TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW JANUARY 13, 2006

Tennessee Conference Review January 13, 2006


The Financial Health of the Tennessee Annual Conference
(Part of a report given by the Conference Treasurer, David B. Hawkins, to the Common Table meeting and the Cabinet)
The generosity of United Methodists is astounding. It is, of course, a result of our being made in the image of a giving and generous God. We love because God first loved us. We give because God first gave to us. (For God so loved the world that he gave …) The commitment of United Methodists to the mission of the church is reflected in the ministries that apportionment funds make possible as they are given in the name of Christ. However, the economic environment of recent years in our nation (the effects of 9-11, wars, instability of stock markets, decline in the value of investments, and double digit increases in health care costs every year) have made this a hard financial road to travel at times. Still the good news remains that we travel the road knowing God is with us. In similar fashion there is both “good news” and “not so good news” to report about our financial health as an annual conference.

One item of good news is that the churches of the Tennessee Conference gave $10,397,959 in 2004 for apportionment ministries. This was $150,724 more than in 2003. We are on target for 2005 to also be an increase in apportionment dollars. Another item of good news is the increase in designated giving to non-apportionment ministries through UMCOR, the General Advance, etc. The opportunities for creative funding beyond apportionments for mission and ministry may also be seen as good news.

However, I must hasten to add that there is a list of “not so good news” items, too. There are serious deficits in conference accounts, most notably in the Clergy Health Insurance Plan. These deficits are made more serious by the lack of appropriate reserves in the conference operating funds. (However, please note that we have not established nor drawn upon the line of credit authorized by the last session of conference.) The continuing rise in health care costs heightens the sense of shrinking funds available for growth in program ministry. In fact, as some budgets are forced to designate more funds for insurance coverage for employees, it reduces the amount of funds available to simply maintain programs. Even the opportunities for creative funding may also be seen as a difficult challenge for those whose budgets have greatly depended on conference apportionment funding; and the opportunities could involve ministry leaders spending too much of their time as fund-raisers.

Let’s look at the good news and not so good news in more detail. First, the increase in apportionment dollars: Through the end of November, 2005, compared to that same time period in 2004, there is an increase in apportionment giving of $662,320, from $8,446,275 to $9,108,595, a 7.8% increase. This is partly explained by the increase in the conference budget by almost 10% in 2005 compared to 2004. Therefore, the percentage of apportionment receipts through the end of November, 2005, compared to that same time period in 2004, shows a slight decrease, 73.85% in 2005 compared to 74.99% in 2004 at this same time. The 2004 year ending percentage paid of apportionments was 92.32% which was an increase from 2003’s rate of 90.42 %. The number of churches which paid their apportionments at 100% in 2004 was 458. Next is the increase in designated non-apportionment giving such as UMCOR and the General Advance. The well publicized tragic events in Southeast Asia and the U.S. gulf coast triggered a tremendous response from generous United Methodists in the Tennessee Conference in 2005. Non-apportioned dollars given to tsunami relief, hurricane relief, and other mission causes totaled $1,423,477 by the end of November, 2005, which is $1,031,796 more than the same time period in 2004, a 263% increase. That would seem to challenge the notion that we are already giving all that we can. Opportunities for creative funding that extend beyond the apportionment system reveal the value of at least two other approaches. The conference campaign which resulted in the Pension Crusade Fund several years ago has provided a means of continued support for increases in the Past Service Rate for the Pre-1982 pension plan, highlighting the importance of endowing ministries and seeking planned gifts. Another example is the success of Miriam’s Promise development program which has drawn upon the desire of people to make a “heart connection” with their designated giving, allowing their program ministry to grow without relying on increases in apportionment funding.

Countering the good news is our not so good news. The trend of double digit increases in health care costs nationally for several years, and the increase in high dollar claims for the Tennessee Conference participants has created a crisis in our health plan. Our priority has been to maintain a health plan for our active clergy that assures them that if a catastrophe occurs they will be protected. Our Clergy Health Insurance apportionment continues to provide the total premium cost for 324 active clergy under appointment. The dollar value of this benefit being provided to the clergy has risen greatly in recent years. Even with increases in premium rates and increases in Clergy Health apportionments, we have not kept pace with the rising costs and our health plan is operating at a deficit. This is even more troubling because of our conference’s lack of appropriate operating reserves or contingency funds. The decline in investment earnings combined with the use of reserves for settlements were major factors in the decline of reserves which were already low. Instead of the recommended level of conference contingency reserves at 5 to 10% of total budget (reserves of $616,700 to $1,233,400), we have $60,079 or ½ of 1%. The rising cost of health care, the average age of our clergy, the stress-related illnesses, all contribute to the cost of our health plan. Improving our health with exercise, nutrition, rest, and spiritual renewal would enhance our ministry together as clergy and congregations, and also have a positive effect on our health plan costs.

Continued discussions of financial issues affecting the annual conference must address the need to establish priorities and thereby identify true needs versus wants. It is important that we examine what we do and why we do it, in order to make a “heart connection” with the people and churches of the annual conference. A heart connection that promotes sacrificial yet cheerful giving and the encouragement of a Biblical and spiritual approach to stewardship will help improve the financial health of our annual conference and help keep us committed to the mission of the church, to make disciples of Jesus Christ.


Robert Brown (left) and Jimmy Wilson (right) with Hillcrest UMC Minister of Discipleship, Nancy Neelley.


Two Hillcrest UMC Members Share Christ’s Love as They Give Away Crosses Made from Nails

On the 14th of November 1940 much of the city of Coventry, England, was reduced to rubble by German bombs, and with it the beautiful medieval Coventry Cathedral. The words “Father, forgive” were written on the smoke-blackened wall of the sanctuary. Two charred beams which had fallen in the shape of a cross were set on the altar, and three of the medieval nails which had fallen from the roof of the ruined Cathedral were bound together into the shape of a cross.

The nail cross, and the story of the Cathedral, was to become a powerful and inspirational symbol of reconciliation and peace. After the war, replicas of the Cross of Nails were presented in Keil and Dresden, cities in Germany that had been shattered by Allied bombing raids towards the end of the war. “Partnerships between Coventry and German cities were established, with people from either side helping to repair the damage that had been caused. Out of the ashes and destruction of war grew trust and friendship between two countries who were once enemies.”

Nearly fifty years later the story of the Coventry Cross motivated a Nashville church to create nail crosses as part of a rebuilding project. Artisan Jimmy Wilson noted the crosses, some of which used nails from historic buildings. The crosses, symbolized God’s love and new life in Christ and were fashioned from the instruments that pierced Christ’s body as he was nailed to a cross The concept was appealing to Jimmy and it wasn’t long before he experimented making crosses from small nails—crosses that could be worn. The results of his experimentation were metal crosses--symbols of Christ’s reconciling love AND beautiful works of art.

The amazing story continued as Hillcrest United Methodist Church member and Lay Speaker Minister Robert Brown noted a friend wearing one of Wilson’s handcrafted crosses. He knew Wilson through various Hillcrest UMC programs but primarily through a Disciples I class that Brown taught with Wilson as one of the class members.

Brown, an individual who feels comfortable being creative with tools, felt that he too could learn to design and manufacture the crosses. He also saw almost immediately the value a cross—something he made—could have in his own brand of one on one witnessing to his faith. The rest, so they say, is “history.” Brown asked Jimmy Wilson to teach him how to make nail crosses. They got together one day in Wilson’s workshop and it wasn’t long before Brown was able to pick up the technique of prayerfully creating artistically beautiful crosses from common horseshoe nails.

Now, when you get the two cross makers together—and add to the mix Nancy Neelley, Minister of Discipleship at Hillcrest UMC and a chief distributor of crosses made by the two church members—you are going to have stories. The crosses have been given to persons attending a laity worship service; they have been given out to group members and Panamanians on a mission trip to Panama; they were given as gifts to orphans in Zimbabwe on a recent Hillcrest mission to that country; they have been given to each person attending a layspeaking ministries workshop on storytelling.

But most of the stories are about individuals in crisis. Having the hand-crafted crosses in their pockets or around the neck seems to allow individuals to notice people who need reassurance and the message of Christ’s love—an unconscious street person, a prostitute, a harried and overworked waitress, a musician struggling with a call to create religious music, a woman whose home is a sleeping bag on a roadside heating grate.

Robert Brown, who always carries several crosses in pocket, had lunch in a large restaurant and noticed that the waitress was run ragged—for one reason or another others on the service staff had not shown up that day. She was trying to do an impossible job by herself. “You’re having a tough day today,” he told her. Then he added, pressing a cross necklace into her hand, “When you need someone to help you, you are not alone, Jesus is there.” He left for a short while and when he came back the waitress was there, crying with Robert’s wife.

“The main thing about the cross is when you give it to someone,” Robert notes. “The cross is an extremely good way to witness. I want everyone to know I’m a Christian.” Jimmy adds thoughtfully, “You know if each person would determine that ‘I’m going to do something for Jesus’ and share his or her own talent with others this would be a very different world. The cross is just an object—it’s the thought that goes with it that is important. Think of what he can do for you.”

Neelley added. “There was a woman who approached the car ahead of me. She looked for all the world like a prostitute. I thought to myself, “I don’t want this!” She came up to my car and asked for money to get a hamburger from Krystal. I gave her some money—but then I stopped and really looked at her, “What’s your name?” She gave me her name, “JoAnn” and then poured out her heart. She then asked me to pray for her which I did. Now I had a larger wooden cross that Jimmy had made—it was on the seat beside me. I gave it to her and she put it around her neck. ”Thank you,” JoAnn responded, “I feel so good. You should be a minister.” ‘You know,” Neelley summarized, “that was a redemption moment.” Both Brown and Wilson nodded in agreement. They understood.

Because the giving of the cross is a redemption moment, the creation of each cross is basically a time of prayer. There is prayer before starting work, the actual making of the cross is a time of joy, and there is thanksgiving to God when the cross is completed. Though the crosses are most often given anonymously, there are a number of individuals who have sent a not letting Wilson and Brown know what the gift of the cross has meant to them—or what it means to pass a cross and loving words on to someone else.

An Episcopal priest wrote Jimmy Wilson: “I consider it a Divine gift from your hand, as I have been without the pewter Celtic cross that I have worn for many years. As I am a practicing Episcopal priest, as were John and Charles Wesley, I know the crosses are only mere symbols, but are powerful tools of inspiration.”

“The day I received your crosses is the day after I had given out my; last one. They have gone to a woman in a wheel chair who is coming to church for the first time; then one has gone to a woman named Norma who has been on her death bed and is now recovering; one has gone to Ronnie whose father passed away this last December, two years after the loss of his mother; the last one went to a man in his sixties who was baptized for the first time and was giving his life to God. . . . thank you for giving me the honor of passing on the word of God with your help.”

Wilson also heard from a young boy—“Thank you very much for the cross. It is amazing how you make them. It reminds me of my Lenten promise. May God go with you wherever you go. Alex”

Martin Methodist College faculty and staff pledge nearly $230,000 to capital campaign
Martin Family Drive results in 100 percent participation by full-time employees

PULASKI, Tenn. – The early stages of a major fund-raising campaign is quietly moving ahead at Martin Methodist College, and if the response by faculty and staff is any indication, the future of the four-year liberal arts college could not be brighter.

College officials have announced that each of the 110 full-time members of the faculty and administrative staff has made a financial commitment to the Martin Family Drive, with gifts and pledges totaling $229,792.

The Martin 2010 Campaign will move into its public phase with an official kickoff in the coming months, and President Ted Brown said that a key factor in its success would be how committed the employees of the college proved to be in underwriting the multimillion effort.

He said he was optimistic when the presentation was made in late October, but the subsequent results exceeded any prediction he could have made.

“With this remarkable result of the Family Drive, our faculty and staff have proven once again their extraordinary dedication to this institution,” he said. “Most colleges would be delighted with a high level of internal participation in a campaign, but to have 100 percent is almost unheard of. Add the astonishing dollar total and you have the strongest possible statement that the college family could make about their enthusiasm for the Martin 2010.”

The Martin 2010 Campaign follows the development of the Martin 2010 long-range plan, which was approved by the Board of Trustees in April of 2001. While a number of projects have already been completed over the past several years – such as the construction of Grissom Colonial Hall, the Barton Entrance Gates, and the two student apartment buildings, the creation of the Center for Church Leadership and Taylors Honors Program, the growth of the academic curriculum, and the increase in student enrollment toward the ultimate goal of 1,000 – a majority of the objectives will be funded through the comprehensive fundraising campaign.

The early stages of the campaign have focused on leadership gifts, including the $5 million endowment gift to the Center for Church Leadership made in 2002 by Nashville corporate executive Cal Turner Jr., a gift that was matched dollar-for-dollar by the college’s trustees.

Now the just-completed Martin Family Drive also sets the tone for what is to come, Brown said.

“This will turn the heads of alumni, friends and churches,” he said. “I cannot imagine a better early indicator for the future success of our fundraising campaign.”

Chairman of the Martin College Board Michael Barton is at the far left and President Ted Brown is at the far right. The announcement came at the annual faculty-staff Christmas luncheon.



Tennessee Bishops Meet With Governor Bredesen
by Dickie Hinton*

The 2005 Tennessee Annual Conference passed a resolution asking the Governor, State Legislature and our Federal Senators and Representatives to continue to seek solutions to the TennCare crisis in a manner that protects the health and well-being of all Tennesseans. A resolution from the floor by Harold Olds “moved that Bishop Wills and a representative group from the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences meet with Governor Bredesen to explore ways that United Methodists can respond to the TennCare crisis, and in addition, that a task force from the Tennessee Conference find ways to respond in ministry to those most directly affected by this proposed change in health coverage in our state.” An amendment suggested by Vin Walkup proposed that Bishop James Swanson be invited to name persons from the Holston Conference to the Task Force. The resolutions resulted in a meeting on November 15th between Governor Phil Bredesen and Bishops Dick Wills and James Swanson. Bishop Wills had taken the Conference resolutions to heart and made arrangements for that meeting to occur. The purpose of the meeting was to discern how Tennessee Churches could respond to the people left without health benefits because of TennCare reform.

The meeting with Governor Bredesen and his representatives, Commissioner of Health, Kenneth Robinson and Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of Finance and Administration, Jim Shulman, was beneficial to the church representatives of all three of our Tennessee Conferences. In addition to our two Bishops, Steve Hodges, Holston Conference TennCare Task Force chairperson, Brett Hillesheim, pastor of Shiloh United Methodist Church, and Dickie Hinton, pastor of Byrdstown First United Methodist Church, were present.

The meeting began with Governor Bredesen addressing the group and sharing his concerns not only for the persons who lost TennCare coverage, (approximately 190,000 people), but also his concerns for the 600,000 persons who have no health benefits at all. He and his staff are continually working to help develop safety nets to help meet the needs of all of these persons in our state. Governor Bredesen shared his conviction to continue to address these needs and to do everything possible to make sure that people who need health care can get it.

There was also much discussion with Governor Bredesen’s representatives of how the churches in our state could be involved in health ministry and in enhancing the safety net programs that are currently in place. Bishop Wills shared his desire for our churches to be trained in more effective ministry in our communities and to be able to meet human needs of persons living in those communities. The two bishops were of one mind on the necessity for Tennessee United Methodist churches to work together with our state health agencies to meet more of the comprehensive needs of persons with limited incomes.

Bishop Swanson presented the concern of Tennessee United Methodists as a “theological question.”

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Swanson asked. He quickly added, “the answer is yes.”

There was little doubt when the meeting concluded that both state governmental agencies and the United Methodist Church could find ways to begin partnering in health ministries within our state. Bishop Wills and Bishop Swanson are committed to helping our conferences and local churches receive training on the availability of safety net programs and criteria for participation. They also see the United Methodist Church becoming active in helping to develop new safety net procedures that will achieve better health care in the future. Local health departments and local health councils are essential in this vital process of meeting the needs of Tennesseans.

The November 15th discussion was just the first step in our church’s response to this essential human need in our great state. Each local church should look for upcoming training events offered by the state and by the church. This is a tremendous challenge and a tremendous opportunity to “minister unto the sick and the lonely and the cold”.

*Hinton has been heavily involved in working on TennCare safety net programs within the Cookeville District.

Tennessee Conference Resolution on TennCare
(RESOLUTION #5, 2005 Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church). From page 287 of the 2005 Tennessee Annual Conference Journal.
WHEREAS, the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church affirm that health care is a basic human right; and
WHEREAS, one in four Tennesseans are covered by TennCare; and
WHEREAS, TennCare provides health care coverage for Tennessee’s most vulnerable and sickest citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church has previously expressed its desire that the State of Tennessee find solutions to the crisis in TennCare in such a way so that the health and welfare of all those in need are assured; and
WHEREAS, the State of Tennessee is currently poised to cut 323,000 adults from TennCare.
The groups to be cut are
1. individuals who are uninsurable due to a chronic illness or pre-existing condition,
2. persons who have a catastrophic illness and such high medical bills that they spend down their income to well below poverty, and
3. individuals with incomes under $776* who are uninsured; and
WHEREAS, the State of Tennessee is preparing to cut benefits to persons remaining on TennCare including a revised definition of medical necessity, cost sharing, benefits limits, monthly premiums, removal of out-of-pocket maximums, and pharmacy benefit limits of 4 or 5 prescriptions per month; and
WHEREAS, proposed TennCare changes will result in many Tennesseans being without health care coverage and others not being able to receive the care they need;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church commit to sharing information on pending TennCare changes through its congregations and publications; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church urge the Governor, State Legislature and our Federal Senators and Representatives to continue to seek solutions to the TennCare crisis in a manner that protects the health and well-being of all Tennesseans; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church ask each of its congregations to prayerfully consider how it can respond with love, justice and care to this health care crisis.
*monthly income figure.

McKendree Village Honors Employees for Service

McKendree Village recently honored 41 employees for their length of service at the continuing care retirement community in Hermitage.

Receiving particular recognition were three employees who have worked at McKendree Village a combined total of more than 85 years. Pictured left to right are Sarah McClain, CNA, a 25-year employee; Lillian Watson, CNT, a 30-year employee; and Nell Human, Director of Materials Management, a 30- year employee.

Established in 1963, McKendree Village is affiliated with The United Methodist Church and is in partnership with Vanderbilt University Medical Center. McKendree Village provides a continuum of retirement living options and health care services, including independent living, assisted living, nursing home care and Alzheimer's care.

John E. Maupin, Jr., president of United Methodist-related Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., addresses participants on opening day of the Nashville Community Health Disparities Summit2, an Oct. 30-Nov. 2 conference examining the unequal burden of illness and disease borne by Nashville residents who are racial or ethnic minorities. A UMNS photo courtesy of Meharry Medical College.

UM Related Meharry Medical College Sponsors Community Health Disparities Summit2

by David Hefner*

Note: As we wrap up 2005 The Review presents some “old news” because it focuses on strong efforts of United Methodist related Meharry Medical College to lead out in efforts to curb health disparities in Tennessee.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Health disparities research is at the top of the agenda for the National Institutes of Health, along with creating consistent “streams of funding,” according to a top official of the agency.

“There are amazing differences in life expectancy and death in this country,” said Raynard Kington, deputy director of the National Institutes of Health. African Americans are at the bottom of “almost every measure in health status and well-being.”

“Absolutely,” he concluded, “health disparities research is at the top of our agenda.”

Kington’s remarks kicked off an Oct. 30-Nov. 2 summit examining the unequal burden of illness and disease borne by Nashville residents who are racial or ethnic minorities. United Methodist-related Meharry Medical College sponsored the second annual event, called Nashville Community Health Disparities Summit2.

Summit2, supported by an NIH grant from the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, brought together researchers, health care providers and laypeople to address local health disparities. In sponsoring the event, the Meharry EXPORT Center for Health Disparities partnered with Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the Metropolitan Nashville Public Health Department.

“We can sum up the problem in a single sentence,” said Meharry President John E. Maupin Jr. at the summit’s opening. “The health of too many people is at risk because of their racial or ethnic background. However, while the problem can be easily summarized, we know the solutions are far from simple. A collective response that involves sharing information and enhancing collaboration is the only way we can reduce the health disparities that exist for people of color.”

In 2004, Tennessee ranked as the 48th lowest state out of 50 in “America’s Health: State Health Rankings,” a report compiled by the United Health Foundation. The state ranked in the bottom 10 states on other individual measures, including a high prevalence of smoking, obesity, violent crime, deaths from cardiovascular disease, cancer deaths and premature deaths.

A stark indication of ethnic-based health disparities in the state is summed up in the premature death rate: blacks experience 14,538 years of potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000, while whites experience 8,395 years of potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000.

Health disparities in Nashville, Tennessee’s capital city, mimic those across the state.

“He who has a why to live, can bear any how,” said Stephanie Bailey, director of the Metro Public Health Department. “Our how is partnering.”

From discussions of cultural competency to metabolic syndrome to HIV to drug abuse, the four-day summit covered a spectrum of topics involving basic science and clinical and behavioral research areas. The daylong events were held on alternate days on the campuses of Meharry and Vanderbilt.

“This summit brought together different facets of the community that don’t always collaborate to discuss the causes of health disparities in Nashville and to collectively develop strategies for addressing them,” said Paul D. Juarez, program director of the Meharry EXPORT Center for Health Disparities.

The Oct. 31 discussion focused on diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke, beginning with the epidemiology and treatment of the illnesses and ending with prevention and implementation of proven medications. Exercise and a healthy diet were themes consistently touted as empowering solutions for both prevention and intervention of metabolic syndrome.

The next day’s discussion moved to HIV, led by James Hildreth, director of the Center for Health Disparities Research in HIV at Meharry. In Nashville, African Americans make up 51 percent of cumulative HIV/AIDS cases yet represent only 25 percent of the population.

“This problem is not going to be solved without the help of the black church,” Hildreth said. His center is approaching HIV research in three ways: biology, behavior and community outreach. “It’s very important that we have close interaction both at Meharry and Vanderbilt.”

In 2003, the Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for AIDS Research became one of 20 such centers established worldwide to address the global AIDS pandemic. Among the center’s goals are community outreach and faculty recruitment.

“The number of HIV/AIDS cases in Nashville is not going down,” said Richard D’Aquila, the Addison B. Scoville Jr. Professor of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University.

Discussions about HIV/AIDS addressed such topics as genetics and intervention, and the development of microbicides to prevent HIV transmission. The summit also heard from a panel of community HIV advocates.

“We want to improve outcomes by knowing patients’ genetics,” said David W. Haas, director of the AIDS Clinical Trial Center at Vanderbilt.

Hildreth discussed his research involving the sugar betacyclodextrin, which is used to bind cholesterol, a necessary component of HIV transmission. In 2001, Hildreth and his team of researchers discovered that betacyclodextrin can be used to extract cholesterol from HIV, blocking transmission of the disease. The Meharry scientist is working to develop a vaginal cream using betacyclodextrin.

“The impact of this vaginal cream could potentially be quite considerable,” he said. “It could literally slow down, if not stop, the progression of AIDS. One of the exciting things about the technology that we’re exploring is that a vaginal cream based on a natural product will be fairly inexpensive, within the reach of many people in the world, especially in developing countries.”

Concluding with a focus on behavioral research, summit participants discussed the nature of drug addiction, particularly alcoholism. Researchers have long drawn the correlation between addiction and high-risk behaviors that lead to illness and disease.

Meharry also offered free child passenger safety seat tips to the community and gave away about 75 car seats. That outreach was sponsored by the Meharry-State Farm Alliance with the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, the Tennessee Health Department and the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office.

“We all have a stake in this,” said Nathan Stinson Jr., director of Meharry’s Center for Optimal Health.

“The elimination of health disparities is our collective responsibility. We mustn’t miss our opportunity. Not on our watch.”

*Hefner is publications manager at Meharry Medical College.

Carol of the Belles in Brentwood
by Marilyn Ann Manson*

(left to right) Joan Wooden, Jodi Hibbett, Amity Marsh, Patti Mantooth, Jayne Lockhart, Jo Anderson, Gwen Cassidy, Kathy Carpenter, Jeanette Winters and Pat Turner.

The parlor of Southerland Place, a personal care residence in Brentwood, was filled with angelic voices singing Christmas carols on December 15. The Lady’s Vocal Ensemble of Forest Hills United Methodist Church serenaded the residents with a program of yuletide favorites and new arrangements to celebrate the holidays. Director Joan Wooden led the group in songs, such as “Mary’s Little Boy Chile’, “Good News,” “Stable Prayers and “What Gift Can I Bring?”
As the group visited Southerland Place, members were delighted to meet resident Corrine Lewis who had been a professional singer in the 1940’s. Lewis was a soprano in a blended voices group that toured the United States out of Nashville.
Lady’s Ensemble members are Jodi Hibbett, Patti Mantooth, Jayne Lockhart, Jo Anderson, Gwen Cassidy, Kathy Carpenter, Jeanette Winters, and Pat Turner. They are directed by Forest Hills United Methodist Church Minister of Music, Joan Wooden and accompanied by church organist, Amity Marsh.
*Marilyn Ann Manson is a member of Forest Hills United Methodist Church

Minister of Music for Forest Hills UMC and director of the Lady's Vocal Ensemble, Joan Wooden, visits with Southerland Place resident and former professional singer, Corinne Lewis.

New Director of Bahamas Methodist Habitat Looks forward to Help from the Tennessee Annual Conference

A young man who grew up in the Tennessee Annual Conference has accepted the post of Director of The Bahamas Methodist Habitat, Camp Symonette, James Cistern community on the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas. Abraham McIntyre, son of Tennessee Conference pastor David McIntyre and his wife Patricia, graduated from East Tennessee State University December 2004 with a double degree in business management and camp leadership. He spent four high school summers working as a volunteer with the Appalachia Service Project. While in college he worked full time for five summers with the Appalachia Service Project—experience that proved to be invaluable when he applied for the Directors position in the Bahamas.

The experience that most shaped his future was a trip a group of volunteers from the ETSU Wesley Foundation made to the Bahamas. McIntyre loved the people and the experience so much that he longed to go back, and in March of 2005 he was given the opportunity to intern with The Bahamas Methodist Habitat. When the Director’s position opened up friends in The Bahamas and the States urged him to apply. He has now been interviewed, hired, and has attended the Bahamas Methodist Central Conference “to be introduced, meet everyone, and have his first board meeting.”

Though his on-site work began December 30, 2005, he kept busy in Nashville and elsewhere during November/December building support for The Bahamas Methodist Habitat, and meeting with potential volunteer group leaders.

There are about 700 islands in the Bahamas. The island of New Providence which contains Nassau is perhaps the best known to tourists, but Grand Bahama Island which received a direct hit from Hurricane Wilma has been much in the news recently. There are thirty-four Methodist churches spread out through the inhabited Bahamian islands with fifteen of those being on the Island of Eleuthera, headquarter island of the Bahamas Methodist Habitat. The Tennessee Conference is no stranger to providing volunteer groups to work in the Bahamas. Both West End and Hendersonville First UMC’s have had groups there, and the Conference United Methodist Youth have sponsored work groups during three separate years and have planned a trip for this summer with spaces still available. Individuals and an occasional family have also come to demonstrate why Tennessee is called the Volunteer State."

The main work for volunteer groups is in disaster relief and in emergency home construction and repair. Of two new homes recently completed on Eleuthera, one was a replacement for a house destroyed by fire, and another replaced a home destroyed by a sink hole. Volunteer work is mainly done on Eleuthera with housing arranged at Camp Symonette which can house up to 55 volunteers, but work has also been done on five or six other islands and BMH has arranged to host groups from 10-15 persons on those other islands. The first volunteer group in 2006 will be repairing hurricane damaged homes on Grand Bahama Island. This will be McIntyre’s first actual group to host."

Tourism and off-shore banking are big industries in the Bahamas, but there is also a great deal of unemployment, subsequent poverty, and health issues related to poverty that are very similar to the issues that McIntyre experienced in Appalachia. Though BMH has worked mainly in emergency home construction and repair, it is also researching the possibilities of branching out in other directions. The BMH staff sees community sustainability and economic development as a major priority with a goal of allowing small island communities to ultimately be more sustainable themselves. “That means that though we will continue to need construction teams, we also need people who can work with us in the area of sustainability such as energy and agriculture. Right now we are experimenting with a hydroponic garden we established using 4” PVC pipe and specially formulated nutrients. We’ve been able to raise lettuce, tomatoes, some beans.”

“The Belize Central Prison,” visited by McIntyre last January, “has been able to save some $30,000 a month by raising their own chickens which are used for eggs and meat to feed the 1,300 prisoners and staff. We’ve learned a great deal from them.”

When questioned about how Tennessee Conference Churches and individuals can help The Bahamas Methodist Habitat, McIntyre is quick to respond:

• First, we need volunteer groups of any size or makeup. Groups or individuals who may have special skills that they would be willing to share—persons with background in hydroponic farming, professional chicken farming, individuals involved in sustainable
  agriculture, and professionals in economic development to help us come up with new ideas.
  
• We desperately need to redo the kitchen at Camp Symonette. We could use the support of persons who know how to design an efficient industrial kitchen and have “connections” with in the area of appliance sales.
  
• A 15-passenger van to aid in our on-island transportation, bringing groups to Camp Symonette from the airport, moving them to and from work sites, etc. would be a huge help. Eleuthera is 110 miles long and for the most part a mile and a half across. Currently we use a 50-passenger bus—but it is\n expensive to operate especially with smaller groups of 10-15 persons.
  
  
  
• Since few building products are available locally and have to be obtained from Nassau or the States, it is safe to say we ultimately need a 14-foot flatbed truck to haul our building materials because our small pick-up truck can’t come close to holding the load of cement blocks, shingles, lumber, or sand required for our varied jobs.
  

• A tractor, bobcat, or a front end loader would make our labors much more efficient when digging new foundations and septic tanks as well as help save time and energy with loading heavy materials.
  
• We need contacts or in-kind-gifts of building supplies—windows, singles, lumber, concrete, appliances, etc.
  

Los Tres Reyes Magos visit Bethlehem United Methodist Church

The Visit of the Three Wise Men (Magi)
Epiphany Sunday is passively held in most of our churches, or not at all. The visit of the Magi (“Los Tres Reyes Magos”) is on of the most important events during the Christmas Season for Hispanic/Latino children, but it should be as important to all Christian children.
Before going to Puerto Rico and other Latino countries on January 5, the Magi made a special stop at, what better place than, Bethlehem United Methodist Church in the Clarksville District. They brought wonderful presents for the children. Each child took turns in trying to break a star-shaped piñata (made by Martha Pile) which was filled with delicious sweets. The also enjoyed cookies and refreshments provided by Jo and Bill Stanford.
The Rev. Liana Perez-Felix, pastor of Bethlehem UMC, said “In my country it is an honor to be asked to portray one of the Magi.” She was deeply touched when Roger Pile, Greg Dahl, and David Unruh graciously accepted to portray the Three Magi. Rev. Perez-Felix added, “We hope to continue this new tradition at our church, and maybe next time we may have the Magi visit the Hispanic/Latino children in our communities, riding horses, instead of camels. One of my dreams is that all of our United Methodist Churches can do the same.