United Methodist News and Communications Service
- Daily Digest - Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors. The people of The United
Methodist Church – Monday, 2 December 2013
-------
“I don’t follow Christ because Christians
don’t get sick. I don’t follow Christ because Christians live longer. I follow
Christ because I’ve seen the face of God in Christ as he cares for people.”(The
late Bishop Wayne K. Clymer in a sermon on his 90th birthday.)
Bishop remembered as wise, compassionate
leader
MINNEAPOLIS (UMNS) — “Over the years, his
primary concern was not so much organization or institution, but compassion for
people,” said Harlyn Hagmann, a retired Minnesota pastor and a longtime friend
of the late Bishop Wayne K. Clymer. The bishop passed away Monday, Nov. 25.
Read obituary
Bishop Clymer remembered as wise,
compassionate leader
DATE: November 26, 2013
BY: Christa Meland
Six years ago, in celebration of his 90th
birthday, retired Bishop Wayne K. Clymer delivered a sermon at Hennepin Avenue
United Methodist Church in Minneapolis that was called “Why follow Christ?”
In it, Clymer referred to Christ serving
the masses with loaves and fishes, noting that Christ saw the crowd in need and
had compassion. He told the congregation: I don’t follow Christ because
Christians don’t get sick. I don’t follow Christ because Christians live
longer. I follow Christ because I’ve seen the face of God in Christ as he cares
for people.
That theme from Clymer’s sermon was also
a theme visible throughout the bishop’s whole life, said Harlyn Hagmann, a
retired pastor in the Minnesota Annual Conference who was a district
superintendent from 1975 to 1981. Clymer found the crowd in need and showed
them compassion.
“Over the years, his primary concern was
not so much organization or institution, but compassion for people,” said
Hagmann, who was also one of Clymer’s longtime friends. “His objective was to
instill in the church a sense of compassion for the people within the church
and beyond the church. And if the church succeeded in that, everything else
would follow.”
Clymer died Monday at age 96, just hours
after speaking in the Twin Cities at the funeral of a longtime friend and
fellow clergy member. He is remembered as a wise and deeply spiritual leader
who modeled compassion and graciousness in his ministry and throughout his
life.
Born Sept. 24, 1917, in Napoleon, Ohio,
Clymer began his career as an ordained clergyperson in the Evangelical United
Brethren Church, a predecessor body of the United Methodist Church. After a
brief time as a local church pastor, he served in several capacities at
Evangelical Theological Seminary in Illinois—where he was professor of pastoral
care, then dean, and eventually president. In 1970, he was a member of the
United States delegation to the United Nations Conference on Refugees in
Geneva, Switzerland. And he was elected a United Methodist bishop in 1972, just
four years after our denomination was formed by merger.
His first episcopal assignment was the
Minnesota Annual Conference, which he led until 1980. At that time, he was
assigned to the Iowa Annual Conference, where he served until retiring in 1984.
Between 1976 and 1984, he also served as president of the United Methodist
Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
Upon retiring, Clymer moved back to
Minnesota, where he and his wife, Virginia Schoenbohm Clymer, still have a
residence (although in recent years, they spent winters in Florida). The year
he retired, Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church invited Clymer to be its
“bishop in residence,” a role he maintained until his death.
Hennepin Avenue Pastor Teri Johnson said
that Bishop Clymer was incredibly active at the church: He spent one day each
week volunteering at the Dignity Center there, which supports people in poverty
as they work toward self-sufficiency. He attended weekly staff meetings. He
worked with confirmation students and confirmed the church’s latest group of
confirmands just last month. He served on the church’s outreach committee. And
he routinely visited those in need of pastoral care.
“He wanted to see the church thrive and
was passionate about this congregation,” said Johnson. “He loved this church
and they loved him.”
Before his weekly shift at the Dignity
Center, he would walk around and individually check in with every staff person
at the church, asking how they were doing and how their day was going, recounts
Johnson. He wanted them to know he cared. What she appreciated most about
Clymer was his “deep wisdom” and the way “he could gently enter into dialogue,”
sharing his own perspective but also inviting and respectfully listening to the
opinions of others.
In addition to staying involved at
Hennepin Avenue, Clymer also remained active within the global church well
beyond his retirement. Retired bishops retain membership in the United
Methodist Council of Bishops, and upon his retirement in 1984, Clymer served as
liaison for the Council of Bishops to the theological seminaries. Later, he
worked on the education committee. This fall, Clymer became the oldest member
of the Council of Bishops.
“In the tradition of the early church’s
desert mothers and fathers, Bishop Clymer was a contemporary spiritual father
of the Minnesota Conference and much of the United Methodist Church,” said
Bishop Bruce R. Ough, who leads the Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area. “Even in
his advanced years, and certainly because of his accumulated wisdom, his cogent
insights, thoughtful reflections on the state of the church, and grasp of
current realities were sought out by younger episcopal colleagues, friends, and
family. For many—lay and clergy alike—he came to epitomize and represent what a
spiritual leader should be.
“Bishop Clymer loved the Minnesota
Conference and its faithful people and was beloved by them in return,” said
Ough. “We have lost an icon—a window to God, a true spiritual father, and an
irreplaceable gift from God.”
Bishop Clymer married Helen Eloise Graves
on Sept. 3, 1939. Helen died on July 7, 1999. Their two children are Kenton
James Clymer, professor of diplomatic history and head of the history
department at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, and Richard
George Clymer, realtor and retired senior high school principal in Hastings,
Minnesota. Bishop Clymer and Virginia Schoenbohm Clymer were married on Dec.
26, 2000.
Clymer is survived by his wife Virginia;
his two sons and daughters-in-law; and his grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
Those who knew Clymer well say that his
legacy of compassion will live on in their hearts and in the world.
“People were not entities to him, people
were people; they had feelings and lives and sometimes loves and sometimes
disappointments,” said Hagmann. “As precious as he felt his role was in helping
develop leadership for the church, he was above all a very gracious human
being.”
Christa Meland is director of
communications for the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist
Church.
---
Arrangements
Bishop Wayne K. Clymer
Relationship to the conference: Retired
bishop, Minnesota Episcopal Area, 1972-1980
Date of death: Nov. 25, 2013
Arrangements: Funeral service will be
held Friday, Nov. 29, at 2 p.m., at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church,
511 Groveland Ave., Minneapolis. A visitation will take place prior to the
service, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the church.
Memorials: Memorials are preferred to the
Wayne K. Clymer Scholarship Fund at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
(send checks to the Development Office, 2121 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, Ill.,
60201), or to the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Appointment information: Bishop Clymer
served as an elder with the Evangelical United Brethren Church prior to the
merger that formed The United Methodist Church in 1968. He served as bishop of
the Minnesota Episcopal Area from 1972 to 1980, and as bishop of the Iowa
Episcopal Area from 1980 to 1984, when he retired.
Bishop Clymer is survived by wife
Virginia Schoenbohm Clymer; two sons, Kenton James Clymer and Richard George
Clymer, and their wives; and grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is
preceded in death by Helen Eloise Graves Clymer. Cards may be sent to Virginia
Schoenbohm Clymer at 2850 Inner Rd., Wayzata, MN 55391.
Within the next day, watch for a feature
article about Bishop Clymer's history with and contributions to the United
Methodist Church.
Obituaries at www.minnesotaumc.org
This message is coming through the
Minnesota Annual Conference e-mail list. All Minnesota United Methodist
churches are required to receive messages through this list. Any other
interested people may also subscribe.
Unsubscribe <<Email Address>>
from this list | Forward to a friend | Update your profile
Our mailing address is:
Minnesota Annual Conference of the United
Methodist Church
122 W. Franklin Ave., Ste. 400
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Add us to your address book
Copyright (C) 2013 Minnesota Annual
Conference of the United Methodist Church All rights reserved.
---
Background information
Bishop Wayne Clymer
(retired)
Address:
November - April
Parkway Villas
6054 Coral Way
Bradenton FL 34207
May-October
2850 Inner Road
Wayzata MN 55391
Phone:
November - April
(941) 727-7875
May-October
(952) 473-2812
Email: wclymer2000@yahoo.com
Wayne Clymer was born in Napoleon, Ohio,
son of Reverend George A. and Grace Sallie Hulvey Clymer. His father was a
member of the Ohio Annual Conference of the Evangelical Church, and served
churches in that state.
Bishop Clymer received his baccalaureate
degree from Asbury College and the M.A. degree in Philosophy from Columbia
University. Union Theological Seminary conferred the Master of Divinity degree,
and the Ph.D. degree was awarded by New York University. Post-doctoral studies
were pursued at the New York School for Social Research, the William Alanson
White School of Psychiatry, and Columbia University. Clinical Pastoral
Education was taken at the Massachusetts General Hospital and at St. Luke’s
Hospital in New York City.
Bishop Clymer was ordained deacon and
elder by Bishop John S. Stamm, and became a member of the Atlantic Conference
of the Evangelical Church, where he served pastorates in Ozone Park and Forest
Hills, NY. In 1946 he was appointed Professor of Pastoral Care at the
Evangelical Theological Seminary, Naperville, Illinois. In 1957 he was
appointed Dean of the Seminary and became President in 1967. During a
sabbatical year 1966-67, Dr. Clymer was consultant to the United Church of
Christ in the Philippines on ministerial training and taught at St. Andrew's
Theological Seminary in Manila and Trinity College in Singapore. During his
tenure in theological education, he served as President of the Association of
Seminary Professors, the Chicago Theological Faculties Union, and the Mid-America
Theological Center.
The North Central Jurisdictional
Conference elected Wayne Clymer to the episcopacy in 1972. He was assigned to
the Minnesota Area where he served for eight years before being transferred to
the Iowa Area in 1980. He served as President of The United Methodist Committee
on Relief from 1976-1984. In 1970 he was a member of the United States
delegation to the United Nations Conference on Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland.
Upon his retirement in 1984 he served as liaison for the Council of Bishops to
the theological seminaries.
Bishop Clymer gave the Denman Lectures at
the Congress on Evangelism in 1976; the Berger Lectures at the University of
Dubuque, 1985; the Washburn Lectures, 1985; the George Buttrick Lectures,
Bayview, Michigan, 1990. He was preacher on the NBC radio series, AArt of
Living,@ in 1962; and preacher on the AProtestant Hour@, 1970. Four times he
was a delegate to the Oxford Conference on Methodist Theological Studies, and
represented his denomination at the Fourth World Conference on Faith and Order.
He has published numerous articles, and two books: Affirmation and Membership
Means Discipleship. Honorary degrees have been awarded by Westmar College,
Hamline University, Iowa Wesleyan College, Rust College and by Garret-Evangelical
Theological Seminary.
Bishop Clymer married Helen Eloise Graves
on September 3, 1939. Helen died July 7, 1999. Their two children are: Kenton
James Clymer, Professor of Diplomatic History and head of the History
Department at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, and Richard
George Clymer, realtor and retired Senior High School Principal, Hastings,
Minnesota. Bishop Clymer and Virginia Schoenbohm were married on December 26,
2000.
---
‘Tis the season … to think of alternative
gifts
Recipients say ‘non-gifts’ are priceless
by Tita Parham
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — It is that time
of year when shopping seems to overwhelm everything. Tita Parham points out in
Interpreter Magazine how many are turning to alternative gifts.
Read story
One of the hottest toys on the market for
children in 2012, according to Good Housekeeping magazine, was the Meep tablet,
an iPad-like tablet that runs on the Android operating system.
Eight-year-old Maddie Helle decided she
wanted something even better for her birthday: dog food.
She also asked for cat food, collars,
leashes and food bowls.
Maddie decided she had enough toys and
clothes and instead wanted the pet supplies for the local Humane Society. She
received enough to fill a large SUV.
Her tour of the Humane Society's shelter
about a month before her birthday prompted her request.
"I really like animals and wanted to
help them," said Maddie, who attends the United Methodist Church of
Farmington (Ill.)
She took that help a step further and now
regularly volunteers at the shelter. She also fosters kittens at home.
And for her birthday this year, she wants
the same thing.
Choosing help instead of clutter
When Sam and Lisa Abate married last
April, they asked for specific wedding gifts – donations to two of their
favorite charities.
The request from Sam, a
firefighter/emergency medical technician (EMT), and Lisa, an EMT who works in a
hospital trauma department, should have brought little surprise. For Christmas
2012, the couple, members of Union Grove United Methodist Church in Pittsfield,
N.J., gave and received alternative gifts.
"We already have everything we
need," Sam said, "so instead of getting more junk or clutter, we
figured we would ask for and give something to be given to those who have
nothing or very little. We wanted to help but wanted our gifts to be relevant
and have a connection to who we were giving them to."
More of everything for many
Julie Taylor says her birthday present
was "the gift of sharing."
When Taylor, executive for children,
youth and family advocacy for United Methodist Women and a member of St. Paul
and St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York, turned 50 three years ago
she also decided she had everything she needed.
"I need love, friendship,
opportunity to work and access to it ... a healthy environment," she said.
"I don't need ‘stuff.’"
She asked people for things that would
help someone else, but in amounts of 50 – 50 socks for homeless people; 50
cents, dimes, dollars for any charity; 50 minutes to talk to shut-ins; 50 nails
for Habitat for Humanity.
"It was the best birthday
ever," she said. "When friends and family started to contact me about
what things they gave and how they celebrated my birthday, I was overwhelmed.
There was more food, more friendship, more assistance, more love shared with
others. What could be better than that?"
No better gift
Each time the Rev. Gregory Gross has
suggested alternative giving, he has been "greatly surprised and honored
by the gifts."
Gross is a deacon in Chicago, appointed
to the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago and Berry United Methodist Church as
family ministries coordinator.
For his birthday, Christmas and
ordination, he asked for contributions to Project Tariro, an initiative of
United Methodist diaconal ministers and deacons that supports people in
Zimbabwe living with HIV/AIDS.
Alternative giving, Gross says, is vital
for a church that's called to be "counter-cultural."
"Too often our society gets caught
up in wanting more — the latest and greatest device — and in ‘what's in it for
me,’" he said. "Yet, we are called to think of others as
ourselves."
Gross sees gifts to Project Tariro as
"giving the gift of life."
"What better gift could I receive or
give at Christmas, when we remember that the divine became incarnate," he
said.
Tita Parham is a freelance writer, editor
and communications consultant based in Apopka, Fla.
Looking for ideas for alternative gifts
to receive or give?
Check out the more than 850 projects and
300 missionaries supported through gifts to The Advance. Visit
www.umcmission.org/advance or see the list beginning on page 49.
---
Christmas shopping can benefit local
churches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The United
Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration, in partnership with
some of the largest online retailers, has built a shopping tool that provides a
cash benefit for your church when you purchase through the UMCmarket — items
you might be buying anyway. How does it work? Create an account at
UMCMarket.org and designate the church of your choosing.
To sign up
http://www.umcmarket.org/
---
UMC #GivingTuesday gifts have twice the
impact
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Kick off the
season of giving by making an online donation to mission through The Advance on
#GivingTuesday, Dec. 3 and double the impact of your gift. On that date, online
gifts to any project through The Advance, the designated giving channel of The
United Methodist Church, will be matched 100 percent up to the first $500,000.
Every gift to The Advance goes to the intended ministry; no administrative
costs are taken from donations.
UMC #GivingTuesday
http://www.umcmission.org/Give-to-Mission/Search-for-Projects/Advance-Project-Search
Global Ministries will allocate the
“matching funds” dollar for dollar up to the first $500,000 in gifts to Advance
projects received online on December 3, 2013, between 12:00 a.m. EST and 11:59
p.m. A maximum of $10,000 per individual gift to a project will be dispersed as
matching funds. A project may receive a maximum of $50,000 in matching funds.
Advance Project Search
Find and Give to a Ministry, Missionary,
or Project
If you know The Advance ministry or
project name, please enter it here. You can also search for words in the title,
description, area, or country in which it exists.
Enter Project Name, Number or
Keyword
Select a Missionary
Advanced Search
Begin the Search
Search for a particular Advance project
or discover a new one. Begin your search by exploring categories, population,
region, UMCOR, or focus area. These buttons will lead to new pages where you
may further refine your search.
Category button rev for Advance project search
page
region button
Focus Area button
UMCOR button
Pop button
Missionary new button for Advance page
UMC #Giving Tuesday
See our resource page for UMC #Giving
Tuesday.
---
Help ‘Just Save One’ from HIV/AIDS on
Giving Tuesday
NEW YORK (UMNS) — As a follow-up to the
Dec. 1 observation of World AIDS Day, consider a donation to the United
Methodist Global AIDS Fund on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, when contributions will
be matched dollar for dollar. The fund’s new initiative, “Just Save One,”
focuses on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Learn more about the Global AIDS
HIV and AIDS
UMCOR's top priorities in addressing HIV
and AIDS around the world are challenging stigma and mother-child transmission
in partnership with the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund
The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund
(UMGAF) was established by the 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist
Church. Its purpose is to stem the tide of HIV and AIDS around the world, and
strengthen the church’s compassionate response to this deadly pandemic. UMGAF
supports programs that focus on prevention, advocacy, testing, and counseling
for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Through the generosity of United
Methodists and others, UMGAF has supported more than 200 HIV/AIDS
church-oriented programs in over 35 countries. For United Methodists living in
the United States, 25 percent of all contributions given to UMGAF through a
local United Methodist church remain in the annual conference for AIDS
ministries.
UMGAF is guided by an inter-agency
committee comprised of representatives from the Council of Bishops, General
Board of Church & Society, General Board of Global Ministries, General
Commission on Communications, the Division on Ministries with Young People,
United Methodist Women, and the Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious
Concerns.
Support the UMGAF Just Save One
Initiative!
Just Save OneIf you could save just one
person’s life, would you do it? You have the opportunity to Just Save One person
living with HIV and AIDS.
Just Save One is an initiative of the
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund to eradicate HIV by 2020. For the next year,
UMGAF is intensifying it’s work of prevention of mother to child transmission
of HIV and AIDS. Even a small gift can make a big difference. It costs less
than $10 to prevent transmission of HIV from a mother to a child; and just $1
provides needed nutrients for an AIDS orphan.
Donate to UMGAF, educate your
congregation, and/or get involved in the fight to advocate for persons living
with and affected by HIV and AIDS around the world. For questions or comments,
contact UMGAF Consultant Rebecca Yount at rlconsult1@gmail.com.
Meet One
In Zimbabwe, Gladys, a nine year old HIV
positive girl, asks her mother daily what she did wrong to contract HIV. Her
mother cries when hearing this. She unknowingly transmitted HIV to her daughter
at birth and is dealing with her own guilt. Through the work of the United
Methodist Global AIDS Fund focus on preventing mother to child transmission,
children like Gladys will be born AIDS free and mother’s can celebrate the joy
of child birth without guilt.
Support the Just Save One Initiative
Donate
UMGAF has raised more than US $3.5
million to assist thousands of people who are infected and affected by HIV and
AIDS. Yet, there are 34 million individuals living with the virus. We need your
financial contribution to Just Save One of those millions.
A gift of US $20 can provide nursing care
for a child born HIV positive;
A US $50 gift can help educate young
people and adults how to prevent HIV;
A US $100 gift will supply nutrients to
100+ AIDS orphans suffering from dehydration.
Your gift could also help:
Distribute copies of Prayers for
Encouragement for Persons Living with and Affected by HIV and AIDS through the Upper
Room;
Prevent children from being orphaned by
providing HIV testing and education for their parents;
Expand healthcare services to prevent the
transmission of HIV from mother to child.
Ways to donate:
1. Drop a check payable to your local
church with the UMGAF Advance #982345 in the memo line in the offering plate in
your local church this Sunday. By contributing through your local church, 25
percent will remain in your annual conference for local AIDS ministries and the
remainder will be sent to UMCOR to support worldwide ministries.
2. Mail a check, payable to UMCOR, to: PO
Box 9068, New York, NY 10087, with the UMGAF Advance #982345 in the memo line.
3. Donate now by making a contribution
with your credit card.
Your donation will help Just Save One
person, someone like Makena in Kenya, India, or Washington DC or even in your
own community. Together United Methodists can Just Save One and begin a domino
effect to eradicate HIV and AIDS by 2020.
Donate
Educate
Eliminating the stigma associated with
AIDS is a key educational goal for UMCOR. Having a strong AIDS education in
your local church and community is critical to ensure the well-being of those
who are infected and affected. Without knowledge of the virus, people have
little incentive to seek help if they believe they have acquired HIV. Learn
more about HIV and AIDS and encourage your congregation to become educated on
HIV and AIDS by utilizing these resources:
Printable Resources
UMGAF brochure (pdf)
Just Save One bulletin insert (pdf)
Just Save One bookmark (pdf)
Just Save One one pager (pdf)
Congregation and small group resources:
Resources for United Methodist Churches,
Districts, Conferences, and Jurisdiction on HIV and AIDS Ministries (pdf)
Stamp out the Stigma, Train the Trainer
(an Indiana Annual Conference Resource)
How to Organize an HIV Testing Event (an
Louisiana Annual Conference resource)
World AIDS Day Advent Study (pdf)
World AIDS Day/ First Sunday of Advent
sample worship service(pdf)
40 Days of Prayer & Actions for
Persons Living with and Affected by HIV & AIDS(pdf)
Interactive resources:
HIV 101 Powerpoint
UMGAF Powerpoint
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund Video
Other places to find resources and
information:
UNAIDS
United States Office on National AIDS
Policy
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
Medicine Net
Foundation for AIDS Research
The One Campaign
Nick News: "Forgotten But Not Gone:
Kids, HIV & AIDS"
Advocate
More than 3,000 persons have become UMGAF
AIDS Ambassadors. Ambassadors are volunteers who advocate for needed funding
for AIDS projects, help strengthen laws related to AIDS, and also broker
partnerships between congregations and AIDS organizations globally to implement
AIDS ministries. You, too, can become an AIDS Ambassador.
Be a social justice advocate! Many
legislative bodies—local and national—appropriate funding for AIDS. Learn about
what’s happening in your part of the world and let your legislators know about
your interest and concern. Attend
district legislative meetings, write to your legislator, and call to voice your
concern for persons living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.
Be a welcoming congregation! As an act of
faith, we are called to welcome all people into our local churches, including
persons living with AIDS who are often marginalized and stigmatized by society,
including the church. By extending love and acceptance to those living with
AIDS, transformation can happen. Encourage your pastor to preach on AIDS,
sponsor an educational class on HIV and AIDS, explore how your congregation can
become more welcoming, and invite each member to give to UMGAF as an act of
stewardship and mission.
Mark Your Calendar
Lighten the Burden logoGetting to Zero:
Just Save One, an Equipping Conference on HIV and AIDS will take place in
Denver, Colorado September 11–13, 2014. More details will be posted as we get
closer to the date, but clear your calendar for it now.
Commemorate World AIDS Day! Join people
around the world working to end HIV, especially on World AIDS Day, December 1.
This observance is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight
against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and commemorate
people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day
(1988). The United Methodist Church has been a strong supporter of this special
day and the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund urges all congregations to
commemorate World AIDS Day, either on December 1 or some other day during the
year. Congregations are also strongly encouraged to take an offering for the
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund on World AIDS Day, to support the work that
our churches and partners do to understand and combat this disease in
communities around the world.
---
Contribute to Advance Special No. 982345
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund Advance
#982345
#982345 - Combatting HIV/AIDS globally
through prevention, treatment, support and capacity development
Annual Goal:$270,000.00
YTD Gifts:$53,006.51
Location: Global Global
Partner:General Board of Global
Ministries
Background/History
The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund
(UMGAF) was set up at the 2004 General Conference to mobilize the denomination
and give action to our commitment to help end HIV/AIDS in the world. UMGAF
gives United Methodists a tangible way to respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund Executive Committee, representing a
cross-section of the UMC, oversees the fund and is charged with increasing
HIV/AIDS awareness in the Annual Conferences and churches. The Executive
Committee also oversees fundraising efforts. The health unit of the United
Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) administers the grant review process and
financial disbursement for the fund.
In 2001, there were an estimated total of
28.6 million adults and children living with HIV throughout the world. In 2010,
the global estimate rose to 34 million. Yet, the annual number of new HIV
infections has been on a steady decline with 3.1 million new cases in 2001 and
2.6 million new cases in 2009. Many factors have contributed to the decline in
new infections. These changes include increased education and awareness;
behavior change promotion; increases in the number of people being tested;
interventions that promote prevention of HIV from mother to child; increased
access to treatments; and the development of more programs and resources that
take an integrated holistic approach to addressing the needs of impacted by or
living with HIV/AIDS. The UMGAF has funded work in all of these areas. By the
end of 2011, the 229 projects in 37 countries had received funding. Many of the
projects have focused on orphans and vulnerable children, the poor, widows,
people living with HIV/AIDS, community-based health workers, and populations
considered high risk for exposure to HIV/AIDS.
Due to generous contributions to the
UMGAF, people in some of the most remote places in the world have been
impacted; countless numbers of lives have been saved. Through continued
support, the UMGAF will be able to continue supporting community-based programs
that provide care and support, promote disease prevention, educate, advocate,
and build the capacity of vulnerable populations to address HIV/AIDS.
Goals & Objectives
1. Promotion of HIV/AIDS awareness and
prevention through education, information, and communication.
2. Promote behavior modification.
3. Increase the number of people who
received voluntary testing and counseling.
4. Decrease barriers to accessing
treatment, thereby increasing the number of people that received treatment for
HIV/AIDS.
5. Increasing the capacity of communities
to respond to HIV/AIDS; combat stigma.
Activities Plan
The UMGAF will continue to receive and
review applications. Projects that are in line with the UMGAF goals will be
considered for funding.
Budget and Financial Information
Income
Annual Advance Financial Goal$270,000.00
Local Financial Support$25,000.00
$295,000.00
Expense
Grants to Organizations$295,000.00
$295,000.00
---
Gifts to help to feed the hungry
BIG ISLAND, Va. (UMNS) — The Society of
St. Andrew offers ways to honor your family and friends while still helping to
feed the hungry. Gifts donated on Tuesday, Dec. 3, will be matched dollar for
dollar. Society of St. Andrew is a nonprofit ecumenical organization with the
mission of introducing people to God’s grace through meeting their hunger.
Giving Tuesday
A Special Day of Giving ~ Tuesday,
December 3
Donations Matched Dollar-for-Dollar*
Resources to Promote #GivingTuesday▪
For Congregations (pdf)▪
For Individuals (pdf)▪
Graphics to Download
Donate Online to SoSA on December 3 and
the Donation will be matched 100% by a special one-day program of the United
Methodist Church.
Click on this button to learn more about
the matching funds program (but make your
donation on December 3.)
Make a donation to Society of St. Andrew
anytime on December 3 - on a special donation page - and your donation will be
matched 100%*. That doubles your contribution, and the amount of food your
contribution will provide to hungry families.
* Rules of matching funds:
1. Up to $10,000 per individual gift
2. up to $50,000 total for SoSA
3. up to $500,000 total for all Advance
projects.
Bonus Drawing:
SoSA's 2013 Alternative Christmas Card of
Original Art, Signed by the Artist, Jerry Malzahn
All who donate through this program on December 3 will be entered in the
drawing for a framed copy of the original artwork for this year's card, signed
by the artist. Four winners will be randomly drawn
The retail industry benefits from
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday,
and Cyber Monday ...
#GivingTuesday inspires
personal philantropy and enourages
bigger, better, and smarter charitable giving.
Return to EndHunger.org
on December 3 and click on the special
1-day donation button!
This year, on Tuesday, December 3, SoSA
will celebrate a special day of giving, when charities, families, businesses,,
community centers, students, retailers and more will come together for
#GivingTuesday - a movement to celebrate giving, and to encourage more and
smarter giving during the holiday season.
The first $50,000 in gifts made to
Society of St. Andrew on #GivingTuesday will be matched dollar-for-dollar by
one of our denominational partners, @umcmission.
---
Alternative Christmas Card
Honor Your Family & Friends
While Feeding the Hungry
While you and your family are celebrating
the joyous Christmas season, many Americans will experience first-hand the
reality of hunger and poverty in our land of abundance. Even in this economic downturn, America is
still the richest nation on earth, but some 40 million of its citizens are
suffering in poverty. This Christmas you can give them hope by the simple act
of honoring your loved ones with a gift donation to feed the hungry.
The Gift
Each $12 gift donation to the Society of
St. Andrew provides about 600 servings of fresh, nutritious food to America’s
hungry families. The extraordinary popularity of this program continues to
grow, providing more and more servings of fresh food to the hungry every year.
It’s such a sincere and loving way to feed the hungry and honor special people
in your life. And when you do, each person you so honor will receive our
exclusive Alternative Christmas Card announcing your generous gift in their
name.
The Card
Our Alternative Christmas Card was
designed exclusively for and donated to the Society of St. Andrew by Texas
artist Jerry Malzahn. The full-color, 7"x5" card features original
art on the front. This one-of-a-kind card announces your generous gift to feed
the hungry in the name of your chosen honoree(s). You will also receive the
same card with our thanks and confirmation of the number of people you honored.
Finish your Christmas shopping in the
next few minutes!
This is the perfect gift for family,
friends, coworkers and the people important in your life. You give a gift that
demonstrates your love and respect to the recipient and to those in need. It is
a wonderful way to say “thank you” … a terrific stocking stuffer … a great
host/hostess and last-minute gift
No other gift can do so much, for so
many, with so little.
Just go to our ordering page. We’ll send
you the cards and envelopes to personalize and mail or, if you prefer, we will
send them on your behalf in time for Christmas. For your convenience, you can
use your VISA, MasterCard or American Express credit card on our secure
website.
The minimum gift donation for EACH card
is just $12
All gifts are tax deductible as allowed
by law.
As we fulfill God’s command to share His
love and peace and feed the hungry, may you experience the joy of sharing His
abundance with those in need and be blessed with God’s peace.
---
UMTV: Hunger-free ZIP code
KENSINGTON, Md. (UMNS) — Members of St.
Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensington are making a bold promise to their
neighbors: that no one in their area will go hungry, an effort they’re calling
a “hunger-free ZIP code.”
Watch video
<iframe width="560"
height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FKxPGBzWtf8"
frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
INTRO:
Members of St. Paul’s United Methodist
Church in Kensington, Maryland, are making a bold promise to their neighbors:
that no one in their area will go hungry, an effort they’re calling a
“hunger-free ZIP code.”
SCRIPT:
(Kensington, Maryland)
Meg Baker: “She wasn’t there last
Thursday.”
Meg Baker, St. Paul’s United Methodist
Church: “This program has brought a lot of surprises and unexpected joy. We’ve,
over time, developed a rapport.”
When St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
promised to create a “hunger-free ZIP code” in Kensington, Maryland, members
didn’t realize what a blessing it would be.
Tomashawn Lewis-Johnson: “My car was
having the issues….”
Creating a food distribution system gave
congregants like Meg Baker a new way to connect with neighbors like
she’s my friend. Many times, I’ve called her my angel. She’ll
send a text and just say, ‘Hi. I’m
thinking about you and praying for you.’”
The Rev. Adam Snell: “My name’s Adam.”
In 2010, Pastor Adam Snell felt God
calling him to reach out to the church’s neighbors and feed them.
The Rev. Adam Snell: “Morning. Good
morning.”
Now, St Paul’s delivers a three-day
supply of food to anyone who calls, no questions asked. The ministry began with
“smart sacks” to give elementary school children food to take home for the
weekend, and became a monthly food pantry, called “Communion Collect.”
The Rev. Adam Snell: “Give us this day
our daily bread…”
The Rev. Adam Snell, St. Paul’s United
Methodist Church: “During communion, we get fed in body and soul. Is there a way for us to take communion and
transform that into food for the community?
So, when our parishioners go to the Safeway and pick up groceries for
their own table, we encourage them to pick up a bag for the hungry.”
Debra McCurry, St. Paul’s United
Methodist Church: “I think this is one of the most gratifying things I’ve ever done. It’s unified so many of us here, we enjoy
it.”
Members have taken on personal missions,
too, like purchasing fresh produce and delivering baked goods that would have
been discarded.
Stewart Longsworth, St. Paul’s United
Methodist Church: “This bread comes from stores, restaurants, whatever, that
have excess food material that they would otherwise throw away, so that we can
eliminate food waste within the county.”
Brian Ruberry: “Glad you’re inside
tonight.”
Currently, the church opens its doors to
about 45 families. “Personal shoppers” help them make selections. Church member
Evan Gaalswyk, a 12-year-old volunteer, is fluent in Spanish.
Evan Gaalswyk, St. Paul’s United
Methodist Church: “They usually have no idea when I walk in, they’re looking at
me like, ‘This is the guy that supposed to be translating?’ One lady from
Columbia came in and she talked about her family history and where she was from
and her kids and her grandkids, and it was a great experience.”
(Volunteer) “Zucchini! You like zucchini?”
Stella Mitchell, St. Paul’s United
Methodist Church: “The people I just helped, it was a mom and a young boy who
is in third grade. We talked a lot about
what kind of foods he likes or we talked about his favorite movie, which is
‘Turbo.’”
(Volunteer) “Really, that’s so cool!”
Stella Mitchell: “I like to talk to them
and know about their lives.
“Thanks, Meg.”
Several families can’t drive to the
church, so volunteers take their groceries to them. Shari Connor and her daughter Gabi always
deliver to Maria’s family….grabbing special treats like Pop-Tarts for her
four-year-old twin girls.
Shari Connor, St. Paul’s United Methodist
Church: “The first time we came to the door, it took them a long time to turn
on the light and open the door because they didn’t know who we were.”
“Hello!”
Shari Connor: “Now, they know we’re
coming and they open the door and they bring their daughters to the door. So, I
do feel there’s some sort of relationship that has built up. We do feel a big loyalty to them, especially
Gabi. She always wants to make sure we
get to the church right when the pantry doors open so we can get the best
stuff.”
Maria came from Honduras and shares her
home with five other families. Her
husband works full-time as a custodian at night making minimum wage.
The Rev. Adam Snell: “From the very
beginning, it’s been all about relationship. We can write checks. And, that’s a gift. That’s part of what God has called us to do…”
(Nat sound) “You’re ready to go, huh?”
The Rev. Adam Snell: “But we’re not
really making friends when we write a check… but when people come to us, when
we go to their homes, all of a sudden, we know their names and we know their
story and we embrace their kids. These
become our neighbors in the truest sense of the word.”
TAG:
Some of the families who receive food
come to the church to volunteer. Others
attend the church’s community breakfasts, Christmas parties or vacation Bible
school. Learn more or support this ministry by contacting Brian Ruberry,
Justice and Compassion Ministry team leader, at (240) 506-6323 or call the St.
Paul United Methodist Church office at (301)933-7933, or visit the website.
---
Looking Ahead:
Here are some of the activities ahead for
United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email
newsdesk@umcom.org and put Digest in the subject line.
---
Advent, Dec. 1-24 — Resources for Advent
wreath lighting and sermons from the United Methodist Board of Discipleship and
resources for drawing and welcoming visitors to Advent and Christmas services
from United Methodist Communications. Ministry Matters, part of the United
Methodist Publishing House, also offers the free Advent series "Follow the
Star."
---
#GivingTuesday, Dec. 3 — United
Methodists are invited to participate in #GivingTuesday, when every gift made
online through the The Advance will be matched dollar for dollar up to $500,000
total and $50,000 for any one project. Visit umcmission.org/give
---
Lecture by former ambassador, Tuesday,
Dec. 3 — 5 p.m. CT, Miguel H. Díaz, professor of faith and culture at Dayton
University and former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, will deliver a lecture
on peace at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology. Learn
more
---
Sermon by former ambassador, Sunday, Dec.
8 — 11 a.m. CT, Miguel H. Díaz, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, is
scheduled to speak on “Becoming God’s Ambassadors to Build the House of God” at
University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. Directions to the church.
---
Free webinar “Best Practices for Teaching
and Implementing Creation Care and Appreciation,” Wednesday, Dec. 4 — 3 p.m.
CT. Seminar highlights the best practices of United Methodist camp and retreat
ministries through their operations and programs. To register.
---
Free webinar “Developing Your Ministry
Plan 4: The Next 12 Months,” Thursday, Dec. 5 — 6:30 p.m. CT. Building on the
previous three sessions, your team will be guided in a process to identify key
steps for your congregational development. To register.
---
Holy Spirit Seminar: Signs and Wonders,
Friday, Dec. 6 — 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, United Theological Seminary will
present speaker Randy Clark, founder of Global Awakening, at Ginghamsburg
(United Methodist) Church, 6759 S. County Road 25A, Tipp City, Ohio. Details.
---
Deadline to register for Young Clergy
Leadership Forum, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 — The United Methodist Board of Church
and Society is accepting applications from people 35 and under for gathering
Sunday to Wednesday, Jan. 26-29, 2014, at the United Methodist Building on
Capitol Hill in Washington. Event is $175. Details.
---
Certified Lay Ministers Academy,
Friday-Monday, Jan. 10-12, 2014 —Lake Junaluska Program Ministries, in
partnership with the Cal Turner Jr. Center for Church Leadership at Martin
Methodist College, will present the academy at Lake Junaluska, N.C. Details.
---
Deadline to apply for local church
racial/ethnic ministries grants, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014 — Applications for
grants up to $10,000 to help local United Methodist churches build ministries
that strengthen and support racial and ethnic church concerns are available
from the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. Details.
---
Early bird deadline for 2014 Large Church
Initiative, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014 — April 28-30 at Mount Pisgah United Methodist
Church in Johns Creek, Ga., for United Methodist churches with 1,000 or more
members and/or with an average attendance of 350 or more in worship. Details.
-------
United Methodist News Service is a
ministry of
United Methodist Communications
810 12th Ave South
Nashville TN 37203 United States
Phone: (615)742-5400
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment