SEPTEMBER 1979

"Mission Means" entries 11111 New Series Vol. XXXX No. 1 • Whole Series Vol. LXVIX No. 8 • September 1979

3 Mission Memo 7 Editorials 8 Mission Means .. . 9 Promises to Keep Nancy Veglahn 11 Call and Response Velma Mitchell 13 That of God in Every Man Dorothy A. Stickel! 13 Poem: Senility 15 A Selection of Posters 20 Mission on Friendship Square Natalie Barber 22 Casa de Amigos: Where Dreams Become Realities Connie Myer 26 Middle East Mosaic: An Egyptian Pope Harold S. Vogelaar 29 Bob Nakata Organizes the Home Folks Alex Vergara 33 The Cross Over Kujyo Community Jack Mcintosh 35 A New Kind of Hispanic Church Charley Lerrigo 37 Kamala Edwards Goes Home Ruth Dinkins Rowan 38 Recruiting Blacks for the Ministry Dwight Stewart 39 A Report to Our Readers Beverly J. Chain 41 Special Report: Faith, Science and the Future Arthur J. Moore 43 Books 44 Letters 45 The Moving Finger Writes

COVER Detail from "Mission Means Mending Mankind," Poster by Irene Roderick, Austin, Texas

Editor, Arthur J. Moore; Managing Editor, Charles E. Brewster Associate Editor, Ellen Clark; Art Director, Roger C. Sadler Administrative Assistant, Florence J. Mitchell

475 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10027 Published Monthly (bimonthly, July-August) by the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, Education and Cultivation Division, in association with the United Presbyterian Church, USA.

Second-class Mail Privileges Authorized at New York, N.Y. Additional Entry at Nashville, Tennessee. Copyright 1979 by Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. No part of New World Outlook may be reproduced in any form without written permission from Editors. Printed in U.S.A.

Subscriptions in the United States and Possessions, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay: One year $4.00 (combination with response, $7.00). Single copies 50 cents. Canada: one year $4.25 (combination $8.00). All other foreign countries: One year $5.00 (combination $9.00). .

Report any change of address directly to New World Outlook rather than to the Post Office. With your new address be sure to send also the old address, enclosing if possible an address label from a recent copy. A request for change of address must reach us at least thirty days before the date of issue with which it is to take effect. New World Outlook editorials and unsigned articles reflect the views of the editors and signed articles the views of the authors only.

PHOTO CREDITS P. 11, Do n Co ll inson; Pp. 13, 14, Helen Kro mer; Pp. 15, 16, 17, Archie Hamilton, BOGM; Pp. 20, 21,Jill Wilson and Natalie Barber; Pp. 22, 23, Arnold Mercado; P. 25, Connie Myer; Pp. 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, John C. Goodwi n; P. 27, World Council of Churches; Pp. 33, 34, Jack Mc intosh; P. 36, Charley Lerrigo; P. 37, Paul Genti le , BOGM. MISSIO• MEMO News and Analysis of Developments in Christian Mission

September, 1979

Zimbabwe. Bishop Abel Muzorewa, newly elected prime minister of Zimbabwe­ Rhodesia, has asked the United Methodist Church's Council of Bishops for a leave of absence from his episcopal duties. The Council has asked retired Bi shop Ralph f. Dodge, of Springfield, Missouri, who was bishop of the Rhodesia Area from 1956 to 1968, when he was expelled from the country, to assume the interim episcopal administration of the area . Bishop Dodge says he admits there "w ill be a certain amount of gratification to go back after having been kicked out. 11

China. Among representatives of 45 nations to attend a conference on "religion in the Struggle for World Community" at Princeton, New Jersey, this month wi ll be eight religious leaders from the People's Republic of China. The group wil l be composed of three Buddhists, three Christians and two Muslims. This wil l be the first inter-religious group to leave the People's Republic of China for an international religious meeting i n nearly two decades . Christians in the delegation will be Bishop Ding Guangxun, who is deputy head of the delegation, Mr . Li Shoubao, and Mr. Han Wenzao. Also Mr. Chen Semin, who is dean of Nanking Seminary, will be secretary of the delegation.

Judicial Council . United Methodism's Judicial Council will be faced with the longest docket in several years -- eleven cases -- when it meets Octo ber 24-27 in Washington, with the major issues being the rights of homosexual clergy and the boycotts of non-ERA states and a doctrinal change concerning l i quor . New York Annual Conference has asked for a decision on whether a self-avowed homo­ sexual clergy person is eligible for a pastoral appointment . The request came after the conference upheld the appointment of a minister to a New York City church. North Alabama Conference is asking for a ruling on the constitution­ ality of the refusal of church boards to meet in states whichhave not ratified the Equal Rights Amendment. The question regarding a statement on liquor was raised by the Norway Annual Conference, which alleges that the 1976 modification of the prohibition on the use of liquor was made without following the ru l es of a two-thirds vote of both General Conference and the annual conferences.

Ecumenism . In what must be a "first" anywhere in the world, six separate denominations in the city of Swindon in western England plan to elect one bishop who will be jointly recognized by all of them . The six denominations are the Church of England, Baptist Church, Moravian Church, Churches of Chr ist, Me th­ odist Church and United Reformed Church. The Roman Catholic Church sent three observers to participate in the discussions . The bishop will be welcome at any celebrati on of t he Euc harist in any of the participating churches and normally wil l t he n preside. The bishop would also take a prime role in any ordination, though in all other respects t he denomination discipline and practice would be fol lowed .

Go od News. The miss ion t ask force of "Good News", the evangelical caucus in Un i ted Methodis m, wi ll urge United Methodists to seek appointment as missionaries through "ano t her mi ssion agency" if they can't obtain appointment through the Board of Global Min ist ries . Declaring the Evangelical Missions Council (EMC) to be "an agency for world evangelizat ion", the policy paper said "we will help to gene rate financi al and prayer support for them." The task force will include in thei r Mi ss i on Min istry pa ckets a list of UM's serving under other agencies. They will also "openly and actively support" such evangelical ministries ·as World Evangelical Fellowship and the 4-Corners Native American Ministry in the West. Al so , at the 1979 gene ral convocation of Good News, in Ashland, Ohio, Dr. Paul Mic key, of Durham, N. C. , said "The pin has been pulled and the hand grenade of ordination of homosexuals has been tossed through the open window of pluralism and it has rolled onto the center of the floor of the 1980 General Conference. 11 Mi ckey, who is cha irperson of the Good News Board of Directors, seemed to sug­ gest by implication, t he possible resignation of New York Area Bishop W. Ralph Ward and said he should have been admonished by the Council of Bishops over his handl i ng of the appointment of a self-avowed homosexual minister to a New York Ci ty church. In another address, Dr. John Oswalt, professor of Old Testament language and l i terature at Asbury Theological Seminary asserted that "Women today stand at the crossroads . They may accept the Creator's role for them: namely , that of civilizi ng males through the building of homes and families, or they may succumb to that siren song (money)."

Argentina. Uni ted Methodist churches in Argentina have made a "notable increase" in givi ng to the general work of the church, according to administrator Arnaldo Pedemonte. Last yea r l ocal churches paid 99% of their apportionments, compared with 73 % in 1977 and 44% in 1976. At the present level of giving the total budget of the Church will be met with 86 % coming· from the local congregations and only 14% from donations and mission board contributions from Europe, Canada and the U.S . Mr. Pedemonte feels that this pattern enables the funds from out­ side the country to go to "innovative programming" and mission work, rather than J pastoral support . G a e Uruguay . Mi ss Margarita Grassi succeeded Rev. Oscar Bolioli on August 15 as d Pres ident of t he Uruguayan Methodist Church; it is the first time that a lay woman is the leader of the Church. She is also the vice president of the Latin a American Methodist Church Conference and has been the Uruguayan Methodist Church T vice president fo r the last two years. Mr. Bolioli has been elected director of d the Mut uality in Mi ssion Program in New York and will be studying psychology at c Rochester and Co r nell Universities .

Peru. The Method ist Chu rch of Peru is celebrating its centennial celebration ~ with speci al activities during the next twelve months. One hundred new church s members were received during the opening ceremonies in Lima as a result of an intensive program of evangelism.

Convocation. The Natinnal Convocation on Christian Mission, which h~ been scheduled for San Antonio, Texas, September 20-25, has been postponed until the next quadrennium. The principal reason for postponment is the energy crisis which led many who had expressP.d an interest in attending uncertain about getting there. This had led to insufficient registrations. Mrs. Erma Owens, business manager of the convocation, said "A check with those who had been holding block reservations revealed a decided drop since the acceleration of the gasoline shortage and the increase in gas prices."

Personalia. Karen Dixon Bates has been named principal of the Navajo United Methodist Mission School, Farmington, New Mexico. A 1970 graduate of the school, she is its first Navajo princ·ipal; she succeeds Rev. Morris Floyd, who becomes associate superintendent .... Richard Berendzen, provost of American University, Washington, D.C . , has been named president of the institution effective January, 1980, succeeding Joseph~· Sisco who will become chancellor .... Dorothy ~Gilbert, a long-time missionary in Zaire, will be this year's missionary-in-residence at World Division headquarters; she succeeds James and Gladys Snedeker .... Charlotte 0 1 Neal retires from United Methodist Communications on September 30, where she has been a familiar figure in press rooms since 1950 .... Pauline Webb has been named director of religious programs for the World Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. A prominent British Methodist and ecumenical figure, she was vice­ president of the British Methodist Conference in 1965 and was vice-moderator of the World Council of Chruches' Central Committee 1968-75.

Deaths. United Methodism's oldest retired bishop, Enrique~· Bal loch, 94, died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 20 .... Deidre Collins, 42, died of cancer in Stony Point, N.Y. July 10; Mrs. Collins served for 16 years as a United Presby­ terian fraternal worker in Thailand .... Irene Elder, 52, died of Leukem i a August 11 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A missionary in Japan since 1948, Mrs. Elder had been teaching at the Mccurdy School, Espanola, New Mexico, while on furlough . .... Rev. I· Pearce Hayes, 83, died June 27 in Claremont, California. He served as a Methodist missionary in China 1921-51; later helped raise funds to open Japan's· International Christian University and represented India's Ludhiana College until 1970 .... retired Bishop Frederick B. Newell, 89, died of a heart attack at his summer home in Groton, Connecticut .... Rev . Ralph}'!. Nichols, 58, executive secretary of Church and Community Ministries, National Division, BOGM, died of cancer on July 22 .... retired Bishop Thomas .B_ . Pryor, 75, died of a heart attack at his summer home near East Jordan, Michigan ... . Juanita de Sabanes, widow of Methodist bishop Julio de Sabanes, died July 21 in Buenos Aires. . .. Grace Thatcher, 77, who served for 43 years as a deaconess of Methodist church work, died June 2 in Houston, Texas .... Luiz Carlos Weil, 59, director of the World Council of Churches' office of income coordination and development, died July 4 in Geneva.

Presbyterians. As a result of a 5-4 Supreme Court decision on July 2 that gives state courts freedom to decide church property ownership cases, when a denom- ination's rules are not explicit, the United Presbyterian Church's General Assembly Mission Council will decide this month whether or not to call an unprecedented special session of the church's General Assembly. The purpose of the meeting would be to amend the church's constitution to add language specifying that property is held in trust for the whole church and is not to be retained by a congregation which withdraws from the denomination. As recently as 1968 the General Assembly reaffirmed this principle, but the constitution does not specifically say so.

Alaska . The Bering Sea Women's Group in Nome, Alaska, has opened a family resource center to provide women with books and resources on child care, self-help, parenting to skills, health, teen age problems, and women's issues. In May the center helped YE teach village policemen how to deal with rape and wife abuse problems. The Bering h' Sea Women's Group received its initial funding through the Women's Division. w m

Uganda . Four of Uganda's most prominent religious leaders signed a letter in July, ro expressing concern over continuing instability in the country. They also said the recent abrupt change in government which ousted interim President Lule "thrust a very big shock" on the public recovering from eight years of terror under Idi Amin. They pointed out that Ugandans still don't know what the new rulers want of them and that there is still .a great deal of insecurity in the country and a need for discipline in the army. The religious leaders represented the Angl ican Church, the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Chruch, and Islam, for a rare show of solidarity. After the letter's publication, President Binaisa invited Bishop Festo Kivengere, representing Archbishop Wani, Cardinal Nsubuga, Bishop Nankyama and Sheik Mulumba, for a meeting at the State House in Kampala to discuss the letter. The meeting lasted three and a half hours.

Sexuality. By a narrow margin, the Methodist Church in Great Britain sent back to committee a report on human sexuality and asked the working party which prepared it to clarify the relationship between scriptural teaching and such other sources of guidance as reason, church tradition, the personal and corporate experience of modern Christians, the understanding provided by science and the spirit of the age. The report placed primary emphasis on the Christian ideal of love rather than laying down rules on sexual behavior. Included was a sectt>n on homosexuality which asked the homosexual relationships be judged by the same criteria as heterosexual ones; said that homosexual activities are not intrinsically wrong and that persons cannot be denied church membership or office solely because of a particular sexual orientation.

pro A Straight Word from the Lord? When the strongest earthquake in 68 years hit northern alt~ California on August 6 one thousand fundamentalists at the Santa Clara County seat fieI Se in San Jose broke into applause and cheers. The county supervisors were then dis­ tha cussing an ordinance granting rights to homosexuals and the fundamentalists said the irn~ quake was obviously the wrath of God. Despite this interpretation, the supervisors red/ went ahead and passed the ordinance by a 4 to 1 vote. rne the

nati strategic arm s limitation talks may not break that vicious circle of mutual fear. But they won't increase it either. That is, unless we all ow them to be the occasion for doing just that. ~ EDITORIALS CTI The Commonwealth Plan Bi shop Muzorewa recei ved a lot of advice about Zimbabwe from the thirty nine countries represented in Lu saka Has Salt II Lost Its Savor? ly with w hat we have done with SALT II Zambia at the recent meeting of the What has been happening to the in which the details of the treaty have Commonwealth, which used to be strategic arms limitation talks treaty long been forgotten and the treaty itsel f called the British Commonwealth . known as SALT II is nothing short of a has become simply a symbol around These countries, which have had emo­ crying shame . Here is a demure little w hich to rall y promilitary sentiment. tional ties w ith Rhodesia over a longer treaty which says not one word about Unfortunately Henry Ki ss inger's te sti­ period of time than countries not in the the sticky problems of disarmament but mony before a Senate panel did little to Commonweal t h, suggested there does make some very modest progress change the quality of the debate. One should be a cease-fire, a new constitu­ toward slowing the escalation of arms. wondered after all hi s w arnings of tion ending or at least curtailing the Yet the way some of our Senate hawks impending doom had been uttered privileges of the white minority and have been dumping on SALT II you whether the founder of the SALT nego­ their control over the arm y, police, the would think the treaty had " appease­ tiations had come to prai se the product judiciary and the civil service, and that ment" written al I over it and that or bury it. there should be a new election super­ everyone who favors it should be sent a Somehow as a nation we have yet to vised by the Briti sh government and rolled up black umbrella. come to grips with the fact that the including the Patriotic Front. In the Senate's handling of SALT II to nuclear age is not the same as the This is pretty much the same advice date the treaty has turned out to be Middle Ages. When both sides have the the Bishop has been getting from the simply an excuse for arms escalation. power to destroy the other many times U.S. State Department as well as from Throwing around such scare words as over, when " first strike" capacity is less certain religious groups (which shall " dangerous imbalance" and " inferior­ and less meaningful in terms of the final here be nameless). Outside of Zim­ ity," Senators such as Sam Nunn of resu It, and when the " winners" must babwe and South Africa there does Georgia and Henry Jackson of Washing­ count their losses in the tens of millions, seem to be a rather large consensus ton are holding up the Carter Adminis­ more arms is not the answer. about what must be done. The present tration for ever larger commitments to Unfortunately, the Soviets show even time may be one of the last times to push the defense budget. Nunn's proposal less sign than we do of understand ing for that consensus. would add as much as $68 billion over this principle. They have made enor­ five years to what Carter proposed, mous strides in closing the missile gap The Witnessing President which was already tailored to assuage and there is no point in underestimating President Carter told his Sunday the conservatives . And the Pentagon the ir bellicosity either. At this point, School class in Washington that he had has readied a I ist of projects to " absorb" unilateral disa rmament would be foll y. witnessed to his faith in Christ while the budget increases-as if anyone But if we go the other direction and try to riding in a car in Seoul , South Korea , doubted their preparedness on that increase our advantage we will only end with President Park and that he had told score. Clearly, the " military industrial" up encouraging their " hawks." And if the Korean leader, a Buddhist, w here he complex about which President Ei sen­ we follow ou r present course and might learn more about Christianity. hower warned us is enjoying arms change our defensive strategy, which The President said he had done this at limitation enormously. has relied on sea-based mi ss iles, by the request of Rev . Billy Kim , a Presby­ The predictable result is that SALT II instituting the $30 billion MX land­ terian minister. has lost much of its attraction for some based missile system, we will al so Conceivably, President Park could Senate liberals, although most are not encourage the Soviet hawks to do some have asked Mr. Carter about Ch ristian­ going so far as Oregon's Mark Hatfield shi fting of their own. And so the cycle ity, much as the Ethiopian asked Phi llip who threatens not to sign unless the continues. to explain a passage from Isa iah as they proposed arms increases are banned Both nations seem locked into a way were riding in a carriage. That might put altogether. We sympathize with Hat­ of thinking engrained through centuries a different light on it. But as it is, it field's dilemma, but we hope that the of warfare but now irrelevant to the appears very much as if the President Ser.iate will still end up passing Salt II so technology at our disposal. We have to forgot the fi rst rule of diplomacy is to that we can move on to the more find a better way and that must be to represent the interests of a nation, not important arena of Salt Ill, that is, actual emphasize communication instead of the faith of the individual, and the first reduction of arms, instead of agree­ confrontation, arms limitation instead rule of evangelism is respect for the ments on ceilings. Those who propose of arms escalation . position of the hearer. Mr. Carter was the hefty increases in our military Thirty years ago Reinhold Niebuhr not Paul in cha ins before King Agrippa arsenal will then have to explain how wrote in Christian Realis m and Political but a diplomatic equal (and in terms of those can be reconciled with SALT Ill. Problems that ad vancing technology power realities, a definite superior), Then perhaps we can have a genuine increa ses " the deadly efficacy of the w ith a correspond ing obli gation not to national debate and a debate in the instruments of war so that vicious circles put his host in an embarrass ing position. Senate on the merits of SALT. of mutual fear may end in atomic There are ground rules of evangelism we That, of course, would contrast stark- conflicts and mutual destruction. " The all must learn, not just the Presi dent. 0

Elementary 1-11 Cla of Mount Olivet United M thodi t Chur h, Arlington, irginia

In I 978 the Board of Global Mtn1 - ntrie \I 11/ be di pla ed at th Board tries 1nv1 ted United M 1hod1 t individ­ of Global Mini tri m ting in to- uals or group to parltc1pate in a r 1n Phtladelphia. to churchw1de sharing of concep call d publ1 h om of th in "Mission Means .. " A total of 18 or \I \; arid Outloo 1th stori es, art icle , po m , pray rs , pho- th1 month

8 [344) w World Out • ~ember 19 9 ffiission meons: Promises tq00~~~p But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep. -Robert Frost

urs is not a healthy time for rassed by that basic Christian ideal of life first shared by Jesus long ago. We Opromises. Wedding vows have service. Nowhere is this more evident have much. What we have was meant been rewritten to read " As long as we than in the concept of "mission." to be freel y shared, not clutched or both shall love"; popular songs feature The word " missionary" conjures worshipped or buried in the ground. lovers warning each other, " Don't get up a mental image of patronizing And that is where the connection hooked on me," or asking someone Americans " forcing" a foreign rel igion with the word promise becomes rele­ plaintively to 'Help me make it. on unspoiled natives. It also suggests vant. The sort of mission I've just through the night"; government agen­ the frequent charge that missionaries described must grow out of a sense of cies are increasingly called on to care opened the way for economic and commitment to others, both those for the neglected, the abused, the political exploitation . James Mi­ around us and people we wil l never forgotten. The bestsellers of pop psy­ chener's novel, Hawaii, quotes the meet. It is a promise we make to each chology deal with assertiveness, per­ saying on those islands that " The other. That promise is made because sonal happiness and the satisfaction of missionaries came here to do good, of a conviction that we are related , our desires, " taking responsibility" for and they did extremely well." human lives are interconnected, we one's own life. Fritz Perls' so-called These are not empty charges. The are all the beloved creatures of the " Gestalt Prayer," which is often mis­ church must indeed answer for the same God. quoted, seems to sum up this cult of abuses that sometimes went along The writer Joan Didion once de­ the individual: with our old ideas of mission. How­ scribed an accident which happened ever, our reaction is often not so much far out on the California desert. A car I do my thing, and you do your repentance and correction as an went out of control and crashed ; one thing. alienation from the whole idea of person was killed, another badly I am not in this world to live up to mission. Rather than be accused of injured. When a second car arrived on your expectations, and you are not being religious busybodies or ecclesi­ the scene, the driver took the injured in this world to live up to my astical colonialists, we prefer to forget passenger to the hospital. The other expectation~ . the whole thing. Thus our enthusiasm person in that second car stayed at the I am I, and you are you. forthe mission of the church has all but site of the accident, because, she said , If by chance we find each other, evaporated. " You can't just leave a body on the it's beautiful. One way of reconsidering mission highway. It's immoral." Joan Didion If not, it can't be helped. might be to look at the word itself in a comments on this incident: new way-or rather, in an old way. . .. if a body is left alone for even As a remedy for overdependence, Both " mission" and the word " prom­ a few minutes on the desert, the that philosophy is reasonable. As a ise" come from the same root, mittere, coyotes close in and eat the flesh. way of coping with our increasingly which means to let go or send forth. Whether or not a corpse is torn apart complex and rapidly changing so­ Many of our problems with mission by coyotes may seem only a senti­ ciety, it is probably practical. But if it came from viewing it as a gathering in, mental consideration, but of course becomes the basis of a life and the a collecting of Christians, a sort of it is more: one of the promises we boundary of all relationships, it is the worldwide numbers game in which make to one another is that we wi II philosophy of the uncaring, the un­ we tried to make persons over in our try to retrieve our casualties, try not committed, the self-centered, the in­ Western image. Yet from its very to abandon our dead to the coyotes. different. beginning, mission also meant If we have been taught to keep ou r The church, it seems to me, is one of something quite different, something promises . .. we stay with the body, the few voices in modern America that closer to that root significance of or have bad dreams. ("On Morali­ still contests the idea that we are only sending forth, letting go. It has meant ty, " Slouching Towards Bethlehem, responsible for ourselves. In recent simply giving, both material posses­ N.Y.: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, years we have become almost embar- sions and that vision of a new way of 1968)

New World Outlook • September 1979 (345) 9 If we have been taught to keep our has been called " the Me Decade," cans are so strenuously seeking. Psy­ promises, we do what needs to be almost as unpopular as the idea of chologist Herbert Holt has suggested done for one another, or, as Didion mission . Yet there is no escaping the that mental health workers should not puts it, we have bad dreams. call to commitment that permeates the encourage people's hopes of perfect The Christian faith and the Judaism Bible and has haunted Christians ever happiness through self-sufficiency. from which it sprang are based on since. The poet John Donne's familiar The issue, Holt says, is " not to drive promises. Noah received the promise words remind us of our interconnec­ people into fantasy happiness but to that God would never again destroy tion: ". . . therefore never send to get them to concentrate on what they the world in a flood. Abraham and know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for can do in their daily lives to give life Sarah were promised that they would thee. " meaning. Happiness grows out of parent a great nation. Moses was In the description of Jesus' last hours commitment, responsibility. It's the promised the help of God in delivering on earth found in the gospel of John , product of meaningful relationships the Jews from bondage. In turn, people there is a poignant conversation be­ with other human beings." (Free to Be were asked to promise certain things to tween Peter and the Master that Good or Bad, Basic Books, 1979.) God. They were to live according to contains some final instructions. Three Mission. Perhaps it would not seem particular laws, many of which dealt times, Peter is asked , " Do you love like such an outmoded word if we with their relationships with each me?" He replies, with increasing thought of it in terms of al I the bridges other. These mutual promises were impatience each time the question is we build between our isolated selves known as the covenant. asked, " Lord , you know that I love and those other selves who are our The coming of Christ heralded a you ." brothers and sisters. In our monetary gifts, our involvement in social and new covenant, in which God's laws "Feed my lambs, " Jesus tells him . were to be made internal. The rules of political issues, our efforts towards " Tend my sheep." improved communication, our stew­ Judaism were to be replaced by right "Feed my sheep." Uohn 21:15-17) motivations, and especially by love of ardship of food and natural resources, God and love of one's fellow crea­ So, what are we Christians to do our contributions to peace-in all tures. Jesus of Nazareth presented no about mission in a world that has little these things and more, we express our "You do your thing, I do mine" room for such ideas? We are quite sense of mission . We do all this philosophy. Instead, he told stories simply to do our best to feed the Lord's because ours can never be a religion of like the one about the man who was sheep. It is a promise we have made to isolated individuals. If we belong to robbed and beaten on the road to ourselves, to each other, to God, God, we also belong to each other. Jericho. That story was told in response because of the vision of life as it should We have promises to keep-and to the specific question, "Who is my be which we have seen in Jesus Christ. miles to go before we sleep. • neighbor?" There is no doubt as to the lfwe fail to keep that promise, we will answer given by Jesus: anyone in have bad dreams. need. It may even turn out that a byproduct "For I have promises to keep." of that quaint idea of commitment will Nancy Veglahn is a member of First UMC, That's an unpopular sentiment in what be the very happiness modern Ameri- Brookings, S.D. call response Velma mitchell

he two men had been debating on Tand off ever since they had left the missionary conference an hour before. The sun was just beginn ing to set as they drove on a narrow dirt road that wou Id eventually put them back on the main road to the city of Ka i Lundu . Bob Anderson, a young black missionary from San Francisco, was about to gi ve up argu ing w ith the Rev . Peter Boyd, a veteran white missionary from rural Illinois. " I do respect your 25-odd years in West Africa as a missionary evangel ist, Reverend Boyd. I have nothing against preaching for souls to be saved in heaven; but surel y life here and now on earth must be more important. What about salvation from poverty, from ignorance and from pol itical oppression?" asked Bob in exaspe ra­ I tion, as they drove up a hill overlook­ I ing a collection of scattered huts. " No, young man, you've got it the wrong way round. What you keep talking about is important, yes , but evangelism must al w ays be the first priority of the church. Jesus came primarily to save people from their sins and ... " "Well," Bob interrupted, " we can 't all be evangel ists you know. My work here is in community development. Besides, I question whether it's really right to pressure people to change their religion for another; and certainly not to condemn them all to hell if they don't! " At this point Bob could not resist taking out a cigarette, even though he knew it would offend the older man. " Mind if I smoke?" " I certainly do!" repl ied the clergy­ man, a little shocked . What on earth was their mission board doing these days sending out young blacks who smoked and drank and didn't seem to have the fa intest idea of what it meant to be born-again ! Bob, on the other hand, sighed heavily and returned the pack of cigarettes into his pocket. How could he possibly continue working in

New World Outlook • September 1979 [347] 11 .----__,, __ _ the sky was barely visible as they trudged on . After a few minutes they turned on to another narrow dirt road Jesus Christ on which they caught sight of a village ahead . is Lord " Soon we wi 11 reach my house," the stranger said , breaking the silence. " You speak English very well," Bob of ever~ port remarked. " Thank you . I completed secondary school several years ago . Now I am a of life, not so? primary school teacher in my village."

" I take it you are a Christian, ff Mr. Boyd said . ~-- t , ______, " Oh yes . My family and I belong to the only church in the village. My wife

and I are very active in it. ff " Which do you think is more this foreign land with these narrow­ Bob had spotted what appeared to important," asked Bob suddenly out of minded, old-time missionaries from be a disembodied white T-shirt mov­ the blue, with a sly smile. " preaching the Midwest? Both men became silent ing towards him in the blackness of the the gospel or helping the church as they drove past two little girls on one night. He soon realized that the T-shirt members overcome their poverty?" side of the road, balancing baskets of was actually embodied by a very The African looked quite surprised. com fruits on their heads. dark-skinned African in dark short " Surely both are important in "in The minister almost missed seeing pants, looking somewhat bewildered. Christ's kingdom . We Africans do not care the tree trunk lying across the road . In a Bob greeted him in the lingua-franca of like to separate our spirits from our enc the country which he was just begin­ split-second attempt to avoid it he bodies. Jesus Christ is Lord of every resi swerved the car too far to the right ning to learn . To his pleasant surprise part of life, not so?" Neither of the two I where the brakes gave way and the the man replied in sound English . missionaries could make any reply. resi vehicle went spinning into the bush . "You are in some kind of trouble, The man's wife was up when they It was nearing midnight. They had not so?" the man asked . kiss arrived at his house. On hearing of ness hoped to reach Kai Lundu at least by "Yes--me and my companion over their misfortune in the night she 2:00 in the morning; but now they there. Please come and help us if you offered the strangers food . They ate would never make it. Neither of them can. " ravenously all the rice and palm-oil was hurt, but both were unable to get Later, after they had helped the sauce she brought them. When they out of the car as the bush on either side driver out of the car the African had finished, she brought them a clean exclaimed, " This is a wonder of God!" was too thick. The driver tried the sheet to cover part of the small living ignition to reverse the car back on to his eyes aglow with the wonder. " You room on which they would sleep. the road. But the engine had died. see," he continued, " I try always to be Neither of the two Americans was used "What are we going to do now?" in close touch with the Heavenly to sleeping on the floor; but tonight cried Bob desperately. "I have to get Father so I can understand more easily they were so exhausted that they really back to Kai Lundu in time for my the things he wants me to do." The two did not mind. appointment tomorrow." missionaries raised their eyebrows in Before they fell asleep, the mission­ "There's little we can do but pray surprise. aries heard a haunting " call and God's help," stated the older man " Tonight, just about an hour ago response" African song, rendered gloomily. Bob did not reply to that. He when I was asleep on my bed , I felt against a background of fast-beating questioned the value of praying in a something directing me to get up and drums. They guessed that it was tight situation as long as one cou Id sti 11 walk all the way to this road until I coming from a late night ceremony rely on one's native common sense . should find someone in need of help. somewhere in the vicinity. The vigor­ He decided to try at least to get out of Now I know that God sent me to help ous voices, music and drumming the car. you out of this accident. I think you touched them both strangel y as they " I doubt if you can," commented should leave your car here and come each reflected privately on their expe­ Mr. Boyd . " Besides, there are proba­ with me to my house for the night. riences of the day. As they continued bly a hundred poisonous snakes Tomorrow morning we can get trans­ to listen drowsily, it seemed to each crawling around the car." port for you from the main road and one that the voice of the lead si nger But Bob eventually succeeded in you can make arrangements for your had become the voice of Jesus call ing worming his way out of the car and car to be picked up later." all his disciples everywhere. And the scrambling through the bushes on to The two missionaries were amazed collective voice of the respond ing the road . The other man did not at the man's story. They agreed to chorus had become that of their attempt to follow him as he was a little follow him, though not altogether African host, getting out of bed in the too thick around his middle. The without suspicion . They followed be­ middle of the night to help two ludicrous image came to hi s mind of a hind silently, hearing only a brook strangers for love of his Lord . • camel trying to squeeze itself through babbling from deep within the bu sh, the eye of a needle. After a few minutes an owl hooting, a chorus of frogs on all Velma Mitchell 1 a U . M m1 1onar 1n he heard Bob call out to him from the sides, and the sound of their own Sierra Leone, We I Afnca, her na1111e road . heavy footsteps. The African moon in country

12 [348) New World Outloolc • Septem~r 1979 Thot of God in Every ffion

SENILITY Dorothy Albaugh Stickel! We constantly deplore I live in a very beautiful retirement tell how much she can see or hear. She The brevity of life. community, where we have both never notices me, except to open her "independent living" and nursing mouth for food, like a baby bird; but "Give us more time," we cry. care. Those of us who are able are when I leave, I kiss her, just on the "More time to work, encouraged to spend time with the chance that she knows. More time to play, to love. residents on the nursing floors . It is so easy to love these people, I help to feed some of the senile even when they are very unlovely in Time flies so fast!" residents, and I have found that often a appearance and manner. They re­ But it is more terrible kiss can penetrate their mental dark­ spond so warmly if they have any When the mind and body wait, ness better than any words. One little intelligence left. Perhaps the reason it Like a vacant building condemned woman always kisses the hand of comforts me so much to show them everyone who stops to talk to her, and I affection is because, here with them, I but not razed. kiss her in return. The patient whom I have no fear of being considered senile It is more terrible feed is practically helpless. I cannot myself. When time stands still. "It is so We who are old are often judged by together they go over and over the a harsh set of rules. If we forget, if we same topics. " Will I get any food? I easy to love remember (audibly and long-winded­ don't know where I am going to sleep ly), if we lose things or spill things, or tonight. I want to go home, but I don't these people, move too slowly to keep up with the know the way. I haven't any money. I crowd, if we feel the need to touch can't find my husband (or wife)." even when hands and lips, we are relegated to the But whenever I lean over a man or a nameless, faceless world of senility. woman who is old and ill and they are very But we, the old, are the ones who confused, and hear, from lips that can take love out of the realm of the scarcely form a sentence any more, the unlovely in sensational and lift it to the heights of whispered words, "God bless you," I " unselfish beauty and consolation that know that, in spite of the crippled body appearance. it was meant to achieve. To the young and expressionless face, I have met a we say, "Do not accuse us of being faith that shames my own. senile. Watch us and see how we I never knew any of these people comfort and heal each other. Bring us when they were (so-called) "normal". your fear and loneliness and doubt, I am still trying to understand their and let us heal them with a kiss. present charisma. Trying to compre­ " Do not turn away from us with hend why, even when they may be revulsion and try to forget us. Come very unlovely in appearance and closer, and spend a little time with us. actions, even frightening, at times, " Your need is so great, and we have they fill me with such heart-breaking so much to share." love that I see beauty in them, and feel I often sit, unnoticed by them, and closer to the peace of God in this place listen quietly to their conversation . than anywhere else. The most important thing I have I see in them the nobility, the faith observed is their almost universal fear. and patience I yearn for, but so seldom I have read that fear is one of the achieve. I see the destructive thoughts emotions with which we enter this and actions that I, too, possess, but still world, it is also the one with which so have the ability to hide, while these many leave it. people are reduced to honesty. I see in But these people do not fear death; them what the Quakers call " that of they fear the insecurity of life. In their God in every man", and when I am eighties and nineties, so many men with them, "that of God" in me, and women of failing mentality suffer a answers. And then, all of a sudden, for terrible insecurity. They cannot be a magic moment, there is the blos­ made to realize that here, in this soming, the response. • beautiful Christian community, they Residents' meeting at the will continue to be loved and fed and United Methodist retirement cared for. Mrs . Stickel/ is a resident of Otterbein community. When two or three of them are Home, Lebanon, Ohio.

14 [350] New World Outlook • September 1979 hen I help others I help you~ I . i ! I C0\7J~ll rl"ll J~

1\'0U.J.. J) '''Irr11

MISSIONS MISSION MEANS: DOING SERVICES AS TO THE LORD_

EVEN U 1Com o a d hgl us er

tha ma Ne bet stal ric5 atri gra, anc aro ~ mir Mir Chl in : Mei the hos1 Mission on Hal Cen war city. Friendship N hea l chili age Square sta ni cli ni post Natalie Barber well he viewing window into the nursery black hair parted carefully on the side. almost 13 years ago. Naturally I pla n Tat Newark Methodist Maternity Hos­ (If the baby had been a girl, the wanted a girl this time, and so did the Eng l1 pital in El Paso, Texas is a popular nurses-aide w ould have combed her boys, but my husband wanted a boy, fo r ~ place. "Good News" is this small, hair up to a peak with fancy strokes for so I gave him a great gift." She laughed si ngE 32-bed hospital's specialty and is the bangs and around the ears.) and looked up at him affectionately. supe usually announced in English or " I have good memories of Newark Ernesto Ito, a tall, large-boned, New Spanish in one of two ways: " It's a Hospital," Mrs. Ito, a pleasant woman ruggedly handsome man, works as a need boy!" or "It's a girl!" Either kind is with a broad smile, told me. " It's a carpenter in Juarez, although he stud­ hosp received with joy as far as I can tell as a friendly place. You know, it's been 11 ied in medical school for a time and kind nurse and a watcher of expressions years since my last child was born had worked in hospitals. He explained ch ar: from the other side of the glass. I see here." She motioned towards the tall that even though Newark costs more state5 proud fathers and grandparents, and boy at her side. "But when I came back than maternity care in Juarez, they still go to small children being held up, and this time, some of the nurses at the wanted their children to be born at work older ones cupping their faces against pre-natal clinic still remembered me. I Newark. He carefully put his thoughts They the glass. Later, after visitors have left, I like a place like that. into English, a language he handled an yth ~ee mothers strolling down the halls to " Also, my older boy was born fairly well. " This is a place where they Ho congregate at the window. here," she continued. " That was try to follow good medicine," he said, Cente As I was talking with one mother, " an ethical place ... " Virginia Ito, in the hall, her husband, Most of Newark's staff and patients -(Left) son and mother arrived out of breath, are Mexican-Americans from El Paso , Hou cl concerned they wouldn't get there although many Mexicans come over before visiting hours ended . They live from Juarez to have their babies as in Juarez, Mexico, sister city of El Paso, Virginia Ito did. Newark is keyed to the and had been delayed in a long line of lower-income working person of any cars crossing the Rio Grande on the nationality, and charges much less international bridge. Mrs. Ito ex­ than other El Paso hospitals, but still pressed relief to see them. Her mother, delivers first-class care. About 1,500 she had explained, would be seeing babies are born there annually. Pa­ the baby for the first time. It was her tients choose Newark, not only for its fourteenth grandchild, and half of moderate cost, but also for the individ­ them had been born at Newark. ual attention they feel they receive Virginia and Ernesto Ito had a baby there. They also like the opportunity boy, tiny with fine features. We saw for family participation during the him inside the nursery in a bassinet, birth, that prospective parents can wrapped in a blue blanket, hi s thick attend Lamaze classes together, and 20 [356] New World Outlook• September 1979 that the father can attend the birth and offers act1v1t1es for all ages. Bess $200 monthly toward community may hold his baby soon afterwards. Coffin, director of this work for 11 center expenses. A referral program fo r Newark emphasizes early bonding years, says she has seen many im­ youth is also available, gi ving guid­ between child and family. Among the provements in family life due to the ance on education, jobs and drug-re­ staff of about 70, prominent obstet­ influence of Houchen. The day care lated problems. rics-gynecology physicians and pedi­ center is licensed to care for 108 The enormous need for a serv ice atricians are on call, and registered , children from six weeks old to the age project in South El Paso was noted graduate and licensed practical nurses of 12. back in 1891 when Miss Mary Tripp and experienced nurses-aides wo.rk "It's a great experience," she ex­ began working with Mexi can girls around the clock. claims with enthusiasm. " Everyone on there. Mrs. Rose Gregory Houchen, a Newark Hospital is a part of a larger the staff gives these kids lots of love school teacher from Pontiac, Michi­ ministry under the Board of Global and attention, and you should see the gan, visited this work in the earl y years Ministries of The United Methodist hugs and kisses we get from them all of this century and donated $1 ,000 Church, which occupies a city block day long." towards a building. By 1912 this in South El Paso not far from the Children are accepted at the center settlement house was finished, and the Mexican border. Friendship Square is if the mother has to work, is looking for work, sponsored by the Woman's the name of this project. It includes the work or training for a job, or is Home Mrssionary Society of the Meth­ hospital and out-patient clinic, plus physically unable to care for her odist Church, was expanded. A cl inic Houchen Community and Day Care children. Families pay on a sliding was started in 1920, which in 1930 Center, and is planned for low-income scale according to income. The center became a small maternity hospital. In working families from any part of the provides a constant learning experi­ 1937 a permanent hospital building city. ence for the children, many of whom was constructed, named after the Newark Clinic stresses preventive come from impoverished homes. They Newark, New Jersey, Conference of health care . By teaching nutrition and learn English , Cl'afts and singing. The Methodist Women, a prime supporter child and family care, the staff encour­ older children eat breakfast at the of this work. This hospital bu ilding, age parents to improve the health center and then leave for school, renovated in 1977, is modern and standards of their families. Regular returning for lunch and for guided attractive, and a dazzling white in the clinics are held for pre-natal and activities after school. Teachers from bright desert sun . Future plans call for post-partum check-ups, gynecology, the nearby public school report that a new clinic and chapel. well-baby, immunizations, and family they can tell a child from Houchen Under the administration of Al planning. Lamaze classes, two in because of his good table manners and Franco, almost 100 persons comprise English and one in Spanish, are held neat appearance. the Newark-Houchen staff, plus many for six-week periods. Marty Weis­ Besides day care, Houchen holds volunteers. A husband and w ife team, singer, family nurse practitioner who classes in English , sewing and crafts for Chris and Jill Wilson, are U.S. 2's from supervises the clinic program, says about 300 persons from nine to 90. the United Methodist Board of Global Newark Hospital and Clinic fill a great Senior citizens coming from several Ministries. Chris is social services need in El Paso, and that no other parts of El Paso say that Houchen has coordinator, and Jill is a registered hospital or clinic can give families this the best sewing group in the city. nurse .in the hospital . kind of quality care for the amounts Recently they put on a style show at the At Newark and Houchen people charged. "Without Newark," she First United Methodist Church, mod­ reach out in the name of Christ states, "a lot of people would have to eling clothing they had made in their bridging culture, language and social go to clinics run by mid-wives who classes. They learn crafts such as differences in love and concern . • work without a doctor's supervision. making silk flowers or candy in their They wouldn't be able to afford weekly class taught by an adult Natalie Barber, a United Methodist mis­ anything else." education teacher. Houchen sponsors sionary since 1952, is a writer, teacher and Houchen Community and Day Care a thrift shop run by volunteers from nurse. She has worked in Chile, Bolivia, Center on the. east side of the square local churches which has pledged Spain, New Mexico, and now El Paso .

(Left) Dr. G. Murtaza with newborn child at Newark Methodist Maternity Hospital, El Paso. Hospital's nursery and Houchen Day Care Center (below).

New World Outlook• September 1979 [357] 21 hen it ra ins torrentially in Houston From the unlikely setting of the lor W(eight inches fell in an hour one rough, ill-lighted basement stage has gri day last spring) overflow water seeps sprung Casa's highly touted Grupo into the basement walls of Casa de Folkloriccr-a troupe of young Mexi­ on Amigos (House of Friends), sending can-American boys and girls who Ar workers scrambling to protect files and perform all over Houston, from posh Th office machines. hotels to neighborhood centers. Mod­ Ur Later, mops and pails are hauled out eled on the famous Folklorico de na as the wet floors are cleaned up and Mexico, the young dancers are cli soon it's business as usual again. trained, from an early age, in folk er r Casa de Amigos, a United Methodist dances of Mexico's states. ho community center in Houston's Mexi­ " We want our young people to tre can-American near north side, is used realize they have a rich cultural qui to improvising. Though its entrance-­ heritage," said soft-spoken Isabel cli1 a few stone steps leading into the Gomez, the United Methodist pastor cheerless basement-makes it resem­ who is director of Casa de Amigos. ble a bombed-out building of World With Mexican-Americans and peo­ War II vintage, the center hasn't ple of Hispanic origin comprising up to stopped producing imaginative and 300,000 people or more (no one bas needed programs since the day it was seems to know exact statistics) out of old founded. Houston's 1.8 million, Grupo Folk- Chi

Casa de Amigos: Where Dreams Become Realities

Connie Myer lorico is the longest continuing dance gation left it in 1963. The roof leaked, tian concern for human need of Mr. group of its kind in the metropolis. allowing rain to pour in and destroy Fernandez and Mr. Gomez have made But dancing, important as it is, is walls. Time and some neighborhood some important inroads. Take the only the icing on the cake of Casa de vandalism reduced the once hand­ matter of health. Before the clinics Amigos' community involvement. some church to a physical wreck. were started, neighborhood people Through efforts of Casa's founder, Isabel Gomez and Houston mission could either go to nearby expensive United Methodist pastor Arturo Fer­ leaders hope the church will one day private physicians or, if they didn't nandez, a big new city-county health be the site of a new Hispanic-Ameri­ have cars, take a 45-minute bus ride to clinic now nestles behind Casa's can United Methodist congregation a county hospital. The hospital, with­ crumbling basement. In nearby that will provide spiritual nourishment out a bilingual staff, was sometimes a houses are centered a drug abuse for neighborhood people. formidable cultural obstacle to non­ treatment program, a juvenile delin­ "If only I had about $200,000 to fix English speaking Hispanics. The re­ quency prevention project and an eye up that building, " sighed Dr. Harold sult: many had no health care. clinic. Fagan, executive director of Houston Mr. Fernandez, in the late 1960s, District's Board of Missions. "The got the City Health Department to set Dilapidated Structure place is sound now structurally. It has up some clinics in Casa's basement a new roof, but much needs to be done and some adjoining homes. Casa presently operates out of the to restore the sanctuary." "Many doctors and nurses volun­ basement of the large, but dilapidated, Casa de Amigos is a $50,000 Board teered their time in those days," said old North Side United Methodist of Global Ministries General Advance Dr. Carlos Speck, physician-in-chief Church whose former white congre- Special and also a Texas Conference Advance Special, with money desig­ nated for building improvements. Church development is really the ''Dancing is only basic funding need of Casa de Amigos. The other major programs generate their own funds. For exam­ only the icing ple, the drug inhalant abuse program was the first of its type in the nation on the cake funded by National Institute of Drug Abuse grants. About $550,000 in of Casa's Model Cities funds were used for construction of the cheerful well­ community lighted city-county health clinics and mental health outpatient facility. Land was provided by the United Methodist involvement." Church. CET A and City Human Resources money aids the juvenile delinquency program which provides youths with of the Harris County Hospital District, jobs in the summer and counseling which jointly runs the new clinic. " We and activities all through the year. operated with a minimum of drug The Houston Board of Missions supplies. We had a free night clinic supplies only a base budget of seed and saw sick children and adults. It money which pays the Casa director's was wel I received and many of the salary and some minimal operating doctors are still involved." costs. The new clinic's staff is bilingual and affiliated with Ben Taub Hospital for medical referrals. It provides ser­ Why Casa Is Needed vices on a sliding scale, with 80 There are many reasons why Casa percent of the care totally free. The de Amigos is important. Casa health center, with a board of Fast-growing Houston may be the neighborhood residents which helps rich queen city of the Sun Belt, but set policies, has been a model for other poverty still lurks in the very shadows decentralized city health clinics, Dr. of the shimmering new skyscrapers Speck said . built by oil and banking money. The Mental health was another need not Fourth Ward, a mostly black area of being met. "People here have identity shabby wooden houses, for example, and assimilation anxieties," said Ms. is just on the edge of downtown. Linda Fernandez, a Baylor University As in many other major U.S. cities, research technician who is on the lower income persons are found county mental health clinic staff. mostly within the Inner Loop, a (Baylor and the University of Texas freeway system c i rel i ng the city's core. provide professional staff and student Casa de Amigos serves the near north, interns to the clinic under a consor­ mostly Chicano area where the Chris- tium arrangement). New World Outlook• September 1979 [359] 23 : I I "The men may come from Mexico Sniffing may begin even with five- or Palamares has made house-to­ Ho first to get jobs and only bring their six-year-olds who copy older brothers house surveys to find young people ho1 wives later," she explained. " This and sisters who are inhaling from spray who wanted jobs. This summer the Ric creates tensions and even if families cans or soaking paper bags and rags program hoped to employ 25 girls and Arr are complete, they' re unsure of what and then breathing in the fumes, when boys, through CET A, to help neigh­ an< the change will do to their own both parents are out working. borhood people fix up their homes. I culture." " We're not going to solve this-­ Some were also to clear the Casa wh About 300 persons are served yearly even with anti-inhalant sales laws and parking lot and make a basketball dar by the mental health and mental police work-without family consid­ court and paint some buildings. Be­ er retardation clinic, with pay again on a erations. The best prevention is to sides jobs, the program provides acti­ bili sliding scale. encourage families to develop activi­ vities such as first aid and swimming Sta ties for their kids," Bustamante assert­ classes . we Dealing with "Sniffing" ed . Benito Maldonado also works with the A highlight in a drug counselor's U.S. Job Corps trainees, who are lured rev Cultural shock and marginalism work day is when he or she can report to Houston's growing labor market, 'Mi also may contribute to youths inhaling that a youth, once perpetually high on but need help in getting and keeping dos aerosol sprays to get "high," though inhalants, has returned to school, after jobs. Chi inhalant (sniffing) abuse cuts across all dropping out due to poor grades Undocumented immigrants are also races and income groups, according to caused by the drug problem. found in the Casa neighborhood­ an Daniel Bustamante. how many are in Houston no one the< "We find, in recent years, that knows. Irene Adame, a Board of dan Youth Employment young people are sniffing all kinds of Global Ministries' mission intern, is ch aerosols-paints, shoe and hair Though unemployment is very low doing a research project at Casa on pe sprays," he said . "It gives them in Houston, unskilled jobs, which their needs. a3 feelings somewhat similar to anesthe­ minorities often fill, have low pay Besides filling the refurbished al sia. They become dreamlike and even scales. And youth employment, as in church sanctuary every Sunday morn­ m have hallucinations. But the hydro­ other cities, is often hard to find . That's ing, Isabel Gomez also has a dream of carbons in these substances can cause another need being met by Casa de making the church into a performing de brain cell tissue damage, heart ar­ Amigos. arts center. by rhythmias and intestinal tract damage. " Through CET A, we' ve placed " Look at our dancers," he said ofi The effects of inhalant abuse are just young people in jobs in clinics, proudly as a group of Folklorico the now being studied more carefully." hospitals and other places," said children stamped the high-heeled po Bustamante directs a group of four youthful Jesse Palamares about the first staccato of a Spanish-influenced tod drug counselors who work in the six months of the juvenile delinquency dance during a mid-week evening neighborhood to find obvious sniffers prevention program . " We work with rehearsal. " Would you believe that and then try to counsel them in their teachers and probation officers in Mrs. Gallardo here," pointing to a homes. The staff finds that lack of getting referrals and then we talk to the smiling middle-aged woman, " began family love and affection often is a kids. We feel they may be more open all this? And now our youngsters factor. to us ." perform all over Texas and even at a mountain folk festival in North Caro­ lina."

Arts Program Mrs. Guadalupe Gallardo indeed is the artistic inspirer of the Grupo Folklorico, started when she was a day care volunteer in Casa's beginning days. " I learned to dance in Guadala­ jara in Mexico," she said in Spanish, " and I taught my own children to dance and then the others. Now my daughter, Rosa, dances with the Folk­ lorico of Mexico. All our parents help a great deal , with time, transporting dancers, everything." " Our dancers performed as part of a Spanish course for Houston police­ men," Mr. Gomez related . " The police chief was so pleased with them that he's become our 'padrino,' or godfather. He calls it the best crime prevention program in Houston." The irony is that the Folklorico, which has danced at Houston's out­ door Miller Theater and the Shamrock Hotel, has no place to perform at home. Arnold Mercado, a Puerto Rican who is consultant to Casa de Amigos for arts program development and fundraising, is sad about that, too. At the same time he's excited about what is being done. " Besides the dance group, we have started, with CET A funds, one of only a few bilingual theater groups in the United States. This season our plays, which we staged in a neighborhood center in the east side Chicano area, got good reviews. We did John Steinbeck's 'Mice and Men' and 'Los Desarraiga­ dos,' a Mexican play about U.S. Chicanos, among others." Actors come from all over the city and Mercado envisions a day when the theater will be as well known as the dance group. "We need to convert the church into space for a sanctuary and a performing arts center. We could have a 30-by-30 foot stage and 400 seats. It also could be used for community meetings." And so, as rains come and go, Casa de Amigos continues to serve the Lord by dealing with pressing human needs of its Hispanic community. Dreams for the future have always been an im­ portant part of Casa's success, and today's visions no doubt will become tomorrow's realities. •

Ms . M yer is a senior staff w riter fo r the Dept. of Interpretive Services, Board of Global Minis tries.

(Opposite page) The Rev. Isabel Gomez, Casa director, counsels a senior citizen. Daniel Bustamante (above) directs drug abuse program of the community center, which is lodged in the basement of Old North Side United Methodist Church.

New World Outlook • September 1979 (361] 25 hen a Chri stian Egyptian friend I ~ Winvited us to attend Bible study th with him, we accepted gladly and s· looked forward to meeting a small Ee group of new friends. But on Friday night he took us to a huge, bare, j unfinished sanctuary with towering ci concrete arches embracing long, slen­ 0 der windows. We looked around in er awe. There must have been close to ab 5000 people at this " Bible study." pE People came and went, milling about to near the door. Some were elderly; most were under forty-five. We made M our way through the throng and found seats-my wife sitting among the Iii01 women on the right side, my friend tra and I with the men on the left. in As we sat down I noticed that those pl. around me were listening in rapt attention to the speaker, a man of si average height who had a long black as beard that blended well with his black Hi robe and turban . Addressing us in Ge Arabic, he was speaking softly into a Bi! microphone, patiently answering 11 questions put to him by members of his congregation. " My daughter wants to rn marry someone we do not approve of. arc What should we do?" " Are good works necessary for salvation?" Po " What does it mean for a Christian to Egi 'turn the other cheek' ?" Not infre­ mil quently the quiet humor in his answers ac sent ripples of laughter through the (at audience. Eventually he set the ques­ M tions aside and led the people in Fir! worship. cor The man was Pope Shenouda Ill, the Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, int spiritual father of some five million Tw Coptic Orthodox Christians in Egypt. cor He is a remarkable person . After thri graduating from Cairo University in T 1947, Nazir Gayed (the Pope's given Om' name) taught English, while attending Ch i evening classes at the Coptic Theologi­ WO/ cal Seminary in Cairo. Two years later, can MiooJe because of outstanding academic ac­ To e Ea~-c A~ complishments, he was appointed to of b Mosaic: I -L, its faculty. Early in 1950, in consulta­ ne11 tion with a close friend and spiritual stua mentor, Father Metta al-Maskin, he ther entered into full time church work (he nee1 had also served as a reserve officer in ciar the army up to this point). enc1 Egyp-cian His spiritual experience deepened mot until in 1954 he decided to enter He l Al-Surian Monastery in the Western con1 desert. There for a time he became a pati1 hermit, devoting himself to a solitary tion; life of fasting, prayer and meditation, Pope PE sleeping in caves and reading from in n works of the Saints . In 1955 he was laity Harold S. Vogelaar ordained a priest; seven years later dele, Pope Kyrillos VI called him away from the monastery and ordained him Bishop for Religious and Clerical Education under the name Shenouda . While serving in this position he was able to spark a religious revival espe­ cially among the young people, many of whom saw him as a man of enlightenment and broad horizons, able, through his effective writing and personal counsel, to help them adapt to modern society. When Pope Kyrillos VI died in March of 1971 , Bishop Shenouda was one of three elected as contenders to fill the vacancy. In accordance with tradition, these three names were put in a sealed 300-year-old silver box and placed on the altar. Following prayers and the celebration of Communion, a six-year-old boy, blindfolded, was asked to pick one name from the box. His choice represented the will of God. In this way, on October 31, Bishop Shenouda was selected the 11 7th successor to St. Mark, and on ovember 14, 1971 he was conse­ crated Pope of Alexandria and Patri­ arch of the See of St. Mark. Since then a lot has happened to test Pope Shenouda Ill's ability to lead Egypt's dynamic if not always voca l minority, a community that withstood a charge of heresy in the Fifth Century (at the Council of Chalcedon) and the Muslim conquest two centuries later. First and foremost was the need to continue revitalizing the institution of the Church itself, an institution which, in the view of some, " limped into the Twentieth Century" while the ethnic community of Copts as such " was Close to 5,000 people attend thriving." To overcome the lay-clergy dichot­ Bible study at St. Mark's omy which has long plagued the Church , Pope Shenouda Ill has Patriarchal Cathedral led by worked hard to improve the pastoral care of every individual in his Church. Pope Shenouda 111. To do this he has increased the number of bishops and priests and established for advice and counsel are refused an Shenouda Ill has been his Church's new graduate institutes of Biblical audience. Certainly his Friday night participation in the ecumenical move­ studies and pastoral care for training " Bible studies" at St. Mark's Patriar­ ment. In the Middle East this has meant them to minister more effectively to the chal Cathedral have become popular seeking unity among literally scores of needs of the people. Himself a benefi­ occasions to interact with the public. widely differing Christian traditions ciary of Sunday school training he has Further, as a former hermit who still and stemming the alarming increase in encouraged its growth and the pro­ retreats to the desert for periods of the flow of Christian emigration. It is motion of sound biblical curriculum. prayer and fasting, he has given reported that nearly 70 percent of He has also underscored the need to special attention to the rebuilding of Egyptian emigrants are Christian. It has continually increase active lay partici­ old monasteries and the renewal of also meant going to visit the Patriarchs pation in all of the Church's educa­ monastic life (which, incidentally, had of other Orthodox Churches , tional and social programs. its rise in Egypt). He believes that an something unheard of among his Personally he goes the second mile educational revival among monks is predecessors. In broader perspective in making himself available to the prerequisite to a renaissance in Coptic the Pope has visited the Vatican, the laity. It is rare that even a small culture. first Alexandrian Pontiff to do so since delegation of people who come to him Another real concern for Pope the great schism of A. D. 451 . In May

New World Outlook • September 1979 [363) 27 1973, together with Pope Paul VI, he rather calling others to become cogni­ signed a common declaration in zant of the Orthodox Church and to which they expressed their mutual conform their ways to its· sacred concern for Church unity. He has traditions. In pleading for this the Pope likewise encouraged a more active has been most eloquent. 0 participation in the World Council of Whether the lay community as a He is Churches and in 1973 arranged for his whole will accept this as renewal, Church to become a member of the however, remains open to question. spiritual head Middle East Council of Churches, There is a growing feeling, among formerly an exclusively Protestant or­ some at least, that the laity, men and of a church that ganization. In all these areas of ecu­ women alike, are ready to shoulder far menical relations committees for con­ more responsibility than either the has traditionally tinuing dialogue have been set up. Pope or tradition currently allows. In the more sensitive area of inter­ Ecumenically, too, while the Pope's been reluctant to faith relations, Pope Shenouda Ill has appeals for Christian unity and his guided his Church through some efforts to enhance the image of his change.'' turbulent times. Historically the Mus­ Church abroad are all widely ac­ lims in Egypt have been a very tolerant claimed, there is the constant chal­ majority but on occasion the Chris­ lenge to be more flexible and open tians have experienced discrimina­ towards those of other traditions with­ tion, sometimes intense, and among a in his own society, especially Protes­ people strongly conditioned by tradi­ tants whom many Orthodox consider tion, vivid memories of such periods to be aberrant brothers. still persist. For this reason the current Further, the Church's historic prac­ religious revival in Islam and the tice of emphasizing the aspects of life movements of Muslim fringe groups in that are deeply spiritual and even particular are carefully watched by the mystical, a characteristic due in part, Christian community. When incidents perhaps, to its denial of a more of anti-Christian activity surface, as political role, is now being severely they have in recent months, some cha I lenged by the existence of Israel as tinged with violence, the Pope stead­ a religious state and by events in fastly counsels his people not to Lebanon and Iran. There is pressure respond in kind . There are those who from some Christians in the Middle interpret this as weakness, but from the East to join Muslims and Jews in Pope's point of view nothing requires seeking a political salvation through more strength and courage than to armed conflict and direct political return evil with good . So far, through involvement, including establishing a word and example, and to the great Christian political state. This pattern relief of many moderate Muslims, he could have dire consequences for has been able to convince his people interfaith relations. · of the wisdom of this course. In all these areas of challenge and He is spiritual head of a Church that strife the burden of responsibility has traditionally been reluctant to weighs heavily on the shoulders of the change. In 1959 Father Gregorios, Pope, for the way he deals with them Bishop for Higher Theological Studies, will have a determining effect on the Coptic Culture and Scientific Re­ life of all Christians in Egypt standing, search, went so far as to say, "We do as he does, as their highest representa­ not dare to change and we do not like tive before the government. To find to change." But Pope Shenouda Ill guidance in all this, he will no doµbt strives hard to meet the rising expec­ seek the counsel of trusted friends and tations of a community inevitably depend heavily on the advice of his A caught up in change brought on by Lay Counci I and Synod of Bishops. But mile modernity. Will he be able to keep he will also make ample use of solitary co pace? Certainly in the eyes of average retreats into the desert, for though ala church members he remains highly gifted with a charismatic personality Kah respected and loved, an indication no and endowed with many talents, his Na doubt that their present needs are real strength lies in his life of asceti­ her being met. Still, so much depends on cism, devotion and deep piety, char­ Dev the connotation one gives to such acteristics he first learned as a recluse Chu terms as "modern" and "relevant." in the desert. • M For Pope Shenouda and most of the orga clergy, to modernize does not mean to Dr. Harold S. Vogelaar is a teacher of use reform the Church or alter its traditions comparative religion at the Coptic Evan­ Wat as they believe these have been gelical Seminary in Cairo, and is currently catio faithfully kept in their very early and organizing a center for the study of com pure forms . To be relevant means religions in the Middle East. folk 28 [364) New World Outlook • September 1979 BOB NAKATA ORGANIZES THE HOME FOLKS Alex Vergara

At the foot of Koolau mountain 15 This soft-spoken young man quotes In March of 1973, Mr. Nakata was miles from Honolulu is a lush pastoral the Old Testament prophets by heart. instrumental in uniting 12 community community . Narrow streams run He attributes his theological insights to organizations into a Kahalu'u Commu­ along neatly cultivated farms. This is the Kahalu' u UMC Sunday school, the nity Coalition. The new umbrella Kahalu'u, the birthplace of Robert S. MYF, and the Wesley Foundation of organization believed that growth Nakata. He lives here. And he works the University of Hawaii. He is also a should be based on comprehensive here. He is an Indigenous Community product of Union Theological Sem­ plans that local people should have a Developer for the United Methodist inary in New York, where he received major role in developing. They were Church. a Master of Theology degree. concerned that hasty development Mr. Nakata's work has involved Immediately after graduation from would force local people out as they organizing people and issues of land seminary in 1972, Mr. Nakata re­ could not afford high-cost housing and use planning, agricultural tenancies, turned to Kahalu'u. At that time, this the taxes that go with it. There was a water rights, hunger, social and edu­ rural community was without cohe­ consensus that the rural atmosphere of cational services to the poor. His sive leadership and was beginning to Kahalu'u be preserved, and that new community projects have given him a feel the inroads of commercial and services benefitting residents be ex­ folk hero image. residential developments. plored. Mr. Nakata was named execu-

New World Outlook• September 1979 [365) 29 tive secretary of the Kahalu'u Coalition Through the Hawaii District UMC two months after its founding, and Council on Ministries, channels of t~ si worked with governmental agencies communication between the e1 such as the City Planning Commission owner / developers and resi ­ on behalf of the Coalition. dents/farmers were kept open . The la church also played an important role UI Farmland Struggle in negotiations with state agencies. Ci hE When negotiations failed and evic­ v.. In December 1973 a landlord who tion notices were handed to 79 tenant w owned 2,668 acres in neighboring families by the state sheriff, more than hThe best thing in Waiahole and Waikane valleys sub­ 15 United Methodist ministers and a ar mitted a " letter of intent" to the State number of laypersons from various that came out Land Use Commission in order to churches in Oahu signed pledges to rezone one half her property from assist the tenants in the struggle, to the ac (< agricultural to urban. The tenants, point of risking arrest. Hawaii UMC irom this headquarters was designated as infor­ wi most of whom maintain small farms in ful the valleys, became concerned about mation center and received gifts in eviction to make way for large-scale support of the struggle. (The lnterreli­ struggle is the th i housing development. W ith the help gious Foundation for Community Or­ in1 of Mr. Nakata, the Waiahole-Waikane ganizing gave $2 ,000). Ecumenical tra development Community Association was organ­ prayer meetings brought together ized. He served as fact-finder and concerned church people, farmers Mi advisor, helped organ ize demonstra­ and residents. Clergy and laypersons We in oi .ind.igenous tions and coordinated testimonies for were mobilized for direct support as er the State Land Use Commission hear­ well as non-violent resistance should ings. some prefer to take this option. leadership.'' thE wa op bri sid gr un) his inj im hal I

in wa the poLJ en ~ N a ~ ind obt< Ho

emp erv Ha M high Noting the determination to prevent the evictions and realizing the explo­ siveness of the situation, Hawaii Gov­ ernor George Ariyoshi persuaded the landowner to extend the eviction date until March 1, 1977. When the time came, the state government took the heat by purchasing 600 acres of land in Waiahole and stated that no one would be evicted. The Governor also indicated an intention to keep the (Left) Robert Nakata, area's agricultural status . right, at world hunger Today, Mr. Nakata continues as farm project near Kahalu'u, advisor to the Waiahole-Waikane Hawaii. Tenant farmer Community Association as it works struggles and a community with state planners to determine the center (below) are other future of the farmlands. concerns of the U.M. " The best thing that came out from community developer. this struggle is the development of indigenous leadership. We really trained local people to testify," said Mr. Nakata. " Their political analysis was sharpened and they became more involved. Th is is community empow­ erment," he added . Related to development plans was the possibility of constructing a high­ way known as " H-3". Mr. Nakata opposed the plan because it would bring rapid growth to the windward side of Oahu, including Kahalu'u­ growth which the communities were unprepared to tackle. Mr. Nakata and his group got a temporar.y court injunction ordering an environmental impact statement made, successfully ha Iting construction. While the Waiahole-Waikane sit­ uation did not eru.pt as anticipated by the media and the police, a neighbor­ ing area showed activity in 1976. Honolulu's Board of Water Supply KEY Project started diverting water from the Wai­ fertilizers and heavy financial re­ hee Stream for housing developments sourcing. Products such as "winged In March, 1976, Mr. Nakata w as in different parts of the island . But beans" , spinach crops, sweet potatoes appointed acting director of the Kuo­ water from the stream was necessary in and edible leaf hibiscus are included loa-Heeia Ecumenical Youth Project, the raising of the taro (Hawaiian in this harvest model for tropical and known as KEY Project. This program potato), and diverting the flow threat­ sub-tropical areas . Under develop­ was born in the late 1960's to care for ened the farmers' livelihood. Mr. ment are two ponds for raising Malay­ community youth with problems. He Nakata helped organize the farmers, sian prawns, fish (tilapia) and ducks. helped expand the program into a including his own father, and they In addition to providing technical community service center for all res i­ obtained a court injunction against the knowledge, seeds and cuttings to dents. Honolulu Board of Water Supply. those interested, this project shows Named executive director in Jan­ ways to a simplified lifestyle through uary, 1977, Mr. Nakata has a staff of Maka Alamihi Model Farm homegrown foods, energy conserva­ seven enthusiastic persons. Daily ac­ tion and recycling. tivities include senior citizens' hot Not far from Kahalu'u is a world Through Mr. Nakata as liaison and lunch, adult arts and crafts , tutorial hunger farm project known as Maka project coordinator for United Meth­ programs, farm/work study programs Alamihi. This farm is operated by the odists, the General Board of Global and assistance in food stamps, wel­ Kokokahi United Church of Christ, Ministries provided $3 ,500 to assist in fare, and Social Secu rity. Funding for which has long engaged in programs the development of an irrigation sys­ the " KEY " programs is raised through emphasizing self-sufficiency and pres­ tem and a solar water heater, and the Honolulu County, State, and ervation of the spiritual flavor of old fabrication of a hand-operated ma­ Aloha United Way. Hawaii. chine to make mud and cement blocks In future Mr. Nakata would like to Maka Alamihi does not depend on to build housing for a family of nine include a day care service. He also high technology, expensive chemical within the model farm . looks forward to the constru ction of a

New World Outlook • September 1979 (367] 31 Mural by Martin Charlot on Waiahole Kahalu'u Civic Center, of which a new involved with the Hawaii District poi factory wall where tenant farmer KEY facility will be an integral part. Division on Church and Society and eviction writs were burned. The Board of Global Ministries re- the Pacific and Southwest Conference cently granted $11 ,000 towards the Board of Church and Society. KEY Project building fund . When asked why he did not seek Mr. Nakata is still an Indigenous ordination immediately after sem­ Community Developer. His salary inary, he said that he did not see comes from the Pacific and Southwest himself as a stereotyped pastor in a Conference of the UMC and the local church. His experience gave him National Division of the Board of an opportunity " to look at the institu­ Global· Ministries. tional church from the outside. " " The Indigenous Community De­ Pressed regarding the possibility veloper program is the best program that one of these days he might want to the church has," claims Mr. Nakata. apply for ordination, he gave a smile " This is where the church becomes and with seriousness all over his face seriously involved with critical issues said that the " struggle" will soon be that affect the p9or. It is also at this over. " Now, I' m ready to look at it point that the church becomes true to from the inside. It's coming . .. The the Gospel. " Spirit moves." Then Mr. Nakata will Mr. Nakata chairs the Pastor-Parish preach what he loves to practice. • Relations Committee at Kahalu' u UMC and represents his church at the Pacific and 'Southwest Annual Confer­ Alex Ve rga ra is associate pa stor of Alders­ ence as Lay Member. He is actively gate UMC, Hono lulu.

32 [368) New World Outlook • September 1979 Jack ~lclnto1ll THE CROSS OVERKUJYO COMMUNITY In Japan, one does not often see a many of whom were Korean . The signs of hope. Ancient stigmas about cross raised high over a community. outcastes were emancipated from the social outcastes and their children, Nor does one hear very often about their non-status in the late 19th cen­ and modern prejudices against Kore­ Christians being actively involved in tury, and have built a Liberation ans, compound the burdens borne by community concerns. It does happen, League to test the conscience and will the people. Denial of opportunities, though, and is happening in places of the still-prejudiced society. The rejection of applications, refusal of like Kyoto's Kujyo area. Watching Koreans never had such a power base marriage proposals have awaited carefully from the Bullet Train from with which to pry open a way to life in Kujyo residents at every turn. Young Tokyo as it slows to pull into Kyoto Japan . Before the war, until the people of Kujyo may escape the station, one may see a cross raised Japanese military forced its closure, a environment, but find no release from over the Kujyo community south of the Korean Christian fellowship in Kujyo the fear of being found out. This has tracks. had served the hardpressed people in been true for the old social scapegoat, · The community is as old as Kyoto their times of hardship. Today, the the outcastes, and for the new non­ itself. Kujyo is Ninth Street, the second cross over the Kujyo community is a persons, Koreans. By majority defini­ to last in the streets numbered from the sign of hope raised by Koreans for their tion and systematic prescription, such imperial palace when Kyoto was the people in their struggles, and for the persons do not rate as persons; such capital of Japan centuries ago. The east encouragement of the whole commu­ communities exist beyond the pale of end of Kujyo was one of the 3,000 or nity facing Japan's social strictures. normal human society. more outcaste communities of Japan The Kujyo community center began which were set up in pre-modern days. as little more than a series of incidental In the age of Japan's misadventures in Prejudice Against Koreans happenings. To people of faith in God colonialism, it became a settlement of People in the Kujyo community and hope for others, these incidents transients and displaced persons, have suffered for a long time with few were less than accidental, but have

Korean church and Kujyo community center with Kyoto Tower and Bullet train tracks in background.

I vis sh• thE a c thi shi elo era se< ful is wi

enj A literacy class draws Korean women eager to learn to read the Bible. (Below) Japanese and Korean teaching materials. try sta ger circumstances which denied them any no opportunity to learn how to write their tog own names, or read the names and try I directions on a bus; Korean classes for the those who were robbed of their own of language for 36 years, or who faced rigI the pervasive pressures in the post-war mo Japanese society. "Omoni Hakkyo" ThE (Korean "Mother's School " ) now has a wi t total enrollment of over 70, ranging in imr all from 14 to 72 . Teachers are mostly aw young Koreans and Japanese, volun­ teering their time and abilities to make Cer this a truly human event. odi Beginning with the church school eno N / ' ~\. ?.t children, special interest and hobby Ch started a new flow of power and sition were based in the Kujyo commu­ clubs are being formed . Forty or more vol possibilities for the future. It happened nity. It happened that Japanese young children with good volunteer leader­ for that the Korean congregation raising people of the Liberation League and ship have opportunities for whole­ ] the cross over a new building asked labor unions saw common issues in some social experience and creative ped " What for?" It happened that Kujyo the struggles of Koreans . It hap­ expression in after-school programs. Sta was home for a staff member of the pened-people saw what might be Sports, music, creative arts and cultur­ tio Korean Christian Center experiment in done by the people, for the people, al study groups, combined with guid­ det1 Christian soc ial action in Osaka. It with the people. Somebody had to ed study time, open new horizons for and happened that the pastor the congre­ make a beginning, and things began to both participants and volunteer help­ gation called was a Methodist from happen at the foot of the cross. ers. Korea who had tra ined with the Rev . Community forums are held regu­ George Ogle in urban-industrial mis­ larly, taking up the issues which the si on . It happened that several young Center's Activities people wish to discuss and do Christian Koreans who had been Literacy classes for young and old something about. " Raising a family" is involved in the long struggle to build a have been started-Japanese classes the present primary concern. Issues in Korean sc hool against Japanese oppo- for those who were brought up in the community are taken up case by 34 (370] New World Outlook • September 1979 case, and point toward the formation of a community coalition, expanding the present Community Action Coun­ cil of young people and church leaders. Over 60 volunteers serving in the various programs and involved in community action groups deal with ANEW KIND education, employment and social welfare problems. Most are young people of whom approximately one­ third are Korean, and one-fifth Chris­ tian, but all together are working out OF HISPANIC their liberation in life. A Beginning CHURCH A beginning has been made, and visions of events to come are being sharpened and worked out along with Charlie Lerrigo the community. Some see the need for a community library and the creative things possible there. Others would he Rev . Leo D. Nieto thinks his Bible through big changes in its ethnic sharpen the focus on the search of the Tstudy group was a good start towards composition. The Board of Global elderly for a meaningful old age in a new United Methodist congregation Ministries of the Pacific and Southwest crafts and recreation programs. The in the surburbs of Los Angeles. Its Conference is putting $24,000 into · search for basic acceptance and right­ members were two former drug ad- realizing Nieto's vision; the Parish ful roles in society for the handicapped diets and their wives, one fugitive from Ministries Program Unit of the Board of is still an area of common concern justice and his wife, one family who Global Ministries' National Division without a clear strategy. are illegal immigrants, and a church has funded the project for a second At present, young and old alike are janitor. year; the Commission on Religion and enjoying the excitement of trying­ That Bible study group is not meet- Race has approved $15,000 to help; trying to share and to learn, trying to . ing at the time of this writing, not Bishop Charles F. Golden and district stand up and fight. The gap between because of lack of interest but because superintendent, the Rev . Elias Galvan, generations and between neighbors is other tasks have had to take priority. are backing the effort. not closed overnight, but in acting Still, Mr. Nieto thinks that such a The area of Los Angeles Nieto is together, new relations develop. In seemingly unlikely start on a Spanish- working in also has tremendous social trying to find some of the answers to language congregation was a good problems. San Pedro, one of the the "Why not?" about the possibilities sign. The church he'd like to start is not surrounding towns, is a bedroom of their own human dignity, social the ordinary kind of church. The community for Los Angeles, but its rights and communal responsibility, approach he's taking to creating a new population is shifting from Anglo to more people are acting progressively. congregation is not the ordinary ap- Hispanic. In Carson, another town, They know they are being watched proach . there are many Mexicans and Mexican with hope and support from the "Usually when Anglos start a new Americans; poorer people there are immediate community, and from far church, they rent some property, put being priced out of their houses, as away. Support for the Community up a sign and invite people in," he owners try to convert dwellings into Center activities by the United Meth­ explained. "I'm not starting with a condominiums. And then there's Wil­ odist Church and other sister churches place. I'm starting with people." If mington. "If San Pedro is a bedroom encourages both community and the Nieto succeeds, the new congregation community of Los Angeles, " Nieto Christian congregation in their in­ will be a group of Christians who are lamented, "Wilmington is a bathroom volvement in and financial obligations deeply concerned with people-with community. It's sad , sad, what is for the program development. the community around them . It will happening in Wilmington . That' s The way is being opened up to the also, he adds, be a church with a solid where I think we ought to be; that's people of Kujyo. They themselves will spiritual base, "both pietistic and where the need is greatest. " stand up and walk the way of libera­ community-oriented. " The approach Leo Nieto is taking to tion and hope. It is they who will He thinks he will succeed in forming church development is based upon the determine their own goals, priorities a new body of Christians in the methods of Saul Alinsky. Combining and strategies. God willing, the cross six-town area around San Pedro, Calif. community organization with church over Kujyo community will become a There are more than 200,000 Span- energies has worked in other places. sign of victory to all, as events in the ish-speaking persons there, and there Communities Organized for Public community reveal the new power at is by his survey no single indigenous Service (COPS), an ecumenical con­ work among the people and in the fu 11-ti me Hispanic pastor in any sortium, has been fantastically suc­ people. • church. Not even in the Catholic cessful in affecting public policy in San Church, although the latter does have Antonio, Texas; Nieto was on the Mr. Mcintosh, a missionary of the Presbyte­ two Spanish-speaking Italian priests at committee that started COPS . In East rian Church of Canada, is director of the one parish . Many white churches are Los Angeles, possibly the most vigor­ Korean Christian Center in Osaka, japan. dying in the area, which is going ous Hispanic barrio in the country, New World Outlook• September 1979 [371] 35 say der LU ( hor imr foll Th( the int to I anc 'Tm not du t ~ starting with tor ho~ a place. old I'm starting live reo with people." [ atte offe th al Bre cho hon witl SCOI s Chr hap and United Neighborhood Organizations well aware of the housing problems parish will look like," said Mr. Nieto. visil (UNO) has followed the same model elderly people have." Nieto has talked " I'm hoping the form of worship will abo of uniting church and community in to bankers, social workers, the tele­ be a cultural expression of the people. dre< the effort to better the lives of the phone company, labor leaders, edu- I' m hoping it will be a parish at the love people. cators, long-term residents, and same time pietistic and community H But those organizations started with "nearly every pastor in the six towns. " oriented. Most parishes are usually cam already existing churches. Leo Nieto The second round of interviews will one or the other. Some elements of Van thinks it's unique to use community begin to focus on Hispanics in the what I am doing aren't new at all; John uati1 organizing techniques to create a new area, to find out what their needs are . Wesley started out with cell groups. M.A church. The plan he is following began The initial interviews have already What is new is the combination of an Dre1 with interviewing a large number of shown the need for a Spanish-Ian­ evangelical, pietistic approach with Hea persons in the community at large. By guage ministry which will meet the the plans for a mass-based community cati( the end of July, 1978, Mr. Nieto had cultural needs of the people, who in action organization." retu1 personally talked to some 1,000 per- Wilmington alone are roughly 70 While the emphasis on community now sons in the six towns of San Pedro, percent of the population. service is strong in Leo Nieto's efforts, ins ti: Wilmington, Carson, Torrance, Har- The third step, which should be he thinks it will pay off for the servi bor City and Lomita. getting underway at the time this churches. The experience of both gove While he has been making notes on article appears, is to interview leaders COPS and UNO shows that when Sc who among those interviewed might in the Hispanic community and train churches get involved in community invit be prospective church members, the them to do interviews. There'll be action, even dying congregations are Prof main purpose of the first round of meetings in people's homes, with a revitalized . " Once you organize a Colli interviews is to get a clear picture of dual emphasis on Bible study and the church around gut-level issues, that bet1-i the community in which the church needs of the community the Bible can't mean you go to church once a coll1 would live. It also helps make those themes must be played out in . From year," he said. " I think I'm going to you , interviewed more aware of what is that point, the small groups will come find people who will end up being her happening on the streets where they together for larger celebrations, and at candidates for the ordained ministry. acce live. "I've talked to some people who that time-when the people are to­ There are young people who have Sh have lived in San Pedro most of their gether-the plans for getting a com­ recently been saved and are looking fdw, lives, and I'm surprised at how much mon place, a church building, will around for next steps; I'm going to Soutl they don't know is happening. They've become relevant. Once the parish is recruit them to tell others about the sher been surprised, too. One black Baptist established, it would take its place as Gospel. " • fngli pastor who'd been there 20 years part of a larger community organiza­ Charley Lerrigo is a communicator with the Whil, didn't know about an elderly housing tion, probably along the lines of UNO. Interpretive Services Department, UM lsabe project that existed, although he was " There's no way to tell what the Board of G lobal Ministries. Progr 36 [372) New World Outlook• September 1979 " I have left home to come home," says Dr. Kamala Edward s, new presi­ dent of Isabella Thoburn College in Lucknow, India. Leaving her adopted home in the United States and all her immediate family, Dr. Edwards is following in the footsteps of Isabella Thoburn, who wrote to the churches in the United States in 1888: " We are not in the world to be ministered unto, but l

01 IUCll th< ev de its r11n1 of Fo ha· ale RllllRY att1 thE Dwight Stewart \ rea uring this 1976-1980 quadren- week of intense study and reflection in expressed a wish to become better lay liv) Dnium one of the priorities of the a classroom setting. persons in their church. are United Methodist Church has been the How vividly I remember those When we left that place that evening OYE strengthening of the Ethnic Minority courses and the people who taught there was a mixture of both sadness edt Local Church. One of the problems of them that week: Black Theology with and joy. Sadness in that we hated to em the black United Methodist Church is Dr. Hycel Taylor, New Testament by leave such a quiet and lovely place as are the shortage of black clergy. I would Dr. Carl Marbury, Sociology of Reli- Garrett, yet happy that we knew that ties like to tell you of an attempt being gion with Dr. Edsel Ammons and somehow our lives would never quite bei made to deal with this shortage. Black Religious History with Dr. John be the same. On the bus were youth for Allow me a moment of reflection Porter. What an impressive group they who had a burning desire to go tell int into my past. It was in July of 1972 that were as I was challenged to reflect on others what they had experienced that lea. the Rev . Phillip Harley vi sited my what it means to be a Christian and week. For me this was the first of four hOL church, Washington Heights United black in America. Of course we trips I would make to the Ministerial Slig Methodist, in Chicago. My pastor, the sometimes complained that this was Recruitment Program. Me] Rev . Barbara McEwi ng, had informed Ii ke school for wed id have homework. Much has happened in my life since and Mr. Harley that I had expressed an Yet most of us were so caught up in the that time. Sept 26, 1977 brought me cal interest in the ministry. Mr. Harley told enjoyment of new learning that no one once again to the steps of Garrett­ wer me that an organization known as really seemed to mind the work. Evangelical as a full time student in the nio Chicago Black Methodists for Church In addition to the classroom setting Master of Divinity program. June 18, Renewal had developed a five-year there was also time spent in small 1978 took me to South Deering United pilot program aimed at recruiting groups. Here we had a chance to talk Methodist Church in Chicago to assist black youth for the ministry. This to ministers and get first-hand impres­ the Rev. Donald Atkinson in his Ministerial Recruitment and Leader- sions of the ministry. I not only met ministry there. Finally June 3, 1979 ship Development Program would be dedicated clergy, but found them was an important day for me as I was held at Garrett-Evangelical Theoiogi- human as well. Dr. Earnest Smith, the ordained a deacon in the Northern cal Sem inary in Evanston, Ill . The aim preacher for our evening services that Illinois Conference. This is my story was that by the end of five years at least week, cha I lenged us to strive toward and I know that there wi II be stories fi ve black youth would be preparing to serving God better. from other youth as well. For slowly enter seminary. There was a small pond not far from but surely there are some other black I remember Mr. Harley saying to the dormitory. It was here that I went youth who are following me to Gar­ me, " Dwight, I would like to have you when I wanted to get away and do rett-Evangelical. come to the program, for in as much as some thinking on the day's events. I There may be those who will ask I have spoken to you, God has prayed at that pond that God would what is being done to strengthen the spoken ." Needless to say after a lead me in the way that I was to follow. Ethnic Minority Local Church. Thanks statement like that I had to go and That Friday evening we had a service to local churches like Washington examine this program for myself. A of communion and commitment and it Heights and the efforts of Chicago few weeks passed and fi nally the time was a very beautiful service. Mr. Black Methodists for Church Renewal had come to make the trip to Garrett- Harley asked that any who felt that the something is being done to make this Evangelical. Looking around, I was ministry could indeed be a possibility priority a reality. • glad to meet youth from a number of come to the altar. It was then that I and O ver 400 students ha ve participated in black United Methodist churches. Our a few others stepped forward for we Chicago BM CR 's Ministerial Recruitment conversations were tinged with excite- were sure that the ministry was where Program and five are currently in the mentaswewonderedwhataseminary we wanted to do our life's work. candidacy process for the ordained min­ was like. I soon found out as I began a Others also stepped forward as they istry. 38 [374] New World Outlook• September 1979 Beverly J. Chain A Report to Our Readers

A Readership study of New World The highest number of respondents teachers. These professionals could Outlook was completed in Apri I. More to the survey were from the North form a significant future aud ience for than 1,000 persons participated in the Central Jurisdiction. Although there is the magazine. evaluation as a part of the process to a population factor of 23 percent Would other publ ications serve determine the value of the magazine to United Methodists in the area the New their interests just as well ? The data its readers and as an educational tool World Outlook sample drew 31 per­ seems to say " no" . Asked to rate the of the Board of Global Ministries. cent. In the Western Jurisdiction where magazine in comparison to In terpret­ Former subscribers and persons who United Methodists make up 6 percent er, United Methodist Reporter, re­ have never subscribed were contacted of the population the New World sponse, engage/s ocial action and along with current readers in an Outlook sample showed 13 percent. Good News on the portion of each attempt to determine future trends for In the South Central respondents periodical read and reader's impres­ the publication. matched the church population fig­ sions as to which proved most he lpful, What are New World Outlook ures of 20 percent. However, in the New World Outlook was rated seco nd readers like? More than half of them Northeast and Southeast the percent­ only to response. It exceeded response live in rural areas or small towns. They age of subscribers to New World by 7 percentage points in the number are for the most part married women Outlook represented in the sample fell reading at least 50 percent of the ig over the age of 55. They are well far below the church population as a publication and was 34 percentage SI educated and one-third are currently whole in those areas . points above its next closest competi­ ~o employed outside their homes. They An overwhelming 88 percent of tors, Interpreter and United Methodis t as are stable members of their communi­ New World Outlook's readers are Reporter, which tied for th ird place. al ties and 93 percent have been mem­ United Methodist Women who 5ub­ Mission Memo, feature articles and le bers of the United Methodist Church scribe to the magazine in combination materials on mission study themes ~ for more than 10 years. They are active with response. They also hold an were areas cited as most helpful !11 in their church and community with at impressive number of leadership roles though there was a fairly even spread al least two-thirds giving three or more in the local church, particularly as over the several departments of the ur hours a week to volunteer activities. chairpersons of the Work Area on magazine. For every group which did al Slightly over half (55 percent) were Missions and other work areas, the not like a particular type of content or Methodists before the merger in 1968, Council on Ministries and/or the Board emphasis another group of equal size :e and almost 10 percent were Evangeli­ of Trustees. About 8 percent of those did. The only sign ificant changes 1e cal United Brethren. The remainder participating in the study are pastors requested were for more Bible study and devotional material, more infor­ tt· were formerly from other commu­ and another 12 percent are directors of mation on where the mission dollar 1e nions. Christian Education or church school 8, ~ isl 1is 19 as rn ry es 111 CK lf·

SK ~ e ~ )0 go ral iis

-in •nl ~e n· goes and perhaps more articles on sa id their understa nd ing had been identified it as a m1 ss 1on magazine. mission in the U .S.A. A significant increased or improved by at least SO Some (21 percent) saw it aimed at local Si number of readers said they would like percent as a res ult of reading New church leadership and another 1 S fewer articles about women's rights . World Outlook. The si ngle exception perce nt fe lt it was for United Methodist The latter comment is particularly was in the area of spiritu al grow th . In Women. interesting in light of the fact that a this area only 38 percent felt they had In looki ng toward the future the content analysis of the three-year been helped. Education and Cultivation Division period including 1976 through 1978 Those w ho do not read the maga­ suggested to the editors that attention showed that less than two percent of zine as well as those w ho do said they be gi ven to increasing coverage of the magazine's content dealt with were impressed with the des ign, lay­ miss ion projects in the U .S. A. and women's rights issues . out and use of photographs. They al so major social issues of interest to the A comparison of the feature cove r­ mentioned good writing as a strong Board of Global Ministries along w ith age in New World Outlook in 1972, point and on the whole were satisfied greater emphasis on devotional ma­ the year of re-stru cture, with 1978 w ith the content of New World Out­ terial and theological concerns. They b ~ shows an increase in the amount of look. al so instructed staff to gi ve continuing ' coverage of mission projects from 32 Judging from the su rvey data, the attention to see that readership desires magazine's problem of maintaining percent to 44 percent and in pe rsons in and identification are taken seriously !WE mission coverage from 13 percent to ci rculation lies not in its editorial by sol iciting reader response and car 14 percent. Ecumenical coverage in­ expression but in other fa ctors. Some givi ng increased coverage to subjects do creased from 9 percent to 11 percent of these factors such as a possible reade rs would like to see in the tad and issue coverage from 38 percent to general lack of interest in missi on by magazine. 1 40 percent. The on ly decrease noted church members or reliance on con­ A number of suggestions for the qui was in the Biblical/theological area ference newspapers for information promotion of New World Outlook Chi from 1 7 percent to S percent. about the church's activities are out­ were made including asking bishops We Reade rs were asked to comment on si de the magazine's control. More and district superintendents to make anc New World Outlook's effectiveness by than a third of the persons who have use of the magazine in their regularly sciE never subscribed to the magazine said ind icating w hether reading the publi­ scheduled study sess ions with past0rs. Tee cation had contributed measurably to they had never heard of it, so the The steady decline in subscriptions chu their understanding of a particular magazine's marketing system may be to New World Outlook has slowed pee issue . The fi nd ings are impressive. at fault. About 8 percent of the sample noticeabl y in recent years and in 1978 pan More than 60 percent of the respon ­ simply didn't like the magazine. One amounted to only 2.S percent as offi dents felt that their understanding of thought New World Outlook " too compared w ith 11 percent and 6 wa! the total program of the Board of global" ; others that it was " lacking in percent losses in the preceding two scie Global Ministries had been improved spiritual uplift," and a third that while years. • giar by at least SO percent and 72 percent " social concerns are important they atte said their knowledge of mission activ­ are not most important. " Dr. Beverly }. Chain, ass istant general seal ities and programs had improved by a On the other hand, persons inter­ secretary, Communications Section, ECO, togE viewed about the purpose and audi­ was in charge of the New World O utlook sim ilar amount. In every area surveyed If except one, at least half of the readers ence for New World Outlook clearly survey. of tr eith, WOL wak 1 evid scie Proclaiming God's MISSION STORIES Aus1 FOR TODAY bur, Grace and Glory that neitl othe by H . Claude Young, Jr. vie11 Met1 People witness to their faith in word and deed in this absorbing Syri; collection of stories. In handy pocket-size, the book is an lndi; inspiring resource for worship meditations, sermon illustra­ that tions, church school lessons and general mission programs. wou The author writes from his personal experience, travels and reali1 mission involvement as a director of the Board of Global scier Ministries for two quadrennia. From the Methodist Mid-Town and, Parish in Philadelphia, Pa., to the Miathene Methodist Circuit in Kenya, Africa, this is about people who are in mission around faith the world. Order from Service Center, Board of Global Ministries, 7820 Reading Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237. $2.25 .

40 (376] New World Outlook • September 1979 Special Report: FAITH, SCIENCE AND THE FUTURE by Arthur J. Moore

Has the centuries-old quarrel be­ But if participants were modest in tween science and religion finally their claims, that did not mean that come to an end? If so, what if anything sweetness and light prevailed. Science do science and religion have to say to and technology were particularly today's world? under attack. A historian of science, To discuss these and other related Jerome Ravetz of the University of questions, the World Council of Leeds, England, warned that " the Churches in July called together a image of 'the scientist' as dedicated World Conference on Faith , Science lone researcher, analogous to a saintly and the Future at the very citadel of hermit, is now dangerously obsolete" science, the Massachusetts Institute of and suggested that " when we think of Technology in Cambridge, Massa­ 'scientific research ' we might change chusetts. Present were some 900 our type-case from the discovery of, people, including 313 official partici­ say, polio-vaccine to that of the pants, from 56 countries. Of the determination of the carcinogenicity official participants, representation of, say, saccharine." As Professor was about evenly divided among Brown noted, "The vast majority of scientists, technologists and theolo­ scientists are busy applying Science to gians. This was the first time that any reach material and social goals and attempt had been made on such a their work is largely controlled by scale to bring scientists and religionists governmental agencies serving na­ together. tional, military and civil interests and If anyone was expecting a rehashing by large industrial firms serving the of the old claims to superior wisdom of market." either science and religion, he or she This change in the nature of science would have been in for a rude dominated the Conference. It is im­ wakening. No triumphalism was in portant to remember that this meeting evidence. In opening addresses, both was called by the Department of scientists and theologians converged . Church and Society of the World Australian astronomer Robert Han­ Council and that its focus was to look bury Brown said. that " we must accept at faith and science in the context of "a that the scientific vision of the world is just, participatory and sustainable so­ neither a rival nor an alternative to any ciety" (to use the Wor!d Council other point of view .. . . every point of phrase deriving from the Nairobi view has a limited domain of validity. " Assembly). A conference called under Metropolitan Paulos Gregorios of the strictly theological auspices might Syrian Orthodox Church, New Delhi, have come up with a different set of India, the conference moderator, said questions to be addressed. As it was, that "for neither faith nor science the uses and abuses of technology and would I make the claim that we know the question of social control of reality as it is" and " faith needs science and technology were the science, must come to terms with it, central agenda items at Cambridge. and work for new perceptions in both For speakers from Third World faith and science .... " countries, the question of the transfer

Conference moderator Metropolitan Paulos Gregorios presides at the opening worship service (top); the drumming and conch shell music of Ghana's Papa Oyeah MacKensie was a highlight of many worship services (center); Dr. Rosemary Reuther of Garrett Evangelical Seminary, shown talking with WCC general secretary Philip Potter, was one of the few women on the program. (bottom). of technology from the industrialized ing, nuclear energy, information and nations was probably the most critical computer systems, ecology. Of these, issue. Dr. 0 . A. El-Kholy of Egypt said the question of energy and particularly thatthe Arab world has been importing nuclear energy stirred the most impas­ technology on a massive and fast-in­ sioned debate. After Three Mile Island, creasing scale. This has led to " acqui­ the opponents of nuclear energy were sition at a very high cost of inappro­ in full cry and particularly anxious to priate products that deteriorate rapidly sway the World Council which has and plants that work inefficiently, refused to rule out the nuclear option. delivered as packages in which indige­ Those who were more open to nuclear nous participation is almost nonexis­ energy stressed the dangers of alterna­ tent. We pay more to produce less, at tive energy sources, particularly coal. higher cost and without the benefit of A compromise of a sort was struck with producing an indigenous capability." a call for a five-year moratorium on Similarly, Dr. Thomas R. Odhiambo of new nuclear energy plants (but not Kenya called the transfer of technology closing or dismantling those now in to the Third World "a mirage, an operation) to al low for intensive pub I ic impossible dream" and said that "the debate on the dangers and benefits of establishment and strengthening of the nuclear power. aff i ~ domestic capabilities in science and Space, unfortunately, does not con! technology is consequently the single al low for extended treatment of those you most vital decision that Africa must areas . I personally found the genetic to b make." engineering and information technol­ wit Speakers from the industrialized ogy presentations to be among the aver nations were equally critical. John most fascinating. the Francis, a nuclear physicist and hous­ There were thirty-nine addresses in give ing administrator from the United all and the quality was remari

44 [380] New World Outlook • September 1979 THE llOYIMG FIMGER WRITES_.-

lin Ve REFUGEE AGENCIES SAY brew lm:nigrant Aid Society 3.7 percent, Mission Board are surprised by the strong NEW LAW IS IMPORTANT and Evangelica ls 1. 9 percent. Lelia Fer­ negative reaction, that includes calling the Representatives of Church World Ser­ nandez, refugee officer of UMCOR, Atlanta-based agency " blatantly unchris­ I~ vice, in which the United Methodist estimates that over 100 United Methodist tian." li Committee on Relief participates, attended sponsors wi 11 be needed each month when The controversy also threatens the future a consultation in Washington on the the refugee total reaches 14,000 a month of embryonic ecumenical relations be­ I~ Refugee Act of 1979 and urged members of in September. tween Greek Orthodox and Southern Congress to pass the bill. The act would Baptists, w hich have held at least one broaden the definition of refugee, raise the BAPTISTS AND GREEK ORTHODOX theological dialogue. annual regular admission quota of refugees IN DISPUTE OVER MISSIONARIES In June, the Home Mission Board from 17,400 to 50,000, and permit the The Greek Orthodox Church in America announced appointment of a couple, President to ask Congress for additional is furious over a Southern Baptist decision lngnatius and Parthena Meimaris of Ros­ admissions in emergencies. to name two missionaries to Greeks in the lindale, Mass ., as the denomination's "first A U.S. State Department official said U.S. missionaries" to Greeks in the United about 500 refugees a day will begin Officials of the Southern Baptist Home States . The appointments were part of the entering the U .S. in September, when President Carter's new quota of 14,000 refugees a month is expected to begin . Federal funds for domestic aid to refugees Help Them Catch Up. could end September 30 unless the pro­ posed refugee act is not passed before then Iban children in Sarawak have a long way to go to catch up with by Congress. the world. Their parents have grown up in the jungle isolation of !I. Meanwhile in Britain, several major relief agencies, including religious groups, the Island of Borneo . but this generation must become educated have launched an appeal for unlimited aid if the !bans are to take their rightful place in the affairs of the for the more than one million Indochinese yo uthful Malaysia federation . refugees now in camps; fleeing or dis­ Most !ban families cannot afford the school and hostel fees of placed in their own countries, or camped $25 a month for a child's secondary education. Needy !ban children. ea along the Cambodian border. • • • • ,. including Methodist pastors· sons and daughters. ch Canada has agreed to resettle 50 ,000 : co uld not attend high schoo l without World Indochinese refugees by the end of 1980, 1' • Division scholarships. at the tripled rate of about 3,000 a month, • • • • •• and provide matching funds to relief • • • • • ••• • agencies participating in the program. • • The representatives of the Roman Cath­ • • - olic, Anglican, United Church and Presby­ • ...... terian Churches and the Canadian Council • • • • • of Churches earlier met with Canadian " government officials and presented a • four-part plan to increase refugee aid . • The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society • • • (HIAS), the worldwide Jewish immigration • • agency, announced it will double its • • annual commitment to resettle Indochina • •• refugees from 3,000 to 6,000. " The world • • cannot stand by to witness another Holo­ • • caust," said Gaynor I. Jacobson, executive • • vice-president of HIAS . He compared the • Your gift today will brighten their tomorrows . • present plight of the Vietnamese boat • • people to Jews who fled on vessels during • 006073-2 R-8 • World War 11 , were rejected by many • • countries and finally perished . • A~NCE • U.S. churches and religious groups ha ve • Clip th is coupon • • and mail with STREET ADDRESS • resettled about 7 5 percent of the 210, 000 • your check to: CITY STATE ZIP • Indochinese refugees who had come by • World Division • the month of June. Church World Service • Room 1439 CHURCH ANNUAL CONFERENCE • sponsored 13.7 percent, the Roman Cath­ e 4 75 Ri verside Dr · '"• uno<•<1 M•'""'"" c"'"' Suooon Poog•am "a • .,, o< me wo"o wooe m'"''"' ot • • New York , NY 10027 Tr1e Bo

New World Outlook • September 1979 (381] 45 agency's extens ive " language missions." The Baptist board holds that not all tist board was right that Greek Americans ed Identical letters of protest from the Greek people of Greek descent or who speak need missionaries when church atten­ am Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South Greek in the U .S. are Orthodox. "It is dance figu res are studied. The editorial, die America, headquartered in New York, important to note that we did not name however, had a tongue-in-cheek quality, 1 subsequently were sent to the president of missionaries to the G reek Orthodox according to an editor, intended to spur the rep the Southern Baptist Convention and the Church," said G lenn A. lnglehart, director Greek Orthodox people toward greater (01 head of the Home Mission Board . The of interfaith witness for the board. " We missionary activity. ass letters said that the Orthodox view the were not trying to defame the Orthodox Americans of Greek descent number lyti Baptist action as " blatantly unchristian, Church." about two million, most of whom are mu nothing short of proselytism ." Mr. Lewis ca lled attention to a July 18 nominall y Greek O rthodox. W hile the I The letters, signed by Archdeacon editorial in the " Orthodox Observer," the Greek Archdiocese does not claim all these tior Methodios G . Thournas, were written on weekly newspaper of the Greek Orthodox peopl e are actively involved in the Church, al the instructions of Archbishop lakovos, archdiocese, stati ng that perhaps the Bap- it objects to uni latera l missionary action by Ing primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in other denominations w ithi n its ethnic the the Western Hemisphere. community. in r Conciliatory responses from Dr. Adrian F Your Church Bazaar Eastern O rthodox Churches are historic­ Gre Rogers of Memphis, president of the more 0 Your Christmas List ally quite sensitive to the Protestant mis­ SoL than 13 million-member Southern Baptist R Your Own Enjoyment sionary movement, and have often object- thir Convention, and from Dr. W illiam G . dio Tanner, executive director of the mission Quality Products From A board, failed to sooth the ire of Greek Christian Community "P~·ie *""'f ehttd pee Orthodox leaders . O#t L

46 [382] New World O utlook • September 1979 ed to the sending of missionaries to work dec ided so meth ing should be said to help (Letters Continued from p. 44) among Orthodox populations in the Mid­ Southern Baptists understand Orthodox dle Ea st or Ea stern Europe. Christianity. A POINT WELL TAKEN The organized ecumenical movement, Dr. lnglehart sai d he hoped the incident You r Ju ly-August issue has several arti­ represented by the World and National surrounding the appointment of the Mei­ cles about the disabled and the handi­ Counci Is of Churches , have labored to marises would not dis rupt Sou thern Bap­ capped . This would be fine and would ass ure the Orthodox that it opposes prose­ tist-Greek O rth odox dialogue. show your Christian compassion-except lytism of members among Christian com­ (Elliott Wright, RNS) your practice is so far from your written munions. attitude that you r inconsistency is glaring. While the Southern Bapti st denomin<1 - Every ti me I pick up this issue to read it, I tion does not partici pate in the World and W. PENN UNITED METHODISTS am turned off. Don't the visually ha ndi­ National Counci ls, Mr. Lewis and Mr. BOYCOTT SUNDAY SHOPPING capped count? Do you want an eyecatch­ lnglehart said in separate interviews that The United Methodist Churches in ing, arty magazine or do you want people the Home M ission Board is not interested western Pennsy lva nia have launched a with less than perfect vision to be able to in prosel yting persons actively involved in concerted year-long drive in support of a read it comfortably? Greek Orthodox churches . Mr. Rogers, the six-day shopping week. The Table of Contents is printed on a Southern Baptist president, said the same On Sunday, August 12, church mem­ glaring green, then p. 8 on mottled green thing in his letter to Archdeacon Metho­ bers were asked to refra in from shopping and w hite, part of 13 on grey-gree n (not so dios. on Sunday. Thi s economic boycott by bad because of the la rge print), pp. 21-2 on " We have no intent to prosel yte among 257,000 area United M ethodists is intend­ lavender, 23-27 on muddy water tan , p. 30 people who fi nd fulfil lment in other ed to have an impac t on the Sunday sales and part of 31 on grey-green , 40 on a worse churches but we try to address the need s of po li cies of major department stores and gree n. W hy poems in italics on colors? those not actively involved," said Mr. chains. Does that ma ke them more poetic? ... Lewis. The pu sh for six-day shopping was I am not alone in my eye problems, but I A similar point was made by Dr. Tanner approved in June by the 1500 delegates to am doing w hat few will do: I am asking you in hi s response to Archdeacon Methodios. the Western Pen nsylvania Annual Confe r­ to aid the handicapped in actual practice. " The experience acqu ired as a result of ence of th e United Methodist Chu rch. I am a retired high school En glish teacher field studies, interviews and inqu iries Sunday as the Lord 's Day has ancient w ho is servi ng as vice president of United indicated that a spiritual vacuum exists roots in the Judaeo-Christia n tradition. Methodist W omen and I am also chai rma n among a segment of Greek Americans," he Resident United M ethodist Bishop Roy C. of the commission on missions, but if you wrote. Nichols has expressed the concern that conti nue to make your magazine so The letter written to the Southern Baptist "commercial interests are turning Sunday difficult to read, why should I subscribe? leaders at the behest of Archbishop lakovos into just another day of profitee rin g. " Fern Rowland s suggested that the Home Mission Board " Bu siness enterprises are bei ng pres­ Zanesvi lle, Ohio direct its missionary activities " to the sured by landlords into a seve n-day sa les unbaptized and non-believers." week," the bishop said. " Sales perso ns are FINE COVERAGE Bishop Maximos, the Pittsburgh prelate fo rced into Sunday work regardless of their My congratulations on the super issue of in charge of inter-church affairs for the religious obl igations, small fa mily bu si­ New World Outlook for Ju ly-August and Greek Archdiocese, said he was particular­ nesses are being driven into fatiguing the fine coverage you gave to the various ly " appalled" at the Southern Baptist seven-day schedules. Sund ay mall shop­ places in w hich ca re and concern for action in light of a three-day dialogue held ping is being encouraged as a substitute for perso ns with handica pping conditions are in 1977. The talks were sponsored by the everything that families have done before be ing expressed . . .. I th ink it is an archdiocese and the Home Missi on Board . on Sundays , includ ing church goi ng." excellent piece of reporti ng, and the " I would have understood this action Bis hop Nichol s continued, "We are not information coming from a variety of from a sectarian group which claims it is oppos ing necessary services. But a demo­ places in the country is most helpful. the only church, but not from our Baptist crati c society has the right to decide w here David L. Severe brothers," the bishop stated . " We had no the line should be drawn . . . If we win this O kla homa Ci ty, Oklahoma indication (at the dialogue) that they had one, we wi ll render significant services. Th e w riter is chairperson of the Task those kinds of feelings ." We will enable al l merchants to make the Force on the Church and the Handicapped The bishop said that nam ing mission­ same margin of profit by only operating six of the Health and Welfare Division. aries to Greeks in the U.S. was inappro­ days a w eek; and we w i 11 preve nt the w aste priate in an ecumenical age . He added that of energy invo lved in heat, li ght, ai r-con­ THE BIBLE AS MANDATE he at first did not think the naming of the ditioning and mai ntenance on that extra In " The Moving Finger W rites" in Ju ne it two missionaries deserved a response but seventh day." states " th e officers said their action was based on the Discipli ne, w hich is 'our mandate'." W hy in the name of Heaven, is n't the Bible the mandate for Christians? .. . I have been told that homosexuals need love, and if we love them we know th at we will accept the m as th ey are. To w hich I say, " Hogwash! " If we love them , we will accept them as fellowsinners in need of God' s forgiving love, and then because we have bee n fo rgiven, we will tell th em of the O ne w ho ca n also change th em from w hat they are to what God wants them to become. We sometimes The October iss ue w il l be a specia l issue on Human Rights to supplement the mission fo rget that last part. To say that it is stud y. There are arti cl es on human ri ghts and the Bibl e, a survey of human rights impossible for them to change certainly conditions on seve ral continents, th e spreading practice of torture, human ri ghts and puts a pecu liar limit on God' s power. geneti cs, probl ems in refugee relief, concern s over human ri ghts in eastern Europe, the Mary E. Col lins problems of monitoring th e Helsi nki Accords, and others. Libby, Montana

New World Outlook • September 1979 [383] 47 OCT. 2-5 OCT.16-19 Your Furlough: lime Off to Tool Latin America Realities for Up. Ted War d, Institute for In­ Mission Today. W. Dayton t ernational Studies, M ichigan Roberts, Vice-President, Latin St at e Univer sity. America M ission , San Jose, OCT. 30-NOV. 2 Costa Rica. Roman Catholics and Protes­ tant Evangelicals in Mission: Bridges to Understanding. Thomas F. Stransky, C.S.P., Washington Theological Union. NOV. 6-9 Mission Patterns or Mission Perceptions in the Book of Acts? Paul S. Rees, Editor-at­ Large, WORLD VISION Magazine. NOV.13-16 Religious Experience: Implica­ tions for Personal Growth, Community, and Mission. Thomas E. Clarke, S. J .. Woodstock Theological Center; and Sister Francine Zeller. 0 . S. F., Center for Religious Development. NOV. 26-30 Charismatic Renewal in the Third World: Some Lessons for Mission. Walter Hollenweger. Professor of Mission, University of Birmingham, England. DEC. 4-7 Toward Creative Structures and Strategies for World Mis­ sion. Wilbert Shenk, Overseas Secretary, Mennonite Board of Missions. JAN. 7-11 and JAN.14-18 ,,.~ ""'..... ~ Global Perspectives on Christian. Witness. Seminars for theological ..-;.:-141 students, co-sponsored by ...... ~ ...... :fr . ~ ~ seminaries. Each week is a Publishers of separate unit , but together they : OVERSEAS MINISTRIES The Occasional STUDY CENTER Bulletin of Missionary give a comprehensive survey of ! Research the contemporary world mission. : Ventnor. NJ 08406 Academic credit may be arranged. • Gerald H. Ander80n, Director, Honnen A. Horner, Aaoc. Director ! In a setting that invites reflection and renewal, we JAN. 21-25 • off er highly relevant courses of study for cross­ New Religious Movements as : cultural and international ministries, and accommo- Challenge to the Churches. : dations with a family atmosphere. Johannes Aagaard, Aarhus Uni-: . versity, Denmark; President of : ~EGISTRATION . $25 P~~ course. International Association for • with room and meals add1t1onal. M ission Studies. !D Send application and more information NW FEB. 12-15 :.;.....;;NA;_;,;,M.:...;.;:E:;______Missionary Preaching: The ! ADDRESS Gospel in Context. Samuel • _.;.;;;;;;..;;;;;...... ;..==...;;;;;______Kamaleson, Vice-President-at- :..;;;C"'"'IT.:....Y.:.______S=...... ;TA-'T_E~ ____Z_l_P ____ _ Large, World Vision lnterna- : COUNTRY tional. :.-=.:.;::.:....:.:..:. ~•• ~ •.:...;.-=-.-.-.- ••-.-.-.-.-.-.- ••-.-.-.-.-.-. -••-.-.-.-.-.-. -••-.-.-.-.-. -••-.- ••