Southwest Texas giving for tsunami nears $500,000
Gifts from Southwest Texas UMs to South Asian tsunami relief topped $495,000 last week with funds still coming in.
Of the total, $13,493 was contributed during December. The rest has come during 2005.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez asked all Southwest Texas congregations Jan. 5 to collect a special offering during January for tsunami recovery. That money would go to the UM Committee on Relief.
Permanent administrator named for Mount Wesley
Mount Wesley Conference Center, Kerrville, now has a permanent administrator.
Patti Zaiontz, interim administrator since Aug. 2, was named to the post permanently Feb. 15. The Southwest Texas Conference Board of Trustees made the decision in consultation with the Rev. Austin Frederick Jr., assistant to the Episcopal office.
Zaiontz, a member of St. John’s UMC, San Antonio, has been running day-to-day operations of the 68-acre facility since Judy Eychner resigned as director July 23.
Zaiontz, who has extensive experience in property management, was Frederick’s assistant before going to Mount Wesley. From 1998 to 2000 she directed Mount Wesley’s Stepping Out in Faith capital fund-raising campaign.
Kid’s Ash Wednesday rite draws 90 to Seguin church
More than 90 people—both youngsters and adults—attended the Children’s Ash Wednesday service Feb. 9 at First UMC, Seguin.
Members of the Kid’s Kouncil led the service by using puppets and telling stories. Candace Wilson, Christian education director, wrote the script.
The children’s service immediately preceded Seguin’s annual joint UM Ash Wednesday service. It brings together members of First, Wesley Harper and La Trinidad UMCs.
University Senate approves Austin Seminary for UMs
The UM University Senate has approved Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary for training UM candidates for ordained ministry for another four years.
The quadrennial review of the Austin school’s standing was completed in the fall.
“We are especially pleased that The United Methodist Church understands the ethos of Austin Seminary is proactively inclusive and that it recognizes the distinctive gifts of The United Methodist Church,” said the Rev. Michael Jinkins, academic dean and professor of pastoral theology.
Nearly 20 percent of Austin Seminary students are UMs.
Healthcare Ministries moves into new home
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas moved into its new San Antonio home Feb. 7.
The new 30,000-square-foot facility is at 4507 Medical Drive. That’s at the corner of Floyd Curl Road and Medical Drive in the South Texas Medical Center in northwest San Antonio. The site is where the organization’s former one-story headquarters once stood.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ offices had been temporarily located at 8200 Interstate 10 West while the new building was going up.
Formed in 1995, Methodist Healthcare Ministries is the church-related partner with Hospital Corporation of America that owns Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio. Methodist Healthcare Ministries uses profits from the 15-hospital system to fund healthcare initiatives for underserved residents of 72 South Texas counties.
Poet to address program for laypeople at SMU, Dallas
Poet Kathleen Norris is to deliver the keynote lecture for Perkins Theological School for the Laity March 3-5 at Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
Ten workshops are offered in two formats: a day-and-a-half program Thursday afternoon and Friday and daylong sessions Saturday.
Fees range from $75 for the Saturday program to $175 for the complete event. For information check www.theology.smu.edu or call (888) 843-6564.
‘Serengeti’ VBS training slated at Boerne church
First UMC, Boerne, is playing host to a Vacation Bible School curriculum training event March 12 for “Serengeti.”
Group Publishing is sponsoring the event from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants are to receive hands-on training from a Group curriculum specialist and a training DVD.
Registration fee is $20 for the first person from each congregation and $10 for each additional participant. To register, go to www.groupvbs.com/2005/serengeti/parties.
Relief agency aids families in Africa, Asia after tsunami
NEW YORK—Some 1,500 families in Somalia and 20 Burmese migrant communities in Thailand affected by the Dec. 26 tsunami are to receive aid through the UM Committee on Relief.
Emergency food, plastic sheeting, nets, rope and hooks are to assist in restoring the fishing economy along the coast of Somalia.
Another UM grant is to help aid workers rebuild schools and childcare centers for 170 Burmese children living with their families in Thailand.
UM relief committee opens mission in Darfur region
NEW YORK—The UM Committee on Relief is providing direct relief and rehabilitation in the embattled Darfur region of Sudan.
Opened in early February, the mission is staffed by three people, and priorities include emergency aid and development services in water, sanitation and agriculture.
The agency has identified a need for a humanitarian mission that will restore farmland and provide seeds, tools and technical training. Emergency supplies, such as soap, buckets, cooking utensils and plastic sheeting will also be supplied to refugee camps.
Donations, earmarked for UMCOR Advance No. 184385, “Sudan Emergency,” can be dropped into church collection plates.
Former bishop from Finland to lead UM area in Russia
MOSCOW—The Northern Europe Central Conference elected a former bishop from Helsinki, Finland, Feb. 11 to lead the Eurasia Episcopal Area in Russia.
The Rev. Hans Vaxby, bishop for the Nordic and Baltic regions of the Northern Europe conference for 12 years until his last term expired in 2001, is to succeed Bishop Ruediger Minor. He is retiring after serving the church’s Russia mission since 1992.
Vaxby was consecrated Feb. 12. Since 2001 Vaxby has been a pastor in Helsinki.
Africa University professor elected bishop for Congo
MUTARE, Zimbabwe—An Africa University theology professor was elected bishop of the Central Congo Area Feb. 12.
The Rev. David Kekumba Yemba is to succeed Bishop Fama Onema, who served the area for more than 30 years.
The Feb. 12 election, part of the Africa Central Conference, took place in Kamina in Katanga Province. Yemba was elected on the third ballot in a field of 11 candidates and consecrated Feb. 13.
1st woman bishop picked to lead UMs in Germany
BERLIN—German UMs elected the denom-ination’s first woman bishop in Europe Feb. 16.
The Rev. Rosemarie Wenner, 49, is to succeed Bishop Walter Klaiber April 1 as leader of the 65,000-member German Central Conference. Klaiber is retiring after almost 16 years in office.
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