News Briefs

President Bush receives top award from UM Men

WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- President George W. Bush recently received top honors from United Methodist Men for his statements of faith and his call for the nation to be in prayer following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Gilbert Hanke, national president of United Methodist Men, presented the award. UMM sponsors the award through its foundation. The United Methodist Men from the South Central Jurisdiction wanted to find a way to express their appreciation to Bush for his actions after the 9-11 tragedy. Bush is the 426th person to receive the award making him a member of the Society of John Wesley Fellows.

UM agency builds 123 homes in Mozambique

MAPUTO, Mozambique (UMNS)-- The new village of Magoanine has 123 homes built by the United Methodist Church after catastrophic flooding in 2000 left area residents homeless. Grants from the United Methodist Committee on Relief and the United Methodist Church in Germany helped fund the construction. For many residents, this is the first time they have had access to electricity. The government has granted the United Methodist Church permission to build a church, parsonage, school and clinic in this new community.

'Car of the Year' award goes to hybrid vehicle

It's not easy being "green" in a world of gas-guzzling, road-hogging, tax-discounted SUVs. But that may be about to change. Motor Trend magazine has endorsed what many in the faith community have been saying: the day of the clean, efficient hybrid automobile is here. It awarded the "2004 Car of the Year" status to the Toyota Prius. Popular Science, in its Dec. 2003 issue, also honors the Prius as its Grand Award Winner for automobiles, saying "... hybrid technology has arrived, its benefits are profound, and its drawbacks almost nil." Both Honda and Toyota have popular hybrid cars on sale.

Introductory UMC course of study now online

UM101, a computer online introductory course about The United Methodist Church, gets underway Jan. 21. This basic course is designed for new United Methodists and those considering The United Methodist Church, as well as long-time United Methodists who would like to check their basic knowledge of the UMC. The course is intended for busy people who want to learn about The United Methodist Church -- its roots, theology, structure, connectionalism and current challenges -- on their own time schedule. The course will be available 24 hours a day as an online learning opportunity and multi-media experience. United Methodists can join the class and have the opportunity to interact with facilitators and other participants through online discussions. More details including registration information for UM101, produced by United Methodist Communications, is available at www.training.umcom.org.

Church program helps convicts read to their kids

PUEBLO, Colo. (UMNS) -- Every week, members of SonRise United Methodist Church take books and tape recorders to a nearby prison so young fathers -- many of whom are learning to become better readers themselves -- can read to their children. The church then mails the tape and book to the inmate's child. The program is one of several church efforts to raise the literacy rates of children in high-risk groups. "It helps the dad and it helps the child," says the Rev. Susan Plymell, pastor of SonRise.

Moscow congregation fights for its building

MOSCOW (UMNS) -- A Korean United Methodist church here fears it may lose its church building after the city's justice department allowed outsiders to change the building's ownership documents. On Dec. 9, just three days after the prosecutor's office dropped its investigation into the disputed transfer, guards loyal to the new "owners" seized the building. The pastor, church officials and members remained holed up inside as of Dec. 18. "We are staying here round the clock to try to prevent the illegal seizure," church administrator Svetlana Kim told Forum 18 News Service from inside the church. In an e-mail message, Bishop Ruediger Minor said a "group of business people" was attempting to steal the building.

Last updated on 01/14/2004

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