Summer 2008, No. 3 - United Methodist Men

Volume 11 • Number 3 Summer 2008The 2008General Conference

A letter from the General SecretaryHow Do You Sow SeedsBy David AdamsListen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, someseeds fell on the path… Other seeds fell on rocky ground...Other seeds fell among thorns… And other seeds fell ongood soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold,some sixty, some thirty.”Matthew 12:3-9Every spring it is my desire to have a beautiful yard, with thickgreen grass that amazes anyone who looks at it. Even before oneseed of grass is planted, one must prepare the ground for sowing.Last year, I aerated the yard, tossed out some crabgrass killer, andfertilized before I spread one kernel of grass seed. After a few weeks I planted Kentuckyfescue and then prayed for rain.Three weeks passed and all of a sudden I had a gorgeous yard that was envied by theneighbors. But I began to notice something. Certain areas turned brown and died;other areas became patchy. There was nothing that I could have done that would haveprevented this from happening.Then I remembered the Scripture above; it reminded me that my responsibility was notto make the grass grow, but only to sow seeds. Even though not all of the seeds willgrow, God is telling me to go plant seeds; seeds of my faith in Christ so others mayknow Him.How are you sowing your faith in others? What are your stories of the ways in whichyou share your life in Christ with others? God can use anyone to be a witness to someoneelse. You do not have to be a pastor. You do not have to be especially trained toshare what difference it makes to have Christ in your life to someone who does notknow Him.What are some practical ways that you share your faith? Would you write or e-mailme and share your stories of the ways God is using you as a witness for Him, or howyou are sowing seeds? You may never know the lives you will touch by your story, butHe will!God bless.The Rev. David AdamsGeneral SecretaryThe General Commission on UM MenSend response to AWaller@gcumm.orgThe purpose of United Methodist Men is to help men have Jesus Christ as the center of their lives.Vol. 11, No. 3 Summer 2008Copyright © 2008General Commission on United Methodist MenUMMen magazine is publishedfour times a year, winter, spring,summer and fall by GCUMM:General Commission on United Methodist Men1000 17th Ave. S.P.O. Box 340006Nashville, TN 37203-0006(615) 340-7145Internet address: http://www.gcumm.orgPublisher:David AdamsEditor:Richard PeckContributing Editors: Larry CoppockLarry MaloneEditorial Assistant: Martha DavisGraphic Design: Parris PrintingChange of Address:Send the mailing label with your new address to:UMMenP.O. Box 340006Nashville, TN 37203-0006(615) 340-7145Allow six weeks for changes.Advertising: Contact Richard PeckP.O. Box 340006Nashville, TN 37203-0006(615) 620-7264e-mail: rpeck@gcumm.orgThe publishing of advertising in UMMen doesnot constitute endorsement by UMMen,General Commission on United Methodist Menor The United Methodist Church. Advertisersand their agencies assume liability for all contentof advertisements printed or representationsmade therein.Subscription: Subscriptions are $25 a year(4 issues). Bulk subscriptions available.Send check or money order to:UMMenSubscription FulfillmentP.O. Box 440515Nashville, TN 37244-0515(615) 340-7145Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripturecontained herein is from The New RevisedStandard Version. Copyright 1989, 1995.Used by permission. All rights reserved.contentsUM Men Summer 2008FEATURES4 A Future with Hope: General Conference200811 Delegates celebrate 100th Anniversary13 UM Membership Down, Constituency Up15 Jurisdictional Conferences19 UM Men respond to four focus areas20 Men’s Ministry is similar to aroller coaster ride22 Tough words for a university campus24 100th Anniversary Celebration25 Church Members Live Longer26 Remembering the Fallen28 Across the Nation31 People32 Hate Crimes: A need for faith basedresponse34 Americans express their views onBiblical storiesDAD’S ZONE36 Fathers trust others to develop theirchildren37 Dad’s Job DescriptionDOLLARS & SENSE38 Free Credit Reports40 MENS NEWS44 SCOUTING NEWS50 FOUNDATION NEWSEditor’s note: This magazine includes articles fromindividuals who hold diverse opinions. We hope allarticles are thought provoking; they are not necessarilythe opinions of the General Commission on UM Men.UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 3

A Future with HopeGeneral Conference 2008FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)––The 2008 General Conferenceopened its April 23-May 2legislative session with aCommunion service. Thesacrament was celebrated at acenter table made of wood fromtrees destroyed at a UM retreat centerdamaged by Hurricane Katrina.Under the theme “A Future withHope – Making Disciples for Jesus Christfor the Transformation of the World,”the conference began on the 40 thanniversary to the very day and 40 milesfrom the place where the EvangelicalUnited Brethren Church united with theMethodist Church to form The UMC.While delegates heard stirringspeeches and sermons offered froma pulpit made of the same hurricanedamagedtrees, the Communion tablecontinued to serve as a reminder of bothphysical and spiritual storms and thecommon faith that links members of the11.5 million-member church.A worldwide churchWhile the legislative arm of the churchhas always included delegates from Africa,Asia and Europe, this gathering seemedless centered on issues confined to theUnited States than earlier quadrennialgatherings. That was partially due to thefact that 278 of the 992 delegates camefrom outside the U.S. – 100 more than thenumber that attended the 2004 session.It also was the result a proposals from asix-member task force studying the globalnature of the church.During the week, delegates approved23 constitutional amendments that wouldmake it possible to make the United StatesBy J. Richard Pecka central conference similar to conferencesin other countries. The amendments, whichmust be ratified by a two-thirds vote ofthe aggregate total of annual conferences,also would change the words “centralconference” to “regional conference.”A 20-member committee will bringrecommendations to the 2012 GeneralConference in Tampa, Fla.PresentationsA highlight of the gathering occurredwhen Liberian President Ellen JohnsonSirleaf, a UM, addressed the assembly. “Thisis a special honor for me,” she said. “I amthe first African leader and the first femalepresident to address the General Conferenceof The United Methodist Church.” She saidwhen she was first elected and traveledaround the country, children were frightenedby her presidential convoy and thought shewas coming to take something away fromEllen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia,addresses General Conference. Sirleaf is aUnited Methodist and the first female headof state in Africa. A UMNS photo by MikeDuBose.them. “Instead of the distress of yesterday,today their eyes light up and they smile,” shesaid. “Liberia is on the way back.”William H. Gates Sr., co-chair of the Billand Melinda Gates Foundation, expressedappreciation to the denomination for beinga partner in the Nothing But Nets campaignto eliminate malaria from the continentof Africa. More than $20 million has beenraised since the campaign began in 2006. Adonation of $10 covers the cost of deliveringone net and teaching a family how to protectitself from malaria-carrying mosquitoes.Bishop Sharon Brown Christopherdelivered a message on behalf of the Councilof Bishops. The message was filled withsongs, multimedia and multisensory imagesabout how people received and experiencedhope, gave hope and were transformed byencounters with Christ. She attributed someof the membership decline in U.S. churchesto “ruptures in our United Methodistrelationships. Left or right, conservativeor liberal, we treat our baptized brothersand sisters as if they are our enemies” andseek to destroy those who have a differentviewpoint or perspective, she said.The first-ever Young People’s Address toGeneral Conference was given by six youngpeople. The presentation included videos,photos, drumming and singing. “We haveshared stories of persecution, homelessness,and what it means to be a young personin a world desperately in need of Jesus,”said Matt Lockett of Seattle, one of thepresenters. “What you do with what youhave heard is really up to you.”Lyn Powell, lay leader of the NorthGeorgia Conference, delivered the LaityAddress. She challenged lay members ofthe denomination to assume responsibilityfor reaching the unchurched. She said it isunreasonable for clergy, with their myriadresponsibilities, to spend time engaging theunchurched. “But the laity are already there,”she said. “They encounter unchurchedpeople in all walks of daily life.”HomosexualityOn May 1, a day after the GeneralConference continued the Social Principlesstatement declaring homosexuality to be“incompatible with Christian teaching,”some 200 witnesses for inclusion wereallowed to silently walk through the aislesof the legislative gathering. Participantscovered the Communion table with a blackshroud to mourn conference actions thatdeny gays and lesbians the right to serve asclergy and legislation that holds the practiceof homosexuality to be “incompatible withChristian teaching.”Delegates pray prior to a vote on issues relatedto homosexuality. The assembly voted April 30to retain the church’s position that the practiceof homosexuality is “imcompatible with Christianteaching.” General Conference, which meets onceevery four years, is the only body that speaks forThe United Methodist Church. A UMNS photo byMaile Bradfield.During the witness, retired BishopMelvin Talbert recalled how the 1939Methodist Conference established a separatejurisdiction for African Americans. He calledthat historic action “sinful” and said actionby the assembly on homosexual issues wasalso a sin. He called for reconsideration ofearlier legislation.Bishop Gregory Palmer, president ofthe Council of Bishops, said he had a “deepsense of gratitude” for both how the witnesswas handled and how delegates and bishopsresponded.A legislative committee had approved astatement that withdrew the incompatibilityclause and noted that faithful people4 l Summer 2008 l UM MEN UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 5

Bishop Violet L. Fisher preaches during morningworship. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey.disagree on the topic, but “all seek afaithful witness.” A minority report fromthe committee called for the retention ofthe clause. The majority report was replacedby the minority vote by a 516-416 vote. Asubsequent final vote of 501-417 made itofficial.In approving the minority report, theassembly also affirmed that all people are“individuals of sacred worth created in theimage of God.” Delegates also retainedstatements asking “families and churchesnot to reject or condemn lesbian and gaymembers and friends.”In a separate resolution, the conferenceasked the General Board of Church andSociety to develop educational resources andmaterials on the effects of homophobia andheterosexism, the discrimination or prejudiceagainst lesbians or gay men by heterosexualpeople.On the last evening, delegates continuedthe policy of not funding groups thatpromote the acceptance of homosexuality,but they noted that funds should also notgo to groups that violate the principle of thechurch not to reject or condemn lesbians andgay members and friends.The assembly retained languagedefining marriage as a relationship betweenone man and one woman.In related action, delegates let standlanguage in the Book of Discipline regardingpastoral authority over church membership,even though a majority report of a legislativecommittee recommended the congregationchange the language to make it clear thatpastors and congregations “are to faithfullyreceive all persons who are willing to affirmour vows of membership.” Controversyhas occurred over a 2005 decision by theJudicial Council supporting a Virginia pastorwho denied membership to a man in anopenly homosexual relationship. The councilreinstated the pastor, who had been placedon involuntary leave by the Virginia AnnualConference.Legislative processThe assembly received 1,564 proposals,540 fewer than the number processed by the2004 session, but the body had one less dayto work. Former General Conference sessionslasted 12 days, including Sunday, a day withno plenary session. This year, the quadrennialevent was scheduled for 10 days, withSunday as a work day.Each petition was assigned to oneof 13 legislative committees that broughtrecommendations to the full body. Mostof the legislative committees finished theirwork on Sunday, April 27; others gathered insessions after plenary sessions adjourned at10 p.m. or later. The General AdministrationLegislative Committee did not conclude itswork until the afternoon of Wednesday,April 30.Frustrated by a parliamentary processthat required the perfecting of majorityand minority reports with debates onamendments to each, delegates agreedto suspend the rules in order to limit thenumber of speeches on each amendmentand the amount of time for each speech.At 8:45 p.m. on the final night, delegatesconfined presenters to one minuteexplanations and allowed only two people togive one-minute speeches on opposite sidesof an issue.Africa educationNoting that United Methodist churchesin Africa are the fastest-growing componentsof the denomination, delegates approved arequest for $20 million for Africa University;$10 million was already budgeted inapportioned funds and $10 million will beraised through World Service Special Gifts.Delegates also called for $2 millionfor United Methodist theological schoolsin Africa. That money will help seminariesacross the continent train additional pastorsfor the growing church.CommitteesDelegates created a new, 24-memberstanding committee on faith and orderto help bishops and the church reflect onmatters of faith, doctrinal teaching, orderand discipline. The group will also providestudy materials upon the request of thebishops, the Connectional Table or GeneralConference.The conference called for a continuationof the study of ministry. They asked forthe creation of a 28-member study groupto address the ordering of ministry, theseparation of ordination and conferencemembership, and the streamlining of theordained ministry candidacy process.Delegates approved the creation of ahymnal revision committee and authorizedit to bring a proposed hymnal to the 2012General Conference.An additional group will investigatethe possibility of an Africana hymnal thatincorporates music and liturgy from Africa –as well as Caribbean, African-American andother traditions with African roots.BudgetGeneral Conference operates under arule that requires any approved resolutioninvolving unbudgeted funds to be reviewedby the General Council on Finance andAdministration and the Connectional Tablefor advice and recommendations before finalaction is taken.Prior to the meeting in Fort Worth, theconference received 27 petitions asking fora total of nearly $50 million above the $642million proposed budget for the 2009-2012quadrennium.In earlier sessions, delegates respondedto some of these requests. They called for $2million to support theological education inAfrica; $460,000 for the African-AmericanMethodist Heritage Center; $600,000 toThe Hope for Africa Children’s Choir from Ugandasings during General Conferencestudy structural issues related to the church’sincreasingly global nature; $290,000 for thecommittee on central conference affairs;$250,000 for a new committee on faith andorder; $115,000 for the church’s JudicialCouncil; and $50,000 for a center at theSand Creek Massacre site.Noting a general consensus to keepthe budget at the proposed level of $642million, GCFA and the Connectional Tabletalked with the church’s general agenciesto find other ways to raise the unbudgeted$3.7 million. They agreed to draw down theirreserve funds and find the remaining amountin their budgets over the next four years.Members of the Connectional Tableand GCFA governing board—meeting theprevious evening to discuss the items—expressed concern that such reserve fundscannot be an automatic pool for fundingGeneral Conference actions.The $642 million budget calls for a 1.2percent increase over each of the four yearsfrom 2009 to 2012. The finance leadersacknowledged this increase does not keepup with inflation projections.For the first time, the budget wasdeveloped on an outcome-based modelshaped around the denomination’s four areasof focus:• Developing principled Christian leadersfor the church and the world.• Creating new places for new people andrenewing existing congregations.• Stamping out diseases of poverty byimproving health globally.• Engaging in ministry with the poor.6 l Summer 2008 l UM MEN UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 7

William H. Gates Sr. addresses delegates andvisitors to General Conference. Gates, thefather of Microsoft founder Bill Gates anda co-chairman of the Bill & Melinda GatesFoundation, spoke on the need to eradicatemalaria worldwide. A UMNS photo by MikeDuBoseFewer bishopsDelegates approved a plan that willresult in one less bishop in four of the fiveU.S. jurisdictions, beginning in 2012. In anApril 29 legislative session, delegates agreedthat savings from those reductions will beused to fund new episcopal areas outside theUnited States. The action will not affect theSoutheastern Jurisdiction, as it already electsone less bishop than the present formulaallows.Discussions are currently under way inthe Northeastern Jurisdiction to combine theNorth Central New York, Troy, Western NewYork and Wyoming annual conferences, withthe Pennsylvania portion of Wyoming goingto the Central Pennsylvania Conference andVermont moving from Troy to New EnglandConference in 2008. Proposals call for thenew conference to be formed by 2010.The proposal will be reviewed bythe Northeastern Jurisdiction BoundariesCommittee prior to action by theNortheastern Jurisdiction. No additionalreductions in the number of bishops willbe required in the jurisdiction by the newformula.Constitutional amendmentsAll constitutional amendmentsapproved by a two-thirds vote of GeneralConference must be ratified by a two-thirdsaffirmative vote of the aggregate number ofvoting annual members.Delegates passed a constitutionalamendment that reduces from two to onethe number of years a person must be aprofessing member of a local church beforehe or she can be a member of an annualconference.Annual conferences will also be votingon proposals that provide for newly createdconferences to be represented at General,jurisdiction or regional conferences on a nonproportionalbasis. The issue arose after theCôte d’Ivoire Conference was assigned twodelegates for the 2008 General Conference.If annual conferences approve theconstitutional amendment, local pastors,associate members and provisional membersmay join ordained ministerial members in fullconnection in voting for delegates to Generaland jurisdictional conferences. To be eligibleto vote, local pastors must have completedthe Course of Study or master of divinitydegree and have served under appointmentfor served two consecutive years immediatelypreceding an election. Only ordainedmembers in full connection with an annualconference may serve as delegates.If annual conferences ratify theamendment, then local churches,jurisdictional and General Conference,“organizations, groups, committees,councils, boards and agencies” will have toadopt ethics and conflict-of-interest policies.These policies will apply to both membersand employees to help them “embody andlive out our Christian values.”If annual conferences ratify the action,the constitution will be amended to makeit clear all persons shall be eligible to attendworship services and, upon taking vows,become church members.Other itemsThe legislative body increased theretirement age of bishops from 66 to 68.The General Board of Church andSociety and the Women’s Division of theBoard of Global Ministries will continueas members in the Religious Coalition forReproductive Choice. General Conferenceaffirmed, 416-384, its 35-year relationshipwith the interfaith association.The assembly added a statement onabortion to the Social Principles that addslanguage offering “ministries to reduceunintended pregnancies” and to assist theministry of crisis pregnancy and supportcenters that help women “find feasiblealternatives to abortion.”Pastors or district superintendents maynow ask the bishop to give sacramentalauthority to a deacon if an elder is notpresent. That right is confined to the locationof a deacon’s primary appointment.The assembly affirmed the validityof scientific findings as ways to expandunderstanding of the natural world andincrease understanding of the mysteries ofGod’s creation and the Word.Stating that Israel continues to violateinternational law by building a wall onPalestinian land, the conference called uponIsraelis and Palestinians to uphold U.N.resolutions and International Court of Justicerulings.The conference asked the General Boardof Church and Society to identify and publishon their Web site educational resources onstem-cell research. The resolution encouragespastors to use the resources to becomeinformed about the use of embryonic stemcells for medical research and to offer theseresources for study in her or his local church.Delegates learned that church membersraised $3 million for the restoration ofchurches damaged by Hurricane Katrina.More than $60 million was given through theUM Committee on Relief for humanitarianaid in the Gulf Coast.The 40 th anniversary of the foundingof the denomination also marked the 40 thanniversary of the dissolution of the CentralUnited Methodist agency leaders celebratefollowing their April 24 address on the four newareas of focus for the denomination during the2008 United Methodist General Conferencein Fort Worth, Texas. Standing (from left)are the Rev. Jerome King Del Pino, Board ofHigher Education and Ministry; the Rev. KarenGreenwaldt, Board of Discipleship; Bishop FeltonMay, Board of Global Ministries; and the Rev.Larry Hollon, United Methodist Communications.A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.Jurisdiction, a racially based structure, andthe formation of the Commission on Religionand Race. The assembly also celebratedthe 60 th anniversary of the Advance andthe 100 th anniversary of the ministry toMethodist men, the Social Creed and theBoard of Pension and Health Benefits.The conference declined an opportunityto create a permanent site for JudicialCouncil, but delegates did agree to providean office for a part-time clerk who wouldwork no more than 20 hours a week. Theproposed cost of a permanent site wouldhave added $25,000 a year in annual costs.It is not clear what the cost of a clerk’soffice might be, but the cost is to be paidout of General Council on Finance andAdministration funds.The mission of the Church is tomake disciples of Jesus Christ for thetransformation of the world.” The phrase“for the transformation of the world” wasadded by the assembly.The United Methodist Church in Côted’Ivoire, the largest regional conference ofthe worldwide denomination with almost700,000 members, received its full rightsand responsibilities. As a result, United8 l Summer 2008 l UM MEN UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 9

Bishop Thomas Bickerton holds a basketball, signed by UM bishops at General Conference.The basketball was auctioned to benefit the Nothing But Nets campaign against malaria,raising $429,030. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.Methodists in the West African country,which has only two delegates at this GeneralConference, will receive significantly greaterrepresentation at future assemblies.During the sessions, delegates learnedthat the denomination will receive $5 millionto eliminate malaria and other diseases ofpoverty. The grant comes from the U.N.Foundation with help from the Bill andMelinda Gates Foundation.On the 100th anniversary of the SocialCreed, delegates decided that a proposednew creed would serve the church better as a“companion litany.” It has been set to music.Noting that more than 400 people havebeen put to death in Texas since 1982, theassembly asked the Texas legislature to endexecutions.The conference called on UMs to divestfunds from companies that support thegovernment of Sudan in order to end thegenocide in that area.The body encouraged theimplementation of the universal school lunchprogram.The assembly called for equal rights ofmen with regard to parental leave and childcustody.Final sessionThe final gavel came down May 2 at11:15 p.m., followed by worship.Weary delegates packed up more than2,500 pages of legislative materials andhugged persons at neighboring desks whowere strangers 10 days earlier. They hopedthey would be together again at the 2012session in Tampa, Fla.Delegates, visitors and staff slowly filedout of the Fort Worth Convention Centerand set plans to depart for their homes in theUnited States, Asia, Africa and Europe.Delegates celebrate100th anniversary of men’s ministryBy Robin RussellFORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)–General Conference delegates celebrated onApril 30 the 100th anniversary of ministryto men in The United Methodist Churchand its predecessor denominations.“This is huge,” said the Rev. David C.Adams, top executive of the Commission onUnited Methodist Men, in a six-minute videopresentation. “Other men’s ministries overthe years have come and gone. But UnitedMethodist Men has been steadfast.”At the 1908 General Conference ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church, delegatesofficially authorized the newly createdMethodist Brotherhood.Men’s ministry was launched that yearbecause two-thirds of Methodists worshippingon Sunday morning were women, the videostated.That hasn’t changed, Adams said, which iswhat makes the ministry of United MethodistMen so essential.Dale Long, a big brother to six youngstersover 30 years, speaks to a press conferencefollowing the 100th anniversary celebration ofthe ministry to men during the 2008 GeneralConferenceThe Rev. David Adams speaks about UnitedMethodist Men. A UMNS photo by Paul Jeffrey.“The number one crisis in the churchtoday is the lack of men in church, and the lackof men growing spiritually,” he said in a pressconference following the presentation. “Weneed to address this and find ways to bringmen back into the life of the church.”New programs initiatedUnited Methodist Men has initiated newprograms to achieve this goal, and recentlyreceived the top award from the ecumenicalNational Coalition of Men’s Ministries, whichrepresents 100 men’s ministries across theUnited States. Plans are under way to host anational gathering of men in Nashville in 2009.Many men find it hard to engage inspiritual conversations, said Gil Hanke, amember of Peritte Memorial United MethodistChurch in Nacogdoches, Texas, and presidentof the Commission on United Methodist Men,because they have not developed the kindof relationships in which spiritual growth isnurtured.10 l Summer 2008 l UM MEN UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 11

Gilbert Hanke, president of the Commissionon United Methodist Men, answers a questionduring a press conference following a celebrationof the 100th anniversary of United MethodistMen at the 2008 General Conference. A UMNSphoto by John C. Goodwin.“Very few men have men they areaccountable with,” Hanke said at the pressconference, “men they can sit down with andsay, ‘These are the things that are hurting me’or ‘These are things I’m rejoicing over.’”Yet most men will say that it’s been theinfluence of another man in leading them intoa spiritual relationship, Hanke added, so UnitedMethodist men should not be hesitant to sharetheir faith journeys.“We demonstrate the gospel very wellwith various work projects,” agreed Adams,“but we need to get better in telling ourstories. Every man can tell what knowingChrist means in their lives.”‘Men need a place in the church’Toward that end, United Methodist Menhas established a Men’s Ministry Specialistsprogram to train men in local congregations inleading effective men’s ministries. In June, theagency will work with churches that sign on asteaching centers to provide regional training.“Men need to have a place in thechurch,” Adams said in the press conference.“Now’s the time. I believe we have theopportunity with this vision to reach all men inour local congregations.”United Methodist Men has also expandedits outreach over the years to include scoutingprograms, hunger-relief efforts through theSociety of Saint Andrew, the Upper RoomPrayer Line, providing a daily devotionalbook for members of the armed forces andmentoring boys through Big Brothers.Dale Long of Dallas has been a bigbrother to six boys over the past 30 years.During the celebration, he invited delegatesto also participate as a mentor in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and introduced his newest littlebrother, 16-year-old LaDaruss Douglas.LaDaruss has autism, pervasivedevelopment disorder and cerebral palsy,according to his mother, Pamela Nwachukwu.On a recent Sunday, LaDaruss spent the daywith Long, who took the teen to HamiltonPark United Methodist Church in Dallas formorning worship. They also went out tobreakfast, attended a Texas Rangers baseballgame and had dinner together.“It’s meant a great deal,” saidNwachukwu, a single mother. “It’s reallyhelped [ LaDaruss] a lot with social skills. I’mreally blessed to have this.”Long said he’d like other UnitedMethodists to “see the value of Big Brothersand how well it works.”“To be a man, our young people have tosee a man,” he said.Russell is managing editorof the United MethodistReporter.United Methodist membership down, constituency upBy Marta W. Aldrich(UMNS)––While professing U.S.membership continues to decline inUMC, the number of constituents issteadily increasing, according to newdenominational statistics.Membership decreased by eighttenthsof a percent over a one-year periodto more than 7.9 million, accordingto the latest statistics released by thedenomination March 11.Specifically, U.S. membership was7,931,733 in 2006, the most recent yearfor which statistics are available, accordingto the General Council on Finance andAdministration, which compiles data forthe denomination.U.S. membership in 2005 was7,995,429.Another 45,220 people were listed asclergy members of the denomination fora total of 7,976,953 in 2006. In addition,871,218 people, primarily children,were listed as baptized, non-professingmembers.Worldwide United Methodist lay andclergy membership, which stood at morethan 11.5 million in 2005, is still beingtallied for 2006 and is expected to bereleased later this year.Meanwhile, the number ofconstituents in 2006 was more than 1.5million, a 16 percent increase from adecade ago. Denominational records showthe number of constituents has increasedthree of the last five years and eight of thelast 10.“Constituents are the unbaptizedchildren, youth and adults who are notmembers of the church, but for whomthe church has pastoral responsibility,”said Scott Brewer, the council’s directorof research. “It’s a growing number, andit reflects that people aren’t so big intomembership anymore.”Brewer said the church “needs to paymore attention” to this growing categoryand understand the changing dynamicsof religious affiliation in the United States.“It’s consistent with what we’re seeingin the larger culture, particularly when itcomes to attitudes toward membership,”he said.Some people aren’t joinersThe Rev. Lovett Weems, the directorof the Lewis Center for Church Leadershipat Wesley Theological Seminary inWashington, D.C., said the constituentnumbers should be prudently considered.“There is certainly a phenomenontoday of persons who seem more reluctantto join,” Weems said. “There are a numberof pastors who talk about people in theircongregations who are very active in thelife of their church, but they just don’tjoin.”He noted that such reluctance isspilling over into groups within the church.Historically, people would be asked to “joina new men’s group” that was forming;today, they might instead be invited toparticipate in a “men’s gathering.” Today’schurchgoers, especially young people, areless likely to “join” and make long-termcommitments, he said, and more likely toparticipate in short-term activities such asVolunteers In Mission trips, the Walk toEmmaus spiritual retreat and short-termBible studies.“There’s been a real energy in thesetypes of things in recent years, even inDisciple Bible Study classes,” Weems said.“Disciple may be 36 weeks long, but atleast there’s a beginning and an end.”However, he noted that theconstituent category is considered a“soft number” that might be overstatedwhen churches report their membershipstatistics. He views average worshipattendance as a more accurate indicator of12 l Summer 2008 l UM MEN UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 13

church vitality.The latestUM dataputs churchattendance atmore than 3.3million, downeight-tenthsof a percentfrom 2005 anda 4 percentdecrease from1990.Brewer saidthe church hasn’t experienced an increasein attendance since 2001. That increase,he said, was presumably related to the9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.Other statisticsThe report shows that about 2.68percent of the U.S. population areprofessing members of UMC. Meanwhile,more than 50 percent of the populationreported no ongoing relationship with areligious community in 2000, accordingto a separate study published by theGlenmary Research Center in Nashville,Tenn.The number of UM churches was34,398 with a median size of 111. Thepercentage of churches that have grownsince 1996 was 35 percent, and thepercentage of churches receiving at leastone member on profession of faith orrestored was 58.8 percent, up for the thirdyear in a row.While the church’s decline inmembership has continued since themid-1960s, Brewer cautioned againstdismissing excitement about current effortsto revitalize the church with a “renewedemphasis on making disciples of JesusChrist for the transformation of theworld.”“It’s important to remember that it willlikely be a number of years before we seethe fruits of these efforts in our statistics.We should be hopeful, but we alsoneed to be patient,” Brewer said.Fourteen annual conferences grew in2006, double the number in 2005. Theywere Alabama-West Florida, 0.84 percent;Alaska Missionary, 1.75 percent; Arkansas,0.37 percent; Central Texas, 0.89 percent;Kentucky, 0.17 percent; North Carolina,0.01 percent; North Georgia, 1.12 percent;Oklahoma, 0.04 percent; OklahomaIndian Missionary, 0.59 percent; Red BirdMissionary, 1.56 percent; Southwest Texas,0.09 percent; Tennessee, 0.75 percent;Texas, 0.77 percent; and Western NorthCarolina, 0.23 percent.Churches spent more than $6 billionin 2006, down 3.71 percent from 2005,adjusted for inflation, according to thereport.“With such a large increase inspending in 2005, I am not surprised tosee giving leveling off in 2006,” Brewersaid. “In 2005, we saw a tremendousoutpouring of support through theAdvance for persons affected byHurricanes Katrina and Rita and theDecember 2004 tsunami. UnitedMethodists have always been generouspeople, but it’s clear that when we’remotivated, we will give far beyondhistorical norms.”Aldrich is news editor of UnitedMethodist News Service.U.S. Jurisdictional ConferencesFORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)Delegates to the 2008 GeneralConference of The United MethodistChurch approved a plan that willresult in one less bishop in four of the fiveU.S. jurisdictions, beginning in 2012.During the conference, delegates agreedthat savings from those reductions will beused to fund new episcopal areas outside theUnited States. Those new areas—each to beled by a bishop—will not be created until the2012 General ConferenceThe North Central, Northeastern, SouthCentral and Western jurisdictions will eachhave one less bishop under a new formulafor determining the number of bishops.The action will not affect the SoutheasternJurisdiction, as it already has one less bishopthan the present formula allows, and it is notrequesting an additional episcopal leader.The new formula will not take effectuntil Jan. 1, 2009, so it will not affect thenumbers of bishops to be elected in the U.S.in July.A Task Force to Study the Episcopacy,mandated by the 2004 General Conference,proposed the reduction. The proposal wasapproved, 457 to 401, and delegates alsoagreed, 435 to 394, that the $4.8 millionanticipated savings will be used to fund newepiscopal areas outside the United States.Current formulaAt present, each jurisdiction having500,000 church members or fewer isentitled to six bishops. Jurisdictions withmore than 500,000 members are entitledto one additional bishop for each 320,000members. There is a provision for additionalbishops if episcopal areas average more than55,000 square miles.The task force noted that the currentformula results in great inequities in thenumber of churches per bishop (256 to 928)and the number of members per bishop(58,970 to 225,814).New formulaThe new formula provides for onebishop for every 150,000 members or onebishop for 100,000 members in jurisdictionswhere episcopal areas average more than55,000 square miles.The assembly also raised the retirementage of bishops from 66 to 68. A bishopmust retire on August 31 next followingthe regular session of the jurisdictionalconference if the bishop’s 68th birthday hasbeen reached on or before July 1 of the yearin which the jurisdictional conference is held.That action took effect upon adjournment ofGeneral Conference.Louisiana Area Bishop WilliamHutchinson, Harrisburg Area Bishop JaneMiddleton, and Charlotte Area Bishop J.Lawrence McClesky now have the option ofproceeding with retirement if they chooseor serving for another four years. Middletontold UM News Service she will probablycontinue for another term. Hutchinson andMcClesky said they have not announced theirplansPrior to the 2008 General Conference,a bishop was required to move to a newepiscopal area after serving two four-yearterms (a total of eight years) unless a twothirdsmajority of the jurisdictional committeeon episcopacy and a two-thirds majority ofthe jurisdictional conference approved thebishop remaining in that appointment anadditional four years. General Conferencedeleted the two-thirds vote requirement, sobishops may remain in an episcopal area fora third term without any special action.Jurisdictional ConferencesThere are exactly twice as many U.S.delegates to the jurisdictional conferencesas there are to General Conference. Equalnumbers of lay and clergy membersare elected by their respective annualconferences (see chart).Within each jurisdiction there is acommittee on episcopacy consisting of oneclergy and one lay person from each annualconference. The committee is responsiblefor reviewing the work and character ofthe bishops, and the committee assignsthe bishops to their areas. The jurisdictionalconference has the authority to affirm or14 l Summer 2008 l UM MEN UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 15

Bishops that may retire in 2008Northeastern JurisdictionJane Middleton, Harrisburg AreaWith new legislation, she has anoption to continueViolet Fisher, New York West Area.Bishop Susan Morrison, AlbanyArea Morrison retired in 2006 forreasons of health. Bishop SusanHassinger serves as interim bishop.The number of bishops to beelected is undetermined at this time.Ernest Swiggett, chair of theNortheastern Committee onEpiscopacy, says that the committeeis presently proposing the electionof two bishops.North Central JurisdictionSharon Brown Christopher,Illinois Area.South Central JurisdictionBen Chamness, Fort Worth Area.Willliam Hutchinson, LouisianaArea. With new legislation, hehas an option to continue.reject the assignments. If the conferencerejects the assignments, the committee mustmake new assignments.The assignment for bishops elected at the2008 jurisdictional conferences is effective Sept.1, 2008.In rare cases, an Inter-jurisdictionalCommittee on Episcopacy, elected by GeneralConference delegates, can transfer bishopsacross jurisdictional lines if the bishops and thejurisdictions consent.Persons to be considered for the episcopacyare generally people nominated by an annualconference or endorsed by jurisdictionalconference delegates from the various annualconferences. Delegates from those annualconferences are not required to vote for thecandidate from their conferences and ballotingis not limited to nominees. In the NortheasternJurisdiction, a person can be endorsed by a16 l Summer 2008 l UM MENJoel Martinez, San Antonio Area.Rymes H. Moncure Jr., Dallas AreaBishop Moncure died in 2006Alfred Norris has been serving asbishop of the Dallas AreaSoutheastern JurisdictionLawrence McClesky, CharlotteArea.With new legislation, he hasan option to continue.The present formula would allowthe jurisdiction to appoint one morebishop, but since all jurisdictions arescheduled to lose a bishop in 2012,the jurisdiction is scheduled to onlyelect one bishop in 2008.Western JurisdictionBeverly Shamana, San FranciscoAreaEd Paup has been elected to theoffice of General Secretary of theGeneral Board of Global Ministries.The jurisdiction will elect twobishops.caucus listed in the UM DirectoryEach jurisdiction devises its own means ofproviding information about the candidates.Similar procedures are developed for personswho receive ten votes or 5 percent of the votes.In the Western Jurisdiction, nominees areinvited to give speeches and they later answerquestions from delegates during “fishbowl”meetings prior to the first ballot. In otherjurisdictions, candidates go from one smallgroup to the next answering questions posed bydelegates.Each jurisdiction can establish thepercentage of votes needed for election. TheBook of Discipline recommends 60 percent.Voting by ballot continues until someonereaches the required number of votes. Thenumber of ballots required varies from year toyear.The election process can happen rapidly.For example, in 2004, the NortheasternJurisdiction elected two bishops on thefirst two ballots. Or the process canbecome lengthy. It took 34 ballots for theSoutheastern Jurisdiction to elect the Rev.Mary Virginia Taylor as the sixth and finalbishop during the 2004 SoutheasternJurisdictional Conference.Record numberHowever, the record for lengthy electionswas established in 1980. In that year, theRev. Calvin McConnell attended the WesternJurisdictional Conference as chair of a RockyMountain Conference campaign to elect theRev. Jamison Jones to the episcopacy. Imaginehis surprise when, after 47 ballots, McConnellwas elected to that office. “I hope no oneever comes near to that many ballots,” saidBishop McConnell. The consecration servicewas scheduled for 1 p.m., but McConnellwas not elected until 5 p.m. The consecrationservice was held at 9 p.m., long afterthe other jurisdictional conferences hadadjourned. “I had to borrow a white shirt, tieand robe for the service,” said the now retiredbishop.Surprisingly candidates for the officeof bishop don’t even have to live within thejurisdiction where they are elected. In 1984,the Rev. Leonine T Kelly was serving as pastorof a church in Richmond, Va.––part of theSoutheastern Jurisdiction––when she waselected bishop in the Western Jurisdiction.A consecration service is held at theconclusion of the jurisdictional conferences inwhich bishops are consecrated (not ordained)to the office and bishops are assigned to theirepiscopal areas.New boundaries may be set inNortheastern JurisdictionJurisdictional Conferences are responsiblefor establishing the boundaries of the annualconferences.Meeting in concurrent adjournedsessions, members of North Central NewYork, Troy, Western New York and WyomingAnnual Conferences voted to ask theNortheastern Jurisdictional Conference tocreate a new episcopal area and a newannual conference from all or portions ofthese and/or other contiguous conferences.They suggest that the Pennsylvania churchesof the Wyoming Annual Conferenceconsidering aligning themselves with theCentral Pennsylvania Annual Conference, andthey suggest Vermont churches of the TroyAnnual Conference considering an alignmentwith the New England Annual Conference.Conversations have already taken placebetween Wyoming and Central Pennsylvaniaconferences regarding the merger ofWyoming churches in Pennsylvania.Mark Marino, director of connectionalministries for Wyoming Conference, toldUM News Service that Central PennsylvaniaConference has “been very welcoming” topastors serving in Pennsylvania. “There’s a lotof excitement about ministry in new areas.”“The resolution regarding easternboundary of the proposed conference willbe contingent on conversations among Troy,New England Conference, and the churchesof Vermont,” said Sidney Sadio, chair ofthe Northeastern Jurisdiction BoundariesCommittee and pastor of New Brunswick(N.J.) United Methodist Church. “We won’tput forth a resolution to the NortheasternJurisdictional Conference until we know whathappens in those annual conferences and theresponses of Vermont churches,” said Sadio.If approved by the July session inHarrisburg, Pa., the new structure would beimplemented in 2010. A New Conference/Area Team would then begin to resolve issuesof structure, policies, programs and practices.The plan would reduce the number of bishopsin the jurisdiction from ten to nine.The Bush Library––a flashpoint inthe South Central JurisdictionEach jurisdiction makes its own plans forministry within the area. A jurisdiction mayestablish a committee to oversee the ministryduring the quadrennium. In the South CentralJurisdiction, a 21-member Mission Councilserves as the executive committee of theconference.UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 17

The extent of the power of the MissionCouncil became a central issue whenSouthern Methodist University (SMU)––aschool owned by the jurisdiction––wantedto give the Bush Foundation a 99-year leaseto build a presidential library, museum andpolicy institute on school property. Thelease is renewable up to 249 years.United Methodists who oppose theconstruction of the library and the institute––over which the school would have nocontrol––say that only the South CentralJurisdictional Conference can give finalapproval for the lease.University officials and 10 bishops inthe South Central Jurisdiction disagree(one abstained). They say that jurisdictionalrules permit the Mission Council to makedecisions between quadrennial sessions.Kansas Area Bishop Scott Jones,president of the South Central Collegeof Bishops, said the bishops consideredconvening a special session of thejurisdictional conference. “The proposalwas rejected because that is not the normalway we make decisions,” said Jones.What may happen when the SouthCentral Jurisdiction gathers in Dallas isuncertain. David Severe, secretary ofthe South Central Jurisdiction, told UMNews Service, that it is not clear whetherthe decision needs to be ratified or justreported. “It’s a matter of interpretation,”he said, “and I’m only the secretary.”A resolution to General Conferencecalled for the denomination to prevent the“leasing, selling, or otherwise participatingin or supporting the presidential library forGeorge W. Bush at Southern MethodistUniversity.” The resolution was referred tothe South Central Jurisdictional Conference.Jurisdictional Conferences July, 2008North Central Jurisdiction - Grand Rapids, Mich. – 276 delegates.Northeastern Jurisdiction - Harrisburg, Pa. – 252 delegatesSouth Central Jurisdiction – Dallas, Texas – 296 delegatesSoutheastern Jurisdiction - Lake Junaluska, N.C. – 504 delegatesWestern Jurisdiction - Portland, Oregon – 80 delegatesThe Rev. James Swanson is applaudedshortly after he receives a sufficientnumber of votes to be electedbishop during the 2004 SoutheasternJurisdictional Conference (UMNS photo).UM Men respond to four focus areasDenominational leaders wantUnited Methodists throughoutthe connection to concentrateon ministries addressing four areas:1. Leadership development withparticular focus on leadingthe United Methodist way ofdiscipleship.2. Congregational development andnew church starts.3. Ministry with the poor, withparticular attention to caring for andprotecting children.4. Global health by confronting thediseases of poverty, including HIV,malaria and tuberculosis.The Connectional Table, a 60-memberbody of representatives of generalagencies, caucuses and regions aroundthe world, selected the four initiativesfrom “seven vision pathways” suggestedby the Council of Bishops and 54proposals put forth by table members.These focus areas are “not for thenext quadrennium, but for as far asthe eye can see,” says the Rev. LarryHollon, general secretary for UMCommunications. “Their purpose is notto limit the great work of anyone, but tofocus the great work of everyone.UM Men responsesI. Developing Christian principledleaders• Train and equip all UM Menleaders.• Train and equip at least onehundred men’s ministryspecialist by 2012.• Train and equip leaders in theDemocratic Republic of theCongo in scouting and men’sministry.II. New places for new people andrenewal of existing congregations:• Train UM leaders to relate tomen’s ministry.• Develop a seminary course forpastors and laity.• Help conferences and schoolsoutside the U.S. train laity andclergy in men’s ministry.• Enable men to mature spirituallyin order to pass on their faith toothers.III. Ministry with the poor:• Train UM Men leaders tobecome advocates for the poor.• Enhance hunger-relief ministriesin local churches through theSociety of St. Andrew.• Expand Amachi programs toevery conference.• Train officers of UM Men aboutpoverty and racism.• Work with the World MethodistCouncil Men’s Affiliate in theStop Hunger Now campaign.IV. Global health:• Develop scouting award toindividuals and troops forfundraising efforts for “Nothingbut Nets.”• Connect with partnersin Mozambique and theDemocratic Republic of theCongo to provide clean waterand develop scouting award.• Continue support for Hope ofHearing.• Continue anti-tobacco effortsin cooperation with the GeneralBoard of Church and Society.18 l Summer 2008 l UM MENUM MEN l Summer 2008 l 19

Men’s ministry is similar to roller coaster rides,says men’s ministry executiveNASHVILLE, Tenn.––“Formany guys, men’s ministryis like a roller coasterride,” said Brett Clemmer,vice president ofleadership developmentwith Man in the Mirror,an Orlando, Fla.-basedorganization that helpschurches reach meneffectively.Clemmer told theNational Association ofConference Presidents ofUnited Methodist Menof the first time he rode”The Hulk” roller coasterat a local theme park.“I kept getting morenervous as I got closer tothe front of the line,” saidClemmer. “Once I was onthe ride, I enjoyed it, andI was soon saying, ‘Is thisall you’ve got?’ But whenthe ride ended I realized Iwas right back where I hadstarted. I hadn’t really gone anywhere!And now that I knew what to expect,the next ride would not be nearly asexhilarating.”Too often, this is the way menexperience spiritual activities in thechurch. They go to an event like aretreat and leave on a spiritual high,only to crash a few days or weekslater because there is no follow-upopportunity, no way to sustain themomentum. Over time, men just quittrying.“Your system is perfectly designedto produce the results you are getting,”he said. “If you do whatyou’ve always done, you’llget what you’ve alwaysgotten.” He suggests thatlocal churches shouldprovide a number of entrypoints. Different typesof men will be drawnto different types ofactivities. “Most men arenot going to immediatelysign up for a 34-weekDisciple Bible study,” hesaid. “We need to castour nets wide and createan environment wheremen are comfortable.”The No Man LeftBehind model providesa system that every UMchurch can use to makesure that their efforts todisciple men don’t losetheir momentum. “Alwaysmake sure you are tellingmen what the ‘right nextstep’ is,” urged Clemmer.“Make sure you use your activities tochannel men into the activities in yourchurch that work best for men.”“We’re the leaders,” Clemmerconcluded. “Our heart is for disciplingmen and helping them grow in Christ.But we have to remember that allmen aren’t ‘there’ yet in their spiritualhunger. Remember––don’t be mad ata man because you want him to growmore than he does. Just pray that theHoly Spirit would move onhis heart and make himhungry for the gospel.”HumorThe Bible explained by kidsWe try to give members of our junior church a background in biblical history. At the endof the year, we ask them to chronicle what they have learned. This assignment elicitsintriguing responses:In the beginning, which occurred nearthe start, there was nothing but God,darkness, and some gas. The Bible says,‘The Lord thy God is one,’ but I think Hemust be a lot older than that. Anyway,God said, ‘Give me a light!’ and someonedid. Then God made the world. He splitthe Adam and made Eve.Adam and Eve were naked, but theyweren’t embarrassed because mirrorshadn’t been invented yet. Adam and Evedisobeyed God by eating one bad apple,so they were driven from the Garden ofEden. Not sure what they were driven inthough, because they didn’t have cars.Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, whohated his brother as long as he was Abel.Pretty soon all of the early people diedoff, except for Methuselah, who lived tobe like a million or something. One of thenext important people was Noah, whowas a good guy, but one of his kids waskind of a ham. Noah built a large boat andput his family and some animals on it. Heasked some other people to join him, butthey said they would have to take a raincheck.After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, andJacob. Jacob was more famous than hisbrother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob hisbirthmark in exchange for some pot roast.Jacob had a son named Joseph who worea really loud sports coat.Another important Bible guy is Moses,whose real name was Charlton Heston.Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egyptand away from the evil Pharaoh after Godsent ten plagues on Pharaoh’s people.These plagues included frogs, mice, lice,bowels, and no cable. God fed the IsraelLights every day with manicotti. Then Hegave them His top ten commandments.These include don’t lie, cheat, smoke,dance, or covet your neighbor’s bottom(the Bible uses a bad word for bottomthat I’m not supposed to say. But my Daduses it sometimes when he talks about thePresident). Oh, yeah, I just thought of onemore: Humor thy father and thy mother.One of Moses’ best helpers wasJoshua, who was the first Bible guy to usespies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritoland the fence fell over on the town.After Joshua came David. He got tobe king by killing a giant with a slingshot.He had a son named Solomon who hadabout 300 wives and 500 porcupines. Myteacher says he was wise, but that doesn’tsound very wise to me.After Solomon there were a bunch ofmajor league prophets. One of these wasJonah, who was swallowed by a big whaleand then barfed up on the shore.There were also some minor leagueprophets, but I guess we don’t have toworry about them.After the Old Testament came theNew Testament. Jesus is the star ofthe New Testament. He was born inBethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had beenborn in a barn, too, because my mom isalways saying to me, “Close the door!Were you born in a barn?” It would benice to say, “As a matter of fact, I was.”)During his life, Jesus had manyarguments with sinners like the Phariseesand the Republicans. Jesus also had twelveopossums. The worst one was JudasAsparagus. Judas was so evil that theynamed a terrible vegetable after him.Jesus was a great man He healedmany leopards and even preached tosome Germans on the Mount. But theRepublicans and all those guys put Jesuson trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilotdidn’t stick up for Jesus. He just washedhis hands instead. Anyways, Jesus died forour sins, and then came back to life again.He went up to Heaven, but will be backat the end of the Aluminum. His return isforetold in the book of Revolution.20 l Summer 2008 l UM MEN UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 21

22 l Summer 2008 l UM MENTough words for auniversity campusA paraphrased sermon by John WesleyIntroductionAs We celebrate the centennial of UM Men ministries,we are revisiting sermons by the founder of our denomination.Wesley addressed Oxford University students and faculty membersat St. Mary’s Chapel in 1741. Three years later, Aug. 24, 1744,he gave this sermon. It was the last time he would be invitedto speak to that campus community.Ithink we can agree onthe characteristics of aChristian community.It is a place where menand women are filled withthe Holy Spirit, where theyare all of one heart and souland they give to everyoneaccording to their needs.It is a place where thelove of God fills their heartsand this love compels themto love their neighbors asthemselves. They are humble,gentle, and they stand forjustice, mercy and truth.If these are thecharacteristics of a Christiancommunity, let us ask wheresuch a community exists.Is this nation a Christiannation?Is this city a Christian city?Are we “filled with theHoly Ghost?” Do our livesshow forth the genuine fruitsof that Spirit?Can we say that themayor, the city council and allthe city workers are all of oneheart and one soul?Are all the words spokenby these officials like untothose which come out of themouth of God?Some questions for thefacultyNow, allow me to addressthe faculty members of thisprestigious university. Are youall filled with the love andzeal needed to establish God’skingdom on earth? Do youteachers remind your studentsthat the one rational endof their studies is to know,love, and serve, the only trueGod and Jesus Christ whomGod has sent? Do you teachthem that love alone neverfails (whereas philosophicalknowledge will vanish)? Doyou teach that without love,all learning is but splendidignorance and pompous folly?Do not assume that I amexpecting you to speak as ifall your students intend to beclergypersons. I only speak asif they are intended to becomeChristians.Members of the facultyand administration, I wantyou to ask yourselves, “Whydid we choose this vocation?”Was our only motive to serveGod and to promote God’sglory? Did we set aside all lies,all world cares and studiesin order to devote ourselvesto the single goal of servingGod?Ask yourselves, “Are we sufficientlyknowledgeable about God and JesusChrist that we can teach others?”And now some for the studentsNow let me address you, students,especially class officers and those witha higher grade point average. Do youhave the gifts of the spirit, includingself denial, composure, patience,meekness, and sobriety? Do you engagein unwearied endeavors to do well inevery way to all persons? Do you striveto meet their physical needs and at thesame time do you try to tell them of thelove of God?I want you students to askyourselves, “Are we humble andteachable, or are we stubborn, selfwilledand high-minded?” Do youspend all your time on your studies ordo you waste time watching televisionand playing various sports? Do you tryto avoid going into debt for tuition andfees. Do you attend worship services onSunday? Do you avoid beer parties andswearing?Is this the general character of thisstudent body? I fear it is not. Instead,I see haughtiness of spirit, impatienceand peevishness. Instead of a Christiancommunity, I find sloth, indolence,gluttony and sensualityYou are a generation of triflersIn general, I find yours a generationof triflers; triflers with God, with oneanother, and with your own souls. Fewof you spend even one hour a week inprivate prayer. Few of you think of Godand if someone begins a conversationabout God, you assume he or she is ahypocrite.Perhaps some of you have madea few faint attempts to engage in aChristian life, but your successes are few.Is there any possibility thatChristianity could become the religion ofthis place?That will happen only when weplace ourselves in the hands of God.August 26, 1744An imaginary response fromWesley’s Pastor-Parish Relations Committee(based on actual responses)Dear John:It pains us to write this letter, but our PPRC had anemergency session last night. Some members of the Oxfordfaculty complained to us about your sermon preached atSt. Mary’s. While none of us was present, we have heardthat you said our nation, city and Oxford Universitywere not Christian. In fact, according to the report, youquestioned the motives of faculty members, the values ofadministration officials and the behavior of the students.In short, you made few friends and many enemies.University officials tell us they were planning to write anofficial protest, but after reviewing your sermon notes,they have decided they will simply ignore you and they willnot be extending any invitations to you to preach to theircommunity.William Blackstone, a student who was present atyour sermon told us that he believed you were “exploitingthe sins of the university for the sake of advertisement” ofyourself.Unfortunately, your actions reflect on all us andour committee is disturbed. It’s bad enough that you havenow been excluded from all but four churches in London,and it’s bad enough that you have resorted to preachingin the open, but when you have an opportunity to speakto a prestigious group in a wonderful chapel, you use theoccasion to insult them.The committee is also concerned about your preachingstyle. While we commend you for you impeccable dressand grooming, many of us are worried about the strangebodily convulsions which seem to accompany yourpreaching. We believe this problem can be overcome if youpreach with considerably less emotion and more logic.You must realize that your reputation is rapidlydeteriorating. There are many rumors about your “lovefeasts,” and few church leaders accept your practice ofallowing laypersons to preach. We are a little surprised thatOxford even invited you to preach again since three yearsago in the same sanctuary you strongly hinted that almostno one is a true Christian (a sermon titled, “The AlmostChristian”).We trust that this letter will be a sufficient warning toyou. If we have to write again on this topic, we may haveto ask you to seek employment elsewhere.UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 23

100 th Anniversary CelebrationHelp plan events in your church for July, August and SeptemberJuly: UM Men working in the mission of the church• Host an all-church meal to focus on mission opportunities. Invite persons who have been on Volunteer-inMission trips to tell of their experiences. (http://new.gbgm-umc.org/about/us/mv/)• Make a bulletin board display of mission work ( http://new.gbgm-umc.org/about/globalministries/)• Lead a local mission project such as building a ramp for a person with handicapping conditions.• Conduct a canned food project, sponsor a potato drop or a gleaning project. ( http://www.endhunger.org/)August: Lift up men at the local level• Induct a member into the John Wesley Society.• Honor a man with a life membership in UM Men• Invite a UM Man to give a testimony at the Sunday worship service.• Write personality profiles about one or more men in your parish newsletter.• Conduct a Bible study on various men of the Bible and discuss their attributes.September: Prayer ministries• Operate a remote prayer line for the Upper Room Prayer Linehttp://www.upperroom.org/prayer_center/)• Study the Workbook of Living Prayer by Maxie Dunham ( http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/)• Gather a few men to pray with your pastor prior to the Sunday service.• Raise funds for the Upper Room Prayer Line• Pray for young people and teachers who have gone back to schoolNorth Carolina Men rebuild churches and homes, receive awardBISCOE, N.C. –– Meshach’sCarpenters, a group of volunteersfrom 30 churches from thetwo North Carolina annualconferences, received a “Men inMinistry” award from Ted Thomas,president of the Sanford DistrictUM Men during a January districtlay rally.In 2006, the Carpenters builta church on the Gulf Coast ofMississippi from the foundationup in just eight days; they shareda worship service with thatcongregation on that eighthday. In 2007, they did much thesame thing for another church inMississippi.“This year they are planningto do the same for the AME Zion24 l Summer 2008 l UM MENchurch right here at home inTarboro,” said Thomas.Meshach’s Carpenters beganas a 20-member Volunteer inMission team from Goldston, N.C.The group was organized in 1999after Hurricane Floyd floodedhomes in North Carolina.“We started out with theidea of working two or threeweekends to get that ‘feel-goodsensation’,” said Charlie Fields,the group’s team leader and amember of Goldston UMC. “Fiftytwoweeks later, we had workedover 48 weekends out of the 52,and today over 30 churches areinvolved.” The group now includes100 volunteers.“They raise their ownfunding and operate literally yearround,” said Thomas. “It is indeedan amazing demonstration thatGod can and does work throughhis people.”Members of Meshach’sCarpenters guide the steepletoward the new Pearlington(Miss.) United Methodist Churchsanctuary. UMNS photos by LisaC. Michiels.Church members live longer,says Duke researcherDURHAM, N.C.––The risk of death is 30 percent lower amongpersons who attend religious services morethan weekly, according to a 12-year studyof 8,000 Americans by Dr Harold G. Koenig ofUM-related Duke University.Koenig and his research team also foundthat the risk of death is 20 percent lower amongweekly attenders than among those neverattending. The association was seen in menand women, whites, blacks and Hispanics. Thestudy appeared in the February, 2008 issue of theAnnals of Epidemiology.This study supports the findings of severaldozen smaller studies and one national study. Inthis study, part of the apparent protective effectwas partially explained by effects of religiouspractice on factors such as health behaviors suchas smoking and social support.Religious affiliation, attendance at religiousservices and other religious behavior are prevalentin the U.S., a nation where the majority ofpersons identify their religion as Christian. Lackof religious participation has been suggestedas a “fundamental cause” of death similar toinadequate education and poverty.Previous studies have found that theChristian faith provides members with a positiveworldview, social support, teaching about ahealthy lifestyle, and uplifting and calming ritual,all of which are hypothesized to have positivehealth effects. Evidence is growing that a highfrequency of attendance at religious services isassociated with beneficial health behaviors, suchas avoidance of smoking and heavy alcohol use.Other benefits of religious participationinclude increased social integration and support,improved coping with stressful life events andreduced depression. These lead to healthpromotingphysiological effects of decreasedstress hormones and nervous activation andimproved immune function.One recent study suggested that providingrather than receiving support from fellowcongregants was associated with lower riskof death in the elderly. Other highly prevalent,secular, voluntary activities such as sportswatching are unlikely to offer such a combinationof health promoting effects, although thisis an area still under study, according to theresearchers.10th National GatheringUnited Methodist MenMark your calendars!July 10 & 11, 2009Belmont UniversityNashville, TNCheck www.gcumm.org for updatesUM MEN l Summer 2008 l 25

Rememberingthe fallenOn the night in September 2004 whenthe U.S. military death toll in Iraqreached one thousand, I happened tobe in Cincinnati on a business trip.I had read in various e-mails aboutcandlelight vigils being held across thenation. For a variety of reasons, curiosity,guilty conscience, the need to get outof the hotel room for a while, I walkedthrough downtown Cincinnati to see if Imight, by happenstance, encounter a vigil.I didn’t find one, but since I don’tknow my way around Cincinnati verywell, my inability to locate a vigil meansnothing. I feel pretty sure that somewherein that city, the sad milestone was beingmemorialized.Like virtually everything about thewar in Iraq, the issue of U.S. casualtiesmakes me very uncomfortable. I feeldeep sadness when I stare at the names,the hometowns, the branches of service,and the ages of the U.S. military dead.My limited military experience, with oneadmittedly brief exposure to war, doesgive me some insight into those Americanswho serve in the military. ’I’ve known themas friends and comrades, and it’s easy forme to form a mental picture, not always26 l Summer 2008 l UM MENBy Jim Melchiorrecompletely accurate, of course, but real.Now that I’m a middle-aged fatherwith two of three sons in their twenties,I read the ages of the dead, and it dawnson me that many of these soldiers areyounger than my two older children.And I think of how these nowdeadyoung people likely played withtransformer toys and watched SesameStreet and Back to the Future moviescountless times as kids, just as my sonsdid. They’re gone, some before their 25thbirthday.Then I realize that I’m focusing on theU.S. dead, feeling their loss acutely andneglecting to think of the Iraqi dead, otherpeople’s children, with the same depth ofsorrow.Maybe it’s impossible to feel the painof the other side as deeply as we grieveour own losses. Perhaps we humans arehardwired to be tribal. Yet somethingabout that feels wrong.Shouldn’t Christianity make uscounterintuitive? Jesus was.What also feels wrong is how easy it isto think only occasionally about the deathsin Iraq.As one who remembers the VietnamWar well, although primarily from thesafe vantage point of junior high and highschool and who was exposed to the draft(with a high lottery number) only in thefinal year of conscription in the UnitedStates, I wonder why we Americans seemto be handling this war so well, as theyears pass and the death toll mounts.It seems to be taking a long time forthe private angst, which so many confess,to become public anger, or, if not anger, atleast grief.It’s not that the war is ignored.Virtually since the start of combat in March2003, there have been debates in the opedpages and frequent video reports ontelevision.The war played a major role in the2004 and 2006 elections, although withopposite results. And certain milestonesin the war, such as the anniversary of itsbeginning, have been marked by largerallies and marches. But unlike the intensefeeling of, say, 1968, it all feels quitemanageable.The death toll, even if we, God forgiveus, concentrate only on the number ofAmericans killed, has not sent thousandsof people repeatedly into the streets.Sometimes it seems as though the onlyplace to find intense focus on the wardead is the Internet, where many memorialWeb sites operate.I know that the toll in Vietnam wasdramatically higher. I can recall, whenI was a junior-high student, the nowdefunctEvening Bulletin in Philadelphiarunning a summary of the war everySaturday. I remember often reading that250 or 300 U.S. troops had been killedthat week. Those numbers do not reflectthe worst weeks!In the deadliest year of the war, 1968,almost 15,000 Americans died, more thana quarter of the war’s total of 58,193.Estimates of the Vietnamese dead (militaryand civilian) range between 2 and 5million.Thank God, the deaths in Iraq havenot been on a level with Vietnam, yet.That must seem like a callous statementto the families, Iraqi and American, whosesons, daughters, husbands, fathers, wives,and mothers are not coming home.Certainly, the times and the warsare very different, and those differencesmay reveal some reasons for the lowerlevel of engagement by the public and bycommunities of faith.Like the fact that there’s no longera military draft, which would make theconsequence of this war real to a largersegment of the population.Or the recognition that our too-busysociety stays distracted by its seeminglyendless entertainment culture.Or the thought that many peoplereluctantly believe that war is necessaryand unavoidable in the wake of 9/11. Isuspect this was especially true in the firstcouple of years after the invasion of Iraq in2003.And I can accept that reasonableand faithful people can support war insome circumstances. For most of my life,I have fallen into that category and stillcan imagine a few situations where mygrowing pacifism might reach its limit.After reading Harrison Salisbury’s bookThe 900 Days:The Siege of Leningrad, Irealized that if I had lived on the outskirtsof Leningrad in September 1941, I wouldhave joined in firing a mortar or a rifle atHitler’s advancing army.What bothers me most is not thatmany Americans still support the war,or that others find themselves morallyconflicted about it. That’s OK. Strugglingwith the issue is a good thing.I guess I’d just like to know thatwe’re all thinking about it, every day, andtreating it urgently. Because it is urgent.Melchorre is a Gulf War veteran andauthor of Novena in Time of War: Soul-Searching Prayers and Meditations ©2008. This article is an excerpt from thatbook and used by permission of UpperRoom Books, http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore,1-800-972-0433.UM MEN l Summer 2008 l 27

CARY, N.C.––100 Men of InfluenceIn 2002, Deven Spear asked the Rev. William H.Green, associate pastor of First UMC, how hecould make a difference in the church. “What Isaw next was truly of God,” said Green. Spearassumed a leadership role in the church, madea $10,000 contribution to the church, and engagedin the daily discipline of prayer and Biblestudy. “What if we had a 100 men like Devenat our church?” Green asked himself. He beganan effort to recruit men who wanted to make adifference for Christ. “I didn’t get 100 men, butI did get 85,” said Green. These men were thenorganized into 13 small groups. The groupssponsored a “No Man Left behind” conferenceand several “Man in the Mirror” seminars.Asked what he will do when he gets 100 men,Green said, “Go get another 100.”paused for a Super Bowl tailgate party, andin mid-March they met with Larry Malone, astaff executive with the General Commissionon UM Men, for “Flight Quest.” Malone, aformer Navy pilot in Viet Nam, led the men ona three-day retreat at Camp Sumatanga. Hewas joined by Ed Bruce, singer and composer of“Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to beCowboys.”GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. —Boy Scouts raise $200 forKatrina reliefBoy Scout Troop 41 of Grand Rapids UMCraised $200 to help Boy Scout troops that lostDOUGLASVILL, Ga.––Men pull pigs and replace floorsMen of New Covenant UMC hold a fall “Pig-pull”for some 200 people at a local farm. Participantsenjoy barbecue pork, hayrides and music. Themen also hold a pumpkin sale each fall to supportcommunity outreach programs and they smokeThanksgiving turkeys for needy families. NewCovenant men replaced trusses and flooring fora family whose sink had fallen through a rottedkitchen floor. The men’s organization began whenmen on a mission trip in central Mexico drew up alist of men who might be interesting in forming aUM Men organization.BURGOON, Ohio ––A football field of quarters for thehungryThe Rev. Chuck Albright, pastor of BurgoonUMC, scotched taped a yard of quarters togetherand hung it from his pulpit. He said the 36quarters would be used to feed the hungry, andhe challenged the 71-member congregation tobring in 99 more yards to score “a touchdownto feed God’s hungry.” Burgoon membersresponded, and $900 was split between theSociety of St. Andrew’s Meals for Millions andthe Hunger Network in Ohio.Yard lines on a football field replica marked theprogress of Burgoon UMC members as theycollected quarters for the hungry.DECATUR, Ga.––200 hams serve 5,000For 46 years UM Men of Oak Grove UMC haveheld an October barbecue where volunteerscook over 200 hams and 400 gallons of stew.Last fall, the men served 5,378 meals andraised over $23,000 for community outreachprograms.Two hundred North Carolina men gather inCary for an introduction to Letters from Dad.ANNAPOLIS, Md.––Sixty men deliver 50 pound bagsof potatoesIn December, 60 UM men of the AnnapolisDistrict secured 30 trucks to deliver 50 poundbags of potatoes to 4,000 families. Each bag ofpotatoes included a note, saying: “Our hearts,our minds, and our doors are always open.––The people of the United Methodist Church.”ATHENS, Ala.––Men take flightBeginning in January, two groups of men ofFriendship UMC gathered to study I Peter. Theyequipment and camps during Hurricane Katrina.The troop sold chili and popcorn and presentedthe check on Scout Sunday last year.NORMAN, Okla.—Strength for Service books givenin 1943 and 2008On Aug. 11, 1943, a unit of the Salvation ArmyUSO presented Marine Sergeant Loren Sanderswith a copy of Strength for Service to God andCountry as he boarded a ship leaving San Francisco.Sixty-five years later Loren’s brother, Joe,helped McFarlin UM Men in Norman raise $250to give the books to reservist who were aboutto deployed. He also gave the book to his wife’sgrandniece, an Air Force surgeon about to bedeployed to Afghanistan with a Navy Seal team.MORAVIA, N.Y.—The 61 st gathering of menFor 61 years, men in North Central New Yorkhave gathered for retreats at the CosawascoUM Camp. Last September, Joe Kelley gave the28 l Summer 2008 l UM MENUM MEN l Summer 2008 l 29

men his traditional greeting: “Anyone told youthey love you today? Well, God loves you andI do too.” Larry Hillard and Claude Stoker ofMoravia UMC and Cliff Kunes of Seneca CastleUMC were given Life Membership Awards, andConference President Ed Enstine was surprisedto be named a fellow in the John WesleySociety. This September, the Rev. Lloyd Saatijanand the Rev. David Adams will lead the 62 ndgathering at the camp.DULUTH, Ga. —Two hundred Scouts attendScout Sunday serviceJohns Creek UMC celebrated Scout Sundaywith a record 200 uniformed Boy Scouts, GirlScouts and Scout leaders in attendance. Thecongregation honored Boy Scouts who attainedthe rank of Eagle and Girl Scouts who receivedGold Awards. Pastor Dr. D. B. Shelnutt Jr. washonored after receiving a Silver Beaver award,and a newly formed Scout choir sang. In aseparate ceremony, God and Country medalswere presented to 42 young people.Over 100 young people from seven JohnsCreek scouting units spread 80 cubic yards ofmulch and 200 bales of pine straw on churchplayground and other areas of the John’s CreekUMC campus. The scouts also planted flowers,filled in holes in ball fields, and cleanedwindows and bathrooms. The March 1 serviceproject followed an award breakfast whereTaylor Strickland was presented the inauguralJohn Dorman Memorial Duty-to-God Award.ASTORIA, Ore.––Two churches give historic bookto local chaplainMembers of the Astoria and Warrenton UMchurches raised funds to purchase 70 copiesof Strength for Service. They gave the books toChaplain Steve Barstow of the U.S. Coast GuardGroup of Astoria.NEWNAN, Ga.––Tomatoes for allHoward Russell started sharing tomatoesfrom his garden with other members of EmoryChapel. During the winter, people missed thetomatoes, so John Lee bought cases of tomatoesto share with the congregation. Soon bothmen were also providing tomatoes to shut-insand other neighbors.PUYALLUP, Wash.––Men launch toy chest ministryFor three years, men from the Puyallup UMCsouth of Seattle have been making wood pulltoys, cars, airplanes and doll cradles for childrenof immigrants.WINNETKA, Calif.––Now that’s being faithfulUM Men of St. John’s in the Valley UMC havebeen active for the past 50 years, and theyhave annually renewed their charter. However,in January it was decided the church would beclosed in June because of declining membership.Elmo Maiden, president of St. John’s UMMen, still sent in a check for $65 to renew thecharter. “We have appreciated being associatedwith GCUMM for the past 50 years,” wroteMaiden, “and we are sorry to see it come to anend. . . . Thank you for your help and God blessyour work.”Wives of conference presidents and staff invadethe office of General Secretary David Adamsduring the March meeting of the NACP. “Weare the real power behind United MethodistMen,” the invaders declare.PeopleREDMOND, Wash. ––The National Coalition of Men’s Ministriesannually recognizes Men’s Ministries, pastors and emerging youngleaders with its Hall of Honor awards. President Rick Kinghamannounces that United Methodist Men and Larry Malone have beenchosen as this year’s “Men’s Ministry of the Year.” “We are blessed bywhat we see happening in the churches of the UMC. May God blessyour efforts to reach and disciple men,” said Kingham. The coalitionalso named The Rev. Dr. H. William Green, associate pastor of FirstUMC in Cary, N.C., as the man of the year.The Rev. William GreenBIG ISLAND, Va.––In May, after co-founding and leading the Societyof St. Andrew for almost 30 years, The Rev. Ken Horne changed hisstatus from executive director to director emeritus. Mike Waldmann,director of operations since 1995, now serves as executive director.Horne will still assist the ministry.NASHVILLE, Tenn.––Larry Coppock, GCUMM director of scoutingministries, was elected president of the Nashville Chapter of theAssociation of Fundraising Professionals.The Rev. Ken HorneGULF BREEZE, Fla.––Mary Ann Rouden, a member of Gulf Breeze UMC,received the God and Service Award for 20 years of Service to youthin the church and scouting. The award was presented at the Cub Pack 104 Blue and GoldBanquet. She helped more than 50 children earn God and Country Awards.Three-time president of UM Men gives 100 gallons of bloodUMATILLA, Fla.––Lowell Collins, 78,a three-time president of UM Men atUmatilla UMC, has given 100 gallons ofblood to a blood center in Leesburg.Collins, a lifelong resident of Umatilla,rolled up his sleeve for the first time in1953 when a woman at his church askedpeople to donate for her husband. Thesecond time, it was to help a neighbor.“Back then, they just asked your nameand if you were in good health,” he said.“Now there are 51 questions.” Collinssaid he understands there are more healthconcerns these days.Instead of donating blood every 56days, he opted for the platelet apheresisprocedure. It takes two hours, and involvesa machine that separates his blood,platelets and plasma. The blood is thenreturnedto his bodywhile theother itemsare sent tothose inneed. Hedonates everytwo weeks.He said he has accumulated 19,000miles to make the trips, and sat for theequivalent of 80 workdays. He doesn’tregret what it takes to help others.Collins’ calendar is marked every twoweeks for a standing appointment at theblood center, and it is marked twice a yearto donate blood in the normal manner.“I’ve always felt good after donatingblood,” he said.30 l Summer 2008 l UM MENUM MEN l Summer 2008 l 31

Hate crimes:the need for a faith-based responseBy Andrew J. WeaverAfew months ago, MeganWilliams, a 20-year-old African-American woman, was tortured,stabbed and sexually assaulted by sixwhite men in West Virginia only becauseshe happened to be black. The event isa sickening reminded of how real hate isand how it can generate violence.Hate is an intense emotionalaversion or hostility towards someoneor something; and it is very frighteningto be the object of such emotions. Hatecrimes can include physical attacks,rapes, bombings, murders,arson, and terrorist threats.According to2005 FBI hate-crimestatistics, therewere 7,160 hatecrimeincidences,67.9 percentmotivated by aracial or ethnic/national bias,17.1 percentwere triggeredby a religious biasand 14.2 percent weremotivated by a sexualorientationbias. The SouthernPoverty Law Center is convinced theFBI figures are low because reportingby local law-enforcement agencies isvoluntary and some states have weakhate-crime laws.Such crimes are particularlydevastating to their victims becausethe only apparent motive is a person’srelationship to a certain group.Compared with other crime victims,hate-crime survivors have moresymptoms of depression, anger, anxiety,and posttraumatic stress and take longerto recover from the ordeal.Hate crimes can cause a targetedgroup to feel angry, isolated, vulnerable,intimidated, unprotected, and fearfulof future attacks. They may questionhow widespread the hatred andbigotry is and how many others arewilling to commit this type of violence.Clearly, hate-crime violence can havea damaging impact on an entirecommunity, leading to a sense of lostsafety, mistrust, and substantialdamage to a community’scohesiveness. It isimportant thatvictims notfall into thecommon trapof self-blameand that theyrecognize thatthe individual isnot at fault forthe attack, butrather that it wasa pre-meditated actaimed at the community.The mental health benefitsof church involvement for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans and Native-Americans havebeen documented. Church support canreduce the burden of bias on familymembers and may counter socialisolation and stigmatization. Three offour African-American adults surveyedresponded “very often” or “often” tothe statement, “The religious beliefsI learned when I was young still helpme.” In a survey of 1805 Hispanic-Americans, researchers found thatindividuals seeking help for depression,worry, or fear were twice as likely toseek help from a church than from anyother community service.Churches members need to be wellinformed about hate-group activity inthe nation and in their region. It is amistake to underestimate the strengthof hate and violence of which thesegroups are capable. The membershipof hate groups in the United States isdifficult to measure since the numberof active group members fluctuates.According to the Southern Poverty LawCenter, conservative count estimates25,000 Americans actively involved inhate groups, with an additional 150,000“armchair sympathizers” who receiveliterature and possibly attend rallies.Number of Hate Crimes IncreasesThe Southern Poverty Law Centerfound that the number of hate groupsoperating in the United States hasincrease steadily for several years,especially neo-Nazi groups. The Internethas been a boon to these groups. Thenumber of hate-related websites onthe Internet at the end of 2001 wasmore than 373,000. Hate groups usethe web’s global reach to transmit theirmessage, often anonymously, to anetwork of followers.It is important that churches developleadership to combat hate groups andtheir toxic messages. This outreach isparticularly needed in ministry to youth.Reacting against positive social changesbrought by the Civil Rights Movement,new hate groups have formed, whichinclude the “Christian” Identity Church,the White Aryan Resistance, and theneo-Nazis. They use magazines, cable TVshows, public-access channels, radio talkshows, comic books, and the Internetto promote their manipulative messagesof hate and violence, especially toyouth. Many of the potential recruitsare alienated and vulnerable youth whoprobably would respond to the effortsof clergy and congregations that expresslove and concern for them. Withinchurches, mosques, and synagoguesare young people who, if encouragedand trained, would lead or take part inefforts to counter hate violence.Churches need to build stronginterfaith relationships. As people offaith we can stand together and speakout against those who seek to use hateand violence to divide us. An interfaithpresence can act as a deterrent tohate crimes. Working to find commonground by establishing an ongoinginterfaith dialogue about the issuesthat divide people of faith is vital tocountering the messengers of hate.Communities can developeducational efforts aimed at dispellingminority stereotypes, reducing hostilitybetween groups, and encouragingbroader intercultural understanding andappreciation.Hate groups seek to exploit diversityas an evil and to pit groups against oneanother. Diverse people of faith workingtogether exert a moral force that canresist hate. As people of faith we canstand together and speak out againstthose who seek to use hate and violenceto divide us.The Rev. Andrew J.Weaver, Ph.D., is a UMpastor and a clinicalpsychologist living inNew York City. He hasco-authored 14 books.32 l Summer 2008 l UM MENUM MEN l Summer 2008 l 33

Americans express their views on biblical storiesVENTURA, Calif.––Despite a spate of high-profile books that question the existenceof God and the validity of the Christian faith, most American adults believe that thestories they read in the Bible can be taken as literal truth, not merely as stories toldto communicate life principles.Researchers at the Barna Group asked a sample of 1,005 adults if they trustedsix biblical stories to be factually accurate or only narratives designed to teachprinciples. A majority of adults indicated that they accepted five of the six stories tobe literally true.The Virgin BirthThree out of four adults (75%) saidthat they believe Jesus Christ was born toa virgin, Mary, as described inthe gospel narratives. Of thesix Bible stories examinedin the survey, this storywas the most widelyaccepted.A majority of allbut one of the sixtypopulation subgroupsstudied in the research tookthe Virgin Birth at face value.The exception was atheists and agnostics(among whom just 15% said this reallyhappened). Some people groups in whicha majority rejected every other Bible testedbroke that pattern in relation to the VirginBirth. The Virgin Birth was accepted asliterally true by two-thirds of upscaleadults (66%) and by a bare majority of theunchurched (53%). Even a strikingly largeshare of those who describe themselves asmostly liberal on political and social issues(60%) adopted the biblical view of Christ’sbirth.Turning water into wineSeven out of ten adults (69%)embraced the story of Jesus turning waterinto wine at the wedding in Cana as beingliterally true.However, there were substantialdifferences across subgroups. Born-againadults were nearly twice as likely as othersto accept the story at face value (94%versus 49%). Churched adults were almosttwice as likely as the unchurched to adoptthis story (80% vs. 42%). Protestantswere more likely than Catholics; blackswere more likely than whites or Hispanics;downscale individuals exceeded thelikelihood ofupscale people;and conservativeswere more likelythan liberals to seethe story as literallyaccurate. Residentsof the South werefar more likely toembrace the story than were people inother regions of the country.Feeding the 5,000The Bible tells about Jesus usingfive loaves of bread and two fish to feed5,000, and then collecting 12 basketsfull of leftovers. Two out of three people(68%) view that story as factuallyaccurate.The groups most likely to accept thisstory as literaltruth includedborn againChristians,Protestants,downscale adults, residents of the South,Republicans, conservatives, and churchedpeople. Atheists/agnostics, liberals, upscalepeople and the unchurched stood out asespecially resistant to this story.The FloodMostAmericans (64%)have no troublebelieving that theplanet-altering flood actually happened,in which Noah, his family and numerousanimals were spared by building and thenliving on a giant boat for several months.Not everyone had an easy timeadopting this story as accurate. Half orfewer of several groups bought intoNoah’s adventure: Catholics, atheists/agnostics, residents of the Northeast,upscale adults, the unchurched, andliberals.Eve and the serpentIn total, 56% of adults believe thatthe story of the devil, disguised as aserpent and tempting Eve to sin by eatingthe forbidden fruit, is literally true.More than four out of every fiveborn-again adults embraced this story,compared to less than half as many amongthe non-born again.While Protestants weresignificantly morelikely than Catholicsto accept this storyas literal truth, onlya minority of theupscale (39%), theunchurched (32%),political liberals (35%)and people in the Northeast (46%) sharedthat confidence. Only 8% of atheists andagnostics accept the story.The strength of SamsonThe Bible tells of Samson, one ofthe judges of ancient Israel, losing hislegendary strength when Delilah seducedhim into revealing that his hair was thesource of that strength and that he lost hisstrength when she had his hair cut. Onlyhalf of the population (49%) accepts thatstory as completely accurate.Born-again Christians (72%) wereamong the most prolific defenders ofthat story. Joining them were people whoattend Protestant churches that are notassociated with mainline denominations(71%) and African Americans (70%).This was also the onlyBible story tested inwhich gender affectedperspectives: femaleswere more likely thanmales to accept thisstory as accurate.Reflections on the dataUpon analyzing the findings,researcher and author George Barnanoted that the outcomes helped to betterunderstand the place of Christian belief inAmerican society.“Americans are clearly knowledgeableabout many of the key Old Testamentstories, but they are also more comfortableaccepting the stories drawn from the lifeof Jesus and the New Testament,” Barnaexplained. “Many people seem to dividethe Bible into two separate and unequalportions: the Old Testament, with whatthey perceive to be allegorical stories,and the New Testament, with what theybelieve to be factual history.”Barna also pointed out that thelarge majority who believe in the VirginBirth coincides with the fact that fewAmericans are offended by public displaysthat remind people of the meaning ofChristmas and the importance of thecelebration. Quite the contrary, he stated,“Christmas is one of the few componentsof the Christian faith that even nominalChristians––who exceed 40 millionadults––appreciate. Although that group,in particular, is not spiritually inclined, thejoy and deeper meaning introduced bycelebrating the birth of Christ resonateswith them at the same time that theseason strikes a more profound spiritualchord with committed Christians.”Reprinted by permission from The BarnaGroup (www.barna.org).34 l Summer 2008 l UM MENUM MEN l Summer 2008 l 35

dad’s zoneFathers trust others to develop their childrenArecent survey by George Barnareveals that most parentsunderestimate the influencethey can exert on their children. Theyfocus on making sure their childrenare in an environment where learningcan take place rather than teachingvalues to their own children.Most parents place their childrenin the finest schools they can affordand they routinely take them toSunday school and church in the beliefthat these institutions will educatetheir children.Following the study, Barna issued“five P’s of parental hope”:1. Preparation. Millions ofparents enroll their youngstersin numerous and varied activitiesin order to prepare their childrenfor success. Most parents donot see themselves as the key togrooming a well-rounded child;they believe their role is to placetheir child in developmentalenvironments and under thetutelage of those who can taketheir prodigies to the next level ofproficiency.2. Performing well. Parentslook for measures of productivitythat indicate how their child isdoing on the path to success.Good grades in school, scoringin sports, and performing wellin artistic endeavors are amongthe measures parents rely upon,as well as feedback from otherparents, teachers, coaches, pastorsand other experts.3. Pressure management.Amidst significant parentalexpectations, stiff academicstandards and peer pressure,many kids struggle to stayhealthy and balanced. Parentswho are cognizant of thesemounting pressures attempt tohelp their offspring learn how tomanage stress, competition anddisappointments.4. Protection. The age-oldproblem of bullies––stillconsidered by kids, parents andteachers to be a significant issue––can be added to such parentalfears as kidnapping, drugs,and sexualization, making thesecurity of children one of the toppriorities of parents.5. Public perception. In a societywhere image is reality, and parentsare as anxious about their imageas a parent as they are about theirchild’s image in their peer group,influencing public perceptions isa major concern among parents.Like politicians, many parentshone their skills in spin controland positioning in order to placethem and their children in thebest possible light.Barna surveys point out that mostparents underestimate the influencethey can exert on their children.Consequently, they often focus on the“5 Ps” but neglect emphasis uponactivities that would strengthen theirrelational bond with the children.Many Christian parents overlook theneed to foster a connection betweentheir children and God, or to enhancethe child’s worldview as a criticalcomponent of their decision-makingskills.POSITION: DadJOB DESCRIPTION:Long term, team players needed, for challengingpermanent work in an often chaoticenvironment.Candidates must possess excellent communicationand organizational skills and be willing to workvariable hours, which will include evenings andweekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.Some overnight travel required, including trips toprimitive camping sites on rainy weekends andendless sports tournaments in far away cities!Travel expenses not reimbursed.Extensive courier duties also required.RESPONSIBILITIES:The rest of your life.Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, untilsomeone needs $5.Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, mustpossess the physical stamina of a pack muleand be able to go from zero to 60 mph in threeseconds flat in case, this time, the screams fromthe backyard are not someone just crying wolf.Must be willing to face stimulating technicalchallenges, such as small gadget repair,mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars andcoordinate production of multiple homeworkprojects.Must have ability to plan and organize socialgatherings for clients of all ages and mentaloutlooks.Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, anembarrassment the next.Must handle assembly and product safety testing ofa half million cheap, plastic toys, and batteryoperated devices.Dad’s Job DescriptionMust always hope for the best but be prepared forthe worst.Must assume final, complete accountability for thequality of the end product.Responsibilities also include floor maintenance andjanitorial work throughout the facility.POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT &PROMOTION:None.Your job is to remain in the same position for years,without complaining, constantly retraining andupdating your skills,so that those in your charge can ultimatelysurpass youPREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:None required unfortunately.On-the-job training offered on a continuallyexhausting basis.WAGES AND COMPENSATION:You pay them!Offering frequent raises and bonuses.A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 on theassumption that college will help them becomefinancially independent.When you die, you give them whatever is left.The oddest thing about this reverse-salary schemeis that you actually enjoy it and wish you couldonly do more.BENEFITS:While no health or dental insurance, no pension, notuition reimbursement, no paid holidays andno stock options are offered; this job supplieslimitless opportunities for personal growth,unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses forlife if you play your cards right.AND THERE IS NO RETIREMENT.dad’s zone36 l Summer 2008 l UM MENUM MEN l Summer 2008 l 37

dollars and senseA2003 law requires each of thethree major credit-rating agenciesto provide you with one free copyof their credit report annually. In order toget your free credit reports, you need tovisit the web site Annualcreditreport.com.You are entitled to receive one freecredit report from each agency every 12months, but it’s your choice whether youorder all three at the same time or orderone now and others later. The advantageof ordering all three at the same time isthat you can compare them. However,you will not be eligible for another freebatch for 12 months. The advantage ofordering one from a different agencyevery four months is that you’ll becomeaware of any inaccurate or potentiallydamaging information more quickly.When you get your report, you mayfind that you have open credit cards thatyou had forgotten about (remember thattrip to Sears where you were offered a 20percent discount if you opened a creditcard account?).Your credit report will include thephone numbers of the accounts and aphone call to the creditors will enable youto close those unused accounts.Creditors may look at the numberof accounts you have and even if thesecredit cards are never used, creditors mayget the impression that you have toomany credit opportunities.The three credit reporting agenciesare Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; Experian: 1-888-397-3742;www.experian.com; TransUnion:1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com.What steps should I take if I’m avictim of identity theft?1. File an on-line complaint with theFederal Trade Commission (https://Free credit reportsrn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03).2. File a report your local police. Somestate laws require local policedepartments to take reports, but ifyou can’t get the local police to take areport, try your county or state police.3. Contact one of the three consumerreportingagencies to place a fraudalert on your credit reports. Thatcompany is required to contactthe other two. You shouldthen receive one free copyof your creditreport fromeach agency4. Close theaccounts thatyou know,or believe,have beentampered withor opened fraudulently.Send your letters by certifiedmail, return-receipt requested. Keepa file of your correspondence andenclosures.5. Once you have resolved your identitytheft dispute with the company, askfor a letter stating that the companyhas closed the disputed accounts andhas discharged the fraudulent debts.Many states have laws that letconsumers “freeze” their credit; thiswill restrict access to your credit report.No one can then access your creditreport unless you temporarily lift thefreeze. Placing a credit freeze does notaffect your credit score––nor does itkeep you from getting your free annualcredit report, or from buying your creditreport or score.This article is based on informationfrom the Fair Trade Commission.38 l Summer 2008 l UM MENUM MEN l Summer 2008 l 39

July/August/September 2008Volume 44, No. 3United Methodist Men set new strategies, elect officersNASHVILLE, Tenn.––In the same yearthat the ministry of United Methodist Menis celebrating its 100th anniversary, annualconference presidents of UM Men learned ofnew methods to reach men in the next 100years.Meeting Feb. 28-March 2, the NationalAssociation of Conference Presidents (NACP)of UM Men, also elected new officers andset plans for their 2009 national gathering tobe held in Nashville after a long tradition ofmeeting at Purdue University.“I’m more excited than I’ve ever beenbefore about men’s ministry,” said DavidAdams, top staff executive of the GeneralCommission on UM Men. While noting thelong history of ministry through charteredgroups of UM Men, he said, “We need to beinvitational and provide many entry points formen.”Men’s Ministry SpecialistsTo help churches launch new efforts inmen’s ministry, the commission has establisheda process whereby men can become “Men’sMinistry Specialists.” These specialists willbe certified by the General Board of HigherEducation and Ministry following therecommendation and mentoring by theirpastors, training experiences in men’s ministry,a course in UM history and polity, andexperience in leading a local or regional event.There will also be an opportunity for personswho have completed courses in Lay SpeakingMinistries to receive additional training tobecome Men’s Ministry Specialists.Larry Malone, a staff executive with theGeneral Commission on UM Men, chatswith Brett Clemmer, an executive withMan in the Mirror Ministries, during theMarch meeting of the National Associationof Conference PresidentsTenth National GatheringThe 10th national gathering will be heldJuly 10-11, 2009, at Belmont University inNashville. The two-day event will includespeeches by Chicago Area Bishop Hee-SooJung and Kevass Harding, pastor of DellroseUnited Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas.Vince Gill, a nationally known country musicsinger, will perform. An informal worshipservice will be held on Sunday, July 12 forthose remaining in the Nashville area.In other business, the conference presidents:• presented the 2007 “Bud the SpudAward” to Virginia Annual ConferenceUM Men for the largest increase ingiving to Meals for Millions. The awardhonors the late Nelson Curtis of DetroitConference for his tireless efforts toeliminate hunger in America;• endorsed a resolution asking GeneralConference to make the Society of St.Andrew the official hunger agency for theUMC;• learned that conference prayer advocateshad contributed $8,741 for the UpperRobert Powell, executive manager of the United Methodist Men Foundation, tellsconference presidents of the time he accidentally hooked a rusty old fishing pole. Hebrought it home, ground off the dirt and rust, and he restored it to its former glory.“If I can do that with an old fishing pole, think of what God can do with us,” he said.Room Prayer Line and that the UM Men Foundation had paid the full 2007 watts-line $14,689phone bill for the prayer ministry. The ministry receives 30,000 calls each month and 7,000 e-mailrequests for prayer;• inducted Adams into the John Wesley Society;• previewed a six-minute video celebrating the 100th anniversary of UM Men’s ministry to bepresented to General Conference;• learned the UM Men Foundation has a net worth of $2.5 million.You can become a Men’s Ministry SpecialistIf you desire to serve God and the UMC in the ministry of Jesus Christ through men, you mightconsider certification as a Men’s Ministry Specialist (MMS), operating under the General Commissionon UM Men (GCUMM).A MMS is a man committed to lifelong spiritual growth. He is an active member of the UMC; aready learner who is teachable and can teach others. He communicates and listens well, using theseskills to work closely with a team of congregation lay and clergy leaders. Together they help the entirecongregation increase effectiveness in reaching men, and the spiritual growth of men. The MMSdoes not displace existing leaders––rather he serves alongside them helping congregations reach theirvision by more effectively engaging and growing men as followers of Jesus Christ. The MMS connectscongregations with effective and appropriate training and resources for ministry to and through men.Basic MMS Requirements Be recommended by your pastor, and if married, have the support of your wife. Grow spiritually under the counsel of a spiritually mature person. Meet and work with your district superintendent and conference and district leaders of UMMen. Participate in a small-group such as Disciple Bible Study, “Companions in Christ,” orWesleyan Building Brothers or engage in other spiritual formation work that moves youtoward spiritual maturity. Complete free on-line spiritual and personality assessment inventories that help you knowyourself and communicate well with others. Participate in a 2 ½ day “No Man Left Behind” men’s leadership training experience offeredthrough Man in the Mirror ministries. Read Spiritual Fathers by Dan Schaffer and No Man Left Behind by Patrick Morley, DavidDelk and Brett Clemmer. Complete a free on-line course on UMC/UM Men history and polity. Participate in UMC Safe Sanctuary and Sexual Ethics courses offered by your district orannual conference. Attend a basic Lay Speaker course; advanced courses are encouraged.When all MMS requirements are completed, you will be interviewed, reviewed, and recommended forMMS certification by a panel under the authority of the GCUMM. The panel will recommend youfor certification by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry for service within the UMCas a Men’s Ministry Specialist.For additional information and application forms, go to www.gcumm.org.41

North Carolina men organize cluster groupCHARL0TTE, N.C.––Men from six UMcongregations in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg areahave formed a Black UM Men’s Cluster.Last January, men of St. Mark’s UMC inCharlotte invited men from five neighboringcongregations to “break bread together.”During that gathering, the men agreed to offertheir services to the greater Charlotte-Mecklenburgcommunity, and they resolved to use theircollective resources “to positively influence men,young and old, throughout the Western NorthCarolina Conference.”“The Afro-centric focus of the cluster excludesnone but simply acknowledges that certain issueswithin the Afro-American religious communityinitially require our men to forthrightly addressthem before expanding the call to others,” saidHank Dozier, president of the UM Men in theCharlotte DistrictThe men agreed to begin a monthly Biblestudy, known as the “Hour of Power” and theywill hold future sessions to address topics such as,“training the trainer,” “how to be a mentor,” and“getting men involved.”Men from St. Mark’s invited the other churchesto attend a May retreat in Myrtle Beach, S.C.,and all men in the cluster will be invited to futureretreats hosted by member churches.Dozier said the group should learn from theMen attending a January meeting in Charlotte,N.C. pray before launching a Black UM Men’sCluster organization.experiences of Henry Evans, a free black man andMethodist minister who preached the gospel to allraces in Fayetteville more than two centuries ago.“His steadfastness in the faith was such that Evanswas recognized by the General Assembly of NorthCarolina in 1989,” said Dozier.“Our modern-day ministry faces no dauntingobstacles as did Evans, but nearly five years pastthe tercentenary celebration of John Wesley’s birth,it is our responsibility to continue Evans’ workand be ever mindful that we too must take upWesley’s challenge, move beyond our respectivecongregations and ‘look upon the whole world as(our) parish’.”The six churches involved in the cluster includeSt Mark’s UMC, Ebenezer UMC, Hunter’s ChapelUMC, Plaza UMC, Simpson-Gillespie UMC, andSouth Tryon UMC.Matthew Eichert––Supports orphans in IndiaVENICE, Fla.––Eicherthas twice served aspresident of UM Menof Christ UMC and heis the leader of the FirstSaturday Men’s ClubBreakfasts that supportsfour orphans in India.The group supports theyoung people throughhigh school and college with the first orphanscheduled to graduate from college this year.The men maintain the church yards andbuilding; Matt and his wife, Bert, are incharge of the church kitchen. In addition,Matt has served as captain of the ushers, anadult Sunday school teacher, and chair ofthe Administrative Board. He has also servedas a leader of the Board of Trustees andStewardship Committee.Dick Fields––Procures land for church buildingLife MembersFields realized the growing congregationwould soon need a larger facility. He becamethe point man in the effort to purchase thepresent church site. Of course, the 27-yearmember of the church also helps with fundraisingactivities of UM Men, and he hasserved on several other church committees.“The Life Membership Award is a small wayto thank Dick for his dedication and service,”said Bill Scoggins, president of Hiawassee UMMen.Emmit Wilson ––Pastor and charter memberBRISTOL, Va. ––Wilson, the pastor of BeechGrove UMC and a charter member of UMMen organization, received a life membershipaward in January during the church’s firstMerle Banta, former North Central Jurisdiction president, diesMerrill (Merle) Banta, 75, formerpresident of the North CentralJurisdiction of UM Men and DetroitAnnual Conference UM Men, died inMarch following a lingering illness.Banta also served as secretary ofthe National Association of ConferencePresidents of UM Men. “He was agreat person to work with,” saidRobert Powell, who served as NACPpresident while Banta was secretary.“In 1997, NACP had to plan andexecute our own NACP meeting,”said Powell. “Merle was the personwho booked all our rooms at Scarritt-Bennett, handled all the registration onhis own, collected all the money andpaid the bills. The meeting went offwithout a hitch.”While living in Detroit, he builthomes for Habitat for Humanity, andhelped in the rehabilitation of El BuenIglesia Metodista Unida church.Banta also served on theBoard of Directors of the first GeneralCommission on UM Men. He andhis wife, Lillian, moved to the Tampa,Fla., area in 2001 where they becameactive in the Lake Magdalene UMC.He was an accomplished bridgeplayer and an excellent dog trainer. Heworked with Civitan for a number ofyears after moving to Florida. Heserved in the U.S. Air Force from1950-1954, and then attended IowaState University from 1954-1958. Heearned a Bachelor of Science degreein mechanical engineering. Afterspending more than 30 years workingat Ford Motor Co., he retired and tookmany trips and cruises with Lillian. Thecouple’s three children, William, Ellenand Robert, miss him greatly, as doesEllen’ s son, Liam.“We will miss you Merle,”said Powell.Bill Scoggins, 2007 president of HiawasseeUM Men, reads the Life Member citation forDick Fields (center) as Doug Brown, the 2008president joins in honoring Fields.HIAWASSEE, Ga.––While serving as chairof the Hiawassee UMC Finance Committee,The Rev. Emmit Wilson receives a lifemembership pin from the Rev. Bob Carbarywhile Tom Mitoraj, president of BeechgroveUM Men makes the presentation speech.“Men’s Ministry Sunday. “Emmit supportsus by his presence at our bi-monthlybreakfast meetings and by his enthusiasm andsupport from the pulpit,” said Tom Mitoraj,president of Beechgrove UM Men. On thesame Sunday, Mitoraj gave the President’sChoice Award and an EMS membership toGuy Hardin, vice-president of Beech GroveSunday school and a supporter of various UMMen work projects.4243

July/August/September 2008Torch, Cross and Flame Award winnersVaughn NicholsConference scouting coordinator ledGod and Country retreatGULF BREEZE, Fla.––Vaughn Nichols, scoutingcoordinator for Alabama-West Florida, received theTorch Award for 26 yearsof service to scouting.A graduate ofAuburn University, hecurrently serves as thehealth-care accountmanager for Gulf PowerCompany, and he isresponsible for hospitalsand health-care facilitiesin northwest Florida.His service as a Boy Scout volunteer began in1988, with Troop 102 in Gulf Breeze. He served inseveral scouting offices while his older son, Brian,attained the rank of Eagle. In 1999, Nichols servedas a den leader for Cub Pack 102 with his youngerson, Trey. He also served as committee chair for the90-member pack.In 1998, he was named chair of a districtscouting committee, and in 2004, he became vicepresident for marketing for the Gulf Coast BoyScout Council, a post he still holds.A Sunday school teacher and scoutingministries coordinator at Gulf Breeze UMC, heled a 2007 weekend retreat where a record 24 GirlScouts and Cub Scouts earned God and Countryawards. The church has four scouting units withsome 150 scouts.In 2000, he led a mission team that built athree-mile power line to serve a hurricane-damagedvillage on the island of Guanaja in Honduras.Nearly 250 homes have electricity because of thatmission.Richard SynhorstEditor: Larry CoppockVolume 44, No. 3Scouting coordinator leads troop toraise funds for Katrina reliefGRAND RAPIDS, Minn.––Richard Synhorst,the scouting coordinator for the MinnesotaAnnualConference,received a Crossand Flame Awardfor 48 years ofscouting ministry.Whileleading scoutingministry forthe annualconference,he also led afund-raisingeffort by Troop41, charteredby Grand Rapids UMC. The young peopleraised $200 to help troops that lost equipmentor camp sites during Hurricane Katrina byselling popcorn and chili. The relief effort wascoordinated by the Scouting Ministry section ofthe General Commission on UM Men.The award was presented last year on ScoutSunday by the Rev. Marva Jean Hutchens,pastor of Grand Rapids UMC.Ellen SpallMother of two EagleScoutsFISHERS, Ind. ––FishersUMC presented a Cross andFlame Award to Ellen Spallfor serving as a Cub Scoutand Boy Scout leader whileher two sons passed throughPastor Marva Jean Hutchenspresents a Cross and FlameAward to Richard Synhorst,scouting coordinatorfor Minnesota AnnualConference.Please send ScoutingNews submissions to: Larry CoppockOCYSA • P.O. Box 340006 • Nashville, TN 37203-0006lcoppock@gcumm.orgthe ranks. She served two terms each as a Tiger,Wolf, Bear and Webelos den leader from 1995 to2003. While working with the Cub pack she alsoserved as advancement coordinator and summerday camp coordinator. She also assisted with rechartering,Blue and Gold banquets, popcorn salesand annual picnics.Spall served as advancement chair for BoyScout Troop 109 from 2001 to 2006 while herhusband served as chair of the Troop Committee.She also assisted with re-chartering, the foodbooth at the annual Fishers Festival, the Christmastree lot, the Connor Prairie Wagon Pull, and the“Scouting for Food” drive. She also helped withseveral Eagle projects, including those of her twosons.Betsy BlacklockTrains leader of Cub Scoutsand Boy ScoutsROSEWOOD HEIGHTS, Ill.–– “When I arrivedat St. Paul UMC eight years ago, our Cub Scoutpack had three members,” said Daryl Fansler,pastor of the 550-member congregation. “Today,we have nearly 50 youth involved in Cub Scoutsevery Tuesday night. This growth has come throughBetsy’s recruitment of great volunteers and diligenttraining of those volunteers.” Fansler says sheawarded Betsy a Cross and Flame award for thehours she and her husband, Bob, spent organizingtraining sessions for Cub Scout and Boy ScoutCHINCOTEAGUE, Va.––OnScout Sunday in February, BoyScout and Girl Scout troopssponsored by Christ UMC receivedBishop’s Awards of Excellence forcompleting work on a prayer gardenand encouraging the spiritualgrowth of young people.“Religious activities areencouraged with prayer before mealsand Sunday morning services,” saidMichael Jump, scouting coordinatorfor Christ UMC. He notes that theBoy Scouts have a chaplain’s aidwho assists the Scout master, andthe Rev. Travis DeLoach, pastor ofChrist UMC, conducted God andCountry studies.The application for the awardwas submitted to the GeneralCommission on UM Men by Jumpand signed by DeLoach and BishopCharlene Kammerer.The award is designed torecognize outstanding UM scoutingunits where at least 20 percent of theyouth members are working towardor have completed the appropriatereligious emblem program for theirage level. The units must participatein the Scouting Ministries Sundayand complete at least one serviceproject.45leaders. Fansler presented the award during a ScoutSunday service in February.Richard CoxBaptist layman receives UnitedMethodist awardAKRON, Ohio––A Baptist who led a Cub packand a Boy Scout troop chartered by Park UMCreceived a Cross and Flame Award. Richard Coxserved as a Cub master for three years, advancementchairman for four years, and now serves as troopchaplain. He has served Arlington MemorialBaptist Church as a youth leader, a Sunday schoolteacher and chair of the Deacon board. He alsoserved on the church finance committee andpresident of his Sunday school class.Ronica BowenGirl Scout leaderGREENSBORO, N.C.––A member of GuilfordCollege UMC and a Girl Scout leader for 10 yearsmakes Ronica Bowen an obvious choice for a Crossand Flame Award. She serves on the Staff-ParishRelations Committee and the Building Committee.She assists with children’s drama, Vacation BibleSchool and “Elf Gang” outings. She also teachesan adult Sunday school class and volunteers at thePartnership Village. As the leader of senior andjunior troops, she organizes camporees, fatherdaughterbanquets, “Thinking Day” events, talentshows, and Girl Scout Sunday.Bishop’s Awards presented to Virginia church troops“Are we there yet,” ask Girl Scouts ina troop sponsored by Christ UMC inChincoteague, Va.“We’re ready to go, but where areour canoes.” That appears to be themessage of Scouts in a troop charteredby Christ UMC in Chincoteague, Va.

Carlton Smith and Lisa Howard––Youth leaders repair hurricanedamaged homesCHATANOOGA, Tenn. ––Carlton and Lisa each receivedthe top youth award fromthe Nashville-based GeneralCommission on UM Men.The co-chairs of theleadership team that plansyouth activities for RedBank UMC received GoodSamaritan Awards on ScoutSunday, Feb. 9.Carlton participated in aJuly, 2007, mission trip to Gulfport, Miss., wherehe helped repair homes damaged by HurricaneKatrina. He also participated in a 2002 churchmission trip to a Navajo Indian Reservation.A Life Scout, Carlton currently serves asan assistant senior patrol leader for Boy ScoutTroop 58. He earlier served as a troop scribe, aquartermaster, and he was a chaplain’s assistant atSkymont Boy Scout Camp.In 2005 and2006, he served as denchief for Webelos at aCub Scout Day Camp.He also served on staffat a Webelos Camp atSkymont.At Red BankHigh School, CarltonCarlton Smithexcels at the 300 meterhurdles and pole vault.He currently competes on the Ultimate FrisbeeTeam.Lisa also participated in the Gulfport missiontrip. She is a founding member of dance ministryat Red Bank Church and participates in churchdramas. She is also a member of the church’s youthkick ball team.At Red Bank High School, Lisa is a memberof the marching band and the Beta Club. She is thesecretary of the Student Council and a participantGood Samaritan AwardsLisa Howardin the Model United Nations.She continues her interest in dance with theKaren Horton Studio.Robert Nelson––Holds post in Oregon-IdahoConferenceSALEM, Oregon––Robert is still in high school,but he has served as a votingmember of the Oregon-IdahoAnnual Conference for thepast two years. He will againserve in that position for the2008 assembly as chair of theConference Youth MinistryTeam.Robert represented theannual conference at twobiannual Western Jurisdictional Robert Nelsongatherings and he representedthe jurisdiction at a global gathering in SouthAfrica in January, 2007.He has been active in youth ministrysince September 2002 when he was a 6 th gradestudent. “I was immediately impressed withRobert’s willingness to help in any situation andrecommended that he be invited to serve at theconference level of youth ministry,” says ChrisKester, program associate for Morningside UMCin Salem.Prior to serving as a voting member of theannual conference, Robert served two yearsas a page. “He was actually not old enough toserve as a page the first year he applied,” saidKester; “however, at my recommendation he wasaccepted and proved to be one of the best pageson the team.”Robert has completed all the requirementsto become a counselor in the UM campingprogram and he serves on the leadership teamfor district youth events and co-chair of theMorningside Church Youth Ministry Team.Robert also received a recommendation forthe award from Glen R. Hayden, Scoutmasterof Troop 18. “I can attest to the fact that thereare few young men as dedicated and helpful asRobert,” said Hayden. A six-year member of thetroop, Robert currently serves as a patrol leaderand he has logged over 60 hours of communityservice.Dan Plorin––Compassionate youthCOLLEYVILLE, Texas––Dan is one of theyoungest people to receive a Good SamaritanAward. He is only a second-class Scout, butBoy Scout Troop 28 Chaplain David Balldescribes him as “a bright enthusiastic soulwho is naturally liked by his peers and livesup to the Scout Oath andScout Law.”Last fall when Dylan,one of Dan’s friends,experienced the suddentragic death of his teenagesister, most of the Dylan’sDan Plorinfriends were uncomfortablewith such an emotionalsituation and they shiedaway from him. “Dan stuck by his friend, kepthim positive, and lent a sympathetic ear,” saidBall. “At the painful visitation and funeralfor the sister, Dan kept by Dylan’s side––hispresence and steadfast friendship addedemotional stability in a time of extreme need.”“It is my opinion, as troop chaplain,” saidBall, “that Dan clearly lived by the teaching ofLuke 10:25-37, showing tremendous strengthand comfort in a time of need while settingaside his fears in order to serve his fellow man.His actions at this critical period promptedme to submit his name for a Good SamaritanAward.”The award was presented in February by theFirst UMC of Colleyville.Ryan Faulkner––Scout collects 1,437 booksDAYTON, Tenn.––A high school senior anda member of First UMC in Dayton, Ryancollected children’s books and built bookcasesfor five community organizations.For his Eagle project, Ryan cataloguedand repaired 1,437 books and gave them toa Women’s Care Center, the Rhea CountyHealth Department, the RheaMedical Center, the DaytonHousing Authority and theAvalon Center, an agency forbattered women and theirchildren.Ryan and his father builtfour bookcases (the hospitaldid not need a bookcase) andhe purchased bins to hold thebooks. Each agency receivedan alphabetized listing of thedonated books.Donald Comp––Three hundred hours of serviceSHERMANS DALE, Pa.––Thirteenyearold Life Scout Donald Comp, a memberof Mt. Gilead UMC and the Senior PatrolLeader for Shermans Dale Boy Scout Troop94, received a Good Samaritan Awardfor completing300 hours ofcommunity service.Donny worked on53 different projectsbetween June, 2005and January, 2008.One of hisfavorite projectsis working on thechurch’s annualRyan Faulknerproudly shows oneof the bookcaseshe built to housedonated books.Donald Comp (left) workson a construction project inSherman Dale, Pa.week-long work camps. For the past two years,he has helped repair and improve homes inthe county. He plans to keep adding morehours of service.Charlie Hawkins and Sean Armstrong––Three ways to feed the hungryNEOSHO, Mo.––Charlie Hawkins and SeanArmstrong, members of Neosho UMC, havebig hearts. They both received Good SamaritanAwards for their efforts to feed the hungry. Forthe past several years they have helped collectand distribute food for the “Scouting for Food”program of the area Council of Churches. Theyalso assist with food distribution for the NeoshoUM Angel Food Ministries where local familiescan purchase $80-$100 worth of food for $25.4647

Charlie andSean also helpraise funds forthe Societyof SaintAndrew by Good Samaritan Award winnersparticipating Charlie Hawkins and Seanin car washes Armstrong of Neosho, Mo., helpand other scouts raise funds for the Society ofactivities. St. Andrew by washing cars at aQuizno’s parking lot.Dirk Williams––4-H leaderPARKERSBURG, W.Va.––Dirk Williamshas been in 4-H for ten years and served aspresident of Cedar Grove Mountaineer 4-Hfor six of those years. He began raising rabbitsand recently raised hogs and Angus heifers. Hereceived several best-ofshowawards in countyfairs. Dirk receivedthe Bronze Award forCommunity ServiceHours for timberingand cutting trees,cutting and bailinghay, and helping withlandscape projects atthe Wood County 4-HDirk Williams shows hisprize winning hog at theWood County 4-H FairFair campgrounds. For four years he has helpedan 84-year-old man maintain his 40-acre cattlefarm. Dirk is a member of FFA, an organizationformerly known as Future Farmers of America,but changed in 1988 to reflect the expandingcareer field of agricultural education. Last year,Dirk served as president of an FFA chapter andhe represented the state at the FFA nationalconvention. He is an active member of StoutMemorial UMC.Philip Ogden––Assistance for personswith disabilitiesSUMMERVILLE, S.C.––After serving for twosummers as a camp counselor for persons withdisabilities, Philip Ogden knew that his Eagleproject had to help the same people. After a visitto the Mosstree House, a home operated by theDisablities Board ofCharleston County,Philip agreed to clearthe area for a wheelchair ramp and a fireescape. He also agreedto build a bench forresidents to sit and After preparing the forms,admire their garden. His mixing and pouring thetroop built forms for the cement, sand and gravel,concrete supports for concrete bench supportsthe bench, mixed and are ready for painting.poured the cement, sandand gravel, and installedthe wood slats.48Peter Larson––Sleeps out for thehomeless, raises $50,000PLYMOUTH, Minn.––Thirteen-year-old PeterLarson received a Good Samaritan Award fromMessiah UMC in Plymouth for sleeping outsideevery Christmas seasonfor the past eight yearsto raise money tocombat homelessness.He has raised $50,000for an inter-faithorganization whosemission is to “identifyand respond to theunmet basic needsof people in the community.” Gleason LakeElementary started the Sleep Out 11 years ago.Peter is able to sleep outside in below freezingtemperatures, thanks to the Boy Scout wintercamping skills he learned in Troop 570. Duringthe 2007 sleepover, he was interviewed by a localtelevision station.Charles Kopf––Four mission trips in three yearsWILMINGTON, Del.––Aldersgate UMCpresented Charles Kopf with a GoodSamaritan Award after he participated inthree mission trips to rebuild homes damagedby Hurricane Katrina and one trip toassist at-risk children in Washington, D.C.An active member of Aldersgate studentministry over the past three years, he assistsin monthly “Checkerboard” dances forpersons with handicapping conditions. Healso participates in the annual Homeless forthe Holidays fund-raising event. An honorstudent at the Delaware Military Academy,Charles participates in a mentoring programfor at-risk youth, ages 4-9, sponsored by theInternational Order of Moose. Charles servesas the senior patrol leader for the Boy Scouttroop sponsored by the church.Boy Scout leader James Lee Tarr dies at 88DALLAS, Texas––James Lee Tarr, 88, the personwho introduced a way to fund the scoutingministries office of the UMC, died March 27from complications from cancer.“This is a loss for all mankind.” said CarlYoung, president of the UM Men Foundation.Tarr, a member of Walnut Hill UMC,served as a Boy Scout employee for more thanfour decades. In 1979, Tarr became chief scoutexecutive, a position he held through 1984. Itwas in that position that he established a scoutingendowment fund; Dave Worley served as directorof scouting ministries for the General Board ofDiscipleship from 1981 to 1990.Tarr served as stewardship chair for theNorth Texas Annual Conference while Youngchaired the same committee for the OklahomaAnnual Conference. They frequently attendedtraining sessions together. “I learned to love thatman,” said Young.Larry Coppock, director of the office ofscouting ministries for the General Commissionon UM Men, described Tarr as an innovativethinker and a man of action. “He establishedthe scouting endowment fund, so the UMC isnow the second largest scouting supporter in theworld,” said Coppock. “He also established theFlorida Boy Scout High Adventure Sea Base.” Tarralso served as Coppock’s chief scouting executivefrom 1979 to 1985 while he was a professionalscout leader.In 1984, the year of his retirement, Tarrand his wife, Margaret, established a charitableannuity trust of $50,000 for scouting. He hasNorth GeorgiaConference BishopG. Lindsey Davispresents GoodSamaritan Awardsto young people inCascade UMC inAtlanta during a bishop’s scouting dinner last fall.Left to right: Bishop Davis, Joshua H. Crawford,Aziza Bromfield and Herbert Humphries Jr.; andRich Wilkins, chair of United Methodist Men atCascade.made other gifts sincethat time and urgedothers to establishsimilar trust funds.Tarr was bornin Bartlesville, Okla.,where he graduatedfrom high school in1937. He attendedOklahoma A&MUniversity (nowOklahoma StateUniversity) andgraduated with adegree in business administration in 1941.That same year, the Eagle Scout went towork for the Boy Scouts Council in San Marcosand married Margaret, his wife of 66 years.His daughter, Mary Margaret Berry, recalledhow her father started his career.“He decided that as a young boy he wantedto work for the Boy Scouts,” Mary said. “Heasked someone when he was 12 years old, ‘Howcan I work for the Boy Scouts?’ The man toldhim to get good grades and go to college and thento call him, and he would hire him. When mydad graduated from Oklahoma State University,that man hired him and he went to work in thatcouncil. He worked for the Scouts for 43 years.”Tarr served in the Naval Reserve from 1943to 1946 in the South Pacific as a supply officer.He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1965 as alieutenant commander.49

July /August/September 2008 Volume 44, No. 3College President named honorary chair offoundation driveRALEIGH, N.C.––Thein 2002 and was namedRev. Dr. Reginaldpresident emeritus inPonder, 71, president2007.emeritus of LouisburgRobert Powell,(N.C.) College andexecutive manager of theformer chief executiveUM Men Foundation,officer of UMis especially gratified toRetirement Homeshave Ponder assume thein North Carolina,role of honorary chairmanhas agreed to serve asof the foundation’s fundhonorary chairman ofdrive. “When I becamethe $5 million fundthe president of thedrive for the UM MenAlabama-West FloridaFoundation.Conference UM Men, IA graduate ofbecame a member of theNorth Carolina State The Rev. Dr. Reginald Ponder SEJ Council of UM Men,”University (BS), Dukesaid Powell. “The meetingsDivinity School (M.Div), and Candler were held at Lake Junaluska Assembly. ItSchool of Theology (D.Min.), Ponder was there I met Dr. Reginald Ponder whoreceived his first clergy appointment in was the top executive of the Jurisdictional1958. After serving a series of North Council on Ministries. He was totallyCarolina churches, he was namedinvolved in our SEJ meetings and was asuperintendent of the New Bern District tremendous supporter of UM Men.”in 1978 and was appointed to the Raleigh Powell notes that Ponder originatedDistrict in 1980. After serving First the concept of forming starter churches.UMC in Rocky Mount from 1983-86, “We adopted this plan and built a numberhe was named executive secretary of the of these churches,” said Powell. “Dr.Southeastern Jurisdictional (SEJ) Council Ponder has always had strong UM Menon Ministries; in 1988 he became executive units in the churches he served.”director of the Jurisdictional Administrative Ponder is a four-time delegate toCouncil.General Conference and a five-timeIn 1993, the church leader became delegate to jurisdictional conference. Hethe president and chief executive officer of has served as a director of the Generalthe United Methodist Retirement Home Board of Global Ministries and the Generalin North Carolina; in 2000, he became Council on Ministries.president emeritus and director of church He is married to Carrie and the couplerelations for those homes. He began his has two adult children.service as president of Louisburg CollegeBishop James SwansonBishop James E. Swanson was inductedinto the John Wesley Society duringa 2007 session of the Holston AnnualConference by Jim Ball, conferencepresident of UM Men.A three-time delegate to GeneralConference, Swanson was elected bishopat the 2004 Southeastern JurisdictionalConference.He is a 1977graduate of theSouthern BibleCollege and a1980 graduateof C.H. MasonSeminary inAtlanta. Hereceived theIsaac R. ClarkPreachingAward, ITC,in 1979, theHarry DenmanAward fromthe South Georgia Conference in 1995,and the Richard Looney EvangelismAward in 2000.Swanson served in the U.S. Armyfrom 1970 to 1973 and received acommendation while serving in Vietnam.He was named the “Man of the Year” inStatesboro, Ga., in 1984, and he chairedthe South Georgia Conference Council onMinistries from 1992 to 1996.The Rev. David AdamsThe Rev. David Adams, generalsecretary of the General Commissionon UM Men, was inducted into theSociety of John Wesley by the NationalAssociation of Conference Presidents ofUM Men during their Feb.28-March 2meeting.Jo h n Wesley FellowsBishop James E. Swanson(left) receives a John WesleySociety plaque from JimBall, president of UM Menin the Holston AnnualConference.Ingram Howard, president of TennesseeUM Men, presents David Adams,general secretary of the Commission onUM Men, with a plaque recognizing hisinduction into the John Wesley Society.Glenn Wintemberg (right of Adams),president of the National Associationof Conference Presidents, and GilbertHanke, president of the GeneralCommission on UM Men, join in theMarch 1 presentation.Adams has been serving as top staffexecutive of the Nashville-based agencyfor 20 months. He was elected to the postwhile serving as pastor of First UMC inLynchburg, Tenn.While a layman, working in theinsurance business, he was electedpresident of the Tennessee Conferenceof UM Men in 1987. At the time theconference was last in the nation in termsof new members. By 1990, the conferenceled the nation in the number of newmembers. In that same 3-year period,Tennessee Conference went from receiving$2,000 in conference appropriations togenerating $40,000 for the conference.Adams says he received a call to theministry while attending a 1994 meetingof UM Men.He is a graduate of BelmontUniversity in Nashville and AsburyTheological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky.He became associate pastor in Shelbyville,Tenn., in 1999; he then moved toMonterey UMC in 2000 and Lynchburgin 2003.51

Harrison JohnsonHarrison Johnson, prayer advocatefor the Baltimore-WashingtonConference, was inducted into the JohnWesley Society during a Feb. 28-March2 meeting of the National Associationof Conference Presidents of UM Men.Johnson leads the only conferenceprayer center in the denomination, aministry that provides a 24-hour a dayhotline to anyone in need of prayer.Sixteen volunteers staff the center,which receives approximately 35 calls aday and more than 7,000 calls a year.Curtis Brisbon, vice-president of theNortheastern Jurisdiction UM Men,pins a John Wesley Society emblem onHarrison Johnson, prayer advocate forthe Baltimore-Washington AnnualConference.This ministry, which attracts peoplefrom as far away as Canada, is located inthe Conference Center in Columbia.Call-in hours are Monday throughFriday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A voicemail box accepts prayer requests after5 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays.The Prayer Line can be reached bycalling (800) 936-6893.In recent months, UM Menexpanded this ministry by establishingremote prayer lines in churches andhelping United Methodists throughoutthe region begin prayer covenantgroups.The John Wesley Society wasformed by the UM Men Foundation in1982 to recognize people who exemplifythe characteristics of the founder ofMethodism.Friends of Johnson contributedover $1,000 in order to present himwith the award during a March 1 dinnerin Nashville.Norman KlettkeNorman Klettke, a member ofTabor Heights UMC in Portland,Oregon, was named as a fellow in theJohn Wesley Society for serving aspresident of the Tabor Heights UMMen andfor his helpin planningthe past twoWesternJurisdictionmeetings.Klettkesays asupportivechurch, aloving wife,a Walk toEmmaus anda secretaryat work haveall broughthim closerto Christ.Norman Klettke (center)receives a John Wesley Awardfrom Dean Hollomon (left),president of the Oregon/Idaho UM Men and EdClark, president of theWestern Jurisdiction UMMen“God is real and always accessible,”says Klettke. “’Be ye doers and believers’has been a goal of mine for many years.”Curtis BrisbonMeet a Legacy BuilderIf you think it’s tough to be the youngestchild, imagine the struggles of CurtisBrisbon who entered life during the 1936Depression as youngest of 10 children. Fewpeople would have expected the youngster tobecome one of the national leaders of UMMen.Brisbon grew up in Rembert, S.C., wherehe was a member of Spring Hill MethodistChurch and a Boy Scout. Following his 1954graduation from high school, Brisbon served atwo-year stint in the U.S. Army. He continuedin the reserves while attending Claflin Collegein Orangeburg, S.C. In 1959, Brisbon returnedto active duty where he served as a first sergeantuntil his 1976 retirement. At that time he wasemployed by the National Park Service wherehe worked in property management until1995.Brisbon, his wife, Mary, and their threechildren have always been active membersof Methodist and UM congregations. Inthe Spring Hill Church, Brisbon servedas a lay member of the South CarolinaAnnual Conference, chairman of the financecommittee, and Sunday school superintendent.In 1980, Brisbon moved to Washington,D.C., area where he became an active memberof First UMC in Bradbury Heights. Heserved as the first president of a UM Mengroup in First Church and he was electedsecretary of the District UM Men and laterpresident. While serving as district presidentBrisbon recruited 100 men to attend the 1995national gathering of UM Men at PurdueUniversity. He served as president of Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference UM Menfrom 2001 to 2004.With boundless energy, Brisbon currentlyserves as vice-president of the NortheasternJurisdiction UM Men, chair of the BradburyHeights Church Administrative Council, a laymember of the Baltimore-Washington AnnualConference, a member of the ConferenceCommittee on Equitable Compensation, and amember of the UM Men Foundation.Brisbon told UM Men magazine thatone of his greatest challenges is to get men tounderstand that we are a connectional church.“I continue to be optimistic that throughprayer, UM Men will come around againas it was in the l980s and early 1990s,” saidBrisbon. “I have seen lives change throughprayer groups, Bible study and opportunitiesfor men to discuss issues common to theirgender.”Brisbon says he is a Legacy Builderbecause he believes the future of UM Men willbe determined by the financial stability of thegeneral commission. “I want to do whateverI can to enable UM Men to touch the lives ofmen forever,” said Brisbon.United Methodist Men Foundation OfficersPresident––Carl Young, Edmond, Okla.Vice-president––Ron Sarver, Lafayette, La.Secretary––Dan Henry, Bolingbrook, Ill.Treasurer––Ed Shytle, Ashland, Ky.Assistant Treasurer––John Burlew, Manlius, N.Y.Robert Powell, Dothan, Ala.––executive manager5253

Amity Foundation—Yunnan Province, ChinaAdvance #11151A“Amity... changedme, my life andthe attitudes ofall the women inthe village. Amityhelped us leavepoverty behind.”Xiao Jinqiu did not have food to eat, money to live onor a home of her own. She led a difficult life in herlittle village in southwest China. Everything changedfor her when the Amity Foundation offered her amicrocredit loan of 1,000 yuan, approximately $130.She used the loan to buy two pigs, five chickens anda large bunch of tea leaves. She began selling thetea leaves for a profit. She planted tea in an AmityFoundation plantation. After repaying the loan fromher profits, she borrowed another 2,000 yuan ($260)to expand her chicken- and pig-raising and used theprofits to buy yarn for weaving. She began weavingtote bags and clothes and eventually earned enough torepay the second loan. On top of that, both pigs had 12piglets, which she sold for an even better profit. Withthis money, she repaid some of her family’s debts.In a letter to Amity, Xiao wrote, “The implementationof microcredits gave me and all the women in thevillage more opportunities to talk to each other. Thetraining sessions did not only teach us techniquesbut, more importantly, they freed our thoughts,transformed our ideas, taught us how to managehousehold finances, changed our habits and improvedthe quality of our lives…. Amity … changed me, my lifeand the attitudes of all the women in the village. Amityhelped us leave poverty behind.”To learn more about The Advance and to give online to the project of your choice,go to www.advancinghope.orgOrder resources at www.umcgiving.org/advance or call toll free: (888) 346-3862.The Advance is a part of The General Board of Global Ministries.5455

Please share with all of the men of the church.Non-ProfitU.S. PostagePAIDNashville, TNPermit 3452General Commission onUnited Methodist MenP.O. Box 340006Nashville, TN 37203-0006