Ecumenical and Interreligious Resource Book
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European Central Conferences Plan for a New Future
For immediate Release European Central Conferences plan for a new future The three European Central Conferences of The United Methodist Church covering 32 countries and 10 time-zones are making plans for a future that may include separation, re-organization and the re-drawing of the United Methodist map of Europe. As the church at its upcoming General Conference in late summer of 2022 will consider plans that open the door for central conferences, annual conferences and local churches to leave the denomination to form or to unite with a new Methodist denomination, the four bishops Eduard Khegay, Harald Rückert, Patrick Streiff and Christian Alsted have found it prudent to initiate conversations about potential implications of a separation and processes to lead the church through this time into a vital and sustainable future. Some annual conferences in Europe have already indicated that they plan to leave should the current polity on human sexuality change and open the door for same-sex marriages and the ordination of self-avowing practicing homosexuals. Some annual conferences are still considering their situation, awaiting the decisions by General Conference to have a fuller perspective to inform their decision. Several annual conferences have indicated that they wish to maintain the unity in a future United Methodist Church that will be composed of persons and conferences that wish to be inclusive of all people and remove restrictive language from the Discipline, as well as inclusive of those who will keep their traditional conviction. During the month of March each of the three European Central Conference executive committees have met with all four bishops to discuss a document outlining a process to study the future of the United Methodist Church in Europe as well as a document to prepare for an informed decision by the different levels of conferences on remaining or departing from The United Methodist Church. -
CLERGYWOMEN with SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY a Dissertation
CLERGYWOMEN WITH SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Sunny Sunwook Pak May 2006 DISSERTATION APPROVAL This is to certify that the dissertation entitled CLERGYWOMEN WITH SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY presented by Sunny Sunwook Pak has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for the DOCTOR OF MINISTRY degree at Asbury Theological Seminary March 13, 2006 Internal Reader Date March 13, 2006 Representative, Doctor of Ministry Program Date March 13, 2006 Dean, Doctor of Ministry Program; Date Mentor ABSTRACT CLERGYWOMEN WITH SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY Sunny Sunwook Pak The word spirit has multiple layers of meaning and yet has some common features: immanence and transcendence. The languages of the spirit were used throughout this study. The purpose of this research was to examine the possible relationship between clergywomen’s understanding of their spiritual authority and their practice of ministry leadership within the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Through intensive one-on-one in-depth interviews, the study explored how their understanding of spiritual authority contributes to the ways they exercise their authority in ministry leadership. To be well represented the multicultural and multiethnic context of the California- Pacific Annual Conference, six major ethnic groups—Asian, black, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander, and white—that were officially recognized in the conference were served as the recommending agents of the clergywomen for the study. The research participants were selected to reflect ethnic diverse ways of understanding and ministry. Clergywomen from diverse cultural backgrounds had similar stories to tell in different ways. -
December 2019
First Friday Letter The World Methodist Council December 2019 You will notice a new format this time as the WMC wants the translation to be available in your language. Greetings from the Vice President ‘Great Lectionary readings for tomorrow!’ emailed the General Secretary, persuading me to reflect on Advent, and, looking at those readings for the first Sunday in Advent, I must agree. Particularly compelling are verses from Isaiah of Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-5) where the prophet shares his vision of how it will be when the peoples of all nations unite in pilgrimage to the mountain of the Lord. For the people of Israel, mountains were significant. In the majesty and beauty and severity of the mountain, God was present. Abraham, Moses and Elijah experienced God in the mountains – El Shadd- ai, God of the mountains; the Psalmist lifted his eyes to the mountains; for Jesus too, mountains were significant – the mountain of the Beatitudes, the Mount of Transfiguration, the Mount of Olives. Isaiah’s vision of the mountain of the Lord is of a place of peace, shalom, a place where all may flourish and live in security. It is a vision shared by Third Isaiah as he, in turn, reflects on what makes for true well-being – read Isaiah 65:17-25 Recently, I represented the World Methodist Council at the 25th Conference of EcoPeace in Jordan. Pri- or to the conference, a number of us had a tour of the Jordan Valley from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, or the Salt Sea as some call it. -
Channels 68 News Now News Now December 2013 5 Birthing Kits Are the Latest UMCOR Kits
Issue #68 • December 2013 Hope for the Chil- dren of Africa 16 Bishop Swenson, PNWUMW Meeting 16 God is on the side of the damned 14 Imperfect Signs of Perfec- tions 19 issue #68, December 2013 Connecting with stories making headlines from the UMC into December By LINDA BLOOM Photo by WIKIMEDIA COMMONS* *For more info on this image, visit http://bit.ly/1aPlmSC. eDITOR’s note: On Dec. 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela died at age 95. South African President Jacob Zuma made the announcement. Mandela, a former prisoner, became a statesman who led South Africa out of decades of apartheid. hroughout his life, Nelson Man- free of bitterness. His life reflects the qualities of dela had many connections to the World Methodist Peace Award.” Methodism. A graduate of a Methodist EARLY METHODIST ROOTS boarding school where many future Mandela was born July 18, 1918, at Mvezo African leaders were educated, the in the Eastern Cape and graduated from Heald- anti-apartheid champion was men- town, a boarding school started by Methodist tored by Methodist preachers and educators missionaries in 1845. The Rev. Seth Mokitimi and formed a bond with a Methodist chaplain was the school’s chaplain. A renowned Methodist while in prison. preacher and educator who in 1964 became the As president of South Africa, he worked with first black person elected to lead a major denomi- church leaders in shaping a new nation and nation in South Africa, he had a powerful influ- eventually married Graça Machel, a United Meth- ence on Mandela. odist, widow of the former president of Mozam- A new Methodist seminary, opened in 2009 bique and an advocate for women’s and chil- within the Pietermaritzburg Cluster of ecumeni- dren’s rights. -
May 2020 Newsletter
Council of Bishops United Methodist Church Communion APRIL 2020 Ecumenical and Interreligious News Promoting unity and peace through strengthening ecumenical and interreligious relations worldwide Council of Bishops’ Ecumenical/ “On Ecumenical Day” opening worship in the Interreligious Ministry General Conference plenary will focus on our com- mitment to church unity and interreligious engage- at General Conference 2021 ment. “On Methodist Family Day” our Autonomous Affiliated, Autonomous United and Concordat church partners will be introduced, along with several other Methodist and Wesleyan leaders who will be present with us. For the first time, the Council of Bishops will have their own booth in the exhibit hall. This will be a place to learn about the Council of Bishops in gen- eral and about their ecumenical and interreligious engagements specifically. And, several important pieces of legislation Ecumenical and interreligious engagement will be brought forward for consideration by the del- are core to the beliefs of The United Methodist egates. A full communion relationship with The Epis- Church. Our Constitution boldly claims:“ The copal Church will be considered. And, the new Faith United Methodist Church is a part of the church and Order document “Sent in Love” will also be con- universal, which is one Body in Christ.” (Article IV, Book of Discipline 2016, ¶4, p. 26). Colossians 3:13-14 Whenever we have the opportunity, Unit- ed Methodists do our best to give visible witness (13)Bear with one another and forgive one another to this foundational commitment to unity.So, if you have any grievance against someone. For- when the General Conference takes place in 2021, the Council of Bishops will be taking the give as God forgave you. -
United Methodist Bishops Page 17 Historical Statement Page 25 Methodism in Northern Europe & Eurasia Page 37
THE NORTHERN EUROPE & EURASIA BOOK of DISCIPLINE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2009 Copyright © 2009 The United Methodist Church in Northern Europe & Eurasia. All rights reserved. United Methodist churches and other official United Methodist bodies may reproduce up to 1,000 words from this publication, provided the following notice appears with the excerpted material: “From The Northern Europe & Eurasia Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church—2009. Copyright © 2009 by The United Method- ist Church in Northern Europe & Eurasia. Used by permission.” Requests for quotations that exceed 1,000 words should be addressed to the Bishop’s Office, Copenhagen. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. Name of the original edition: “The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2008”. Copyright © 2008 by The United Methodist Publishing House Adapted by the 2009 Northern Europe & Eurasia Central Conference in Strandby, Denmark. An asterisc (*) indicates an adaption in the paragraph or subparagraph made by the central conference. ISBN 82-8100-005-8 2 PREFACE TO THE NORTHERN EUROPE & EURASIA EDITION There is an ongoing conversation in our church internationally about the bound- aries for the adaptations of the Book of Discipline, which a central conference can make (See ¶ 543.7), and what principles it has to follow when editing the Ameri- can text (See ¶ 543.16). The Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference 2009 adopted the following principles. The examples show how they have been implemented in this edition. -
Monthly Update July 2017 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Monthly Update July 2017 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This Monthly Update covers the first of the annual conference reports from meetings across our Methodist connection. If you want more complete information on your particular annual conference, please call, write, or e-mail us and we will be glad to send it to you. We are also including some issues of interest in our country during these turbulent times. Of especial interest are what we believe are attempts to undermine our country and our orthodox Wesleyan Christian faith. Here are just a few: 1. Over the matter of protecting our borders/unlimited immigration; the Old Testament in the Bible is replete about the need for Israel to protect its borders against its enemies. Some leaders in the United Methodist Church have filed “charges” against Attorney General Jeff Sessions for enforcing the law against illegal aliens. This is extreme with all the un-Christian actions our leadership has tolerated. 2. In reference to gun control and enacting stricter regulations, some of our church leaders are becoming active in pushing this issue. The reality is that mass shooters like “gun free zones” because they know that they will not meet armed resistance until the police arrive – and that would be too late for some people who have been killed. We need to remember, especially as we celebrate the 4th of July, that it was the attempt at “gun control” that started our fight for independence with the British on their way to seize the peoples’ weapons when they were confronted – and defeated with guns by the patriots. -
To Help One Another – to Learn from One Another
To help one another – To learn from one another Fund for Mission in Europe Project List 2019 Bank Information EmK-Weltmission Account Nr. 401 773 BLZ 520 604 10 Evangelische Bank IBAN: DE65520604100000401773 BIC: GENODEF1EK1 Verein Hilfe im Sprengel Evangelisch-methodistische Kirche Badenerstrasse 69 / Postfach 2111 CH-8021 Zurich 1 (SWitzerland) Bank: UBS AG, Albisriederplatz 8, CH-8004 Zurich (SWitzerland) IBAN: CH570026726784963360F (EUR-Account!) CH830026726784963361T (USD-Account!) BIC: UBSWCHZH80K Mission in Europe 2 Dear Friends The praying mantis in the car park We had some Wonderful days in Croatia – Warm sunshine, really clear Water in the sea, a lot of time to discover a Whole neW World. One day We Went on an excursion to a nature park. The fascinating coast invited us to jump from one stone slab to another. The trees looked as if they had Withstood many a storm, and then came open spaces With a su- perb panoramic vieW toWards the sea, Which sent Wave after Wave to the land. We had parked our car on a graveled car park. No sooner had We got out of the car, then We had a very special encounter: there Was a praying mantis Walking around on the car park. There Was something strange about it: for the first time I Was seeing one of these fasci- nating insects With its very distinctive appearance – in an ordinary car park, of all places. But it may be that this is a good symbol. In German, these insects are called «Gottesanbeterin», Which means «Wor- shiper of God». Perhaps What our World needs most is not more people Who go to church once a Week to pray and then, during the rest of the Week, think, speak and act as if they had never been in the church. -
2.2 Episcopal Address
2.2 Episcopal Address Knowing that “in God we all live, move and exist”, we welcome delegates and guests to the 2016 Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference in Fredrikstad, Norway. We come together as United Methodists across 11 time zones representing a rich diversity of cultures and ministry contexts, bound together in connectional relationship eager to share Christ with the purpose of making disciples, through which the world may be transformed. We particularly welcome bishop John Yambasu from Sierra Leone, who is representing the Council of Bishops. We welcome other bishops from Europe, Rosemarie Wenner from Germany and Patrick Streiff from Central and Southern Europe. We welcome our retired bishops, who have previously served in the Central Conference, Øystein Olsen and Hans Växby, while Rüdiger Minor is unable to be here due to prior commitments. We also welcome ecumenical friends, representatives from the Uniting Church in Sweden, as well as representatives from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Norway, the Baptist Union in Norway and the Norway Council of Churches. The theme of our conference “In God we all live, move and exist” is a short sentence in a longer speech given to an assembly of philosophers and politicians in Athens. When Paul arrived in the city after a long voyage he walked into a religious, philosophical and political marketplace, where people not unlike many Northern Europeans and Eurasians today were hungry for the next new thing. While Paul was well acquainted with Greek culture and religion, he was not prepared for what he experienced in Athens, and he was, as we can be in our context, deeply distressed by a city flooded with idols. -
Jul-Aug 2012 Ka Leo Mekokiko.Pub
1 Ka Leo Mekokiko/Jul‐Aug 2012 Ka Leo Mekokiko “THE VOICE OF METHODISM” Hawaii District VOLUME 28 NUMBER 6 ALOHA BISHOP SWENSON Since 2000, Bishop Mary Swenson has been the episcopal leader for the California-Pacific Annual Conference. On August 31, she will be retiring and will be living in Southern California with her husband, Jeff. Bishop Swenson has had a special fondness for our Hawaii District and it is fitting that her final aloha celebrations will take place on our islands. We have already had two aloha celebration on Kauai: in the morning at West Kauai UMC, and in the afternoon at the Salt Pond, attended mostly by Lihue United Church folks. Thanks to both churches for your hospitality! Here is a list of the remaining celebrations: August 4—Big Island at Honoka’a UMC at 3:00 p.m. August 5—Maui—2 locations: Ala Lani UMC during and after the 10:00 a.m. English worship service (Rev. Jaeman Lim is the contact person); Honolua UMC at 3:00 p.m. (Rev. Tevita Maile is the primary contact person with Rev. Paul Tangonan assisting). August 11—Oahu at Harris UMC at 10:00 a.m. The District Superintendency Committee has over- sight. We are asking the different ethnic caucuses and other groups to present music, dance, etc. for the celebration. There will be a potluck following the more formal celebration which will celebrate the dif- ferent cuisines of the district. Lorraine Kadooka of Harris is coordinating the potluck. GIFT IN HONOR OF THE BISHOP The bishop has requested that any gift would be for the benefit of others and be around a water theme in keeping with the conference theme of “Being the Cup Overflowing.” Plans are being final- ized to have a water container built in Tonga in honor of the bishop. -
Act for Peace a Message from Bishop Marcus Matthews Violent Crime Plagues Our Com- PRAY Munities - Urban, Suburban, and Please Pray Daily with Me, Now Rural Alike
Volume 7 Number 8 OCTOBER 07 A Call to End Violence: Act for Peace A Message from Bishop Marcus Matthews Violent crime plagues our com- PRAY munities - urban, suburban, and Please pray daily with me, now rural alike. Children going back to through the end of October, specifi- school are no longer assured of a cally for peace in our communities. safe place, as seen in the Amish • Pray for our young people. school house and Virginia Tech • Pray for the victims of crime shootings, and the recent murder and violence. in Kutztown, PA. Murder rates are • Pray for those caught in a cycle the highest ever seen in Philadel- of poverty, crime, and prison. phia. • Pray for our elected officials, Issues such as poverty, inequi- peacekeepers, and workers in the table education, proliferation of justice system. handguns, drugs, and gambling all • Pray that God will speak to us contribute to the increase in vio- and through us to be His witness in lent crime. It is time for the Body a hurting world. of Christ to make a transforming • Put the power of prayer to difference in the world! work, that lasting change will We, United Methodists - nearly transform our world. Remember 225,000 of us in about 1,000 when you pray: “All things are churches in The Philadelphia Area possible with God.” of The United Methodist Church - are called to be a prophetic voice ACT for God’s Kingdom. And we are Find creative ways to be in minis- called to be Christ’s hands and feet try in the heart of your neighbor- that help to make God’s will a real- hood that will help love your com- ity. -
The Social Soteriology of John Wesley and Its Communitarian, Arminian and Public Elements
The social soteriology of John Wesley and its comuni- tarian, arminian and public elements: comments on its development, purpose, inspirations, and spirituality Helmut Renders 1 The intention of using the term social soteriology is an attempt to combine a common concept in Wesleyan studies – that John Wesley is best understood as primarily con- cerned with soteriology – with a fresh look at the wide range of the meaning of the word “social”. This is done because the major agreement regarding the centrality of soteriology in Wesley has been unable to relate the different perspectives toward a united effort to promote and proclaim salvation in an integral way. Without a doubt, for many the use of the adjective “social” may simply indicate that the author of this article is putting empha- sis on diacony or public religion. Although the word “social” includes these meanings, it is much richer than this and has been used in Wesleyan and Methodist history in different moments to mark a certain type of Wesleyan imagery.2 As such, it seems appropriate to rethink this tradition and offer a re-reading of those aspects that we can easily combine with the metaphor of “social” and study their contributions to Wesleyan soteriology. 3 To do so, we shall challenge some customary reading of Wesleyan, in the first place, the popular biographic method of periodization which emerges more from a type of bio- graphic reinterpretation and reconfirmation of contemporary theologies than from a his- toric hermeneutic. Differently we shall re-link certain periods of his life by its under- standing as sedimentation of experience as a more appropriate way to understand the con- tinuous construction of Wesleyan soteriology as social soteriology.