jackson that there is "no interviewed think it should cease bowl, in which each item retains its real commitment of believers in a to be a separate item, that racism identity and color. o

He stressed that "the closer you out" the commission, which is are to the local church, the clearer Barbara "not now seen as a watchdog are the evidences of racism." Thompson: wanting to bite." Says CORR's Another leader involved from the impact Bishop Roy Sano says the agency earlier days of merger efforts is has been "has trained thousands of whites Bishop James S. Thomas, one of the significant to be able to cope with white last bishops elected by the Central racism," that it has empowered Jurisdiction, its first to be assigned racial minorities and has stopped within another jurisdiction. He " negative practices" in many insti­ credits CORR for being "helpful, sion as providing "good, inspiring tutions. He is grateful for its pro­ not negative," for "careful" achieve­ and instructive" workshops and viding "memorable moments" of ments in monitoring, training and consultation but with "very limited cooperation among minorities. As funding for empowerment. results at the local church level." If a Japanese-American, he recalls Without the commission's lead­ it doesn't happen at the local especially the generosity of Filipi­ ership "we probably would not church level, stresses Ford, "it is nos who had experienced a Japa­ have made the progress we have merely cosmetic." nese invasion, and feels that a new made," according to North Caro­ White's successor, Barbara opennessinchurchandsocietyhas lina district superintendent Joseph Thompson, says the changes are helped Japanese-Americans to talk Bethea, who cites the dismantling not due solely to the commission, openly about what once of segregated structures as creating but it "had significant impact." "shamed"them-their internment opportunities for more racial inter­ While she feels frustrated by the by the U.S. during World War II. action. inability to measure" changes, she Rev. Nichols, the first black The evaluation is not so positive is certain that consciousness of the elected bishop outside the Central from the Rev. Curtis Ford, a confer­ issues has been raised. Jurisdiction, calls CORR "the most ence chairman of Religion and Race Bishop Handy holds that "we necessary piece" in the process of in Alabama, who sees the commis- wouldn't be where we are with- change. o

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 [307] 19

hy did we have to wait W so long? The question kept popping up while it was all happening-and long after it was all over. For years and years, there was talk of bringing the worldwide Methodist family under one roof to discuss God's Mission in today's world. But nothing came of it until last spring's "Global Gathering" in Louisville, Ky., which drew an unexpectedly large turnout of more than 4,000 people from 40 countries and all SO U.S. states and Puerto Rico. By a~l accounts, the international get-together represented an im­ portant milestone for the 9.2 mil­ lion-member United Methodist Church. Although it is the coun­ try's largest single mainline de­ nomination, the church has sel- dom held a gathering as large and I as diverse as the Louisville mission 1 event for at least two decades. From the moment Dr. Randolph Nugent, top executive of the UMC' s General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), formally opened the gathering in the eve­ ning of March 12th, an infectious sense of celebration and joy seemed to hang over the entire proceedings-all the way to the Sunday commissioning service for 39 new missionaries that conclud­ ed the event three days later. Setting the tone for the Global Gathering, Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, in the rousing sermon he gave at the opening ceremonies, declared: "God says: Will you be my fellow workers? We say: Yes, so we can see the transformation of the king­ doms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ. And He shall reign forever and ever." Speaking to a visibly moved audience, the 1984 Nobel Peace Laureate said it was part of every Christian's duty to demand the dismantling of South Africa' s white racist system and to support the black majority's struggle for full democratic participation. "The Bible demands we work for people to participate," said the Anglican leader, "even though it's neater to have one person to decide for the many." The heartwarming ovation that greeted the archbishop's speech echoed the tremendous enthusi- confere asm that had preceded the gather­ aowd. ing itself. A full two weeks earlier, Signifi the gathering' s organizers had caJlle to found themselves saddled with the sons; the unwelcome task of having to tum three to o down latecoming participants for away as the simple reason that every square Jands in ! inch of the Galt House' s cavernous by as nei ballroom had already been ac­ it deep counted for. To enable the veritable exchange sea of people to view the proceed­ viewpoin ings, two giant video screens had nited to be set up high above the ball­ They room while closed-circuit TV cov­ ma ny la erage had to be piped into several styles th< sung in I ings in S A silent moment in the midst rendered of worship and celebration . solemn r

."'~..~ The Challenges of hat extraordinary crea­ "Praise the Lord, my soul! 0 was in HJ •'"' tures we are. Almost Lord my God how great you are! is intrinsi I ~~ W It does ... ~ the ultimate paradox, not quite . You are clothed with majesty and l God's Mission neous arJ .... But here we are, utterly finite and glory. You cover yourself with By Desmond Tutu limited but made for the infinite. light .. ." skin col01 St. Augustine put it well when he It is such a God who created us, our ab ili~ •" said, "Thou (God) hast made us for created us because he wanted us, beauty, o : .·,ti thyself and our hearts are restless out of the bounty of his divine and remarkab ~ I • 1,,1 until they find their rest in thee." overflowing love. And that invests writing th How many of us have come a each one of us with an incredible spirits of ~ I bunch of ",,' cropper when we have sought to worth, that we are each the conse­ ... find our satisfaction in things other quence of the divine love created was thu 11 than God-wealth, drugs, sex, because we were wanted and not somewha reputation; all when pursued as if because we were needed, the ob­ be asser they were the be all and end all of ject of a love that lacked nothing, women, r our human existence have turned that lacks nothing, that will lack women 1 to ashes in our mouths and left us nothing to be truly and fully God. image--"1 frustrated and thoroughly disillu­ He them'I '" sioned and dissatisfied. And this is The Imago Dei It is a ~ J II not surprising because God has and Our Infinite Value weare ere, created us like Himself and He has The mission of God is really to every hu created us for Himself. This capaci­ restore all things to the condition white, pc I ty for God makes us essentially which accords most approximately unsophist I: worshipping creatures, hence the with the divine will, which we than this ,,,,,, injunction that we should worship have tried to thwart in all kinds of adult is th God alone. If we do not worship ways by our disobedience. God's God's viei and adore God then we will wor­ mission is to bring all things to their versive of ship someone or something. We fulfillment in His kingdom where ion. For are wonderfully and fearfully His will obtains for the good of all, remains t made, exclaims the psalmist. We to bring all things to a wholeness to thing aboi are made to give glory and honour a shalom that has always been beings mu to God. That is our primary end­ God's will for the entire creation. respected I to know, to love and serve God and The Hebrews were forbidden to awe and r to enjoy Him forever in heaven. carve any image of their God Injustice Thus we exist primarily to wor­ Yahweh. The only proper image lorear e no ship.and adore God, for his honour that could represent Yahweh was ~e ; for 1 and glory. How wonderful that the this extraordinary creature He had b1blica[ d epistle to the Ephesians should brought into being as the pinnacle beings, th open with a magnificent paean of of His creative enterprise. "Let us phernous. praise. That all we do and all that create man in our own image." erts in the God had done is for the praise and That makes human beings of incal­ are temple honour of his most holy name. culable worth twice over. We were des of the And so we start at the beginning invested with infinite value ince cal and utt, and have our priorities right when God created us becau e He loved that the vat we exult with the psalmist. us and then when He created us it be found u 22 (310) EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 conference rooms for the spillover crowd. Significantly, most of those who came to the gathering were layper­ sons; they outnumbered the clergy three to one. They came from as fa r away as the sunny Solomon Is­ lands in the South Pacific to as close by as neighboring Indiana, parts of it deep in late winter snow, to exchange ideas, experiences and viewpoints about mission and the United Methodist Church. They also came to worship in many languages and liturgical styles that included gospel music sung in Korean, responsive read­ ings in Spanish, biblical passages rendered in modern dance, and a Betty Gordon of West Virginia delivers mission litany at reaffirmation solemn reaffirmation of baptism of baptism service. '

was in His own image. Our worth the faith of the Bible. is intrinsic to who we are. It is not a matter It does not depend on an extra­ of being moved Male and Female neous arbitrary attribute such as Created He Them skin color. Nor does it depend on by this or that There is no place in the creation our ability, our achievement, our response to the revelation of God beauty, our cleverness, etc. It is a political or other fo r sexism. Isn't it remarkable that remarkable fact that in a piece of ideology to be literature that is actually largely the writing that was designed to lift the work of some quite rabid male spirits of a thoroughly dejected passionately chauvinists should actually say the bunch of exiled Jews and which sort of things it does about women? was thus propagandistic and concerned for Isn't it remarkable that in making somewhat jingoistic, that it should racial justice. It is the staggering claim about God's be asserted that all men and human creatures the biblical au­ women, not just Jewish men and to be obedient to thors should have said, "And God women were created in God's the imperatives created man in his own image, image-"male and female created male and female created He them." He them". of the faith of the The Good News Bible translates, It is a staggering assertion that "So God created human beings we are created in God' s image, that Bible. making them to be like Himself. He every human person, black or created them male and female . . . " white, poor or rich, learned or attribute which fro m the nature of Thus it is not trying to be in unsophisticated, beautiful or less the case can be possessed only by vogue to be climbing the latest than this, male or female, child or some and not by others. bandwagon to be concerned about adult is thus God's representative, For instance, a particular color the place of women in society and God's viceroy. How utterly sub­ and other racial characteristics are in the church. There can be no true versive of injustice and oppress­ by their very nature not universal liberation which ignores the ques­ ion. For this reason the Bible phenomena. Consequently poli­ tions raised 'by the movement for remains the most revolutionary cies that are based on racial dis­ the liberation of women. thing about in the world. Human crimination must be rejected out of There can never be only sectional beings must not just by rights be hand and condemned as unbiblical freedom, for freedom is indivisible. respected but they must be held in and heretical. We are constrained again by our awe and reverence. We are bidden by the impera­ theology to seek after the whole­ Injustice and oppression there­ tives of our biblical fa ith to oppose ness of human society. It is no fore are not just wrong, which they apartheid and other policies such optional extra to be so concerned, are; for those who accept the as Nazism and Communism since for as long as some part of our biblical doctrine about human they treat some of God's children society is unfree, to that extent all beings, they are positively blas­ as if they were less than His. They of us will remain unfree and have a phemous. After all, the Bible as­ treat God's viceroys as other than distorted humanity. serts in the New Testament that we the tremendous persons they are. are temples, sanctuaries, taberna­ It is not thus a matter of being Participation in Decision Making cles of the Holy Spirit. It is unbibli­ moved by this or that political or Undeniable Right cal and utterly unchristian to claim other ideology to be passionately God created us freely for freedom that the value of human beings is to concerned for racial justice. It is to and so created us to be moral be found in their possession of an be obedient to the imperatives of agents. We are persons and not EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 [311] 23 vows using water from rivers in 15 suffering from alcoholism in the nations. Indian reservations of the South­ Contributing to the festive atmo­ west. Providing a lighter touch to sphere was a large mission fair, the occasion, a large crowd gath­ dubbed the "Global Village," ered nearby at the Church World which brought individual mission­ Service (CWS) booth to gawk at aries from various fields face to face twin baby goats, appropriately with people interested in Method­ christened "Global" and "Mis­ ist work around the world and in sion," born the night before. the United States. Besides the major religious cele­ One morning, as Japanese danc­ brations and speakers' panels that ers and American square dancers were held at the ballroom, the performed in the "village square," participants attended luncheon a Native American pastor found workshops on subjects that in­ himself talking to a Nepalese mid­ cluded everything from mission wife about his ministry to people work in Asia to church renewal in

A former missionary movingly recalls the struggles of the people of Sierra Leone. Kimono-cl Below: Bishop Onema Fama of Zaire gives communion to missionary Candice Liscomb, color to th who once served in his country. ~ndolph

automatons precisely because of any meaningful participation in every th our ability to choose to obey or not political decision making and God'sin to obey, to choose to love or not to which invokes the name of God in fuere sh love. the preamble to that constitution, it monywi Intrinsically, we are decision mak­ is possible for such a government fuis ham ing animals. God, who alone has to have uprooted 3 1/2 million because the perfect right to be a totalitarian, blacks from their former stable and vegetaria has such a profound respect for settled communities and to dump garden a this God-given freedom that He these people as if they were things, not exac had much rather see us go freely to as if they were rubbish, in poverty of deligh hell than compel us to go to stricken Bantustans-homeland heis afte1 heaven. It is thus to undermine our resettlement camps where children knows al human personhood to lock us out are made to suffer not accidentally good for 1 of the decision-making processes but by deliberate government poli­ Adam tc and to exclude a person from cy and black family life is under­ among participation in the making of mined through the migratory labor makes to decisions which have a significant system, which sees the black father asks, "WI bearing on his/her life. It is again leaving his wife and children eking Adam re1 not merely to want to be fashion­ out a miserable existence in the about thi able, to be in vogue, to climb homeland reserve whilst he, if he is file!" and bandwagons, to say the kind of lucky, goes to work in the white ~ ea . He society which is demanded by the man's town, living an unnatural out of his biblical understanding of the existence in a single-sex hostel for creature scheme of things is one that is eleven months of the year. awakes h participatory. Human beings have It is possible for this to happen ~st wha their personhood denied or se­ because persons are dehumanized, That sto verely undermined when they they are stripped of their essential thananyt have others believing they know personhood and humanity. togethern what is best for them and have to The Bible and Christianity de­ family. I accept the solutions to their prob­ mand that we must work assid­ we say, lems which others have provided. uously for the kind of community through 0 Indeed often others determine where people will count because I learn what their problems ought to be. they are created in the image of think as a Blacks in South Africa have far too God and so need to be consulted, be a hUJ frequently been the victims of this, need to be seen and heard even if it others . I being objects whom others dis­ is often neater and more efficient to world fur cuss. We are talked about exces­ have programmed solutions than persons !1 sively but we are seldom engaged those which are arrived at after seU. We a in dialogue. often time consuming negotiation dence. w We are turned into objects and and discussion and participation network c treated in a manner befitting ob­ by all who may be affected by those depend en jects not subjects. So it is possible decisions. go hornbl for a government that claims to be break th · Christian and which in its latest To Be Human Is to being, 1984 model constitution which ex­ Be a Social Being :~ cludes 73% of the population from God put Adam in the garden and ~trunins trur Ction v (312) NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JU LY- AUGUST 1987 Kimono-clad Japanese dancers (above) give added da sh of color to the reaffirmation of baptism service led by Th e Rev. Randolph Nugent (right) . everything was wonderful. In ty, for a fraction of the budgets of out to bring about at-one-ment, God's intention it was meant that death would ensure that God's reconciliation in this situation and there should be a primordial har­ children everywhere had enough severed relations of alienation, of mony within the created order and to eat, had a decent and stable estrangement. this harmony excludes bloodshed family life, adequate housing, The Bible looks forward to a time because all in the garden are clothing and education and a clean coming when that purpose frus­ vegetarian. Adam is set in the supply of water. To be concerned trated for a while would be garden as God's steward. But he is about the arms race is not faddish. achieved. And so as Herman Gun­ not exactly in the seventh heaven It is to be anxious about family, kel put it, "Endzeit ist urzeit" . The of delight as he should be, seeing God's family, the human family to time of the end is as the time of the he is after all in paradise. God, who which we all belong willy nilly. It is beginning. That is why we who knows all, remarks that, "It is not a biblical concern this one about the celebrate the essential goodness of good for man to be alone". He asks real possibility that we might just all God's creation (material and Adam to choose a mate from unleash a global catastrophe that spiritual, for all that God created, among the animals which he might see the obliteration of our he saw and it was not just good­ makes to parade before Adam and world and all life in it. The possibil­ no, it was very good) must be asks, "What about this one?" and ity of being consigned to the involved in the ecological move­ Adam replies "Nope", "And what oblivion out of which God's crea­ ment not just as a political con­ about this one?" "Not on your tive fiat called us. cerned, not just as a secular mun­ life!" and so God hits on a brilliant dane one but because of our reli- idea. He puts Adam to sleep and Ecology and the Kingdom gious convictions. out of his rib forms that delectable We were set in the universe to rule And we can look not for the creature Eve and when Adam over it compassionately, reverently annihilation of the created order awakes he exclaims "Wow! that's and responsibly as God's stew­ but for the emergence of a new just what the doctor ordered." ards. We were meant to be as heaven and a new earth. That story says more eloquently caring as a good farmer who tends than anything that we are made for the soil, not being wantonly waste- Justice and Prosperity togetherness, for fellowship, for ful of irreplaceable natural re- And so we are challenged to work family. In our African languages sources and not behaving irre- with God for the full realization of we say, "A person is a person sponsibly towards nature, pollut- His kingdom here on earth. It is through other persons." ing the air and water so recklessly. noteworthy first how the paradisal I learn how to eat, talk, walk, The Bible tells charming stories existence which will be reestab­ think as a human being indeed to about the earth producing thistles lished on earth will be inaugurated be a human being, only from and the snake now no longer by this expected one whom God others. I do not come into the friendly but being a sinister pres- will send and he will establish world fully formed. I need other ence lurking to bruise our heel justice and judge with integrity. persons to become a person my­ whilst we were on the lookout to Concern for justice and opposition self. We are made for interdepen­ crush its head. No one can now say to injustice and oppression must be dence. We belong in a delicate that that is poppycock. Nature is a passionate concern of religious network of relationships of inter­ red in tooth and claw and we are people if they take their Bibles and dependence and all kinds of things facing an ecological disaster. their Lord and master seriously at go horribly badly wrong when we God's purpose is to restore that all. break that fundamental law of our primordial harmony which was his And if we are religious, then in being, when some spend billions original intention, a harmony that the kingdom we shall be spirit­ on instruments of death and de­ was shattered by sin. The story of filled people. If we are spirit-filled, struction we know it is an obsceni- the Bible is the story of how God set beware, for we shall not be kept in EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 (313) 25 the American midwest. In the of miss evenings, right after the end of three , official programs at 9:30 p.m., the Method action shifted to the youth coffee- had pal house where country music and tions conversation reigned till about address midnight. The high spirits pre- tured' vailed even during the three-day sion w mission bus tour of National Divi- fueGB( sion projects in the Appalachian for intrl region that some 140 participants meeting joined immediately after the At It Louisville event. before t Gatherii Affirming the Wesleyan Tradition iors call Apart from boosting United Meth- propos odist spirits, the gathering provid- 1tructur ed an ideal forum for the introduc- ism" to tion of the GBGM' s new theology commih atthe sa ------....--

a spiritual ghetto to luxuriate in the deep spiritual experience we have had. This spirit is awkward be­ cause he sends Jesus after his baptism into the wilderness to engage the evil one in mortal combat. When you are anointed with the spirit and the Lord then these are the things which issue from that anointing, the prophe­ cies in Isaiah 61. The religion of the kingdom is all embracing or it is an ~bomination to the Lord of the Kingdom, as told again in Isaiah. God calls on us to be His fellow workers to respond to the chal­ lenges of His kingdom and then we will see the kingdom of this world become the kingdom of our God and His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever. Amen. o

The Most Rev. Desmond Mpilo Tutu, 1984 Nobel Peace Laureate, is the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa . -Each is he some some A solemn moment at the Sunday commissioning service (a bove); at the Global Village square, African dancers whip up an infectious beat of celebration (top right). rnissi Louisville's press corps listens to Bishop James Ault (bottom photo , right) as Bishop Desmond Tutu a Pa1 and GBGM General Secretary Randolph Nugent (both seated) await their turn at opening day press conference. to us

26 [314] EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 of mission statement. For the past three years, some 1,000 United Methodists from all walks of life had participated in nine consulta­ tions in five continents to try to address the current state and fu­ ture direction of the church's mis­ sion work. On October 24, 1986, the GBGM approved the statement for introduction at the Louisville meeting. At their spring meeting just before the opening of the Global Gathering, the GBGM board direc­ tors called for further study of a proposed " new programmatic structure on mission and evangel­ ism" to emphasize the church's commitment to spread the Gospel at the same time that it responds to Signs of God's Mission Today By James Mase Ault

he first words to be spoken tion appearances stretched across T are from Holy Scripture. 40 days. When they were together, "You shall receive power when the Jesus talked with them about the Each one of us Holy Spirit is come upon you and kingdom of God. Not surprising is here because you shall be my witnesses in that He focused on the kingdom of Jerusalem and in all Judea and to God since the kingdom of God was somewhere, the ends of the earth." the primary focu s of His Galilean sometime a The first pentecostal moment in ministry. mission came after the resurrection In the presence of the risen Jesus missionary cut of Jesus. Luke reports in his second who appeared to them, who taught book that Jesus presented himself them as of old about the kingdom a path of grace alive after his crucifixion, not just of God, the disciples became con­ to us. once but in different times and scious of a new inward power. A places. And these post-resurrec- power that transformed them and EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 [315) 27 the social concerns of the people it serves. This move, according to some board directors, was in line with the spirit of the mission theology statement, which read in part: "In the Wesleyan tradition, partner­ ship in God's mission is personal WORKSHOP 10 and social, inseparably combining WANT TO evangelism and social action." 0 you The statement called on all part­ ~ lONARY! ner churches to be both sending BE A r& and receiving churches, unlike in the past when the- U.S. church was primarily viewed as the sending church and the overseas churches Workshops and worship also drew young participants who sometimes napped (above) or braved the speeches with Mom and Dad f (right).

their outlook on the world. They active m1ss1onary work by the concentri were being possessed by the spirit An old saying disciples of Jesus. The disciples Judea to of God and that spirit was growing puts it th is way: waited. The Holy Spirit came upon rope to mysteriously within them. Not them. They received power. They ~rts of unlike the leaven hidden in the " ... missionaries became witnesses, beginning called th1 three measures of meal-a parable where they were-in Jerusalem. Mission. Jesus once used to describe one were men and This sending forth by the risen Christian glimpse into the kingdom of God. women who .. Jesus is in reality the mission to the ~ ter in " . ~ I This inner activity of the Holy Gentiles. This sending is God's Great Ce1 Spirit stirred them to remember loved to travel; own activity in human history. expansio1 their call: "Follow me and I will they were Some New Testament scholars and 1815until make you fishers of men." But a teachers claim that God's mission War I. TI question from the past persisted: prepared to be is the key to the meaning of all of andNo rtl "Lord will you at this time restore history. This is a bold claim. A ~e first the kingdom to Israel?" And the fools for Christ's claim under which the church will laking the answer Jesus gave was more im­ sake." live down to the end of the human earth. U portant than the question asked: story. God's activity makes his­ ary move "It is not for you to know the times tory. Or put another way, the great of the wo or the seasons which the Father has They were set free and they commission reported by each gos­ lian. And fixed by his own authority." And awaited the future with hope be­ pel writer in telling the history of lived in then Jesus quickly adds the divine cause in the present moment, they Jesus is at one with the pentecostal rope. Bx connective 'but': became his witnesses. Surely, the sending recorded in the Acts of the entury, "But you shall receive power and inner persuasion of the Holy Spirit Apostles. The beginning of the populatio you shall be my witnesses." excited their minds, warmed their church and the writing of the New were fou By his answer, Jesus shifts the hearts, stimulated their minds and Testament are traced to the risen most of tH thinking of the disciples from the set their feet to running. But the Jesus. The sending of the first ~e vastn future and the past to the present, risen Jesus had yet another mes­ missionaries is also traced to the Accardi pentecostal movement and mo­ sage for the disciples-"Wait for risen Jesus. So the first words are !Ourette ment. He warns the disciples in His the promise of the Father." Wait from the Bible. "You shall receive gve sn{d response not to speculate about the for the promise. Wait! Wait! Wait! power when the Holy Spirit is expansio1 future, nor to seek to restore what There are times when the most come upon you. And you shall be ~ sic chan was. Instead, in that moment He Christian response is to do noth­ my witnesses in Jerusalem and in ned in al calls them to an act of demonstra­ ing, but to wait upon God: to wait all Judea and to the ends of the mis siona~ tion in the present that will trans­ patiently, to wait expectantly, to earth." First an form the world. And the transfor­ wait in faith, to wait in hope. And The second words to be spoken 1 Of life, t¥ mation of the world oetrors \\oi th the the disciples waited ten more days.. are from the closing section of the Which sen· theological couplet: "You shall re­ N0w when the day of Pentecost Theology of Mission statement of lersof the ceive power and you shall be my had come, the great central fact the General Board of Global Minis­ aburst of , witnesses." By the action of the was not that the spirit was given for tries. "The church is being swept 1 itself Holy Spirit and the faithful re­ the first time on that day. The spirit into a new mission age. We may ~ sponse of the disciples, their past had been growing within the disci­ not know where or how the Spirit ihatwas ~l w a s redeemed. Remember on ples for 40 days, nurtured in the will lead, but we look forward with Je ~us Chi Good Friday, the saddest word of presence of the risen Jesus. The hope to a new pentecostal moment mission ci Holy Scripture-"They all forsook great central fact of the Pentecost is in mission." The first pentecostal 'These mi· him and fled ." that it marked the beginning of the moment moved the church by 'Nornen " loved to tri 28 [316) NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 as mere recipients of American mission work. With the concept of mission clearly defined as a matter of partnership among equal churches, said Bishop James Ault of Pittsburgh, GBGM and Council of Bishops president, the whole church stands better able to uphold the essence of missionary work, which is to bring the message of Jesus Christ to those who have not been reached. He reminded his audience: "Each of us is here because some missionary cut a path to us." This sentiment was echoed by speaker after speaker who defined mission work today largely in terms of the church's prophetic

concentric circles from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to Southern Eu­ rope to Northern Africa and to parts of Asia in what might be called the First Wave of Christian Mission. The Second Wave of Christian Mission came centuries later in what has been named the Great Century in the history of the expansion of Christianity, from 1815 until 1914 on the eve of World War I. The churches from Europe and North America began to fulfill the first pentecostal moment by taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. Until this modern mission­ ary movement, only eight percent of the world's people were Chris­ to be fools for Christ's sake; and sion-go, make, baptize and teach. tian. And for the most part, they they had a few screws loose." They were witnessing by pro- lived in Western and Eastern Eu­ Another characteristic of the claiming and by baptizing. They rope. By the end of the Great Great Century was the extent to also took seriously the imperative Century, 28 percent of the world's which the rank and file members of to teach whatsoever Jesus had population was Christian and they the churches became involved. For commanded them. So they exa­ were found on every continent and instance, a person like William mined his preaching and his most of the islands scattered across Carey, a Baptist layman, a cobbler teaching, beginning with his first the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. by trade, was instrumental in the sermon in the synagogue in Na­ According to Kenneth Scott La­ formation of the British Baptist zareth. "The spirit of the Lord is tourette, author of the comprehen­ Missionary Society and went him- upon me because he has chosen me sive study of the history of the self as a missionary to India. to preach Good News to the poor. expansion of Christianity, four A third characteristic of the great He has sent me to proclaim liberty basic characteristics can be identi­ periods of missionary history is to the captives; the recovery of fied in all the great periods of numerical growth. Growth could sight to the blind; to set free the missionary history. be predicted in these periods in oppressed; to announce that the First and foremost, the offerings missionary history. But it was time has come when the Lord will of life, the offerings of money, impossible to identify in advance save his people." which sent missionaries to all quar­ the region or the people of the This global gathering is a micro­ ters of the globe, could be traced to world where growth would occur. cosm of the Great Century, coming a burst of vitality within Christian­ A fourth characteristic of the as we do from all the continents ity itself. A renewal and vitality great periods of missionary his- and the islands of the seas. And that was centered in their loyalty to tory: There was always an effort to each one of us in this great assem­ Jesus Christ. An old saying in influence the political, social, cul- bly is here because somewhere, mission circles puts it this way: tural and economic environments. sometime, a missionary cut a path­ "These missionaries were men and The missionaries who were in- way of grace to us directly or women who loved Jesus; they spired and informed by the im- indirectly through race or culture, loved to travel; they were prepared peratives of the great commis- nation or family. The missionary NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 (31 7] 29 role at the forefront of struggles against poverty and oppression. "We must increase our willing­ ness to sacrifice and to suffer on behalf of the kingdom," said the Rev. James Lawson, a black pastor and civil rights advocate from Los Angeles who addressed the gath­ ering's first panel that featured accounts of Christian mission in Korea, Zimbabwe, the Philippines and Central America. "What's happening in the Phil­ ippines starts here," said Debra Spini, a political science major from the University of Florence in Italy.

Communion time for 4,000 United Meth­ odists (left ); Fun time fo r two clowns at the village fair (right ).

What once were churches and ecumenical councils ldentifyj are seeking new relationships with \Vec an 1 rece1v1ng us and we with them. Relation­ The Wesleyan went fro ships that rejoice in their spiritual Cannel, churches have maturation and their ecclesiastical which w become sending autonomy. Relationships that af­ Tradition: mean, r churches. And the firm their gifts for ministry within Heran 1 the body of Christ and beyond the Unbent Knees rant oke sending churches walls of their churches and their hecould countries. What once were receiv­ by Paul Andrews Duffey fu rhisl~ ... It may just ing churches have become sending been deU churches . And the sending as far as be that new churches have become receiving all thewa sending churches churches. It may just be that new servants sending churches may come to us day into may come to us in the west and in their coming ! I normal ci renew our lost zeal for the gospel hoped to in the west and and rekindle our love for the of jezebe "I in their coming church, the Body of Christ. In these there aga ' I new relationships, the foundations ewed co renew our lost will be laid for the Third Wave of COmmitm zeal for the Christian Mission that is holistic with him and one that is biblical, Wesleyan Text: 1 Kings 19:1-18 the worlc gospel. and global. T here are cavernous places away fror to hide in our contemporary world, been call who came believed in Jesus and Bishop James Mase Ault of the Pittsburgh even within religion and the course, s came by faith to be His witness. Area is president of the General Board Church. Places to seek to hide from zealous. l What is more, each one of us here of Global Ministries and president of the harsh realities of life and the you, God this evening can trace a Christian, the Council of Bishops, UMC. focused responsibility we have in stake . Yo step-by-step, link-by-link to the mission. We have had a most I have nt remarkable experience here. In one fi rst pentecostal moment to the fathers 1 ai risen Jesus sending the disciples to fashion or another, we have been longer tol be missionaries. reminded of the principalities and said "!' In gratitude fo r this free gift of powers at work in this world which ~de/ grace, we are called one by one and are contrary to the will of God for back Eli · I Ja all together as the church to give all of His people. We have been way- the impetus to the Third Wave of told that we are called in the midst way to th Christian Mission. As we celebrate of that contrariness to bear our on yourw God's mission at this global gather­ witness with fidelity, with com­ And gob ing, the United Methodist Church passion, patience and love. It is the Word is being called into a new era of awe-inspiring when we under­ coUraged witness and service. The number stand the enormity both of God's there are of opportunities increases daily. expectation of us and of the needs kopJe w! Our partner churches- affiliated, of the people with whom we labor ee to fa autonomou s a nd unite d a nd and for whom we labor. Ways ; peo1 30 (318) EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 Identifying With Elijah We can identify with Elijah. Elijah went from the exaltation-of Mount Carmel, in a moment's triumph which was itself dramatic, to flee . I mean, really, he was on the run. He ran 18 miles the first stretch. He ran to keep abreast of Ahab before he could get to Jezebel. Elijah ran for his life then, after the word had been delivered by Ahab. He went as far as civilization was. He went all the way to Beersheba. He left his servants there and went another day into the wilderness beyond normal civilization at that time. He hoped to get away from the wrath of Jezebel. He went to Horeb and there again found a sense of ren­ ewed commission and renewed commitment. God came and talked with him and asked him what in the world he was doing that far away from everything that he had the foot of some symbol of pagan­ alone. There are untold persons in been called to do. And he, of ism. I am asking you to go back every place who are faithful to the course, said, "I have been very with the sense of encouragement Word of God, who are proclaiming zealous. I have really worked for and a sense of hope." and practicing that faith which was you, God. And yet now my life is at We too are tempted very often revealed to them through the Holy stake. You might as well let me die. when we are face to face with the Spirit given to the world in Jesus I have not done better than my realities of witnessing in a hostile Christ, shared through missionary fathers, and I am not worthy any world and an environment that is efforts of other generations, and longer to live." Besides that, he not congenial to the gospel of God, enabling us to be missionaries in said, "I'm afraid." the gospel of love, the gospel of our own right in this time. It is And God said to him, "You go grace. When we face all of those therefore worthy that we should back, Elijah. You go back the long difficulties, we too are tempted to lift up our hearts in praise to God. way-the long, tortuous, tedious run for a cave. We are tempted to There are 14,000 unbent knees in way to the witness you left. And, find some safe place, a refuge, a every place today who are faithful on your way, recruit new workers. harbor where we are not buffeted to God. And we rejoice in that. And go back and proclaim again on every side by criticism and the Word. I want you to be en­ threatened on every side by defeat The Luxury of Hiding couraged by the knowledge that and even death itself. God does not allow us the luxury of there are 14,000 unbent knees­ A gathering like this helps us to hiding in any cave that we can people who have not bowed the see the enormous dimensions of discover anywhere. It could be in knee to false gods and idolatrous our responsibilities. But it helps us the cave of the pursuit simply of ways; people who have not kissed also to understand that we are not knowledge. It could be that we

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 [319] 31 "We know how much of our economies are based on exploita­ tion and unequal sharing of re­ sources, but every attempt to break this situation looks so unrealistic." Still, she insisted, concerned Christians have to do something about the difficult plight of poor people, whether they happen to be in the Third World or in the more developed countries of Europe and North America. "I cannot believe there is no alternative," she said. "God in­ tends life and justice for humanity. Mission means understanding our mutual connection in the struggle for a new life for humanity."

seek a kind of security in a kind of God does not increasingly to new places where be ap ar fundamentalism that thwarts the the gospel has not effectively been need to freedom of the spirit and the mind allow us the heard and is now to be preached all of itl that God intends us to enjoy. It and practiced. But we can be sure We be ~ could be that we are swamped by luxury of hiding of this-that even as Jesus said, "I His wor religious phraseology that shuts in any cave that have others that are not of this mHis o out the whole dimension of the fold," God has staked His claim on are not gospel. But God will not allow us we can discover all His people everywhere and He but non that luxury. He keeps calling us out anywhere. moves in His own way to bring own ecc of the carefully conditioned ways them to a sense of His being and a We of our own lives into a radical for causes that betoken the will of sense of His commitment. allies in obedience to His will where we live God that were spawned out of the We of appointed by His grace. Church. They do not now belong God Is Moving in This World mvolveo I I It is not an easy task to say the to the institutional organization, We are not simply cut off and left honor a1 whole Word of God in a world like but they have an organization or an alone. God is moving in this world. participi ours. People want an adumbrated institutional life of their own. They It is important for us to recognize ciliar rn gospel, they want a condensed have all sorts of names-civic that. God is not limited by the 'nivers, version, they want righteousness clubs and peace movements and straitjacket of our narrow expecta­ sacrosa reduced to an irreducible mini­ human dignity and welfare agen­ tions, our parochialism and our make m um and manageable propor­ cies. They are no longer part of our. defeatism. God is doing His own they' re tions. And God is calling us to a denomination, but they are part of thing in His own world. And we error bu kind of openness to His spirit, an the kingdom of God. God has a are grateful for that. You remember vehicles openness to the whole gospel way of using the children of the how He broke into Israel's history. that is in which consumes us, literally con­ Church, the institutions and the Their people lived upon the memo­ divided. sumes us, and yet in which we are organizations which have been ry of what God had done in the affirm i made whole. It is easy for us then born out of faith, that have been passover in delivering His people. that we to get discouraged and downcast touched by the love of God in And now they were in captivity, other C and fall into the Elijah syndrome. I, Christ, and who are concerned they were in Babylon, and they of other and I only, have been faithful. But about the world in which they live. decided to hang their harps upon a of John it behooves us to lift our eyes to Or, in another way, we can willow tree and sing no more the offensive behold God's work in His world remember that God is moving in songs of Zion. "How can we sing who nan and to know there are 14,000 strange ways to perform his will. In God's song in a strange land?", presenn unbent knees everywhere still the Acts of the Apostles, a sermon they said. But God came among 1 doing his will. Look at some of by Paul helps us to understand them through the word of the Prevenie them. Look at our allies in this that. In the past He allowed all the prophet and said "I am doing a But we, mission of which we are a part and nations to walk in their own way, new thing. Do you not perceive deVices. to which we are called. yet He did not leave himself with­ it?" and then out witness. We are called know­ It could well be that our vision of touched Allies in the Mission ing that we are part of a creation in mission in our day must be en­ sPtnt.A1 " First, let me say "the children of the which God himself is doing His larged and broadened enough to have cal! church." I'm not speaking of an own thing and doing it marvelous­ believe in the power of God, the age group although that is a vast ly in places where even yet we have transcendent power of our Father most sigr resource never to be neglected. I'm not gone. We hope in the new to bring us and His whole world Methodi i speaking of the fact that there are dimensions of our board and of our into recognition of His name. We on preve forces at work in the world today Church that we will be going are grateful that He chooses us to tng to t1 those to , 32 (320] NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 A CHRISTIAN ALTERNATIVE For Bishop Federico Pagura of Argentina, who led the early morning Bible study sessions, there is a very clear alternative for Christians, and this involves noth­ ing less than full participation in today's struggles for justice. "We are called to let God convert us again," he said. "Our Latin American churches are bemg con­ verted by the sufferings of the poor and the marginalized. Perhaps you'll be converted through costly solidarity with the poor, through risky participation in the sanctuary Rousing gospel music (far left) and communion proved too much for one young participant (left).

be a part of His mission. We do not supremacy of Christ Jesus Our need to be bowed down as though We are not Lord as being the ultimate revela­ all of it depended upon us alone. called to be tion of the nature and the purpose We believe that God is at work in and the promise of God. The Holy His world in His own initiative and Rambo Spirit moves in its own way to in His own way using agents that . . . bring to witness to the hearts and are not immediately identifiable m1ss1onanes the minds and the institutions of but nonetheless effective in God's charging into the this human experience. And we own economy. believe that God is working in that We are grateful that we have world; we are way, in a most remarkable way. allies in the ecumenical movement. called to be the God is gradually changing institu­ We of course have always been tions, changing ways of life, involved in that kind of spirit. We doves of peace. changing the principalities and honor and acknowledge it. We are powers. He is changing the shape participants with pride in the con­ of the world; He is changing ciliar movements of the Church even as He moved to motivate us, human life individually by helping Universal. Not because they are to place a hunger in mind and heart people to co e to fullness of faith sacrosanct, not because they do not and spirit, to place a desire for and then make their own impact in make mistakes, not be ca use righteousness, to place in us a the place where they live. they're not tainted with human yearning to be part of the answer We have allies everywhere. And error but because they are possible and not part of the problem-a the greatest of them is God moving vehicles for cooperative witness sense of great wonderment that in his own spirit to accomplish his that is impressive in a world that's God should choose us and honor mission. divided. And we are grateful to us as being a part of His family and affirm in our Wesleyan tradition His witness in a world like this. If, The Communion of Saints that we believe in the churches of therefore, He has so honored us, And then we believe in the com­ other Christians and the Christians we must be very careful to believe munion of saints. That's part of our of other churches. Or, in the words that He wants to honor every other tradition as Christians and as of John Wesley: "We desire league person in the world like that. His Methodists. We believe that we are offensive and defensive with all prevenient grace is moving encompassed about with a great who name the name of Christ" in through the power of the Holy cloud of witnesses. A people who presenting that gospel. Spirit to do a new thing with them have finished their course and yet, and to bring them to fullness of as the Scripture has helped us to Prevenient Grace faith. Our responsibility is not in understand, they without us are But we are not left even to these judgment to exact from them an not made perfect. They are yet devices. There are persons here allegiance to our particular way of involved in our struggle in ways and there and everywhere who are worship or way of speaking or way that we cannot fully fathom. There touched by the leading of the Holy of theology; ours is rather to share are mysteries about it. But we are Spirit. And that is our tradition. We with them with the greatest of the beneficiaries of their labors and have called it by many names, but humility, with the most fervent of their continuing influence and most significantly in the traditional faith of which we are capable, the we are glad to enter into covenant Methodist or Wesleyan emphasis vastness of His grace, and let God with them in this hour to do our on prevenient grace. God is mov­ have his own way with them. part to be God's people as faithful ing to touch the very hearts of Our privilege is to tell of the in our time as they have been in those to whom we would witness, uniqueness of Jesus Christ, the theirs.

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 (321) 33 aioveme1 an end t " ~h er iiJlingS, ~visio n Korea, SH ~on that fun e ago atomic be ex perien narrow Even a! me rapid tiership · especially andthe s~ of them i~ rnip Fede pint as a •.tSsage of I

God has matched us against this We are called to be gentle pur­ hour, for which we are grateful. It veyors of the gentle gospel of es 1 is a time fraught with danger. It is a Christ and to bring a gentleness to Calling the Expe world fraught with the inclination his bruised world as we live as to suicide and self-difficulty. It is a vessels chosen, baptised, commis­ By Linda Pickens-Jones world that is fractured by man's sioned, empowered and enabled to inhumanity to man. It is a world praise His name. We are not called fractured by self seeking, by the to be Rambo missionaries charging domination of persons whose mo­ into the world; we are called to be tivations sometimes seem to be no the doves of peace, the people who hat a great stream of dotting s ~ more than bruised egos and deter­ preach and practice a way that witnesses have does not W oirth,and mined effort to overcome in order brings life, not death, and a word marched before our eyes in the last to receive selfish acclaim. God has of joy and hope to the distraught three days. I'd like to introduce you dot, whid brought us into this difficult world and the downtrodden, the abused this morning to the invisible hands was reliev to be his chosen vessels with others and the disillusioned. We are to be that were joining with our own, of il not th joined in league knowing that the his simple, faithful, obedient, joy­ persons who would never dream luddenly, future beckons us. God is doing a ful servants. And we go knowing of coming to this place, let alone why, for s new thing and bringing a new day that he has given assurance that we standing in front of you at the pies, the are not alone, that we have allies microphone to speak. Yet these craft, " set! j I and we want to be part of it. We are not simply set up to everywhere, that we are called to persons, I believe, would be for us fuem leav perpetuate old patterns and even have covenant with all those who the expert witnesses, in the midst hands . A former institutions. The United name his name and most of all of this great cloud of witnesses. dent, who I Methodist Church is in business rejoice in the fact that he said "I will One of the seminary students in fueissue o •.I for Christ. And after the negative be with you always." Amen. o Sierra Leone had often struggled wrote to us .. movements and divisive elements with the Christian understanding ~ a great and contrary forces have had their Bishop Pa ul Andrews Duffey of the of the mystery of death and resur­ ment in rn~ day, we will still be in the mission Louisville Area is secretary to the UM rection, in relationship to the for­ all our plar of preaching the full gospel of the Council of Bishops and a member of mulations about death and dying ~ow, eve redemption both of man and so­ the General Council on Ministries and within his own ethnic tradition. At have learn ciety according to the will and the the General Commission on Archives the same time, as he struggled with What Wen glory of God. and History. resurrection concepts, I struggled lhelovean to understand the role that tradi­ ~e time o No Rambo Missionaries tional medicine and "witchcraft" distress, is The mission is not to be shaped by had for so many people. This ~ways Wit lesser motivation than the vision young student was married and AWorna we have in Christ and our task is had two daughters, one recently nad never not to run to some cave of security born. Within a month of the birth came to tn nor to some place of idleness, nor of his second daughter, his wife son at the u to get away from it all but to be in became very ill, her body para­ sonbefore the midst of it. We are not called to lyzed, and suddenly she died. stones o For weeks I agonized over the said I n have the option of compromise in I 'Do any kind of cavernous retreat. We seemingly meaningless death of st~ nes? Or are not called to go to the lowest this young woman and friend, lhievery· I:. I 0I until one day a medical doctor Ul'Jng· common denominator of an ac­ IV}\j , and ceptable gospel. explained that often the blood ch stor 34 [322] EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 . movement and the struggle to put concern about the continuing an end to the invasion of Nicara­ membership decline of mainline gua." denominations in the United States In her moving speech, Peggy and Europe. Billings, head of GBGM's World British churches are half-empty, Division and former missionary to noted the Rev. Colin Morris, chief Korea, spoke of a personal conver­ of religious broadcasting for the sion that followed her visit a long British Broadcasting Corporation time ago to Hiroshima after the (BBC), because people find what atomic bomb attack. She said the happens there boring. experience converted her from Attributing the decline to the narrow nationalism and racism. "gospel of minimal demand," the Even as various panelists noted forrnei" missionary to Zimbabwe the rapid growth of church mem­ said that some of today's churches bership in Third World countries, have become wary of challenging especially in Zaire, Sumatra, Korea their members to make sacrifices, and the South Pacific Islands, some believing that very few of them will of them also expressed serious respond. Yet, he said, the same Bishop Federico Pagura (right) stresses a young people who are leaving the point as audience warmly receives his churches invariably end up joining message of hope (left).

clotting system in young mothers does not work correctly after giving birth, and she probably had a blood clot, which had gone to the brain. I was relieved for knowing the how, if not the why of her death. Suddenly, I came to understand why, for so many traditional peo­ ples, the phrase, "it was witch­ craft," settled their minds, and let them leave the death in God's hands. After her death, this stu­ dent, who had struggled so with the issue of death and resurrection, wrote to us, "the death of Mabinty your life?" The six-year-old chose across the ocean and cried out, is a great shock and disappoint­ the stone of education. This "Look, there is the end of the ment in my life, taking into account woman, with no formal education world." Her son explained, "No, all our plans for the coming years. of her own, said to her son, "If you the world is round," and we, his Now, even through her death, I continue to choose this stone of friends, "came from the other side have learned a great lesson from education, I will do all I can to find of the world." She looked at him in what we have been talking about. the money for you to go to school. " astonishment, and then, looking The love and caring of God, even in She, the third wife of a man with out over the ocean, proclaimed, the time of trouble, sorrow and many children, became a midwife, "God will never stop creating." distress, is always here. God is herbalist, farmer, and even panned You should have asked our uni­ always with us." for gold that her son might go to versity student friend to preach. A woman, who in her 60 years school. He, now a Christian, had He is one of only a few pre-law had never left her home village, worked his own way into the students in the country; the first in came to the capital city to see her university. his family to receive any formal son at the university. This was the She came to see what he was education. He grew up a Muslim, son before whom she had set three doing. As we drove her through but was moved by what The stones on his sixth birthday and the streets of Freetown and then up United Methodist Church had said, "Do you see these three the hill which overlooked the done for him in his life and was stones? One is richness through ocean, she covered her eyes and baptized a Christian. He recently thievery; one is women and wild said, "I must look no more, for the wrote from Sierra Leone about the living; and one is for education. people in my village will not lack of food for students from the Which stone do you choose for believe what I see." She looked out university and efforts to deal with NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 (323] 35 JO(ial p' !hey are da] and 'nerati !he worl Addin )Oberin reli ~o n broadcas cannot b vou hav hy hail neaded For th louisvill nolding mission drama ti

•...... the food cns1s . What had pre- lawyers argue: " It couldn't be. ourselve • viously bought three meals a day Who could have done this? A We have '1 want to was now buying one meal. Some of sinner did this. A miracle worker something to We Ii the students, and others around from God did this." lrom the : ~ the country, had been involved in And they expelled him from the learn from the fai th ris' demonstrations. synagogue. But Jesus found the indigenous munities He writes, "I told the student man, revealed Himself to him, and rural pas union president that I am bent on the man, formerly blind, accused expressions of week by resigning from the student union of sin, ignored by the religious worship cabinet if anyone brings about authorities, knelt before Jesus, and faith rising up in from v· violence. In the end he agreed with proclaimed, "I believe, Lord." faithgoir me and promised and that he will Jesus believes in expert wit­ Christian a pastor ,I. . make it clear to the student body at nesses like this man. We need to communities We ha a press conference that 'non-vio- call the expert witnesses. around the world. learn fro Jenee' should be our watchword. What an incredible story this who ha The government was baffled about story of the blind man is for all of us resource1 this. They could not believe that in the church. It gives insight into, spite bud Fourah Bay college students will and judgment upon the history of cate fo ever be non-violent, particularly missions, when persons of other We of the Western world, we of office on for such a tense struggle fo r food. cultures and traditions were The United Methodist Church in "Do you Even when someone provoked the branded as sinners or primitive the United States, we among the students by allowing a bodyguard because they didn't come from the largest and richest of the mission Chrisr s c to shoot on the campus, there was white American-European back­ agencies of the entire world, need We ha no violence. Students disarmed the ground that warped Victorian ide­ desperately to hear the expert ilie part! guard, and after the person was ology deemed the ultimate in cul­ witnesses, who may have faith ~sk-wit World, a placed in the van, we gave him ture. More importantly, we must experiences and expressions differ­ back the gun and told them that we see our own reflection in the mirror ent from our own, that we may not thin!< are on a non-violent strike." of this gospel story. How often hear anew the call to be Christ's about pa I have spoken only of those have we in the past, and how often disciples. We need the evangelistic phrase expert witnesses with whom I have do we now, fail to be open and witness of our sisters and brothers ilirough come into contact. How many honest in our encounters between of India, Mozambique, Karo Batak, hear agaiJ thousands and millions more there creeds, races, and nations? How China, Costa Rica, and Bolivia . again the. are, many of whose words and often we dismiss those who have The most important question a mto thin! actions are changing lives and had a true and real experience of missionary, a board executive, a lam no hearts. Many who are silenced by faith, but who express their faith or board director, or any of us who the Word circumstance, by political repress- manage their church's policies in choose to take the risk of living Within thE ion, by hunger, by the turning of ways which are different from our cross-culturally-the most impor­ ilie Westt deaf ears. own . tant question you might ask your­ ed. The A man, born blind, and cured of We may decry the actions of the self is, "Have I returned from my churches his blindness by Jesus on the pharisees, but how much our cross-cultural experience intact?" and Euro Sabbath, is on the witness stand. pharisaic hearts need to hear the The answer to the question should each hav, Th e cross examin ation begin s: invitation of the man for whom be no. If in the process of crossing they rni "How did you receive your sight?" mud and spittle changed his life: over what once were boundaries, q~edar "He put some mud on my eyes, I "Do you want to become Christ's we find we remain untouched, we ~lJ\ a reli washed them, and now I see." The disciples?" have not as yet truly allowed JUstice. 36 [324] NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 Gopal social protest movements because they are more idealistic and sacrifi­ cial and global minded than earlier generations. They want to change the world. Adding a touch of humor to his sobering account of the state of religion in his country, the British broadcaster said: "Some things cannot be given to someone unless you have it yourself. Would you buy hair restorer from a bald­ headed man?" For the 4,000 people gathered in Louisville, the challenge of up­ Broad smiles and spirited holding the church's worldwide music of Berea College Choir mission couldn't have been more fill the Ballroom (far left) as dramatically posed. browsers visit New World Outlook booth (left ).

ourselves to hear the call: "Do you Jesus, the 'light and life of the want to be Christ's disciples?" w orld' w a s 'an Eastern m a n , We have something to learn poor-and a manual worker all His The Wesleyan from the indigenous expressions of life.' It was the Magi, three persons faith rising up in Christian com­ from the East, who first recognized Tradition munities around the world, from Jesus as the Son of God, while for rural pastors who walk their parish most others it took His death and By Colin Morris week by week in order to share a Resurrection. worship service with their people. Dr. Singh affirmed in his address From village people who keep the to the World Council of Churches faith going, and receive a visit from in 1983 the numerous ways the a pastor once a year. presence of the church has made a We have something important to significant contribution to the na­ he Wesleyan tradition­ learn from people and cultures tion and people of India. He says, T isn't that impossibly sec­ who have learned to share all "even though you supported colo­ tarian at the time when ecumenici­ resources with those in need, de­ nialism and imperialism, we'd like ty rackles in the air like electricity? spite budget guidelines and tripli­ to forget that past and forgive you The Wesleyan tradition-isn't that cate forms to be submitted to an in the name of Je sus, the Christ, impossibly churchy at the time office on the other side of the globe. whose cross you promise to carry when we are inviting the people of "Do you too want to become wherever there's distress and pov­ God to wrestle with global issues? Christ's disciples?" erty of the body or soul." Well, let's accept the danger head We have been sreaking about This is the quality of partnership on-one of the great enemies of the partnership o the mission to which we are called today and mission is the church's own un­ task-with one another around the into the next century. Confession healthy preoccupation with its world, and with our God. We must of our past sins, rej oicing in the own fate and its own happiness. not think it is a new thing to talk graceful words of fo rgiveness, and Too much of our talk about mission about partnership in mission. It is a a response to the agendas set by is really talk about survival. There phrase we seem to need to repeat the nations and churches of the is a concept which I have evolved through the decades, in order to world for themselves. o which I call statistical eschatology, hear again its promise, and to hear which runs like this-the kingdom of heaven draws nearer when our again the ways we trap ourselves The Rev. Linda Pickens-Jones is pastor into thinking we've succeeded. of Califo rnia's Venice United Method­ membership goes up and the king­ I am not sure that partnership is ist Church. She is a former missionary dom of heaven goes farther away the word for today's relationships to Sierra Leone. when our membership declines. within the churches, for it is a word We preoccupy ourselves with a the Western churches have creat­ quite different question from the ed. The needs proclaimed by one that preoccupied the early churches beyond North America church . They asked not the ques­ and Europe vary, and they may tion, how are we doing and why; each have a phrase with which they asked the question, what is they might describe what is re­ He doing and where? quired at present in order to main­ And yet, just as you can't speak tain a relationship of dignity and language in general but you have justice. to speak this language or that so Gopal Singh reminds us that you can't be Christian in general. EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 (325] 37 But far from being daunted by the difficulties, most of the speak­ ers expressed confidence that at least some of the answers may be found within Methodism itself. One important thing going for the United Methodist Church, said the Rev. C. Rex Bevins, the Ne­ braska pastor who chaired the nine-member committee that de­ veloped th e mission theology statement, was its sheer diversity as a church, encompassing so many people of different races, nationalities, political opinions and social concerns. Despite this in­ credible and, at times unwieldy, The sad plight of world refugees was foc us of one Global Village booth (above) while poverty in America was subject of mission bus tour to Appalachia (opposite, right) .

You're a Christian in this way or tin mines, in slave ships, in pulpits fue New that way. Every true church is the chilled by cold formality, up on a three din end result of the people who have market cross. tta nsparj seen the things of God from the You say it's obvious, of course all jesus saio same perspective. They have been may come. If we see a new face in fuy God 1 pilgrims on the same journey, they the congregation we nearly smoth­ and mind have stayed at the same inns, they er them to death with liturgical as fund< have lived and loved and some­ kisses, but oceans of blood when Jel times died together. Is it not true throughout Christian history have made the that God did not choose to become been spilled to wrest God out of the as ultima humanity, he became a Jew? Is it grip of a master race or a priestly lal ked a not true that he chose as the initial elite or a privileged caste. That all rummed bearers of his mission not folks in may come is the basis not simply of That is general but specific people? Lest an attack on social elitism but also have the anyone think that I'm negative on theological elitism, against the receive it towards ecumenicity, let me assure concept that some are elected to be dreaded you that after spending a decade in saved and some damned. No, said eyes ligh the negotiations that led to the Wesley, and when he said all he llberal' s United Church of Zambia and then wasn't making a theological state­ glazed. C having to live the result as its first ment, he was expressing a convic­ ing about president, I believe passionately in tion about the nature of the human talking ab healing the grievous wounds of being. We are who we are and wechoos1 Christ's body. But I've learned that what we are, not because of the rather the only a people who are secure in declaration of human rights, not we deriv1 their center, in the core of their because of the Charter of the Imm the belief in that tradition, are right for United Nations, not because of the aerived r expansion on the frontiers in going Constitution of the United States; conseque1 out to meet their brothers and we are who we are because we changing. sisters in Christ of other traditions. have the privilege of being ad­ Wfiens So I have no problem with the dressed by God and of addressing Deen con Wesleyan tradition. God. All may come, said Wesley. Know w I take the Wesley tradition and I That does not simply dignify pressure find it incapsulated in one little human beings, it defines them. pressure word which runs like a drum beat lhings likE through the New Testament and All May Receive money, t which expresses three gospel privi­ And when they come, all may JUs tice, to leges balanced by three gospel receive, he said. Receive what? about tho imperatives. That little word is all . Wesley said, all have the right to ~uched t receive one thing-the gospel. version in All May Come According to the New Testa­ All may come, says Wesley. The ment, the gospel is not concerned Wesleyan tradition is based upon about many things; it is massively the belief in the immediate and centered upon one: how may I be universal availability of God. God made whole? The biblical word is is where you are-down Cornish salvation. The wholeness which

38 [326] NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 the New Testament talks about is unutterably boring. You say, we're religion is radical trust in Christ as three dimensional. Wholeness as not bored, nobody I know is bored, Lord and Savior and there is no transparent integrity, as when but they are busy doing a thousand substitute for that. But also they Jesus said, thou shall love the Lord and one other things on Sunday must know what they believe. thy God with all thy heart and soul because they truly believe that Wesley believed in the warmed and mind and strength. Wholeness religion is something to be endured heart but not a warmed heart as fundamental soundness, as rather than something to be en­ accompanied by an empty head. when Jesus said, thy faith has joyed. Methodism expounds the intellec­ made thee whole. And wholeness We parsons have become sancti­ tual case for Christianity as much as ultimate totality, as when Paul fied showmen in our anxiety to as any other. It is not the tradition talked about all things being dissipate this deadly stale sense. of the empty head. There is a summed up in Christ. We do everything but stand on our grandeur and a flexibility about the That is the wholeness that all heads in the pulpit; we dance philosophy of life based upon Jesus have the right to receive and they down the aisle with daffodils be­ and his teaching that is much more receive it through conversion. Oh, hind our ears, singing "Lord of the comprehensive in its understand­ dreaded word! The evangelical's dance." There is even a noncon­ ing of the doctrine of history than eyes light up with zeal and the formist preacher in the area where I that of the Marxist. I believe the liberal' s and radical' s eyes go live who preaches the gospel Christian doctrine of man is more glazed. Conversion. I'm not talk­ through a ventriloquist's dummy. profound in its understanding of ing about superheated pietism. I'm Gimmickry goes just far enough to the grandeur and the degradation talking about an act of will whereby irritate the faithful but nowhere of human personality than the we choose to walk the way of Jesus near far enough to get hold of the humanist view. And that is a rather than some other way, that nonchurched. gospel to be argued as well as we derive our sources for living Those of you who come from preached, and we're not doing from the place from which He other parts of the world know enough of it. derived His, and that the ultimate better. This was a thing that fa­ consequence of that choice is life scinated me about Africa-the ex­ All Must Serve changing. pectancy, the excitement, the All must know, said Wesley, and When someone says to me, I've crackling in the air. The people all must serve. Ah, the priesthood been converted, . . . I want to really believed that when they of all believers. know what hafpens at the came together for worship, the Wesley said that once someone pressure points o their life. The miracle would happen, the prom­ had been soundly converted, they pressure points of our lives are ises of God would be fulfilled . became witnesses and martyrs for things like our attitude to power, to Now, if you really believed that in the faith. Why then are so many of money, to ambition, to sex, to one hour your life direction, your our laity inert? I believe it's because justice, to race. What has it done career prospects, your relation­ of what I would call the gospel of about those? If conversion hasn't ships, your geographical location minimal demand. It runs like this: touched them, then it is not con­ would be fundamentally changed, nobody tithes these days so let's version in the Wesleyan tradition. you might be apprehensive, you see if we can get one percent out of might be fearful but, I promise you, them. Nobody will listen to a full All May Enjoy you wouldn't be bored. blown sermon, give them a ten All may come and receive and all minute chat. You will never get a may enjoy. I think the churches of All Must Know meeting in people' s crowded Britain are half empty because Wesley said all must know-in diaries, so let's see if we can fit it in people find what goes on there whom they believe. The linchpin of on midnight on Sunday night. The

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 [327] 39 range of interests, he said, the entire church could find basic unity in the fundamentals of the Wes­ leyan tradition. "Diversity can strengthen the church's work for social justice as well as evangelism," h e said. In I "These diverse perspectives give signm us vital links to some of the most ciatior dynamic movements in a changing churcl world." As the Global Gathering came to an end, it was this sense of unity in diversity that seemed to be in the minds of everybody as they pre­ pared to return to their respective homes. o

-NELSON A. NAVARRO Mission bus tour participants get a firs t- hand view of a UM project in Appalachia .

gospel of minimal demand counts body and soul, you follow me and when the world's resources are down and down the demand of we will create a nation," and they finite and hungry millions are more Christ until it becomes a willing­ did. But you offer people incon­ and more militant, either we recog­ ness to accept inconvenience rath­ venience and they're not interest­ nize that this is the only political er than a real sacrifice. ed; they're not interested in church philosophy by which we shall annu Then we wonder why so many minding, they're interested in survive or else it will be holocaust. atthe of our young people are leaving world changing. All must serve, Wesley was a great sacramental­ that ti our churches but are recruited to says Wesley, but the cause must be ist. It is therefore permissible to see strugg movements of social protest. This worthy of their stature. how this concept of sharing is in the generation of young people is projected forward into an under­ of eve much more idealistic, much more All Must Share standing of the nature of the whole and w sacrificial, and has much more Finally, all must share their faith. world in which one day there will conne global vision than my generation Wesley said that a living faith had only be one necessary baptism and wear ever had. And what would we do to be capable of propagation. that is birth. And there will onlv be God with them? All too often we say, Though there are many things you one sacramental meal and that 'will strugg "Come in, here's some barn danc­ can give people that you haven't be the table at which everyone­ where ing and some table tennis and you got yourself, for instance, happi­ all-sit down and eat as of right. My get a five-minute chat from the ness, this is one thing you cannot These I believe are the marks of the small preacher at the end of the eve­ give to someone else unless you've Wesleyan tradition, and these I exp a ning," when what they want to do got it. Would you buy hair restorer believe are the gifts, which the of Goi is change the world. from a bald headed man? But he people called Methodist, will bring to he Those of you who come from also said all must share as the basis and will lay at the feet of the God's Africa and other parts of the world of our political, social and econom­ regnant Christ, when the grievous taking will know that the face of Africa ic outreach because this is the only wounds in His body are healed in justice was changed by young people. philosophy which can insure our the coming great church. God wider When Zambia became indepen­ survival at the end of the twentieth grant it. o My l dent, the average age of the Zam­ century. In the nuclear age the The Rev. Dr. Colin Morr is is chief of borde1 bian cabinet was twenty-one. And smallest possible unit of survival is religious broadcasting for the British theU a man called Kenneth Kaunda said the entire world. Either all share or Broadcasting Corporation (BBX) in back to young people, "I want you, it's a nuclear desert. At a time London. migra1 travel Work. becau! roun comp ily, as carava West h Order the 1987-88 complete Cata log now. Free in appropriate quantities. Stock No. 1103 be a P< "exoti Service Center Lames General Board of Global Ministries Little c 7820 Reading Road Cincinnati, OH 45222-1800 child's and , then 40 (328] NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 0 -~--- J

IN MY OPINION since 1980. And again, the border region has been the space where all these distinct but related historical In pre para ti on for a recent as­ ed labor, wasted potential, and developments have clustered . This s!gr:men t, I gained a new appre­ impoverished futures. My first re­ has been the zone where the ciation for the journey which the alization of this reality happened in victims of institutionalized vio­ church has enabled me to make . It the classrooms of a school popu­ lence have converged during the h as bee n a lated heavily with functionally illit­ decades of our experience. journey into erate migrant school children It has helped me to reflect and greater self­ averaging five months of schooling make some connections. For I have unders tand­ a year. Much later in a crucial realized dnew that the fate of the ing and into a summer experience as a migrant young boys and girls I waved to on greater ministry staff in one of those really the departing trucks years ago, of awareness of exotic places-the midwest-I was the mistreated farmworkers or­ the w eb of e ~ I?osed to the dehumanizing con­ ganizing for basic rights granted to inju s tice ditions faced by migrant families. all other •workers, of the masses of which s till There, in cramped labor camps unemployable workers crossing suffocate s with cabins housing ten to a room, from Mexico, and of the persecuted the promise with one water faucet for thirty from Central America are all relat­ ed. Joel Martinez of Shalom in families, and amidst the capri­ our days. ciousness of both employers and All these wandering people have My particular assignment was a weather, I saw the nightmare these been driven from the "sustaining presentation to the Southwest Bor­ people were living. earth" by those who would exploit der Continuing Committee at its A later part of my experience the earth for the benefit of the few annual meeting in Tucson, Arizona with the border dates to the farm­ and the consequent impoverish­ at the end of last August. Taking on worker organizing efforts of the ment of the many. But the efforts of that task drew me into a renewed later 1960s in the southwest. the landless struggle to understand my history Through a chain of events, com­ "campesino " in the context of the broader sweep mon to many others, I went from to organize, I .. . approach of the undo­ of events in my area, my nation, being a religious chaplain among the sanctuary passive and disorganized farm­ cumented and world. It helped me to "make movement as connections." It reminded me that workers to an active supporter of immigrant to we are personally accountable to organized farmworkers. And we seek basic a call to God's became aware of how the chronic human God and intimately linked to the kingdom of struggles of God's people every­ poverty of the border area, espe­ rights, and of where. ~ially south of the border, played the persecut­ peace with ed refugee to My childhood questions in a mto the hands of those who resist­ justice-of small town in south Texas have ed change in the exploitative ar­ seek sanc­ expanded to include a greater part rangements. The playing of poorer tuary from Shalom. of God's world. And I have begun against poor, c. nd poorest against violent per­ to hear, with increasing clarity, poorer delayed even partial suc­ secution are all hope-filled mo­ God's response to my questions cess for many years. ments in the continuing struggle to taking the form of a call to seek Most recently, during the latter overturn unjust arrangements. justice and work for peace in the 1970s and early 1980s, I was drawn The border region has been the wider purposes of the Kingdom. !nto the justice and empowerment crossroads where the displaced and the dispossessed have been My previous experience with the issu~s of the southwest, including border (that geographically divides the issue of undocumented immi­ most numerous in recent years. the United States and Mexico) goes gration. In the midst of domestic Their presence has faced the back to childhood memories of economic difficulties, the undocu­ church with new questions and migrant farmworkers and their mented immigrant became the decisions. The church has been travel to distant places in search of focus of resentment and persecu­ challenged to respo'nd. The sanc­ work. I recall the resentment I felt tion. In a climate of misinforma­ tuary movement is an energizing because my father had a year­ tion, bigotry and racism the most center of this response. I would round job with the natural gas extreme solutions were proposed. approach the sanctuary movement company. This prevented our fam­ The church's advocacy for basic as a call to God's kingdom of peace ily, as I saw it, from joining the human rights and constitutional with justice-of Shalom. caravans of trucks going north and protections he! ped prevent the Our calling is to work fo r the west from central Texas. I longed to implementation of the worst of vision of peace with justice, of these alternatives. Shalom and to resist the forces that be a part of that exciting journey to would delay its fulfillment. I sug­ And today the focus of concern "exotic" places like San Angelo, gest that we see the sanctuary Lamesa and Cisco in west Texas. in the church and in other sectors movement as a sign of that call. o Little did I know that this idealized of society is the refugee exodus The Rev. Joel Mar tinez , until recently a child's view of things masked a sad from Central America. Church in­ dis trict superin tendent in San Antonio, and tragic story. I was unaware volvement has increased as the Texas , is senior minister at Emmanu el then of the vicious cycle of exploit- exodus has grown dramatically United Methodist Church, Dallas. EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 [329] good for the middle class. That's why some people in this country HEALTH WATCH started using cocaine late in the nineteenth century. They could DEATH ~ stay up and be more alert." --­ JN GUA11 Medical and other authorities at _,1Fernando Cracking Down on Crack that time advised the public that ~bis Books, cocaine use had no lasting ill Jt couidb By Charles E. Cole effects, and its use increased for m1isible co some two or three decades. But as rurrent Ce addiction and other effects became ~ldom do known, the government began to ;jl(lkespers regulate and prohibit use. Finally :his, the Jar He's clear about his goals and he cerned about crack because its low in 1914 the U.S. Government re~o n , an references u works hard to achieve them. He price and easy use make it appeal­ passed the Harrison Anti-Narcotic ~ns, who earned his college degree by work- ing to young executives and to Act, which controlled the use of :egally. It · ing part-time, burning the mid- teenagers, who may not be able to opiates and cocaine. That did not ~a t Bermu night oil. Now he has a family to afford $80 or $100 for a gram of end the intensive use of cocaine, roffering of support, and he doesn't spare "coke"-the more common and which lasted into the 1920s. of who mar himself in providing for them. He's expensive form of cocaine. But a Musto feels that the public will re~ ted that I an upwardly mobile, competitive, quick fix of crack costs as little as once again reject cocaine, as in the For reade1 and cleancut young executive. And $10. Since the effects wear off soon, past, once its harmful effects be­ m~a , an inti he uses crack. they invariably buy more, and come more widely known. It fol­ ma n sets th Yes, crack, the derivative of addiction can occur after only one lows then that one of the roles we lOCi ~cono cocaine that has become the fa- or two uses. can play in the church is to educate ~y terms. vored drug used in many parts of From that point on, the pattern is people about the effects of drugs. mili tary dio I :arized civil .. the United States. You can buy it familiar. The user may turn to We can guide persons to appropri­ ate treatment. And we can also i980s, I for as little as $10 on the streets. crime to obtain money to support .nhabitants In return you get a quick high: the habit. Addiction also means the address the underlying spiritual !ered in fear and value issues that lead people to crack takes effect in only a few onset of additional physical and ierryman a ~ seconds. It gives you a feeling of behavioral problems. And when use and abuse drugs in the first tod ay's conf well-being. It enables you to stay used in combination with other place. jXlOr people up later and work longer. It may drugs, the result can be fatal. One person who thinks the 'rimary righ improve your sexual performance. Dr. David Musto, professor of churches can address the drug 1ith violenc You can see why it would appeal to psychiatry and the history of medi­ problem is the Rev. David Else,

I our mythical white-collar execu- cine at Yale University School of president of the National Episcopal I tive. Crack is a "high-perfor- Medicine, told me in an interview Coalition on Alcohol and Drugs. mance" drug. that crack is used mostly in specific He believes the best approach is to Why then should we worry cities in the United States. The begin working with individuals about its use? Because it is addic- media reported its use in New with drug abuse problems and J tive and has deadly physical and York, Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Los change what can be changed. "If I mental and social effects. Crack Angeles, San Diego, and San Fran­ help others to decide to change for and other cocaine increases the cisco last year. Chicago seems to be the better, I've helped the world heart rate and blood pressure. somewhat of an exception, al­ ... We need to realize, that we Heart-lung seizures can occur. though Chicago does have an can't come down as God and This is ~ Some time after use, depending on intense drug problem. revamp the human race. But we quality re the amount taken and the way it is Actual figures on crack use are can by our slow, caring, effective taken, the user experiences a de- not available, although the Inter­ ways change the world." Californii pression. It may put a user out of national Narcotics Control Board are fine touch with those trying to help, estimated early in 1987 that four to The Rev . Charles E. Cole is Execu tive dinary b thus isolating the user and making five million people in the U.S. had Secretary for Model Development and They ha treatment difficult. used cocaine at some timP-. Planning, Health and Welfare Minis­ stock. Siz1 Crack is insidious precisely be- Dr. Musto also pointed out that tries Program Department, GBGM. cause it is cheap and easy to use. the danger of crack is that it can be Only 19. Drug dealers take powdered co- an effective starter drug for young --- caine and mix it with baking soda people. "It's what a fast-food com­ PLEAsEl and water to make a paste. When it pany would have done if it had " PA'.' hardens this mixture looks like been in the drug distribution busi­ • Large 10 inch gold­ 11fE sligh tly discolored granulated ness," he said. "Crack is a mer­ bordered plates. FOR ON •Orders filled for 25 A sugar. It is broken into little chips chandising technique. It is espe­ or more plates. PAINlTh or lumps and then smoked in a dally appealing to adolescents be­ •We also make ce­ \\i\JE cigarette or pipe. This practice is cause they are more prone to ramic tile, church note paper and ADDRfss_ more acceptable than "snorting" or experiment with drugs in general." Christmas Cards. - "shooting." It is also safer, as the " It is wrong to think that crack • New-Wood Plagues. user avoids the danger of contract- and cocaine are problems only for for sample and il/uslralecl /ileralure wrile: ing AIDS through the use of a dirty the young or for those in inner PRESTON-HOPKINSON CO. needle. cities," explains Dr. Musto. "Co- P.O. Box 605, Appomattox, VA 24522 Many people have become con- caine was originally advocated as (804) 352-5471 42 [330) EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 During the 1970s, grassroots Bible The confu ion and horror of the s tud y group s we r e form e d i n people at the desecration of churches Books churches, and as people began to relate and the burning of Bibles is com­ biblical passages to their own lives, pounded by accusations that their DEATH AND RESURRECTION their fai th was deepened, and their leaders are " communists." En tire IN GUATEMALA commitment to work together fo r jus­ communities have suffered and died by Fernando Bermudez tice wa:; strengthened . The challenge because of their faith. One of the most Orbis Books, 1986 . 77 pp., $7. 95 this presented to the status quo has moving accounts is the forced killing of It could be said that Guatemala is the resulted in the death and displacement fi ve Bible study leaders by their own invisible country in the midst of the of vast sectors of the rural population. fam ily members, upon orders of the current Central American situation. Bermudez, a priest formerly serving military. Not to obey would have Seldom do United States government in Gua temala, relates in s traig ht mea nt the dea th of the entire commu­ spokespersons or the media refer to forward language the overt persecu­ ni ty . The fi ve victims participated in this, the largest of the countries in the tion of Christians in the rural areas. He digging their own graves. region, and when they do, those makes a clear distinction between Acco unts of the torture and dea ths of references usually relate to Guatema­ church structures, which relate to the priests and nuns from Guatemala, la ns, who have crossed the border dominating political power, and the orth American, Spain and Belgium, illegally. It is precisely for this reason "church that walks with the people." who were committed to the poor, are that Bermudez has documented the He goes on to explain that, "In many also told in stark terms. " Few countries suffering of the peasants, the majority regions of Guatemala it is no longer in the history of La tin America have of whom are " Amerindian," and has permitted to celebrate the Word. The suffe red a repression as cruel as Gua­ related that suffering to their fai th. Bible is considered a subversive book." temala is suffe ring." says Bermudez. For readers not familiar with Guate­ Eyewitness accounts of the ra id s on The challenge Bermudez leaves for mala, an introduction by Phillip Berry­ villages, the raping of young girls and his readers is a quote from one of the man sets the historical, political and women before their family members Guatemalan Christians: "May I fear socio-economic context for the book in and the slaughter of the people are not death but infidelity." lay terms. As a result of continuous remembered and related by the few Joyce Hill military dictatorships, or the mili­ who have managed to survive such tarized civilian governments of the ordeals. 1980s, 1 million of the 7 million Bermudez recounts in moving terms inhabitants of the country have scat­ how the people have committed Bible Joyce Hill is an executive secretary tered in fear for their lives. passages to memory, and then buried related to the Latin America/Caribbean Berry man asserts: "The root cause of the Book to prevent its being destroyed Region with particular responsibility today's conflict in Guatemala is that by the military. In many of the dirt­ for relation ships to chu rches and ecu­ poor people have stood up for their floored homes, a vase of flowers or a lit menical work in Brazil and Cuba . primary right to live and have been met candle mark the spot where the buried with violence ." Book awaits the day of liberation.

WEARE PROUD THE PATH OF SALVATION TO INTRODUCE A The steps and ways God has provided for us NEW SERIES OF LIMITED PRINTS BY FERNANDO MEDINA This is your opportunity to own a fine quality reproduction of an oil painting by California's own religious painter. These are fine lithographic prints with extraor­ dinary bright color and sensitive form . They have been reproduced on heavy ... stock. Size is 17 x 22 inches. The price is • only $19.95, send for your print now!

PLEASE SEND ME A PRINT OF "THE PATH OF SALVATION" FOR ONLY $19.95. A PAINTING BY FERNANDO MEDINA AME ______ADDRESS ______CITY STATE __ ZIP ____ CONCHA HOUSE, PO. BOX 14224-N SAN DIEGO, CA 92114 Expect 3 to 6 weeks delivery

NEW WO RLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 [331] 43 THE STRANGER WITHIN YOUR discrimination against Koreans and existence in Japanese society requires GATES: other minorities in Japan. A Korean me to bear the role of helping Japan to Uprooted People in the World Today by pastor in Japan who is a leader in this tum from its closed-society mentality Andre Jacques process said, " For me, faith is related to to an openness to the world. Thus I am Wor ld Council of Churches , Geneva, 1986 . this concrete matter of human develop­ conscious of, and have the conviction 90 pp ., $5.50 ment. When this fact became clear to of, participating in the work of creating me, I had the mysterious experience of new history. My faith in Christ helped --- becoming a human being at peace. I me to perceive this direction" (pp. ABOL Andre Jacques, the author of The was delivered from fear and a warped 74-75) . M EL L E'"™A.\' Stranger Within Your Gates , advises us inferiority complex. Certainly, when at the outset that "This book may my nature as a member of the Korean Mel Lehman is the Public Information appear provocative. It is intended to people becomes clear to me, I not only Officer of the Church World Service Immi­ arouse our indignation and create in us feel pride and joy in belonging to my gration and Refugee Program . a feeling of responsibility." Mr. Jac­ own people, but I also feel that my very ques, who is secretary for migration of the World Council of Churc hes' Com- mission on Inter-Church Aid, Refugee and World Service (CICARWS) suc- CALENDAR ceeds on both counts. De While the emphasis of this book is on Oct. 7-10 migration, refugee issues are given AUGUST General Board of Higher Education considerable coverage. One of the Women's Division National Seminar. and Ministries Meeting ; Nashville , TN ; - strengths of this book is its vignettes of Quadrennial gathering of United Meth­ Oct. 13-17. individual migrants. What had been odist Women to study emerging social General Commission on Christian for us only anonymous faces in a issues; Ohio State University, Colum­ QUESTij Unity and lnterreligious Concerns 'tfirement fi magazine photograph suddenly comes bus, OH ; Aug . 14-21 Annual Meeting ; location to be deter­ \ltthod~t alive when we hear individual voices National Program Division Mission mined; Oct. 15-17 such as a miner who labors deep in the Development Committee, General General Board of Global Ministries ANS WEI earth in sub-human conditions, away Board of Global Minist ri es; Lake Juna­ Annual Meeting; New York; Oct. 16-24 Ministries I from his family, for gold which will luska, NC ; Aug. 21-23 Mission Enrichment Event, Troy Con­ Cieneral Bo' profit the economy of South Africa . North Central Jurisdiction/Fellowship ference; White River Junct., VT ; Oct. 17 roo peratioq The personal stories are presented in of Conference Secretaries of Global Mission Enrichment Event, Troy Con­ Associatio the context of summaries of migration Ministries; Alaska, Aug . 22-29 Ministries, in various parts of the world. Even Southwest Border Committee Meet­ ference-Dr. John and Mrs. Betty Jo­ those of us who make a dedicated hannaber speaking on "Our Mission in Directory oj effort to keep up with the news ing; Chihuahua, Mexico; Aug. 25-29 Moscow"; Troy, NY ; Oct. 18 :rit5. It lists that provic sometimes miss the overall context of United Methodist Communications >ervices. S particular migration issues. This book SEPTEMBER Annual Meeting; Nashville, TN ; Oct. encapsulates complex migration issues re~ t ed to Finance and Field Service Annual 22-24 in digestible summaries. Topics in­ other chura Meeting; New York; Sept. 3-6 General Board of Publication Annual ~a use th clude the Vietnamese, Africans, Cen­ Meeting ; Nashville, TN ; Oct. 27-28 (,, tral Americans, Afghans, Jews and United Methodist Central Conference Association General Assembly of the United Palestinians, Haitians, and others less Communications Conference; Kinsha­ !lave a rel Evangelical Church of Ecuador; familiar to us; migrant workers in sha, Zaire; Sept. 3-8 Methodist Quito, Equador; Oct. 31-Nov. 2 Europe, migrant workers in oil-pro­ General Commission on Religion The instil I I ducing countries, and Brazilians. It will and Race National Convocation on illdwit h ea come as a healthy jolt to U. S. readers to Racism; Louisville, KY ; Sept. 13-16 NOVEMBER airector, an note that the situation of migrants in Deaconess and Home Missionary Health and Welfare Ministries' Con­ ~ r a n d a de Florida is included. Service Annual Commitee Meeting ; sultation on Death and Dying; Church irovided. While recognizing the pain of indi­ New York; Sept. 15-18 Center for the U.N., New York, NY ; Nov. This Dii viduals, Th e Stranger Within Your Gates General Commission on Religion 4-6 _Retiremen comes down firmly on the side of and Race Board Meeting; Louisville, Mid-West Heartland Area Consulta­ 'lcilities", ] addressing the larger structural issues KY ; Sept. 17-21 tion on Rural Centers; Omaha, NB ; .ties", "Ct Nov . 9-10 of migration: "The uprooted can do Western Jurisdiction/Fellowship of \linistries with less pity but more legal and social General Board of Pensions' Annual rapping Co Conference Secretaries of Global Meeting; Williamsburg, VA ; Nov . 10-12 protection, less commiseration but Ministries; Denver, CO; Sept. 19-22 llformation more opportunities to be recognized as Mission Personnel Resources Pro­ timply ~ Mission Saturation Event; Iowa Con­ gram Department (MPRPD) lntroduc· !lnancial ob human beings and full members of a ference, Muscatine District; Sept. 19-23 community," Jacques notes. lion to Mission Vocation Event; Kansas illy progra Mr. Jacques' experience in ecumeni­ Mission Saturation Event; Western City, MO ; Nov . 14-20 O!re a coF cal work is evident in the final section Pennsylvania Conference, Washing­ Methodist Associated Representing ~ente r , 782 of the book in w hich 4e describes the ton District; Sept. 20-24 the Hispanic-American Cause (M AR· ·SOO, Cin work of churches around the world. Mission Saturation Event; Nebraska CHA) ; New York, NY ; Nov. 20-22 lie cost is For example, the plight of Asian Conference, Omaha Dist. ; Sept. 20-26 General Council on Ministries and migrant women was the focu s of a 1984 World Council of Churches Execu­ General Council on Finance and We Want consultation organized by the Chris­ tive Committee; location in U.S . to be Administration Joint Annual Meet­ ~ rch learn tian Conference of Asia . One is left determined; Sept. 20-26 ing; Dayton, Ohio; Nov . 30-Dec. 4 '"11 We find with the feeling that the situation of To have your mission event or meeting listed migrants, while extremely difficult and OCTOBER in the NEW WORLD OUTLOOK Calendar, J~ugg e st painful, is not without some rays of send details to: Calendar Editor, NEW • lilted M hope. General Board of Discipleship Semi- WORLD OUTLOOK, Room 1349, 475 River· tor Christi< Churches ca n ma ke a difference . In Annual Meeting ; Nashville, TN ; Oct. 5-9 \fs. CeciJ side Drive , New York, New York 10115. llisci e Japan, Japanese and Korean Christians General Board of Church and Society Materials must be received four months prior .., , pleshin are working together to protest the Fall Meeting ; location to be determined; to the date(s) of the event(s). I,\ 3 202 . ~ 44 (332) NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 19 7 The packets tell how children can learn about and make contributions to a select group of mission projects. The policy of the Children's Fund is to first educate children about mission and secondly, to provide a way for them to give to missions. Each year several projects are select­ ABOUT MISSIONS ed to show the many ways The United Methodist Church is meeting the needs of children. By using the maps, pictures and activity suggestions in the packet, your children will not only grow ip their understanding but have the satisfaction of helping other boys and girls in a variety of places in the U.S. and overseas. THE BEST IS YET TO BE When Another good source of children's you're over 55, do you just fade mission ideas is the book, "Great Ideas for Workers with Children about Mis­ away? Lloyd Young, a retired Cali­ Donald E. Struchen sion" , which has over 60 pages of fornian, writes Qf how he found his program suggestions, fund raising answer while walking on the beach ideas, holiday activities, and mission in Santa Barbara some six years stories. This book (stock #4293) sells ago. Remembering a magazine for $3.00 from the Service Center. article he had read about the sad QUESTION: Where can I find a list of An ongoing source of help for plight of abandoned children in retirement homes related to The United workers with children is T. V. Guide­ Brazil, he and his wife Dixie decid­ Methodist Church? lines packet which contains a page of ed that that was going to be their children's activities each month from new calling-and new life to live. ANSWER: The Health and Welfare September through May. To subscribe Ministries Program Department of the Since then, they have worked with to it, send your request and check for an inner city project for abandoned General Board of Global Ministries, in $11.00 to The Service Center at the cooperation with the United Methodist address listed above. women and children in Latin Association of Health and Welfare America's largest country. Ministries, has prepared a National What is the Youth service Fund? Directory of Health and Welfare Minis­ tries. It lists institutions and programs It is the means for United Methodist that provide healing ministries and Youth to give to missions beyond services. Some of those listed are giving to the local church. Thirty ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING Just a related to an Annual Conference or percent of the money raised in an year ago, two Oklahoma pastors I other church unit; others are included Annual Conference through the Youth were in Dallas to attend a General I because they are members of the Service Fund is sent to World and Board of Global Ministries disaster ,, I Association even though they may not National Mission projects, while 70 response workshop. Halfway have a relationship with a United per-cent is kept within the conference through the course, they heard in Methodist Connectional Unit. to help support mission projects and the news that their home state had The institutions are listed by states, programs within the conference. and with each there is the name of the been struck with one of the worst director, an address and phone num­ Is it true the General Board of Global floods in its history. Before long, ber and a description of the type of care Ministries has a new statement describing the two pastors were back home provided. their Theology of Mission , and how can I leading and coordinating rescue This Directory not only contains get a copy? and relief operations that they had "Retirement and Long Term Care barely learned from the books. The Facilities", but also "Health Care Faci­ A new printed "Theology of Mission Rev. Boyce A. Bowden, one of the lities", "Child Care Facilities", and Statement" is now in brochure form. It pastors, writes a moving first-per­ "Ministries with Persons with Handi­ was developed at the request of the son account of that experience. capping Conditions". It is issued for Directors of the Board. Nine "Theology informational services only and does of Mission" consultations were held not imply guarantee of service quality, around the world, involving more than financial obligation or endorsement of a thousand United Methodists and any program/institution listed. To se­ mission partners from six continents, MAKING A DIFFERENCE cure a copy, write to the Service the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands. NWO's Nelson Navarro introduces Center, 7820 Reading Road, Caller No. The gathered information was pre­ us to Manila's unique Kapatiran­ 1800, Cincinnati, Ohio 45222-1800. pared in a written statement and sent The cost is $3.50. to all the Directors of the Board for Ka unlaran Foundation and the reflection and approval. At the Annual energetic woman who runs it. We want to help the children of our Meeting of the Directors in 1986 it was Located in the crowded and tough church learn more about missions . Where approved. It will serve to interpret and university belt area, the United can we find resources to help us? guide future program directions of the Methodist-related institution General Board. serves students, out-of-school I suggest you order a copy of the If you wish to have a copy, send your youth, unemployed persons, sen­ "United Methodist Children's Fund request to Room 1400, 475 Riverside ior citizens and other marginalized For Christian Mission" packet from Drive, New York, NY 10115. We are sectors of the Philippines' capital Ms . Cecile Beam, General Board of not making a general distribution of Discipleship, P.O. Box 840, Nashville, this brochure, but it is available to city. TN 37202. One free per local church. those requesting it. EW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 1987 (333] 45 V I E ·w P C I N T

Christian faith who physically and one of his unguarded moments, spiritually cut the weight of pen­ "but I speak for the Church." How ance from Rodrigo's shoulders. It wide, how tragic, is the difference, was they who pleaded to under­ in the eighteenth century or today? stand, in the face of a European "The Church must show its au­ political decision, why God had thority over the New World," he changed His mind, or whether the asserted, yet when the chips were pope's representative spoke for down it was the political power of God's will or for the Portuguese. It Spain and Portugal that deter­ was an Indian boy who brought mined the policies of the Church. Rodrigo his sword, hesitantly and To the hopeful, idealistic claim that reluctantly; Indians sacrificed their "the work of God is at issue here," own lives to lure their attackers came the blunt retort: "The issue is Creighton Lacy over the falls; it was Indian chil­ the survival of the Jesuit Order," dren who escaped into the jungle, and later, "If the Jesuits resist, the It's Hard to only to postpone the encounter Order will be expelled from Portu­ between nature and civilization. gual, then Spain, then Italy," and Forgive Ourselves, What, then, of the mission? so on. (Indeed the Society of Jesus let alone others The theme of personal responsi­ was disbanded by the Pope from .· ~.. bility echoes through the wilder­ 1773 to 1814.) ··•1 Long ere this, most readers of ness of silent, remote, impersonal The Cardinal, himself a former .. New World Outlook will have seen forces. " I sent him, Father; I have Jesuit, meant well. He conceded "The Mission," either because of to go there myself." Viewers will that " the courts of Europe are a 'i its title or because they heard it recall, also, how the mercenary jungle compared to this here." praised as a powerful film dealing slave trader bemoaned the fact that Recognizing that "amputation is ... with an agonizing dilemma: is it no penance could be severe sometimes necessary," he went on ' " better-more ethical, more "Chris­ enough for killing his own brother, to confess that he " had not realized tian"-to accept martyrdom and whom he loved. Father Gabriel How seldom do we apparent defeat or to fight, literally responded w ith three probing or figuratively, on behalf of op­ questions, not only to Rodrigo but respond in deed pressed people? Father Gabriel to us in various settings: " Do you as well as word . rebuked his "spiritual son": "You have the courage to choose your the power and beauty of the limb I promised your life to God and God own penance? Do you dare to try had come to sever." This was the is love." But one might question it? Do you dare to see it fail?" It is voice of authority, the voice of I I whether Rodrigo did not have hard enough to forgive ourselves, power, the voice of pragmatism. more love for the Indians whom he often harder than to forgive others. Yet one cannot help wondering chose to defend than did the priest It is more difficult to recognize that whether even the beloved Father who refused to resist evil. To the we have still not done enough, that Gabriel was not putting the surviv­ eyes of the world the outcome was we remain " unprofitable ser­ al of the Order above his congre­ the same. Or was it? vants," that ultimately we must gation. Or whether, even for us, On initial viewing of "The Mis­ rely not on our own good works the preservation of the institution sion" I was struck first by the however sincere, but on the grace may not loom larger than the magnificent/scenic photography, of God and the love of friends. welfare of the flock. second by the elusive but profound One must also ponder the role of How often do we say, in defense "one-liners." Repeatedly a single, the Church in "The Mission" -or of compromise and convenience almost casual, sentence revealed in the Mission. Contrast the ele­ and safety, "We must work in the more than a thousand pictures of a gant cathedral of Asuncion with world; the world is thus." How character. Repeatedly those words the thatched chapel in the jungle. seldom do we respond, in deed as from the· eighteenth century Contrast the pomp and ritual of the well as word: " No. Thus have we reached into the twentieth cen­ European with the simple devotion made the world; thus have I made tury-or into the first. of the Indians. The mission gar­ it. " How rarely do we truly believe "The Indians are free-to be dens might look like colonial es­ that "God will tell you what to do enslaved by those Spanish and tates, but " this plantation is and give you the courage and grace Portuguese settlers." The papal theirs," and the laborers bear no to do it, whatever it costs you." nuncio who made that observation scars from scourging. Furthermore "The Mission," with all of its remarked later: "I often wonder if the income was shared equally: beauty and horror and moral ambi­ they would not have preferred that " We are a community." Told that guity, may appear to contradict the sea and the wind had not this sounded like a radical doctrine that assurance. brought any of us to them." (Did from Europe (albeit a hundred Or does it? any of you stay through the long years before Karl Marx), the priest list of " credits" to see the expres­ replied simply: " It was the doctrine Creighton Lacy is professor of world sion of doubt and anguish remain­ of the early Christians." Christianity at Duke University Divinity ing on the face of the Cardinal?) " I do not personally speak for School in Durham , orth Carolina and a former United Methodist missionary in It was Indians converted to the God," the Cardinal admitted in China . 46 [334] NEW WORLD OUTLOOK JULY-AUGUST 19 7 For three-quarters of a century NEW WORLD OUTLOOK has covered the mission scene with articles defining the work of the United Methodist Church in this country and abroad. From an interview with human rights defender and peace advocate. the Argentine Bi shop Federico J. Pagura. to the debate on divestment in South Africa; and from a desc ription of an innovative program helping jobless youths acquire job skills, to the rebirth of a downtown St. Louis church on the verge of closing its doors. NEW WORLD OUTLOOK focuses on information and ideas for church members and workers concerned about mission .

Ideas and suggestions abound and testaments of personal faith inspire as,they teach. The message i one of hope and renewa l, a message that uplifts as it informs and captures the too often ove rlooked chapters of heroic witness and ictory of persona l faith over poverty, disease and oppression.

FOr a $7.00 subscription. you and your church will be kept informed of vital mission concerns, information on the church's ministry in mission, news from missionaries around the world. and current book reviews. Special is ues in the first half of 1987 included missionaries, the annual report of the General Board or Globa l Ministries. This opportunity to become more informed about mission and Methodism is one not to be overlooked . Fbr a new outlook on miss ion , subscribe today ~

New World Outlook Magazine Circulation The Service Center-7820 Reading Road-Ca ller No. 1800 Cincinnati. Ohio 45222-1800

The General Board of Global Ministries. The Uniled Mell10disl Churcl1

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK A PRJL 1987 (191) 47 BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW

:1 1t .I

>a: a: ~ >z ~ > t Ii Cl) 0 J If • ' 11 ~ '11 ~ I

An award winning new video describing the ministries of the United Methodist Committee on Relief to help save the rivers of the Sahel.

$18 plus shipping and handling

Available from ECUFILM or contact your Annual 810 12th AVE. , S Conference Resource Nashville, TN 37203 Center concerning rental Call 1-800-251-4091 availability.

United Methodist Committee on Relief General Board of Global Ministries