Students gather to tear down walls, build relationships

By Sarah Black
Hoosier UM News Student Correspondent

DELAWARE, Ohio -- The campus of Ohio Wesleyan University was the home for a family reunion, where only the younger relatives of the large family were invited.

The event was the annual United Methodist Student Movement (UMSM) Forum, held yearly since 1996.

This year's forum focused on churches and individuals tearing down walls of hate within and between churches and improving relations between Pan-Methodist and United Methodist denominations.

Students were strongly encouraged to improve and continue learning about and continue discussion with our Pan-Methodist brothers and sisters. The need seemed so great that a resolution on the issue was passed without much opposition, amendments or discussion against the issue.

In addition, UMSM Forum voting delegates passed resolutions on farm workers justice, the increased use of recyclable products at UMSM functions and an amendment to the UMSM Constitution.

The Rev. Helen Bell from Nashville, Tenn., discussed when we seek to tear down walls of the "-isms" we need to seek "unity not uniformity." She said when we try to tear down walls most churches seek to make everyone uniform, not united.

Along those lines, Thomas Thangaraj, an associate professor of World Christianity at the Candler School of Theology stated, "Others don't have to be wrong for you to be right."

He also called for the need to have "recognition, affirmation and celebration" of our differences. Recognizing, affirming and celebrating our differences can be the keys to tearing walls down in our communities and churches. "We can't ignore that we are a part of a global community," said Thangaraj.

Sarah Black is a member of the Wesley Foundation at Purdue University, a sophomore at Purdue, a member of Valparaiso First UMC and a North Indiana delegate to the event.

Last updated on 01/14/2004

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