News in brief

Service today remembers life of Charles L. Giesler
Special Sunday offering supports Native Americans
Registration deadline nears for UM Men spring event
‘Common Ground’ event eyes conflict transformation
Samuel Kendrick dies March 12 in California
Investment group marks 25th anniversary April 18
Board seeks nominations for educator of year award
Online workshop explores mysterious church books
CORRECTION

Service today remembers life of Charles L. Giesler
A memorial service for the Rev. Charles L. Giesler is scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Alamo Heights UMC, San Antonio.
The retired Southwest Texas Conference clergy member died March 25. He was 79.
Giesler began his ministry in 1946 in the Missouri East Conference. He transferred to the Southwest Texas Conference in 1952 to be associate pastor of Travis Park UMC, San Antonio. He later served as pastor of congregations in Austin, Bishop, Corpus Christi, Edcouch, Fredericksburg, Harlingen, Lyford, McAllen and San Antonio.
Giesler was superintendent of the San Angelo District from 1974 to 1981 and of the San Antonio District from 1984 to 1990, when he retired.

Special Sunday offering supports Native Americans
Southwest Texans can join UMs around the globe April 22 in supporting outreach to Native Americans.
The Native American Ministries Sunday offering is one of six denominationwide special appeals on the UMC calendar each year.
Money from the offering supports mission work with Native Americans and scholarships for Native American seminarians.

Registration deadline nears for UM Men spring event
April 23 is the registration deadline for Men’s Adventure 2007 April 27-29 in Kerrville.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez is to kick off the annual UM Men spring retreat April 27 at 7 p.m. at Mount Wesley Conference Center.
The Rev. Harry G. Kahl, pastor of La Vernia UMC, is leading a prayer study based on James April 28.
Kenny Taylor, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, is to tell about the Amachi Program April 28. Other speakers are to discuss Society of St. Andrew feeding programs and UM Committee on Relief disaster response teams.
The Rev. David Edgar, San Angelo District superintendent, is to lead April 29 worship.
Registration forms and information are available at www.gbgm-umc.org/austinumm.

Samuel Kendrick dies March 12 in California
A former pastor of Muldoon and Winchester UMCs died March 12 in San Diego.
Samuel Kendrick, a retired licensed local pastor, was 87. He began his ministry at the two Austin District congregations in 1987. He retired in 2003.

‘Common Ground’ event eyes conflict transformation
Southwest Texas UMs can learn conflict transformation techniques April 20 and 21 in San Antonio.
The Board of Church and Society is sponsoring “Finding Common Ground: A Summit on Conflict Transformation” at Coker UMC, San Antonio.
Professor Ron Kraybill of Eastern Mennonite University is to lead the session. He’s a board member of JustPeace, a UM mission to teach church members to engage conflict constructively.
Registration fee is $10 per person and can be paid at the door. For information contact Jane McFarland at janemc@austin.rr.com.

Investment group marks 25th anniversary April 18
San Antonio’s Socially Responsible Investment Coalition is to mark its 25th anniversary with an April 18 banquet.
Timothy Smith, vice president of a Boston investment firm and former executive director of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, is to deliver the keynote address for the 6 p.m. banquet. It is to be at the Crown Plaza San Antonio Airport Hotel.
For information contact Sister Susan Mika at (210) 344-6778 or info@sric-south.org.

Board seeks nominations for educator of year award
The Board of Church and Society is accepting nominations through April 30 for its Educator of the Year Award.
The award recognizes public school teachers who have done exceptional work with at-risk students.
Nomination forms and award criteria are available at www.umcswtx.org.

Online workshop explores mysterious church books
Southwest Texas UMs can explore “The Mysterious Documents of Methodism” in an online workshop April 30 through May 19.
The Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship at UM-related Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., is offering the training. It looks at the use and purpose of annual conference journals, The Book of Discipline and The Book of Resolutions. Students are to learn what information is in each book and how to use it in their local churches.
Registration fee is $100. For information contact Lisa Buffum at beadisciple@sckans.edu.

CORRECTION
Information with a picture of Wesley Nurses on Page 8 of the March 23 issue incorrectly identified the people shown. They were (from left) Nancy Fox, Angela Gonzalez, Denise Gates, Ginger Spruiell and Cindy Wiley. They were attending the 9th Annual Health Ministry Symposium in San Antonio. The event was sponsored by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas.