News Briefs
Agency to mark 50 years of women in UM ministry
Monthalia UMC seeking data on former members
La Vernia UMC presents Easter musical next week
Musical group to present concert in San Antonio
April 8 health fair planned at church in San Antonio
Jurisdictional event to hear youth ministry research
Racism still plagues UMC, retired bishop says Feb. 24
Bulverde UMC gets grant for electronic advertising
Susay Hay, director of youth ministries at the General Board of Global
Austin event to mark C.S. Lewis’ conversion
Relief committee responds to tornadoes in Midwest
UMs help wildfire victims in Oklahoma, West Texas
Students from UM school charged in church fires
General Conference logo keys on theme of hope
Schools group responds to Judicial Council ruling
Correction
Agency to mark 50 years of women in UM ministry
The Commission on the Status and Role of Women plans two projects to mark the 50th anniversary this year of full clergy rights for women.
The agency has commissioned a video production about Southwest Texas women in ministry. The production is to be shown during the June 7-10 annual conference session in Corpus Christi.
The Rev. Ann Fields, vice president for student affairs at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, is preparing a history booklet. It is to contain stories of women’s ministry in Southwest Texas.
The clergywomen’s choir is to sing during a worship service at the Corpus Christi meeting.
Laity and clergy members of the annual conference session are to receive ribbons commemorating the 50th anniversary. National theme for the celebration is “Courageous Past—Bold Future.”
Monthalia UMC seeking data on former members
Monthalia UMC is looking for names and addresses of former members.
The 122-member congregation plans to celebrate 120 years of ministry and German heritage in Gonzales County Nov. 12. Celebration organizers want to invite all families with roots in the congregation.
Send information to Ruby Gandre, 816 Seyler St., Gonzales 78629.
La Vernia UMC presents Easter musical next week
Crossfire Student Ministries at La Vernia UMC is presenting a free Christian musical drama next week for Easter.
Performances of “Resurrection Song” by Elton Smith are scheduled March 30 through April 1 at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
“We are so pleased to be able to offer this musical free to the public,” said director George Villegas. “The church is investing considerable time and funds into this production, which we are so blessed to share.”
The show includes original music and tells the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Musical group to present concert in San Antonio
Re-Creation, a Pennsylvania-based musical group, is to perform a one-hour concert April 1 in San Antonio.
St. John’s UMC is playing host to the 4 p.m. event. The concert is called “Joy.”
The performance is designed as a worship experience. It includes traditional and contemporary hymns, children’s songs, dramatic works, original music and a singalong.
Admission is free. A freewill offering will be collected for group members, who are all volunteers.
April 8 health fair planned at church in San Antonio
Laurel Heights UMC, San Antonio, is planning an April 8 health fair.
The 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. program is to include free screenings for glaucoma, blood pressure and diabetes. Corazon a Corazon is to demonstrate healthy cooking practices.
Police officers are to demonstrate self-defense techniques.
Racism still plagues UMC, retired bishop says Feb. 24
Black UMs must continue to work against racism in the church and nation.
Retired Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, executive director of Black Methodists for Church Renewal, delivered that message last month in San Antonio.
Black Methodists need to get the next generation to “take up the torch and continue our work” for equality in the church and society, Talbert said.
Talbert, a founding member of the renewal group in 1968, spoke Feb. 24 at St. Paul UMC, San Antonio.
Bulverde UMC gets grant for electronic advertising
Bulverde UMC has received a $13,000 matching grant from UM Communications to launch a local ad campaign.
The 1,121-member congregation is to use an electronic sign along U.S. 281 north of San Antonio to display messages about events and programs. More than 31,000 people pass the sign each day.
The grant was one of 60 awarded by the communications agency in Nashville, Tenn. The money comes from the denomination-wide Igniting Ministry hospitality campaign.
Jurisdictional event to hear youth ministry research
Southwest Texas leaders can hear the results of a nationwide study on youth ministry next month in Arkansas.
Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center, Fayetteville, Ark., is playing host to the April 27-29 South Central Jurisdiction event.
Called “The Spirit of Youth Ministry: Exemplary Youth Ministry,” the gathering is to focus on findings from a three-year multi-denominational study funded by the Lilly Endowment.
Susay Hay, director of youth ministries at the General Board of Global Ministries in Nashville, Tenn., is to discuss the study. It is called ”Congregations with Youth of Vital Faith.”
“This is truly a benchmark research study and one that can have far-reaching implications,” said Rod Hocott, Arkansas Conference director of youth ministries.
For information contact Hocott at toll free (877) 646-1816 or rhocott@arumc.org.
Austin event to mark C.S. Lewis’ conversion
Church members can celebrate the 75th anniversary of C.S. Lewis’ conversion to Christianity next month in Austin.
St. Edward’s University is playing host to the Third Austin C.S. Lewis Conference April 29. The Hill Country Institute for Contemporary Christianity is sponsoring the event. Theme is “Goodness, Truth and Beauty: Apologetics and the Winsome Christ.”
Lewis scholars are to make presentations throughout the day. Performers are to dramatize works by Lewis, one of the 20th century’s leading Christian apologists.
Registration fee is $75 per person before April 25. Check www.hillcountryinstitute.org.
Relief committee responds to tornadoes in Midwest
NEW YORK—The UM Committee on Relief is supporting Midwestern annual conferences affected by tornadoes March 12. Some 100 twisters caused damage across five states.
The committee is offering assistance and emergency funding to affected conferences.
Donations to UM relief efforts can be marked for “UMCOR Advance No. 901670, Domestic Disaster Response,” and placed into church offering plates.
UMs help wildfire victims in Oklahoma, West Texas
DUNCAN, Okla.—UMs are aiding efforts to assess damage and help victims of March wildfires in Oklahoma and West Texas.
Multiple blazes March 1 and 2 destroyed 35 houses, 18 mobile homes, four public structures and several thousand acres of pastureland across Stephens County, Okla. UM volunteers helped staff a Red Cross shelter/service center in south Duncan and set up a relief fund at a local bank.
Wildfires roared across the Texas Panhandle last week. Other fires were reported near San Angelo and San Antonio. UMs were determining how to help victims recover.
Students from UM school charged in church fires
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Two students at a UM college have been arrested for arson in the early February fires at nine Alabama churches.
Arrested were sophomores Russell DeBusk Jr. and Ben Moseley, both 19, of UM-related Birmingham-Southern College, along with junior Matt Cloyd, 20, a former Birmingham-Southern student who transferred to the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
After the arrests, Birmingham-Southern President David Pollick vowed March 8 that the school would help the churches rebuild.
General Conference logo keys on theme of hope
FORT WORTH—UMs attending their top legislative assembly in 2008 are to meet, symbolically, under a tall green tree representing “A Future with Hope.”
The tree and theme of hope are key elements of the logo for the next General Conference, which runs April 23-May 2, 2008, in Fort Worth.
The Commission on General Conference chose the logo through a competition that drew 35 entries. Winning designer was Polly Shafer of Pine Bluff, Ark.
Schools group responds to Judicial Council ruling
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The National Association of Schools and Colleges of the UMC expressed “deep concern” March 11 “for the pain and alienation” caused by a recent Judicial Council decision.
The association’s resolution came in response to Decision 1032. That ruling upheld the Rev. Ed Johnson’s denial of church membership to a gay man at South Hill (Va.) UMC.
Correction
The March 10 Witness reported the wrong date for the sixth annual fish fry at Lakehills UMC (“Lakehills UMs make plans for annual fish fry March 26,” Page 1).
The correct day is Saturday (March 25).
Food is to be served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lakehills Civic Center on Park Road 37.
Money raised by the annual event supports communitywide outreach ministries.
