United Methodist Missionary Association

UMMA Update, September 16, 2009 (pdf version), No. 65

In this issue

Now is the Time for Every Good Mission Worker... by Jim Gulley, UMMA chair
PC(USA) on Track to Increase the Number of Mission Co-workers by Patrick Cole
Rethink Mission: Reflection and Action From Edinburgh 1910 - 2010
Our Readers Write with Visions and Steps Forward
Missionary Milestones
Missionary Reunions
Treasurer's Tips by Richard Vreeland
This is Your Invitation

1. Now is the Time for Every Good Mission Worker... by Jim Gulley, UMMA chair

Dear Colleagues in Mission,

The "mini-consultation" emerged in recent years as one of the principal means by which a few General Board of Global Ministries staff and GBGM Board of Director representatives have met with United Methodist Missionary Association (UMMA - and other mission association) leaders to consider issues of common concern. Mini-consultations replaced the wider consultations of the GBGM staff/board members with the missionary community members on furlough or resident in the U.S. While inadequate for dealing with in-depth issues which still linger, mini-consultations have kept dialogue alive between the principal parties. We feel an urgent need to intensify that dialogue, beginning with what is possible at the moment - a mini-consultation in conjunction with the fall GBGM Board Meeting and Annual UMMA Gathering.

We are inviting you to participate in this dialogue on Sunday, October 11, from 2:00-6:00 pm at the Stamford Marriott Hotel in Stamford CT. The central outcome of the consultation would be a prelude to a comprehensive review of the "Status and Future of Missionary Service within the United Methodist Church." With the significant restructuring of Global Ministries, it seems most appropriate to examine how GBGM is now recruiting, preparing, supporting and sustaining its missionary community, and how that might need to change in the immediate future.

I venture to say that it is a commonly-held belief among missionaries that GBGM has so far missed the opportunity to utilize fully the missionary community as a vital resource for mission program and policy development and for mission promotion and advocacy within annual conferences and local churches. We believe that this should change.

We invite you to begin this in-depth conversation with the missionary community on what changes are needed for us to live into the future of re-newed faithful mission witness and service through Global Ministries.

We have particularly invited you because we believe that you have unique contributions to offer. We welcome your response and any suggestions for modifications to the proposed agenda. Please let Lyda Pierce () know you are coming to join us on October 11, 2009 in Stamford, CT. Lyda needs to know the following:

roommate choice (or that you accept my random selection of a roommate)
if there are any special situations like: you will not be staying overnight, you will be there Sunday and Monday only, you want a single room, or anything else unusual.
Please reply by Sept 16 at the latest [or beg to squeeze you in a room! -rls].

In the Spirit of Christ, Jim Gulley (), on behalf of UMMA Leadership, +970.668.2159

Draft AGENDA for GBGM-UMMA "Mini-Consultation", 11 October 2009 - 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.*

Greetings and Welcome (30 minutes, 2:00 - 2:30 p.m.)

Welcome to all members of UMMA, all GBGM Directors, all Staff and all guests; introductions
Acknowledgment of Women's Division Directors' Meeting earlier in this place.
Opening devotions; prayers for the agency, directors, staff, missionaries and mission partners around the world. (James Dwyer)

Issues confronted in the past year, as seen from UMMA's perspective (40 minuntes, 2:30 — 3:10 p.m.)

Report of the chair, Jim Gulley
Report of the Missionary-in-Residence, Helen Dwyer

- BREAK -

Future planning and hopes (3:25 - 4:55 p.m.)

Reports from UMMA Representatives to GBGM Board of Directors Task Forces: Joyce Hill, Lyda Pierce and Norma Kehrberg (5 min. each = 15 minutes)
Forum "Rethinking Mission - Edinburgh 2010" (working title) (Norma Kehrberg, retired missionary and former GBGM DGS, and Prof. Philip Wingeier-Rayo, Professor at Pfeiffer University) (40 minutes)
Assisting GBGM to rethink categories and benefits of missionary service in the light of the changing needs of the Twenty-First Century - achieving a dialogue (James Dwyer, James L Gulley and others) (35)

Input from Staff and Directors and general discussion (45 minutes, 4:55 to 5:40 p.m.) (see above)

Time of Shared Prayers and Sending Forth (5:40 - 6:00 p.m.)

Dinner together (6:00-7:30 p.m.)

*UMMA Annual Gathering will continue Sunday evening or Monday morning

2. PC(USA) Plan to Increase Number of Mission Co-workers by Patrick Cole

09/10/09 LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is on track to reverse the 50-year long downward trend in the number of mission co-workers serving internationally, according to Hunter Farrell, director of Presbyterian World Mission.

"We expect to end the year with more than 200 mission co-workers, which is an increase over the previous year," Farrell said. "We are excited that we are still able to fulfill the commitment to increase the number of mission co-workers our church sends out into the world even in the face of increased costs. We are thankful that God continues to call people to serve cross culturally in mission and that Presbyterians continue to support mission personnel through their prayers and financial gifts."

The recent economic downturn and the shrinking value of the U.S. dollar overseas are among the challenges to reversing the trend of decline in mission-sending, Farrell said. "The shrinking value of the U.S. dollar has increased our costs by an average of 20 percent."

Another challenge, he said, has been greater than normal attrition due to family issues or other concerns. "When we replace an existing mission worker with a new one, we encounter additional costs for training, moving and household setup expenses," Farrell said. "The first year of mission service is the most expensive year for us."

The General Assembly Mission Council's Executive Committee reaffirmed the Council's commitment to increase the number of international mission personnel, but at its meeting in July instructed the staff to tie the increase to available funds. The Council has maintained its budget of $10.26 million for mission sending in 2009.

Twenty eight new co-workers have been appointed in 2009 to fill requests from partners in 18 of the approximately 60 countries where PC(USA) mission personnel serve. Meanwhile, 23 mission co-workers retired or left mission service for family or other reasons in 2009.

"The Council remains steadfast in its commitment to increase the number of mission co-workers," said Linda Bryant Valentine, the GAMC's executive director. Valentine expressed gratitude for the congregations and individuals who provide prayer and financial support for mission personnel. She said that additional contributions would enable the church to recruit and send more mission personnel. "In a very real sense," Valentine noted, "the more Presbyterians give, the more mission workers we will be able to send. Our mission personnel serve faithfully and effectively on behalf of the whole church. We need the support of the whole church to continue this long-sought growth."

Meanwhile, World Mission anticipates increasing the number of mission workers again in 2010, Farrell said. "I am optimistic that faithful and generous Presbyterians will help us make this happen," he said.

What can we learn from the Presbyterian's mission organization? - ed

3. Rethink Mission: Reflection and Action From Edinburgh 1910 - 2010 Mission Engagement Past, Present and Future
Plan to attend: October 15-17, 2010, Scarritt Bennett Center 1008 19th Avenue S., Nashville, TN 37212, USA

This self-funded Conference is organized by a coalition of missionaries and mission related personnel, primarily United Methodists with a passion for God's mission. The planning committee consists of leaders of the missionary organizations, professors of mission and representatives of mission boards and Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, Tennessee, the historic site for training missionaries and Christian education workers. The program design will include scope for interdenominational and ecumenical discussions drawing on the rich resources of the Edinburgh 2010 missionary conference. Participants of the official Edinburgh 2010 conference will lead off the sessions and selected study themes will be highlighted during the three day together. Time will be included for designing action plans to see ways to engage the churches anew. All are welcome in the Rethinking Mission: Reflection and Action Conference.

Goals:

Share insights from 100 years of mission history
Understand the context of mission today
Identify possibilities for mission engagement for 21st Century
Develop a course of action to re-engage the church in mission

Keynote speaker: Dr. Dana Robert, Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission at Boston University

For information: (Coordinator)

For registration: (Registrar)

4. Our Readers Write with Visions and Steps Forward

Running with a Vision, excerpts from the first report by Bishop Rodolfo Alfonso Juan

I remember "hitting the road hard and running" as I started my episcopal journey, with great visions particularly for the Baguio Episcopal Area, and for the Philippine United Methodist Church as a whole. We know the power of Vision from God! It provides a sense of direction. With it, we are empowered to "see great things before others do...and see the future with clarity!"

The prophet Isaiah's vision at the temple was clear (chapter 6). It was a three-dimensional vision of a holy God, his sinful self, and a vast mission field. Another vision in Isaiah 23:18-19 provided for me a "guideline" on how to begin my servant leadership in my area of responsibility. "...Do not dwell on the past."

The other reminder on how to start right is to claim a future with hope! In Isaiah's vision, there is a promise that God will do new things, and do something great. He will "make a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland!" I want to begin in the same fashion. Let us all claim that great future!" Our motto is: "Every Methodist counts!" in our Baguio Episcopal Area with: 22 Districts in 8 Annual Conference; 729 organized local churches; 1,318 Church workers; 1,557 certified lay speakers; 167,223 members; 5 theological schools; 6 colleges, 34 high schools, and 180 kindergarten schools.

(Extracted from Philippine Methodism)

May God give the wisdom and strength to carry out God's Vision for Bishop "Rudy" Juan as he guides the Baguio Episcopal Area and may that extend to the other two episcopal areas in the Philippines and to our GBGM and UMMA. Inspiring episcopal addresses by Bishop Lito Tangonan and Bishop Leo Soriano are found on the same website. We can learn much from them. - ed

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Dear All, For those who have been trying to get a copy of my PowerPoint presented last summer, please downloaded it here. This slide show is excellent. - ed.

This e-mail will also serve to notify everyone that we have repaired our satellite connection. If you have been trying to contact me without success, please try again. Please be sure if you send me "snail mail" or packages that you include an e-mail address so that I can thank you promptly - remember we are only 500 Km. (300 miles.) from our nearest post office. - Rev. Paul L. Webster, Mujila Falls Agriculture Centre, Mwinilunga, NW Province, Zambia

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"Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart...Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light."
- Ancient Irish hymn, Byrne/Hull

"One step forward in obedience [to His Vision] is worth years of studying."
- Oswald Chambers

5. Missionary Milestones

Ronald Garst passed on to the Lord August 15, 2009. He served 28-plus years in Bangladesh and India along with his wife, Maria, who passed away on May 25, 2009. Both were UMMA members.

Porcina Lopes Dos Santos Mendes passed on to Glory on August 20, 2009. She served 27-plus years in Mozambique.

"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.
Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."
- White Elk (American Indian)

9. Missionary Reunions

September 25-28, 2009 Nigeria Missionary Reunion, UMC Canyon Camp, west of Oklahoma City. Contact: Delphine Jewell (), 14901 N. Penn Avenue, Apt. 379, Oklahoma City, OK 7313, 405.753.9035.

October 2-4, 2009 India Missionary Reunion, Lake Junaluska. Contact: Mark Garrison (), 651.460.2208.

October 20-23, 2009 Brazilian Missionary Reunion, Lake Junaluska. Contact: Jane Spencer ().

10. Treasurer's Tips by Richard Vreeland

Happy "Colorful Autumn!" 2009 is three-quarters passed and many have not as yet paid their dues for this year. Please review your check register to see if you have paid. If not, please complete the membership form and send it to me along with your check.

If you have any question as to the status of your account, please contact me ().

Your e-mail address is especially important as it provides the fastest and least expensive way of acknowledging your check. Thanks for your promptness.

We welcome your comments: