United Methodist Missionary Association

UMMA Update, September 27, 2004

UMMA Gathering, October 17-19, 2004 by Norma Kehrberg, Chair
UMMA Gathering Registrations Coming In by Fred Price, Coordinator
Mini-Consultation of the GBGM with UMMA, CCW and NADAM by Fred Price
Informal Meeting of UMMA Members Present at Pfeiffer University by Norma Kehrberg
Roland Fernandes, New General Treasurer of the GBGM from GBGM website
Our Members Write
Missionary Reunions and Gatherings by editor
Register for UMMA Gathering 2004 by Fred Price, UMMA Coordinator

1. UMMA Gathering, October 17-19, 2004 by Norma Kehrberg, Chair

Dear Members:
Please join us at the Annual Meeting of the United Methodist Missionary Association (UMMA) from October 17-19, 2004 in Stamford, Connecticut. The meeting will be held at the Rodeway Inn (formerly Budget Hospitality Inn) in Stamford, Connecticut. Reservations for the meeting and the hotel should be made through the UMMA Coordinator, Fred Price. As before, the members of UMMA are expected to pay their own travel, food and hotel expenses.

The UMMA meeting will begin at 3:30pm on Sunday, October 17 at the Rodeway Inn. It will begin with devotions and the presentation of a discussion paper on missions. We will meet in the UMMA configuration until Monday afternoon, October 18, when we will join the plenary session of the General Board of Global Ministries. The UMMA meeting will conclude on Tuesday evening, October 19 with dinner. On Monday and Tuesday, we have graciously been offered space to hold our meeting at First UMC in Stamford. The pastor, Rev. MacArthur is a former missionary to Japan. This offer of meeting space is greatly appreciated.

This year we were planning to have a director of the General Board of Global Ministries at our Gathering. That is why we had originally intended to begin earlier in the afternoon. However, Debra Bass informed me that the October meeting of the GBGM is also being used as the organization and orientation meeting of GBGM. Nominations will not have been completed before the meeting. Therefore, we will have to wait for a director of GBGM to join us at the next UMMA Gathering.

I hope you can join the UMMA Gathering in Stamford, Connecticut. We will be discussing matters of utmost importance related to the future of UMMA, personal issues of retired and active missionaries of the UMC and ongoing mission concerns of our church.

2. UMMA Gathering Registrations Coming In by Fred Price, Coordinator

We are expecting the following to attend our UMMA Annual Gathering but names are still coming in. Norma Kehrberg, Jim Dwyer, Fred Price, Jim Gulley, Cherie White, Howard Heiner, Gil Bascom, Ric Schwenk, Gene Matthews, Jeff Hoover, Hugh and Elizabeth Frazier, Clarence Antwi-Boasiakoh, Larry and Phyllis Asher, Paul and possibly Callie Perry. Sally Ott of CCW and Joanne Reich of NADAM will also join us. Register now so official name tags can be made for the special GBGM meetings.

3. Mini-Consultation - GBGM with UMMA, CCW and NADAM by Fred Price

Official minutes of the meeting are being written and distributed by Mission Personnel but were not yet available to the editor. The meeting was held at 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, August 5-6, 2004. Present: GBGM Staff: Edith Gleaves, Randy Day, John Nuessle, Steve Goldstein and Tony (Antoinetta) Wilson who took some 40 pages of notes, while maintaining a cheerful smile throughout. Present were: GBGM Board of Directors: Curtis Henderson, Chairperson, Missionary Personnel Committee; Church and Community Workers (CCW): Shay Blackwell, Harry Howe, Judy Atwood; National Association of Deaconesses and Missioners NADAM): Joanne Reich, Brenda Connelly; UMMA Jim Gulley, Fred Price.

Abridged Notes...Day 1, 5 August 2004

Edith Gleaves welcomed everyone and Curtis Henderson gave a very moving meditation. Participants then introduced themselves and shared their concern and hope for the meeting.

Curtis Henderson, outgoing Chairperson of the Missionary Personnel Committee (MPC) shared experiences and insights from his eight years of service as a Board Member. It was challenging for him to learn all that was required to be an effective board member... He confirmed that board members must have confidence in and do rely on GBGM staff persons for guidance in decision making.

Curtis pointed out that all meetings of the UMC are, according to the Discipline, open to all UMC members, though permission to speak must be requested and granted. Curtis indicated it is an open and valid means of communication for missionaries. Missionary Associations have several channels for providing input to GBGM: Annual Consultation, Staff, Directors and Conference Mission Secretaries. He noted also that the list of names and addresses of GBGM Board of Directors is available, implying that Associations are free to contact board members directly.

Randy Day spoke to the group about the process of communication - principally listening - that he went through over his first 18 months to connect to the ways in which GBGM is in mission. He shared his three major priority areas: youth and children, people in crisis/coming out of crisis, and marginalized communities. Youth and children will become a church-wide emphasis of which GBGM will be a part. For peoples coming out of crisis, GBGM will provide direct services (e.g., to children dying of hunger and preventable diseases, e.g., Haiti), institutional care and also promote advocacy in the international arena. GBGM will work with other international agencies such as the World Council of Churches, the United Nations. GBGM will promote mission education, public education, provide ministry in prisons, address problems of alcoholism and related abuse and violence. GBGM will encourage new types of churches that not only provide a place of worship but might also include a clinic, library, garden, etc. for marginalized peoples.

Randy indicated that volunteers-in-mission will continue to play key roles, including experienced (former professional missionaries) and in-experienced volunteers. GBGM needs to provide more preparation and follow-up to VIM. Former missionaries have a role here. The trend toward conference-conference relations (e.g., Missouri-Mozambique, Virginia-Mozambique) will continue. GBGM will support networks forming around these relationships often through annual consultations that attract both people and financial resources. The down side: frequent shift of focus of volunteers; little evaluation of outcomes; priorities set outside GBGM. UMMA representatives raised questions about the Collins Pension Plan and Collins Health Benefits Plan: Steve Goldstein emphasized that:

The pension plan and the health plan, known as Collins A and B are financially sound. They are both fully funded and subject to periodic actuarial review. Advisors indicate that no additional contributions are currently required, though some additional contributions may be required in the future.
Other Collins monies (Collins C) are director-designated (legality of which has been confirmed by attorneys) and have been used for making up shortfalls in Mission Personnel costs, even under the previous structure of the World Division, among other uses. Annual statements of the status of the accounts, the pension rate and how and when it was set: UMMA representatives suggested that GBGM should provide these regularly to plan participants.

It was agreed that a basic statement of the pension rate would be provided regularly. Fred Price suggested that the statement be provided with the W-2 statement, but no definite word was given on the method.

Participation: The Mission Personnel Compensation and Placement Review Committee met under the leadership of Debra Bass in 2000 and 2001. A new staff-only committee is about to be revived. Why not include missionary personnel? UMMA Reps asked if there were good reasons not to include missionary personnel on that committee, possibly the MIR? This issue was discussed at length but not fully resolved. There was a stated commitment to keep plan participants apprized of at least the current pension rate per year. We also asked for a report of dates when meetings of the committee take place regarding pension and the results.

Abridged Notes...Day 2, 6 August 2004

UMMA representatives opened the day with questions:

Requested more detail on GBGM's strategy in the face of recent deficit years. Edith Gleaves pointed out that GBGM programs are reducing costs by sharing resources, improving communications and have appointed a development officer to increase revenues (Lynda Byrd).
Asked where GBGM is in process of utilizing former missionary personnel? o Glenn Rowley, Western Jurisdiction Mission Representative, is drafting a proposal.
- John Nuessle made a presentation at the Congo Missionary Reunion in July and got about a dozen interested in serving as mission interpreters for GBGM. GBGM plans to connect former missionaries. Joanne Reich: Why not do general interpretation? Deaconesses, Home Missioners and Church and Community Workers rely on general support because they do not have individual support numbers. US-2's also are supported form one umbrella Advance Covenant Relationship number. Nuessle: Not convinced that general interpretation is effective, although there may be well-to-do individuals who might be willing to give to a general fund.
- "Hallelujah Moments" are brief stories of successful mission experiences that are shared via email to approximately 40,000 recipients.
- Resources include: "Up-front with Youth"
- Plans yet to be fully realized include: "summits" with bishops and conference leaders. GBGM has already held two or three summits with Bishops in Africa. Reductions in Support Service staff (from 8 to 3) has limited the rate of implementation. Curtis Henderson asked why it is so difficult to get information from some parts of the Board (e.g., ECG) related to specific mission locations where churches in his conference are working (e.g., Latin America, Caribbean, Belize). He suggested the need for material in new types of media to appeal to youth (CD, DVD). He noted that GBGM's website needs to be more interactive (intuitive). Suggestions offered:

Utilize volunteers to do specific tasks. One volunteer assisted this summer. Other volunteers could be used for some tasks but does require some on-site training and experience before tasks can be done off-site. Steve Goldstein indicated it took two weeks of on-site training for a volunteer to get up to speed with many Board tasks. Need: Recruit someone in annual conferences to make phone calls.

GBGM could offer seminars to all annual conferences at the Interchurch Center (similar to those offered by General Board of Church and Society).

Alternatively, offer seminars via video conferencing.

Missionary gatherings: include both domestic and international mission personnel to provide opportunity for each group to learn from the other's experiences. Hold gatherings in years other than the year of the Women's Division Assembly. Due to continued limited finances, there will be only a mini-consultation in 2005.

UMMA Reps asked: What is the possibility of UMMA and other mission associations to make a presentation at Board Meeting plenary sessions? Considerable discussion ensued... The group concluded that the second Board Meeting of the quadrennium (April 2005) might focus on the work of the whole spectrum of missionary personnel in order to educate new Board Members. Edith Gleaves indicated she would take the suggestion to the Cabinet.

UMMA reps returned to the issue of missionary representation on discussions related to the Collins Funds. After considerable discussion, it was agreed that there is a need to get a succinct statement on the management of the funds. Edi argued that she sensed that what really is at issue is how the funds are administered, particularly the Collins "C" fund. She noted there are fundamental differences of opinion of how these funds are administered. Curtis Henderson recalled that a comprehensive report on the Collins Funds was given to Board Members. Steve Goldstein agreed to locate that material and/or develop a statement of how the three Collins Funds are administered that could be shared with missionaries.

The question of whether missionaries should have representation on the compensation committee was not resolved. Edi and Steve noted that the Missionaries-in-Residence are included missionaries with a current Congolese missionary to promote covenant support for non-USA in almost all Mission Personnel meetings...

UMMA reps revisited agenda item 1: "Provide an ongoing avenue and process whereby mission personnel, as well as partner churches and agencies are invited to participate in and give meaningful input into decision making process of the GBGM." For now, mini-consultations provide the principal forum for mission personnel to give input into GBGM. Board Meetings are also open to missionary presence. Participation in the sense of providing verbal input requires requesting through a board member and being granted permission to speak by presiding chairpersons.

Participants expressed thanks to MPU for inviting missionary personnel to the mini consultation. Participants noted with appreciation the positive and open atmosphere of the consultation. Curtis Henderson expressed particular thanks to the General Secretary for exploring new ways of doing things and promoting transparency within GBGM.

4. Informal Meeting of UMMA Members Present at Pfeiffer University by Norma Kehrberg, Chair

Members Present: Jim Gulley, Phil Wingeier-Rayo, Norma Kehrberg. Date: Friday, September 10, 2004. Occasion: Inauguration of Mission Degree at Pfeiffer University. Pfeiffer University inaugurated a Degree in Mission with a convocation to open their school year with a two-day mission event. Anglican Bishop Claude Payne was the Convocation Speaker. The convocation was followed by a panel discussion in response to Bishop Payne's remarks and other mission issues. The panelists included: Bishop Lawrence McCleskey, Resident Bishop of Western North Carolina; Rev. Rena Yocom, General Board of Global Ministries; Dr. Winston Worrell, Director of World Methodist Institute and Norma Kehrberg, Chair, UMMA.

Additionally, eight workshops were held on mission themes including work teams, volunteers in mission, disaster relief, etc. and one by UMMA member Jim Gulley entitled, "Life as a Career Missionary". As a part of the symposium, young people from churches in the area were invited to join Pfeiffer University for a day of volunteer work projects on Saturday, September 11, 2004. More information.

External to the Symposium, UMMA members, Jim Gulley, Phil Wingeier-Rayo and Norma Kehrberg met with Rena Yocom, Consultant to the GBGM General Secretary to discuss ongoing concerns regarding the relationship between mission personnel and the GBGM. Items discussed included identified items from the Mini-Consultation in New York based on feedback from Jim Gulley and Fred Price's report. (Note: The official minutes have not been circulated as yet.)

Other information

Bishop Joel Martinez is President of GBGM for this quadrennium.
It appears that only about one third of the current members of GBGM Board of Directors will be returning members.
Various professors of mission sent a letter of concern to the GBGM asking GBGM to lift the moratorium on the sending of missionaries immediately and indicated that they regard this moratorium as an unfaithful action. Rena Yocom indicated that a letter of response was sent from GBGM leadership stating that they applaud the action and concern of the professors of mission but indicated that the lack of resources was limiting the response of GBGM to sending mission personnel. A copy of that letter and response was sent to Norma. UMMA will initiate contact with mission professors. Full article.

5. Roland Fernandes is the New General Treasurer of the GBGM (see full version here)

Roland Fernandes is the new general treasurer of the General Board of Global Ministries. He was elected by the directors of the agency in a mail ballot. A native of India who has been employed by the Board since 1995, he was named interim general treasurer last October. He was nominated to the permanent position by a search committee and approved by the Board's executive committee prior to the favorable action by a majority of the 90 directors. "I am greatly pleased that Roland will continue in the top financial position of our agency," said the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the mission board. Mr. Day, further said: "Roland Fernandes has earned the trust and respect of directors and staff. He knows the Board's program operations and is a careful and skillful financial manager. He understands the mission of The United Methodist Church. His reports are clear and his insights are appreciated." Mr. Fernandes received his bachelor's degree from Calcutta University and is a "Chartered Accountant," which under the British system is the equivalent of a Certified Public Accountant in the USA. He was Chief Auditor of the Methodist Church of India from 1988 to 1994, when he became the India area financial executive for the GBGM.

6. Our Members Write

Fred Brancel writes that he visited Iraq from April 1-15, with the Christian Peacemaker Team's (CPT) seven member 'delegation'.

*****

Dear Richard, Thanks so much for your reply to our email address change. What a shock to realize we are not on the membership list this year! We are charter members going back to Ridgecrest where you were one of the prime movers! Glad you apprised us of this oversight and I have posted a check to Fred Price today. Looking forward to seeing you and others at Stamford. - name withheld to protect an innocent.

*****

Hi Ric, The GBGM has requested that I take a special assignment to assist the MCC's CD program. I will assist the Methodist Church of Cambodia's Community Development Team comprised of eight Khmer Regional Coordinators who work with village leaders and farmers in irrigation, farm animals, soil fertility, farm equipment and micro-loans, among others. We want to raise an additional $50,000 for the program. My support will be paid from the additional funds that I raise, therefore I need to find partners to provide financial support. See my website. James L. Gulley

*****

Att. esp. Missionaries who serve(d) in Latin American countries. We have a large quantity of "extra" copies of most of the volumes of the works of Wesley in Spanish by OBRAS. We are offering assortments of these "extras" to persons in leadership positions in churches with roots in Wesley at a price of $6.00 each copy [retail: $34.95], including S&H to a street address in the USA, the books to be delivered as gifts to libraries, schools and pastors in Latino areas. There is a great demand for these resources of the Gospel; the need is for persons, such as mission/work teams, to deliver them into accountable hands. Contact us ASAP: Wesley Heritage Foundation, Inc., 309 Sunny Ct., Durham NC 27705, Tel. 919.382.2544, Elbert (L. Elbert Wethington, President, WHF) E-mail:

*****

Esther L. Megill has written a book, Sierra Leone Remembered. Here is an abridged review by Sylvia Smyth: Esther Megill had an extraordinary life experience in Sierra Leone as a medical technologist - extraordinary in the work she did, in the work she helped others to do, and in the legacy of good will she left behind at the time of her "retirement." Sierra Leone Remembered reads like an adventure novel. Written in an easy conversational style, it is a true story whose "characters" draw you into their world... Her feast of photographs tell thousands more stories at a glance... One sees that dedication to serve others with compassion, courage and faith, and medicine blessed with God's love, can make a difference. This book is available now from the publisher by telephone or internet, for $10.75 plus postage and handling (paperback) or for $3.95 by downloading from the web site (book 23464).

7. Missionary Reunions and Gatherings

Your editor and his wife, Caring Schwenk, attended our Philippine Missionary Reunion at the Collins Retreat Center near Portland, Oregon August 6-9. It provided a lovely virgin forest setting and modern accommodation for the 45 attending. We all were enriched by the well organized reunion-retreat with old friends. We were honored by a visit with Mrs. Collins and her son.

We are now looking for another venue for our 2006 reunion on the East Coast. Places mentioned were: Lake Junaluska, Chataqua Center, NY, and Stony Point, NY. We are considering holding our next reunion just before the Fall GBGM Meeting so UMMA members can more easily attend the UMMA Gathering. We hope others will consider this when planning missionary reunions.

Note: Please send your emails to my exclusive UMMA In-Box with this address: . All UMMA matters go there now.

River Plate Reunion

22-25 October 2004 at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, TN. Coordinators: Carol and Dave Butler, 35 Asbury Lane, Hermitage, TN 37076, Tel: 615.874.8253, email: .

Liberia Reunion

July 8-10, 2005, at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. Contact: Wilfred and Stella Boayue, 340 Wickerberry Lane, Roswell, GA 30075, Tel: 770.649.9373 ().

Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia Reunion

June 23- 26, 2006 - Friday to Monday. We will need to know how many want to stay the extra day on Monday before December 2005. Contact Ernest Heard, in Nashville () with cc to Phil Wilson, the new chair ().

8. Register for UMMA Gathering 2004 by Fred Price, UMMA Coordinator

The 2004 UMMA Gathering is scheduled to be held from October 17-19 at the Rodeway Inn to coincide with the GBGM Board of Directors' Meeting in a nearby hotel. UMMA will make the reservation to be sure you get the best group rate. The inn has complimentary breakfast. All other meals will be at your own expense. Please fill and return the following form to Fred Price (same address as above) or email as soon as possible to assure your room reservations.

Hi Fred,
Please reserve a place for _______________________________ (your name(s)) for the nights of (state which) 17th 18th 19th for ___ persons in ___ room(s).

___ I will inform you of my flight number with arrival and departure times and airport as soon as I know those details so arrangements can be made to help with ground transportation to the Rodeway Inn at Stamford, Connecticut.

___ I/We will be arriving by car at approximately (time) ___ and (date) ___ October 2004.

We welcome your comments: