e-HUM -- Late Sept. 2003

Late September 2003

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Bishop Calls Bishops Presiding Over Legislative Committees 'A Poor Idea' As He Talks With Delegates

By Daniel R. Gangler

INDIANAPOLIS - Bishop Woodie W. White told Hoosiers delegates to General and Jurisdictional conferences to get ready for an avalanche of mail as The United Methodist Church prepares for its quadrennial legislative conference in Pittsburgh next spring.

White told 52 delegates of the North and South Indiana conferences meeting Sept. 13 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, "I am really sensitive that bishops not interfere with the legislative process of the church." As for the move to appoint bishops to chair the 2004 General Conference's 11 standing legislative committees, "I think it's a poor idea," he said.

White explained to delegates that he likes to distance himself from General Conference. He said he has requested conference organizers not to select him to preside over any of the sessions, one of the roles of selected bishops.

"I have a deep respect for our polity and direction, tone, budget and priorities," White said.

He cautioned especially the new delegates, "making decisions of such importance you will be stretched - your emotions, theology and intellect." He then reassured delegates that they are very important to the process. He encouraged them to pray for each other and for the 2004 General Conference and to get plenty of rest before going to Pittsburgh.

He advised both delegations during their joint meeting that he would not be attending their delegation meetings.

General Conference, held every leap year, will be convened next year from April 27 through May 7. Incidentally, White first attended a general conference in 1964 at Pittsburgh. He was a delegate to General Conference from 1968 through 1984, the year he was elected a bishop.

Elected earlier this year at their respective North and South Indiana Annual Conference sessions, the six laity and six clergy from each of the two conferences will join with nearly 1,000 delegates to plan for the future programs, budget and direction of the 10-million-member denomination and to make changes in The United Methodist Book of Discipline, containing the church's social principles, guidelines and law. Each of Indiana's 24 delegates and four reserve delegates, known as members, represent the 1,300 Indiana United Methodist congregations.

Jurisdictional Conference To Elect Three Bishops Bishop White To Retire Next Year

In addition to General Conference, the United Methodist North Central Jurisdiction will elect three ordained elders to the episcopacy next summer in Davenport, Iowa. During the four-day conference, delegates also will assign bishops to the ten Episcopal Areas of the eight-state region.

Limited by a mandatory retirement of 70 during a quadrennium, White, 68, will be retiring next August, therefore the Indiana Area will receive a new bishop on Sept. 1, 2004.

An equal number of lay and clergy delegates added to the General Conference delegation of 24 will represent Indiana's United Methodists at next year's Jurisdictional Conference scheduled for July 14-17. The top priority of that conference will be to elect three bishops and to assign all the bishops of the jurisdiction to Episcopal Areas in this jurisdiction. Four other Jurisdictional Conferences will be held at the same time across the United States.

The North and South delegations meeting in Indianapolis on Sept. 13, separated into two groups following Bishop White's remarks to the combined delegations. Both delegations then carried on the process of organizing themselves and becoming better acquainted with each other and with the processes of assigning members to committees for both General and Jurisdictional conferences, selecting episcopal candidates, electing and assigning bishops.

Earlier this year, the North Conference delegation elected the Rev. Frank J. Beard of Walnut Creek UMC in Warsaw to head its delegates. During their Indianapolis meeting, the South Conference delegation elected the Rev. Kent Millard of St. Luke's UMC in Indianapolis to head their delegation.

Members of the North Conference delegation will meet Oct. 2 at Mexico (Ind.) UMC.

Members of the South Conference delegation will meet Nov. 15 at St. Luke's UMC in Indianapolis.

A list of delegates from both annual conferences can be found on their respective Web sites at www.nicumc.org and www.sicumc.org.

Johnson Joins Area Office Staff

INDIANAPOLIS -- A new face greets visitors and guests at the Indiana Area Office of The United Methodist Church.

Kelly Johnson began her position Sept. 23 as the area office coordinator and administrative assistant to Dr. James Jones. She replaced Ed Metzler, who continues at the area office as administrative assistant to Bishop White. Metzler fills a vacancy left by Edie Coleman who resigned in August.

Johnson, 37, a native of Indianapolis, brings experience as an administrative assistant from the Vivian Smith Teen Parenting Program and from Indiana Black Expo. She is married and the mother of a daughter, 3, and a son, 16.

Hoosiers Mourn Death Of Governor O'Bannon

Hoosiers mourn the death of Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon, a lifelong active United Methodist. O'Bannon, 73, died Sept. 13 in Chicago five days after suffering a massive stroke. He was born Jan. 30, 1930.

On behalf of Indiana's 230,000 United Methodists, Indiana Area Bishop Woodie W. White, called O'Bannon "a man beloved and respected by ordinary citizens, members of government regardless of party affiliation, and those of great influence and power." In an e-mail message to the state's 1,300 United Methodists congregations, White expressed his sympathies on behalf of the church to the late-governor's wife Judy, the O'Bannon family and to The United Methodist Church at Corydon, their home congregation in south Indiana.

"I have greatly appreciated the deep commitment and loyalty Governor and Mrs. O'Bannon have given to their faith and their church," White said.

In Indianapolis, the O'Bannons attended Central Avenue United Methodist Church on the city's Old Northside close to their home which they purchased when he became Lt. Governor of Indiana. Mrs. O'Bannon is active in the church's outreach ministries to needy neighborhood children and was active in the restoration of the church's century-old building, a host to community agencies.

The strong, emotional attachment to the O'Bannons is clear at the Corydon church too, where the former governor had sung in the choir for years.

More than 5,000 citizens attended a Sept. 19 interfaith memorial service on the west steps of the capitol. Another public service was held Sept. 20 in Corydon. His cremated remains were buried privately at Corydon's Cedar Hill Cemetery.

O'Bannon is survived by his wife, three adult children and five grandchildren.

East Coast United Methodists Recover From Isabel

By Joretta Purdue

WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- Recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Isabel will take time, work and money, say United Methodist leaders in the hardest-hit areas.

"It's a devastated place," said Bishop Marion Edwards of the church's Raleigh (N.C.) Area, after visiting the village of Hatteras, N.C., by boat Sept. 23. "Many of the homes and businesses have been completely wiped out or moved off their foundations. Some have disappeared into the ocean."

The Rev. Charles Moseley, pastor for a three-point charge, was in the village of Hatteras, where one of his churches is located. He told reporters that he was wearing his last clean underwear and had no means of doing laundry, since the village was without water and power.

The bishop, with North Carolina Conference disaster and mission workers, visited Hatteras on a three-day tour of hard-hit areas. The day before, they were in Swanquarter, N.C., where Edwards noted that most of the homes and three of the eight United Methodist churches in surrounding Hyde County had been flooded.

Providence UMC in Swanquarter had just completed extensive renovation after Hurricane Floyd's 1999 flooding. The congregation had one service in the new sanctuary before Isabel struck, flooding the first floor.

Bishop Joe Pennel of the Virginia Area also praised his conference's disaster team. "We have widespread destruction," he reported Sept. 23. "A lot of it is insurable - that is to say, trees and houses and things of that sort. The people who are suffering the most are people who did not have insurance. The poor are hit the hardest.

United Methodist Committee on Relief workers are helping conference officials assess the needs of people in areas most affected by the storm. UMCOR is processing emergency grants in response to requests from the North Carolina, Virginia, Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware annual conferences.

The agency is receiving money for the hurricane relief through "Hurricanes 2003," Advance No. 982438. Check donations can be made out to UMCOR, designated for either advance and placed in offering plates or sent to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Credit card donors can call 800-554-8583, and online donations can be made at gbgm-umc.org/umcor. Volunteers can contact UMCOR at 800-918-3100.

Councils Support Agencies' Budget Increases For 2005-08

By Joretta Purdue

LOS ANGELES (UMNS) -- Each of the United Methodist Church's program agencies stands to get at least a modest funding increase for the next four years, despite the tough economic times, under a proposal that will go to the denomination's legislature.

The church's General Council on Finance and Administration had earlier decided to recommend to General Conference that the four-year $222 million World Service budget be approved for these agencies during the 2005-08 period. Voting members of the finance council and the General Council on Ministries, the church's program council, approved a plan for dividing the money at a joint meeting Sept. 8.

If approved, the $222 million will be channeled through the World Service Fund, the church's largest account for funding worldwide mission and ministry. The fund is a primary source of support for the four program boards and four commissions, but agencies also receive income from other sources.

All these decisions are recommendations to General Conference, which will meet in Pittsburgh April 27-May 7.

Agency Proposes Cutting Number Of Bishops

LOS ANGELES (UMNS) -- A United Methodist agency is proposing that the church reduce its number of U.S. bishops next year.

That proposal surfaced as directors of the General Council on Finance and Administration worked on the 2005-08 budget for the denomination during a Sept. 4-8 meeting. The $586 million budget proposal will go to General Conference, the church's highest legislative assembly, when it meets April 27-May 7 in Pittsburgh.

The proposed spending plan includes a projected increase of more than 20 percent for the Episcopal Fund, which supports active and retired bishops around the world. In light of that, the finance council will ask General Conference to change the formula used for determining how many bishops are elected.

The church has 50 active bishops in the five U. S. jurisdictions and 18 in the central conferences - regional units outside the United States. In addition, the Southeastern Jurisdiction could elect an additional bishop based on the current formula. With expected retirements next year, officials predict the retiree list could reach 92.

The new formula would reduce by one the number of bishops each of the five U.S. jurisdictions is eligible to elect. If enacted as written, the change would become effective at the end of General Conference, reducing the number of bishops elected next year. Each jurisdiction would still elect one or more bishops to fill vacancies created by retirements next year.

Proponents of the plan point to a potential reduction of about $1 million per bishop for the next four years in costs for salary, benefits, office, support staff and travel, as well as additional savings in what annual conferences contribute to expenses such as the parsonage and office.

Global Ministries Plans TV Mission Special

By Gina Riendeau, Missions, NIC Council on Ministries

The General Board of Global Ministries, the worldwide outreach mission of The United Methodist Church, is scheduled to videotape a special mission celebration event at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. on Oct. 12. "In Mission Together for Christ and the World" will feature outstanding stories and talent from Judy Collins, Willie Nelson, Kimberley Locke and others.

The program is scheduled to air Dec. 6. Organizers plan to raise funds for new mission initiatives in places such as Cambodia, Nepal, Vietnam, Mongolia, Latvia and Senegal.

Casinos Target Senior Citizens, Gambling Opponents Say

A UMNS Report by Pat Rogers

Many seniors see casino trips as welcome social outings -- a chance to get out of the house, be with friends and have a little fun. But experts say seniors, especially those who begin gambling late in life, risk becoming problem gamblers or even addicts.

Pat Fowler, who runs the National Council on Problem Gambling, says 22 percent of the calls to her help line are from seniors who are problem gamblers. "It's not unusual for us to hear from an older person who has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they usually lose it all in a short time," she says.

In some cases, she says, senior citizens become so addicted to gambling that they risk money earmarked for prescription drugs.

Casinos and other gambling outlets target older Americans because seniors often have free time and discretionary income, Fowler says. Casinos use perks such as free meals and drinks, cheap transportation and coupons as lures designed to reel seniors in.

The Rev. Tom Grey, a United Methodist and executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, isn't surprised that casinos target older Americans.

"They (casino owners) are bottom-line people; all that matters is money," Grey says. "Why would we expect people that sell a product that is addictive should have any concern if they sell that product to the old or the sick?"

Grey urges congregations to offer seniors more alternative free-time activities in an attempt to keep their older parishioners out of casinos. He says religious leaders haven't done enough to fight gambling forces looking to expand.

Restructuring Plan Bound For General Conference

LOS ANGELES (UMNS) -- After three years in the workshop, directors of a United Methodist agency are emerging with a "gift" for their church: a plan for changing how the denomination directs its work worldwide.

Directors of the General Council on Ministries recently sewed up most of the details of their "Living Into the Future" proposal during their Sept. 5-8 gathering. The plan will go to the General Conference, the denomination's top legislative assembly, next spring in Pittsburgh.

The proposal calls for the creation of a Connectional Table to oversee general church's programming and financial administration. The table would bring together church leaders from around the world to direct ministries in a holistic way. The General Council on Ministries and the General Council on Finance and Administration would cease to exist after a two-year transition, and the table would become fully empowered Jan. 1, 2007.

The Council on Ministries developed the plan in response to a mandate from the 2000 General Conference to reorder the work and ministry of the church. Council members differ on the plan's chances for passing at General Conference.

"I believe in this proposal," said Bishop Edward W. Paup, president of the council and leader of the church's Portland (Ore.) Area. "I also believe that the General Conference will do what it needs to do and we'll go from there."

The plan provides for a table of up to 134 members and spells out how 119 would be chosen. The members would include 83 people elected through the U.S. jurisdictional and non-U.S. central conferences; up to 14 bishops; and up to 12 at-large members to ensure balance in race and ethnicity, lay and clergy background, gender and geography. The top staff executives and presidents of 10 general agencies also would be included.

The Rev. Andy Langford predicts the General Conference will set aside the proposal and seek an alternative to fulfill the 2000 mandate. Langford, a council member from Matthews, N.C., is writing a paper on his view that the council has failed to meet its mandate.

"It is not a viable document for General Conference," he said of the plan. "I think the idea has some merit but (also) some significant and fundamental flaws."

The plan is almost impossible to implement, he said. The table would have restricted authority over the agencies, and the fire-walls between finance and programming would be eliminated, he said. In addition, the top staff executives of the church's agencies would have voting power, creating a conflict of interest and departing from the church's historical polity, he said.

UE Student Making A Difference Through Mission Work

By Marsha Jackson

A freshman at United Methodist-related University of Evansville wants to do make a difference in the lives of people -- and apparently, he is on the right track.

Emerson Barnett of Indianapolis was the recipient of the Indianapolis Mayor's Community Service Award recently presented by Mayor Bart Peterson at the Indiana Historical Museum.

Barnett has been dedicated to community, national and world-wide service since he was 15 years old. His father, James, said when Emerson was 15, he became a member of the board for the Timmy Foundation, founded by Emerson's physician Dr. Chuck Dietzen, to serve the medical needs of children worldwide.

Barnett has been on several overseas mission trips including two to Ecuador, one to the Dominican Republic, one to Haiti and on numerous missions around the Midwest.

Barnett says he participates in these missions because he wants to help others. The money donated to the Foundation goes to medical mission trips in Ecuador, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Honduras and Nigeria. "These trips give me a perspective of the world that most Americans don't get," he said.

"I look at myself on these trips and can't believe how spoiled I am, as well as most other Americans. Each trip that I go on serves to remind me how lucky I am, especially me, because of my disability (Barnett has cerebral palsy)."

Board Of Church And Society Cuts 14 Staff Members

WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- The United Methodist social advocacy and action board has cut more than a third of its staff positions, becoming the latest church agency forced to reduce its work force because of finances.

The General Board of Church and Society terminated 11 positions during a period of several days, culminating Sept. 23. Four resignations created additional unfilled vacancies during the past six months, and only one of those -- a part-time position -- is being retained.

Just 26 people will remain in October of what was a staff of 40 at the beginning of the year. Of those who lost jobs, three were executives, four had program positions and four were support staff.

Jim Winkler, the top staff executive, spoke individually with every employee during the course of making the layoffs.

Speaking to the board, Winkler cited several causes for the job cuts: reduced World Service funding in the 2001-04 budget, a forced spend-down of board reserves, the rise in health care expenses and the decline in the general agency Benefit Trust income.

Noted Palestinian Priest To Speak In Indiana

Internationally renowned Melkite priest, the Rev. Dr. Elias Chacour, will speak at two Indianapolis United Methodist churches on Sunday, Nov. 2. Chacour has developed schools for Christian and Moslem children in the Galilee region of Israel.

His visit to Indianapolis follows presentations he is scheduled to make at First UMC in Mishawaka, Ind. on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. His visit coincides with the opening of a University of Indianapolis branch campus in the small town of Ibillin, Galilee -- the fulfillment of his longtime dream for higher education in the region. He is expected to share news of the campus and talk about his vision for peace in the Middle East.

A recipient of the World Methodist Peace Award and thrice nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, Chacour will be introduced Nov. 2 during all three morning services at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th St., and will participate in an open discussion there at noon.

Later, Chacour will speak at 6 p.m. about "The Vocation of the Peacemaker" at University Heights United Methodist Church, 4002 Otterbein Ave. His free talk and the youth group's chili cook-off preceding it are open to the public.

Coming Events

Surviving and thriving in an empty nest

ELKHART, Ind. -- First United Methodist Church of Elkhart will present a seminar for married and single parents of teens who will soon leave home or have left home in the past two years. The Empty Nest Seminar: Surviving and Thriving in the Empty Nest Phase of Life seminar will be Friday, Nov. 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9 to 4. Cost is $20 per person.

Workshop presenters include: Jill Uceny, Stephen King, Bill White, a national leader for families in transition, and the Rev. Ron Mabry, pastor of First UMC.

Workshops include: "Reconnection," "Changes for families as children leave home," "What is a healthy empty nest?" "People in transition," "Creating a spiritual empty nest," "Keeping Marriage alive," "Being a family-being a parent."

For more information or to register, call 574-294-1649 or e-mail elkhartfumc@juno.com.

North Indiana Conference 2004 Senior High Institute dates

June 27-July 3 Huntington-Kokomo-Layfayette Districts
July 4-10 Marion-Muncie-Warsaw Districts
July 11-16 Fort Wayne District and South Indiana Conference
July 18-24 Calumet-Michiana Districts

Youth mission experiences in Bahamas and Mexico for 2004

Here are a couple of ideas for youth trips that were posted on the North Indiana Conference Web site by Gina Riendeau of the NIC Council on Ministries. She suggests the Bahamas and Mexico.

Riendeau said in the Bahamas, one location that has effectively received large youth teams is the Methodist Habitat project of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church. She said. "they do an excellent job of building cost-effective, storm resistant affordable housing on the outer islands of the Bahamas, as well as needing work on the church camp."

Contact in the Bahamas: Shaun Ingraham, Mission Coordinator, Bahamas Conference of The Methodist Church, PO Box SS 6861, Nassau Bahamas. Phone: 1-242-393-3726 or 1-242-393-8135, or e-mail shaundonavon@yahoo.com.

Contact in the Mexico: The North Central Jurisdiction is sponsoring a youth-to- youth mission experience June 23-July 6, 2004 in Mexico. Called Mission Discovery, it is a cross-cultural and spiritual experience (but not a workcamp). Cost is about $1,300 each and designed for juniors in high school through age 26. E-mail Lorna Jost at umvim-ncj@brookings.net for more information. There is a new 4-minute video on Mission Discovery in the NIC Media Center here in Marion.

News In Brief

Iowa Conference asks U.S. Supreme Court to review case

WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- United Methodists in Iowa are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision that a church can be sued for using the term "the spirit of Satan." The denomination's Iowa Annual Conference and Shell Rock (Iowa) United Methodist Church filed the request Sept. 9. Earlier, the Iowa Supreme Court had ruled against the conference and the church in a defamation case involving the controversial wording. The case began in 1999, when a couple attending the Shell Rock church sued the conference and church because of a letter written by then-district superintendent Jerrold Swinton. Jane and Glen Kliebenstein charged that the letter defamed Jane.

Churches must reach beyond niches, agency executive says

LOS ANGELES (UMNS) -- Forging ecumenical relationships is important not only at the denominational level but also for congregations. "I don't think there's a choice in the matter," says the Rev. Bruce Robbins. " ... God would frown upon any church that's self-satisfied with its own little denominational niche." Robbins is top staff executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. His term ends this year, and he will begin serving at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis in March.

Short takes

Terri Hiers has been named interim executive director of the Office of Interpretation, United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Duane Ewers retired from the position Aug. 31. Hiers has more than 25 years of experience in the Office of Interpretation.

The Africa University International Peace Marathon will be Sept. 27 in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The marathon is aimed at encouraging youth to be more disciplined, to strengthen them against social problems -- particularly HIV/AIDS. More information on the United Methodist-related school is available at www.africau.edu/news_cal/news_monthly.htm.

"God, in your grace, transform the world" will be the theme of the Ninth General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, planned for February 2006 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The United Methodist Church is a major supporter of the council. For details, write to media@wcc-coe.org or visit www.wcc-coe.org.

The United Methodists General Board of Church and Society gathered Sept. 11-14 for a semi-annual meeting in Herndon, Va. During the meeting, directors readily agreed to abandon an agency boycott against Kraft Foods entered a few years ago, but chose to monitor ongoing consideration of labor conditions on farms that supply the Mt. Olive Pickle Co. Directors voted 18-17 to join the boycott if the company has not made sufficient progress in improving the working conditions of its farm workers by early 2004

President George W. Bush praised the ministry of the Power Center during a recent stop at the non-profit facility in Houston during a Sept. 12 luncheon fund-raiser. The center houses social and medical services, a bank branch, conference center and other activities. It is part of the Pyramid Community Development Corp., founded by the Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, senior pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church and a personal friend of President Bush.

A new book, Meeting God at the Boundaries: Cross-Cultural-Cross-Racial Clergy Appointments, is the result of a three-year study commissioned by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry conducted by author Lucia Ann McSpadden, a staff member at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif., who specializes in both cross-cultural education and anthropology. The book is available from Cokesbury, 800-672-1789 or www.cokesbury.com.

for more details and additional events, visit our Happenings page.

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