Click here for the Aug. 19 printable version of GPconnect.
In this edition of GPconnect:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Havelock UMC celebrates 125th anniversary
- Apply for UM Communications digital advertising grants
- Updated Emergency Response Team (ERT) requirement
- Perkins Invites 2016 Distinguished Alumnus/a Award nominations
- The Water's Edge WE Serve Day
- Read the latest Lay Servant Ministries blog, find out about more training
- Learn about confirmation camps
- Register now for Leadership Institute 2015
- New studies at the Great Plains Resource Center
- Jurisdiction offers mission academy
- Grants, scholarships offered for Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships
- Kansas City native and missionary available to speak
- Prayers for peace in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Editorials
- Supporting life consistently – abortion, death penalty, war
- Newsletters
- Classifieds
- Press Clips
Havelock United Methodist Church celebrated its 125th anniversary on Aug. 16, 2015. Bishop Scott J. Jones provided a message about counting the blessings of the past while looking forward to the future by being good ambassadors for Christ during the 125th anniversary celebration for Havelock United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Bishop Jones used II Corinthians 5:14-21 as the basis for his sermon, which included the encouragement to the 159 people in attendance to look forward to a common purpose in the future as the congregation celebrates its past.
Following the worship service, the Rev. Amy Seifert led a program in fellowship hall that included a dinner and an encouragement to help create new traditions and embrace new ministries as the church moves toward its next 125 years.
Church member Dean Honnen provided a history lesson of the Havelock church by walking the congregation and guests through the establishment of the church in 1890 and the church’s relationship to the railroad industry in the Lincoln area. The congregation started with a wooden building consecrated in 1894 on the northeast corner of the current property at 60th Street and Morrill Avenue, the first phase of the current brick building’s construction in 1952 and the current sanctuary’s completion in 1966.
Former pastors and pastoral interns then shared the microphone to provide their reflections on their times at Havelock United Methodist Church, and the band Hickory Wind provided a bluegrass and Gospel music set.
Apply for UM Communications digital advertising grants
United Methodist Communications is now offering digital advertising grants to local United Methodist churches. This new opportunity is expected to help raise awareness of churches in their communities by means of digital advertising. United Methodist Communications will provide ads that honor the United Methodist brand, while advertising the local church.
Ads are offered during three periods per year. You may currently apply for one of the following periods:
Advent: November - December 2015
(Apply before Oct. 1, 2015.)
Easter: February - March 2016
(Apply before Jan. 7, 2016.)
Back to School: August – September 2016
(Apply before June 30, 2016.)
All grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Read through the criteria.
If two churches with the same target zip codes apply for the same buy period, the first church to apply will have their choice of run times. Click here to apply for a grant.
Updated Emergency Response Team (ERT) requirement
It is an UMCOR requirement that each ERT class materials be sent in at one time for badge production, therefore beginning now the following change has been made: Each individual who participates in an ERT training will have 10 days after the training date to complete the Safe Gatherings online training and submit all required documents into the conference Safe Gatherings coordinator. It is important that you follow up with the individuals you list as a reference and make sure they return your form quickly. Thank you in advance for your attention to this as we continue to grow our disaster response ministry.
Perkins Invites 2016 Distinguished Alumnus/a Award nominations
Nominations for the 2016 Perkins School of Theology Distinguished Alumnus/a Award are being accepted through Oct. 1, 2015.
The annual award is presented to a Perkins graduate who has demonstrated effectiveness and integrity in service to the church, continuing support and involvement in the goals of Perkins School of Theology and SMU, distinguished service in the wider community, and exemplary character.
Read more about the nomination process.Perkins Invites 2016 Distinguished Alumnus/a Award Nominations
DALLAS – Nominations for the 2016 Perkins School of Theology Distinguished Alumnus/a Award are being accepted through October 1, 2015.
The annual award is presented to a Perkins graduate who has demonstrated effectiveness and integrity in service to the church, continuing support and involvement in the goals of Perkins School of Theology and SMU, distinguished service in the wider community, and exemplary character.
The 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients were Rev. Ted J. Dotts, Jr (M.Th. ’64) and Dr. James V. Lyles(M.Th. ’55). Previous recipients include Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, General Secretary of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship from 2001–2013 (2014), Dr. Roberto Escamilla and Dr. William K. McElvaney (2013), Dr. Mouzon Biggs Jr. (2012) and Bishop Minerva Carcaño (2011). See complete list of former recipientshere.
Nominations must be made in writing, with a letter detailing the nominee's career highlights and other accomplishments. Letters or statements from at least two additional persons must be submitted in support of the nomination as well.
The award will be presented during the Distinguished Alumnus/a Award Banquet on Monday, February 1, 2016, during Ministers Week at Perkins School of Theology.
The person submitting the nomination should compile all materials and mail as one package to:
Office of Public Affairs and Alumni/ae Relations
Perkins School of Theology
PO Box 750133
Dallas, TX 75275-0133
Alternatively, letters may be sent together as attachments via e-mail to:Rev. Connie L. Nelson, clnelson@smu.edu
Director of Public Affairs and Alumni/ae Relations
View Additional Information about Distinguished Alumnus/a Award Criteria (PDF)
###
Perkins School of Theology, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of The United Methodist Church. Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Pastoral Music (June 2016) as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with The Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU’s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.
The Water's Edge WE Serve Day
On Sunday, Aug. 9, The Water's Edge UMC in Omaha, Nebraska, cancelled its Sunday morning worship experiences to serve and love people in Omaha and beyond. The congregation and friends gathered for prayer and instructions at 9 a.m., at Millard West High School. Dozens of teams consisting of hundreds of people gave thousands of hours to schools, nursing homes, other churches, thirsty runners, Habitat for Humanity, Together Omaha, Kids Against Hunger, community gardens, non-profits and individuals/families needing work done around their homes. The church also collected thousands of pounds of food for hungry people in Omaha and packed hundreds of welcome kits for educators at the schools where children and students of the church attend.
This was the fourth annual WE Serve Sunday and is something the church has done yearly since its charter as a United Methodist congregation in 2012. To learn more about WE Serve, watch the church’s WE Serve 2015 video.
Read the latest Lay Servant Ministries blog and find out about more training
Learn more about opportunities for training in our Lay Servant Ministries program while also finding out more about our current lay servants by reading their biweekly blog.
This time, James Thompson from lay servant director for the Dodge City and Hays districts, shares information about how taking part in the program has benefitted him and how a lay servant school each March provides an opportunity to learn more about how you can serve the local church.
Training opportunities have been posted for the Blue River, Gateway, Prairie Rivers and Wichita East and West districts. Click here to learn more.
Learn about confirmation camps
Confirmation is an important time in a young person’s faith journey. But sometimes, it’s difficult to find the time to devote to serious study and consideration of God’s word and His plan for a young person’s life. One way to provide a secluded venue for reflection and study while also providing a fun atmosphere is a confirmation camp. Learn about how confirmation camps work with Blue River District Superintendent Bill Ritter in this video.
Register now for Leadership Institute 2015 at Church of the Resurrection
Over the past 15 years, more than 20,000 leaders have returned to their congregations and communities ready to "Go and Lead" with impact, vitality, excellence, passion and boldness after participating at Leadership Institute. This year's Leadership Institute takes place at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, Oct. 1-2 (Pre-Institute Sept. 30). Bring your ministry leaders to the largest mainline church training event, bringing together clergy, church staff and volunteers who share a passion for renewing the church.
More than 80 different ministry workshops are offered in a variety of ministry areas, along with plenary sessions and featured speakers. Renew your passion and commitment to ministry leadership through powerful worship, prayer, fellowship and encouragement.
View a video about Leadership Institute.
Early bird deadline is midnight, Sept. 4. Get your team together and register today! Details and registration can be found at li.cor.org. Questions? Contact catalyst@cor.org or 913-232-4157.
New studies at the Great Plains Resource Center
As we begin a new church year with study groups gathering again after the summer break, consider doing one of two new DVD studies by John Ortberg.
“All The Places To Go – How Will You Know?”
Rarely in the Bible does God command someone to “stay.” Instead he opens a door and invites us to walk through it — into the unknown. In this six-session study, using contemporary people’s life stories as well as Bible stories, Ortberg opens our eyes to the countless open doors God places before us each day, teaches us how to recognize them, and encourages us to step out in faith and embrace all the extraordinary opportunities that await. A study guide is included with the following six sessions:
The Open Door: How To Recognize Divine Opportunities
Door #1 or Door #2: How Do I Decide What Door To Walk Through
How To Cross a Threshold: Practicing Discernment
The Doors We Open For Others: Seizing the Opportunity to Bless Others
The Jonah Complex: The Things That Hold Us Back
Thank God For Closed Doors: Why God Leaves Some Doors Closed
“Soul Keeping: Caring For The Most Important Part of You”
In this six-session study Ortberg takes you on an exploration of the soul from his own struggles of caring for his own soul. Ortberg shares his honest, funny, moving and insightful journey so we can better care for our own souls. A sample participant guide is included with the following six sessions:
What Is The Soul?
The Struggle of the Soul
What The Soul Needs
The Practice of Grace
The Practice of Gratitude
The Practice of Growth
If you are interested in reserving or learning about the other wonderful studies by John Ortberg email Diane Dunkerson atddunkerson@greatplainsumc.org or call 800-435-6107. To view a listing of all the studies available from the Great Plains Resource Center visit the online catalog at www.gpresourcecenter.org.
Jurisdiction offers mission academy
The South Central Jurisdiction is offering a mission academy that will feature courses ranging from disaster response to leadership to understanding poverty.
The academy is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, to 1 p.m.Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Hobletizelle Camp & Conference Center, 8060 Singleton Road, in Midlothian, Texas. The cost is $180 or less, depending on housing needs.
To learn more, contact Audrey Phelps, director of Volunteers in Mission and Disaster Response for the South Central Jurisdiction, at 636-344-0389 or 636-344-0389 or at vimphelps@gmail.com.
Register here.
Grants and scholarships offered for Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships
The Council of Bishops’ Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships is inviting applications for churches and individuals with the passion for Christian unity and interreligious dialogue. If your church or someone in your church is interested in furthering ministry that builds relationships with other denominations and works with people of other faiths, please share this information with them.
There are two opportunities:
For churches or groups. Three grants, each in the amount of $1,000 to groups/churches with projects designed to enhance ecumenical or interreligious relationships. The deadline for grant applications is Nov. 15, 2015.
For individuals. One or two scholarships for individuals to attend Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland, the total amount for the two persons is $10,000. Applicants must be between the ages of 22 and 30, be preparing for vocational ministry in the UMC and be accepted into Bossey ecumenical program.
The deadline for applications for individuals to attend Bossey Ecumenical Institute is Nov. 30, 2015, however completedscholarship applications must be received by the office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships office no later than Sept. 15, 2015.
“As a person who has attended the ecumenical seminars at Bossey, I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone with the passion for collaborative ministries with other Christian denominations and other religious faiths,” said the Rev. Kalaba Chali, Great Plains Conference Mercy and Justice coordinator.
Great Plains churches or individuals interested in applying should email Chali at kchali@greatplainsumc.org for more information.
Kansas City native and missionary available to speak
UMC Global Ministries Missionary Sandy Rasch is available to speak at churches around the conference.
Raasch is originally from Kansas City and is serving in Honduras. Her primary purpose is to share the missionary story — how our church is connected around the world. Her focus will not be asking for money.
Raasch is available anytime Friday, Sept. 11; Monday Sept. 14;Tuesday Sept. 15; Thursday Sept. 17; or Friday Sept. 18.
Please notify the Rev. Alan Gager as soon as possible at 308-293-2642or agager@greatplainsumc.org if your church or church group can host Sandy on any of the above mentioned dates. If possible, it is asked that your church be responsible for providing a host family or hotel room on the day she presents.
Prayers for peace in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for what is happening right now in our world
Editor’s note: The following is by Paul Jeffrey, United Methodist missionary.
As United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson watched thousands of Japanese schoolchildren bring millions of folded paper cranes as a prayer for peace in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, she realized it wasn’t just a historical event that was being commemorated.
“People in Japan feel very strongly about this today. This isn’t just an event in the past; it is happening right now,” she explained.
Photo by Paul Jeffrey, World Council of Churches
A woman sets a floating candle lantern on the river the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, Japan. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial is in the background.PreviousNext
Paper cranes as a prayer for peace by Paul Jeffrey
NAGASAKI, Japan (UMNS)
As United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson watched thousands of Japanese schoolchildren bring millions of folded paper cranes as a prayer for peace in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, she realized it wasn’t just a historical event that was being commemorated.
“People in Japan feel very strongly about this today. This isn’t just an event in the past; it is happening right now,” she explained.
Swenson, who led an ecumenical team of pilgrims to Japan earlier this month, said her most emotional moments came at 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 6 in Hiroshima and 11:02 a.m. on Aug. 9 in Nagasaki — the exact time the nuclear fireballs opened in the sky over those cities 70 years ago.
“It marked how something had happened in those places that was too horrible for words, impacting a people who were unaware and unprepared for what happened,” she said.
The seven participants in the World Council of Churches pilgrimage come from countries that either possess nuclear weapons, such as the U.S. and Pakistan, or else live under the nuclear umbrella of the United States, such as Germany, Norway, Holland, and Japan.The Rev. Stephen J. Sidorak Jr., top executive of the Council of Bishops’ Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships, also was on the delegation.
Encouraged by a series of arms control agreements beginning with the Reagan administration, nuclear stockpiles have steadily declined since their Cold War high, yet the numbers appear to be slowly rising again. That has prompted a majority of nations to this year support a “humanitarian pledge” to institute a legal ban on such weapons, just as the world has outlawed chemical and biological weapons, as well as cluster bombs and land mines.
Swenson, once arrested herself at a site in the Nevada desert where U.S. nuclear weapons were tested, called it a critical moment, ripe for faith communities to urge their governments to support the humanitarian pledge to stop nuclear weapons.
Joining Christians in Japan
The ecumenical delegation was invited by the Christian churches of Japan, which have long spoken against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and remain a leading voice in resisting the remilitarization of Japan today.
In both cities, Swenson, who is vice moderator of the WCC’s central committee, and her colleagues took part in ecumenical worship services. In front of a packed crowd in a Catholic cathedral in Hiroshima, Swenson preached the sermon — the first time someone other than a male Anglican or Catholic priest had done so.
Wherever the delegation traveled, local church leaders introduced the visitors to hibakusha–the Japanese term for those who survived the atomic bombings.
“Hiroshima and Nagasaki are sacred places, but tragically many people don’t know that until they’ve come here to meet with ordinary people and hear the stories of the hibakusha,” said Archbishop Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu, primate of the Anglican Church in Japan and one of the delegation’s hosts.
In Hiroshima, Swenson said she was particularly moved by her meeting with Koko Kondo, a 70-year old hibakusha whose adventures left the delegation alternately laughing and crying. Kondo’s father was a Methodist pastor, but most of his congregation was killed in the atomic blast.
In Nagasaki, Swenson said she was captivated by listening to Sumiteru Taniguchi, an 86-year old bombing survivor. “He was working as a postman and was knocked off his bike by the blast, burned horribly and spent years in the hospital recovering. We saw photos of his body back then, but we heard him tell his story now. His life is a powerful testament to peace,” she added.
Taniguchi is chair of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council, and in a speech to the city’s main anniversary ceremony he criticized Japanese government proposals that would allow the country to renege on its post-war commitment to peace.
“The security bill the government is pursuing will lead to war,” declared Taniguchi, whose speech was met with enthusiastic applause. “We cannot accept this.”
Japan’s nationalist prime minister, Shinzo Abe, also addressed the crowd. Although Abe proclaimed that Japan would lead the movement to ban nuclear weapons—something he’d been criticized for not stating at the ceremony in Hiroshima three days earlier—abolitionists and many of Japan’s neighbors don’t trust him.
Nagasaki’s mayor, Tomihisa Taue, appealed to Abe at the ceremony to explore “national security measures which do not rely on nuclear deterrence.”
Willingness to ‘acknowledge the sins’
Japan’s churches have set a tone for national repentance in recent years by publicly recognizing their complicity with war crimes committed by the Japanese military during World War II. It hasn’t been a popular move, as Abe and other conservative politicians have resisted any discussion of Japanese wrongdoing.
Early on Aug. 9, the WCC delegation took part in a memorial ceremony remembering the Korean forced laborers who been brought by the Japanese to work as slaves in Nagasaki. Along with several U.S. prisoners of war and other foreigners in the city, they died when the plutonium bomb exploded at 1,650 feet over the city.
“I’m grateful for the willingness of the Japanese church and the Japanese people to acknowledge the sins they committed,” Swenson said. “Koko Kondo started her conversation with us by talking about what the Japanese had done to other people, and she expressed her apology for that.
“Her voice and her story are a powerful demand to stop making nuclear weapons, made even more so by her honesty about the horrors her own government supported.”
Bishop Swenson said United Methodists have a lot to learn from their Christian sisters and brothers in Japan.
“We need to speak the truth about the horrors we have supported,” she said. “That’s what Bishop Elaine Stanovsky is trying to do around the Sand Creek Massacre. We need to do more of that, whether it’s Sand Creek or Hiroshima, as a way to begin the healing process for all.”
The Rev. Paul Jeffrey is a United Methodist missionary journalist. He accompanied the WCC delegation to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
On Sunday, Aug. 9, The Water's Edge UMC in Omaha, Nebraska, cancelled its Sunday morning worship experiences to serve and love people in Omaha and beyond. The congregation and friends gathered for prayer and instructions at 9 a.m., at Millard West High School. Dozens of teams consisting of hundreds of people gave thousands of hours to schools, nursing homes, other churches, thirsty runners, Habitat for Humanity, Together Omaha, Kids Against Hunger, community gardens, non-profits and individuals/families needing work done around their homes. The church also collected thousands of pounds of food for hungry people in Omaha and packed hundreds of welcome kits for educators at the schools where children and students of the church attend.
This was the fourth annual WE Serve Sunday and is something the church has done yearly since its charter as a United Methodist congregation in 2012. To learn more about WE Serve, watch the church’s WE Serve 2015 video.
Read the latest Lay Servant Ministries blog and find out about more training
Learn more about opportunities for training in our Lay Servant Ministries program while also finding out more about our current lay servants by reading their biweekly blog.
This time, James Thompson from lay servant director for the Dodge City and Hays districts, shares information about how taking part in the program has benefitted him and how a lay servant school each March provides an opportunity to learn more about how you can serve the local church.
Training opportunities have been posted for the Blue River, Gateway, Prairie Rivers and Wichita East and West districts. Click here to learn more.
Learn about confirmation camps
Confirmation is an important time in a young person’s faith journey. But sometimes, it’s difficult to find the time to devote to serious study and consideration of God’s word and His plan for a young person’s life. One way to provide a secluded venue for reflection and study while also providing a fun atmosphere is a confirmation camp. Learn about how confirmation camps work with Blue River District Superintendent Bill Ritter in this video.
Register now for Leadership Institute 2015 at Church of the Resurrection
Over the past 15 years, more than 20,000 leaders have returned to their congregations and communities ready to "Go and Lead" with impact, vitality, excellence, passion and boldness after participating at Leadership Institute. This year's Leadership Institute takes place at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, Oct. 1-2 (Pre-Institute Sept. 30). Bring your ministry leaders to the largest mainline church training event, bringing together clergy, church staff and volunteers who share a passion for renewing the church.
More than 80 different ministry workshops are offered in a variety of ministry areas, along with plenary sessions and featured speakers. Renew your passion and commitment to ministry leadership through powerful worship, prayer, fellowship and encouragement.
View a video about Leadership Institute.
Early bird deadline is midnight, Sept. 4. Get your team together and register today! Details and registration can be found at li.cor.org. Questions? Contact catalyst@cor.org or 913-232-4157.
New studies at the Great Plains Resource Center
As we begin a new church year with study groups gathering again after the summer break, consider doing one of two new DVD studies by John Ortberg.
“All The Places To Go – How Will You Know?”
Rarely in the Bible does God command someone to “stay.” Instead he opens a door and invites us to walk through it — into the unknown. In this six-session study, using contemporary people’s life stories as well as Bible stories, Ortberg opens our eyes to the countless open doors God places before us each day, teaches us how to recognize them, and encourages us to step out in faith and embrace all the extraordinary opportunities that await. A study guide is included with the following six sessions:
The Open Door: How To Recognize Divine Opportunities
Door #1 or Door #2: How Do I Decide What Door To Walk Through
How To Cross a Threshold: Practicing Discernment
The Doors We Open For Others: Seizing the Opportunity to Bless Others
The Jonah Complex: The Things That Hold Us Back
Thank God For Closed Doors: Why God Leaves Some Doors Closed
“Soul Keeping: Caring For The Most Important Part of You”
In this six-session study Ortberg takes you on an exploration of the soul from his own struggles of caring for his own soul. Ortberg shares his honest, funny, moving and insightful journey so we can better care for our own souls. A sample participant guide is included with the following six sessions:
What Is The Soul?
The Struggle of the Soul
What The Soul Needs
The Practice of Grace
The Practice of Gratitude
The Practice of Growth
If you are interested in reserving or learning about the other wonderful studies by John Ortberg email Diane Dunkerson atddunkerson@greatplainsumc.org or call 800-435-6107. To view a listing of all the studies available from the Great Plains Resource Center visit the online catalog at www.gpresourcecenter.org.
Jurisdiction offers mission academy
The South Central Jurisdiction is offering a mission academy that will feature courses ranging from disaster response to leadership to understanding poverty.
The academy is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, to 1 p.m.Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Hobletizelle Camp & Conference Center, 8060 Singleton Road, in Midlothian, Texas. The cost is $180 or less, depending on housing needs.
To learn more, contact Audrey Phelps, director of Volunteers in Mission and Disaster Response for the South Central Jurisdiction, at 636-344-0389 or 636-344-0389 or at vimphelps@gmail.com.
Register here.
Grants and scholarships offered for Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships
The Council of Bishops’ Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships is inviting applications for churches and individuals with the passion for Christian unity and interreligious dialogue. If your church or someone in your church is interested in furthering ministry that builds relationships with other denominations and works with people of other faiths, please share this information with them.
There are two opportunities:
For churches or groups. Three grants, each in the amount of $1,000 to groups/churches with projects designed to enhance ecumenical or interreligious relationships. The deadline for grant applications is Nov. 15, 2015.
For individuals. One or two scholarships for individuals to attend Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland, the total amount for the two persons is $10,000. Applicants must be between the ages of 22 and 30, be preparing for vocational ministry in the UMC and be accepted into Bossey ecumenical program.
The deadline for applications for individuals to attend Bossey Ecumenical Institute is Nov. 30, 2015, however completedscholarship applications must be received by the office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships office no later than Sept. 15, 2015.
“As a person who has attended the ecumenical seminars at Bossey, I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone with the passion for collaborative ministries with other Christian denominations and other religious faiths,” said the Rev. Kalaba Chali, Great Plains Conference Mercy and Justice coordinator.
Great Plains churches or individuals interested in applying should email Chali at kchali@greatplainsumc.org for more information.
Kansas City native and missionary available to speak
UMC Global Ministries Missionary Sandy Rasch is available to speak at churches around the conference.
Raasch is originally from Kansas City and is serving in Honduras. Her primary purpose is to share the missionary story — how our church is connected around the world. Her focus will not be asking for money.
Raasch is available anytime Friday, Sept. 11; Monday Sept. 14;Tuesday Sept. 15; Thursday Sept. 17; or Friday Sept. 18.
Please notify the Rev. Alan Gager as soon as possible at 308-293-2642or agager@greatplainsumc.org if your church or church group can host Sandy on any of the above mentioned dates. If possible, it is asked that your church be responsible for providing a host family or hotel room on the day she presents.
Prayers for peace in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for what is happening right now in our world
Editor’s note: The following is by Paul Jeffrey, United Methodist missionary.
As United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson watched thousands of Japanese schoolchildren bring millions of folded paper cranes as a prayer for peace in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, she realized it wasn’t just a historical event that was being commemorated.
“People in Japan feel very strongly about this today. This isn’t just an event in the past; it is happening right now,” she explained.
Photo by Paul Jeffrey, World Council of Churches
A woman sets a floating candle lantern on the river the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, Japan. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial is in the background.PreviousNext
Paper cranes as a prayer for peace by Paul Jeffrey
NAGASAKI, Japan (UMNS)
As United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson watched thousands of Japanese schoolchildren bring millions of folded paper cranes as a prayer for peace in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, she realized it wasn’t just a historical event that was being commemorated.
“People in Japan feel very strongly about this today. This isn’t just an event in the past; it is happening right now,” she explained.
Swenson, who led an ecumenical team of pilgrims to Japan earlier this month, said her most emotional moments came at 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 6 in Hiroshima and 11:02 a.m. on Aug. 9 in Nagasaki — the exact time the nuclear fireballs opened in the sky over those cities 70 years ago.
“It marked how something had happened in those places that was too horrible for words, impacting a people who were unaware and unprepared for what happened,” she said.
The seven participants in the World Council of Churches pilgrimage come from countries that either possess nuclear weapons, such as the U.S. and Pakistan, or else live under the nuclear umbrella of the United States, such as Germany, Norway, Holland, and Japan.The Rev. Stephen J. Sidorak Jr., top executive of the Council of Bishops’ Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships, also was on the delegation.
Encouraged by a series of arms control agreements beginning with the Reagan administration, nuclear stockpiles have steadily declined since their Cold War high, yet the numbers appear to be slowly rising again. That has prompted a majority of nations to this year support a “humanitarian pledge” to institute a legal ban on such weapons, just as the world has outlawed chemical and biological weapons, as well as cluster bombs and land mines.
Swenson, once arrested herself at a site in the Nevada desert where U.S. nuclear weapons were tested, called it a critical moment, ripe for faith communities to urge their governments to support the humanitarian pledge to stop nuclear weapons.
Joining Christians in Japan
The ecumenical delegation was invited by the Christian churches of Japan, which have long spoken against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and remain a leading voice in resisting the remilitarization of Japan today.
In both cities, Swenson, who is vice moderator of the WCC’s central committee, and her colleagues took part in ecumenical worship services. In front of a packed crowd in a Catholic cathedral in Hiroshima, Swenson preached the sermon — the first time someone other than a male Anglican or Catholic priest had done so.
Wherever the delegation traveled, local church leaders introduced the visitors to hibakusha–the Japanese term for those who survived the atomic bombings.
“Hiroshima and Nagasaki are sacred places, but tragically many people don’t know that until they’ve come here to meet with ordinary people and hear the stories of the hibakusha,” said Archbishop Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu, primate of the Anglican Church in Japan and one of the delegation’s hosts.
In Hiroshima, Swenson said she was particularly moved by her meeting with Koko Kondo, a 70-year old hibakusha whose adventures left the delegation alternately laughing and crying. Kondo’s father was a Methodist pastor, but most of his congregation was killed in the atomic blast.
In Nagasaki, Swenson said she was captivated by listening to Sumiteru Taniguchi, an 86-year old bombing survivor. “He was working as a postman and was knocked off his bike by the blast, burned horribly and spent years in the hospital recovering. We saw photos of his body back then, but we heard him tell his story now. His life is a powerful testament to peace,” she added.
Taniguchi is chair of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council, and in a speech to the city’s main anniversary ceremony he criticized Japanese government proposals that would allow the country to renege on its post-war commitment to peace.
“The security bill the government is pursuing will lead to war,” declared Taniguchi, whose speech was met with enthusiastic applause. “We cannot accept this.”
Japan’s nationalist prime minister, Shinzo Abe, also addressed the crowd. Although Abe proclaimed that Japan would lead the movement to ban nuclear weapons—something he’d been criticized for not stating at the ceremony in Hiroshima three days earlier—abolitionists and many of Japan’s neighbors don’t trust him.
Nagasaki’s mayor, Tomihisa Taue, appealed to Abe at the ceremony to explore “national security measures which do not rely on nuclear deterrence.”
Willingness to ‘acknowledge the sins’
Japan’s churches have set a tone for national repentance in recent years by publicly recognizing their complicity with war crimes committed by the Japanese military during World War II. It hasn’t been a popular move, as Abe and other conservative politicians have resisted any discussion of Japanese wrongdoing.
Early on Aug. 9, the WCC delegation took part in a memorial ceremony remembering the Korean forced laborers who been brought by the Japanese to work as slaves in Nagasaki. Along with several U.S. prisoners of war and other foreigners in the city, they died when the plutonium bomb exploded at 1,650 feet over the city.
“I’m grateful for the willingness of the Japanese church and the Japanese people to acknowledge the sins they committed,” Swenson said. “Koko Kondo started her conversation with us by talking about what the Japanese had done to other people, and she expressed her apology for that.
“Her voice and her story are a powerful demand to stop making nuclear weapons, made even more so by her honesty about the horrors her own government supported.”
Bishop Swenson said United Methodists have a lot to learn from their Christian sisters and brothers in Japan.
“We need to speak the truth about the horrors we have supported,” she said. “That’s what Bishop Elaine Stanovsky is trying to do around the Sand Creek Massacre. We need to do more of that, whether it’s Sand Creek or Hiroshima, as a way to begin the healing process for all.”
The Rev. Paul Jeffrey is a United Methodist missionary journalist. He accompanied the WCC delegation to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Read the full article “Paper cranes as a prayer for peace.”
Seventy years after nuclear fireballs exploded over two Japanese cities, an ecumenical group of pilgrims has come to listen to those who survived and renew the struggle against their own countries’ continued reliance on nuclear weapons.
“We come to remember and to acknowledge the devastation of the past and to say, ‘Never again,’” said United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson in a sermon during an Aug. 5 ecumenical worship service in the Catholic Memorial Cathedral for World Peace in Hiroshima.
In her sermon, Swenson, who is vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches’ Central Committee, said it was important for her group, and for all people of faith interested in peace, to hear the voice of the hibakusha — the Japanese term for survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The term is now being applied by many in Japan to those who have suffered from the disastrous 2011 explosions at nuclear plants in Fukushima.
“We must listen to all who suffer nuclear harm, those whose bodies are deformed by genetic mutations, whose lands and seas are poisoned by nuclear tests, whose farms and cities are fouled by nuclear accidents, whose work in mines and power plants exposes them to radiation,” Swenson said in her sermon.
“Use the energy of the atom in ways that threaten and destroy life is a sinful misuse of God's creation,” she declared.
“It is time to judge armaments and energy use by their effects on people and on God's creation. It is time to confess that our desire for material comfort and convenience insulates us from the concern for the source and quantity of the energy we consume. It is time to abandon all support for retaining nuclear weapons. It is time to refuse to accept that the mass destruction of other people can be a legitimate form of protection of ourselves,” she said.
Photo by Paul Jeffrey,World Council of Churches
United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches’ Central Committee, preaches at an ecumenical memorial service in the Catholic Memorial Cathedral for World Peace in Hiroshima, Japan, Aug. 5, 2015.
WCC pilgrims remember atom bombs’ deadly destruction by Paul Jeffrey
HIROSHIMA, Japan
Seventy years after nuclear fireballs exploded over two Japanese cities, an ecumenical group of pilgrims has come to listen to those who survived and renew the struggle against their own countries’ continued reliance on nuclear weapons.
“We come to remember and to acknowledge the devastation of the past and to say, ‘Never again,’” said United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson in a sermon during an Aug. 5 ecumenical worship service in the Catholic Memorial Cathedral for World Peace in Hiroshima.
Swenson of the United States, ecumenical officer for the United Methodist Council of Bishops, and church leaders from Germany, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Pakistan and the Netherlands—all countries possessing nuclear weapons or living under the U.S. nuclear umbrella —have come to Japan for a five-day “Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace.”
They began their work in Tokyo, where they met with Japanese Christian leaders before sharing their concerns with a Japanese foreign ministry official in charge of arms control and disarmament.
The pilgrims then traveled to Hiroshima, where they marched through the streets to the Memorial Cathedral, which was built in the early 1950s by bomb survivors, using clay bricks made on the site. The cathedral’s bells were crafted in Germany using steel from melted-down weapons from World War II.
In her sermon, Swenson, who is vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches’ Central Committee, said it was important for her group, and for all people of faith interested in peace, to hear the voice of the hibakusha—the Japanese term for survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The term is now being applied by many in Japan to those who have suffered from the disastrous 2011 explosions at nuclear plants in Fukushima.
“We must listen to all who suffer nuclear harm, those whose bodies are deformed by genetic mutations, whose lands and seas are poisoned by nuclear tests, whose farms and cities are fouled by nuclear accidents, whose work in mines and power plants exposes them to radiation,” Swenson said in her sermon.
“Use the energy of the atom in ways that threaten and destroy life is a sinful misuse of God's creation,” she declared.
“It is time to judge armaments and energy use by their effects on people and on God's creation. It is time to confess that our desire for material comfort and convenience insulates us from the concern for the source and quantity of the energy we consume. It is time to abandon all support for retaining nuclear weapons. It is time to refuse to accept that the mass destruction of other people can be a legitimate form of protection of ourselves,” she said.
According to Peter Prove, the director of the WCC's Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, the delegation is visiting Japan at a very critical time.
“Seventy years have passed since the atomic bombs fell on these cities, and the survivors of those blasts have been calling for an end to those weapons all these years. But those voices are being stilled by age. Their generation is passing.
“So we think it’s time we picked up their call and brought about an effective end to these nuclear weapons, so they’re never used again,” Prove said. “That’s what our delegation is here to do. To call for a humanitarian ban on nuclear weapons, fill the legal gap, and take away the fig leaf of a nuclear non-proliferation regime that provides a disguise for inaction and for maintaining the status quo.”
Paul Jeffrey, a United Methodist missionary and photojournalist, is covering the delegation’s visit to Japan for the World Council of Churches.’
News media contact: Linda Bloom (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org
Seventy years after nuclear fireballs exploded over two Japanese cities, an ecumenical group of pilgrims has come to listen to those who survived and renew the struggle against their own countries’ continued reliance on nuclear weapons.
“We come to remember and to acknowledge the devastation of the past and to say, ‘Never again,’” said United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson in a sermon during an Aug. 5 ecumenical worship service in the Catholic Memorial Cathedral for World Peace in Hiroshima.
In her sermon, Swenson, who is vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches’ Central Committee, said it was important for her group, and for all people of faith interested in peace, to hear the voice of the hibakusha — the Japanese term for survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The term is now being applied by many in Japan to those who have suffered from the disastrous 2011 explosions at nuclear plants in Fukushima.
“We must listen to all who suffer nuclear harm, those whose bodies are deformed by genetic mutations, whose lands and seas are poisoned by nuclear tests, whose farms and cities are fouled by nuclear accidents, whose work in mines and power plants exposes them to radiation,” Swenson said in her sermon.
“Use the energy of the atom in ways that threaten and destroy life is a sinful misuse of God's creation,” she declared.
“It is time to judge armaments and energy use by their effects on people and on God's creation. It is time to confess that our desire for material comfort and convenience insulates us from the concern for the source and quantity of the energy we consume. It is time to abandon all support for retaining nuclear weapons. It is time to refuse to accept that the mass destruction of other people can be a legitimate form of protection of ourselves,” she said.
Photo by Paul Jeffrey,World Council of Churches
United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches’ Central Committee, preaches at an ecumenical memorial service in the Catholic Memorial Cathedral for World Peace in Hiroshima, Japan, Aug. 5, 2015.
WCC pilgrims remember atom bombs’ deadly destruction by Paul Jeffrey
HIROSHIMA, Japan
Seventy years after nuclear fireballs exploded over two Japanese cities, an ecumenical group of pilgrims has come to listen to those who survived and renew the struggle against their own countries’ continued reliance on nuclear weapons.
“We come to remember and to acknowledge the devastation of the past and to say, ‘Never again,’” said United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson in a sermon during an Aug. 5 ecumenical worship service in the Catholic Memorial Cathedral for World Peace in Hiroshima.
Swenson of the United States, ecumenical officer for the United Methodist Council of Bishops, and church leaders from Germany, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Pakistan and the Netherlands—all countries possessing nuclear weapons or living under the U.S. nuclear umbrella —have come to Japan for a five-day “Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace.”
They began their work in Tokyo, where they met with Japanese Christian leaders before sharing their concerns with a Japanese foreign ministry official in charge of arms control and disarmament.
The pilgrims then traveled to Hiroshima, where they marched through the streets to the Memorial Cathedral, which was built in the early 1950s by bomb survivors, using clay bricks made on the site. The cathedral’s bells were crafted in Germany using steel from melted-down weapons from World War II.
In her sermon, Swenson, who is vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches’ Central Committee, said it was important for her group, and for all people of faith interested in peace, to hear the voice of the hibakusha—the Japanese term for survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The term is now being applied by many in Japan to those who have suffered from the disastrous 2011 explosions at nuclear plants in Fukushima.
“We must listen to all who suffer nuclear harm, those whose bodies are deformed by genetic mutations, whose lands and seas are poisoned by nuclear tests, whose farms and cities are fouled by nuclear accidents, whose work in mines and power plants exposes them to radiation,” Swenson said in her sermon.
“Use the energy of the atom in ways that threaten and destroy life is a sinful misuse of God's creation,” she declared.
“It is time to judge armaments and energy use by their effects on people and on God's creation. It is time to confess that our desire for material comfort and convenience insulates us from the concern for the source and quantity of the energy we consume. It is time to abandon all support for retaining nuclear weapons. It is time to refuse to accept that the mass destruction of other people can be a legitimate form of protection of ourselves,” she said.
According to Peter Prove, the director of the WCC's Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, the delegation is visiting Japan at a very critical time.
“Seventy years have passed since the atomic bombs fell on these cities, and the survivors of those blasts have been calling for an end to those weapons all these years. But those voices are being stilled by age. Their generation is passing.
“So we think it’s time we picked up their call and brought about an effective end to these nuclear weapons, so they’re never used again,” Prove said. “That’s what our delegation is here to do. To call for a humanitarian ban on nuclear weapons, fill the legal gap, and take away the fig leaf of a nuclear non-proliferation regime that provides a disguise for inaction and for maintaining the status quo.”
Paul Jeffrey, a United Methodist missionary and photojournalist, is covering the delegation’s visit to Japan for the World Council of Churches.’
News media contact: Linda Bloom (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org
Photo: A woman sets a floating candle lantern on the river the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, Japan. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial is in the background.
Editorials
Krusing the Capital: A Potato in Every Pot
Supporting life consistently – abortion, death penalty, war
Editor’s note: the following was submitted by Andrea Paret, Great Plains Peace with Justice coordinator.
Bishop Peggy A. Johnson shares thoughts about The United Methodist Church’s belief in the sanctity and value of each life. She encourages all of us to have deep conversations with others, even though we might have different thoughts and convictions. The death penalty is an important issue in Kansas and Nebraska and many United Methodists in our conference have been and are working tirelessly for the repeal of it.
Johnson writes:
“The United Methodist Church also supports the life of the “already born” by opposing the death penalty. Paragraph 164G [of our Social Principles states], ‘We believe the death penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem, restore and transform all human beings. The UMC is deeply concerned about crime throughout the world and the value of any life taken by a murder or homicide. We believe all human life is sacred and created by God, and therefore, we must see all human life as significant and valuable.’”
“Supporting life consistently is a difficult thing. It is easier to support the unborn child in a protest march than to love our enemies and pray for a person who committed a murder. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus requires prayerful discernment, Bible study and living gently on the earth with one another of different hearts. Christians of goodwill in the United Methodist Church disagree about many of our social issues. I call upon our churches to study our Social Principles and have civil and thoughtful conversations about life.”
Life AbundantEditorials
Krusing the Capital: A Potato in Every Pot
Supporting life consistently – abortion, death penalty, war
Editor’s note: the following was submitted by Andrea Paret, Great Plains Peace with Justice coordinator.
Bishop Peggy A. Johnson shares thoughts about The United Methodist Church’s belief in the sanctity and value of each life. She encourages all of us to have deep conversations with others, even though we might have different thoughts and convictions. The death penalty is an important issue in Kansas and Nebraska and many United Methodists in our conference have been and are working tirelessly for the repeal of it.
Johnson writes:
“The United Methodist Church also supports the life of the “already born” by opposing the death penalty. Paragraph 164G [of our Social Principles states], ‘We believe the death penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem, restore and transform all human beings. The UMC is deeply concerned about crime throughout the world and the value of any life taken by a murder or homicide. We believe all human life is sacred and created by God, and therefore, we must see all human life as significant and valuable.’”
“Supporting life consistently is a difficult thing. It is easier to support the unborn child in a protest march than to love our enemies and pray for a person who committed a murder. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus requires prayerful discernment, Bible study and living gently on the earth with one another of different hearts. Christians of goodwill in the United Methodist Church disagree about many of our social issues. I call upon our churches to study our Social Principles and have civil and thoughtful conversations about life.”
United Methodists believe in life! Our mission is to make disciples so that people might have a relationship with Jesus Christ and have abundant life and everlasting life. Easter is our best day and every Sunday is a “little Easter” in which we celebrate the resurrection and our commitment to life. That is why we as a denomination support life in all of its forms.
Abortion is an issue that the United Methodist Church speaks about in our Social Principles in the 2012 Book of Discipline. We are not silent about this. Paragraph 161(J) states:
“The beginning of life and the ending of life are the God-given boundaries of human existence.
While individuals have always had some degree of control over when they would die, they now have the awesome power to determine when and even whether new individuals will be born. Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion. But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child. We recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, and in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures by certified medical providers.
We support parental, guardian, or other responsible adult notification and consent before abortions can be performed on girls who have not yet reached the age of legal adulthood. We cannot affirm abortion as an acceptable means of birth control. And we unconditionally reject it as a means of gender selection or eugenics.
We oppose the use of late-term abortion known as dilation and extraction (partial-birth abortion) and call for the end of this practice except when the physical life of the mother is in danger and no other medical procedure is available, or in the case of severe fetal anomalies incompatible with life. This procedure shall be performed only by certified medical providers. Before providing their services abortion providers should be required to offer women the option of anesthesia.”
It goes on to say that United Methodists urge all Christians to a “prayerful inquiry into the sorts of conditions that may cause people to consider abortions in the first place. We pledge to offer ministries that will reduce unintended pregnancies and to help women find feasible alternatives.”
According to Susan Burton of the General Board of Church and Society, “As we work to end human trafficking, rape as a weapon of war, child marriage and domestic violence, we understand why United Methodists have said that women and girls need safe, legal access to abortion ... when violence has been perpetrated against them resulting in pregnancy, or (when) they have a health condition that necessitates immediate care treatment that would not be possible while pregnant (e.g. chemotherapy). We will continue to advocate for family planning, sexuality education and wellness care for women and girls, in addition to an end to sexual and gender-based violence in order to make abortions increasingly rare.”
I personally was able to prevent an abortion when I was serving as the pastor of a local church years ago. This young mother, through the ministry of the church, chose adoption instead of abortion, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to save the life of her baby boy.
Later in my ministry, my husband’s church was located near an abortion clinic. Protestors came on a regular basis to that location with signs and pictures, and some wore costumes of the grim reaper. They would shout at me as I put my mail out, saying that my husband’s church was like the church-going Lutherans who allowed the Nazis to drag Jews to death camps and did not help.
I decided to go over and engage them in a civil conversation about what I did to promote life. I explained to them about a deaf woman I was working with in my congregation who was pregnant with her eighth child. She was a cocaine addict and her children had a very difficult life. The two oldest sons were in prison. There was rarely enough food in the house. I interpreted for her and never once discussed abortion but provided as much support for the family as possible.
I asked the marchers if they could help her. They said they would, but they never called back. Giving help to mothers in need is a huge part of life ministry. We should always be careful not to judge people who do not talk or think exactly the way we do with regard to the issue of life. Respectful sharing is far better than assuming we know what someone believes.
The United Methodist Church also supports the life of the “already born” by opposing the death penalty. Paragraph 164G states, “We believe the death penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem, restore and transform all human beings. The UMC is deeply concerned about crime throughout the world and the value of any life taken by a murder or homicide. We believe all human life is sacred and created by God, and therefore, we must see all human life as significant and valuable.”
Many United Methodists are speaking in the halls of power to call for the end of the death penalty in their states. Delaware and Pennsylvania are two states that still have the death penalty as an option. If we truly believe that "all lives matter," that all life, without exception, is of sacred worth as created by God, then we should consider the unnecessary taking of any life as a grievous sin before God. And the penalty of a life sentence without parole makes the death penalty totally unnecessary.
United Methodists also oppose war as another sign of our commitment to life. Paragraph 165C states “We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy. We oppose unilateral first/preemptive strike actions and strategies on the part of any government.” Instead of war we support “international treaties and institutions that provide a framework within the rule of law for responding to aggression, terrorism and genocide."
Supporting life consistently is a difficult thing. It is easier to support the unborn child in a protest march than to love our enemies and pray for a person who committed a murder. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus requires prayerful discernment, Bible study and living gently on the earth with one another of different hearts. Christians of goodwill in the United Methodist Church disagree about many of our social issues. I call upon our churches to study our Social Principles and have civil and thoughtful conversations about life.
According to Susan Burton of the General Board of Church and Society, “As we work to end human trafficking, rape as a weapon of war, child marriage and domestic violence, we understand why United Methodists have said that women and girls need safe, legal access to abortion ... when violence has been perpetrated against them resulting in pregnancy, or (when) they have a health condition that necessitates immediate care treatment that would not be possible while pregnant (e.g. chemotherapy). We will continue to advocate for family planning, sexuality education and wellness care for women and girls, in addition to an end to sexual and gender-based violence in order to make abortions increasingly rare.”
I personally was able to prevent an abortion when I was serving as the pastor of a local church years ago. This young mother, through the ministry of the church, chose adoption instead of abortion, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to save the life of her baby boy.
Later in my ministry, my husband’s church was located near an abortion clinic. Protestors came on a regular basis to that location with signs and pictures, and some wore costumes of the grim reaper. They would shout at me as I put my mail out, saying that my husband’s church was like the church-going Lutherans who allowed the Nazis to drag Jews to death camps and did not help.
I decided to go over and engage them in a civil conversation about what I did to promote life. I explained to them about a deaf woman I was working with in my congregation who was pregnant with her eighth child. She was a cocaine addict and her children had a very difficult life. The two oldest sons were in prison. There was rarely enough food in the house. I interpreted for her and never once discussed abortion but provided as much support for the family as possible.
I asked the marchers if they could help her. They said they would, but they never called back. Giving help to mothers in need is a huge part of life ministry. We should always be careful not to judge people who do not talk or think exactly the way we do with regard to the issue of life. Respectful sharing is far better than assuming we know what someone believes.
The United Methodist Church also supports the life of the “already born” by opposing the death penalty. Paragraph 164G states, “We believe the death penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem, restore and transform all human beings. The UMC is deeply concerned about crime throughout the world and the value of any life taken by a murder or homicide. We believe all human life is sacred and created by God, and therefore, we must see all human life as significant and valuable.”
Many United Methodists are speaking in the halls of power to call for the end of the death penalty in their states. Delaware and Pennsylvania are two states that still have the death penalty as an option. If we truly believe that "all lives matter," that all life, without exception, is of sacred worth as created by God, then we should consider the unnecessary taking of any life as a grievous sin before God. And the penalty of a life sentence without parole makes the death penalty totally unnecessary.
United Methodists also oppose war as another sign of our commitment to life. Paragraph 165C states “We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy. We oppose unilateral first/preemptive strike actions and strategies on the part of any government.” Instead of war we support “international treaties and institutions that provide a framework within the rule of law for responding to aggression, terrorism and genocide."
Supporting life consistently is a difficult thing. It is easier to support the unborn child in a protest march than to love our enemies and pray for a person who committed a murder. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus requires prayerful discernment, Bible study and living gently on the earth with one another of different hearts. Christians of goodwill in the United Methodist Church disagree about many of our social issues. I call upon our churches to study our Social Principles and have civil and thoughtful conversations about life.
Newsletters
Christian Copyright Solutions: August 2015
General Board of Global Ministries: connectNmission
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Leading Ideas
Ministry Matters: Aug. 18, 2015
UMC Development Center: Spiritual Giving
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR): Hotline
Classifieds
East Heights UMC seeks children's day out teachers and teacher aids
Ice cream dispenser for sale
Youth pastor sought at Christ UMC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
View these and other classifieds at greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
Press Clips
Congregations across the Great Plains Conference are making the news in their local newspapers. View our newspaper clipping reports to see if there are stories, ideas and ministry happenings you can learn from to use in your own congregation. Press clips can be found at greatplainsumc.org/inthenews. You can see education partnership ideas at greatplainsumc.org/education.
Editorial Policy: The content, news, events and announcement information distributed in GPconnect is not sponsored or endorsed by the Great Plains Methodist Conference unless specifically stated.
To submit a letter to the editor, send it to info@greatplainsumc.org.
Want More?
Episcopal Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 160 Wichita, KS 67207 316-686-0600
Topeka Office: 4201 SW 15th Street PO Box 4187 Topeka, KS 66604 785-272-9111
Wichita Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 110 Wichita, KS 67207 316-684-0266
Lincoln Office: 3333 Landmark Circle Lincoln, NE 68504-4760 402-464-5994
____________________________
Christian Copyright Solutions: August 2015
General Board of Global Ministries: connectNmission
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Leading Ideas
Ministry Matters: Aug. 18, 2015
UMC Development Center: Spiritual Giving
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR): Hotline
Classifieds
East Heights UMC seeks children's day out teachers and teacher aids
Ice cream dispenser for sale
Youth pastor sought at Christ UMC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
View these and other classifieds at greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
Press Clips
Congregations across the Great Plains Conference are making the news in their local newspapers. View our newspaper clipping reports to see if there are stories, ideas and ministry happenings you can learn from to use in your own congregation. Press clips can be found at greatplainsumc.org/inthenews. You can see education partnership ideas at greatplainsumc.org/education.
Editorial Policy: The content, news, events and announcement information distributed in GPconnect is not sponsored or endorsed by the Great Plains Methodist Conference unless specifically stated.
To submit a letter to the editor, send it to info@greatplainsumc.org.
Want More?
Episcopal Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 160 Wichita, KS 67207 316-686-0600
Topeka Office: 4201 SW 15th Street PO Box 4187 Topeka, KS 66604 785-272-9111
Wichita Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 110 Wichita, KS 67207 316-684-0266
Lincoln Office: 3333 Landmark Circle Lincoln, NE 68504-4760 402-464-5994
____________________________
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