Late August 2003

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Operation Classroom to ready Liberia team

Directors informed about Sierra Leone medical ministry

The Rev. Joe Wagner, Indiana Area coordinator of Operation Classroom, recently told the Operation Classroom board of directors meeting in Indianapolis, "we cannot determine when we will send a team to Liberia, but we can and should have a team ready to go."

Wagner said, "the window of opportunity could be brief and readiness is essential."

Board members hope that a stabilized government in Liberia with the joint leadership of three factions will begin in October. "By the early part of 2004 we should have a sense of safety for a team going," Wagner said. He emphasized the responsibility Operation Classroom feels for its teams and a practice of canceling a trip on short notice if deemed necessary for safety.

Meanwhile, Dr. Dennis Marke, medical director of the Kissy United Methodist Church Maternity and Health Center in Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital, informed the Operation Classroom directors about his medical ministry known as Operation Doctor. He is supported by Indiana Area churches.

The Kissy Clinic is a joint medical ministry of the Sierra Leone United Methodist Annual Conference and the North and South Indiana annual conferences.

Marke's team is focused on HIV/AIDS counseling and supportive care. Marke, a full-time chaplain, and a nurse counselor are involved with:

Community training with an emphasis on skill development,
Counseling and testing, for HIV/AIDS,
Continued care and support for people and their families with HIV/AIDS, assisting families in the placement of children with family when a mother dies due to HIV/AIDS,

Sensitization and prevention programs use the ABCs of AIDS prevention: Abstinence, Being mutually faithful, and Condoms. Marke said it is made clear that condoms are a last resort and not 100 percent effective for the prevention of sexually transmitted disease or pregnancy prevention.

He and his team typically see more that a hundred women a day. He strongly requested continued prayer support.

Marke has spoken about his ministry throughout Indiana during these past few weeks.

Liberian UM hospital and school damaged

In the northeastern town of Ganta, Liberia, the United Methodist hospital was looted and the adjoining school was damaged, according to Edwin Clarke Jr., an assistant to United Methodist Bishop John Innis. Both will have to be rebuilt or rehabilitated, he said. Indiana Area's Operation Classroom has made numerous contributions to the Ganta mission.

Clarke said, United Methodist facilities are housing many internally displaced people across Monrovia. More than 1,000 people are staying at a United Methodist high school, another 500 to 600 are at the Liberia Annual Conference's central office, and an unknown number are at the United Methodist university.

Clarke asked that United Methodists keep his country in prayer. "Just ask the church to pray for us, and if they can do anything for us, we will surely appreciate it."

Contributions may be designated for UMCOR's Liberia Emergency, Advance #150300, and dropped in church collection plates or sent to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Credit-card donors can go online to http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/Liberia.stm or call 800-554-8583.

University of Evansville ranked top tier Midwest school

U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" guide has again ranked United Methodist-related University of Evansville in the top tier of Midwestern universities offering master's programs. "UE has continuously been ranked in this category for 11 years," said UE President Stephen Jennings, "and we are pleased to be a part of this annual listing used by so many prospective students."

In the top 10 rankings, UE -- which ranked 10th -- had the highest percentage of classes with under 20 students and tied at 0 percent for the lowest percentage of classes with 50 or more students. UE also had the second highest percentage of full-time faculty at 94 percent.

UM ministry at Ball State off to exciting start

MUNCIE, Ind. -- College Connection, North Indiana Conference's newly formed campus ministry to students at Ball State University through College Avenue United Methodist Church here, is off to an exciting start.

According to Campus Minister Ken Puent, the United Methodist campus ministry has made contact with 62 students at two activity fairs, had 56 student visitors to worship, and plans to begin Bible study groups, open forum discussions, student-led worship experiences and tailgate parties in the next couple of weeks.

Puent said, "We ask for referrals of students. Our connectional ministry is the strongest link we have to students, as they often look to their local church leaders for advice about selecting a church home away from home."

For information about College Connection, or to make a campus visit, contact Puent at 765-289-7337.

Wesley is for present, future, not only past, speakers say

By Joretta Purdue

CONVENT STATION and MADISON, N.J. (UMNS) -- John Wesley was born 300 years ago this year, but his legacy lives into the 21st century, according to presenters at a historical convocation offering a variety of viewpoints on the founder of United Methodism.

The Rev. Richard P. Heitzenrater, general editor of the Works of John Wesley, is credited with breaking the code or shorthand Wesley used in his journals and diaries. Speaking about "The Illusive Mr. Wesley," the Duke University professor of church history and Wesley studies warned, "We love to persist in an error," keeping our myths and legends. Artists have given him the wrong look, Heitzenrater told participants attending the United Methodist Church's Fifth Historical Convocation Aug. 14-17.

"Look for Mr. Wesley in his own writings before relying on the literary constructs of his biographers," advises Heitzenrater. "Don't ever think you have Wesley in your mind."

The Rev. Justo L. Gonzalez, educator and author, asserted Wesley's writings speak to modern people, especially his thoughts about faith and the poor.

"A 21st-century reading of Wesley must be a global reading," Gonzales. Although U.S. Methodism still has most of the church's resources, Gonzales said, the U.S. centers of Methodism no longer coincide with centers of the movement.

Wesley is responsible for doctrinal and theological leadership as well as promoting the dual threads of works of piety and mercy, noted Charles Yrigoyen Jr., staff head of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History. Wesley shaped church structure by instituting the annual conference, creating the office of general superintendent (now bishop), designing the itinerant ministry of our clergy and fostering the concept of connectionalism.

Noted Wesley scholar to speak at UINDY Sept. 12

INDIANAPOLIS -- In celebration of John Wesley's, founder of United Methodism, 300th birthday celebration one of the world's foremost Wesley scholars is scheduled to speak Sept. 12 at the University of Indianapolis in Schwitzer Student Center, Room 010. The lectures are free and open to the public.

The Rev. Richard Heitzenrater, professor of church history and Wesley studies at Duke University Divinity School, is scheduled to speak at 2 and 4 p.m.

DePauw named both one of 40 best and a party school

By Matthew Oates
North Indiana correspondent
wmmattoates@hotmail.com

GREENCASTLE, Ind. -- Three separate reports recently named United Methodist-related DePauw University everything from one of the best liberal arts school in the country, to one of the most interesting schools in the country, to the nation's number eight party school.

For the fourth consecutive year, DePauw University is in the top tier of America's national liberal arts colleges, according to US News & World Report's 2004 rankings, released in August. DePauw is ranked 40th among liberal arts schools and the magazine reports that DePauw made gains on peer institutions in several significant areas.

DePauw also was listed among America's best colleges and universities and a "hidden treasure," according to The Unofficial, Biased Insider's Guide to the 328 Most Interesting Colleges 2004. Published by Simon & Schuster and sponsored by the test-preparation company Kaplan, Inc., the book's findings are based on a pure random sample of high school guidance counselors across America.

Of course the controversial ranking is that of No. 8 party school by New York based Princeton Review that publishes an annual listing concerning America's colleges and universities.

According to a DePauw news release, in addition to the party ranking, the unscientific survey listed DePauw as No. 1 in "major frat and sorority scene" and WGRE as the No. 3 college radio station in the country. Vice President for Student Services James L. Lincoln stressed ".this is not a study; it is a survey, and a highly unscientific one at that. Because of that, we take all of the findings, good and bad, with a rather large grain of salt."

Reaction to the No. 8 party school ranking has dampened work of maintaining the church-school ties through the Indiana Area United Methodist Church. The Rev. Steve Ailes, chairman of the North Indiana Conference's Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry and a representative to DePauw's Methodist Council, said, "It really cheapens the fine reputation and the hard work of the teachers and administrators that are there."

Ailes said both North and South Indiana conferences have been working through the Methodist Council to strengthen the ties between the church and school and have talked to numerous students about projects, classes and life at DePauw -- partying or any of the other factors into being a party school have never surfaced. "That's an unfortunate and surprising look at the school."

The Rev. Larry Burton, university chaplain and senior minister at Gobin Memorial UMC in Greencastle, said, "The whole idea of ranking 'party schools' is disturbing, but no more so than the attention the rankings get. Students at DePauw are, I suspect, no more or less inclined to "party" than at other schools. I do know that DePauw students study extremely hard and take academics very seriously."

South Conference media resource catalog ready

A FREE copy of the 2003 MEDIA RESOURCE CATALOG on CD-ROM can be yours by contacting Mary Barnes, Media Director, by phone toll free at 800-919-8160 or by e-mail at: mbarnes@sicumc.org.

Africa University gets biggest-ever gift

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- United Methodist-related Africa University, based in Mutare, Zimbabwe, has received an anonymous gift of real estate valued at $5.2 million, the largest donation in the school's 11-year history.

The university will receive the dollars from the gift in about two years, officials said. About $4 million is designated for the Africa University Endowment Fund, which supports scholarships for needy young Africans. The balance will fund a capital project in one of the institution's seven faculties or departments.

Celebrate Africa University Sunday, Sept. 14. Color bulletin inserts and posters are available by calling 888-862-3242.

Lilly Endowment seeking 40 good pastor for 2004

Information meeting planned

Up to 40 Indiana congregations may receive grants for their pastors in the 2004 Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations offered by the Lily Endowment, Inc. The program has awarded 159 renewal grants during the past five years.

The program encourages pastors, in collaboration with their congregations, to plan a period of renewal and refreshment. For the pastors, the renewal program usually involves time away from the church -- often two or three months. For members of congregations, the renewal program often features taking on some of the daily duties of ministry, enjoying the contributions of visiting pastors and other aspects of congregational life.

Any Indiana congregation with an ordained minister is eligible to participate in the program, in which each congregation my be awarded up to $45,000. Congregations may use up to $15,000 of that total to cover pastoral functions while the pastor is away and other congregational renewal expenses.

The Endowment has planned an information program for pastors, their spouses and representatives of their congregations. The meeting is scheduled for Oct. 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at North United Methodist Church, 3808 N. Meridian St. in Indianapolis. The application brochure may be downloaded from the program's Web site at www.indianaclergy.org. All applications must be postmarked by Feb. 16. Grant awards are scheduled to be announced by June 2004.

Fowler UMC members march into 'Promised Land'

By Matthew Oates
North Indiana correspondent
wmmattoates@hotmail.com

FOWLER, Ind. -- The Fowler United Methodist Church, which has met at an area elementary school and in the church basement after fire swept through its building, October 22, 2001, said goodbye to its 80-year-old home and hello to its new state-of-the-art facility, all within an hour.

On the morning of July 27, the congregation of Fowler United Methodist Church met in the church's basement one last time and them processed to its new building.

During the "leave-taking" ceremony, leaders recalled the services of the old building and the Rev. Peggy Good, their pastor, reminded the members of the story of Joshua, following a calling to search for the promises of God while being strong and steadfast in faith. "God has called us to a new ministry. God has called us to march through the city," she said. "Let's do that today and be in celebration as we cross our own Jordan River and head into our Promised Land."

Afterwards, the congregation marched from one side of Fowler to the other and waited at the front door until the cross led them into the new $925,000 structure.

While parading through Fowler, member Scott Ruppel talked about how excited he and the community was about the new building. "It looks great," said Ruppel. "We're not starting fresh; we're just moving the family to a new home."

Russell, who lives down the road from the new church has seen the entire building built in less than a year. "We made history."

To remember the old building, members brought the woodwork from the chancel to the new sanctuary, as well as the pipe organ and other fixtures. Good was thrilled about moving in, even with all the details that still need to be done. "We're still finding (church) things in people's homes."

Web site for NIC laity up and running

By Matthew Oates
North Indiana correspondent
wmmattoates@hotmail.com

Russ Phillips, a retired educator and active member of Fulton United Methodist Church, can now add a new title to his vitae: Webmaster.

Phillips launched his Web site - www.laitynicumc.org -- on July 14. The idea for the site came from his increased involvement in the life of the North Indiana Conference, from attending workshops and convocations, as well as serving as his church's lay member to annual conference.

"That has caused me to be more curious at the workings of our denomination," said Phillips.

Phillips believes that there are benefits of having a Web site for laity, such as having a place to network, bring information and encourage dialogue about many issues the church faces. Information that is posted comes from Phillips' research of the United Methodist News Service, church agencies, as well as para-church organizations and other denominations.

Phillips' Web site is not the first unofficial laity-run Web site in the denomination. Northern Illinois has a similar site: www.nicvoice.org. "They're site is just chucked full of information," said Phillips.

"It's my full intent that the laity will become more familiar with the conference Web site," he said. "One of the challenges is bringing to the attention of those in the pews the availability of the Web site."

Phillips spends on average five to ten hours a week updating the site, which will include issues that will come before next year's annual, jurisdictional and general conferences.

Carole Roos, a member of South Bend First UMC, enjoys the Web site, as well as contributes thoughts on content to Phillips. "I found out about the site when it was announced on the NICemail list. My first thought was 'hurray!' since I had been looking for electronic connections," she said in an e-mail interview.

Roos believes that sharing views with one another will help laity understand and learn from one another.

Wesley Manor to break ground for $10.6 million memory care unit

FRANKFORT, Ind. -- Wesley Manor, a United Methodist-related retirement home in Frankfort, will break ground in October for a $10.6 million Memory Care Unit.

The new addition will include a 50-bed memory care unit, as well as a complete renovation of the first two floors of Wesley Manor's current health center.

The 11 a.m. ground breaking will be part of the home's 11th annual Apple Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival also will include craft booths, plant and book sales, activities for children. Clowns, entertainment and Friends of the Manor food booth. A Friends of Wesley Manor Luncheon will be served from 11a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 765-656-2107.

Gleaners needed to harvest Michigan tomatoes, potatoes

Volunteers are needed to help glean fields for the Society of Saint Andrew. Acres of green beans just across the Michigan state line are waiting to be harvested. Unfortunately, there are not enough hands to harvest that quantity. The Rev. Steve Gray, Pastor of Pleasant Grove UMC, believes this would be a great mission project for many churches.

Gray says that in the near future, there will be a few thousand acres of tomatoes to harvest. On top of that there are potatoes and many other crops that will be ready this fall.

David McCleary, Hunger Relief Advocate for the Northern Indiana Area, said, "I firmly believe that this is something that our churches need to hear about. It would be nearly impossible for the churches of the North Indiana Conference to purchase that quantity of beans; however, we could deliver that amount to agencies who could feed the hungry." For more information, contact McCleary at hranin@endhunger.org or phone at 574-269-1143.

Palestinian Christian peacemaker to speak in Mishawaka

By Lynda Ward, Michiana District Communications

The Michiana District Board of Global Ministries will host a discussion with Father Elias Chacour, recipient of both the World Methodist Peace Award and the Niwano Peace Prize, and a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize Nominee.

Pastors and Clergy Session is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 31 at 1:30 p.m. Laity and General Public Session is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. Both sessions will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Mishawaka located at 201 E Third St. in Mishawaka, Ind.

Chacour founded the Mar Elias Educational Institutions in Iblilin, Galilee, Israel, as a means of fostering dialogue, education, and reconciliation.

University of Indianapolis announces campus in Israel

INDIANAPOLIS -- The University of Indianapolis is a significant step closer to opening a branch campus in Israel - the country's first Christian-Arab-Israeli university -- as a result of a recent decision by that nation's Committee for Higher Education.

The Israeli committee has granted initial accreditation for the university to start three baccalaureate programs in Ibillin, Galilee as early as this fall in cooperation with the Rev. Dr. Elias Chacour's Mar Elias Educational Institutions, elementary and secondary schools and post-high school training programs that have been operating apolitically in Galilee for 21 years.

The new Mar Elias University Campus, as the branch is officially known, was approved to offer degree programs in computer science, environmental science/chemistry, and communications -- areas offering the most promising opportunities for employment in Israel. For more, go to www.uindy.edu/news/israel_print.html.

Clarian to build new hospital in Carmel

Despite opposition from some neighbors and claims that the city's corporate corridor would be ruined, Carmel approved Clarian Health Partners' plans for a new hospital at 116th Street and U.S. 31 north of Indianapolis, according to an Aug. 6 news story in The Indianapolis Star.

The Carmel City Council cleared the way for Clarian, the umbrella which UM-related Methodist Hospital rests, to develop a hospital, office buildings, child care center and residential housing on more than 100 acres at the intersection's northwest corner.

"We think this is a great thing for Clarian and a great thing for the city of Carmel," said Cathy Stoll, Clarian's senior communications coordinator. "This will give us the opportunity to serve people in this incredibly fast-growing community."

Assuming a 62-year tax commitment agreement between Clarian and Carmel is signed, construction will begin soon.

The hospital is slated to open late in 2005.

In other news, for the sixth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Clarian hospitals among the nation's best 50 hospitals in the country.

Clarian CEO Dan Evans, a United Methodist, says "It is tremendous to have so many of these great doctors, clinical and support staff recognized nationally and to have them practicing at Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children."

Clarian Health seeks hospice volunteers

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Ruth Lilly Hospice of Clarian Health seeks hospice volunteers to work with terminally ill patients and their families. Volunteers are needed primarily in the areas of home care and bereavement.

Volunteer training is scheduled for seven consecutive Mondays from Sept. 22 through Nov. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Methodist Hospital.

Pre-screening and registration is required. For more information call Cathy Fowler at 317-962-0277 or by e-mail at cfowler2@clarian.org.

Historian: women's place in Methodism inconsistent

MADISON, N.J. (UMNS) -- Early Methodism may have accepted women's participation more than in subsequent years, according to a historian who has specialized in the topic.

Jean Miller Schmidt said John Wesley, who founded the Methodist movement in England in the 18th century, did not feel he could authorize women preachers as the Quakers did in his time, but he extended "the extraordinary call" to them as well as to men.

He encouraged women to perform a diaconal role, often calling on them to be the "visitor of the sick," a specific office in the classes or small groups he created to foster the spiritual life of believers. Women were welcome to pray in public, witness and exhort, noted Schmidt in an address to the Fifth Historical Convocation Aug. 16, held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History.

Schmidt, professor of Methodist studies at United Methodist-related Iliff School of Theology in Denver, received the 2003 Distinguished Service Award for her contributions to United Methodist history. She is particularly interested in North American religious history of the 19th and 20th centuries. She is the author of Souls or the Social Order: the Two-Party System in American Protestantism and Grace Sufficient: A History of Women in American Methodism.

Although women were pioneers in the Methodist movement, men held the institutional power and eventually told women that their place was in the home, she said.

Today's ordained women "stand on the shoulders" of lay women who struggled to serve, Schmidt said. She noted that the United Methodist Church, beginning in 1980, has elected 14 women bishops.

"We give thanks for all that has been accomplished," she said. "But the struggles still go on and go on."

Women focus on peace, action, social responsibility

By Linda Green

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- Making peace is an essential part of being a Christian, yet for too long, the church has not followed Jesus in that respect, according to a United Methodist human rights leader.

"Peace and being called to be peace and justice makers is an essential part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus," said David Wildman, staff executive on human rights and racial justice at the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries in New York City.

For too long, he said, "the church has only believed in Jesus and not followed Jesus. To be a disciple is to be a faithful follower."

The focus is about action, he said. "Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers, not those that study peace, but those that make peace."

Wildman was one of several study group leaders during the United Methodist Women's National Seminar, held Aug. 2-8 at Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville. About 250 women attended the event to focus on social justice issues and responsibility and answer the question: "If not me, who?" The event is held every four years.

Throughout the week, each participant studied a specific social issue, with leadership from experts on the topic.

If Christians in the United States are concerned about violence and the spread of weapons in the world, including weapons of mass destruction, "we need to look at the log in our own eye," Wildman said. "The United States has more weapons of mass destruction than any other country. The United States has more bases and more military personnel in other countries than any other country, and it is spending close to $12,000 a second on war and readiness for war. What is the United States devoting to peace?"

Throughout the seminar, participants focused on concerns such as education, ethics, globalization, faith and health, and examined how those affect women and children.

Aruna Gnanadason, the World Council of Churches' justice, peace and creation program director in Switzerland, discussed biblical and contemporary women who brought about change or helped end injustices, and she showed how women in Somalia, Latvia and India had the courage to face authority in non-aggressive ways. "Aggression only leads to more aggression," she said.

She said: "We need to talk about how to become more resistant to military plans and not allow the military to use our young people in the way they have done so. There are many things we need to do because if we stop now, there will be another war."

The United Methodist Women engaged in peaceful action by standing in solidarity with Women in Black. The international peace networks stages silent vigils each week in support of peace. The vigils began in Israel in 1988 by women protesting Israel's occupation of the West Bank. The United Methodist Women also hosted the Kensington Welfare Rights Union as its members marched through Nashville on their way to Washington to raise awareness of poor people's plight.

United Methodist Women is a million-member organization that seeks to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. Members raise approximately $20 million annually for projects and programs related to women, youth and children in the United States and in more than 100 countries worldwide.

New United Methodist TV spot focuses on giving

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- The United Methodist Church is airing a new national TV advertisement depicting the benefit of giving of one's self.

The commercial, "The Gift," airs primarily in a 30-second format on 17 national cable networks and NBC-TV. It began airing Sept. 2, said the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive at United Methodist Communications.

"The Gift" portrays a woman silently and anonymously leaving wrapped packages of various sizes in different places. The woman returns home to find a wrapped gift on her own doorstep.

The spot concludes with: "If you're searching for ways to share your gifts with others -- and possibly even receive something in return -- our hearts, our minds and our doors are always open. The people of The United Methodist Church."

The TV spot is part of the denomination's Igniting Ministry initiative, a four-year, an effort spearheaded by United Methodist Communications. More than 92 million TV viewers have seen the spots since the effort debuted in 2001.

The campaign's success in raising awareness of the denomination and increasing first-time worship attendance in the United States has led UMCom officials to propose significantly expanding the program beginning in 2005.

The denomination airs spots three times a year -- Easter, back-to-school and Christmas -- times people are most receptive to spiritual messages, officials note.

The commercial is available for previewing at www.ignitingministry.org.

Million dollar bus spreads Gospel across Europe

GERMANY (UMNS) -- As a boy, Martin Kienle dreamed of one day driving a bus or a truck. Now 29, he is living that dream, driving the state-of-the-art "EmK Mobil" bus, loosely translated as "Methodistmobile," for the German United Methodist Church. The $1 million bus is the church's rolling mission in Europe, traveling to conferences, festivals, shopping centers and other places to spread the Gospel. The bus sets up as a caf? where people can relax, chat and explore questions of life and faith. The exterior is painted to catch the eye and arouse curiosity. Inside, the bus has a kitchen, areas for discussion groups and even a television/video mini-theater. "We want to go to the people," Kienle said.

Majority surveyed says OK to post Ten Commandments

More than 60 percent of Americans think government officials should be able to post the Ten Commandments in government buildings and believe it is constitutional for teachers to lead the recitation of "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, according to a survey.

Religion News Service reported that the "State of the First Amendment 2003," recently released, showed that 73 percent of respondents said the Pledge, including the words "one nation under God," is primarily a statement related to the American political tradition, while 18 percent said it was primarily a religious statement. Sixty percent of respondents also favored allowing the government to give money to religious institutions for drug prevention programs, even if they include religious messages.

The Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut surveyed 1,000 Americans during June 3-15. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. The survey was commissioned by the First Amendment Center and the "American Journalism Review."

News In Brief

By United Methodist News Service and other news sources

Episcopal Bishops turned down same-sex unions. A day after confirming the election of an openly gay man, the Rev. V. Gene Robinson, as bishop of the New Hampshire diocese, the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops decided Aug. 6 not to develop same-sex blessing liturgies, the Episcopal News Service reported. An amendment offered by Virginia Bishop Peter Lee and approved by the house deleted lines from a resolution that asked the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music to develop rites for blessing same-sex relationships. The resolution now goes before the House of Deputies for consideration. The amended resolution calls the church to "continued prayer, study and discernment on the pastoral care of gay and lesbian persons."

International peace keepers are finally in Liberia, but the United Methodist bishop there says his country still desperately needs relief. "People are starving. Children are dying. Medication is not available," Bishop John Innis said, communicating from Worcester, Mass., shortly after arriving in the United States Aug. 4. Contributions to the relief effort may be designated for the United Methodist Committee on Relief's Liberia Emergency, Advance #150300, and dropped in church collection plates or sent to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Credit-card donors can go online to http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/Liberia.stm or call (800) 554-8583.

When there is a war, God doesn't sit on the sidelines, says Chaplain Daniel Nigolian. From Jan. 19 to May 21, Lt. Colonel Nigolian was in "an undisclosed location, in a nameless desert, someplace on God's Earth." As a Wing Chaplain of the 78th Air Base Wing, Robbins Air Force Base, Warner Robbins, Ga., he was answering his country's call to service. Nigolian spoke to United Methodist News Service about his time as senior installation chaplain with an Air Force Special Operations team on a classified mission

More than 900 Methodists from across Europe gathered outside Berlin to worship and discuss how to better live out their common Wesleyan heritage and faith. The European Methodist Festival, held July 30-Aug. 3, marked only the second time that European Methodists have met in large numbers - the first time being during the Cold War.

Former missionaries establish scholarship at Africa University. James Lane Perry and Carolyn Shugart Perry of Armuchee, Ga., who served as missionaries in Zimbabwe from 1959 to 1964, have established the Kuperekedza Endowed Scholarship to provide annual support for a student in the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Africa University. The scholarship will provide an annual partial scholarship in perpetuity at the United Methodist-related school in Mutare, Zimbabwe. For more information about scholarship programs, contact the Africa University Development Office, P.O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN, 37203-0007; telephone: 615-340-7428; fax: 615-340-7290; e-mail: audevoffice@gbhem.org.

The Gift. The United Methodist Church will soon begin airing a new national television advertisement depicting the benefit of giving of one's self. The commercial, "The Gift," will air primarily in a 30-second format on 17 cable networks and NBC beginning Sept. 2

Children's Defense Fund officials have urged United Methodist bishops to oppose legislation in Congress that some experts said would affect poor children adversely. Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, told the Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation recently that legislation that would cut Head Start, child tax credit and welfare-to-work programs signals a "most dangerous time" for poor children. The bishops also met with aides of U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who introduced a bill recently that would make 200 Head Start programs "centers of excellence" and boost their funding. The commission comprises representatives from the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Christian Methodist Episcopal and United Methodist churches.

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