Mission: Memo News and Analysis of Developments
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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.