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UMNS Weekly Digest
November 10, 2006
NOTE: This is a digest of stories from United Methodist News Service for Nov. 6-Nov. 10, plus additional news briefs. Full versions with photographs and related features can be found at http://umns.umc.org.
Stories this week:
Plus:
Judicial Council: Conferences may disagree with rulings
CINCINNATI (UMNS) –– The United Methodist Church’s top court says the denomination’s regional conferences may pass petitions that disagree with court decisions, as long as they do not mandate any violation of the Book of Discipline or ignore directives included in those decisions. The United Methodist Judicial Council considered several petitions that stemmed from a ruling it issued last fall, Decision 1032, which dealt with a Virginia pastor who denied membership to an openly gay man. The nine-member council ruled that a pastor has the right to determine who is ready for church membership.
During last summer’s annual meeting of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference, a petition encouraging churches to be inclusive was ruled to be in order by Bishop John R. Schol because it “represented the hope of the annual conference.” Judicial Council agreed with Schol. A petition from the Kansas East Annual Conference went beyond the court’s standard, the council said, but did not violate the specific paragraphs in the Book of Discipline that were cited in the request for a decision. The difference is in the wording. {656}
Cote D’Ivoire Church not fully admitted, says Judicial Council
CINCINNATI (UMNS) –– The top court of the United Methodist Church has ruled that the 2004 General Conference was within its authority to limit the United Methodist Church of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to two General Conference delegates. The Judicial Council made it clear that the action by the 2004 General Conference “was not a final act of admission” of the Methodist Church of Cote d’Ivoire into the United Methodist Church. “By its terms, the legislation contemplated that further action would be taken by the 2008 General Conference,” the council said in its ruling. The 2008 General Conference will meet April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas. The ruling cites Paragraph 502 of the Book of Discipline as authority for a General Conference to provide for the composition and allocation of its delegates. {657}
African church needs more women in authority, bishops learn
MAPUTO, Mozambique (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church in Africa needs to address the lack of women in positions of authority in both church and society, according to the head of the denomination’s Africa University. Rukudzo Murapa, vice chancellor of Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, was one of many United Methodists from around Africa who provided leadership at the Council of Bishops’ meeting Nov. 1-6 in Maputo. The bishops, who are the top clergy leaders of the 10 million-member church, met outside the territorial United States for the first time. “African women may well have the special word of God to us for our time,” Murapa said. “Is the United Methodist Church listening? Is the United Methodist Church urging anyone else to listen? We need a higher visibility of women in the church in Africa.” {658}
Angolans welcome historic delegation visit
MALANJE, Angola (UMNS)--When the Rev. R. Randy Day stepped foot on Angolan soil, it was cause for celebration across thousands of miles. Day, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, made an historic visit to this southwest African country Sept. 24-Oct. 2. Folks noticed. Bishop Jose Quipungo, East Angola Annual (regional) Conference, and Bishop Gaspar Joao Domingos, West Angola Annual Conference, shared their joy about his visit with pastors, district superintendents, choir members, nurses, doctors, lawyers, cooks, government officials, laity and lots of children.
“This is the first time the top executive from the Board of Global Ministries has ever been to our country,” both bishops said over and over, as they took the delegation on a tour of United Methodist churches, schools and mission centers from Luanda to Malanje. {659}
Orphans in Angola grow up ‘in hands of church’
MALANJE, Angola (UMNS) — Agnalda Miseria Mutale No Bento wants to be a doctor. The 18-year-old sees one up close every day at the United Methodist East Angola Annual (regional) Conference center next to the orphanage where she has lived since she was 12. Dr. Laurinda Quipungo is a good role model. The bishop’s wife serves as the health coordinator for the conference, runs a clinic at the conference headquarters, works part-time in the Malanje Provincial Hospital and serves as public health coordinator for the province. She also personally cares for each of the 24 orphans living in the orphanage. Bento is one of the older children and helps orphanage director Rita Luis Simao Gregorio with the younger ones. Gregorio says the children are “growing up in the hands of the church.” The oldest is 20 and the youngest is 3. {660}
NBC documentary focuses on poverty, housing
NEW YORK (UMNS)--For a magnified example of how poverty, housing and a just society are intertwined, take a look at the Gulf Coast. That’s exactly what United Methodist Bishop Melvin Talbert has done in his role as chairperson of the Special Commission for the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast for the National Council of Churches. Talbert is one of the religious and political leaders featured in “Building on Faith: Making Poverty Housing History.” The documentary, from the National Council of Churches, will be shown on NBC-TV affiliate stations beginning Dec. 10. {661}
Through organ donations, teenager ‘gave life to so many’
SUBLETTE, Kan. (UMNS)-- Whenever Betty Chaffin sees the Rev. John Hastings, she asks if she can put her ear on his chest and listen to the sound of his heart. The strong lub-dub, lub-dub indicates that the 71-year-old Hastings is alive and very well. It’s also a reminder that Chaffin’s late grandson, Andru Chaffin, lives on with every beat of Hastings’ transplanted heart. “It just makes me feel good to know that Andru’s heart is still beating and living and that his whole body gave life and hope to so many other people,” said Chaffin who lives in Sublette, Kan. “When Andru died we donated his heart, his lungs, liver, pancreas and his eyes.”
On Sunday, Nov. 12, United Methodists will observe Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday. Timed to emphasize gratitude and thanksgiving for life, many churches will pass out pamphlets or supply members with organ donor cards. Some people will hear firsthand how organ and tissue transplants both save lives and honor the lives of the donors. “Just imagine,” Hastings said, “being able to give someone the gift of life. Wouldn’t that be something?” {662}
New Orleans church reopens 'blessed, beautiful' after storm
NEW ORLEANS (UMNS) — Almost a year and two months after Hurricane Katrina struck, Bethany United Methodist Church rededicated its newly renovated worship center. During the 2005 storm, the church’s sanctuary and buildings sustained almost 11 feet of standing flood water. “Bethany is back. We’re blessed, bigger and beautiful,” said the Rev. Hadley Edwards, who led the Oct. 22 service, which also marked the church’s 49th anniversary. An overflow crowd of more than 520 at the service included people from California, Maryland, Arizona, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi and Georgia who had served on work teams to rebuild the church. “Katrina brought us to our knees as it relates to the possessions we have accumulated over the years,” said Edwards. “The devastation of Hurricane Katrina brought us to uncomfortable places. But in those places, we became more God-centered, power-filled and more aware of our Savior’s love and trust. God gave more than Katrina could have ever taken away.” {663}
Katrina appeal for local churches needs support, bishop says
NEW YORK (UMNS)--A first-anniversary fundraising appeal to help rebuild churches and congregations affected by Hurricane Katrina netted more than $2 million, with additional donations expected. But that is just a beginning for the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal, sponsored by the United Methodist Council of Bishops. Bishop William Oden of Dallas, who leads the council’s task force on the Katrina appeal, pointed out that while Katrina was “the worst natural and man-made tragedy in the history of the United States,” the hurricane also had the most disastrous impact ever on church property, facilities and programs.
Established a year ago, the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal will help restore hurricane-damaged United Methodist facilities; pay salaries for clergy while their congregations cannot do so; establish new congregations or consolidate existing ones; renew church-based community ministries such as day-care centers; and provide such worship necessities as Bibles and hymnals to churches in need. The need includes churches affected by Hurricane Rita as well as Katrina, all along the Gulf Coast, from East Texas to Alabama. Donations to the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal, No. 818-001, can be made online at www.umc.org/churchrecovery or placed in offering plates in local churches. {664}
Nelson Mandela, Gracia Machel speak to bishops
MAPUTO, Mozambique (UMNS) — People should be recognized for the work they do and not for who they are or where they come from, Nelson Mandela told bishops of the United Methodist Church. Mandela, former president of South Africa and an international symbol of human rights, and his wife, former Mozambican education minister Gracia Machel, surprised the bishops with their appearance at dinner on Sunday, Nov. 5. Machel is also the widow of Mozambican President Samora Machel, who died in a 1986 airplane crash. Both Mandela and Machel have deep Methodist roots. Mandela was educated in a Methodist school in South Africa. Machel is United Methodist and attended a Methodist school in Mozambique. {665}
African churches have obsession for evangelism, scholar says
MAPUTO, Mozambique (UMNS) — The success of evangelization of Africa is a “surprising phenomenon to the rest of Christendom,” said Africa University’s chairperson of evangelism. “The church in Africa has an obsession for the ministry of evangelism,” said the Rev. John Wesley Kurewa, founding vice chancellor of Africa University and holder of the chair of evangelism. The United Methodist-related university, in Mutare, Zimbabwe, has about 1,300 students from 24 African countries. Addressing the United Methodist Council of Bishops Nov. 2, Kurewa highlighted the role that the missionaries and the early church in Africa played in evangelizing the continent. {666}
African bishops glad to not travel to the U.S. for meeting
MAPUTO, Mozambique (UMNS)—United Methodist bishops across Africa were elated that the denomination’s Council of Bishops decided to conduct its first meeting outside the United States. Seventy bishops met in Mozambique Nov. 1-6 for the council’s semiannual meeting. Bishop Kainda Katembo, Southern Congo, spoke for his colleagues when he said, “I think all the African bishops are more than happy to have it here.” The meeting in Africa was “close, we were at home and did not have to travel a long distance,” Katembo said. “Bishops of the United States had to experience what we go through instead.”
On Nov. 6, the bishops sent a message to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo congratulating them on the country’s recent elections. “On this glorious occasion,” the bishops of the United Methodist church “would like to take this opportunity to congratulate President Joseph Kabila Kabanga and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo for this historic accomplishment.” {667}
United Methodist phone cards bringing light to soldiers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)--The only phone card Sgt. 1st Class John Brian Gregory can use that is not blocked by the Afghanistan government is the one featuring the United Methodist Church's Cross and Flame. Gregory is "way out in the boonies" at Camp Salerno in Khost, Afghanistan, and he tells his wife Nina that the only way he can afford to call home is with a little plastic card sent to him by United Methodists in the United States. "Just to hear his voice every few weeks makes all the difference in the world," says Nina. Since Veteran's Day 2003, United Methodists have donated more than 9 million minutes of free phone calls to service men and women working in harm's way in war zones around the world.
The United Methodist Endorsing Agency, Board of Higher Education and Ministry, started the phone card campaign to help military families stay in touch with each other. For more information on how to participate, contact the United Methodist Endorsing Agency, Board of Higher Education and Ministry, P.O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007. The agency also can be reached at umea@gbhem.org or (615) 340-7411. {668}
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