THE MISSOURI CONFERENCE REVIEW an edition of the United Methodist Reporter

Leading congregations to lead people to actively follow Jesus Christ

Aware UMCOR Family Recent earthquake 024000 l Volume 158 Bishop Robert Schnase Bonds as strong as Number 28 l November 11, 2011 discusses attentiveness has UMCOR back blood form through 4A Two Sections, Section A and birding. 2A in Turkey. covenant. 5A

A losing proposition Pastor takes big step to make himself smaller Last summer at Annual The identity crisis Moore con- Conference session Rev. Eric tinues to experience can be attrib- Moore was disregarded and uted to one thing: he has lost 100 ignored by colleagues he had pounds since February. known for years. They looked Moore, who is pastor of Linn right past him, and didn’t speak Memorial UMC in Fayette, has when they saw him in lobby, as struggled with his weight since The Habitat for Humanity house in Joplin was taking shape by mid-October. though he were a stranger. But he was in second grade. With Moore wasn’t being intention- his peak weight being about 300 ally shunned, his friends did not pounds, he had weight –related Building back: Volunteers in know him. See Weight Loss, pg. 6A Joplin enter construction phase

… a time to break down, and a time to build up. Ecclesiastes 3:3, NRSV

For Christ Community UMC in Joplin, it is time to build. The first week of October started construction on a Habitat for Humanity house. It will only be one house in a town that needs hundreds, but for many people it is a turning point. “For months people here have New District office been carrying debris to the road,” said Rev. Chris Sloan. “I think it’s good for the city and good for our opens in Joplin church to see building beginning again, and something new coming Chris Sloan, pastor of Christ Community UMC, is shown The Southwest District Office office was filled with debris and up out of the ground.” here with Lorri Hensley, the owner of the Habitat home. is coming back into full operation had extensive water damage. Many volunteers from Christ in its new permanent home. A Initially important files were Community will be working on tor of Habitat for Humanity in insulating this past week, and new office has been constructed evacuated to Southwest District the house. They will also be joined Joplin, said the church’s role is there’s plenty of opportunities left at the same site as the former Superintendent Sandra Nenadal’s early on by a volunteer team from very much appreciated. for volunteers to do things like office, which was wrecked by the home. A temporary office was Campbell UMC in Springfield. “I can’t say enough about how paint, flooring and landscaping.” tornado that devastated Joplin on later set up in some vacant retail The Habitat House is located at helpful Chris Sloan and the vol- Clayton said he expects the May 22. space. Nenadal and district staff 1022 Sergeant St. unteers from Christ Community home to be done by year-end. Although the office still stood began moving into the new office Scott Clayton, executive direc- have been,” he said. “We were See Habitat House, pg. 4A after the tornado, windows were in mid-October, and continue to knocked out, there were large finalize the details. The United Methodist Reporter (USPS 954-500) is published weekly by UMR Communications, 1221 Profi t, Dallas, TX 75247-3919. Periodicals holes in walls, and the entire See District Office, pg. 6A Postage Paid at Dallas. Postmaster: Send address changes to The United Methodist Reporter, PO Box 660275, Dallas, TX 75266-0275. 2A Opinions and Insights November 11, 2011 Now I see: On birds and ‘spiritual attentiveness’

I’ve always loved the outdoors, dish speckled breast, and a face exists that we don’t see, a world enjoying the natural world through with sharp contrasting lines of before us that we fail to recognize, camping, backpacking, canoeing, black and white. I found myself notice or hear except in intermit- kayaking, fishing and long-distance desiring to see this bird more than tent ways. It’s an enchanting world, running. I’ve respected nature, any other in the book. If I should magical, unseen and full of the explored it, protected it and taught ever enjoy the privilege of see- everyday miracles of migration, my sons to do the same. But I ing this bird, my hobby would be feeding, mating, nesting, singing, never had any particular interest complete, or so I thought. surviving. It’s a world marked by in birds until 10 years ago when At that time, I served as infinite patterns of behavior and my eyes were opened to a world I a pastor in McAllen, Texas. personality and habit. never knew existed. Participating in conference lead- Now, I ponder the mystery of I was with my family in Costa ership meant that I drove to San how birds survive in subfreez- Rica for an immersion course in Antonio once or twice a month ing temperatures or through Spanish. We took a few days to for meetings, 230 miles each way. long weeks of drought, of how explore the coastal waterways along One morning, my eye caught the smallest of them flies from the Atlantic, enjoying the wildlife, a dove-sized bird perched on a my window feeder in Missouri rich with sights of crocodiles, tur- power line at a particularly odd to South America and back each tles, monkeys and sloths. While a angle. I turned the car around, fall and spring. I’ve discovered fellow traveler identified the exotic reached for my binoculars, and species of magnificent colors that birds we were seeing, I recorded discovered an American share my neighborhood the names, hoping to impress a Kestrel, the bird from but which my human fishing buddy who loved birds. the front cover of my neighbors know noth- A few weeks after returning to guide! I watched in ing about. I have been before who share this interest. vocabulary of grace to distinguish Texas, my friend and I were fish- awe, feeling ecstatic, taught techniques I see birds everywhere. They and describe nuances of soul and ing on our favorite lake. I pulled grateful, humbled. This through books and quiet me. They lift me. They character. the list of birds from my pocket was a celebration of life, colleagues for inten- remind me. They grant me free- Frequently, Scripture uses sto- and named the first, expecting a an unexpected con- tionally finding birds. dom, and they help me look at life ries of blindness and seeing. “I look of surprise, and maybe envy. firmation of a beauty I’ve learned to look for itself with an unfiltered delight. was blind but now I see. . . .” “I Instead, he told me that the rare that frequently seems them, to listen for them, Birds are a gift. see people as trees walking. . . .” bird I saw was, in fact, native to elusive if not entirely to peer into their world Birding has helped me under- Jesus describes his mission as “the our area and he pointed out a nest beyond our grasp. without interrupting them and to stand the spiritual discipline of recovery of sight to the blind. . . of them along the shoreline! Not After a while, I continued on draw them into my world without attentiveness. Just as I previously .” We go through life self-blinded, to be outdone, I read the second my way. To my complete amaze- harming them. lived each day surrounded by a seeing only a small portion of name from the ment, I discovered another Kestrel Birding rekindled an adolescent world I never knew existed, so what is before us. Whole worlds tropics. He a quarter mile down the road. interest in photography as a tool each one of us risks living our days exist right before our eyes, but we looked over- Again I stopped. How incredible to help me identify them better, without noticing the life of the direct our attention elsewhere and head to a bird in one day to see two of these and this evolved into a desire to Spirit, the presence of God, the we perceive the world through flying by, and birds I thought I would never see! catch images that capture the criti- movements of the interior life. filters. There are people we fail to said, “There As I drove on, I saw another, and cal essence and unique identifying Once we begin to notice God, notice, promptings of the Spirit goes one of then another. Slowly it dawned on field marks. Bird books line my a whole new world opens, a world we ignore, callings we do not hear, those now.” me that I had made the mistake shelves and bird drawings adorn that is true, ageless, and marked by offerings of grace we overlook. And so of a beginning birder by never my walls. I still consider myself an unexpected discoveries of grace. Birding draws my attention to it went with checking the range maps of the amateur, and yet I enjoy pointing Belonging to the community of places that otherwise my eyes would the entire list. bird I was seeking. Kestrels are out birds to friends and sharing Christ, we start to explore life with not have focused and helps me see Every exotic common to South Texas during my love of birds with colleagues as God and we detect God’s presence ordinary places from an extraordi- bird I had listed fall and winter, and they hunt in non-intrusively as possible. I count and activity. With soul work, an nary perspective. Similarly, spiritual lived in abundance in the same territories about a quarter mile as colleagues people I never knew unseen world becomes visible. We attentiveness draws our attention habitat I had shared with them apart. Before the day was over, I look afresh at our family, our work, to Christ and opens our eyes to a for more than 20 years. They were had seen dozens of Kestrels. our inner life and the people around world we otherwise fail to see. Open not rare, merely unknown to me. I Smiling to myself, I began to us. We experience God at work in the eyes of my heart, Lord, for I found this unsettling. fathom a sobering truth. I had the world, the Spirit moving where want to see you. The next day I bought a guide traveled those 230 miles up and it will, Christ present in every face. Yours in Christ, book and began to identify birds 230 miles back hundreds of times Grace, patience, peace, justice, as I drove, worked, ran and fished. over 20 years. That striking bird mercy, pardon, reconciliation, Once I started to notice, birds were that I claimed I had never seen hope, faith, love—these signs everywhere. Brazen and boister- had surrounded me the whole and elements of the Spirit’s work ous birds chirped and clattered in time. I’d seen tens of thousands sometimes emerge boldly in unex- palm trees, stealthy birds moved of Kestrels, but I hadn’t bothered pected places. On other occasions through dense shrubbery, shy birds to notice them, recognize them we catch only a fleeting glimpse, Robert Schnase, Bishop remained still and quiet in mid- or know them. My eyes had been though the signs still surround us Mo. Conference of the UMC day shadows, small songbirds sang closed to a world that was real and all the time. For the spiritual life hymns to the rising sun, and regal present and alive. also, there are guidebooks and col- The bird photos on this predators perched atop light posts. Since those early months of leagues who are willing to assist page and page 1A were taken The cover of the guidebook birding I have learned a great deal, us, and there are techniques to by Bishop Schnase. You can displayed a particularly striking and I continue to see birds I’ve help us see. Like birding, life in view more of his photographs bird with steel-blue wings, a red- never seen before. A whole world Christ has a language of its own, a at www.pbase.com/mobish. November 11, 2011 Missouri Conference News 3A

High-Tech Chat Mobile strategies that work Lay Leader Column Placing your church within an arm’s reach By Brian hammons By Eric Seiberling (http://mashable.com/2010/12/16/ reader app like www.i-nigma.com create-mobile-site-tools/). (all smartphone OS) or Qrafter Mobile messaging and applica- There’s an app for that. If you (iPad) to scan it with their camera Field tions are the latest innovations want to go one step beyond a and access the “call to action” you Ten Words to Remember for a Fruitful your church can use to reach a mobile website, try making an created. wider audience. In today’s busy app. AppMaker (www.appmaker. GroupMe (and others). One Lay Ministry: Jesus, Mission, Pastor, Field, world, this technology enables you com) provides an easy way to helpful tool for church staffs, Connect, Read, Simple, Discipline, Fruit, Spirit to reach people while they’re on make an iPhone app. Appsbar youth groups and other teams is the go. (www.appsbar.com) can help cre- www.GroupMe.com. This online What does the word “Field” the people are. The message of Many people believe mobile ate apps for both iOS and Android tool allows you to create a group have to do with lay ministry? God’s love and grace in Jesus is just a fad … the data suggests operating systems. of 25 people and then do group Well, maybe the image of an Christ is transformational, able otherwise. Reach out and text some- text messaging and conference empty field isn’t what we’re after. to change the world one person Whether for teens in the one. Text messaging is becoming calls. It also allows photo shar- But perhaps a field crowded with at a time. But we have to get out United States or people in the the primary method of communi- ing. Four to 10 people is the best people isn’t far off. of our comfortable pews, to “be Philippines, mobile devices are cation around the globe, especially group size. Create several groups Our Methodist roots are in more vile” as Wesley did, and take becoming the primary method to for youth and young adults. You to make communication manage- the field – literally. In 1739 John the message to them. Wherever connect, communicate and relate can use tools like www.Txt Signal. able. GroupMe and other online Wesley found that very few people they are. Ourselves. Laity and to one another. Mobile provides com, www.Tatango.com or www. tools can help your team coordi- were in the church building, so clergy alike. real-time connectivity, 24/7, in the ChurchTextingManager.com to nate events or improve collabora- he began to preach outside – in What is your congregation’s palm of a hand. send mass text messages to adver- tion. a field near Bristol, England. The mission “field”? Where is God Mobile usage is growing. Every tise events, send reminders and Test … learn … rinse … result? About three thousand calling you to “go” with the mes- region of the world is experienc- request prayers. repeat. people heard the Gospel message sage of Jesus Christ? Where are ing very rapid spread of mobile Connect via QR (Quick Mobile marketing is not a of grace that day! And after that the people that you can reach? usage. Smartphone penetration Response) Codes. QR codes are cure-all for your church, but first submission to go against tra- That’s your “field”? Some of the is growing exponentially world- two-dimensional matrix barcodes it can help you connect with dition and “be more vile,” as he tools we use in HCI consulta- wide. Cisco Systems Inc. forecasts that can be scanned or read with your community. Try differ- wrote, Wesley’s greatest preach- tions, such as MissionInsight, can that global mobile data traffic will your iPhone, Android or other ent approaches and see what ing impact was outside where the provide surprising demographic grow 26 times over the next five camera-enabled smartphone. The works. Start small by using mobile people were. information about who is there. years. Mobile is here to stay. codes can link to digital content marketing techniques around a In America, the Methodist And as you venture into that field, Are you ready to place your on the web or activate phone single event like your children’s movement grew largely because you discover that God is there church within an arm’s reach? functions, such as e-mail, instant Christmas program. Create a leaders also went where the already with those people, simply In the Great Commission, Jesus messaging and Short Message micro-site using Wordpress and people were. They didn’t stay in needing you to help a little in pro- calls us to reach out to all nations Service (SMS). You need to gen- then use WPTouchPro to make it the church building waiting for ducing abundant fruit. — even when it means trekking erate a QR code (using a QR mobile. Next, create an app that folks to come. They went out- The concept of an expanded into unfamiliar territory. We need code generator like www.qrcode. includes videos, songs the chil- side, meeting in homes or public “field”, including younger people to reach people wherever they Kaywa.com) and decide where dren will sing and pictures from meeting houses, going west as the and more diverse people, is vitally are. A mobile strategy can help to connect it. It could link to a the event. Include QR codes on nation grew. important if we are to be part of a connect people to your church. special-events page to promote all posters, invitations and signage Jesus’ Great Commission, and renewed Methodist movement – Make your website a church outreach event or to a for the event. thus our mission, is to “Go” with God’s “new thing”. May God bless mobile. More than 40 percent of YouTube video. Use it to offer Take the time to test and his authority and presence, and and guide you as you go out into users access the Internet through directions to your church, “Like” refine your approach. This is your “make disciples of all nations” your field in the name of Jesus. their phones. We need to create your Facebook page (www.likify. opportunity to bring your church (Matt. 28:19). He didn’t say to Thanks again for your leader- our websites in a format acces- net) or even send a text message within an arm’s reach of your wait for them to come but to go ship! sible by smartphones and other to your church SMS account. Put community. out – into the streets, the restau- mobile devices. If Wordpress a QR code on marketing mate- rants, the workplaces, the lake- Brian Hammons, powers your website, try www. rials, church signage, vacation Eric Seiberling is the church shore, even the field. Wherever Mo. Conference Lay Leader BuddyPress.org, WPTouch Pro or Bible school registration forms or strategy and marketing blogger at WordPress Mobile Edition. Look wherever you want people to find www.flockology.com at Mashable’s article for other more information or to act. The tools to create a mobile website individual can use a QR Code

Vision: Growing, fruitful, THE MISSOURI CONFERENCE REVIEW vibrant congregations Robert Schnase Toll Free: (877) 736-1806 changing lives through Bishop, Missouri Area Columbia: (573) 441-1770 Sherry Habben Fax: (573) 441-1780 Jesus Christ. Director of Connectional Ministries Subscription rate is $15 per year. Make checks Contact information payable to the Missouri Conference. 3601 Amron Court Fred Koenig, Editor Columbia, Missouri 65202 Lorraine Sanders, Circulation E-mail for news submission: Circulation e-mail: [email protected] www.moumethodist.org fk [email protected] Next Deadline: Nov. 11 Next Issue: Nov. 25 4A Missouri Conference News November 11, 2011

A young woman collects bread for her family in this UMNS file photo from Turkey, taken in 2000 following an earth- quake in 1999. UMCOR to aid Turkey On October 24 eastern Turkey hit and that there are dozens of experienced a 7.2 magnitude small villages in this earthquake- Study tour to India earthquake. To date 535 people prone region that were devastated have been found deceased and in the disaster. more than 2,000 people were According to those reports, at planned for fall of 2012 injured as a result. Search and least 55 buildings in Ercis were rescue efforts continue while completely flattened in the quake. Max Marble will lead a mis- which is located in an urban area projected dates call for a depar- UMCOR partners with other “Entire villages have [had] sion study tour to the Ludhiana in Northwest India. There will ture from St. Louis on September agencies to provide relief. huge losses of human life,” as well Christian Medical College and also be the opportunity to go with 19 returning on October 1. The The United Methodist as agriculture and livestock losses, Hospital, in India, next Fall. The nursing students on their village cost of the study tour will depend Committee on Relief (UMCOR) an IBC report indicated. group will spend most of the home visits. In country the group upon airfares at the time but will is in conversation with partner Rescue efforts continued today time with students, faculty and will travel by train and will see be around $2,600. International Blue Crescent (IBC) amid the logistical challenges staff of the college and hospital sights in Delhi and Agra. The and is seeking to help meet some posed by heavily damaged roads of these and other needs, such and the expected onset of heavy as blankets, plastic sheets, and rain and even snow in coming Habitat House continued from page 1A hygiene kits for survivors. days. Sunday night, temperatures “As we received news of the hovered around freezing. More devastating earthquake in Turkey, than 200 aftershocks kept survi- Many commercial structures the UMCOR staff went to work vors huddled outdoors. in Joplin have been rebuilt and connecting with partners in the While the emergency response some homes have been repaired, region,” said UMCOR head, the continues, there also will be a but large parts of the town are Rev. Cynthia Fierro Harvey. “Our need for recovery and recon- now bare, vacant lots. There is prayers are with the people of struction in the devastated area, a tremendous housing shortage, Turkey at this difficult time.” as homes, health centers, and and many people have relocated. According to IBC, the area schools have experienced severe The city government is finding it affected by the earthquake is damages. Survivors traumatized challenging to keep up with the populated principally by Kurdish in the event will require psycho- demand for building permits and communities and is among the social support. the inspections and paperwork poorest areas of Turkey. Your support for International that goes along with new con- The epicenter was in the town Disaster Response, UMCOR struction. of Ercis, about 19 miles from the Advance #982450, is urgently Habitat for Humanity is in city of Van, capital of the province needed to meet both immediate high-gear throughout the process. of the same name. News reports and long-term needs. Please give In a typical year the organizations indicated that Ercis was hardest generously. will build two to three homes in Lorri Hensley is shown here at her new home with her family. the Joplin area. At this time it has Conference communications 15 homes scheduled to be built. build ten new homes. Although Community UMC did recently receives awards Volunteers from Tulsa, Oklahoma the house Christ Community host a meet and greet for the are working on a “10 For Joplin” is working on is not part of the future homeowners, volunteers The Digital Edition of the ing it easy to read online. It can blitz build, which will rapidly “10 For Joplin” project, Christ and sponsors of “10 for Joplin”. Missouri Conference Review be read at www.moumethodist. received the Award of Excellence org/Review. for digital publications from the Net News also received the United Methodist Association Award of Excellence in the elec- of Communicators on October tronic newsletter category, with 20 at the annual meeting in New judges noting that it is a very www.moumethodist.org Mexico. The judges commented timely, concise news delivery pub- that it is excellent example of a lication. Subscribe to both news digital version of a print publica- sources at www.moumethodist. tion with enhanced features mak- org/stayconnected. November 11, 2011 Mozambique Initative News 5A Born in Africa: Relationship not deterred by distance

By Casey Andrews in the heart of the Maratane 2 hours while our team paraded Family was not something I United Nations refugee camp. out of the camp at dusk, singing thought too much about growing The camp is full of refugees from praises to God, waiting for our up. Leaving for college taught me the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, van to pick us up from our last to really appreciate what a bless- Somalia, Ethiopia, and others. day at the camp. Sarah was 3 years ing family is; an “adopted sister” Worshipping in their sanctuary old at the time, and although we taught me that blood is not what is like what I imagine Pentecost had a significant language barrier creates family ties; and a relation- felt like. The covenant partner- between us, we communicated ship between the Cassville and ship has enabled so many mission through smiles and laughter per- Maratane UMCs taught me that opportunities. Bibles have been fectly. I don’t know how the dis- family bonds can cross oceans and purchased in multiple languages. ciples spoke in other languages on cultural differences. A chicken project was started to Pentecost, but as I held those little I have had the privilege of help the church be self-sufficient. hands in mine and she twirled watching the relationship between A motorbike was donated to the around, I realized that you don’t Cassville, Missouri and Maratane, pastor, and now the pastor trav- need words to share the Gospel. Mozambique flourish over the els many kilometers out of the On October 9, 2011, our past decade. The journey began refugee camp to witness to area church received word about two when I was a 7th grader on the villages. Medicine was delivered new joys: the Maratane church, administrative board of the All to alleviate a cholera outbreak. through donations made possible Faith UMC in Eagle Rock, and And currently, a well project is by our partnership, was able to Before (above) and after (below) pictures of Maratane UMC. I heard the adults talking about underway. purchase another set of bibles for their covenant partnership with While all of these mission suc- area villages; and Pastor Fataki’s a church in Mozambique. When cesses bring absolute joy to my wife Julienne gave birth to their my mother and I transferred to heart, it is the relationships with eigth child, a baby girl. They Cassville, I started asking why my friends in Maratane that bring named this child Joan Andrews Cassville didn’t have a covenant me the greatest sense of purpose. Fataki, after my mother. She has partner. God got busy. Once you go, the spirit of Africa been the heartbeat of this mission, Since the signing of the cov- gets in your blood, and you can’t and I have learned so much about enant letter, Cassville has visited wait to go back! It’s like you leave extravagant generosity from her. Maratane a little piece The people of Maratane call her twice and of your heart Mother, and I could not be more we have there, and you proud to be her daughter. In the witnessed are never the words of Pastor Fataki, my mother the Holy same. “has been born in Africa.” Spirit One of For any churches considering spread like my fondest beginning a covenant relationship wildfire memories is with a Mozambican partner—do across the with Pastor it. It will change your life. It will Nampula Fataki’s little bring you joy beyond compre- district girl Sarah—she hension. It will bring pleasure because held my hand and delight to our God. And you of a little and danced will relearn the very definition of church with me for “family.” Joan Andrews Fataki

Bibles written in the local language are distributed.

A member gets baptized in the river. 6A Missouri Conference News November 11, 2011

Southwest District continued from page 1A

Each step along the way has was built in 2002. One change required through the Board of been supported by volunteers. In is that the new office has a safe Ordained ministry. But currently one of the final phases, volunteers room, with concrete walls and the room is being used as office from Cornerstone UMC went ceiling and no windows. In addi- space for Jamie Piper, the Missouri through church files and cleaned tion to providing staff with a place Conference Office of Creative out pieces of debris that had found to evacuate to in the event of a Ministries volunteer coordinator their way inside the file cabinet. disaster, the room also provides for Joplin. “I appreciate all of the volun- secure storage for essential files. The office includes a larger teers that have been coming to “We were very fortunate that conference room in the back, Joplin, helping here, at churches the roof didn’t come off and we where the district will be able to and in communities. It’s been didn’t lose our files during the tor- hold clergy gatherings. overwhelming,” Nenadal said. “It’s nado,” Nenadal said. St. James UMC, the church that been remarkable to be sitting here There is also an additional shares a parking lot with the dis- in the middle of things and be small conference room outside trict office, is in the planning stage a witness to the things God has of Nenadal’s office. To accom- of rebuilding. The church’s struc- been doing in Joplin.” modate this Nenadal’s office was ture was completely destroyed by The new office is 2,180 square made smaller. The small confer- the tornado. This is one of the new office spaces in the Southwest District office. feet, about 600 square feet bigger ence room will be available for than the previous office, which small meetings, such as those

Weight loss continued from page 1A health problems, including diabe- “I have struggled with my the right thing for him. Moore was off work for a couple is now owned by Goodwill, save tes and chronic pain. He had tried weight my whole life, and tried “Once I got to know the doc- of weeks, then on light duty for my shoes, and they don’t really fit various approaches to weight loss, everything in the book multiple tors and the clinic, the decision another week or so. For several right anymore,” Moore said. “It’s and might lose up to 50 pounds times,” Vessell said. “I had the was easy,” he said. weeks he had trouble keeping food not just that you have to get new through Weight Watchers, but he surgery because I wanted to be a The decision may have been down, but that eventually faded. clothes when it’s over, you need to wasn’t able to maintain weight healthy pastor, be a good example easy, but the process wasn’t. Two During his recovery he also had get them at every step along the loss. And things seem to be get- to my congregation, and do the weeks prior to the surgery Moore to have his gallbladder removed, way. My waist was 46 inches, now ting worse. things that a healthy person can was put on a clear liquid diet, tak- a complication that occasionally it’s 34 inches, there were a lot of “My weight-related health do.” ing only dietary supplements and occurs following a bariatric sur- sizes between those two. Some of problems made it very difficult Vessell didn’t announce what vitamins. gery. my new clothes didn’t fit for very to be active, which would in turn he was doing to the congregation “I know they said it was neces- Through his recovery, the long.” make me gain more weight,” before the surgery, but when he sary to get the body ready for sur- household focused on healthy When Moore goes out to lunch, Moore said. started losing weight afterwards he gery, but I think it was also part of eating, and Molly met her goal of a little more than half of his order Moore didn’t see things chang- started explaining to people why it the process of making sure people losing 35 pounds though a Weight goes into a to-go box. He’s still a ing unless something radical hap- was occurring. are taking the procedure seriously, Watchers program. little under eating a typical, bal- pened, and didn’t like the prospect “A lot of people were asking me and are ready for what’s to come,” Moore now takes no prescrip- anced diet, but is close to where he of continuing to try to manage his about it, and I was honest about Moore said. tion drugs, including what he needs to be. He has more energy, life being overweight to the degree what I had done and just let God The clear-liquid fast made used to have to take for diabetes. and is able to be more active with that he was. As a pastor, he had use it. It became another ministry Moore forgetful, he had difficulty He eats healthy, and is advised to his two young daughters. And seen the end result of that. for me,” he said. concentrating, and he said he was take in 80 grams of protein a day both parents are doing what they “Of all the funerals for families As Moore moved toward mak- cranky. But he made it through because he can no longer absorb it can to help their daughters be in my ministry career, I'd never ing a decision, he made it clear to it. Moore’s surgery was February as well, and to eat plenty of green healthy. officiated a funeral for a person his wife Molly that she had veto 1, the day the big blizzard hit vegetables. He is currently at 185 “We talk to them about mak- who had lived the length of life I power. He would consider the Columbia, shutting the city down. pounds. ing healthy choices, and eat- hope to live who was the size per- options and the risks and proceed But Moore’s surgeon was at the Like any surgical procedure, ing in moderation,” Molly said. son I was,” he said. “I realized my carefully, and she could put the hospital, and things proceeded as there are risks involved. And not “Hopefully we will be able to teach physical self had become a barrier brakes on at any time. scheduled. Despite being snow- every bariatric surgery is success- them healthy habits, and they will to my living out my calling as hus- “Molly has been a rock for me, bound in the hospital, there were ful. Moore knows people who be healthier than we were.” band, daddy, and pastor.” and has been extremely support- no complications. have had a surgery for weight Now ten months down the Recent weight-related illnesses ive of whatever my decision was During the procedure a bar- loss, and ended up gaining back road from the surgery, Eric is brought Moore to point of decid- throughout the process. iatric surgeon removed about 85 the weight. Even though Moore’s very happy with the life-changing ing to address his weight through The more that he learned about percent of Moore’s stomach so stomach is smaller, he could still result. a very direct method: having a the process, the more confident that it takes the shape of a tube or regain weight. Overeating can “For me, this surgery was trans- surgical procedure that would he grew that it was the right thing sleeve. This limits how much food stretch a stomach out, decreasing formative of not just my body, limit the amount of food he could for him. can be consumed, and causes the the effectiveness of the surgery. but of my purpose on Earth,” he eat. As he started considering Molly is an associate pastor person with the procedure to feel Eating a small amount of junk said. “It's easy for pastors to put this seriously, he met with Rev. with Vessell at Missouri UMC, so full after a very small quantity of food throughout the day could care of family and care of self at Keith Vessell, associate pastor of she had observed him daily after food. add up to calories that put extra the bottom of the priority list. I'm Missouri UMC, who had recently his procedure, and knew that he A certain aspect of a pastor’s weight back on. so thankful that God helped me to had a gastric bypass surgery. had a positive experience. And she life is public, and Moore said he “My diet is still a constant con- discover that all of my life would be “I took him out to lunch trusted Eric’s judgement. felt like I needed to talk about the cern,” he said. blessed for my taking this journey.” because I wanted to hear what he “When Eric brings something procedure with his congregation. And as with any weight loss, had so say about the surgery, but I up, I know that he has already Most were aware of weight-related Moore has needed new clothes. Moore has been blogging about also wanted to see him eat,” Moore thought things through very well health problems he had been But because the loss has been so his experience since deciding to said. and has considered all of the experiencing, and they knew what dramatic, he’s needed new clothes have the surgery. You can read his Vessell lost more than 100 implications,” she said. he was doing during the time that more than once. blog at www.mooreminorityleader. pounds from his peak weight. Eric was confident that it was he had to miss work. Post surgery “Everything that I once owned blogspot.com. November 11, 2011 Opportunities 7A Conference Calendar Date Event Location Phone/E-Mail Contact Job 11/11/2011 UMW Mission Team & District Officer Training Fairview UMC [email protected] Mabel Unser Postings 11/14/2011 Large & Mid-size Church Pastor Gathering Lake Ozark 573-441-1770 Bob Farr Office Administrator - UM Foundation, Columbia 11/18/2011 Senior High Confirmation Retreat First UMC Jeff City 573-291-9122 Bev Boehmer The Missouri United 11/19/2011 ERT Training St. Pauls UMC Joplin [email protected] Audrey Phelps Methodist Foundation is the statewide charitable founda- 12/3/2011 VIM Team Leader Training Conference Center [email protected] Audrey Phelps tion for the churches and related organizations and agencies of 12/3/2011 Mid-State Lay Speaking Course Community UMC [email protected] Mike Sykuta the United Methodist Church in Missouri. The Foundation seeks 12/5/2011 Call Connector First UMC Kirksville [email protected] Karen Hayden a full-time Office Administrator. This position requires an 1/3/2012 College Age Mission Trip - Rebuild Joplin Joplin, MO 573-291-9122 Bev Boehmer accomplished ability to use the Microsoft Office suite of pro- 1/21/2012 WOW Springfield Expo Center(573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer grams, especially use of Excel, Word and Publisher. To apply, 1/21/2012 Call Connector Huffman UMC [email protected] Karen Hayden send a letter of interest, resumé, and three references (names, rela- tionship and contact information) 2/4/2012 Mission, Service & Justice Ministry Teams Conference Center (573) 474-7155 Max Marble to: Missouri United Methodist 2/8/2012 Call Connector First UMC St. Charles [email protected] Karen Hayden Foundation, Attn: David P. Atkins, Executive Director, PO 2/9/2012 Call Connector Living Word [email protected] Karen Hayden Box 1076, Columbia MO 65205- 1076. Applications will be accept- ed until the position is filled. Visit 2/11/2012 CLM - Five Practices of Vital Congregations Conference Center [email protected] Karen Hayden the Foundation website at www. mumf.org 2/19/2012 Call Connector TBD [email protected] Karen Hayden Preschool Dir. - Hilltop Clinton UMC or St. Preschool, Liberty 2/24/2012 Graduating Seniors Retreat Stephen Troy (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer Hilltop Preschool & PDO 2/25/2012 Call Connector La Croix [email protected] Karen Hayden is seeking a part time director. 3/2/2012 Confirmation Days St. Louis, MO (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer Education degree a must (early childhood emphasis preferred). 3/5/2012 Call Connector St. James UMC [email protected] Karen Hayden 25 hours/week, 10 months/year. Salary range $15,000-18,000. 3/10/2012 CLM - United Methodism Polity & Doctrine Conference Center [email protected] Karen Hayden Resumes accepted through First UMC - Blue November 15, 2011. Please send 3/31/2012 Heartland Districts Lenten Breakfast Springs [email protected] Bill Mooney to LUMC Building Administrator, 1001 Sunset Ave, Liberty, MO 64068 or e-mail to lumcmo@lum- 4/13/2012 Confirmation Retreat - Wilderness Camp Wilderness Camp (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer cmo.org

4/20/2012 Confirmation Retreat at Camp Jo-Ota Camp Jo-Ota (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer Dir. of Contemporary CLM - Congregational Revitalization & Music - Gashland 4/21/2012 Excellence in Leadership Conference Center [email protected] Karen Hayden UMC

4/27/2012 Confirmation Retreat - Blue Mountain Blue Mountain (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer The Director of Contemporary Music coordinates and supports 5/8/2012 CMU Leadership Institute Central Methodist [email protected] Michael Pope the music for the contemporary worship service and leads the 5/28/2012 Adult Mission Trip - Joplin Joplin, MO (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer congregation and praise team during the service. The Director 6/8/2012 Annual Conference Springfield Expo Center(573) 441-1770 Sherry Habben will recruit praise team mem- bers to engage in musical wor- 6/12/2012 Mission Trip - St. Louis St. Louis, MO (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer ship expression through vocal and instrumental expression 6/17/2012 Mission Trip - Colorado Colorado (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer and small singing groups. This is a part-time, salaried position. 6/22/2012 Explore Leadership Camp Central Methodist (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer Hours are expected to be 8-10 per week. Salary will be negotiated 6/25/2012 Mission Trip - Cherokee Nation Oklahoma (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer based on experience. To apply please send resume to secretary@ 7/1/2012 Mission Trip - Arlington, TX Arlington, TX (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer gashlandumc.org, or to 7715 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 7/8/2012 Mission Trip - Joplin Joplin, MO (573) 291-9122 Bev Boehmer 64118. 8A Office of Creative Ministries News November 11, 2011

FOS, Restorative Justice partner with incarcerated neighbors With over 30,000 prisoners, thousands of years to resolve con- donating produce to the local Missouri has the eighth highest flicts and respond to harm in their food pantries and food bank were imprisonment rate in the coun- communities. It is supported by all in the local papers, as well as St. try. The source of the problem is major denominations. Restorative Joseph and other communities. the high number of non-violent justice helps to bring together vic- Sewing projects are additional offenders who are incarcerated tims, offenders and the commu- illustrations of congregations in Missouri. About half of the nity to help repair the harm and and offenders reaching out as population in Missouri prisons are restore broken relationships. neighbors to help the poor and non- violent offenders. These are Restorative justice is a set of hungry. Community Christian our neighbors. principles which lead to a focus church in Jefferson City pro- 29 “The most important one,” on healing the harm to the vic- vided fabric and thread so that answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O tim; it helps the offender to take offenders could make school Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord responsibility and be accountable, bags for Church World Service is one. 30 Love the Lord your God and as a result it strengthens the school kits. Partnering together with all your heart and with all community as a whole. they made 66 school bags this your soul and with all your mind Increased relationships have year. and with all your strength.’ 31 The been developing through the The women in the Chillicothe second is this: ‘Love your neighbor donations to and from the Festival Correctional Center worked as yourself.’ There is no command- of Sharing. together to sew and stitch a quilt ment greater than these.” (Mark One of the instances is the that was donated to the Festival 12:29-31, NIV) gardens seeds donated to a few Quilt Auction. The quilt brought This garden is part of a restorative justice project. The restorative justice coali- correctional centers in the state $260 that will provide blankets, tion in Missouri helps us as in the last few years, as part of a tools and resources for refugees and strengthened through the Contact Rev. Harold M. Johnson, people of faith to follow God’s restorative justice project. News or persons in a developing coun- material gifts collected at the Coordinator: Restorative Justice call. Restorative justice has been stories of offenders in Jefferson try to establish their new lives. Festival of Sharing. The women MO Conference of the United used by indigenous peoples for City tending their gardens and Relationships are being repaired offenders have been recipients of Methodist Church, hmjohnso@ the Women’s prison packs and are sbcglobal.net or home office now giving back to others. 816.537.5696. Sewing projects such as these You can also help by donat- are an integral part of a “restor- ing items for the women’ prison ative justice” which enables the packs. An additional 700 packs offender and the community to are needed before we can send cooperate together to discover the packs to the Chillicothe cor- ways of “healing the harm” and rectional center this year. In 2012 gives these offenders a chance we will need to prepare 1500 for to demonstrate to the com- the Vandalia correctional center. munity their desire to “give A list of the Women’s prison Pack back” and make “amends” for contents can be found on line the harm they inflicted. More at www.umocm.com/festival/ information about restorative kits.html. You can contact Terri justice can be found on this web- Williams at [email protected] site http://www.morjc.org/ or or 573-474-3332. This quilt was made by women incarcerated at the Chillicothe Correctional Center.

Volunteers provide needed services By Jeff Baker then return to Missouri after ing, they found their lot cleared The Missouri United Christmas, if they are still needed. and raked smooth. It was truly Methodist Annual Conference They are currently working an answer to their prayers. At an would like to thank Tim and with the Joplin Disaster Relief average cost of $3000-$5000 per Ellie Brubaker. Tim and Ellie, of Coordinator, Jamie Piper, to help lot to remove the concrete, many Michigan, have come to Joplin to with volunteer teams. Tim has homeowners have struggled to help with tornado clean up. become a master at keeping the find resources to make this hap- In a previous life, Tim and skid loaders operating as we con- pen. If the deadline is not met, Ellie were both professors. Ellie tinue to help land owners remove homeowners will be assessed is a licensed social worker in concrete foundations from their the cost of removing the debris Michigan and taught social work property before the December 31 through contractors hired by the for a number of years. Since retir- deadline. city of Joplin. ing, they spend time helping sur- So far, we have been able to Without the help of volunteers vivors impacted by storms. They remove concrete debris from like Tim and Ellie and the many bring with their experiences from nearly 100 lots around Joplin. volunteers from around the state helping after Hurricane Katrina, One home owner had left town and country, the work in Joplin the tornado in Greensburg, for a couple of days. When they would not get done. Kansas, and other storms along returned they told Tim they had Thanks to everyone for your the Gulf Coast. prayed about what they were continued monetary support as Tim and Ellie plan to be going to do with the foundation well as your prayers for this con- Tim and Ellie Brubaker are shown here with Jamie Piper, with us until Thanksgiving and on their property. Upon return- tinued effort. volunteer coordinator in Joplin. umportal org

‘Ac t o f re p e nt a n c e’ Vision for Christ Restructuring Section B Owning up to history Fledgling university Proposed changes is not just symbolic | 3B carries on in Congo | 4B are ‘bad medicine’ | 6B November 11, 2011 Church goes all out to help unemployed

B Y K ATHY G ILBERT United Methodist News Service ROSWELL, Ga.—“I have $800 left. No house, I’m living with a friend. I’m lost. I’m scared.” “I have been without a job for a year. I never thought it would happen to me.” “I’m technically homeless. I travel back and forth from my sister’s place and my parents.’” Clay Redmon, 43; Lisa L. Lampkin, 53; and David Hampe, 25, came to Roswell United Methodist Church on a rainy Monday afternoon because they need help: They need a job. Every second and fourth Monday, the doors at 7,000-member Roswell UMC are wide open for job seekers. Dinner, understanding, encourage- ment and networking are all served free. “With dinner, we think we set something in motion that says we care. There’s white tablecloths. There’s UMNS PHOTO BY KATHLEEN BARRY real silverware. And it all starts with Emeral Duncan, who recently lost his job as a software programmer, wipes away a tear after the dinner blessing at RUMC Job Networking, that handshake when you first walk in Roswell (Ga.) United Methodist Church’s career ministry.  See ‘Careers’ page 8B Council of Bishops pushes hard for major change new direction.” church’s long struggle over homosexu- B Y S AM HODGES Managing Editor The bishops also elected officers, ality. choosing Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of Since summer, more than 1,000 LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C.—The Germany—who had been president UM pastors have pledged to disobey United Methodist Church Council of designate—as president. She’ll begin church law and officiate at same-sex Bishops has strongly backed a reform her two-year term during the 2012 unions. Thousands of other UM clergy agenda aimed at reinvigorating the General Conference, set for April 24- and laity have countered by signing denomination and reversing declines May 4 in Tampa. petitions demanding bishops enforce in membership, attendance and giv- Bishop Warner Brown Jr., of the the Book of Discipline against that ing. California-Nevada Conference, was group. Meeting here Oct. 30-Nov. 4, the chosen president designate. Bishop Goodpaster noted on bishops voted overwhelmingly to en- After the election, Bishop Wenner Wednesday, Nov. 2, that a “unity team” dorse a range of changes, including re- invoked Psalms 5:8 (“O Lord . . . make had reported to bishops in executive organizing and streamlining general your way straight before me”). session here, but wouldn’t say whether agencies, redirecting $60 million in “Thank you very much for trusting the discussion was over clergy and church funds to help boost the num- me that I am the person to lead all of same-sex unions. ber of vital congregations, and giving us, as we lead,” Bishop Wenner, 56, told Asked if the bishops would re- annual conferences more organiza- colleagues. “I am committed to bring spond publicly to the issue during this tional flexibility. my gifts to that task.” meeting, Bishop Goodpaster said, “By Of the vote, Bishop Larry Good- By mid-week (deadline for this Re- the end of the week, we’ll have some- UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE PHOTO BY RONNY PERRY paster, council president, said, “It was porter) the bishops had not had public thing.” Bishop Larry Goodpaster preaches the sermon at the opening of a sign that we’re ready to head off in a debate on the latest chapter in the  See ‘Bishops’ page 2B Council of Bishops meeting in Lake Junaluska, N.C. 2B FAITH focus FAITH WATCH  BISHOPS Continued from page 1B Bishops were reminded during a various reforms. Pastor helps Dems video presentation this week of the “We see a new church,” the letter with voter outreach UMC’s downward spiral in the United says. “It is a church that is clear about The Democratic National States, having gone from 10.7 million its mission and confident about its fu- Committee has named the members in 1968 to 7.7 million in ture. . . .” Rev. Derrick Harkins, senior 2009. Worship attendance dropped 20 Specifically, the bishops called for pastor of Nineteenth Street percent in that time, while average age giving annual conferences freedom to Baptist Church in Washing- of membership climbed to 57. organize for “greater fruitfulness,” and ton, D.C., to lead the Demo- reallocating up to $60 million in cratic Party’s religious Stark realities church funds for the vital congrega- outreach effort. President The denomination is not only tions effort. Obama, who will lead the smaller but less racially diverse, de- In a straw vote, bishops made clear Democratic ticket in 2012, spite population growth and increas- that they want $50 million of that to worshipped at the church ing diversity in the United States. come under the control of annual con- just before his inauguration. In recent years, bishops have ferences rather than general agencies. pushed for change, helping to initiate “The annual conference is in a bet- Faith leaders press the Call to Action effort that led to two ter position to implement these adap- ‘Voice’ on website UMNS PHOTO BY RONNY PERRY major outside studies of the church, tive challenges,” said Kentucky Bishop Charles W. Jordan (left) and Bishop Elias G. Galvan have a Christian, Muslim, Jewish including one that found only 15 per- Conference Bishop Lindsey Davis, and Buddhist leaders signed discussion at the Council of Bishops meeting. cent of UMC congregations in North using the term that has come to sum- an ad in the New York Times, America are “highly vital” by various marize the need to redirect resources Already, racial/ethnic caucuses One dissenter was Bishop Elaine asking that Village Voice measures. and the Methodist Federation for So- Stanovsky of the Denver Episcopal Media drop the adult section to boosting the number of vital con- of BackPage.com, claiming Key responsibility for enacting gregations. cial Action have expressed concern Area. Earlier, she failed to get the bish- the section abets child sex change rests with General Conference. The bishops also backed creating a that restructuring agencies under one ops to take straw votes on various trafficking. Religion News That quadrennial gathering of roughly Center for Connectional Mission and board will concentrate power and proposals within the letter. Service reported that the ad 1,000 clergy and lay delegates ap- Ministry under one 15-member board could minimize minority input. She said she was concerned about ran Oct. 25 in the Times, proves the UMC budget (projected to that would combine functions of the During the meeting bishops had “not being able to give that nuanced and that it lists 14 states in be cut by 6 percent in 2012) and has Connectional Table and nine general considerable discussion about reform, response” but agrees reform is crucial. which news media have re- overall governance. Bishops preside at agencies. and even went through an exercise of “The status quo is not working ported arrests of adults for General Conference but don’t vote. And the bishops reiterated that anonymously writing their hopes, and we really need to change it,” she selling minors for sex Early in their meeting, the bishops they want as their council president a fears and questions about key propos- said. “I will not go home and speak through BackPage.com. A overwhelmingly approved a letter ti- “set aside” bishop who wouldn’t have a als on “post-its” that were placed on against this [letter] in my conference. spokesman for the site said tled “For the Sake of a New World, We conference to oversee, instead devot- posters around the conference room. I’ll represent it positively.” safety measures have been See a New Church: A Call to Action,” ing full time to implementation of re- Ultimately, they overwhelmingly voted introduced. and it asks General Conference for forms and other church-wide work. for approving the letter. [email protected] Muslim group wants Patriot Act revisions Muslim Advocates, a civil Retired Bishop Duecker dies at age 85 rights group, has released a “He was a good preacher, adminis- sity and was honorary chair of the cles and of one book, Tensions in the 56-page report recommend- B Y K ATHY G ILBERT trator and a tremendous friend,” Mr. conference’s camping ministry. A resi- Connection (Abingdon, 1983). ing legal and policy changes United Methodist News Service to enforcement of the Patriot Eaton said. “He knew he was dying, dence hall at United Methodist-affili- Duecker was named a “Sagamore Act, Religion News Service Retired United Methodist Bishop and the last time I saw him he said, ‘I ated Africa University in Mutare, of the Wabash” by Indiana Gov. Robert reported. The report’s re- Robert Sheldon Duecker died Oct. 28 don’t mind dying, but I dread the Zimbabwe, was dedicated in his Orr in September 1988. The award lease was timed to the 10th in Fort Wayne, Ind., after a long battle process.’” honor. recognizes Indiana anniversary of the anti-ter- with cancer. He was 85. Bishop Michael Coyner, who leads “I visited him a number of times citizens who have rorism law. The FBI is ac- The Rev. Roy A. Eaton of Fort the denomination’s Indiana Confer- and recently in hospice,” Bishop made outstanding cused in the report of Wayne said he and Duecker became ence, said Duecker had an “even more Coyner said. “He was ready to go, and contributions to the religious profiling. good friends after the bishop retired. amazing ministry after his retire- we are grateful he had a peaceful pass- state. “From 1995 to today we spent every ment.” ing.” He and Marjorie Atheists’ billboard week together. There was a group of us Bishop Coyner said Duecker The UMC’s North Central Jurisdic- Louise Clouse were misquotes Jefferson who had lunch every Friday,” Mr. served as interim pastor, headed a tion elected Duecker a bishop in 1988 married in 1948 and An atheist group in Califor- Eaton said. drive to raise funds for Africa Univer- and assigned him to the Chicago Area. celebrated their 63rd Bishop nia is getting some heat for Duecker was ordained an elder in wedding anniversary Duecker a billboard that quotes THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER (USPS954-500) is published the former North Indiana Conference this year. Other sur- Thomas Jefferson as highly weekly by UMR Communications Inc., 1221 Profit Drive, Dallas, Texas by Bishop Richard C. Raines in 1953. vivors include a 75247-3919. Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, Texas and additional critical of Christianity. Jeffer- He served as an associate pastor of daughter, Cristine Holman of Fort son experts say there’s no mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER. PO Box 660275, Dallas Texas 75266-0275. Kokomo Grace and as pastor at Dyer, Wayne; and three brothers: Heyman evidence that he said “I do THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER has provided Muncie-Gethsemane, Hartford City, of Marion, Ind.; Ronald of Wooster, not find in Christianity one www.umportal.org denominational news coverage since its beginning as the Texas Methodist newspaper in 1847. The Reporter has no official ties to the Warsaw-First, Fort Wayne-Simpson Ohio; and Dennis of Medina, Ohio; redeeming feature. It is [email protected] United Methodist General Conference or to any of the denomination’s and Muncie-High Street United three grandchildren, Carrie Haney of founded on fables and general boards or agencies. This newspaper aims to provide readers mythology.” The sign in with a broad spectrum of information and viewpoints consistent with Methodist churches. He also served as Atlanta, Robert Haney of Morristown, the diversity of Christians. North Indiana Conference council di- N.J.; and Lori Haney of Fort Wayne; Costa Mesa, Calif., was paid Alan Heath, CEO All material published in this newspaper is copyrighted by UMR for by a group called Back- Communications Inc. unless otherwise noted. Reprint of material from rector from 1973 to 1977 and as Fort and a great-granddaughter, Jaden Sam Hodges, Managing Editor this newspaper must be authorized in advance by the Editor, and fees Wayne District superintendent from Housman of Fort Wayne. He was pre- yard Skeptics, and one are assessed in some cases. To request reprints, e-mail member acknowledged he Bill Fentum, Associate Editor [email protected], or fax a request to (214) 630-0079. Telephone 1977 to 1982. ceded in death by a son, the Rev. should have done more re- requests are not accepted. Duecker was an elected delegate to Philip Lee, in 2000, and by two broth- search before ordering it, the Mary Jacobs, Staff Writer Send Correspondence and Address Changes (in- four sessions of General Conference, ers, Sherrod and Victor. clude mailing label) To: P.O. Box 660275, Dallas, TX Orange County Register re- 75266-0275 Telephone: (214) 630-6495. Subscriptions are the denomination’s lawmaking body, A memorial service was held Nov. Cherrie Graham, Advertising Manager ported. $26 for 52 issues per year. Click on “subscriptions” at Please recycle. and to six sessions of the North Cen- 5 at First Wayne Street UMC in Fort www.umportal.org, e-mail [email protected] or send We do! a check to UMR Communications, Attn: Circulation, 1221 tral Jurisdictional Conference. Wayne, where he served as bishop-in- —Compiled by Sam Hodges Dale Bryant, Senior Designer Profit Dr., Dallas, TX 75247. He was the author of several arti- residence after his retirement.

N OVEMBER 11, 2011 | UNITED M ETHODIST R EPORTER FAITH focus 3B UM CONNECTIONS Church to focus on ‘healing relationships’ UM relief kits shipped commission’s top executive, agreed to flood-affected areas B Y G INNY U NDERWOOD United Methodist News Service that now is the time for the healing The United Methodist Com- process to begin. mittee on Relief (UMCOR) Is an official expression of repen- “The United Methodist Church is announced that its relief- tance by United Methodists for the being called to confession,” he said. supply network shipped church’s treatment of indigenous peo- “We need to own up to our part in his- nearly 238,000 relief kits ple a waste of time? tory and work toward a demonstrable worldwide during the That question was posed early on denominational contrition for our col- months of August and Sep- by retired Bishop Melvin G. Talbert as lective responsibility. It’s the only way tember. The total includes an advisory group began to plan for a to move forward.” those shipped to flood-rav- mandated act of “Healing Relation- aged communities in the ships with Indigenous Persons” at the Sand Creek connection U.S. Donations to Material Resource Ministry, UMCOR 2012 General Conference. Dr. Sidorak pointed to denomina- Advance #901440 support The denomination’s top legislative tional support of the Sand Creek Mas- this work. body of nearly 1,000 delegates from sacre National Site Research and around the world will meet April 24- Learning Center in Colorado as one Social action agency May 4 in Tampa, Fla. The Act of Re- example of how an Act of Repentance UMNS PHOTO BY GINNY UNDERWOOD awards new grants pentance presentation is scheduled for can move from words to action. “The Retired Bishop Melvin G. Talbert (left) helps plan for a mandated Directors of the United April 27. United Methodist Church has a shock- act of “Healing Relationships with Indigenous Persons” to be held Methodist General Board of During the earliest meetings of the ing connection to Sand Creek,” he during the 2012 General Conference. At right is the Rev. Anita Church & Society (GBCS) advisory council—organized by the said. Phillips, who leads the denomination’s Native American awarded more than United Methodist General Commis- On Nov. 29, 1864, Col. John Chiv- Comprehensive Plan. $291,000 in Ethnic Local sion on Christian Unity and Interreli- ington, a Methodist clergyman, led Church and Human Rela- gious Concerns (GCCUIC)—Bishop the attack on a Cheyenne and Arapaho “Trail of Repentance and Healing.” Bishop Talbert said he hopes that tions Day grants at the Talbert expressed concern that an Act encampment along the banks of Sand The resolution includes a request when General Conference concludes board’s fall meeting at Lake of Repentance might be an unproduc- Creek. At least 165 people were killed, for $325,000 to ensure credible the bishops of the church will be com- Junaluska, N.C., in October. tive use of time, based on his past ex- mostly women, children and the eld- churchwide follow-up. The United mitted to giving visible leadership to The grants support diverse periences. erly. Methodist Council of Bishops will be the Act of Repentance in their respec- ministries, including immi- “I participated in Acts of Repen- The United Methodist Church has asked to direct the implementation of tive areas. “I also hope the delegates grant justice work in Texas, tance in 2000 and 2004 dealing with committed $125,000 to the center, the resolution. will carry that commitment with criminal justice reform in African Americans and racism,” he which will be matched, resulting in One provision in the proposal asks them and begin the process of healing Florida and a youth ministry said. “I felt like the experience was just $250,000 in seed money. The donation that land and property be transferred in their own communities.” in the Philippines. a show. When the General Conferences will go toward research materials as to “an indigenous community,” as de- In preparation for the Act of Re- Civil discourse on race were over, the issue was put on the well as tools needed to set up “virtual” scribed in Paragraph 2547.2 of the de- pentance event in Tampa, the com- urged in 2012 election shelf and it was business as usual.” connections between the center and nomination’s Book of Discipline. The mission has held nearly two dozen Churches Uniting in Christ, However, as plans have progressed, other institutions, including United paragraph currently gives guidance to listening sessions with indigenous a partnership of 10 com- Bishop Talbert has concluded that Methodist-affiliated Iliff School of deeding church property to other de- people in the United States and two in munions including the such an event for indigenous peoples, Theology, tribal colleges in Oklahoma, nominations represented in the Com- regional conferences outside the United Methodist Church, is including Native Americans, should Montana and Wyoming and the exten- mission on Pan-Methodist United States. calling upon candidates and not be delayed. “I came to the realiza- sive archives, libraries and museums Cooperation and Union or to another To help prepare church members, elected officials “to commit tion that maybe this is the right time,” that house the Sand Creek Massacre evangelical denomination. the commission will publish com- to civil and honest discourse he said. “We can’t simply wait until we research materials. mentaries, stories and a study guide about race” during the 2012 are all ready. We could be waiting a With Bishop Talbert’s concern at ‘Tangible results’ in the months leading up to General election season. Meeting in long time. Our Native brothers and the forefront of the planning process, “The goal of the proposed resolu- Conference. Chicago on Oct. 11, the or- sisters deserve better.” the GCCUIC is taking a resolution to tion is to make sure the Act of Repen- ganization’s coordinating Ms. Underwood is a former staff The Rev. Stephen Sidorak, the the 2012 General Conference titled, tance will be followed with tangible member of United Methodist council also pledged to results,” Dr. Sidorak said. Communications. “recommit to the work of recognizing and sharing the ordained ministries of one another’s churches, espe- LETTERS cially acknowledging racism as one source of division.” Wanted: memories Grateful for two commentaries from Mount Sequoyah Thousands have come to Thank you S. Vance Goodman (Re- den (Reporter, Oct. 21, “UMC needs to Mount Sequoyah Retreat porter, Oct. 21, “A tired UM seminar- rethink evangelism”), for speaking a and Conference Center in ian writes letter to church) for telling much-needed truth about the need for Fayetteville, Ark., for Juris- your story! May we each continue the a new approach in how we as a church dictional meetings and other work for justice to bring about full in- look at, practice and carry out evan- gatherings. To celebrate its clusion and participation in the gelism. As a young adult, your words 90th anniversary, Mount Se- church, welcoming all of God’s chil- carry a message of hope and excite- quoyah is seeking testimoni- dren. May we remember that God ment! als from those whose lives stands next to those on the margins, Tricia Lindley have been changed while to those who suffer the abuses of Kress UMC visiting the center. Send your injustice—and that we are called to Kress, Texas story to: communica- participate with God in the transfor- [email protected], mation of this world into one marked The Reporter welcomes brief, civil or Mount Sequoyah, 150 letters. Send to [email protected] or Skyline Drive, Fayetteville, by justice through reconciliation and The United Methodist Reporter, AR 72701. ever-expanding love. 1221 Profit Drive, Dallas, TX, And thank you, the Rev. Ben Gos- 75247.

U NITED M ETHODIST R EPORTER | N OVEMBER 11, 2011 LONG-DISTANCE BOND

Second-year students fill a computer science class at Kamina Methodist University in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Information technology is one of the school’s most popular fields of study. Dallas church helps startup African university

of their “Vision for Christ” charge to be a catalyst escaped unscathed. cities where materials can be purchased, com- B Y JOAN G. LA BARR Special Contributor for outreach efforts that have the potential to In the midst of the brokenness, the United pounding the difficulty of all building efforts. grow and thrive with some significant seed Methodist Church continued to grow and reach When Methodist movement founder John funds. out. The church built an orphanage and devel- ‘Drum of Peace’ Wesley instructed his preachers to use all their oped numerous social programs. Then in 2006 Amid the successes, struggles continue. In the time in the work of God, he must have had some- Special friendship Kamina Methodist University was started with last academic year many of the students, espe- one like the Rev. “Guy” Mande Muyombo in The relationship between Highland Park and an enrollment of 144 students, only 15 of whom cially women, were unable to pay all their tuition mind. Mr. Muyombo is director of the startup Mr. Muyombo dates back to the days when he were female. The school began as a satellite of the and other fees. University leaders decided to let Kamina Methodist University in the North was studying for his first master’s degree at the Methodist University of Katanga, known as Mu- them write their exams in spite of this fact. Cur- Katanga area of the Democratic Republic of the Institute of Peace Leadership and Governance at lungwishi. rent needs include more scholarships, class- Congo and a doctoral candidate at Saint Paul Africa University. The multi-talented young man The university has now grown to more than rooms, chairs and desks, plus computers. Tuition School of Theology in Kansas City. was also serving as student director of the Africa 400 students, including 88 women, with schools and fees for one student are $400 annually. With master’s degrees from both United University Choir, which toured the Texas area of information management, theology, psychol- Mr. Muyombo is also still working to get Methodist-related Africa University in Zimbabwe prior to the 2008 General Conference in Fort ogy and education and more curriculum offer- funding for a comprehensive child soldier reinte- and Saint Paul, Mr. Muyombo’s charge is to build Worth. ings in the planning stages. Its mission statement gration program. He calls this program “Drum of his fledging university into a strong institution Highland Park UMC members Lisa and Mac is “learning in peace and stability for the trans- Peace.” He envisions two month-long sessions that will train emerging Congolese leaders in Tichenor were hosts for some of the choir mem- formation of the community.” annually, each one involving 100 former child their own land. He is especially intent on empow- bers, including Mr. Muyombo. As Mrs. Tichenor soldiers. ering and educating women, with his own wife, talked with him, they discovered a deep common Educating women During this time, the young people would be Blandine, a fellow graduate of Africa University, bond. Both were mourning beloved children. The Mr. Muyombo has special thanks for the Gen- hosted and fed at the university’s Kamisamba as a shining example. Identifying former child Tichenors’ 19-year-old son, Willie, had lost his eral Board of Global Ministries and the United Training Center. Total cost for one session is esti- soldiers in the Kamina area and guiding them to- battle with cancer, and one of the Muyombos’ in- Methodist Women who supported 39 women mated at $27,500, with all funds processed wards reintegrating into the community through fant twin daughters had died of malaria. students with scholarships. through the North Katanga Conference accounts. university programs are also key goals. The families kept up communication as the The first class of theology, psychology and ed- “It has become imperative to attend to the The Cox Chapel congregation of Highland Muyombo family and their surviving daughter ucation graduated last year. The first class in former child soldiers as part of several peace Park United Methodist Church in Dallas has moved to Kansas for his theological studies. computer science graduated Oct. 15, along with building programs that can ensure peace and helped fulfill the vision with a $10,000 gift to roof While at Saint Paul the couple had another the second class in the other three disciplines. stability in Kamina in particular and the DR a dormitory that will house 50 men and 50 daughter, Christelle, who turns 2 in November. University leaders are looking forward to Congo in particular,” he says. women students. A safe place to live is particu- When Mr. Muyombo returned to his native opening the new dormitory. “The roofed dorm is Anyone wishing more information on the larly important for the women who must still Congo, Bishop Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda of the a salvation for many students who are struggling university and ways to help is invited to contact confront strong cultural barriers in their aspira- North Katanga Conference handed him the huge to find a place to stay because many come from the director at [email protected] or tions for higher education. challenge of becoming director of the small remote areas and villages outside Kamina and in Lisa Tichenor at [email protected]. More Cox Chapel mission committee member Bill Methodist school in a remote area that had been the whole of North Katanga. This is going to help information is also available on the Kamina Overthier became interested in Kamina Univer- devastated by civil wars dating back decades. the female students especially and give them a Methodist University website at www.kami- sity when Mr. Muyombo spoke to Highland Park Many of the region’s children had been captured safe space to live,” Mr. Muyombo says. namethodistuniversity.blogspot.com. Sunday school classes last February. With the by rebels and forced to become child soldiers. The completion of the dorm, indeed any The Rev. La Barr is the former director support of Cox Chapel pastor, the Rev. Jeff Hall, Many of the women had been raped and brutal- building at the university, is cause for celebra- of communications for the North Texas the group voted to fund the roof project as part ized in unimaginable ways. Almost no family had tion. The rural setting has limited road access to Conference.

4 B | N OVEMBER 11, 2011 | UNITED M ETHODIST R EPORTER PHOTOS COURTESY KAMINA METHODIST UNIVERSITY Women’s education is a priority at Kamina Methodist University. These women are among the 88 now enrolled, up from only 15 when the school opened five years ago.

SUPPORT CHURCH GROWTH AND EARN INTEREST The UMC’s General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) has provided important support for Kamina 1-Year Term 1.5% United Methodist individuals, churches, and Methodist University. 2-Year Term 2.0% agencies can invest in UMDF for as little as 3-Year Term 2.25% $100. The Fund’s sole purpose is to promote the mission of The United Methodist Church 4-Year Term 2.5% by providing first-mortgage loans to churches. Above rates effective Oct. 1, 2011 This is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation Flex Demand 1.0% to buy our securities. We will only offer and IRAs 2.5% sell our securities in states where authorized. Above rates effective Nov. 1, 2011 All offerings are made by the Offering Circular. Flex Demand and IRAs may not be available in certain states. The Offering Circular contains a list of risk THE UNITED METHODIST DEVELOPMENT FUND Notes of The Fund are not factors that you should consider prior to an insured by the Federal Deposit investment decision. For an Offering Circular Insurance Corporation (FDIC), or more information, call or write to us at Securities Investor Protection 475 Riverside Drive, 14th Floor, Corporation (SIPC), or any other state or federally New York, NY 10115. regulated institution. For an Offering Circular and application: Telephone: 1-800-862-8633 Email: [email protected] Website: www.gbgm-umc.org/umdf

For Advent & Christmas 2011 The Journey ABOVE: Women Walking the Road to Bethlehem students, who must by Adam Hamilton deal each day Journey with Adam Hamilton on the page and cultural bias, provide on video as he travels from Nazareth to support for one Bethlehem in this unique new look at the birth of Jesus Christ, using historical information, another. archaeological data, video excursions in the Holy Land, and a personal look at some of the LEFT: Both men and stories surrounding that birth. Abingdon Press. women students keep the Kamina Methodist University computer For more information about this lab filled to capacity. book and churchwide study, visit— The university graduated its first JourneyThisChristmas.com class of computer science students on Oct. 15, as well as store, web, phone classes in psychology Cokesbury.com | 800.672.1789 and education.

U NITED M ETHODIST R EPORTER | N OVEMBER 11, 2011 | 5B 6B FAITH forum Restructuring proposal Upper Room events held is bad medicine for UMC for ubuntu, not business cision making is integral to the United and agencies having to send 565 peo- tion for the flood of Afghan refugees B Y T IM MC C LENDON Methodist Constitution and law. (Judi- ple to meetings; but the cost to our B Y S ARAH W ILKE who are desperate for a word of hope. Special Contributor Special Contributor cial Decison 1156, rendered in 2010) historic polity, balance of powers, and Finally, in our waning hours to- There has been much fanfare In addition, Par. 140 of the 2008 core value of diversity will be greater When Giunio Censi arrived at The gether, after we shared communion about the restructuring plan for the Book of Discipline states, “Under the than any savings. Upper Room’s “family reunion” in and experienced our own modern- United Methodist Church that will be constitution and disciplinary proce- A 15-member center can hardly be Greece last month, he was brimming day Pentecost—the Lord’s Prayer re- presented to the 2012 General Confer- dures set forth in this Book of Disci- inclusive of all the voices of the UMC. with questions for me. cited simultaneously in 17 ence. I just had a conversation with pline, ‘The United Methodist Church’ If the purpose of the legislation is to A wiry Italian with an earnest languages—for the last time, Giunio someone who recently came back as a denominational whole is not an make the denomination more nimble smile, Giunio is among our legion of approached me with a joyful smile, re- from a meeting with entity, nor does it possess legal capaci- and connect it more closely with an- volunteers around the world who sus- newed and energized. a general agency of ties and attributes. It does not and nual conferences and local churches, tain our ministries. He’d been invited “I think I understand why we are the church where the cannot hold title to property, nor does then this widens the chasm in my to this five-day get-together, one of here,” he said. “It was to be a family.” plan was explained. it have any officer, agent, employee, of- opinion. Voices will not be at the table three global gatherings this year, to I returned his smile. Finally, he We had a wonderful fice or location.” Par. 2509 of the same and will not be heard! meet with his European counterparts. grasped how much more he is—how conversation about Discipline says that we are a non-jural Having a quasi-pope from the Giunio oversees the Italian edition much more The Upper Room is—than the history of the entity, that we cannot be sued as a de- Council of Bishops may make busi- of the daily devotional guide, and I the programmatic details. UMC and our polity nominational whole because we do ness sense, but it violates our historic could see his laser focus was on ad- as it relates to the not exist as a denomination! Rather, separation of powers. We are a spiri- dressing his everyday details—re- proposed legislation. Tim our polity has affirmed since our very tual movement that needs bishops cruiting writers, improving service, ‘The Holy Spirit I have to admit McClendon existence that we are a movement, a who will be leaders, but not with one upgrading production technology. But that I am personally group of separately incorporated mis- set-aside bishop. We need all the bish- I told him that wasn’t why he was began to bind involved in this process as both a sion outposts for the Kingdom of God! ops to be set-aside in their annual among the 30-some people from 17 member of the Connectional Table conferences! countries at this first “reunion.” together this that approved the proposed new Concentrating power “We’re here to get to know each structure and as a member of the leg- Unfortunately, the Interim Opera- Personal connections other, to explore new opportunities for diverse group islative writing team that has com- tions Team/Connectional Table pro- We all know how little time bish- ministry,” I told him. posed it. Although I disagree with key posals for restructuring will set up a ops actually spend in their annual He looked confused, and I asked of strangers.’ sections I have been faithful in my re- 15-member Center for Connectional conferences. Where are the teaching for patience. I felt sure he would soon sponsibility to write good legislation Mission and Ministry and have a set- days? Where is the personal contact capture the event’s mood. My own understanding of what with the hope that holy conferencing aside bishop as one of its members and interaction across annual confer- Over the next couple days, the Holy Giunio felt also deepened in Greece, as and the wisdom of General Confer- and perhaps its chair. This certainly ences and in local churches? If we Spirit began to bind together this di- well as in Brazil and South Africa, the ence 2012 will correct the trouble- overturns Par. 140 of the Discipline by want local churches to be mission out- verse group of strangers as we wor- regional sites of our other two re- some parts. posts then bishops must see their pri- shipped, prayed and shared our unions. A primary concern for me is that mary duty as being in their episcopal stories. We talked about the challenges The participants in South Africa we are allowing a business model to ‘It changes us areas. of serving the millions of refugees had a name for this spirit: ubuntu, a dictate ecclesiology. I know we’re in How about a promise not to spend now pouring into Europe, about de- Bantu word that means “I am because terrible economic times but that from a spiritual more than 21 days outside the annual mands for digital material, about ways we are.” To me, it speaks to the well- doesn’t give us license to overturn our conference? How about a promise to to expand our reach in this predomi- spring of individual energy, creativity polity for the sake of saving money. movement spend teaching days with laity and nantly secular continent. and identity each of us can draw from Actually, I think the money-saving is a clergy in every district at least twice a Giunio told the group about his our connection to a greater commu- smoke screen to hand more power into a more year? How about a promise to spend joys and concerns, and he talked nity. over to the Council of Bishops. time in each district staying in homes, about the evolution At all three gatherings, I watched Our polity is based on the separa- bureaucratic getting to know people and schedul- of The Upper Room spirits soar as participants saw with tion of powers. Our two constitutional ing time with every clergyperson in in Italy. But later, he their own eyes that they are part of the powers in the UMC are episcopacy quagmire than each district? came to me again, worldwide Upper Room family—not and conferences. They must be held in All these things and more come to still perplexed and only the thousands who stoke this perpetual tension and balance. Judi- we already are.’ my mind as a way for United Method- awaiting when his ministry, but also the millions who are cial Council decisions as well as the ism to regain some of its relevance. It nuts-and-bolts con- nourished by it. 2008 Book of Discipline are clear in creating both an office/location and will be possible through personal con- cerns would be ad- I am renewed and energized, as this matter. For instance, Decisions an officer! Another frightening nections! Personal connections make dressed. Sarah well, knowing that the sum of our 689 and 1156 are important citations. thought is that this Center’s only United Methodist connectionalism “Give me your parts—the daily devotional, Walk to Wilke There are more! oversight will come from a 45-mem- work. questions,” I told Emmaus, Chrysalis, the Living Prayer The Constitution clearly states that ber group (the General Council for The proposal coming to General him, “and I’ll get Center, the Academy for Spiritual For- “The Annual Conference is the basic Oversight and Strategy) that Conference 2012 is out of touch them answered by our folks back at mation—is a powerful and global body in the Church and shall have re- will meet just once a year. Its chair with 21st-century flat-world think- our Nashville headquarters. But right prayer movement. served to it the right to vote . . . on all will be the same set-aside bishop who ing, and bishops and leadership have now, that’s not why we’re here.” Those who lead it, like Giunio, are matters relating to the character and will either lead or be a member of the to be in touch to be relevant. There are Again, I asked for patience. tirelessly committed to inspiring peo- conference relations of its ministerial Center. cost-savings with the proposal but As the meeting progressed, the ple to action through encounters with members.” (Par. 36) The separation of For legal and fiduciary protection more centralization into smaller, less creativity flowed. The editor of our God and relationships with one an- authority and decision making is inte- this is a wrong-headed idea. Legal diverse entities does not offer the Greek edition caught the vision of our other. They are the proof that, when gral to the United Methodist Constitu- counsel has already observed that hope for change that I’m looking for. It Walk to Emmaus ministry and took the mission is to share Christ’s bound- tion and law. While the boundaries can having a denominational center and changes us from a spiritual movement first steps to import it. Our editor in less love, no barrier of language, cul- become hazy in any particular situa- officer leaves the denomination open into a more bureaucratic quagmire Hungary made arrangements to ex- ture or country can stop it. tion, the preservation of the separation for wholesale litigation possibilities. than we already are. port copies to Romania, where thou- This is a streamlined business model Ms. Wilke is publisher of The Upper of powers must be observed. (Judicial The Rev. McClendon is Columbia sands of Hungarian Christians are Room and associate general Decision 689, rendered in 1993) to be sure and saves a ton of money by District superintendent of the South without resources in their language. secretary of the General Board of The separation of authority and de- reducing the costs of separate boards Carolina Conference. We identified a need for a Farsi edi- Discipleship in Nashville, Tenn.

N OVEMBER 11, 2011 | UNITED M ETHODIST R EPORTER FAITH forum 7B WESLEYAN WISDOM Religion provides vital check on market forces

and also because it serves as a seda- democracy.” ity, and a check on greed. Democratic unless there is a rising tide, all boats B Y D ONALD W. H AYNES tive for the oppressed, making them Dr. Hatch is not a Methodist. He is capitalism admits that its Achilles’ eventually run aground. UMR Columnist remain content with humiliation and a Presbyterian, once a professor in a heel, as we see in recent scandals, is There is a vast difference between Most European Christian theolo- suffering.” In this Cone echoes his Catholic university, and now presi- the persistent evil of human greed. To hoarded wealth in a no-growth clas- gians of the 20th century concluded quotation of Karl Marx’s most famil- dent of Wake Forest, a historically the contrary, the premise of demo- sist economy where the rich are that democratic socialism was the iar critique of religion: “Religion is Baptist university. Yet he concluded cratic socialism is that the role of perennially rich and the poor are economic approach most compatible the sigh of the oppressed creature, the his essay, “If Methodists were moved government is to regulate or legislate perennially poor, and productive with Christian ethics. Oversimplified, heart of a heartless world, and the to the foreground of American reli- both policy and process that will wealth in a dynamic, wealth-growth this political imple- soul of soulless conditions. It is the gious history, we would gain insight work for the “common good.” The re- economy in which accumulated mentation of eco- opium of the people.” into how religion has so tenaciously ality check is that sin is pervasive in wealth is the result of productivity, nomic theory used The debate is fundamental. How is gripped the soul of Americans.” all systems. Classic Christian theology entrepreneurism and creativity. Most taxes to employ wealth created? Is it on the backs of rightly insists that no sphere of biblical references refer to hoarded “Robin Hood the poor? Must new wealth be accu- The profit motive human behavior is exempt from the wealth, since free enterprise capital- ethics”—i.e., taking mulated by oppression so that we are Ludwig von Mises is known as the affliction of original sin.” ism did not exist in biblical times. from the rich and re- locked into a construct of the oppres- “father of Austrian economics” and Even in a controlled political or But, as Michael Novak has docu- distributing to the sor and the oppressed? authored Human Action. Forced to economic environment, with noble mented, in United States history, each poor. They were the In the year of the American Decla- leave Austria after the Nazis took and lofty goals, the bureaucrat writ- generation has seen 20 percent of the teachers and authors Donald ration of Independence, the classic power, Mises concluded that the best ing the government rescue program is poor rise out of poverty and 20 per- who most deeply af- Haynes text for free enterprise economics was theory of economics is not theory at a biased human being! cent of the rich lose the bulk of their fected Christian written by the professor of moral phi- all, but the observation of human ac- wealth. This is not an ideal world, but ethics in the seminary classrooms of losophy at the University of Glasgow. tion. The statist alternative to fascism Rising tide it is more economic movement in less mainline Christian seminaries in the Adam Smith’s book, usually short- was communism. The “fountain of truth” discovered time than any other country in U.S., both Protestant and Catholic. ened to The Wealth of Nations, is ac- Mises rejected both as systems by Adam Smith is that accumulated human history. By the 1960s, liberation theology tually entitled An Inquiry into the that control individual destiny. He in- wealth can be redistributed only So who is right? The liberation had gained a voice in most seminary Nature and Causes of the Wealth of sisted the future is not fixed, as Marx once. Some wag has put it that “so- theologians? Or those whose case faculties. Liberation theology vali- Nations. Smith’s was a protest against and other determinists would have us cialism cuts the pie more equitably rests in the freedom and conse- dates the “expressed conscience” of the monopolies of the government-li- believe; it is freely chosen human acts until it is all gone, whereas capitalism quences of human action? the poor. In short, as Catholic theolo- censed trading companies, primarily that change the existing state of af- ‘bakes more pies.’” gian Michael Novak puts it, “The poor English, that kept the cottage indus- fairs. The issue is not what people By creative human action, new Dr. Haynes is a retired member deserve to be heard. . . .” tries, primarily Scottish, from reach- should do, but what they do! wealth is created. New wealth brings of the Western North Carolina The poor are often desperate, and ing world markets where they could Mises spent the rest of his life in new stakeholders into the process. It Conference. He is the author of On the Threshold of Grace: desperation in a person—or within a sell their goods in a “market driven” America. His emphasis on the free- is naïve to say that a rising tide lifts Methodist Fundamentals. politically disenfranchised racial, reli- climate of trade. dom of human action as the most ef- all boats, but it is not naïve to say that Email: [email protected]. gious, economic or ethnic sub-cul- Smith insisted that while greed is fective route out of both political ture—leads to hopelessness, tunnel the perennial ogre of material wealth, oppression and economic depression vision and sometimes to violence. To more altruistic motivators of entre- is in contrast to the philosophical CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING • CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING put it another way, liberation theology preneurial ventures are the enhance- premise of democratic socialism and EMPLOYMENT gives intellectual warrant to the public ment of one’s quality of life: honor, different from the class warfare MISCELLANEOUS opinion of the disenfranchised, the respect, social advancement, educa- polemic of liberation theology. DIRECTOR OF MUSIC AND WORSHIP ARTS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING dispossessed and the powerless. tion of children, and business ethics. With socialism, the “state” is more Schertz UMC, a small but growing church, is seek- Readership is approximately 200,000 readers each ing a full-time Music Director to work with choirs of week. Rates are per word or group of figures or ini- But then Mr. Novak finishes his Nathan Hatch, when on the faculty equitable in distribution of wealth all ages and planning creative worship. Salary com- sentence with a vitally important at Notre Dame, wrote a fascinating and controls the economy. In so tials (20 word minimum) Newspaper Only—$3.00 mensurate with experience. Send resumes to: per word, two consecutive weeks. Newspaper/In- point, often overlooked by liberation essay, “The Puzzle of American doing, it limits free human actions, [email protected] ternet Bundle—$4.00 per word includes two con- theology. His full sentence reads, “The Methodism.” He piques one’s interest believing that we must be protected ASSISTANT PASTOR FOR secutive weeks in print and one month on Internet poor deserve to be heard, but they with this sentence: from ourselves. Liberation theology CONGREGATIONAL NURTURE (www.umportal.org). Internet Only—$1.25 per may have it wrong.” They are afflicted “Historians are currently probing encourages throngs to work for a First UMC, Stamford, Connecticut seeks Assistant word for one month on www.umportal.org. E-mail Pastor for Congregational Nurture. Responsibilities: your classified ad to: [email protected] or enter it with the same ramifications of origi- the complicated dynamics of how the transfer of “power to the people” to online on the Classifieds page at: www.umportal.org. nal sin as are the rich and privileged. republican society . . . of artisans, and those who are screaming, “Power to build upon youth ministry; lead ministry to sick and shut-ins; maintain welcoming environment for new The opinion of the poor is no more local farmers became the liberal, the people!” members and visitors. Requirements: BS/BA in the- DISPLAY & BANNER ADVERTISING centered in God’s will nor expressive competitive, market-oriented democ- In contrast, the ethos of free enter- ology; ability to minister in multicultural, progressive The United Methodist Reporter and the UMPortal of God’s grace than the opinion of the racy of the age of Jackson. The most prise, in the words of Peter Drucker, is United Methodist Church; extensive church-paid or offer advertisers the ability to target unique volunteer work; experience leading youth ministries; messages regarding products, services and employ- “high and the mighty.” As St. Paul put burning questions concern the emer- to “create or serve a customer which ment to church leaders and clergy, as well as indi- leads to mutual benefit.” It is volun- excellent communication and interpersonal skills; it, “All have sinned and fallen short of gence of capitalism. How does success recruiting/training volunteers. See viduals in the pews. Reach thousands of Christian the glory of God.” Methodism, the largest social move- tary. In order to be perpetuated for all www.fumcstamford.org. Resumes and letters to: Rev. households, agencies and organizations by adver- ment of the period, bear upon these stakeholders, and to have resources Douglas McArthur; 42 Cross Road; Stamford, CT tising in UMR’s products. Variety of display ad sizes Wealth and oppression issues?” for research and development, the 06905 or email to: [email protected]. and rates to fit any budget and objective. Contact: Cherrie Graham at 214-630-6495, x 142 or In its underlying economic theory, He continues, “Methodism res- free enterprise endeavor must pro- FUNDRAISERS [email protected]. liberation theology insists that profit onated with the logic of capitalism duce a profit. These schools of eco- is the handmaiden of oppression and and liberal individualism. In the first nomic thought are at the root of MYSTERY DINNER FUNDRAISERS YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN VERSION Raise FUNDS, have FUN, share FELLOWSHIP! Wes- OF THE UNITED METHODIST PORTAL! that affluence rides on the backs of generation of the Republic . . . it is the much debate in America today. leyan Thespians Mystery Dinner Kits. Contact 781- News from your local church, stories from the the poor. It often identifies main- meteoric rise of American Method- The question is profound. Is entre- 837-6457, or [email protected] for more award-winning staff of the United Methodist stream Christianity with the affluent ism that offers insight into . . . the pro- preneurism systemically oppressive or information. Reporter, real-time information from Yahoo! News and Google—all in one home page. Visit and powerful. totype of a religious organization that is it market-driven risk that is literally SEE MORE CLASSIFIED ADS! James Cone wrote in his classic amoral? I would argue for the latter. www.umportal.org and see how easy it is to have a took on market form. Methodism CHECK OUT WWW.UMPORTAL.ORG Portal page for your church. Request an online God of the Oppressed, “The ruling sprouted from the same cultural tap- Only religion can inject into the You can find more position listings, services, demonstration to learn how easy it is to bring a class promotes religion because it jus- root that nourished a culture of lib- mainstream of the market a mod- and exciting opportunities— customized version of the UMPortal to your church, tifies the present material relations eral individualism and mass icum of honesty, respect, trust, char- available only on UMPortal.org. email: [email protected].

U NITED M ETHODIST R EPORTER | N OVEMBER 11, 2011 8B FAITH focus

 CAREERS Continued from page 1B the door,” says Jay Litton, founder of Christ, he realized he could turn the nonprofit organization designed to RUMC Job Networking. job-networking group into a job-net- help churches minister to people at a On a gloomy autumn day, more working ministry. Prayer became a career crossroads—is a four-hour, than 350 people streamed into the key ingredient. fast-paced, six-step plan for finding a church for a full menu of workshops Ministry doesn’t need a lot of peo- job. and advice. Many walked out with an ple or activities; it just needs commit- Other early afternoon workshops armload of assistance: proper busi- ment, he says. range from “Boomers’ Winning Job ness attire, a professional photo to For a long time, the ministry ran Strategies” to “Why Should I Hire You?” post on LinkedIn or other job web- with five volunteers ministering to 60 Dinner starts at 5:45, which in- sites, a polished résumé and assur- to 80 job seekers, says Katherine Si- cludes an inspirational speaker and a ance that people would pray for them. mons, program coordinator. quick Bible study. Table hosts use that Ms. Lampkin said her main reason In 2010, the United Methodist time to discuss God and faith’s role in for coming on this day was for en- North Georgia Conference asked the job hunt. couragement. “I got up today, and I Roswell to hold a conference to teach On this night, Rusty Gordon is on just wasn’t motivated to go look for a other churches how to start similar stage with good news from Philippi- job. I’m feeling kinda like the weather.” ministries. ans 4:13: “I can do all things through More than 200 people from 80 him who strengthens me.” You aren’t alone churches of all denominations at- Mark Reynolds, who hosts the 21- Walking into a large room filled tended the February conference. In 29 table, encourages the group to lis- with round tables, a bustling kitchen, preparation, the team put together a ten to Mr. Gordon. “Rusty has been a buffet line, a stage and a large screen book, Loving Your Neighbor, with sto- through what we have been through.” projecting instructions and directions ries from 34 volunteers who were pas- Many of the volunteers know what UMNS PHOTO BY KATHLEEN BARRY about opportunities available for the sionate about the program. it is like to be jobless or to lose a job or Katherine Simons, coordinator of the career ministry at Roswell evening can be a bit overwhelming. Since then, part of the Monday business after 10 to 20 years of loyal (Ga.) UMC, talks with Tyrone Griffin, who just got a job. Volunteers are standing by, ready to evening sessions includes a workshop employment. offer a warm welcome. led by Ms. Simons on how to start a Mr. Kashey has an especially com- boutique of gently used business have come on a Monday to Roswell, “We wind up feeding the souls and job-networking ministry. pelling story to share. He started hav- suits, is set up in a Sunday school looking for help. Mr. Litton says many the tummies of 350 job seekers,” says ing panic attacks when he was 20 that classroom. people in the church have volunteered Bob Kashey, one of the table leaders ‘What greater lasted until he was 40. “At the Attire for Hire Closet, we try in this ministry for five to 11 years. and an inspirational speaker. “I took menial jobs at minimum to help people in their career search to “When you’re at the dinner tables Encountering John Harper imme- need is there wage because I had to be in a job wear appropriate professional attire to and you’re a volunteer or you’re host- diately puts the job seeker at ease. Mr. where I could avoid people,” he says. their job interviews,” says Ms. Mizer. ing that table of, let’s say seven or Harper has been the greeter and a vol- right now than His anxiety got to the point where he On a typical night, 15 to 20 men eight people, you’re now talking about unteer with the ministry since 2001. couldn’t leave his house. He finally and women come in looking for a par- Christ to seven people you’ve never The volunteers have two goals, Mr. helping the broke down and prayed, and God ticular size and asking about the right met before,” Mr. Litton adds. Harper says. “We try to make people “heaped an unbelievable level of pas- thing to wear to an interview. Mr. DuBois says 11 years ago, he understand that number one, God will unemployed?’ sion on me.” “If we can,” Ms. Mizer adds, “we and his wife were drawn to Roswell hear you and God will help you. And People share stories of devastation will dress them head to toe.” because of the strong sense of service. —Michael DuBois number two, you’re not alone.” in their lives made different when they “What greater need is there right Louis Gruver, a job seeker, remem- let God take control, Mr. Kashey says. ‘An event’ now than helping the unemployed?” bers his first night at the ministry. “I constantly remind everyone that “The ministry is very successful. “Every second and fourth Monday he asks. “I didn’t really want to do this,” he you can have a . . . complete career We get emails from people that have is an event,” Mr. Litton says. Ms. Si- That works out great, Mr. Litton said. “But I knew that I had to. And, ministry with just a handful of volun- come here for eight, nine, 10 months mons agrees. “It takes 70 pairs of feet says. “What’s pretty cool about United you know, Mr. Harper was at the front teers,” she says. and then get a job. And the first thing on the ground in order to keep this Methodists is that they want to serve.” door. And he shakes your hand and they do is . . . send an email to Kather- running at the level we’re at today.” At the end of the night, Ms. Lamp- says, ‘Welcome.’” Tough times ine and Jay Litton saying, ‘I just got Over the last 10 years, it has grown kin left feeling hopeful and smiling. Mr. Redmon was one of the new- Job seekers come in the door hired and thank you so much for what to the point where up to 450 people “Tomorrow will be a better day.” comers on Oct. 10. beaten down by the constant bom- you guys do.’” “I had to be very humble to come bardment of bad news. here because at one time, I had a lot of The Department of Labor reports Industry advice money. Now I have $800 left,” he said. more than 2 million people have been Not everyone who volunteers actu- “I won’t feel bad to tell somebody I got jobless for at least two years, and ally attends the Monday meetings. this great suit from Roswell United 700,000 have been looking for work The industry guide program has 160 Methodist Church. I will brag on them for at least three years. volunteers who are employed and on Facebook tomorrow; I will tell all News like that doesn’t help morale, willing to take a 15-minute phone call my friends to give ’em a try.” says Phil Clark, sitting at the table re- from anyone who wants to learn more served for the age 21-29 group. Most about their company or job. Mustard seed start of the group members are recent col- “It’s not that we have jobs for you The well-oiled machine that today lege graduates. directly, but we know that there’s a is RUMC Job Networking wasn’t al- Mr. Clark thought he was going to simple fact about getting a quality job ways so large. be starting a new job and would have which is it’s not gonna happen from Mr. Litton remembers when it was great news to share at the meeting, but sitting back and sending out résumés just him and another man looking for the offer was retracted because the on a website and clicking links and a job. corporate office decided it would not emailing. It’s gonna happen through In the beginning, prayer was not a be hiring any more people from the direct person-to-person contact,” says part of the program. Leaders reasoned Atlanta area. Michael DuBois, a director of infor- that since the meeting was open to the “Jesus never said life would be mation technology and one of the community, the church didn’t want to easy,” says Trevor Nunnally, another church members who volunteers as an offend anyone. For a while that was group member. industry guide. OK with Mr. Litton also because he The twice-monthly programs are Julie Mizer couldn’t sleep at night wasn’t a member of the church and from 5:45 to 9 p.m. Bonus workshops for worrying about the people who wasn’t a professed Christian. are from 1 to 5:30 p.m. needed jobs and had no proper busi- When he turned his life over to Crossroads Career Network—a ness clothes. Thus Attire for Hire, a

N OVEMBER 11, 2011 | UNITED M ETHODIST R EPORTER