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Bulletin Board postings of general interest.
Charles Wesley, the first Methodist
Dean McIntyre, Director of Music Resources, at the General Board
of Discipleship reminds us that Tuesday, March 29, 2005, marks
the 217th anniversary of the death of Charles Wesley. He was the
eighteenth and last son born to Samuel and Susanna Wesley. The
following appears in his memory at John Wesley's City Road Chapel
in London:
"God buries his workmen, but carries on His work."
Sacred to the Memory
of THE REV CHARLES WESLEY, M.A.
Educated at Westminster School
And sometime Student at Christ-Church, Oxford.
As a preacher
He was eminent for ability, zeal, and usefulness,
Being learned without pride,
And pious without ostentation; The sincere, diffident Christian,
A son of Consolation
But to the vain boaster, the hypocrite, and the profane,
A Son of Thunder.
He was the first who received the Name of Methodist;
And, uniting with his Brother, the Rev. John Wesley,
In the plan of Itinerant Preaching,
Endured hardship, persecution, and disgrace
As a good Soldier of Jesus Christ;
Contributing largely, by the usefulness of his labours,
To the first formation of the Methodist Societies,
In these Kingdoms.
As a Christian Poet he stood unrivalled;
And his hymns will convey instruction and consolation,
To the faithful in Christ Jesus,
As long as the English language shall be understood.
He was born the IVIII of December, MDCCVIII,
And died the XXIX of march, MDCCLXXXVIII,
A firm and pious believer in the doctrines of the Gospel,
And a sincere friend to the Church of England.
Wesley's hymns were written in over 45 meters and include references
to all but four books of the Bible. His over 6500 hymns appeared
in 64 collections published while he was alive. Among his least-known
hymns are the two that follow, the last two that he composed. The
second hymn contains the last words he spoke, and was dictated
on his death bed.
"The Aged Disciple's Prayer"
I, too, forewarned by Jesus' love,
Must shortly lay my body down;
But ere my soul from earth remove,
O let me put thine image on!
Savior! thy meek and lowly mind
Be to thine aged servant given;
And glad I'll drop this tent, to find
My everlasting house in heaven.
"Aged and Helpless"
In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a helpless worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart;
O could I catch one smile from thee,
And drop into eternity!
The State of U.S.-Africa Relations Radio Discussion:
A Look at Debt Repayment, HIV/AIDS and the Impact in Africa of Bush's Reelection
Democracy Now!, an independent radio news program, hosts a roundtable discussion on the state of U.S.-Africa relations with three experts: Rev. Molefe Tsele of the South African Council of Churches, Muthoni Wanyeki of the African Women's Development and Communications Network and Salih Booker of Africa Action.
Listen/Watch/Read at www.democracynow.org
(index)
World Methodist Evangelism Institute Theme & Events
Greetings from the World Methodist Evangelism Institute of the
World Methodist Council:
It is our pleasure to inform you that the theme of the World Methodist Evangelism Emphasis for 2005-2006 is "That the World May Know Jesus Christ," and we invite you and all Methodists/Wesleyans around the world to join in participating in this worldwide emphasis.
We encourage you to participate in or send delegates to our Institute Conferences in 2005 and 2006, to join with other Methodists/Wesleyans in your area for the "Ten Days of Faith" and the "Cornerstone" Events in 2005 and 2006, to send youth to the International Christian Youth Conference in Brazil next summer, to train leaders in Faith-Sharing and promote the Wesleyan Pattern of Prayer and Fasting, and to utilize the several available resources through the WME Press. Feel free to forward this information to all of your constituents.
God's blessings.
Winston
-------------------------------------
Dr. Winston O. R. Worrell
Director, World Methodist Evangelism Institute
Visit http://www.worldmethodist.org/
or http://www.wmei.ws to learn more.
(index)
Crossroads UMC Is Model Welcoming Church
Crossroads UMC in Grand Junction is featured as a "Model
Welcomer" church
on the Igniting
Ministry web site The Crossroads church is currently the only Rocky Mountain Conference
church certified as "Welcoming" in the program of "Welcoming
Churches" sponsored by IM. Crossroads is also one of only
2 churches in the 167 who have been certified as Welcoming that
has attained the "Quadrennium" or highest level of certification.
They have done this by receiving the Annual Welcoming Award for
four consecutive years, then being awarded the Medallion Award.
Crossroads is served by Rev. Karen Hurst. Ken Deal is Membership/Evangelism
Chair. Rev. Paul Tapey (retired RMC minister) is Minister of Nurture
and Evangelism. Visit their
web site.
The site lists the church as having 460 members and an attendance
of 308.
To find out more about the program, visit this page.
(index)
Church and Society to Study Social Creed, End
Magazine
In his report to the organizing meeting of the General Board of Church and Society,
General Secretary James Winkler sought support to study the UM Social Creed in
advance of its 100th anniversary and announced plans to discontinue publication
of the agency's magazine, Christian Social Action. The Methodist Social Creed
was first adopted in 1908 and was revised in 1972. While the Discipline
recommends it for frequent use in Sunday worship, Winkler said the creed, found in the Discipline,
¶ 166, "is not particularly pleasing as a unison prayer." The new board agreed
to create a five-member task force to revise the creed for eventual presentation
to the 2008 General Conference. The goals for the project would be to make it
better suited for worship (perhaps set to music) and to look at present challenges
in the church and world in a manner consistent with UM doctrinal standards and
theological task.
For three years the board has been sending Christian Social Action to every local
church free of charge. Winkler, while praising the benefits of reaching out to
local churches, announced that the staff has concluded that it would be poor
stewardship of resources to continue the print publication. The November/December
issue will be the last in print. Winkler said the agency would redirect resources
into improving communication through Internet and Web-based publications. CSA
was founded as engage when The Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren
were merging. The previous Methodist magazine, Concern, ended in early 1968 after
a decade of existence. In 1973, engage merged with the United Church of Christ's
magazine, Social Action. The UCC eventually dropped out of the joint effort;
and in 1987, the magazine became Christian Social Action. While new subscriptions continue to arrive from a drive to convert people to
paid subscriptions, GBCS has determined that ending the publication is the best
course of action.
For the next quadrennium, the board will be led by Bishop Beverly Shamana (San
Francisco Area) as president, Bishop William W. Hutchison (Louisiana Area) as
vice president, Deborah Fisher of Northern Illinois Conference as secretary,
and Raul Alegria of Tennessee Conference as treasurer. The board officially ended
its participation in the Mt. Olive Pickle Co. boycott after an agreement was
reached in September. In celebration of the boycott's conclusion, an exhibit
of pictures from the signing of the agreement along with a dozen jars of Mt.
Olive pickles were on display when board members arrived. The General Conference
boycott of Taco Bell remains. In other actions, the board joined three coalitions:
Women's Edge, Win Without War, and the Campaign for a National Health Program
NOW. GBCS is also working with other UM agencies in addressing a holistic approach
to health and the costs of healthcare.
Statements adopted by the board include responses to the violence in the Middle
East and in Sudan. Regarding the Middle East, the board called for a renewal
of peace talks and a cessation of violence on all sides. Members called for the
demolition of the separation barrier being constructed by Israel in the West
Bank. In Iraq, members called for a withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces to
be replaced by U.N. personnel. Regarding Sudan, the board called for international
intervention "to end the terror of civil conflict." The board gave its support
to the effort of the Africa Union in sending a monitoring and protection
force. There are 63 members of the board; two-thirds are new this
quadrennium.
(index)
General Board of Discipleship to Feature Church of the Week
GBOD has entered a second year of featuring weekly photos of
local United Methodist Churches on the General Board of Discipleship's
worship-preaching-music website, http://www.umcworship.org. We've
featured large, medium, small, urban, rural, new, old, and ethnic
churches from all over the USA. You can see them in our Church
Photo Gallery,
along with guidelines for submitting a photo of your own church.
--Dean B. McIntyre,
Center for Worship Resourcing,
The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship
Telephone 877-899-2780, ext 7073 (toll free);
Email Address: music at gbod.org
(index)
Methodist Part of Benedictine Spiritual Formation Program
A member of the church that Rev. Dan Bruce pastors is one of
the spiritual directors in the Benedictine Spiritual Formation
Program.
This program now in its 24 year is a two-year program focused
on spiritual growth and personal transformation. Participants
can choose to be certified as Spiritual Directors. They are
prepared to journey with others in their spiritual lives, broaden
their
understanding of Christian foundations and beliefs and are
provided means for deepening their prayer life. This program is
open
to men and women of all faith traditions. Day and evening classes
are available in Denver and in Colorado Springs. Classes meet
for two hours once each week from September through April.
For more information, contact Barb Chambless in Denver, 303 770-6756,
benespiritual at yahoo dot com; Sr. Anne Stedman in Colorado
Springs, 719 473-6184, anneas at juno dot com or Patty Degen, 719
528-5303.
Internet Used for Faith
The Pew Internet and American
LifeStudy reports that 64% of America's 128 million adult
Internet users employ the Internet for faith-related purposes.
The most common online activities are news reading, the sending,
forwarding and receiving of e-mail with religious or spiritual
content, and the sending of greeting cards for religious holidays.
This story is in the latest E-HORIZON, an e-mail newsletter of
the General Board of Discipleship. GBOD sends E-HORIZON to Bishops,
DOCM's, DS's, Conference Lay Leaders and Speakers, and other key
leadership. Anyone can use it or sign up for it at www.gbod.org/horizon.
RMC Extension Ministers Introduce New Books
Easy Access Europe
Ken Plattner, RMC clergy in extension ministry with Hope Care
and Counseling, has written a new book, "Easy Access Europe," a
guide book for persons with limited mobility, in collaboration
with Rick Steves, host of the popular public television series, "Rick
Steves' Europe." The book covers London, Paris, Bruges (Belgium),
Amsterdam and the Rhine Valley.
The book focuses on the needs of the over-50 group of grey-haired
elders, slow walkers and persons with disabilities, who have a
heart for travel. Ken serves on the Denver Mayor's Commission for
People with Disabilities. His work at Hope Care and Counseling
Centers has focused on providing therapy for persons who experience
a disability since 1981.
These Three; the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love
Elaine A. Robinson, RMC clergy in extension ministry as assistant
professor of theology and Methodist studies at Brite Divinity School
at TCU, Fort Worth, TX, has written a new book entitled These
Three; the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love (Cleveland,
Pilgrim Press, 2004). She is signing her new book this afternoon
at the Cokesbury display (third floor of the Renaissance Hotel,
Denver). She discusses these 3 traditional virtues (from the Apostle
Paul) in the context of a post-September 11 world. Her book has
been described by Rebecca Chopp, president and professor of philosophy
and religion, Colgate University (Hamilton, NY) as "... a
travel companion for those on the Christian path in the contemporary
world. The book does not offer obtuse methodological debates of
cuddly spiritual assurances. It is not easily categorized as academic
theology or popular religious spirituality. Rather, with power
and grace, the book provides pathways for Christians to live in
a radical relation to God, others, and the world."
RMC Clergy Publishes Book on AIDS Crisis
Breaking the Conspiracy of Silence: Christian Churches and the Global AIDS Crisis, by Donald E. Messer, will be released by Fortress Press
in March (ISBN 0-8006-3641-4).
After more than twenty years into the global AIDS pandemic, the efforts of Christian congregations and denominations have been less than minimal. This book is aimed at awakening Christian compassion to the coming years of the fathomless tragedy of HIV/AIDS.
A presentation and book signing will be held at Tattered Cover in
Denver (LoDo), April 19 - details here.
Rev. Dr. Donald E. Messer is Henry White Warren Professor of Practical Theology and Director of the
Center for Global Pastoral Ministries at Iliff School of Theology, Denver. President emeritus of the school and of Dakota Wesleyan University, he is an
ordained Elder in the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Methodist Church and widely experienced in global ministries.
John Blinn CD
Healing the Soul: Stories and Songs for the Journey is the title
of John Blinn's new CD. John is a retired RMC clergy member whose new ministry
is called CompanionSpirit, and who has collected 9 stories and songs that
accompany the stories. The CD includes the story of the Red Tailed Hawk
that was used at the UMW Spiritual Retreat several years ago. The CD is
available at Cokesbury in Denver or can be ordered from John at 452 Argyle
Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004. CDs ordered through the mail need to add $2 shipping
cost to the $15 cost of the CD.
(Archives Index)
"The Theology of the Few" Article Published
" At a time when more than 40 million worldwide are infected, nearly
50 percent of them women, the religious roots of this disease [AIDS] must
be examined to determine how the theological thinking of some has caused
widespread harm to many," says Don Messer, Henry White Warren Professor
of Practical Theology at Iliff School of Theology, in an article
in the San Francisco Chronicle, entitled "The Theology of the Few."
Messer also has recently published a United
Methodist News Service commentary, "Combating global AIDS: A
common calling for people of faith.
(Bulletin Board Index)
(Archives Index)
Understanding the Case & Verdict of Rev. Karen Dammann
On Saturday, March 20, the jury in the trial of Rev. Karen Dammann delivered
a verdict of "not guilty" of the charge of "practices declared
by the United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings." Resources
are available at UMC.org for understanding
and discussing the case and the verdict, particularly this
analysis.
An index of
United Methodist News Service articles is available here. See
also this
article on "Staying in Christian Conversation" about the trial and related
topics.
The statement issued by the Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops,
with an introductory note from Bishop Brown, is available here (rich
text format).
Fraud Alert: Bogus Telemarketers
From the Office of Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter
Fraudulent telemarketers are calling consumers all over Colorado claiming to
be with your credit card company and needing to “verify information.” Callers
may say they are with the security department from VISA or MasterCard, and
ask if you have purchased an anti-telemarketing device for $500 from an Arizona
company. When you say “no,” the caller says they will issue a credit
to your account, and need to verify your address and the seven-digit security
number on the back of your card. The caller will ask that you read the last
three numbers to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen.
The callers are not from VISA or MasterCard, but are criminal telemarketers who
trick you into giving out valuable security information so they can use your
credit card number for purchases over the Internet or telephone.
To protect yourself from credit card fraud:
- NEVER give out personal information to anyone who has called or emailed you
- no matter if they claim to be with a “security department.” Credit
card companies and banks never ask for anything off their cards because they
already have that information.
- Don’t talk to strangers over the phone or reply to unsolicited e-mail.
If you believe you may be a victim of credit card fraud or other identity theft,
contact Debra Shampanier, the DA’s Community Advocate for help.
To Report Fraud: 720-913-9196 or 720-913-9179, dxs@denverda.org
(Bulletin Board Index)
(Archives Index)
Why You Should Check Your Credit Report
- To Detect Identity Fraud Early
In the past few years, identity theft has risen dramatically. Fraud can be detected and remedied effectively by routinely checking your credit history.
- To Become An Informed Consumer
Your credit report can have a dramatic impact on your financial stability. Many credit files contain inaccuracies that can harm your credit rating, leading to rejections for loans, insurance, even a job. These are often the result of a simple clerical error or computer glitch in which your file is mixed with that of someone with a similar name or Social Security number.
In Colorado, you have the right to get a free copy of your credit report every year from each of the following credit bureaus:
Equifax - www.equifax.com To order your report, call: 800-685-1111. To report fraud, call: 800-525-6285
Experian - www.experian.com To order your report, call: 888-397-3742. To report fraud, call: 888-397-3742
TransUnion - www.transunion.com To order your report, call: 800-916-8800. To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289
If you need assistance getting or understanding your credit report, or in disputing errors, contact Debra Shampanier, your Faith Community Advocate in the Denver District Attorney's Office, at 720-913-9196, or dxs at denverda dot org.
(Bulletin Board Index)
(Archives Index)
GCFA on HIPAA Requirements for Local Churches
Like you, we have received a number of inquiries regarding the effect of
the HIPAA Privacy Rule on local churches. Specifically, most of the questions
we received concerned the impact of the privacy rule on the traditional
church practices of publicizing health related information about parishioners
and others in the context of prayer requests and prayer lists.
The GCFA Legal Department has prepared a memorandum on this topic. The
memorandum may be found on
the GCFA website (PDF).
We hope you find this information informative and useful. Please feel free
to forward this notice to other individuals or groups within the United
Methodist Church who may be interested in this issue.
Sincerely, GCFA Legal Department, legal at gcfa dot org
Microsoft Extends Life of Windows 98, ME
Microsoft Windows has publicized the "Life
Cycle" for its
various operating systems. What this means is that support for
various Microsoft products will end on
predictable and publicized dates. (Most software companies have this
kind of policy.) Windows 98 and 98SE support was to have come to an
end on January 16, 2004.
However, it has now been announced that Microsoft
Corp. will extend support for Windows 98, Windows 98 S.E. and Windows
Millennium Edition through June
30, 2006. This reverses
a decision announced last year. Support for Windows
98 and Windows 98 S.E. had been scheduled to expire on Friday,
January 16th, 2004, and for Windows Me on Dec. 31, but the software
giant decided to
keep supporting
those systems in large part because some customers in developing
countries were not aware it was ending. For more information, see
this
story.
If you contemplate replacing your Win 98 and 98SE installations
with Windows XP, these two articles are helpful:
To read more about the "Life Cycle" process and to see
the complete chart, visit this
Microsoft page and scroll down.
If you think that your church doesn't have the budget to
upgrade, visit this UMC site, this
site
(an article aimed at libraries, but the principles may be useful),
or The
Open CD site, a collection of open source applications or visit a Linux
site like DistroWatch or
LinuxCD (where you can buy Linux on
CDs) or send a note to ben at rmcumc dot com.
"Ending Support" in this context means that Microsoft
stops producing security and bug fix patches for these products.
(Bulletin Board Index)
(Archives Index)
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