| UMMA Update, January 2003 |
- From the Coordinator's Desk
- UPDATE from Norma Kehrberg, Chair
- A Common Vision by Howard Heiner, Strategy T.F. Chair
- Something Good Came Out of Nazareth by Carolyn Cowen, Spiritual Nurture T.F. Chair
- Reunions of Interest
- UMMA Financial Report and Budget
- 2003 Membership Renewal Form
| 1. From the Coordinator's Desk |
by Gil Bascom
This is the first edition of the UpDate in the new year and rather than look back over the past we need to concentrate on the future. 2002 did not treat the GBGM very kindly, but 2003 has brought a change of leadership as Randy Day takes the helm at 475. Rev. Day gave UMMA over an hour of his time at Stamford and another meeting between him and UMMA representatives has been set for February. In this issue Norma Kehrberg, UMMA's new Chair reviews what has happened since the GATHERING in October while former chair and now Strategy Task Force Chair, Howard Heiner, outlines our position as we move to the meeting with Secretary Day.
You will also find a summary of UMMA's BUDGET for 2003 with the FINANCIAL REPORT for 2002. Our membership in 2002 rose to over 425 members. Can we do better in 2003? Your renewal form is at the end of the UpDate unless you have already paid for 2003. Dues have not been raised despite our modest income. This is made possible only because our leadership is all volunteers.
Attention
The UMMA Steering Committee is searching for a new Coordinator. After 8 years in this role I feel it is time to step aside and let someone else handle the office of UMMA. This is a very portable office and can easily move to wherever the next Coordinator lives. The Coordinator collects dues, keeps the financial records, pays the bills and works with the Steering Committee and Administrative Council on the issues before it. It has been a fascinating position to be in these past 8 years as UMMA has grown from an idea into a full grown organization that has a presence in the mission work of the United Methodist Church giving voice to concerns of the missionary community and I would expect it to continue to be an exciting place to serve in the years ahead.
Any UMMA member interested in knowing more please contact me or Norma Kehrberg. Selection is by the Steering Committee. I will serve through the next GATHERING if needed, but that's it.
2003 is ELECTION YEAR for half the Steering Committee. Each of our six areas will elect a representative to serve for four years on the Steering Committee. The constitution calls for this election so that we do not change all Steering Committee members at one time. The new Steering Committee will then proceed to elect the officers and the Task Force Chairs for the next two years. Steering Committee members may be elected for a second term, but not more than 8 consecutive years.
Those to be reelected or replaced this year are: Ron Ray (sub-Sahara Africa), James Dwyer (Eur./Mediterranean/India/Nepal), Joe Stroud (Asia), Gordon Greathouse (S. America), Nan McCurdy (N. Amer. East/Caribbean, Central America), Cherie White (N. Amer. W,/Mexico), Norma Kehrberg (Retirees). Each region elects its representative so give it some careful thought and send in the name of your nominee to the Coordinator not later than April1, 2003.
Looking forward to hearing from you all, Gil
| 2. UPDATE from Norma Kehrberg, Chair |
Greetings everyone and Happy New Year!
Sorry for the late greeting, but I have been enjoying some family togetherness over the holidays. Then has come the move from Hawaii to Saipan for my six month stint as substitute pastor at the Immanuel UMC (English speaking) at the request of my bishop; this is not the way I expected to begin my time as UMMA Chair. However, with Howard Heiner as strategy Task Force Chair continuing on the UMMA Administrative Council and Bud Carroll, newly returned from Hong Kong and living close to 475 in New York City acting as liaison with the 475 Staff, rest assured that UMMA's concerns and activities will not suffer.
I would like to summarize the activities that have occurred since the UMMA Gathering and the GBGM Board of Directors' meeting in Stamford last October.
The announcement of Edith Gleaves to the Mission Personnel Unit (MPU) that 224 mission personnel would not have their letters of agreement renewed was a bombshell not only for the UMMA members present, but also, seemingly, for the Directors on the committee. Following the meeting, UMMA released a news statement expressing concern for the affect of such drastic cuts upon the mission work of the church and the fact that such a decision could be made without any attempt to inform supporting churches, annual conferences or missionaries serving around the world.
UMMA immediately drew up a proposed plan of action and presented it to Bishop Martinez urging the GBGM to challenge annual conferences to respond to the financial crisis to prevent as much attrition as possible and to establish an advisor group to implement a plan of action to guide the Board through this time of crisis.
A series of letters and press releases from Dr. Nugent, Bishop Martinez and Edith Gleaves appeared in the press and reached the missionaries at their places of assignment.
The United Methodist Reporter featured the problems in several stories including a front page article which quoted reactions from UMMA leaders.
These communication efforts energized the mission community, several annual conferences and many local churches and individuals. Letters were sent directly to GBGM Cabinet leadership expressing disapproval of decisions to reduce the missionary personnel and questioning the financial priorities of the Cabinet. Letters to the editors of the Methodist publications reflected similar opinions.
During these months, information has continued to reach the UMMA Steering Committee from mission personnel who have received notices from GBGM staff of proposed cuts in rent allowances, children's education allowances as well as notification of non-renewal of terms of service. However, the most recent information indicates that efforts are being made to deal with each missionary's needs as sympathetically as possible given the financial realities. However, no word has been received regarding the renewal or non-renewal of letters-of-agreement to this date.
In the last week of November, Bishop Martinez sent three documents in a widely distributed mailing which included his introductory letter, a document on the foundation set up for Randolph Nugent and a question and answer paper from Mission Personnel. Concerned about misinformation in the media, Bishop Martinez requested that issues of concerns be addressed to him personally.
Through all the discussions and interactions, UMMA has continually and repeatedly requested that the criteria used by the Mission Personnel in determining who will, or will not be continued, be shared openly. UMMA has also continued to press for an appeal process for those who want to contest the decisions being made.
Randy Day, the new General Secretary while meeting with UMMA in October, agreed to a meeting with UMMA representatives after the first of the year. The date is set for January 31, 2003. Kristin Markay, MIR; Howard Heiner, immediate past-chair of UMMA; and Bud Carroll, former staff of GBGM and recently retired missionary will represent UMMA at that meeting in New York.
A first strategy for UMMA in this meeting with the new General Secretary is to seek ways in which missionaries will be accepted as full and supportive partners in mission. Communication needs to flow regularly between missionaries, staff and directors and a trusting relationship with GBGM staff needs to be reestablished. UMMA continues to offer its services, including those of retired missionaries for mission education in UM churches.
Thank you for your support, your prayers, and active minds as a part of the mission community of the United Methodist Church. It is the purpose of UMMA to be a continuing partner in helping through dialogue, discussion and witness to serve the United Methodist Church as God intends. Peace and love, Norma
| 3. A Common Vision |
by Howard Heiner, Strategy T.F. Chair
What a year 2002 was! In the spring UMMA representatives met with the Board's Search Committee to present recommendations for the selection of a new General Secretary and during the summer we were back in Chicago again, meeting with directors and staff to look at ways to reduce the tension and facilitate communication among us all. Finally in October, the UMMA Gathering was held in conjunction with the Board meeting in Stamford where UMMA representatives had the opportunity to present our recommendations to the Board's Mission Personnel Committee.
At Stamford the full extent of the GBGM financial crisis was presented to the directors without sufficient plans to mobilize the general Church or the missionary community to respond to the emergency. UMMA responded with a proposed action plan that was sent to the directors and staff the first week of November. The document expressed our deepest concerns about the severe cutbacks proposed for mission programs and commissioned mission personnel in 2003. The magnitude of the reductions is alarming and will cause much damage to the GBGM mission outreach.
UMMA presented the following suggestions in its plan:
- We urged the President of the GBGM to challenge conferences, supporting churches, host organizations, directors, staff and mission personnel to join in a cooperative and coordinated response to the financial crisis now confronting the GBGM, the UM Church's mission agency.
- We urged the GBGM President to establish an emergency advisory group composed of directors, staff and mission personnel to develop and implement a plan of action.
- We urged the Cabinet to furnish a country by country report reflecting guidelines they have used for the reduction of program and mission personnel so that the advisory group can study the effects of the proposed cutbacks.
Bishop Martinez did respond with a three part document that expressed: Mission Personnel Policy for the Year 2003, Statement on Mission Personnel and Foundation for Mission Endowment Fund, and The Foundation for Mission Endowment Fund.
New GBGM General Secretary - the Rev Randy Day - was selected at the fall Board meeting. He very graciously met with UMMA members at our Gathering to discuss his vision about the Board and answer questions. He responded positively to a request for a meeting in 2003, scheduled for January 31st in NYC. Bud Carroll, Kristin Markay and Howard Heiner will attend. We are looking forward to an open, productive meeting.
The UMMA representatives will focus on the need for a team effort composed of directors, staff, missionaries and partner churches to address serious issues facing the world today. It is critical that we address the following:
- guidelines for GBGM's downsizing process and development of an appeal procedure for missionaries,
- working agreement for the Associations and staff,
- working arrangement among directors, staff and missionaries,
- focus a response to the GBGM financial crisis at the Global Gathering.
- create a Task Force framework to study the following major issues:
- mobilization of the UMC around missions and a response to the financial and theological crisis;
- review of the present GBGM organizational structure;
- evaluate the compensation and benefit structure for the 11 categories of missionary service;
- examine the Collins Retirement and Health Benefit Plans.
I feel very positive that functional arrangements can be initiated that will allow a variety of perspectives to be heard as future Board priorities are established.
| 4. Something Good Came Out of Nazareth |
by Carolyn Cowen, Spiritual Nurture T.F. Chair
Many of you know of Noçla;ia, the 12-year-old Mozambican I adopted at 6 weeks. We were together for three years there, then apart for over 8 years. I was unable to obtain medical clearance to return and too ill to bring her and the two boys stateside alone. Well, she has been in her new home now since April '02. Jack and I watched as she set off on the bicycle trail - alone - to conquer her Sunday afternoon challenge of making a 7-mile trek. Faith fed us adrenalin to trust that she would handle her new biking skills, the coming upon strangers and continuing without interference and, Faith fed us Hope she would have enough sheer energy to pump those pedals such a distance with such skinny legs.
Faith. Hope. Adrenalin of Faith brings me to organize words for "such a time as this" as missionaries in hot political spots cling to Hope for the people they are serving, for their own children's well-being, for -- well, in fact, their own well-being. Hot spots of all sorts -- political, economic, spiritual -- lurk around us.
It seems almost like the hurried holiday shopper has raced up and down the aisles to find gifts for everyone within the allotted time - oops, now I'm at the check-out counter and find I've picked up too many gifts. But, which do I keep and which do I discard. And, what do I do with those I am so embarrassed to lay aside. Or, do I need to return them neatly to their place on the shelf so they will appear undisturbed.
Oh, my, the person at the cash register tells me the amount is even more than I had so quickly calculated in my racing mind. What a frustrating moment! He says just to place them over there in the basket with other discards and someone will have time eventually to return them to the shelf. But, they are such needed gifts! Where did I miscalculate.
Amid the unfamiliar, the over-selection will be discarded, and, just may be, find their wayÊ back to their familiar place. Oh well, another year to save and perhaps prepare myself better to avoid such humiliation and such disappointment. I will not have enough to give to the kids down the street who really do need those socks and pants. Uncle who is too sick to care for himself and he could have used the blanket. Those little books for the children whose parents are learning English are really needed. Guess this means too that I won't be sending any money to help with the projects at church. It is struggling with in the missions budget.
Did something like that happen to the missions budget also? Will all those global and local projects and people be discarded, or placed back on the shelf of needs?
All too familiar, this is where we all are rooted on an individual scale or expanded to our church's program. As choir members we all know something of the familiar hymn so we keep singing though the books have been jerked from our hands.
"Something good did come out of Nazareth" keeps ringing in my heart through these tumultuous times.
Bud Welch's daughter was among those who lost their lives in the Murrah Building bombing in Oklahoma City. Bud tells his story of being so angry. His intake of alcohol rapidly increased. Bitterness overtook him. In coming to grips with it all, he says, "Forgiving is a struggle, but it's one I need to wage. In any case, it is not something you just wake up one morning and decide to do. You have to work through your anger and your hatred as long as it's there. You try to live each day a little better than the one before."
The Holy Spirit within each reader teaches us to sift for the good, I believe. Good did come out of Nazareth.
We have within our souls spiritual anti-virus software. We have been touched by the Good from Nazareth to detect and reject spiritual viruses, so that we can avoid infecting anyone else's system with them as we go about this year of a new day, new ways, innovate ways and ways of Hope. GRACE AND PEACE ARE TRULY YOURS AND MINE.
| 5. Reunions of Interest |
May 29-June 1, Japan Mission Connection
Simpsonwood Retreat and Conference Center of N. GA Annual Conference, Norwood, GA. Contact: Bob Meynardie, 402 Grouse Road, Summerville, SC 29485 or Lloyd Neve at Lneve@huntel.net before February 28. An ecumenical gathering of Missionaries and friends who have lived in Japan.
June 27-29, Liberia Reunion
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC. Contacts: Oliver amd Elaine Clark at oclark@earthlink.net or post to: 2108 Henry Road.,Anniston AL. Telephone: 205.236.5341
August 1-4, Nigerian Reunion
Lambuth Inn, Lake Junaluska Assembly, Lake Junaluska, NC. Contact: Duane Dennis at duane.heidy@bluewin.ch or Judy Willey at judywilley@aol.com or Eugene Baldwin at baldgene@aol.com.
| 6. UMMA Financial Report and Budget | |
| Inflows to Current Account | |
| Bank Interest | $2.84 |
| Dues | 8,730.00 |
| Gifts | 180.00 |
| Note Sale | 4,102.89 |
| TOTAL | $13,015.73 |
| Outflows | |
| Communications (Internet, phone, web, postage) | $1,762.22 |
| Gift Memberships | 30.00 |
| Miscellaneous | 52.69 |
| Office (copy, printing, help, supplies) | 590.07 |
| Steering Committee (conferences, stipends, others) | 2,265.03 |
| The Gathering (accommodations, food, meeting room) | 4,075.74 |
| Travel | 3,893.59 |
| Total Outflows | $12,669.34 |
| Overall Total | +$346.39 |
| NOTE: The sale of the bank CD was necessary to cover the GATHERING expense. | |
| UMMA Net Worth 12/31/02 | |
| Gifts Memberships a/c | $ 210.00 |
| Petty Cash | 58.82 |
| UMDevelopment Fund | 6,002.22 |
| Wells Fargo Checking a/c | 1,632.74 |
| ASSETS 12/31/02 | $7,903.78 |
| UMMA 2003 Budget Summary | |
| Communications (Internet, phone, postage, web) | $2,040.00 |
| Office (Copy-Print, help, supplies) | 780.00 |
| Steering Committee | 2,300.00 |
| The Gathering | 2,800.00 |
| Travel | 3,000.00 |
| TOTAL EXPENSES | $11,020.00 | Bank Interest | $15.00 |
| Dues | 9,085.00 |
| Gifts | 100.00 |
| Gift Membership Fund | 160.00 |
| Forwarded from 2002 a/cs | 1,660.00 |
| TOTAL INCOME | $11,020.00 |
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| Last Modified: 14 May 2003 Copyright © 1999-2002 United Methodist Missionary Association |
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