November 2004 Archives

Faith-based groups approve code for addressing HIV/AIDS (November 30)
At least 19 faith-based organizations are among the 160 initial signers of a new Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS.

Commentary: World must unite in fighting AIDS (November 30)
The prevention of HIV infection and the care and treatment of AIDS patients is a major medical mission priority of the United Methodist Church.

Syracuse Scout troop offers answers to youth in difficult setting (November 29)
Sometimes the worst problems can have relatively simple solutions. For Brown Memorial, one of the solutions comes in the form of Boy Scout Troop 14.

Resolution Regarding Iliff School of Theology (November 24)
The Assembly of MARCHA, gathered on November 19 to 21, 2004 expresses its outrage for the injustice and mistreatment done by Iliff against Dr. David Maldonado.

Hispanic caucus calls for restoration of Iliff president (November 24)
The United Methodist Church’s Hispanic caucus is calling for the reinstatement of the Rev. David Maldonado as president of Iliff School of Theology, and the organization says it will encourage Hispanic/Latino students not to enroll at the seminary if “institutional racism issues” are not satisfactorily addressed.

Teen collects million letters for military, meets president (November 24)
Shauna Fleming has had an interesting few days. She has met the President of the United States, the secretary of defense, received a “Born to Lead” award and posed for a photo in Cosmo Girl, appeared live on CNN, had film crews from CBS in her house, and met with book publishers about the printing of her first book.

Open Letter Calling for Intervention and Peace in Sudan (November 23)
We gather as a people called Methodist, representing five denominations with more than 15 million members, to further cooperation and union among churches in the Wesleyan tradition.   As we commune in a spirit of togetherness, we recognize there is deep brokenness created by war throughout our world.   Particularly, we are distraught that tens of thousands of God’s people in Darfur, Sudan die from preventable famine, disease, and violence as part of state-sponsored genocide. 

'Invisible’ church joins Pan-Methodist commission (November 23)
A little-known historically black Methodist denomination has joined a group of other Methodist traditions working to foster cooperation and unity.

Pan-Methodist commission issues response to Sudan (November 23)
Five Methodist denominations are calling on government and international officials to establish a peace process in the war-ravaged country of Sudan that “holistically considers the concerns of all Sudanese parties and ethnic groups.”

GCFA plans Nashville move, launches insurance company (November 23)
The United Methodist Church’s financial administration agency expects to start moving staff into a new headquarters building in Nashville, Tenn., later in 2005.

Social action internships available for ethnic young adults (November 22)
Young adults are encouraged to apply for a summer internship program with the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.

United Methodists express concern on tensions in Cote d’Ivoire (November 22)
Although scattered reports indicate its own church leaders are safe, the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries has expressed concern about continuing violence in Cote d’Ivoire.

Aid worker killed in Cote d’Ivoire had United Methodist links (November 22)
The news reports simply called him an “American aid worker” — the lone civilian killed Nov. 5 when fighter planes of the government of Cote d’Ivoire bombed a French military peacekeeping post in the West African nation. Nine French soldiers also died.

United Methodist Church on front line of AIDS crisis (November 19)
A beautiful country bordering the Indian Ocean, Mozambique has a population of 18.8 million. The United Methodist Church is alive and flourishing in every providence with a membership of 160,000 and growing. Unfortunately the HIV/AIDS pandemic is growing faster—1.3 million people are living with the disease.

Church in Mozambique grapples with AIDS pandemic (November 19)
Smiling, excited children, ranging from toddlers to teens, stand on a sagging front porch singing at the top of their lungs as visitors arrive.

Betty Bumpers uses faith, opportunity to build successful life (November 18)
Betty Bumpers, being the wife of a politician was an opportunity to make social change. he used her position – first as the first lady of Arkansas and later as the spouse of a U.S. senator – as the springboard for a national campaign to promote childhood immunization.

Pine trees provide chapel experience at special times of year (November 18)
Each Sunday through Labor Day, a multitude of boats deliver worshippers to the Chapel in the Pines, an outreach boatdock ministry of an Alabama United Methodist congregation.

Phone plan offers savings for United Methodist churches, agencies (November 17)
A new plan negotiated by the United Methodist Publishing House with AT&T provides an opportunity for churches, organizations and agencies to save on long distance and local telephone service.

Maine dog ministry gives hope to homebound folks (November 17)
A simple touch brightens the day of many residents living in a nursing home in southern Maine. But this touch is not a human touch; rather, it’s a nuzzle or a lick from Allegra, a 5-year-old golden retriever.

UMCOR focuses direct aid on Sudan’s troubled Darfur region (November 16)
The United Methodist Committee on Relief, currently serving Sudanese refugees in Chad, is preparing to provide more direct services to the Sudan.

Don’t ignore Africa, pan-African president says (November 16)
Africa is the "continent of the future," and the United States should not ignore it, said the president of the new Pan-African Parliament, in a meeting with United Methodist leaders.

Nordic, Baltic youth look to future (November 16)
Almost 100 youth leaders from six countries in the United Methodist Church’s Northern European Area gathered for the first time for a weekend of fellowship and training.

Church’s car ministry helps down and out get up and running (November 12)
Frustrated, Brandi Huckaby simply didn’t know what to do. Her car needed a $150 power-steering pump, but the single mother of three was barely able to put food on the table. With transportation gone, her life had ground to a halt.

In wake of Arafat's death, build for peace, United Methodist leader says (November 11)
Israelis and Palestinians should consider the death of Yasser Arafat to be an opportunity for peacebuilding rather than an excuse for further conflict, a United Methodist official said.

Phone-card campaign for military ‘lights dark valleys’ (November 10)
When he hands a phone card to a young soldier, United Methodist Chaplain John Morris says: "People who love Jesus Christ made this possible for you."

Church retirees key in on salvaging computers for students (November 10)
Computers junked by government agencies and schools are being saved from the scrap yard and, thanks to a small church, helping hundreds of students.

Bishops will emphasize disciple-making in 2005-08 (November 9)
The bishops of the United Methodist Church will focus on disciple-making and world transformation as top priorities in the next four years, proclaiming "no greater calling" than to make followers of Christ.

Sixty-two United Methodists will serve in 109th Congress (November 9)
The number of United Methodists serving in the 109th Congress will remain at 61, unchanged from the 108th Congress.

A who’s who of United Methodists in Congress (November 9)
The 109th Congress will have some new United Methodist faces, but the same number of members from the denomination as the previous Congress. Here is a list of United Methodists in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Middle East Christians need contact with other Christians, Day says (November 9)
Christians in the Middle East need to connect with their Western counterparts, according to a United Methodist official who recently traveled to the region.

United Methodist ministry reaching out to the unemployed (November 8)
On July 30, 2003, Ed Hosack was general manager of the Bed and Bath Division of Pillowtex, with 20 years invested in the textile giant. The next day he and nearly 6,500 co-workers – almost 4,000 of those in Cabarrus County, N.C.– were unemployed.

Church spreads warmth to city’s homeless (November 5)
For 20 years, Cascade United Methodist Church has reached out to those on this city’s streets, offering everything from food, clothing, and physical necessities to worship and job training. But two years ago, a new opportunity to help emerged when ministry leaders saw a need to help the homeless get through the cold winters.

Pastors of black congregations to focus on staying power (November 5)
United Methodist pastors of African-American churches will gather Jan. 4-7 in Atlanta to focus on how to sustain pastoral power in their ministries.

United Methodist bishops congratulate President Bush (November 4)
In a 200-year-old tradition, United Methodist bishops signed a Bible to send to President George Bush and issued a statement of congratulations following his re-election.

Church members can ‘be Jesus’ to kids in jail through program (November 4)
Volunteering to teach life skills and lead worship services in a juvenile detention facility isn’t exactly what Mike Gentry had planned for his life.

Church officials see no evidence of land grabs in Zimbabwe (November 4)
News reports that the Zimbabwean government is moving to reclaim "under-utilized" church farmland are a surprise to the country’s United Methodist bishop.

Conference will focus on building healthy churches (November 4)
Ensuring that United Methodist churches and annual conferences collaborate to build healthy congregations will be the goal of a national leadership conference in January.

Investigation team gives Iliff seminary ‘public warning’ (November 3)
|An investigation of leadership problems and cultural insensitivity related to the retirement of a former president of Iliff School of Theology has led to the United Methodist-related institution being placed on "immediate listing with public warning" by a denominational review team.

Pastors’ adopted daughter faces threat of deportation (November 3)
Smuggled into the United States from China six years ago so she could get a good education, Maggie Arnold earned straight A’s, finished as valedictorian of her high school class, led her student government at college and amassed a résumé full of academic awards.

Church court says Connectional Table can include ethnic caucus representatives (November 2)
The United Methodist Judicial Council affirmed the denomination’s new Connectional Table as a "new and different entity" of the church — but one that must follow constitutional rules in terms of inclusiveness, including representation from racial ethnic caucuses.

Group creates liturgy in Africana context (November 2)
A group of worship experts is creating the DNA for new liturgy in black churches across the globe.

Class meetings, a part of Methodist history, have relevance today (November 1)
Anyone living in New York in the late 1700s with an interest in joining John Street Methodist Episcopal Church was required to attend a weekly class meeting.

Ex-governor serves self-imposed ‘life sentence’ to end death penalty (November 1)
Just one day before Gov. George H. Ryan retired from public service in January 2003, he did something shocking and unprecedented. He closed down the state of Illinois’ death row and commuted the sentences of all 167 inmates there to life without parole.