Conference News & Views

Nov. 16, 2005
A UMNS Report By Linda Bloom*

In many local churches, mental illness remains an unknown and unaddressed social issue.
The Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder, a United Methodist pastor in San Diego, Calif., has firsthand knowledge of this problem. Diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, she is "doing very well" with medication and is coordinator of mental health ministries for the denomination's California-Pacific Annual (regional) Conference.

Gregg-Schroeder is featured in "Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness," which will begin airing Dec. 4 on ABC-TV affiliates. The one-hour documentary was produced by Mennonite Media and the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission, which includes United Methodist participation, for the National Council of Churches.

The program follows 10 individuals who have dealt with mental illness, and it offers expert analysis from mental health specialists, counselors and religious leaders.

"Faith communities have done a very good job of reaching out and providing help and care with addictions, for homelessness, AIDS, a lot of different things that our society is going through," Gregg-Schroeder says in the documentary. "Mental illness is also at the root of many of those things, but because of the fear, the stigma and the shame that is still often associated with mental illness, many of our faith communities avoid talking about it."

Yet, according to statistics, one in five people will suffer a major depressive episode during their life, usually before the age of 40. More than 2.3 million U.S. residents have a bipolar disorder, and 10 million have a depressive disorder.

Through Mental Health Ministries, Gregg-Schroeder has produced 10 "television-quality" VHS resources and two DVDs on mental health, all with study guides. She also has written a book, In the Shadow of God's Wings: Grace in the Midst of Depression, for the United Methodist Church's Upper Room, and the ministry program has created a "Creating Caring Congregations" resource.

"But my ministry is really ecumenical and interfaith," she told United Methodist News Service. "I also speak to mental health providers to help them understand the importance of incorporating a person's healthy spirituality into the treatment process as part of cultural competency."

The mission of Mental Health Ministries "is to educate faith leaders and lay persons for the purpose of decreasing the stigma associated with mental illnesses in our faith communities" and to "give voice to those who have suffered in silence."

Gregg-Schroeder would like more congregations to learn about the resources of Mental Health Ministries and about how to provide compassionate care to those coping with mental disorders.
"I'm hoping the documentary will raise awareness of how important a person's spirituality can be in the recovery process and that it is important for faith communities and other community and provider groups to work together as part of the President's New Freedom Report recommendations," she added. In 2003, President Bush's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health submitted a report examining specific aspects of mental health services with recommendations for improvement.

The documentary shows that treatment can be very successful. Between 70 and 90 percent of individuals have a significant reduction of symptoms with a combination of medicines, counseling and support systems. Rehabilitation efforts help people find jobs, return to school and re-establish family relationships.

In June 1986, Risdon Slate, a United Methodist who is a criminology professor at Florida Southern College, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

"I don't think there's any shame in being mentally ill," he says during the documentary. "But I think there is a shame in the way that we treat people who are mentally ill and particularly by people who should know better: the mental health system, the criminal justice system and policymakers who have the ability to influence legislation regarding parity."

More information about the program can be found at www.shadowvoices.com, which also has a listing of air dates and times for local ABC affiliates. Viewers also can contact their local stations for air dates and times.

VHS and DVD copies of "Shadow Voices" will be available beginning Dec. 15. To order, call (800) 999-3534. "Creating Caring Congregations" in VHS and DVD formats also will be available at www.mennomedia.org, the Mennonite Media Web site.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - A new video produced by the United Methodist Church's Board of Discipleship drives home the point that God's call doesn't end when a person retires and neither does the retiree's value to the church.

"God didn't call us to be Christians just until we reach a certain age,"
says the Rev. Hazel Bennett, chairperson of the United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries and one of the voices on "New Beginnings: The Gifts of Aging."

The 20-minute video features vignettes demonstrating the active role older adults are playing in the life of the church and society.

In the United States, 35 million people are over the age of 65, and that number will rise to 70 million by 2030. In the United Methodist Church, about 62 percent of the members are 50 or older, says the Rev. Richard H. Gentzler Jr., director of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship's Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries.

"We cannot afford to allow the faith, wisdom and experience that abound in older adults to be lost or under utilized," he says. "The church has the opportunity to reframe the experience of aging and help cultivate among older adults the qualities of spiritual maturity."

Developed by the Board of Discipleship's Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries in cooperation with the Committee on Older Adult Ministries, the video is meant to be "encouraging and hopeful," Gentzler says.

The average person in the United States may enjoy 20 to 30 more years of life in relatively good health and with sufficient income after reaching 60, Gentzler says. Myths about older adults portray them as quiet, calm and disengaged from life, work and service.

"Interesting, nowhere in the Bible does it say that Christians are to retire from discipleship," Gentzler says. "Rather, we are invited and encouraged to plan for new activities and pursuits that bring joy and satisfaction in later years."

The video takes a look at aging in society and offers a glimpse into the lives of older adults, such as 94-year-old Alma Sloan, who has been baking communion bread for Creighton (Mo.) United Methodist Church since 1976. In another vignette, Ray and Ruth Thompson, both in their 70s, collect day-old baked goods and distribute them to the needy in their community seven days a week. Other stories on the video show older adults tutoring children, repairing homes and learning new skills.

"Older adults need a safe place to work through the next phase of their lives," says Elbert Cole, executive director and founder of Shepherd's Centers of America and a member of the Committee on Older Adult Ministries.

Bishop Violet L. Fisher, New York West Area, says people who are aging are feeling left out. "Too much emphasis has been placed on the baby boomers and Generation Xers."

Suanne Ware-Diaz, on staff with the United Methodist Commission on Race and Religion in Washington, sums up the value of including older adults in the life of the church: "We need you."

"New Beginnings: The Gifts of Aging" is available in DVD and VHS formats at $15 each. It was produced by United Methodist Communications and is available for ordering at www.upperroom.org/bookstore. A leader's guide has also been developed and is available for free at www.aging-umc.org or by contacting the Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries, P.O.Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37202-0003; phone: (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7177;fax: (615) 340-7071; or e-mail rgentzler@gbod.org. (NOTE: A DVD version of this video is also available from the Tennessee Conference Resource Center)

The Committee on Older Adult Ministries also has announced that it has limited funding for grants available in older adult ministry. The grants are to assist United Methodist congregations, districts, annual conferences and church-related institutions in developing and implementing older adult ministries.

Grant applications must be submitted on or before Jan. 15 for 2006. The maximum amount of any single grant awarded is up to $2,500. For additional information, contact Teri Kline at the above address and phone number or tkline@gbod.org. A downloadable application is available at www.aging-umc.org.


*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

“Life Together: Spirituality for Transforming Community” and “Preaching in the 21st Century”
Upcoming January 5th: Day to Explore Two New Doctor of Ministry Degree Programs at Wesley Theological Seminary.

Washington, DC (WTS)—Clergy who wish to be considered as candidates for upcoming Doctor of Ministry degree programs at Wesley Theological Seminary are invited to the campus on Thursday, January 5, 2006 to learn about two new focused programs “Life Together: Spirituality for Transforming Community” and “Preaching in the 21st Century.” To attend the Doctor of Ministry Exploration Day contact the Office of Admissions – admiss@wesleysem.edu. These programs, each limited to 20 candidates, have a strong biblical and theological core—but are designed to support different ministries.

Life Together: Spirituality for Transforming Community – This Doctor of Ministry program will contribute to the continued spiritual formation of church leaders with special attention to the local congregation as a transformed and transforming community. Those who complete this track will be better equipped to lead congregations from aggregates to community, from self-absorption to mission, and from accommodating practices to alternative practices grounded in a biblical spirituality. Applications are now being accepted. Application deadline is February 1, 2006. The first two-week term of full day seminars are May 9 to 12 and May 15 to 19, 2006.

Preaching in the 21st Century – In churches of all sizes across the land the weekly drama plays out. Is there a word from God for the people of God? No secular words can satisfy the primal hunger of faith. No ecclesial obsessions with image, size, or relevance can make the question go away. Even those congregations that seem to have lost their compass know where to look first for direction. “Send us a preacher,” they say to their synod, superintendent, or personnel committee.

As lead actor in the drama the preacher must answer the restless cal and continue to grow in the craft. There are always new disciplines worth mastering, new insights from biblical interpretation, hermeneutics, and communications theory to be engaged. There are practices that have gone out of favor but deserve a second look. This doctor of ministry program will foster such growth; but this program is also committed to the larger project of renewing the church in our time through the act of preaching. Applications are now being accepted. Application deadline is February 1, 2006. The first two-week term of full day seminars are: May 9 to 12 and May 15 to 19, 2006.

The Doctor of Ministry, a thirty academic hour program, is a natural continuing education step for dedicated clergy who want to pursue focused study. Applicants must have a strong academic record in their Master of Divinity from an institution accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, and have been in active ministry for three years since graduation. Beyond earning the degree, the Seminary hopes Doctor of Ministry graduates function as resource persons for the local and regional church.

Details are at www.Wesleysem.edu. Questions can be directed to Dr. Lew Parks, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at dmin@wesleysem.edu or (202) 885-8670. For details and application materials visit www.wesleysem.edu or contact the Office of Admissions at Wesley Theological Seminary, 4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016-5690. Call at either (202) 885-8659 or 1-800-882-4987 or admiss@wesleysem.edu.

D.MIN. PROGRAM BEGINS THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, School of Theology, University of the South

Sewanee, TN--The Doctor of Ministry Program of the University of the South begins its thirty-second year this summer.
The Doctor of Ministry program is one of the few in the U.S. which operates only during the summer months. This means that clergy can participate in the program without a major interruption in their parish responsibilities. It affords an opportunity for students to study in an Episcopal seminary in a university setting.
The program stresses the relationship between the practice of ministry, and biblical, historical, and theological knowledge. A Master of Sacred Theology program focusing on research skills is also available. The program usually takes three or four summers to complete.
The D.Min. program consists of 30 semester hours. Students are required to complete a major project, which is a study of some dimension of one’s ministry or the ministry of the church. Financial aid is available.
Anglican Heritage Tour course will be offered May 24 – June 6, 2006. Instructor will be Dr. Susanna Metz. Inquiries about the Anglican Tour course should be addressed to Susanna E. Metz, School of Theology, 335 Tennessee Avenue, Sewanee, TN 37383-0001.
The dates for the Advanced Degree summer courses of 2006 are June 21 – July 12.
Courses offered this summer in the Advanced Degrees program will be “The History and Theology of the Episcopal Church” by Dr. Donald Armentrout; “Re-examining Eucharistic Origins, Rites, and Ceremonies” by Dr. Marion Hatchett; “Theology of the Holy Spirit and the Spiritual Life” by Dr. Robert Hughes; and “Interpreting ‘Time-Full’ Texts: Bibles, Cultures, and Creeds” by Dr. Joseph Monti.
Inquiries about the Advanced Degrees summer courses should be addressed to Don S. Armentrout, Advanced Degrees Program, School of Theology, 335 Tennessee Avenue, Sewanee, TN 37383-0001. Telephone 800-722-1974 for all of the above courses. The email address (advdeg@sewanee.edu) and the web site: http://theology.sewanee.edu

This is the statement approved by the Council of Bishops on November 2, 2005.

A Pastoral Letter to the People of The United Methodist Church
From the Council of Bishops

By grace you have been saved through faith.
Ephesians 2:8

Grace to you from Jesus Christ who calls his church to welcome all people into the community of faith as it proclaims the Gospel.

The Judicial Council, our denomination's highest judicial authority, recently issued a decision regarding a pastor's refusing a gay man's request for membership in the church. In the case, this man was invited to join the choir at the United Methodist Church in the community. As he became more active in the choir and the church, he asked to transfer his membership from another denomination to The United Methodist Church. Because he is a practicing homosexual, the pastor refused to receive him into church membership. The Judicial Council upheld the pastor's refusal of membership.

While pastors have the responsibility to discern readiness for membership, homosexuality is not a barrier. With the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church we affirm: "that God's grace is available to all, and we will seek to live together in Christian community. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons."(Para. 161g, 2004 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church)

We also affirm our Wesleyan practice that pastors are accountable to the bishop, superintendent, and the clergy on matters of ministry and membership.

The United Methodist Church is committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ with all people. We, the bishops of the Church, uphold and affirm that the General Conference has clearly spoken through the denomination's Constitution on inclusiveness and justice for all as it relates to church membership:
"The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking the vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection." (Article IV, Constitution of The United Methodist Church)

We believe the ministry of the local church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is to help people accept and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We call upon all United Methodist pastors and laity to make every congregation a community of hospitality.

November 2, 2005 Lake Junaluska, N.C.

The date, place, theme, and main leadership for the 2006 Five Day Academy has been announced--and interested persons will want to make certain the event appears on their calendar.

Celebrating the Body of Christ will be the theme of the Academy to be held at Camp Garner Creek from October 15-20, 2006. Featured as leaders for the Academy will be Dr. Thomas R. Hawkins and Dr. Kirk Jones.

Dr. Thomas R. Hawkins will present the session on the scriptural foundations for our understanding of ourselves as the Body of Christ. Dr.Hawkins teaches in the Career and Organizational Studies Program at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. He has directed or presented at several Five-Day Academies, including the Illinois Great Rivers, West Ohio, and Iowa Academies. Prior to his current teaching responsibilities at Eastern, he served as a United Methodist pastor in the New England Conference from 1977 to 1990. More recently, he served as Director of Connectional Ministries in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference from 1999 to 2003. He is the author of Cultivating Christian Community, The Christian Small Group Leader, Loving God with All Your Mind, and The Learning Congregation. Thomas and his spouse, Jan, live on a small farm outside Charleston where they enjoy gardening, bird watching, and raising a small herd of 4-H cattle with their two sons, Robert and Jonathan.

Dr. Kirk Jones will present the session on our liturgical experience of the Body of Christ. Dr. Jones' most recent book is The Jazz of Preaching in which he explains how to dramatically improve one's preaching and public speaking through understanding and applying key elements of the musical art form known as jazz. Dr. Jones currently teaches ethics and preaching at Andover Newton Theological School, and serves as guest preacher and teacher at churches, schools and conferences throughout the United States. His writings have been published in various journals, including Leadership, Gospel Today, Pulpit Digest, and The African American Pulpit, a quarterly preaching journal he co-founded in 1997. His web site can be found at http://kirkbjones.com/index.html.

The Five Day Academy is sponsored by both the Memphis and Tennessee Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church.

Bishop Richard J. Wills, Jr. introduces the new Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation informational website with the words: “One of the most effective ministries in this area is The Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation. A major asset is that it covers the entire Episcopal Area. Many churches have been able to build because of the Foundation. We have an exceptional organization which ranks among the strongest in the jurisdiction.”
“If you have not taken time to explore the benefits of the Foundation, stop for a moment to see how you can invest your personal income or how your church can place its financial resources with the Foundation for ministry.”
Click on the address below to go directly to the website
http://www.nashaumf.org/

You’ll find information about:
1. The Order of St. Andrew
2. The Development Fund

The site also contains all the downloadable forms you will need to start a Foundation account AND, order information about a soon-to-be-released DVD designed to share testimonies about the ministries supported by the Nashville Area United Methodist Development Fund and The Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation. The DVD is a must resource for local churches.