e-HUM mid-May 2003

Mid May 2003

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Purdue's Wesley Foundation features coffeehouse show, part of a six-year alternative tradition

More than 50 students took advantage of Wesley Foundation Icthus Coffeehouse's free show during Purdue University's Grand Prix weekend April 25-27. The show featured St. Louis-based pianist-songwriter Tom Wehrle accompanied by guitarist Jon Durlauf.

Wehrle released on May 6 his first solo CD "Something You Can't Find." He was brought to the attention of the Wesley Foundation through Doug Crook, a senior at Purdue's School of Engineering. Crook, also from St. Louis, used to work with Durlauf. When the United Methodist-related foundation was looking for an artist to perform for Grand Alternative, Crook was able to set up everything.

This is the second year the Wesley Foundation put on a show at the Icthus Coffeehouse as an alternative, but the foundation's history with the Grand Alternative runs deep.

According to Crook, "six years ago the Wesley Foundation started the Grand Alternative as an alternative to the other parties going on around campus which included binge drinking." Some 13 student groups participated the first year in the alternative program. The next year the number of participating groups jumped to 32, and Purdue began to win awards for the alternative to drinking program. Crook said the Grand Alternative grew to the point that during the fourth year the foundation turned it over to Purdue to sponsor.

This spring more than 30 alternative events were held on campus as part of the Grand Alternative, which had its birth at the Wesley Foundation.

Hoosiers to help Ukrainian UMs at Uzhgorod

A Hoosier who grew up in New York City's Ukrainian Village plans to lead a group of United Methodists back to his parents' homeland to assist a fledgling United Methodist congregation.

Florian Steciuch, a member of the Chesterton United Methodist Church in Northeast Indiana, is scheduled to lead a mission trip of eight, including two members from the Presbyterian church in Creston, Ohio, to Uzhgorod, Ukraine, a city of about 100,000 on the Slovak border. Steciuch told e-HUM News that the group will be installing new floors and tile, plastering, painting, and whatever is needed. The group also plans to teach English and visit the homes of many United Methodists there.

This year's trip was planned after Steciuch returned from the Ukraine last year. During that trip, he called on the pastor of the Uzhgorod church, the Rev. Sergi Bogomaziuk. Steciuch said, "he invited our group to spend a night. It was then I learned about the struggles and history of the Methodist church in the Ukraine."

Their history was similar to many other religions during the 1930s, when the Bolsheviks tore down churches and imprisoned the pastors. This church survived. Its members met at night in forests and caves. Steciuch said that the original founder of the church, now an old man, petitioned the Ukrainian government and was awarded back the church property confiscated 70 years ago.

In preparation for the trip, Steciuch said the eight volunteer missionaries are buying all the tools the pastor needs, and will leave them there, so his congregation can use them, and the young men can learn a trade.

"We need about $7,000 to be very effective, and to leave some money for them to further their ministry," he said. "There are several Methodist churches in the general area, and I would like to help create awareness of them here in the United States."

For more information, contact Florian Steciuch at 219-929-1787.

500 graduate at UE Commencement

The University of Evansville conferred approximately 500 degrees on students during the school's 145th commencement exercises May 10. Randy Rademacher, president of Comair, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, was the commencement speaker.

Rademacher, a 1979 graduate of UE, is responsible for charting the strategic direction of Comair. During the ceremony Rademacher received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Also during the ceremony Mark Valenzuela, assistant professor of civil engineering, was honored with the university's Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.

Outstanding Seniors named were Brennan McReynolds, of Evansville, who graduated with double Bachelor of Science degrees in civil engineering and engineering management; and Erica Corbin, of Knoxville, Tenn., who graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communication.

Miller named associate director of Center for Aging and Community

Ellen Miller, associate professor of physical therapy at United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis, has been named associate director of the university's Center for Aging and Community.

Miller was involved in the original planning of the center three years ago and has continued to divide her time between the faculties of the Krannert School of Physical Therapy and CAC since the center opened in the fall of 2001. She chairs the committee that develops the center's gerontology curriculum.

In her new position, effective July 1, Miller said she will oversee all of CAC's academic programs and provide support for other center functions, including research and community partnerships.

UM Women take lead in summer food for kids

What began as a weekly free snack for needy latch-key kids has grown into a daily hot meal at the Boys and Girls Club.

Carol Gable, a 22-year veteran elementary school teacher and member of Eden United Methodist Church in the Indianapolis East District, noticed over the past two years that more than a third of her students receive free breakfast and lunch meals at school. But what about kids during the summer? Gable knew that many of them remain home alone because their parent's can't afford childcare.

Working with United Methodist Women, Eden UMC started a free lunch program once a week with a nearby Boys and Girls Club.

She said, "we started out real simple with peanut butter and jelly, and deli meat sandwiches. We would put grapes, carrots and chips in plastic bags and pass them out. We always had a desert and drink too."

Now the UMW group works with other churches and provides hot meals every week day. Most of the food for their day was donated by the church, but the women put the lunch program in their UMW budget and have some money available for the program.

Gable encourages other United Methodist churches to take the lead in their communities in establishing free lunch programs for needy kids.

For more information contact Gable by e-mail at kcgables@msn.com or cgable@centerville.k12.in.us.

Pastoral summit to bring diverse group to Indiana

The Indianapolis Center of Congregations will host a national Pastoral Summit June 17-19 in Indianapolis.

This is one of three Lilly Endowment-funded national summits for pastors and promises to provide answers and solutions for universal issues like how to increase lay involvement, reach into and transform entire communities, attract new members, reinvigorate worship, reach young people and Gen Xers - and much more.

Paul Wilkes, a writer and Catholic layman who is founder and project director of the Pastoral Summit, said "the Pastoral Summit's aim is simple and straightforward - to make churches the best they can possibly be."

Pastoral Summit project works in conjunction with the Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and is based at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where Wilkes teaches.

Wilkes has written and spoken extensively about the role of religion in personal lives and public life. Wilkes and Marty Minchin are co-editors of the newly-released book Best Practices from America's Best Churches (April 2003: Paulist Press).

Two Indy youth ministers participate in fellowship program

Community Partnership with Youth, a project supported by the Lilly Endowment, recently announced the selection of two Indianapolis United Methodist youth ministers.

Brian Durand, director of youth and college ministries, and Anne Oskay, associate director of youth ministries, both at Indianapolis' St. Luke's UMC, join 25 other youth workers as 2003 fellowship participants. They will be paired for an 18-month fellowship program with 26 young people ages 17-22 who are considering the field of youth work. Entitled "The Journey," these 52 participants grouped as four-member community teams will explore meaning and renewal in the field of youth work.

The intent of the fellowship is to rekindle that original purpose in current youth workers, while providing the opportunity to connect with others to share quality practices in youth development.

Global Ministries gives kudos to South Indiana Conference

The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries has given an Advance 2002 Certificate of Excellence for leading the North Central Jurisdiction of the church in the highest percentage increase in giving to support mission personnel through the General Advance for Christ and His Church. Al and Mavis Streyffeler will present a plaque commemorating the honor during the upcoming South Indiana Annual Conference session.

United Methodists continue response to deadly storms

By United Methodist News Service

The United Methodist disaster and development agency moved to meet widespread weather-related problems by providing five emergency grants plus disaster response workers for several storm-struck areas. Tornadoes and flash floods caused at least 43 deaths in Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois in the first half of May. Tornadoes, floods and hail heavily damaged areas in those and other states.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief sent emergency grants to Kansas, Southwest Texas and North Georgia annual (regional) conferences at the request of the bishops in those areas. Earlier, the agency awarded grants to the Missouri and Memphis conferences. Several of the most-affected areas were collecting special offerings in their conferences, and volunteers stepped in to clear debris, carry food and water to people in need, and care for the bereaved.

According to weather reports, the 384 tornadoes that hit 19 states during the week of May 4 set the U.S. record for number of twisters in a single week.

UMCOR disaster workers and teams of volunteers were quick to help in cleanup efforts. In several areas, the volunteers had to keep an eye on the sky as storms continued. On the evening of May 15, at least two tornadoes hit southwestern Kansas. Hail, wind and rain caused damage and locally heavy flooding. Another tornado struck Oklahoma on May 16, ripping off portions of the roof of Oak Park United Methodist Church in Bartlesville. Church work teams are canvassing the community, assisting in cleanup and assessing damage.

UMCOR has sent three people to the Memphis Conference to help set up long-term recovery programs for communities in western Tennessee.

Flooding damaged about 900 homes in central and north Alabama. UMCOR has been sending "flood buckets" from its Sager-Brown Depot in Baldwin, La.

UMCOR is reporting that its funding is running low due to the storms. Checks can be made payable to UMCOR, designated for Advance Special #901680 "Spring Storms 2003" and placed in church offering plates or mailed to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Credit-card contributions may be made by calling 800-554-8583 or by logging on to www.umcor.org. Volunteers are also needed. For details, contact Jeanie Blankenbaker at 212-870-3825 or Jblaken@gbgm-umc.org.

Bishops' appeal changes lives in Africa and the U.S.

DALLAS (UMNS) - Thousands of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo - most of them children and teen-agers and their families - can attest to the power of the United Methodist Church's "Hope for the Children of Africa" appeal.

The appeal, launched by the denomination's Council of Bishops in 1998, has resulted in five new schools in the denomination's North Katanga Area, according to Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo, who leads the churches in that region. Those schools, erected since 2000, are educating more than 4,000 young people, from primary school children to college students.

The North Katanga story was one of many shared recently in a report on the appeal at the international United Methodist bishops' gathering in Addison, Texas. The appeal grew out of the Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty.

Council's new president hopes to be catalyst for UM bishops

DALLAS (UMNS) - Bishop Ruediger Minor sees his election as president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops as an important symbol for the international body.

"Most people look at the United Methodist Church as a U.S. denomination," he said. "Now the presiding bishop is from another country." Though he is not the first bishop from outside The United States to become president, he is the first from a former Soviet bloc country.

Minor, 64, was elected president during the council's April 28-May 2 semiannual meeting in the Dallas suburb of Addison. He had served the previous year as president-elect and succeeds Bishop Sharon A. Brown Christopher, whose one-year term ended May 2. The new president leads the denomination's Eurasia Area, which spans eight time zones. His offices are in Moscow.

In an interview, Minor noted that the council's executive committee also has other members from outside the United States. "The world view has been present always, and for this year (it) may be more visible."

The council comprises 50 active bishops in the United States; 18 bishops in Europe, Asia and Africa; plus 75 retired bishops worldwide. They are the top clergy leaders in the nearly 10 million-member church.

Church must emphasize Africa in 2005-08, bishop says

DALLAS (UMNS) - When Bishop Felton Edwin May looks at Africa, he sees widespread "weapons of mass destruction": HIV/AIDS, poverty, lack of education.

That's why he wants the United Methodist Council of Bishops to make Africa a mission emphasis for the church for 2005-08. May, chairperson of the Holistic Strategy for Africa Team, will bring a report to the international council's meeting next fall, detailing what the church is doing in ministry on the continent and identifying areas of need. Its many programs include the bishops' "Hope for the Children of Africa" appeal.

"I know where weapons of mass destruction are that are not hidden," May told the bishops at their spring meeting, April 28-May 2 in Addison, Texas. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, poverty and the lack of education - these are weapons of mass destruction that are out in the open, he said.

May, who leads the church's Washington Area, wants the bishops "to affirm the need to constantly lift up Africa as a missional priority" for the church.

Membership figures show U.M. strength outside U.S.

DALLAS (UMNS) - New data on church membership trends were reported to The United Methodist Church's bishops during their April 28-May 2 meeting.

The percentage of U.S. congregations not receiving at least one member on confession of faith or "restored" status increased from 37.8 percent in 1984 to 40.7 percent in 2000, according to the report, "Making Disciples for Jesus Christ." Bishop John Hopkins, who leads the church's Minnesota Area, presented the report on behalf of the Council of Bishops' Committee on Pastoral Concerns.

The report also showed that in 2002, the denomination's membership rose over the 10 million mark for the first time since 1979. That increase was due to growth in numbers outside the United States, particularly in Africa.

The data shows that the central conferences have nearly 20 percent of the church's membership, with Africa accounting for 16 percent, Southeast Asia, 2 percent, and Europe, 1 percent.

The report also noted that the denomination has a widespread presence. "Out of the 3,171 counties in the United States, The United Methodist Church has a congregational presence in 3,003 counties, more than any other denomination in the United States."

News In Brief

By United Methodist News Service

Reports on each United Methodist Annual Conference are being posted at the United Methodist News Service Web site, umns.umc.org/acreports/index.html.

"Hands for Harvest and Hope" is the theme of this year's Rural Life Sunday celebration, through which United Methodists focus on the denomination's rural heritage. Rural Life Sunday may be scheduled at any time by either the conference or congregations. Worship resources for Rural Life Sunday are available from the Upper Sand Mountain Parish. For more information, call 256-638-2126; fax 256-638-2125; or e-mail to usmp@hiwaay.net.

Good News, an unofficial evangelical caucus in The United Methodist Church, is planning a family-friendly event for July 24-26 in Columbus, Ohio. The "National Summer Celebration" is scheduled to meet at the Adams Mark Hotel in downtown Columbus. For more information, log on to www.goodnewsmag.org.

Racism has "clogged the arteries" of The United Methodist Church, and like a heart-attack victim, the denomination must make changes in order to survive, according to an African-American church leader. "We look good, but we're not well," said Marilyn Magee, a staff executive of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship. Church leaders wrestled with the problems of racism and reconciliation during a recent dialogue in Dallas sponsored by the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

Epworth Forest offers day camp this summer

This summer Epworth Forest Conference Center, located in North Webster on Lake Webster in northeast Indiana, offers the J.C. Crew Day Camp for children entering grades 1-6 during the five weeks of Senior High Institute. Children are scheduled to arrive around 8:30 a.m. and leave at 5 p.m. Through the day-camp, organizers hope kids will grow in their relationships with Christ while participating in many activities, including water sports, swimming, crafts, high ropes, messy games, silly games, kayaking and more.

Christi Beaty, J.C. Crew Day Camp Director, says J.C. Crew is ideal for leaders with children who will be attending Senior High Institute with their youth groups.

J.C. Crew is also looking for volunteers willing to give a week of their time to ministering to children. J.C. Crew runs five days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the weeks of June 23-27, June 30-July 4, July 7-11, July 14-18 and July 21-25. Housing and meals will be provided to all volunteers.

To register a child, become a volunteer or for more information, e-mail Christi Beaty, J.C. Crew Day Camp director, at summerlily529@yahoo.com or call Epworth Forest at 574-834-2212.

United Methodist receives DePauw's 2003 Walker Cup

GREENCASTLE, Ind. - DePauw University presented senior Nathan Hand with the Walker Cup at the United Methodist-related school's academic awards convocation on May 5. The Walker Cup recognizes the senior judged to have contributed the most to the university during his or her college career. The award was presented by DePauw's President Robert Bottoms, who called Hand "a model for volunteer service."

Nathan Hand, a member of Salem UMC in Zionsville, Ind., is a communication arts and sciences major and a political science minor. The list of volunteer activities he was engaged in while at DePauw is lengthy.

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

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