United Methodist Missionary Association

UMMA Update, January 14, 2002

A Network of Missionaries Making Decisions?
Chicago Listening Event, March 2, 2002
Some Considerations in Selecting a General Secretary
The Challenge of Hopelessness - Howard Heiner
New Missionary Websites and Other Links
Cutting Response and New World Outlook for Mission Workers?
Corrections and Additions to UU#5
UMMA Membership and Dues for Non-Members - Gilbert Bascom

1. A Network of Missionaries Making Decisions?

"When the stock market soared, the worldwide network of United Methodist missionaries thought big." That is the lead sentence in an article dated 12/17/01 by Rachel Zoll Associated Press Religious Writer after interviewing Randolph Nugent, General Secretary of the GBGM. I was struck by the similarity to UMMA UpDate's motto, "A global network of mission workers." But how different is the decision making process that is presently concentrated at 475 with scarce heed to ideas from our missionary network that is facilitated by Church and Community Workers (CCW) and The National Association of Deaconess and Missionaries (NADAM) and UMMA.

By the way, figures reported by the AP as of 12/17/01 was "$21 million lost in 2001, forcing administrators to lay off 45 employees." On a more positive side, the article goes on to state, "...Nugent has tried to make the biggest cuts in administrative expenses, thereby preserving aid programs, but he still has had to shift money away from projects like land mine removal, hospital building and prison ministries."

January 3 NEWSCOPE* has three items of special interest to our readers: ONE, 98 staff positions were eliminated by GBGM administrators at the Oct. 22-25 meeting (this includes ones not staffed at the time). Audited statement at that meeting said $24 Million was lost.

TWO, They reported on GCOM Gen. Sec. Daniel Church's plan for reforming the UMC structure with a bicameral legislature and dissolving the general boards in favor of one big general board.This is somehow "to develop a clearer understanding of the 'global nature' of the UMC."

THREE, The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits, meeting July 20-21, took a major step toward developing a pension-benefits plan for clergy and lay workers OUTSIDE the US. Board directors agreed to form an interagency task force to determine resource needs and prepare enabling legislation for the 2004 General Conference. QUESTION: How will this impinge on overseas' people in mission and our present salary/pension/health structure?

*United Methodist News Service, Photos and stories are available online.

2. Chicago Listening Event, March 2, 2002

Two UMMA representative will attend a "Listening Event" to be held in Chicago on March 2. The meeting is being called by Duane Sarazin, Chair of the event that will focus criteria for selecting the next General Secretary of the GBGM by March 31, 2002. He wrote in part to Howard:

"We are working on our agenda, but we will come together, share some devotional moments, have a briefing in plenary, and then go into break-out smaller groups. GBGM directors will be on hand to facilitate conversation and record input. There will be a coming back together in a plenary time of "reporting back" what the smaller groups are saying and then informing participants of next steps. We will be open to answering questions that people may have regarding the process, etc."

"You may have conversations with directors of GBGM as you see fit, but I do not believe that our event will make formal provision for such. You may wish to contact our Search Committee Chairperson, Bishop Joel Martinez about that if you have something more specific or formal in mind."

Howard Heiner has replied asking if it would be possible during the break-out small group session to have one group made up of the three Associations representatives -- CCW, NADAM and UMMA. Together they could more easily work up a number of recommendations and could have them ready to present at that time. If other persons were in that group they might feel overwhelmed. Let's pray for that possibility.

Feel free to send your suggestions to Howard at heiner@jeffnet.org.

3. Some Considerations in Selecting a General Secretary

Someone told me recently that most successful CEOs of leading corporations have a liberal arts type education. They had a broad base of knowledge and experience, being highly differentiated--in short they have the capacity to process a diversity of information types. The criteria of speaking at least two (modern) foreign languages, in addition to English, is an indicator of this type of person. The most successful heads of large organizations were &042;not&042; MBAs or specialists in finance, etc. although that expertise would certainly help.

The next General Secretary should be someone who sees the big picture of God's salvation history and can communicate and organize around that. He or she should be able to present a vision of what the UMC should be doing in mission and inspire staff and missionaries to cooperate in reaching attainable goals in practical and sustainable ways.

Therefore, I think we should still look for top leadership from among our missionaries. We had excellent ones in the past, e.g. Tracey Jones, Eugene Stockwell and Charles Germany are a few that come to mind. There are still missionaries who can do the job. We need someone who has lived and worked effectively among the oppressed, poverty stricken and uneducated--the very people GBGM is committed to help.

David Persons who along with his wife, Lorene, serve in Mulungwishi in the Congo, offers these qualities that are typical of what other missionaries are telling is needed in addition to the official job description posted last month in UMMA UpDate. Here are three of his criteria:

The General Secretary should have a positive attitude and disposition towards missionaries.
He/she should have had world-wide missionary experience.
He/she should have people skills in rebuilding the morale, confidence and spirit of a very discouraged part of the Body of Christ.

Send your suggestions to Howard Heiner at heiner@jeffnet.org. A cc to the editor will be appreciated (RicSchwenk@earthlink.net).

If you think you are qualified to be the next General Secretary, please submit your Letter of Applications, before March 31, to:

Bishop Joel Martinez, President
General Board of Global Ministries
PO Box 781668
San Antonio, TX 78278-1688

4. The Challenge of Hopelessness - Howard Heiner

We received many wonderful Christmas cards and letters in December. It was a real pleasure to hear again from friends around the world-- to share in the events which had touched your/their lives and families. We find comfort in being part of a larger community in which we can be involved as, together, we share in many challenges which shape the future. A common theme was the Advent message of joy and hope brought by the arrival of Christ in humble surroundings but underthreatening conditions. The Roman Empire, through the watchful eyes of Herod, did not want to be threatened by a newborn King. So Mary and Joseph had to flee into exile. One could easily view it as a hopeless situation.

Now two thousand years later, the events of 2001 have cast a pale of gloom and hopelessness over the world. Acts of terrorism, war, social unrest and violence, famine, sickness, and environmental degradation seem so overwhelming that there is a different intensity in peoples' lives to search for understanding and meaning.

Andrew Boyd in his new book Daily Afflictions helps put the situation into perspective:

"When you look around you, it is easy to feel hopeless. Things always seem to be getting worse, not better. Even those of us still working for a better tomorrow can have a bad day, week, or lifetime when all seems lost. But such a lapse of faith should not be feared. On the contrary, you should welcome it as a revelation. Our situation is hopeless. Our cause is impossible.

"You are faced with a stark choice: Do you dedicate yourself to an impossible cause? Or do you look after your own, making do as best you can? The choice is clear: You must dedicate yourself to an impossible cause. Why? Because we are all incurable. Because solidarity is a form of tenderness. Because the simple act of caring for the world is itself a victory. Take a stand--not because it will lead to anything, but because it is the right thing to do. We never know what can or can't be done; only what must be done."

As a small part of the faith community we are blessed to be helping address the problems which confront humankind today. We are located around the world working with the least, the lost and the lonely. Out of the joy and hope of the Advent season we accept the impossible cause--

"We never know what can or can't be done; only what must be done."

5. New Missionary Websites and Other Links

Sebastine and Karen Ujereh, serving in Senegal have a new website set up by a member of one of their supporting churches. See it here.

Jim Gulley, former head of SARDI (Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Initiative), although no longer employed by GBGM/UMC, still remains committed to working in partnership with SARDI and with those who manage the GBGM/UMCOR website and SARDI-Net listserve (Nancy Carter and June Kim). They will share useful information to those engaged in promoting sustainable development, particularly related to agriculture. SARDI'S goal: To improve the spiritual and physical lives of people by strengthening their capacities to improve the stewardship of agricultural resources thereby reducing hunger, malnutrition and poverty.

SARDI-Net ConneXion Highlights

Look for more conference results under the "ConneXion" title: E-mail Conference (4-16 of February, 2002) "Appropriate Methods for Urban Agriculture" and results of Moringa conference. Website is here.

To restore your ConneXion or to subscribe to SARDI-NetVia email, send a blank message to join-sardi-net@list.gbgm-umc.org or go to the SARDI-Net website and follow directions. Jim Gulley:jimgulley@earthlink.net.

The Methodist Recorder in Britain uses editorial@methodistrecorder.co.uk for contributions.

For more, see our links page. Let us know when you have a website or one to recommend. Hope all will soon have. Please send your email address updates so you do not bounce in cyberspace!

6. Cutting Response and New World Outlook for Mission Workers?

The Bi-annual Gathering of the Church and Community Workers bemoaned the fact that the Response and New World Outlook Magazines will no longer be distributed free to active mission personnel. They view it as a strategically poor decision. These are important interpretive materials which workers use, in addition to sharing them with volunteers and other leaders. Though no formal action was taken regarding this concern, it certainly is important that individuals express their views to Edith Gleaves.

Ed: It would also inhibit dialog with mission workers and cut down on the audited circulation figures. Edith's email is EGleaves@gbgm-umc.org

7. Corrections and Additions to UU#5

Regional Executive Secretaries for the Americas are Jeanette Zaragoza-DeLeon: South America, Central America and Caribbean; Janie Stevenson: North America East (NE and SE Jurisdictions); Katherine Wilkes-Ball: North America West and Mexico.

Veronica Barrell: Interim Reg. Exec. Sec. East Asia and the Pacific took the place of George Holcombe as of 1/1/02

The complete list of Mission Personnel Staff is available here.

John Cobb, now retired at Pilgrim Place, was born and grew up in Japan as his parents were missionaries in Japan. He was the Academic Dean of Claremont School of Theology. He was not president of CST as reported in UU#5. But the former president of CTS (Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis) is also at Pilgrim Place!

8. UMMA Membership and Dues for Non-Members - Gilbert Bascom

January is the best month to join UMMA for the first time. Why? Because you will get a full 12 months' value from your dues. Our financial year runs from January 1 to December 31. Remember all of those who serve UMMA in any capacity are volunteers. Your dues are used 100 percent for the few supplies we need and to enable your representatives to attend conferences and to meet with those involved in the mission work of the UMC.Our dues have not been raised since UMMA was formed and we do not intend to raise them this year. If you are unable to send U.S. dollars without paying a sizable fee please let us know. We have alternatives.

NEW MEMBERS may use the online form available here. Current members will receive a separate notice before the end of the month (the mails willing).

We welcome your comments:
gbascom1467@earthlink.net