Soldier from Rocksprings dies April 10 in Iraq at 25
A second funeral for a UM soldier killed in Iraq was April 18 at First UMC, Hondo. Burial followed in Hondo Cemetery.
Sgt. William “Cody” Eckhart, 25, a member of First UMC, Rocksprings, died April 10 when a rocket propelled grenade hit his vehicle. He was a cavalry scout with the 1st Infantry Division.
Another funeral was conducted April 17 at Rocksprings High School. More than 300 attended an April 12 candlelight prayer service for Eckhart outside the Edwards County Courthouse.
Eckhart grew up in the Rocksprings congregation, making his profession of faith May 19, 1991. His grandparents are members of the Hondo congregation.
Eckhart joined the U.S. Army after graduating from Rocksprings High School. He had previously served in Bosnia and Kosovo.
UT volunteers refurbish Austin’s Montopolis center
University of Texas students helped refurbish UM-related Montopolis Friendship Center in Austin April 17.
Volunteers worked from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. painting, cleaning and landscaping the 45-year-old facility.
The effort was the first in the UT system’s “United to Serve” community outreach program. All 15 institutions in the system are to recruit volunteers for community service.
SMU signs up students for San Antonio program
Southern Methodist University is signing up students for the fall term of its Perkins School of Theology extension program in San Antonio.
The program offers graduate courses in theology from August through May at University UMC, San Antonio. Classes meet Mondays from 5 to 8 p.m.
In addition, students attend spiritual formation on Thursdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and two Saturday sessions per semester.
Coursework can apply to master of divinity or master of church ministry degree programs.
For more information check:www.smu.edu/theology/academics/extension/san_main.html or call (888) 843-6564.
Storyteller to offer training Sunday at University UMC
A professional storyteller is offering a 90-minute workshop Sunday in San Antonio on making the Bible come alive.
Tim Lowry of Hanahan, S.C., is offering the training as part of his visit to University UMC, San Antonio. He is also scheduled to participate in worship services.
The 4 p.m. workshop is to cover three storytelling tools: visualization, characterization and animation.
Magazine carries article about San Antonio youth
The May-June issue of Interpreter magazine includes a story about a San Antonio UM youth leader.
Analisa Trejo, a member of La Trinidad UMC, San Antonio, is featured in the “At Your Service” section of the program magazine for UM leaders. She is youth chair of the UM Youth Organization.
The article is posted at www. interpretermagazine.org.
Volunteer group celebrates 35 years at Morningside
The Auxiliary of Morningside Manor celebrates 35 years of service this month.
The volunteer group assists residents of the UM-related Morningside Manor nursing community, runs the gift shop, provides visitation programs and helps with activities.
Since 1968 the auxiliary has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Morningside Manor for building improvement, resident needs and scholarships.
UM officials help delegates with problems getting visas
EVANSTON, Ill.— UM officials have expanded efforts to help international delegates gain entry into the United States for the April 27 to May 7 General Conference.
The Commission on General Conference reports that many delegates who previously were unable to schedule visa interviews now have interview appointments.
By early April, only five delegates from the Philippines and 10 of 12 delegates from Nigeria had been unsuccessful in scheduling appointments for visas or had been given appointment dates after General Conference concludes, the commission reported.
Efforts continue to move appointments to earlier times to enable delegates to obtain the necessary visas in time.
Restructure proposal aims to improve work of church
PITTSBURGH—The UMC’s top legislative assembly is to consider a proposal for reordering the denomination’s work.
A document called “Living Into the Future” proposes merging the work of the General Council on Ministries and the General Council on Finance and Administration into a “Connectional Table,” beginning Jan. 1, 2007.
Ten other agencies accountable to the General Council on Ministries would retain their freestanding boards but be accountable to and represented at the Connectional Table.
The table would have 131 to 134 members and include representatives from the church’s regional units around the world and the Council of Bishops.
Agency offers new plan to manage clergy pensions
EVANSTON, Ill.—Starting Jan. 1, 2007, UM clergy members could have their first new pension plan in 25 years.
The proposal to the General Conference comes from the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits. It describes the plan as aligning “the denomination with the best practices of major corporations” by combining the characteristics of a defined benefit and a defined contribution plan.
Conference to consider new mission strategies
NEW YORK—Special mission programs for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean are being proposed to delegates at the 2004 United Methodist General Conference.
A “Holistic Strategy on Africa” focuses on the needs of the church in sub-Saharan Africa.
The “Holistic Strategy on Latin America and the Caribbean” responds to the growing poverty in the Caribbean and Latin America, with women and children being the most affected.
1st UM missionary returns to Port-au-Prince April 12
NEW YORK—A UM missionary is back in Haiti to resume a ministry interrupted last February by political upheaval and civil war.
Charles Maddox of Louisville, Ky., arrived in Port-au-Prince April 12. His wife, Patty Maddox, is to join him in late April.
The couple works in Haiti with the Methodist Guest House, which serves as the local base for many of the dozens of UM Volunteer in Mission teams that visit the island nation each year. Teams were withdrawn and suspended when the fighting became intense.
State judge upholds rights of conference to property
FAIRBANKS, Alaska—A Superior Court judge has sided with the Alaska Missionary Conference in a property dispute with members of the former St. Paul UMC in Fairbanks.
In 2002, the Alaska Missionary Conference voted 61-1 to discontinue the church. Afterward, members of the former congregation denied the conference access to the church building.
The conference went to court to assert its right of ownership.
In an April 13 decision, Judge Richard D. Savell ruled, “the property belongs to the AMC (Alaska Missionary Conference)” and ordered that the conference’s board of trustees be listed as the legal, titled owner of the property.
Conference to join lawsuit against village in Illinois
CHICAGO—A federal judge has allowed the Northern Illinois Conference to join a $5 million lawsuit against Long Grove (Ill.).
The suit charges that the village “maliciously” worked to stop development of a church on property owned by Vision UMC.
U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Norgle granted the conference permission to intervene as a co-plaintiff in the church’s 4-year-old land-use battle against Long Grove.
Women named to lead UMR Communications
DALLAS—The daughter of a retired bishop has been named first woman chief executive of UMR Communications
Sarah Wilke, 41, director of urban strategies for the North Texas Conference, is to succeed the Rev. Ronald P. Patterson July 1 as head of the UM-related organization. It publishes The United Methodist Reporter.
Wilke is daughter of Bishop Richard Wilke.
Former champion gives $131,000 to UM school
MARSHALL, Texas—Two-time heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman isn’t a graduate of UM-related Wiley College.
But he expressed a feeling for the historically black institution during a March 20 founders’ day celebration. He gave $131,000 to the school. That’s $1,000 for each of the college’s years of existence.
Children’s choirs present show about David Sunday
The Carol and Chorister choirs of First UMC, Corpus Christi, are to present “The Rockslinger and His Greatest Hits” Sunday at 7 p.m.
“This is a delightful presentation by our children’s choirs of the story of David and how, through faith, he defeated the giant, Goliath,” said Brad Kisner, director of music and fine arts.
The free concert by the first through fifth grade singers is an offering in First UMC’s Christ in the Arts series. Jane Kisner, associate director of music and fine arts, is directing the musical.
Crucifixion explained
A representation of the crucifixion greets “Bad Friday” worshipers at First UMC, Nixon. The April 9 service, which included pastors of First Baptist Church and Iglesia Bautista Macedonia, was promoted with the invitation, “You saw the movie. Now hear what really happened to Jesus on the cross.” Readings told the medical story of what happens when a person is crucified. Some 40 people attended.
Oldest hold youngest
Harriet Swisher, 94, oldest member of Oak Meadow UMC, San Antonio, holds William Dobie, 5 months, the youngest, following Palm Sunday worship April 4. William, son of Lee and Heather Dobie, was baptized this month. Both the oldest and youngest church members attend worship regularly. The Rev. Larry Scharmann is pastor of the 103-member congregation.
Opportunities
First UMC, Austin, seeks a full-time director of children and family ministries. Target date for hiring June 15. Position is responsible for full range of children and family programs. Those include Sunday school for nursery through fifth grade, older children programming, Vacation Bible School, family retreats, mission opportunities, parenting classes and relations with weekday preschool. Strong communication skills and ability to work well with others essential. Bachelor’s degree with two-to-four years experience in teaching or administration required. For more information contact the Rev. Mimi Raper, (512) 478-5684 or mimi@ fumcaustin.org.
