News Briefs

Hospital system to build Boerne emergency room
Aug. 4 session to help UMs learn publicity techniques
San Antonio church slates concert by ‘Gospel Divas’
Portland church schedules dance to mark 80th birthday
Application deadline nears for communication grant
Justo Gonzalez to lead retreat for local pastors
Online resources available for August storm offering
World Methodists gather at time of global tensions
World Methodists approve further ecumenical talks
UM church marks birthday, then closes doors forever
Bracelets support rebuilding of facilities along Gulf Coast

Hospital system to build Boerne emergency room
Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio plans to open an emergency department next year in Boerne.
The $13.6 million emergency facility is scheduled to begin operation in December 2007, hospital system officials announced July 11. The emergency department is the second phase of the UM-related hospital system’s first venture outside Bexar County.
Methodist Healthcare System broke ground Jan. 10 for Phase 1, an $11 million Boerne Methodist Medical Center. The new 20,600-square-foot emergency structure is to be adjacent to the medical office building now going up along Interstate 10 at Menger Creek. The Phase 1 office building is to open in December.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries, a Southwest Texas Conference affiliate, jointly owns the San Antonio hospital system with Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America.


Aug. 4 session to help UMs learn publicity techniques
Southwest Texas UMs can learn Aug. 4 in Austin how to promote legislative causes through mass media.
Texas Impact, an interfaith legislative advocacy group supported by the Board of Church and Society, is offering the training session on being “Media Savvy.” It is scheduled from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the Capitol Extension.
The Aug. 4 gathering is the third in Impact’s four-session “Advocacy Summer Camp.” The final event, called “Backstage at the Capitol,” is set for Aug. 18.
For more information check www. texasimpact.com.


San Antonio church slates concert by ‘Gospel Divas’
The Evangelism Committee of East St. Paul UMC, San Antonio, is sponsoring the 4th annual Gospel Extravaganza Aug. 5 at Carver Community Center.
“The Gospel Divas”—Sheila McNeil, Connie Jackson, Lisa Alexander-Jenkins, Krystle Walker and “Shouting” Sister Gail—are headlining the 7 p.m. concert. Their program is called “Women of Faith: Praising God through Song!”
A 50-voice all-women ecumenical choir is also to sing.
Tickets are going for a $5 donation at the church or at the door. For more information call (210) 225-8880.


Portland church schedules dance to mark 80th birthday
Members of First UMC, Portland, are to celebrate their congregation’s 80th birthday Aug. 18 with a dance at Gregory-Portland High School.
Eric Logan of eMotion Entertainment is to provide dance music for the 6 to 9 p.m. event in the school cafeteria. The school is next to the church.
Planners are inviting former pastors as well as collecting photos and mementos for displays. Visitors can share finger food, birthday cake and drinks.
For information contact Carol Ann Weston at (361) 777-2000.


Application deadline nears for communication grant
Aug. 15 is the application deadline for local church communicators seeking financial help to attend the UM Association of Communicators’ 2006 meeting in Indianapolis.
Employees or volunteers with responsibility for communication ministry in their congregations can apply for up to $1,000 to attend the Oct. 19-21 meeting. The gathering includes continuing education workshops.
For online application information check www.umcommunicators.org.


Justo Gonzalez to lead retreat for local pastors
Noted Latino theologian Justo Gonzalez has agreed to lead the Sept. 25-27 spiritual retreat in Kerrville for the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members.
The fellowship is opening the gathering at Mount Wesley Conference Center to all clergy and laity in Southwest Texas.
Gonzalez, who was featured preacher for the 2005 Southwest Texas Annual Conference session, has written more than 80 books on theology and spirituality. A former seminary professor and member of the UM University Senate, Gonzalez is a retired Rio Grande Conference pastor.
The $100 per person registration fee includes two nights at Mount Wesley and six meals. Registration deadline is Aug. 25.
For more information contact the Rev. John Quigley at (512) 752-3661.


Online resources available for August storm offering
Southwest Texas congregations can get information on line about the Aug. 27 special offering to help Gulf Coast churches.
A downloadable bulletin insert and other resources are available at www.umc.org/churchrecovery.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez called in June for Southwest Texas congregations to collect the special offering Aug. 27, the Sunday nearest the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in Louisiana.
The offering is part of the “Katrina Church Recovery Appeal” issued by the Council of Bishops (Bishops’ Appeal No. 818-001). Money from the offering is to help repair or replace more than 100 church facilities affected by the storm.

World Methodists gather at time of global tensions
SEOUL, South Korea—More than 2,500 World Methodist representatives acknowledged concerns about tensions on the Korean Peninsula and bombings in the Middle East last week.
They gathered in Seoul July 18-19 for the World Methodist Council meeting. That preceded the July 20-24 World Methodist Conference. The every-five-year conference drew representatives from Methodist Churches in 132 countries. Those churches count more than 70 million members.
“It is through the special providence of God that all Methodists from around the world are coming together in Seoul to pray for peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula in such a time of heightened tension, ” said Bishop Sunday C. Mbang of Nigeria, council chairman.


World Methodists approve further ecumenical talks
SEOUL, South Korea—World Methodists have approved a resolution authorizing further dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, with the stated aim of “full communion in faith, mission and sacramental life.”
The resolution was adopted when the World Methodist Council’s 500-member governing body met July 18-19 in Seoul.
Members also passed a resolution authorizing the association of the council and its member churches with the agreement on the Doctrine of Justification approved by the Lutheran World Foundation and the Roman Catholic Church in 1999.


UM church marks birthday, then closes doors forever
ROCHESTER, Texas—Members of First UMC celebrated their congregation’s 100th birthday July 9 and then closed the church doors forever.
The once-thriving Texas Panhandle congregation, which regularly packed the church, had dwindled to five regular worshipers—all older than 50. They are expected to join UM congregations in Haskell or Knox City.


Bracelets support rebuilding of facilities along Gulf Coast
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—“Rebuilding churches and communities” reads the inscription on bracelets from the Council of Bishops.
Money from purchases of the maroon wristbands will be used for the bishops’ Katrina Church Recovery Appeal. Congregations are encouraged to sell the bracelets as a local fundraiser.
“The Katrina Recovery bracelet is a way of demonstrating your commitment to this shared work,” said Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of Mississippi. “It will be a sign of the covenant we embrace to restore the community in the coast.”
Wristbands cost $2 each, with free shipping for orders of 50 or more. Order by calling toll free (888) 346-3862 or going to www.umc.org/churchrecovery.