News Briefs

State still hasn’t identified cause of June illnesses
Program to offer assistance facing ‘dark night of soul’
Schertz UMC plays host to Sept. 10 youth workshop
San Antonio church to mark 80th anniversary Sept. 10-11
Charges to increase Jan. 1 for background checks
Study of Witness readers wins top research honor
Lutherans OK agreement with UMC on communion
African UM communicators form regional association
Florida pastor suspended after child-porn allegations
Pact resolves complaint against Kentucky pastor

State still hasn’t identified cause of June illnesses
A fairly common organism is thought to have caused more than 300 UMs to get sick in Corpus Christi in June. But state health officials still haven’t identified a specific source.
That was the word Aug. 3 from Doug McBride, public information officer for the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Analysis continues of information collected from participants in the June 1-4 annual conference session.
Meeting participants began reporting getting sick June 1. Common symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea. At least 313 people were stricken.

Program to offer assistance facing ‘dark night of soul’
Church members can learn how to better navigate trying spiritual times at a Sept. 8 workshop in San Antonio.
The Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health and Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas are presenting the 6 to 9 p.m. session at the Ecumenical Center.
The program is called “Navigating the Dark Night of the Soul: Spiritual Wisdom and Practical Insights for the Journey.” The Rev. Mark S. Jones, author of Dazzling and Divine: A Contemplative Journey in Christ, is to lead the session.

Schertz UMC plays host to Sept. 10 youth workshop
Schertz UMC is playing host to a nationally sponsored workshop on youth ministry Sept. 10.
Group Publishing’s Church Volunteer Center is presenting the 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. session, titled “Multiply Your Ministry: Moving from Sitting to Serving.” Training is to focus on building a culture where teens “get” to serve rather than “have” to serve.
Registration fee starts at $79 per person. Groups and members of Church Volunteer Central can get discounts. Fee includes lunch, course materials and a one-year subscription to Rev Magazine.
For information call (800) 888-5991, or check www.group.com/cvclive.

San Antonio church to mark 80th anniversary Sept. 10-11
A gospel music program and two special worship services are to mark the 80th anniversary of East St. Paul UMC, San Antonio, next month.
The 50-voice Men’s Chorus from Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, Dallas, and soloist Lisa Alexander of Austin are to perform at 6 p.m. Sept. 10.
The Rev. Sylvester Chase, pastor of Wesley UMC, Austin, is to be guest preacher for a special 10 a.m. worship service Sept. 11.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez is to speak at a 4 p.m. service. San Antonio City Councilwoman Sheila McNeil is to be guest soloist.

Charges to increase Jan. 1 for background checks
The cost of criminal background checks is to increase from $8 to $12 per person Jan. 1.
The service provider used by the Southwest Texas Conference has expanded its database to include criminal histories and sexual offenses for the entire nation, said the Rev. Austin Frederick Jr., assistant to the Episcopal office. The conference has been absorbing the additional costs since February.
“We will continue the practice of not charging first-time requests for background checks on church staff and not running credit checks on lay members of the annual conference,” Frederick said. “The clergy members of the conference will continue to have background checks requested through the Board of Ordained Ministry.”
Background checks “provide a process by which local churches and other conference-related ministries can make informed decisions about those persons who seek to be in relationship with us.”

Study of Witness readers wins top research honor
An international group of communication scholars cited a study of UM Witness readers as a top research paper this month.
The Religion and Media Interest Group of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication recognized the research during an Aug. 9-13 meeting in San Antonio.
Titled “Church Newspaper Readership and Faith Community Integration,” the paper was written by Douglas Cannon, Southwest Texas Conference communications and public witness director.
The project, done in November and December 2004, combined qualitative and quantitative research techniques. They found that faith community involvement was too complicated for a long-used community-integration hypothesis to explain.
People could be active in church life without needing information about how the overall faith community functions, the study concluded. The community-integration hypothesis about how people use newspapers didn’t predict that.

Lutherans OK agreement with UMC on communion
ORLANDO, Fla.—Representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approved an “interim Eucharistic sharing” agreement with The United Methodist Church Aug. 11.
The 877-60 vote came during the ELCA’s 2005 Churchwide Assembly.
Terms of the UMC-ELCA agreement encourage joint services of Holy Communion and foster “mutual prayer and mutual support, study together … and joint programs of theological discussion, evangelical outreach and social ministry endeavors.”
UM bishops approved an interim Eucharistic sharing agreement with the ELCA May 5. A similar agreement was approved with the Episcopal Church.

African UM communicators form regional association
MUTARE, Zimbabwe—Thirteen UM communicators from nine African countries established a new association last month.
The UM Association of Communicators—African Region was formed at the end of a July 20-21 communications consultation at Africa University sponsored by the General Commission on Communication.

Florida pastor suspended after child-porn allegations
LAKELAND, Fla.—A Jacksonville pastor was suspended from duties at Fort Caroline UMC in response to allegations that he used a computer at the church to access Web sites featuring child pornography.
The Rev. Eric Young was arrested July 8 on a state felony charge of possessing child pornography.
Following a supervisory hearing with Young, Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker recommended to the Florida Conference Executive Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry that Young be suspended. The board voted unanimously July 15 to affirm that recommendation.
Young is to continue receiving his salary but will not carry out any pastoral duties at the church.

Pact resolves complaint against Kentucky pastor
WILMORE, Ky.—A noted author, seminary professor and preacher from Wilmore has publicly apologized and accepted responsibility for “a breach of trust and moral failure” involving sexual misconduct with a woman over several years.
The Rev. David A. Seamands read a statement to the congregation of Wilmore UMC July 31. He served as pastor there from 1962 to 1984 and is professor emeritus at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore.
His statement was the result of the supervisory response within the UMC. As part of an agreement, he is to refrain from all ministerial functions and undergo a time of “penitential” prayer and discernment to further healing of all involved in the situation.