TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW November 2, 2007

In this issue--
1. In Memory of David Bain Hawkins 1955-2007.
2. Internet Crimes Against Children Agent Says ‘Kids don’t need to be that wired’
3. Crossville First United Methodist Church Lay Witness Mission
4. Best Ways to Support the ministry of Community Care Fellowship
5. Miriam’s Promise working to make adoption process better for all concerned, article on Debbie Robinson reprinted from the Green Hills News.
6. “Many Thanks to all who participated or helped in any way to make the Golf/Walk Challenge a success.”
7. “October 14th, Nine baptized or reaffirmed in their baptism at Lambuth Memorial United Methodist Church.”
8. Cumberland District United Methodist Women deeply touched by Conference UMW Retreat.
9. Campus ministry offers church presence at college, article features extensive quotes from two Tennessee Conference campus ministers.—Mark Forrester (Vanderbilt), Laura Kirkpatrick (Martin Methodist College)
10. Hohenwald Labors of Love Quilting Group Provides Symbol of Loving Concern at Disaster Sites.



In Memory of David Bain Hawkins
1955 – 2007

A high point in David Hawkins’ life was to participate in the ordination of his wife Melisa Derseweh

David B. Hawkins, Director of the Office of Administrative Services for the Tennessee Annual Conference, died unexpectedly on October 13, 2007. He served a number of congregations within the Conference prior to being named to the Administrative Services position in 2003: Riverside (Associate), Enterprise Circuit, Westview, Waynesboro First, St. Bethlehem, Centerville-Shipps Bend, Lewisburg First, and finally Lawrenceburg First United Methodist.

His memorial service on October 18, 2007, was a true celebration of his life—a life dedicated to the local church and to the membership of each local church. He felt called to work in Administration and to manage conference finances, but his heart and soul were focused on the human beings behind those finances. He felt called to his position both because he understood the dynamics of the church, and because, according to close friend Tom Halliburton who quoted him as saying, “Everything I do has flesh and blood connected with it.” He also had great interest in the mission of the church and has served as part of several VIM teams in Central America. Just a week before his death David had returned from the Mississippi Gulf Coast where he had been part of a VIM team representing the extended cabinets of both the Tennessee and Memphis Annual Conferences.

David Hawkins saw, according to all who spoke at the memorial service, the spiritual aspect of administration—the people, congregations, and agencies behind each line item in the Conference budget. Probably nothing proved his value to the Tennessee Conference so much as the way he explained apportionments, the United Methodist connectional system, and problems related to the cost of clergy health insurance, during a series of “Town Hall” meetings mandated by the 2006 Annual Conference. He displayed the ability to explain very complex issues in a way that everyone could understand and to present both sides of an issue fairly and completely.

Daniel Hawkins, son of the deceased, spoke on behalf of the Hawkins family, and summed up the feelings on those gathered at the memorial service. He noted of his dad, “His way was to do right the first time.” At the end of his recollections of his dad, Daniel said, “My prayer is for a double portion of my father’s spirit.” A prayer to which everyone at the memorial service could give a hearty, “Amen.”

David Bain Hawkins is survived by his wife, the Rev Melisa Derseweh; children, Angela and Daniel Hawkins; Brandi M’Call Alexander and Nathaniel Greyson Alexander; sister, Johnnie Margaret (Jim) Loftis; brothers, James (Brenda) and Joe (Shirley) Hawkins; and former wife Carol Lynn Nicholson. Angela Hawkins is currently serving with the Peace Corps in Kyrgystan, and Daniel Hawkins is serving in the United States Navy and is based in Norfolk, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers the family requested that memorials be sent to the Nicaragua Educational Scholarship Fund, c/o First United Methodist Church, 212 Waterloo St., Lawrenceburg, TN 38464; the Tennessee Conference Contingency Fund, 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 4, Nashville, TN 37211; or the David B. Hawkins Memorial Missions Scholarship Fund, Charlotte-Fagan United Methodist Church, 31 58 Vanleer Highway, Charlotte, TN 37036.



Internet Crimes Against Children Agent Says ‘Kids don’t need to be that wired’
By Jeanette Pinkston*

Four attendees from the Tennessee Conference, at the national CyberSAFEty in Ministry workshop meet with workshop keynoter, Paul O’Briant. From left to right James Ralston (Executive Director of the Cedar Crest Camp and Conference Center), William Freeman (Conference Coordinator of Information Technology), Eric Coomer (Conference Youth Web master), O’Briant, and Susan Groseclose (Director of Nurture Ministries). Three others also attended from the Tennessee Conference; Tom Nankervis (Conference Communications Coordinator), Susan Padgett (Office of Ministerial Concerns), and Terry Carty (Facilitator for the Youth Ministry section of the workshop, and Executive Officer of the national Youth Workers Movement). The Conference team is planning ways to inform church leaders in the Tennessee Conference about CyberSAFEty. Susan Groseclose who organized Tennessee Conference participation in the event reflected on the experience: “This three day seminar was intense, eye-opening, and thought-provoking. As children and youth immerse themselves in the growing technology and communication possibilities, we as church, must be knowledgeable and vigilant in informing parents and working as a faith community to keep our young people safe. It is also important for us to use technology in ways that share the Gospel of Jesus Christ but also to discover ways to foster/uncover opportunities for community and faith formation.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The nebulous world of cyberspace is a huge mission field for the church. Such was the opening message at a United Methodist conference exploring topics dealing with "CyberSAFEty in Ministry."

The Oct. 1-3 event was sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. About 150 people from across the United States gathered in Nashville to share strategies and tools to harness the potential gift that technology promises in an environment of stewardship and safety.

"I think it's important for churches to consider a presence in cyberspace because that is where the people are," said Paul O'Briant in his opening address.

Director of technology for Currituck County Schools in North Carolina, O'Briant cited U.S. statistics that 143 million people use the Internet, and that two-thirds of Internet users have searched for spiritual topics online.

"So much of the population uses cyberspace on a daily basis and searches for answers in that space, so we need to be there where they are," he said.

Lurking dangers
With the opportunities of cyberspace come dangers as well.

"I think it's important if we are going to go into that space we understand the dangers and how to keep our people safe. Understanding that our kids and congregations are already in those spaces, we need to provide them the tools they need to keep safe," he said.

O'Briant reported that some 27,000 registered sex offenders have MySpace accounts, and half of American youth have MySpace accounts. The average age of initial exposure to Internet pornography is 11, and there are an estimated 100,000 Web sites that feature child pornography.

"Cyber safety needs to be a part of our Safe Sanctuary planning and implementation," said O'Briant, noting that the church and its leaders are far from immune to the growing problem of sexual addictions.

A 2000 survey by Christianity Today indicated that about 40 percent of clergy had acknowledged visiting sexually explicit Web sites.

In 1996, the denomination's top legislative body passed a resolution calling on every church to develop policies and procedures to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse in its ministries and facilities. Regional training sessions followed, inviting conferences to send representatives who could return and train local churches on Safe Sanctuary procedures.

Ministry teams representing local congregations, 44 conferences, four agencies and camping and retreat professionals were among participants at the cyber safety conference. Event organizers hope participants will return to their ministries and create policies, goals and action plans related to the safe use of technology.

A tool for predators
"Internet safety with kids is so important because the problem is prevalent, and exposure to inappropriate material and file sharing are growing," said Tom Evans, an agent investigator with Internet Crimes Against Children.

Evans has seen a rise in the number of cases involving children, including (in order of prevalence):
.Possession of child pornography
.Distribution of child pornography
.Solicitation of a minor
.Manufacturing of child pornography
.Endangering the welfare of a child

"There is a need for legislation to put offenders behind bars for crimes against a child. We need to increase sentencing guidelines, and stiffer penalties are needed," Evans told the conference.

Evans advised participants to:
.Reign technology in, remembering that "kids don't need to be that wired";
.Encourage parents to have a MySpace account;
.Ensure that kids don't include identifying information on social networking sites such as MySpace and FaceBook;
.Know all user names and passwords;
.Leave off names and limit the number of photographs posted on social networking sites.

Tom Evans, an agent investigator with Internet Crimes Against Children.

Fifty-five percent of all online Americans age 12-17 use online social networking sites such as MySpace, according to Pew Internet Research.

Meanwhile, the typical profile of an Internet child sex offender is a white male ranging in age from 19 to 70, according to Evans.

"It is not unheard of for children to be abducted. Anything that identifies a child on a Web site can be used by a predator to focus on where a child is located," he said.

Alerting participants to the dangers of file sharing, Evans warned that "it is not just in big cities. It's everywhere. File sharing is important because it lets us know how prevalent child porn is. Kids are using this for free."

Society must be vigilant to monitor the Web and safeguard against dangers as the Internet continues to evolve, participants were told.

"Cyber safety is not a one-time event," said the Rev. Stephen Streett, an associate pastor from the North Georgia Annual (regional) Conference. "We must have an awareness of youth culture … and find out what they are listening to."

The Nashville-based Board of Discipleship is the United Methodist agency that works to support annual conference and local church leaders in their task of equipping world-changing disciples.
*Pinkston is director of media relations for the United Methodist Board of Discipleship.


Crossville First United Methodist Church Lay Witness Mission
By Holly Neal

Lay Witness Mission brings back memories of long ago when visiting Lay people would come to your church and share their faith stories during Saturday morning home groups. I am happy to say Lay Witness Mission is not a thing of the past. It is a new and exciting way to energize congregations to share what God is doing in their lives.

As a member of Crossville First United Methodist Church and the Cookeville District Director of Lay Speaking ministries I was looking for a way to get our Lay Speakers more involved in the life of our church. Our church is a growing church with the challenge of keeping members of our congregation connected to each other. This sparked a conversation with my ministers Bro. John Halliburton, Pastor James Johnson and Rev. Jerry Mayo. As we talked with members of our congregation there were brief recollections of our church hosting a Lay Witness Mission in the early 80’s. It was amazing to all of us that what we remembered most was the Saturday Morning Home Groups. We were able to hear faith stories from people that we sit by in church every Sunday yet barely know. Thus began our journey to bring the Lay Witness program to our church.

Visiting Witness Coordinator Tom Walden and Hispanic baby

Actually our Lay Witness Mission Weekend began on Thursday evening with the feeding of our neighbors that live in a weekly rental motel next to our church. The living conditions there are grim where the working poor live in one room usually sharing the living space with 4 to 5 other people. God gave this idea to two church members sometime ago and they began sharing this with their Emmaus reunion group and Rev. Eliud Martinez, the pastor for the newly formed Hispanic congregation. The weather was perfect and 32 people arrived to serve our neighbors. Pastor Martinez and Pastor Johnson went knocking on doors and invited people to come. At 6:00 pm more than 90 men, women and children came and ate under a tent set up near our church parking lot. Over 100 meals were also prepared and taken back to the motel. One of the children asked if he could have extra cookies to take for a party at his school the next day which warmed our hearts.

Pastor Martinez began inviting everyone to come for another meal on Friday and to the Lay Witness Mission. Later we realized God’s perfect timing because at 6:00 p.m. the church had begun their 24 hour prayer vigil for the Lay Witness Mission. The visiting lay witnesses began arriving on Friday afternoon and by meal time we had 30 visiting witnesses, 100 members of our congregation and 20 of our neighbors breaking bread together.

The Lay Witness Mission Weekend began on Thursday evening with the feeding of our neighbors that live in a weekly rental motel next to our church

God began working in the hearts of those that participated and by Saturday evening seven had accepted Christ. On Sunday evening one church member shared that although he had previously felt the call to ordained ministry, he now realized he had a new calling. He has a fantastic story of Jesus’ healing in his life and he believes he could actually reach more people with his story through Lay Witness Mission. One Lay Witness team member said that by watching the children she now has the courage to pray out loud. Another received ideas to take back to her home church’s Children’s ministry.

On Friday evening the leaders of the children’s session, Don & Dodo Johnson from Jackson, North Carolina, taught the children the 5 finger prayer (thumb - reminds you to pray for yourself, pointer finger pray for others, tall man - pray for those in high places like our pastors, teachers, the President, ring finger to pray for our family and the pinky finger to pray for small things). The children made a copy of their own hand and these were given to some of the Visiting Witnesses and Saturday evening the children had to find their own hands and teach the adults the five finger prayer , a great way to teach children the simplicity of telling someone else about Jesus.

I thank God for the positive feedback we received from our witnesses. It is wonderful seeing our church through their eyes. The lay witnesses also commented on the commitment and participation of our Pastors. Many of the witnesses and our church members remarked about how wonderful it was to worship God together with our brothers and sisters of the Hispanic Fellowship. God opened my eyes as I watched the Visiting Lay Witness leader of the weekend Tom Walden holding a baby from the Hispanic congregation. This reminded me of Jesus coming as a baby. This was such a great example to me of how God wants His people to live together in harmony. I believe this begins when we can call people by name as Jesus knows us each by name, not by the package (race) we come in. For several in our congregation their eyes were opened that truly we are all God’s people. Like the children’s song “Red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world” (lyrics written by C. Herbert Woolston, tune composed by George F. Root).

Senior Pastor John Halliburton said, “As a pastor I was very excited about our Lay Witness weekend. It was definitely a plus for our church members to experience the mission with our Hispanic community. I believe that God has anointed the lay witness program, and I look forward to working again with ARM.”

I think the Scripture that best sums up the weekend is “Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins. Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and He will send Jesus your Messiah to you again.” Acts 3:19-20. I believe the Lay Witness Mission is helping us become an Acts 2 Church.

As a result of its Lay Witness Mission, August 21-23, 2007, Crossville First UMC will hold Lay Witness Mission training on January 19, 2008. Call the church office at 931-484-3537 or Aldersgate Renewal Ministries toll free number 1-877-857-9372 or their website at www.aldersgaterenewal.org


Best Ways to Support the ministry of Community Care Fellowship

Interested in having your church support the vital ministry of the Community Care Fellowship? Here is a listing of “always in demand” items plus suggestions on other ways you can help make a difference.

Food: Peanut butter, jelly, canned vegetables, canned fruit, coffee (not instant), juice, cereal
Cleaning Supplies: Liquid laundry detergent, bleach, paper towels, multipurpose cleaners, liquid dish detergent

Personal Care Items: Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, disposable razors, shaving cream, petroleum jelly, baby powder or body powder, aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, allergy or cold medication (not in liquid form), disposable diapers (sizes 3 -6), travel sized bath soap, bath towels, wash clothes, cough drops

Financial Contributions: Local churches and individuals utilize several methods to financially support the ministry of Community Care Fellowship. Some groups and individuals prefer to mail their donation. Simply use the CCF address listed below to mail in your donation. Some folks use automatic bank draft to make sure that their donation is received. This is an easy process to complete. Other individuals have given stock to CCF as their donation. Community Care Fellowship has also been blessed to be remembered in the wills of donors.

Finally, some folks enjoy coming to CCF to see how things are going and to personally deliver their donation. Guests are always welcome. Community Care Fellowship is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m..

Please contact Rev. Jerry Hilton at CCF (227-1953) to discuss automatic drafts, stocks, and will giving. Mailed gifts should be sent to:
Treasurer
c/o Community Care Fellowship
511 South 8th Street
Nashville, TN 37206


Miriam’s Promise working to make adoption process better for all concerned
By Sandy Campbell*
This article is reprinted from Volume 19, Number 36 issue (September 6, 2007) of the Green Hills News and used here with permission.

The director of Miriam’s Promise, Debbie Robinson, has been helping to place children with adoptive parents since 1986 and has headed the agency since 1991.

She has also worked for Catholic Charities and was once a foster parent herself, so when she says that the “old ideas about adoption and foster care” need to be re-evaluated, she has the experience to back up her opinion.

For example, she said people often have believed that placing a child in a loving home with dedicated adoptive or foster parents pretty much guarantees success. But as essential as love and dedication are, they often aren’t enough.

Miriam’s Promise Director, Debbie Robinson, addresses the 2007 Tennessee Annual Conference

The key word, she said, is “attachment.” Robinson said her agency is working to develop better ways to help adoptive parents “attach themselves to the new child and for the child to become fully attached as a member of the new family.”

She believes the focus is no longer on “fixing the child” but rather on “reframing the styles of parenting.”

Sometimes language is the problem. Robinson likes to tell the story of “Hope” who was adopted through the international program. In addition to facilitating domestic adoptions, Miriam’s Promise provides home studies and dossiers and follows up with education and counseling for international adoptions.

The family Russian-born Hope joined had other children and the standard family practice was to place the children in “time out” when they misbehaved. While this worked well with the siblings, Hope responded in a very negative way.

Through counseling the parents realized the problem was that Hope equated “time out” punishment with the isolation and abandonment she had experience in Russia. “Time out” was keeping her from feeling accepted by her new family.

The solution was simple enough. Hope is still sent to her room as punishment for inappropriate behavior. But now one of the parents goes with her to sit and talk about the problem.

Recently the Hague Convention, an international agreement regulating how international adoptions are handled, required that classes in cultural issues be provided to adoptive parents. Miriam’s Promise has been doing so for the past four or five years.

Also, the agency has been providing support for couples that adopt children of another race, for birth parents, for waiting adoptive families and for families adopting older children.

Miriam’s Promise derives its name from the Biblical story of the infant Moses whose sister Miriam promised to make sure her brother was well-cared for even after he was adopted by the pharaoh’s daughter.

Robinson said the agency has seven full-time staff members and several contract counselors. They provide counseling annually for 70 to 80 pregnant women, many of whom are teenagers.

“When they come to us, abortion is no longer considered an option. The decision facing the mother – and sometimes the father if he’s still around – is whether to keep the baby or to put the child up for adoption,” Robinson said.

She said about 12 to 15 each year opt for the adoption choice and become involved in selecting the adoptive parents.

The role the birth mother will play in the child’s life varies, but in every case Robinson and her staff encourage all involved to be as honest and as open as possible about the relationships.

She said 95 percent of birth families choose the adoptive family by looking at profiles, resumes, picture pages and eventually meeting face to face.

The birth parents and the adoptive parents are each represented by a case worker, all of whom have at least master’s degrees in counseling or social work.

Some of the younger expectant mothers have unrealistic expectations, Robinson said, and helping them understand the true nature of parenting is essential.

When the decision is made to place the baby with an adoptive family, there are more choices to consider. The birth parents may only want to see the baby once, they may want to follow the baby’s life through phone calls and pictures , or they may wish to be a regular part of the baby’s life.

But Robinson stresses that birth parents must understand that the adoptive parents ultimately are responsible for setting the limits.

“Our belief is we’re only the facilitators,” Robinson said.

In the last 18 months, Miriam’s Promise has begun to work with the Metro Nashville Sheriff’s office to provide aid to women incarcerated while pregnant. Overcrowding in the state system frequently means that women serve long sentences in the jail and will deliver while incarcerated.

Also, Robinson said, about 80 percent of the women sent to jail are already mothers, sometimes with young children who need care. The agency is looking for volunteers to be pen pals with these women and mentors as well. A further step would be to provide classes for the women to teach them how to be better mothers.

Miriam’s Promise is an independent agency affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The church, however, does not govern or administer the agency, and a broad cross-section of people from other denominations are represented on the board of advisors.

While Robinson praised the Methodist churches in this area for their support, she also noted that Woodmont Christian, St. George Episcopal, First Presbyterian and other churches are also supportive through their mission and outreach committees.

*Sandy Campbell is Editor of the Green Hills News


Challenge Raises $138,728 in cash, checks and pledges
Many thanks to all who participated or helped in any way to make the Golf/Walk Challenge a success
from Mary Cooper

Just a simple THANK YOU, even though it comes from the bottom of my heart, doesn't seem enough to say to all of our Golfers, Walkers, Pastors (some of whom were golfers or walkers), our Bishop Dick Wills who golfed with us again this year, Churches who were hole sponsors, Miriam's Promise Staff, all of our Volunteers, those who gave prizes or furnished food. There were so many who helped make our Golf/Walk Challenge a BIG success, and believe me, we are very grateful.

The 2007 even t marked the eighth time the Challenge was held but it differed from past events in one significant way--this year we added walkers which helped make our day even more fun and exciting. There was an extra bonus, the day was truly lovely and this year was the very best ever in terms on donations. As of October 19th, we had a list of 897 households and 127 businesses who participated in our event and $136,000 in cash, checks and pledges to be used in the wonderful ministry of Miriam’s Promise…and more has been coming in daily.

Since the Challenge raises a sizeable portion of the Miriam’s Promise budget, we are especially thankful for all persons who are helping the agency make a BIG difference in the lives of the children and families served by Miriam’s Promise. God Bless You ALL.

Just to get a date on your 2008 calendar, the GOLF/WALK CHALLENGE is set for Monday, September 29, 2008.


October 14th, Nine baptized or reaffirmed in their baptism at Lambuth Memorial United Methodist Church

From left to right Katherine Brown, Jerridene Bradley, Gary Stewart, Sarah Sloan, Joyce Gillihan, Frances Malin, Joann Reece(front), Heath Livingston, Louise Summers (front), Albert Dittes, Kandaice Bybee in the arms of her mom, Kristy Bybee, Robert Warren, and Rebecca Perry. Brown, Stewart, Livingston, and Summers assisted with the baptismal reaffirmations. Rev. Tom Nankervis officiated at the baptismal service with special music provided by organist Albert Dittes. The Rev. R. Clay Hall, pastor of Lambuth Memorial, has been hospitalized and was unable to participate in the service—but was definitely present in spirit.

Kristy Bybee and Kandaice Bybee were baptized. Robert Warren , Joann Reece, Jerridene Bradley, Joyce Gillihan, Frances Malin, Rebecca Perry, and Sarah Sloan were reaffirmed in their baptismal vows. Robert Warren, who is the father of Kristy Bybee and grandfather of two-year-old Kandaice Bybee, joined Lambuth Memorial United Methodist Church by transfer.


Cumberland District United Methodist Women deeply touched by Conference UMW Retreat

The Cumberland District retreat participants

The Cumberland District UMW was represented by 24 ladies at the 2007 Spiritual Life retreat at Beersheba Springs. Theme for the retreat was Rise Shine, Glorify God and the theme song was “Shine Jesus Shine.” According to District President Barbara D. Lampley, “it was a wonderful time of fellowship with old friends and making new friends.

Speaker for the retreat was Margaret Massengille from Shelbyville. Her messages were appropriate for every aspect of our lives, and each lady had something specific to take home to reflect upon. The continuity running through each of the messages indicated how we could Rise, Shine and Glorify God. with scripture references.

The retreat is sponsored each year by the Tennessee Conference of United Methodist Women and is held at Beersheba Springs. The date has been set for next year--September 7-9, 2008. Make plans to attend.


New Release features two Tennessee Conference campus ministers
Campus ministry offers church presence at college

By Linda Green*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - College campuses are a marketplaces of ideas, and students need The United Methodist Church as their "storefront," says one campus minister.

Diverse audiences vie for students' attention today, including different church denominations and faith groups, according to the Rev. Leigh S. Martin, chaplain at United Methodist-related Reinhardt College in Waleska, Ga.

"You have so many voices reaching for our students, and it can be overwhelming and confusing for all of them," she said. "Students are confused enough trying to find their purpose and passion in call on their life. This is a big decision time for them."

Martin was among five campus ministers who discussed the scope and depth of campus ministries during an Aug. 24 presentation to the board of directors of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

While the number of United Methodist campus ministries is gradually shrinking across the United States, leaders say their impact on the lives of college students and university campuses is as important as ever.

The Rev. Luther Felder, who oversees United Methodist campus ministries for the board, calls campus ministry an extension of The United Methodist Church onto campuses.

"This is particularly important for United Methodists because the most critical vocational discernment questions are being asked and values learned in that setting," he said.

Felder cited a deadly shooting spree on the campus of Virginia Tech last April and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina at Dillard University in New Orleans as examples of why the church is needed on today's college campuses. He said crucial support for the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of students was provided during those dramatic crises.

Extending the church's presence
Applauding the work of United Methodist churches in nurturing students through youth groups before they reach college, Martin said college students need support, too. She cited a survey of Reinhart students indicating that stress is the biggest issue they struggle with, followed by making the right decisions and self-esteem issues.

"Our students need The United Methodist Church as their storefront in this marketplace of ideas," she said. Once a student enters the "storefront on their campuses, they are connected to the past, present and future of The United Methodist Church. We are growing United Methodist leaders today," Martin said.


Rev. J. Mark Forrester, campus minister, Vanderbilt University

The Rev. J. Mark Forrester, campus minister of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, said United Methodist work on campus blesses both the church and the world.

"The school is poised to reach a new generation of students with the awareness of God's calling unfolding in their lives," he said.

Forrester said campus ministry prepares young people to do important things that are at the heart of discipleship.

He described how, three years ago, Vanderbilt's Wesley Foundation received a grant for a new ministry to equip students with tape recorders to listen to people's stories. The heart of the project was that theology rises out of biography-and not the other way around.

"We in the West are sort of given artificially a theology--a set of ideas-that we are supposed to cram our lives into," he said. "But I believe that the biblical way theology arises is through the stories of our lives, through what has happened to us and through where we see God in those stories."

Discipleship can be found among young men who come together each Saturday for fellowship, worship, prayer, testimony and discussions on spiritual matters at historically black Howard University in Washington.

"This excites me because when you look at the lack of men in the church and the lack of young men involved in campus ministry, I am bursting with pride because I am blessed to serve as advisor to them," said the Rev. Malcolm Frazier, United Methodist chaplain at the school.

"What these men are doing is how Methodism began. This is how movements began," he said.

Frazier noted that many of the students partner with local churches and a coalition to help address homelessness in Washington. "They are thinking critically about some of the social ills of society and that I thank God for," he said.

Responsibility and power

Rev. Laura Kirkpatrick (seen here at the 2007 Annual Conference), chaplain at Martin Methodist College, was one of two Tennessee Conference campus ministers to address the board of directors of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

The Rev. Laura Kirkpatrick, chaplain at United Methodist-related Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn., called it a great responsibility to help students respond to God's call upon their lives.

"(Comic superhero) Spiderman says that with great power comes great responsibility. The church exercises great power by baptizing people in the name our Triune God and … the body of Christ responds with a vow of responsibility."

The church, she said, "cuddles and coos" over newly baptized children and provides formation experiences for them, cheering and shepherding them through confirmation and graduation.

"Then the church's vow of responsibility tends to wane until the once youth comes back with their own children," she said, noting that campus ministers work to "answer God's call in helping the church live out our baptismal vow of responsibility during these in-between years."

Campus ministers, she said, walk alongside students mentoring future pastors, bishops, elders, deacons and lay leaders of The United Methodist Church.

A global community
An example of the global nature of the church can be found within the Wesley Foundation on the campus of San Diego State University, where the Rev. Beth Cooper serves a university community of nearly 40,000 people.

"We are a multicultural, global community with students from all over the world," Cooper said of the school's nearly 75-year-old Wesley Foundation. "In a sense we are kind of like our own little city."

Cooper said San Diego State has a reputation as a party school and noted that a convenience store two blocks from campus sells more alcohol than any other store in that U.S. chain.

"Being two blocks away, we are the only recovery group that offers recovery every day … and we have anywhere from 15 to 50 students a day working on their 12 steps," Cooper said. "We minister not only to traditional students but to nontraditional students; students that have been hurt and wounded. Open doors are what it is about."

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


Hohenwald Labors of Love Quilting Group Provides Symbol of Loving Concern at Disaster Sites

Labors of Love is a quilting group that started at the UMC in Hohenwald and quickly spread thru the town and across denominational lines. Joyce McCutcheon (standing), group coordinator, holds a baby blanket made by a lady with severe Parkinson’s disease. Despite the illness, the woman joined Labors of Love regularly to create this blanket.

Quilts and baby items created by the quilting group were shipped to Alaska for distribution to the native hospital, part of the Alaska Missionary Conference. Items were also sent to the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference Disaster Response Team, a group that provided emergency assistance in New York City shortly after the 9/11 attacks, and has provided emergency services for a number of natural disasters including Hurricane Katrina. As the Oklahoma Disaster Response team ministers at the site of a disaster the quilts will be lovingly presented to those individuals most closely affected by the disaster—those needing emotional comfort and the prayers of the Labors of Love artisans and their congregations.