Tennessee Conference Review

Electronic Version of The Tennessee Conference Review a publication of The Tennessee Conference - United Methodist Church

Thomas Nankervis, Editor

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW May 1, 2009

Articles in this issue of the Tennessee Conference REVIEW
1. A Chapter in the Life of Kelley’s Chapel United Methodist Church
2. Raising Voices and Hopes
3. The Malawi United Methodist Church
4. VIM Mission Trip to Nepal
5. Easter's Over – Were You There?
6. GBHEM leads and serves The United Methodist Church in educating, nurturing, and preparing leaders for the church and the world
7. Tennessee Conference Pioneering Women series -- My unconventional call to ministry: shared by Karen Collier
8. Tennessee Conference Pioneering Women series -- Faithful to the Call: shared by Rosemary Brown
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A Chapter in the Life of Kelley’s Chapel United Methodist Church
By Dr. Richard V. Shriver
Editor’s Note: Doug Davis wrote an article about Kelley’s Chapel United Methodist Church in the March 13th edition of The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and reprinted with permission in The Tennessee Conference REVIEW for April 3, 2009. Retired United Methodist Minister Richard Shriver had a dramatic chapter to add to the story.

From 1965 to 1974, I (Richard Shriver) was the Methodist campus minister (director of the Wesley Foundation) at MTSU. In about 1971, early one morning, I received a telephone call from a woman who claimed to be Mary Martin. She hastily identified herself as a Baptist and the owner of the Red Barn Antiques at Walter Hill, Tennessee (no kin to Peter Pan). She said she needed help with a group of young people who were meeting at the Kelley’s Chapel Methodist Church and wondered if maybe some of the Methodist MTSU students would be interested in volunteering.

Mary Martin, photo courtesy of Tim Martin.

Then she told me the strange and wonderful story. Kelley’s Chapel had closed its doors. The Methodist Conference had made the decision based on membership loss, the inability to support a minister, and no funds for the upkeep of the old building. The property had been put up for sale, and there had been an auction to sell it.

Mrs. Martin had gone to the auction with the intention of buying the church building to use for storing antiques and enlarging her business. She said that when it came time to bid, a lump came in her throat, and she couldn’t speak. Somehow she felt that the marvelous old building should not be used for antique storage. The property did not sell, that day.

Instead, Mrs. Martin got out her Dodge Ram van and began driving up and down the country roads in the area on Wednesday and Sunday nights, loading up with kids (with parents’ consent) and bringing them to the church. She had about 30 kids and a few parents at the church twice each week, and she needed leadership assistance.

I said I would try to help. I presented the matter to our Wesley Foundation student board, and they got very excited. I checked with the Methodist District Superintendent for permission, and soon I, my wife, Joy, and eight or ten students were driving out to Walter Hill on Wednesday and Sunday nights, having a great time with Mary Martin and about 30 young people. Some parents and a few of the families who previously had been members of Kelley’s Chapel became regular attendees, and I began leading informal worship services on Sunday nights.

Dinner on the grounds, October 1, 1972, the day Kelley’s Chapel is reinstated as a Methodist Church

We had regular Sunday morning worship at 11:00 A.M. at the Wesley Foundation at MTSU, so we scheduled an earlier Sunday service at Kelley’s Chapel. It became a very children-and-youth-based congregation – which made it very attractive to the people of the Walter Hill community. By the end of the summer, we had applied for reinstatement as an official United Methodist Church, and on October 1, 1972, the District Superintendent (Elma Broyles) officiated at a Sunday morning reinstatement service, followed by dinner on the grounds. There never was a happier congregation than this revitalized Kelley’s Chapel. I held Sunday morning worship services every Sunday until my Methodist appointment moved me to Gallatin in June 1974. Each week there was a youth program on Wednesday and Sunday nights.

Mrs. Martin had a son, Tim, who was in the Marine Corps but had plans to return to school to study to become a doctor. When visiting his mother, he attended Kelley's Chapel and met Gloria McCool, one of the Methodist MTSU students who was helping with the programs at the church – and they began dating and soon were married. Mary Martin became an active supporter of the Wesley Foundation.

And how can we help but wonder about that day at the auction when Mary Martin simply could not make a bid to turn Kelley’s Chapel into a place to store antiques?
P.S. Mary Martin died in 1989. Her son, Tim, is a doctor in Sheffield, Alabama. He and Gloria raised six children.

*Richard V. Shriver is an author, Professor of Philosophy & Religion, a United Methodist Minister, and Vice-President & Co-Host of Catholic Media Productions


Raising Voices and Hopes

by Nancy Neelley, nneelley@comcast.net

Looking for a way to truly help Nashville’s homeless, Tasha French set out with a goal in mind: to create a job opportunity that helps people get off of the streets and on to self-sufficiency. Tasha had seen examples of “street” newspapers that give the homeless both a means to share their voices, and a viable product to sell. She wondered if such a model would work in Nashville. Partnering with the National Street Newspaper Association, Tasha channeled her drive and graphic design ability to begin production of The Contributor as a means to achieving her goal.

Jerry and Karren Andreasson

After a year and a half, The Contributor now has over 75 vendors who have sold up to 3,500 papers monthly. Vendors can buy the paper for a quarter and resell it for a dollar, or earn free copies by contributing articles. Director of Vending, Tom Wills, oversees recruitment and training of homeless persons wanting to sell the paper. “This is a way to own your own business. Vendors have to learn how to figure out money concerns just like anyone else does. If you treat it [The Contributor] with respect, this is a means to getting a permanent address and moving on to something better.”

Jerry & Karren Andreasson are top performers for The Contributor, almost always reaching their goal of 600 newspaper sales per month. The April issue includes an article by Jerry that describes just what this opportunity has done for them – helping them to take care of their own basic needs rather than relying on hand outs. Now able to afford a meal rather than just coffee, or a hotel stay rather than a night sleeping on the streets, the Andreassons have their dignity after having lost so much else. This couple (who are members of 61st Avenue UMC) has been in the spotlight recently, making the front page of The Nashville Business Journal, and the nightly news on Nashville’s Channel 5.

Tom Wills is Director of Vending for The Contributor

Their drive, hard work and commitment sometimes surprise those who only see homeless persons as stereotypes. An encounter with them brings more than just the monthly edition. Likely, you will also receive a bright smile from Karren, and maybe even a scripture passage to encourage you along the way. You can buy papers from them on the corner of Broadway and 3rd Avenue during the week, and on weekends.

While other newspapers are struggling, Tom Wills is hopeful about The Contributor’s future, believing that one day the now monthly paper may move to bi-weekly or even weekly production. If there are more issues, there will be more sales, and there will be more people who can help themselves. You and your church can help this enterprise help others. Here's how:
.Invite representatives from The Contributor to speak at your church
.Purchase advertising to help offset printing costs and create salary support (both Tom & Tasha are unpaid staff)
.Allow vendors to sell The Contributor at your next function
.When you encounter a vendor, stop, buy a paper and share in conversation. It might just be an unforgettable encounter.

Contact Information:
The Contributor, P.O. Box 332023, Nashville, TN 37203. 615-653-4577. thecontributorstaff@gmail.com.


The Malawi United Methodist Church
By Kara Lassen Oliver
Kara, husband Jeff, and their two children, are moving to Malawi to be in service to the United Methodist Church of Malawi. They will be in the African nation for a year. Their home church, Belmont United Methodist Church, has a lengthy relationship with the United Methodist Church in Malawi and at Christmas raised $54,143 so that 16 villages could construct church buildings—this has been referred to as “The Miracle Offering.”

The Malawi United Methodist Church was established in 1987 but was given little support or infrastructure. Leadership both within and outside the country was uncertain of its actual status within the structure of the larger church. Some churches were planted in the middle and southern part of the country but were in the north in name only. Delegates went each year to the Zimbabwe Annual (regional) Conference but they also held their own Annual Meeting each year.

So in 2004, delegates from Malawi went to the General Central Conference in South Africa in hopes of clarifying their status as either a district of the Zimbabwe Conference or an independent Missionary Conference. To their dismay and sadness, their delegates were asked to leave the conference. There were no minutes to prove that they were a Missionary Conference, worthy of delegates, and the conference declared them a district of the Zimbabwe Annual Conference.

Rose, 1 of 2 women pastors in the United Methodist Church of Malawi.

At that same year Rev. Eben Nhiwatiwa was elected Bishop of Zimbabwe and he has been instrumental in helping the MUMC become a Missionary Conference. So from 2004 to 2008 Rev. Daniel Mhone, then the equivalent of a District Superintendent, and the bishop worked hard to submit all the necessary paperwork and reports to the General Board of Global Ministries so that on April 28, 2008, at the United Methodist General Conference, Malawi was overwhelming approved as a Missionary Conference, effective January 1, 2009. They are proud to be a Missionary Conference even though the Conference is only several months old!

The vision of the MUMC is to win Malawi for Christ. They believe strongly in the priesthood of all believers; the church is not the monopoly of the clergy. This makes them different from the other mainline churches in Malawi and attracts large numbers of people to their church. This year at annual conference they increased from 12 to 21 circuits (church or churches served by one pastor). A beautiful example is the story of Lester Mhone who went into a village (most of the mainline churches stay in and around the cities) and was served lunch. As was tradition, Lester was taken into a separate room from the people and given an entire chicken and a dozen drinks. But Lester went back to the people and asked that all the food be brought to him there. After a blessing he divided the chicken into portions and gave some to everyone and passed the drinks around. An elder of the village and of another church, who had come simply to stand in the back and "spy", joined the church that day. He told Lester that this was new and different and this was true to the word of God.

Kara Oliver greeting a small boy at Kwidsi UMC in the South Lilongwe Circuit. The Belmont UMC team visited the village chief, church members, and saw the site of another Miracle Offering Church.

The MUMC seeks to witness in three areas: social (clean water and education for all children), economic (starting farming clubs), and spiritual (new congregations and circuits).

The challenges of the MUMC lie within these same areas: leadership in development of clergy and laity to meet the surging numbers of people joining the church; education with a specific hope of starting Methodist primary schools; health, with a specific hope to build a clinic in the north so that people do not need to walk 20 kilometers to the nearest hospital; and economic empowerment to break the "dependency syndrome" so that Malawians stand on their own feet.

At the Round Table just last July, representatives from the German UMC, Upper Room Ministries, the General Board of Global Ministries, the MUMC and Belmont UMC gathered to name priorities that reflect the 2008 General Conference priorities: new faith communities (building 16 churches by November 2009 with Christmas Miracle Offering from Belmont UMC), improving health (HIV/AIDs), eliminating poverty, and leadership development (indigenous publications made possible through partnership with Upper Room Ministries). They are in the process of re-writing their Advance Special descriptions so that persons can make contributions through the General Board of Global Ministries.

The Bishop added that these are an enthusiastic, warm and generous people. While some may say that these are characteristics of Africans in general, he says he has not seen it to such a degree as in Malawi; they are a unique people. The church is young he said, but it is mature. He sees the most important thing as empowering the indigenous people. His concern is that the leadership development not only effect local churches and community but that it also move the MUMC from Missionary status to a full-fledge Annual Conference so that they might enjoy all the same rights and privileges as the rest of the annual conferences of the UMC. They should have a story to tell, and witness to show.

Knowing that we would be moving to Malawi for a year the Bishop’s advice to us was not to worry about how we might use our gifts or where to start. He said, "First, you must blend in. Come and worship with the people. Get to know one another and build relationships. From these relationships and friendships, your gifts will overflow and God will show you what to do." These wise and important words give Jeff and I great comfort and strength.

A special fund raising evening for the ministry of the Olivers in Malawi
The event will take place in Belmont United Methodist Church’s Community Center, May 9, 2009, 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The evening offers an opportunity for both financial and loving community support of Jeff and Kara Oliver as they work in training and empowering the pastors who serve the 16 new Malawi churches built through the generosity of Belmont UMC’s Christmas Miracle Offering. Festivities on May 9th include a spaghetti feast, silent and live auctions, words from the Olivers, and musical entertainment by Belmont’s own Brother Henry. DON'T MISS this chance to send the Olivers on their way ready and able to serve on behalf of Belmont United Methodist Church and the Tennessee Annual Conference.


VIM Mission Trip to Nepal
For many years the Hindu Kingdom of Nepal (located north of India and South of Tibet) was closed to all Westerners. In the 1950’s the first Westerners allowed into the country were Methodists, Dr. Bob and Bethel Fleming. The Flemings and a Presbyterian couple formed the United Mission to Nepal, an organization under which different denominations cooperated to do ministry in Nepal.

Pastor Devi Bhujel & Dr. Frank Billman.

Within the past 10 years the United Methodist Church has been planted in Nepal. There are now 40 churches and about 4,000 United Methodists in Nepal. The largest of the churches has a membership of 400. Converted from Hinduism, Devi Bhujel is the pastor who started the UMC in Nepal and he is now the District Superintendent for Nepal. Nepal is regarded as a mission district under Bishop Rudy Juan of the Philippines, but financially it is fully supported by the Board of Global Ministries.

District Superintendent Bhujel invited Aldersgate Renewal Ministries [ARM] to send a team to Nepal to lead the Life in the Spirit Seminar and Lord Teach Us to Pray seminar. After much planning and preparation work, on March 8th a team of ten boarded a plane in Los Angeles for a UM Volunteers in Mission trip to Nepal. Members of the team were Frank & Peggi Billman, Rich & Sue Fetzer (from PA), Ted & Audrey Newton (from PA), Pam Lipka (from NC), Kim Bright (from MO), Parker Wayland (from TN) and Jim Ball (from VA).

Prayer for Healing at the Life in the Spirit Seminar in Kathmandu.

Dr. Frank Billman, Director of Church Relations for ARM and pastor of Forest Grove UMC in Joelton, coordinated the Life in the Spirit Seminar at the Methodist Center in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. There were about 70 participants. Additional participants who intended to come were prevented from doing so by political unrest in other parts of the country. The presence of the Holy Spirit was quite evident throughout the seminar. After a presentation on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, prayer was offered over the people asking the Spirit to come down upon the participants as at Pentecost. Some of the people began to shake, others began to weep, still others cried out to God. It was very much like early Methodist meetings! When healing prayer was offered most of the group responded. A number of people then testified to being healed. There was a 3 hour worship service with much praise and prayer, testimonies, Frank preaching and Holy Communion.

Peggi Billman coordinated the Lord Teach Us to Pray at the Tanmunna UMC in Sunsari, Nepal. Due to political unrest the location of this seminar had to be changed from its original intended location in East Nepal to Tanmunna just 2 days prior to the seminar. Several people were killed in the original area.

Worship at the Lord Teach Us to Pray Seminar in the Tanmunna UMC, Sunsari, Nepal

Tanmunna was the first UMC planted in Nepal by Devi Bhujel. It is located an 11 hour bus ride away from Kathmandu, about 15 minutes from the border with India. There are no paved roads within many miles of the church. The town is made up of homes with bamboo walls and thatched roofs. It was definitely not a tourist destination like Kathmandu! Our minibus filled with white folks was met with stares as we drove down those dusty dirt roads.

At Tanmunna about 120 participants gathered, even though the location was changed to there just two days before. This seminar went well, too. Participants experienced forms of prayer they never tried before. Pam Lipka made praise streamers for both locations that were received with great enthusiasm. At the worship service there were 8 visitors who had never been in a Christian worship service before, including the bus driver. During the service a young girl testified that she wanted to receive Jesus as her Savior. A man who had been paralyzed testified that the United Methodists came and prayed for him, he was healed, and he left Hinduism to follow Christ. A former Hindu priest and former idol carver both testified to coming to Christ. A woman whose daughter suffered from epilepsy said that the United Methodists prayed for her daughter and she was healed so the lady gave her life to Christ. Another woman whose son was mentally ill was prayed for by the United Methodists and healed so she gave her life to Christ as well. A former Buddhist woman gave her life to Christ and is now studying to become a United Methodist evangelist. A study revealed that about 34% of the people in Nepal have come to Christ because of a healing.

Peggi Billman brought the message during the worship service, and Holy Communion was served there as well. When prayer for healing was offered, the response was great.
District Superintendent Bhujel was very pleased with the seminars. He said that they far exceeded his expectations.

Frank has been invited by UM Bishop John Innis to bring those same seminars to the theological school in Liberia in May, 2010.


Easter's Over – Were You There?
By Lucy Neeley Adams*

Classes had been slightly boring this Friday at school, and I was ready for a long weekend. The books in my arms were heavy so I hurried home. As I plopped them into a chair, my Bible fell to the floor. I picked it up to place it on top of my stack of textbooks. Before I set it down, I lamented over the bad grade I had made in my Bible class yesterday. It was a sad surprise, but all of my studies were taking second place these days.

My life was exciting and school was only a necessity. I almost finished my four years of college before my wedding so I promised my parents, "Just a few more courses after I marry, and then I will graduate." But studying for those classes was not my priority. My new husband, Woody, and our deep love for one another, was uppermost in my thoughts and dreams.

He was preparing to be a minister and I was majoring in Christian Education. My knowledge of Scripture was essential. My attendance at Sunday school and church all my life, had not helped in my understanding of the Christian faith. I heard the words, but they never entered my heart. I even failed a Bible exam when I was a freshman in college.. In tears, I told my roommate who was an excellent student in all courses, "But Nancy, I don't even know the difference between Moses and Paul!"

Attending church on Sundays with my mother was routine until I listened to adults singing hymns. I did not understand why my heart was stirred when I heard the people sing about Jesus. No one ever talked to me about him , but when they sang, it was wonderful. One of my favorites was, "Were You There?" One day when I was not in church I heard it sung and that definitely got my attention.

That moment had a great impact on my young life, and I wrote about it in my book, 52 Hymn Story Devotions. "When I was a child our family had a housekeeper. Lurline Argo was a blessing to my life. Before I knew there was racial prejudice, I loved this woman whose skin was much darker than mine. She loved me too, and was one of the foundations of my childhood. One morning I heard her singing in the kitchen. The plaintive notes of "Were You There' drew me to her side. I could feel the love and reverence with which she sang even though I was too young to understand the depth of the message. "

I am blessed to have come to know the Person and the message of that great song. Several years after my marriage, and graduating from college, I asked Jesus into my heart. That dramatic moment when I was thirty-two years old was a turning point. The Bible took on life and breath in my total being. My study became a privilege and teaching His Word became a great joy.

The hymns we Christians sing are only extensions of God's powerful presence in the Body of Christ. My feelings run high when I sing the spirituals written by African -Americans. Generations ago they came to this country as slaves and their work was seldom easy. Throughout the ordeal of pleasing the slave owner, a temporary escape was to sing their faith in the Lord and an eternal Home much different than this earthly one.

Many books describe the development of the spirituals. Two of these were written by professors at Fisk University in Nashville, Tn. Their origins were published in New Jubilee Songs (1901) and Folk Songs of the American Negro (1907). John W. Work, Jr. and his brother Frederick J. Work were pioneers in the development of these great hymns of faith.

John Work says: "Many of them were passed down from generation to generation, and after much singing, the texts and melodies varied from place to place. But the gospel message was always proclaimed."

Yes, I can heartily sing "Were You There" and I , ‘tremble, tremble, tremble,' when I think of the events in the last week of Jesus' life on earth. But I quickly rejoice as I experience the power of his resurrection. God raised him from the dead and I eagerly quote the words that Jesus said to Martha who was in grief about her brother Lazarus, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he die, he shall live."(John 11:25)

God's Word helps me to remember that I was there. And I am still there as I walk through this life with the living Jesus in my heart! I proclaim that his promises are true, his love is authentic, his power is available and his peace is overwhelming.

Dear God, hear my prayer of thanksgiving for the glory of Easter and the joyous Sundays following. Hear my prayer of repentance that at times I rob myself of Your glory in my heart. Then I feed on your Word and deepen my relationship with my living Lord and I am restored.. I pray in the risen Jesus' name, Amen

*Lucy Neeley Adams, author of 52 Hymn Story Devotions


General Board of Higher Education and Ministry educates, nurtures, prepares leaders for the church and the world

Scholarship recipients spoke about how the United Methodist scholarships they received had helped with their academic journey. At a dinner during the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s spring meeting, several spoke of how grateful they were to the church and GBHEM. Shown, from left, back: Kimberly Russaw, Kyle Kawczynski, Kathryn Cooper, Simeon Udunka. Front row, from left: Jessica Gadsden, Caroline Sugg, Uziel Hernandez, Ashley Travis, Tamara Lewis, Trenton Teegarden

Five students attending colleges within the Tennessee Annual Conference presented stories of their academic journeys at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, Office of Loans and Scholarships, appreciation dinner. The event was held at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel on March 19th. Each student presented his or her story, sharing their decisions for academic majors, and their gratitude for financial support as they were awarded scholarships from the GBOHE – but more than that, the hope kindled in their lives by the scholarship program.

Another group of scholarship recipients who enjoyed the event were introduced to those attending the banquet and were applauded for academic endeavors.

Scholarship recipients from Martin Methodist College, left to right, Uziel Hernandez, Kathryn Cooper, Trenton Teegarden, and Ashley Travis

Among the speakers were Tamara Lewis, who is not only working on a doctorate in Church History at Vanderbilt University, but will be ordained an elder in the Tennessee Conference this coming June. Kimberly Russaw is also doing graduate work at Vanderbilt, and Simeon Udunka is working on a medical degree in dentistry at Meharry Medical School. Two of the young people, Uziel Hernandez and Kathryn Cooper are students at Martin Methodist College.


Tennessee Conference Pioneering Women series –Karen Collier
My unconventional call to ministry

My call is somewhat unconventional. I did not hear someone say my name or anything like that. Though I knew I would always be working in the church, I never thought about being a preacher, pastor or college professor. My goal was to teach high school students Black history.

Karen Collier

From my childhood to college, I was always working and participating in church. In fact, if I had to walk to Sunday school I would, without reservation. When I was a junior at Fisk University, the chaplain, Dr. Hycel Taylor asked me what I had planned to do when I finished college. I replied that I was going to attend graduate school and get a master’s degree in Black History. He asked me why I did not consider going to seminary. My first thought was what I would do with all those men in that school. He replied, the better question was what they would do with me. I thought about it and went down to church to tell my pastor, Rev. W.C. Dobbins about the funny thing the chaplain had said to me, earlier. He did not laugh. Instead, he picked up the phone and called Dr. Major Jones and said that he had someone in his office to whom he should send an application. I was shocked. Nevertheless, I applied to seminary. My thinking was that I wanted to study religion, and so I could spend two years getting a Master of Religious Education and then return to do a Master’s in history.

I did visit another seminary, but I went to The Interdenominational Theological Center where I was introduced to Dr. Jacqueline Grant (She was a student then). I decided to go there and within a week I changed from an M.RE. to a M.Div. because I liked the curriculum better. While I was there I met several other professors who were quite challenging. My pastor checked on me and all went well. By the way, there were about 5 women on campus and 250 men. While I was in seminary the question of ordination came up. I had worked in an assistant role at my local church and so that was okay. The system was different then. We had to answer about 35 questions and then go into a room with all these men. When I sat down they all stood up. It was strange. One of the members, Rev. Maurice King, had spent much time trying to talk me out of being ordained. He turned out to be the one in the meeting who said that he had tried to talk me out of it, and I would not budge. Therefore, they should ordain me. That was unusual to me. In any case, I was ordained as the first African American woman in the new Tennessee Annual Conference in 1972, under Bishop H. Ellis Finger.

After seminary, I went to Duke University, where I received a Ph.D. in 1984. I was ordained an elder in TN during my years there (1978). My first trip for the church was to Hinton Rural Life Center in N.C., (1968). From there I went on a UMYF trip to New York. I was quite active in the local, jurisdictional and National Black Methodists for Church Renewal. I also volunteered for several projects with what was then the Board of Evangelism under the person who became Bishop C. Lin Henderson. From there I went on to be a member of the GBGM and traveled for the church. Just prior to that, I met Mrs. Rose M. Catchings and her husband, Rev. L. Maynard Catchings. They introduced me to the work of the church in the world. It was she who sent me on my first trip to Africa. My work in the church has expanded to work at the GBOD and Publishing House, to be a preacher, a pastor of two churches and now a professor at Fisk University. In addition I am a mentor with the UMC’s Women of Color Scholars and a coordinator for the UNCF/Mellon program.

*Karen Collier is Associate Professor, Fisk University in Nashville, and Chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy.


Tennessee Conference Pioneering Women series—Rosemary Brown
Faithful to the Call

When I was twelve, my home church, First Methodist in Elizabethton, Tennessee, sent me to camp at Buffalo Mountain near Johnson City. Missionaries shared with us the feelings of joy and excitement they had experienced when they heard God call them through Jesus to “go into all the world . . teach . . preach . . baptize . . “ and by the closing worship service on a mountain top I heard my call to follow that invitation. I have tried for the past fifty-four years to be faithful to that call.

At the age of eighteen I became the Junior High leader at Vine Street UMC in Macon, Georgia, where I was a student at Wesleyan College. After graduation I returned to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where my family resided, and became the first youth director at Christ United Methodist Church.

Rosemary Brown

Coming to Nashville in 1960 to attend Scarritt College to earn an M.A. degree resulted in seventeen years as a DCE . . .thirteen of those years at Calvary United Methodist Church in Nashville.

During those wonderful years at Calvary I was part of the originating boards for the Appalachia Service Project (a work project for youth), Outlook Nashville (a program of involving youth and adults with persons who experience handicapping conditions), served as a deputy and helped create Youth Guidance with Major George Curry in an effort to prevent youth from becoming involved in crime.

I became involved with Church Women United while I was at Calvary and spent ten years in prison ministry with that group (I am still President of CWU for my eighth term).

I was elected to serve on the Board of Global Ministries while attending the SEJ
conference at Lake Junaluska, and spent eight years representing our jurisdiction—traveling to New York over thirty-two times. During those years I went to the U.S.S.R. on a peace keeping mission, to Trinidad to work with women in family planning, and to nursing homes around our country evaluating certification requirements. I had the joy of being chosen to teach a Bible study in Singapore for the World Federation of United Methodist Women where we had six hundred women gather.

I have been the preacher for twenty-four Annual Conferences; was featured on the Protestant Hour four different times; average four revivals a year and especially love tent revivals. In addition I have spoken to youth at Lake Junaluska, Warmth in Winter, and Resurrection; and do retreats yearly for United Methodist Women.

Friday, June 19, 2009

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW June 26, 2009

Articles in the June 26th issue of THE REVIEW
1. Allison Social Holiness Award Winners – Don Abbott, The Rev. Bill Miller
2. Setting the Vision for Hispanic Ministries at Brentwood United Methodist Church
3. Loyd Mabry’s Reflections on Passionate Worship
4. Youth Annual Conference helps young people examine their own personal story
5. Grand Re-Opening of The Shopping Bag Community Thrift Store
6. Five Amendments to the United Methodist Constitution are affirmed by the Tennessee Annual
7. Youth Ministry Institute graduates ten
8. Three Special Ministries Become Conference Advance Specials
_______________________________


Allison Social Holiness Award Winners
This award was established by the 2001 Session of the Tennessee Annual Conference to recognize persons whose lives and ministries are focused on ministries of love and justice. Each year one layperson and one clergy person is selected. Sadly, we had no layperson recommended this year. This award remembers the persons who have answered the call of Christ to feed the hungry, visit the imprisoned, clothe the naked, visit the sick and help to bring about God’s kingdom here on earth. J. Richard Allison, for whom the award is named, was a pastor in the TN Conference, and a missionary, and a social activist in Nashville. Dick Allison was described by one of his peers as “a man of God with a mission of doing what he did best--building bridges between the needs of the community and the resources of the church.” This year, we celebrate the choice of Don Abbott (Laity) and William J. Miller (Clergy):

Don Abbott
Don Abbott is a member of Rehoboth United Methodist Church, Gallatin, Tennessee, and has been honored partially because of his efforts on behalf of the Gallatin Shalom Zone ministry.

Don Abbott (center), family and friends at the 2009 Annual Conference.

The Gallatin Shalom Zone was formed in response to a need to provide safety and security for persons living in Gallatin’s Clearview Community. From the work of the Shalom Zone there came a vision to renovate Union High School, formerly an African American High School, and source of great pride from the African American Community.

A major focus in the renovation has been Don Abbot who stepped forward and threw himself into learning the complexities of construction, fire codes, building codes, plumbing, etc., etc. The building has now been partially renovated and several social and educational programs are housed there along with a precinct station for the Gallatin Police Department. Because of Don’s faith and dedication, the people of the Clearview Community have a chance at a better life now in the present as well as a brighter future. Old social barriers between peoples are being broken down and hope is again present for a neighborhood where God’s peace, Shalom, is over the community.

In the area where the old Union High School is located, notes Shalom Zone Executive Director PJ Davis, “the average income is just $12,500 a year and access to services by community members is a problem. Don Abbot and the Shalom Board envisioned a community resource center to service the area as a “one-stop-shop” social service agency – feeling that this could be the answer to helping the underserved persons living there. The Gallatin Shalom Zone is one of 300 Shalom Zones nationwide.

As an international airline pilot Don has been to some of the richest and most exciting cities in the world. Now retired, he has turned his attention to assisting the underserved community in his hometown. Upon joining the Shalom Board of Directors he became actively involved in The Shalom Zone’s efforts to allow children and adults to empower themselves in a peaceful environment.” He has always felt that some people need a helping hand to build stronger and more purposeful lives. He has worked full time – forty hours plus – weekly since the start of the Union High building and remodeling project.

Shalom Zone Board chairperson Brenda Payne has many stories of Don’s commitment to love and justice ministry. “I vividly remember one particular night after hours when the toilets had overflowed, and we had to get the problem resolved as fast as possible. We could clean it up, but we had to find the source of the issue. We called Don, who was on his way to dinner with his wife (who is another saint by the way) and some friends. He dropped her off and came back to help. We were able to get some plumbers on site and they and Don spent the better part of the evening crawling under parts of the building to find the break. It was almost midnight when he left knowing what had to be completed in the coming days to correct the problems.

“The most endearing element to all of this,” says Payne, “is Don’s quiet resolve and unending patience to do what has to be done in service to the mission. He shies away from any attention and wants no recognition for the accomplishments we could not have achieved without him.”

Don Abbott’s pastor at Rehoboth, the Rev. Michael Potts, almost shakes his head in wonder with the amount of time, energy, and love Abbott has expended in love and justice ministries. “Don and his wife Alpha are chairpersons of the missions committee here at Rehoboth. In addition to the Shalom Zone work, Don has spearheaded a new ministry with a veteran’s home in Gallatin. He was instrumental in getting the home a new freezer as well as organizing a monthly hot meal in which Rehoboth’s members prepare food for the veterans living in the home. Don was also instrumental in getting our congregation involved with Meals on Wheels here in Gallatin. Several of the biweekly routes are handled by Don and other members of our church. The leadership he has brought to this church is invaluable in helping our members understand the need for the role of love and justice ministries as part of our overall mission effort. Don moved us from just wishing we could be involved in love and justice ministries to an active role, mostly due to his willingness to lead by example.”

The Rev. William J. Miller
Bill Miller is a retired United Methodist minister who attends West End United Methodist Church in Nashville.

Born the eighth of ten children to a parsonage family, he learned at an early age about teamwork and cooperation. He was responsible for certain chores before he could play and still shares with others the value of always completing tasks to the best of one’s ability. Ever gracious, his concern is always for the other person and how he can improve any situation, program, or outcome. His patience is evident whether he is patching a leaky church roof, working on a budget, or counseling an individual who is slow to grasp the lesson. Looking to God and then to neighbor, this nominee has been influential in the lives of countless people who admire, respect, and count him as mentor and friend.

Bill and Sue Ann Miller after the Social Holiness award presentation.

His ministry was formed in the Evangelical United Brethren tradition in Iowa, His first churches were in Ohio before he came to the General Board of Discipleship in the Stewardship Section in 1978.

Miller’s passion is giving: giving to God and giving to others. He does not hesitate to respond to persons in great need—spiritually, emotionally, or financially. One of his great gifts is his ability to listen.

Early on he became convinced of the value of Disciple Bible Study, and from one of these classes he taught at Christ UMC, came a vibrant and effective ministry at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison in Nashville. He not only led several of the church members to teach and begin a ministry at the prison, but he went and taught also. He continues his involvement in this ministry by offering, at least once a month, communion at the prison to a growing number of participants.

Jerry Nail, one of the congregants at Christ UMC who got involved in prison ministry under Miller’s guidance, reflects: “Bill Miller is the man who delivered the message seven years ago that I needed to go to prison, thus starting a connectional ministry where none had existed between the people attending Christ United Methodist Church in Franklin, Tennessee, and the men incarcerated at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison in Nashville.”

He laid the groundwork for this by facilitating Disciple Bible classes at Christ UMC; then continued this vital contribution by doing the same at Riverbend. So, he went to prison too! Through his untiring efforts the bible class of 15 men has grown to two bible classes with an enrollment of 40 men. In addition, he had the primary responsibility of setting up a communion service every Sunday morning and encouraging other pastors to participate. This service started 5 years ago with 12 in attendance and the participation of three other ministers. This “church” has grown to over 50 men (standing room only) and there are now ministers and retired bishops anxious to participate.” Nail quotes Kenneth L. Carder, retired bishop of this conference, who himself was quoting a noted jurist, “Pastors should be as familiar with the inside of the local jails and prisons as they are the local hospitals.” Nail concludes, “Bill Miller is! Thank God.”

Aline C. Wesley, Chair of the Residency Process Team, Tennessee Board of Ordained Ministry, feels strongly about Miller’s contributions to the Tennessee Conference. “It is not easy to describe in words how a person carries out acts of justice and social holiness. However, when you know Bill, his total being radiates a deep desire to find and carry out all that is represented by the Richard J. Allison Holiness Award. His calm thoughtful spirit searches for ways to bring love, social holiness, and justice to every situation, and he then has the resolve and determination to see that this is carried out. Here I quote some of Bill’s own words on why he does this, ‘It is the mandate of love that we have come to know through Jesus Christ.’”

Setting the Vision for Hispanic Ministries at Brentwood United Methodist Church
by Joaquin Garcia

Brentwood Hispanic Leadership team, Left to right, Rev. Mack Strange, John Frame, Anne Frame, Rev. Joaquin Garcia, Mark Hill, Raquel Hinojosa, Steve Singelton, Rev. Alejandro Hinojosa, Bilha Alegria, District Superintendent John Collette, and Hispanic Ministries coach Rev. Enrique Gonzalez.

Brentwood UMC Associate Pastor Mack Strange, and newly appointed Hispanic Pastor, Alejandro Hinojosa, met with a Lay Leadership Team to further develop the Hispanic Ministries at Brentwood United Methodist. The Reverend Enrique Gonzalez, pastor in Elgin UMC in Illinois, an Hispanic coach with experience in starting new Hispanic congregations and revitalizing existing ones, will be working with this team for one year to share and apply best practices in Hispanic Ministry. Each one of these best practices are defined and sustained as “proven and successful” working plans and programs that can make a substantial and sustained positive impact on the life of the ministry.

The pastors and the Lay Leadership Team have jointly developed a practical vision for Hispanic Ministries at Brentwood UMC and a MAP [Ministry Action Plan] which include benchmarks for each of the best practices adopted. They have also identified underlying contradictions that might block that vision.

The coach will be meeting both by conference call and face-to-face visits during the whole year.

This new Hispanic project is possible through funds from three sources: Brentwood United Methodist Church, Hispanic/Latino Academy New Hispanic Ministries Grant, and New Congregational Development Grant. This new model has the support of the Nashville District.

Primera Iglesia Leadeship team, Left to right, Martha Segarra, Javier Salinas, Pastor Enrique Hernandez, Santiago McKlean, Teresa Hidalgo, Blanca Miranda, Leadership Team coach Pastor Enrique Gonzalez, Elza Salinas, Maria McKlean.

This model of working with a coach to accompany the congregation and the pastor will also be used at Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida at Woodbine to revitalize its ministry with the new appointment of Pastor Enrique Hernandez.

For more information contact: Rev. Joaquin Garcia, Director, Hispanic Latino Academy email: jgarcia@tnumc.org


Loyd Mabry’s Reflections on Passionate Worship

Loyd Mabry addresses the 2009 Annual Conference

Our theme for Annual Conference was Passionate Worship. I, like many of you, wondered how one teaches worship without actually worshipping. Sally Morgenthaler, a well-known author and friend of Bishop Wills, lead those sessions at Annual Conference.

To be honest I am still trying to grasp what she said. When one does not present in a linear fashion, I find it harder to put the pieces together. I appreciated the imagery and the challenge to expand my thinking regarding worship. Still, I find myself more oriented to the practical.
For what it is worth I offer the following reflections:

· Passionate worship takes time and requires thoughtful planning. It is not just putting all the parts together. It is creating an experience that is long lasting.
· Planning for worship is best done as a team. Cooperation and teamwork creates a synergy that is contagious.
· I need to know my congregation and the people I am seeking to reach. What are their likes, dislikes, learning styles, etc.?
· Multi-sensory experiences offer the greatest opportunity for lasting and meaningful worship.

I am simple-minded and sometimes the visionary, ethereal experiences allude me, but I do think I can do these things. I know we are stronger when we work together. I know the experience is greater when I collaborate with others. After all, I want others to know the amazing love of God and I value the opportunity to worship my Lord and Savior in a communion with others.

I offer these simple reflections.


Youth Annual Conference helps young people examine their own personal story
By Brad Fiscus

New leaders were elected for the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) Executive Committee and were warmly and enthusiastically applauded by delegates to the 2009 Tennessee Annual Conference. (L to R) Devin Penner, Hannah Lamon, Rachael Junard, Brianna Martin, Todd Cox, Joshua McKlean, Brett Hillesheim

FRESH, the Youth Annual Conference gathering was held on June 13th and 14th at Brentwood United Methodist Church. The theme for the weekend was STORYLINE. The youth and adults participated in activities that helped them see their own personal story as part of God’s story. Time was spent creating artwork, scripts, and skits that helped them begin to think creatively about how to share the story of their life with each other.

They explored the positive and negative opinions about the Bible and then wrestled with where to place them on a positive to negative continuum. Participants gleaned powerful insights from this experience exposing the need to contradict the negativity by sharing their faith-filled story with the world. After reviewing the continuum, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 was read and dissected to reveal the truth about God’s Word. After this discovery, the youth and adults were challenged to ponder where their personal story and God’s story intersect to become their faith story.

During the retreat, stories were shared from youth groups who received Youth Service Fund grants for mission projects during the 2008 summer. Stories were told of trips of service in Mississippi, Chicago, Louisiana, Sager Brown, Appalachian Service Project, Henderson Settlement, and the Nashville Synergy project. Each told of how youth and adults were engaged in sharing the love of Christ with those they encountered. The stories told of life changing moments and acts of kindness from those who served and those who were served.

FRESH also is a time to elect new leaders for the Conference Council on Youth Ministries and the District Youth Councils. Each of the candidates were given the opportunity to share their story with the group in hopes that they might be chosen for the various positions elected. Each of the seven districts elected their leadership during this event. The new officers for each district were challenged with developing gatherings for the fall and spring to bring youth together for fellowship and spiritual reflection. Saturday evening they had the opportunity to share their ideas at dinner with their District Superintendent. The Bishop, the Cabinet and the Extended Cabinet joined the youth leadership group for a time of fellowship and refreshment. The following youth were chosen to help lead each district:

Clarksville District
President -Michelle Undis of Waverly UMC
Vice-President - Brianna Martin of Hilldale UMC
District Co-Coordinators - Betsy Haley of Waverly, Jesse Fleck of Pleasant View

Columbia District
President - Luke Growden of Westview UMC
Vice-President - Elizabeth Roten of Epworth UMC
Secretary - Zan Wilson of Nunnelly UMC
District Coordinator - Christine Penner of Westview

Cookeville
President - Trey Taylor of Gainesboro UMC
Vice-President - Rose Newman of Gainesboro UMC
District Coordinator - Roger Brown of McMinnville First

Cumberland
Co-Presidents - Hannah Lamon of Grace UMC and Todd Cox of Cooks UMC
District Coordinator - Gavin Richardson of Hendersonville First

Murfreesboro
President - Carl Glenn of St. Mark’s UMC
Vice-President - Lilly Clark of St. Mark’s UMC
Secretary - Chelsea Reed of Smyrna First UMC
District Coordinator - Daryn Chavis of Murfreesboro First

Nashville
President - Rachael Junard of Hillcrest UMC
Vice-President - Callie Worden of Hillcrest UMC
Secretary - Marie Stephens of Arlington
District Coordinator - Mike Worden of Hillcrest UMC

Pulaski
President - Chris Moore of Dunn UMC
Vice-President- Jessica Moore of Dunn UMC

Officers were also elected for the Conference Council on Youth Ministry(CCYM). The CCYM Executive Committee desires to be a representation the great diversity of the conference. Every effort is made to provide room at the table for youth who want to participate and have a voice in leading the conference, from every district, from every size church, and from every ethnicity. As we strive to claim all youth for Christ, it takes every believer of every age reaching out to share the love of Christ. This will help us fulfill the mission God calls us to do - “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” The following were elected to serve on the CCYM Executive Committee:

President - Jessica Hall of Hendersonville First in the Cumberland District
Vice-President - Harris Smith of Smyrna First in the Murfreesboro District
Secretary - Hannah Lamon of Grace UMC in the Cumberland District
Conference Representative - Rachael Junard of Hillcrest UMC in the Nashville District
Middle School Representative - Todd Cox of Cooks UMC in the Cumberland District
Middle School Representative - Elizabeth Roten of Epworth UMC in the Columbia District
Hispanic Youth Representative - Joshua McKlean of Primera Iglesia Methodista
Black Methodist Church Renewal Youth Representatives-
Marquice Cartwright of Key-Stewart UMC in the Cumberland District
Epiphany Fields of Gordon Memorial in the Nashville District
Southeast Jurisdictional Youth Chair - Devin Penner of Westview UMC in the Columbia District
Conference Youth Coordinator - Brett Hillesheim of St. Mark’s UMC in the Murfreesboro District

Additional youth representation will be added from the Hispanic, Korean/Asian, and Native American Ethnic Caucus groups.

Two resolutions were presented and passed during the CCYM business session. Resolution 1 proposed that the title of Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries be changed to Director of Young People’s Ministry as designated in the Book of Discipline. This area encompasses youth and young adults ages 12 to 30. Resolution 2 asked that the Director of Young People’s Ministry form a Task Force to examine ways to increase the activity and participation of the designated ethnic caucus groups of the CCYM and present an opinion at the 2010 FRESH Conference.

The 2010 FRESH Conference will be June 12-13, 2010 at Brentwood United Methodist Church.





Grand Re-Opening of The Shopping Bag Community Thrift Store

New front entrance to The Shopping Bag

Nashville, Tenn. – Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, a social service agency promoting self-reliance and positive life choices for children, youths and adults in Middle Tennessee, celebrated the grand re-opening of The Shopping Bag on Thursday, June 18. Shopping Bag is a unique secondhand store that sells gently used clothing items and accessories for men, women and children. The store closed in 2007 to move into an expanded, renovated location within the Bethlehem Centers facility. The grand re-opening ceremony featured a speech by Bethlehem Centers President and CEO Joyce Espy Searcy, a ribbon cutting, welcome reception and tour of the new store. “We are thrilled to open the Bethlehem Centers’ new and improved Shopping Bag store, which provides affordable clothing to local families and helps fund vital community services at the Bethlehem Centers,” Searcy said. “Thanks to a generous grant through Tennessee State University, we have a beautiful, renovated store, and we welcome everyone to visit The Shopping Bag and find a great bargain.”

Joyce Searcy shows guests around the remodeled and revitalized Shopping Bag.

The renovations in The Shopping Bag’s new location, which include new windows, an attractive blue awning with the store’s logo and a larger space to sort and hang clothing, were made possible by a grant secured by Tennessee State University (TSU). In 2005, TSU’s Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement was awarded a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) grant program. This program is designed to assist HBCUs in expanding their role in effectively addressing community development needs in their localities, which includes neighborhood revitalization, housing, and economic development, principally for people of low- and moderate-income.

“I am delighted that TSU could support the good works of Bethlehem Centers of Nashville by creating an incredible retail space that will provide quality resale items for the community,” said Ginger Hausser Pepper, Assistant Director of the Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement at TSU. “Not only have the grant funds created a great space, but our students, staff, and faculty have donated items, created marketing plans, provided interior design ideas, and volunteered to assist in the grand re-opening of the store.”

The Shopping Bag was founded in 1981 by a group of United Methodist Church women who began collecting donated clothing and household items in their homes. They made arrangements with Bethlehem Centers of Nashville to use the Centers’ basement as a resale shop, and The Shopping Bag was created. With its new space, the Shopping Bag is focused on reinvigorating sales and continuing to support the work and mission of the Bethlehem Centers of Nashville.

The Shopping Bag is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The store is in need of volunteers and gently used clothing, shoes and accessories for all ages. Clothing should be cleaned and on hangers. No other items will be accepted. Drop-off days are Monday and Wednesday. All donations should be delivered to 1417 Charlotte Avenue. For more information or to donate items or volunteer at The Shopping Bag, please call (615) 329-3386.


Five Amendments to the United Methodist Constitution are affirmed by the Tennessee Annual Conference
Twenty-seven receive strong negative vote

Thirty-two Amendments to the Constitution of the United Methodist Church were passed by General Conference. These Amendments are being brought before all Annual Conferences and votes taken. A positive or “yes” vote amounting to two-thirds of the aggregate vote from ALL Annual Conferences on each amendment is required before the Constitution can be changed.

During the 2009 session of the Tennessee Annual Conference roughly 72% of delegates, lay and clergy, voted against a cluster of 23 amendments to the Constitution of the United Methodist Church that would allow the General Conference to create a new structures for all of our world-wide United Methodist church. Each Annual Conference would belong to a Regional Conference. In the United States a Regional Conference would be able to organize sub-units called Jurisdictional Conferences. While almost all person voting against the proposed legislation felt that changes in structure will be needed because of the increasingly world-wide nature of the United Methodist Church – it was generally felt that we should wait for a report on a special study committee created by General Conference to present specifics on how the World Wide United Methodist Church would look and operate before we voted on the concept of “regional conferences.”

Only five amendments were passed with “yes” votes by the Tennessee Annual Conference. Amendment #8, receiving a positive vote of 70% percent, recommends adding “gender” to the categories of persons protected against discriminatory treatment in the denominations global foundations document. The wording in the Constitution will read:
To define and fix the conditions, privileges, and duties of Church membership, which shall in every case be with reference to race, gender or status
To secure the rights and privileges of membership in all agencies, programs, and institutions in the United Methodist Church regardless of race, gender or status.”

Amendment #9, which will ensure a minimum basis of support for the election of bishops at Jurisdictional Conferences, received a positive vote of 67%. It will read, if passed by 2/3 of voting delegates from ALL Annual Conferences: “The jurisdictional conferences shall be composed of as many representatives from the annual conferences and missionary conferences as shall be determined by a uniform basis established by the General Conference, provided that no jurisdictional conference shall have fewer than 100 delegates.”

Amendment #17, affirmed by about 60% of Tennessee Conference delegates would allow lay persons on the Conference Committee on Investigation to vote on matters of ordination, character, and conference relations of clergy.

Amendment #19 garnered the strongest affirmative vote, 78% -- and it makes a change in who is able to vote for clergy delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences – The basic change allows local pastors who have completed course of study or an M.Div. degree and have served a minimum of two consecutive years under appointment to vote for clergy delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences.

The final “yes” vote, nearly 72%, was on amendment #22 which would add Bermuda to the listing of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference . . . something that has been done in practice but now is formally recognized.

Remember – the Tennessee Conference vote will be part of an aggregate total from all Annual Conferences. It could be that items with a 72% “no” vote in Tennessee could be passed by major “yes” votes in other conferences when all votes are tallied. Or, those items that received major support in Tennessee could be voted down by other conferences.



New Class forming in the fall
Youth Ministry Institute graduates ten
By Brad Fiscus

(L to R) Becky Grigsby, Betsy Haley, James Marks, Rev. Gwen Brown-Felder, Maria McKlean, and Jammie Robertson – six of the ten graduates.

The Youth Ministry Institute, a partnership with The Cal Turner, Jr Center for Church Leadership at Martin Methodist College, the Youth Ministries of the Tennessee Conference, and the Youth Worker Movement, continues to build strong, competent Youth Leaders. Now in it’s 8th year and with over 70 graduates, this institute provides theological training, leadership, and youth ministry skill sets to equip youth ministers with the tools they need to build sustainable youth ministries in the local churches of the Tennessee Conference. This year, ten youth ministers from across the Tennessee Conference participated and completed this intensive training program. In addition to receiving practical skills and hands-on ideas, the relationships that are formed during this nine month course help create a network of support across the conference.

The graduates of this year’s course are Lynne Anderson of Centerville United Methodist, Rev. Gwen Brown-Felder the pastor of Ernest Newman United Methodist and the Wesley Foundation director at Fisk University, Jessica Fleck of Pleasant View United Methodist, Becky Grigsby of Riverside United Methodist, Betsy Haley of Waverly United Methodist, James Marks of Craft Memorial and St. Luke’s United Methodist Churches, Maria McKlean of Primera Iglesia Methodista, Jammie Robertson of Huntland and Walnut Grove United Methodist Churches, Andrew Scott of Dickson First United Methodist, and Pamela Smith-Villalvoza of Friendship United Methodist.

The class would like to thank the following instructors for their time and commitment during the year: Rev. Domenic Nigrelli, Dr. Pat Whittemore, and Jack Radcliff of Martin Methodist College, Rev. Terry Carty of the Youth Worker Movement, Beth Morris, Gavin Richardson, Jason Sansbury, Jacob Fasig, Will Penner, Brad Fiscus, Darla Hall, Jessica Hall, Rev. Deech Kirk, Rev. Mary Noble Parrish, Rev. Alecia Fischer and Hank Hilliard from the General Board of Discipleship Division on Young People’s Ministry. Special thanks also to Ginna Waggoner, Debbie McHaffie, Tijunia Brooks, Blake Thornell, and Shanna Scrimpshire for sharing their gifts of administration and music.

A new class is forming for the Fall of 2009. It will combine all of the great aspects that have been a part of YMI from its beginning and will move from a mentor model to a coaching model.

The coaching model will utilize exemplary youth workers from the conference who will initiate contact and offer support to the youth workers in their YMI Ministry Team. This gives the participating youth minister a guide to help them through the course and answer questions about their local ministry.

If you are interested in joining this class please contact Debbie McHaffie or Brad Fiscus at the conference office, phone 615-329-1177. A brochure and registration form is available for download at http://www.tnumcyouth.org/,



Three Special Ministries Become Conference Advance SpecialsConference
Advance Specials provide opportunity for second mile giving within the Tennessee Annual Conference.

Delegates to the 2009 Tennessee Annual Conference approved two ministries as Conference Advance Specials, the Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church After School Program, and Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON). They approved a third program, Feed America First, contingent on review by the Conference Committee on Mercy and Mission.

Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church After School Program. The Sixty-First Avenue UMC After School Program is a free ministry that serves approximately 40 low-income children and youth (K-10) who attend nearby Cockrill Elementary School, several middle schools, and Hillwood or Pearl-Cohn High Schools in West Nashville. It is held Tuesday-Thursday, September through the end of April, on days that Metro Schools are in session. The After School Program is a safe place during a period which studies have shown to be the most dangerous time of day for young people who might otherwise be latch-key kids. It is a place where children and youth are helped with academic skills and where they are fed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The young children (K-4) are at the church three days a week. The older children and youth meet once a week in two separate groups, one for girls and one for boys. The boys group is called “Heads Up Hoops” and combines teaching basketball skills with opportunities for sharing and learning about discipleship.

“Lydia’s Little Sisters” is a program in which older women act as mentors and engage in faith building, life skills learning, and self-esteem activities with the young girls/women. All of these young people have tremendous God-given potential, but due to their circumstances they also face many challenges to realizing that potential. It is the goal of the project to provide them with a safe place where they are loved and encouraged to become the good, creative, and loving people God made them to be.

“We believe, says After School Program director Nita Haywood, “that our congregation, Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church, has a calling to act as one ‘front-line’ presence for the Tennessee Conference in its ministries with ‘the least of these.’ We are a small congregation of seventy members, and with just one or two exceptions, all of our members have incomes below the poverty line. This fact gives our congregation a high level of empathy for, understanding of, and commitment to ministries with hurting people. That is a good thing. However, it also means that we are dependent upon the broader connection (especially churches and individuals in the Tennessee Conference) to provide resources in terms of time, talent, and dollars to keep our congregation and its ministries vital.”

Contributions to the Sixty-First Avenue UMC After School Program Advance Special can be sent to Sixth-First United Methodist Church, 6018 New York Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209, or can be made through your local church and the Tennessee Conference Treasurer.

Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors. JFON’s mission is to provide high-quality, free immigration legal services, warm welcome and hospitality to migrants and newcomers. Its mission is also to engage in a program of education and advocacy about issues of immigration for the sake of cross-cultural community building.

The organization needs funding for attorney’s salary and to increase the capacity of legal services for migrants whose income in below federal poverty guidelines. Increased funding will mean being able to expand the geographical area served as well as increasing the number of monthly clinic sites. JFON hopes through its ministry to continue cultivating and strengthening relationships with the Tennessee Conference, the seven districts, and with local churches.

In its work JFON is acutely aware of the current reality which is that complex legal issues resulting from the broken immigration policy of our country have left countless immigrants without affordable legal resources. Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (TN JFON) attempts to respond to the dire needs of the immigrant community primarily through a network of volunteers drawn from United Methodist churches and community organization. In the process TN JFON partners with local UMC churches and other faith communities, to coordinate community-wide efforts to build unity of purpose, empowerment, and advocacy on issues of basic human need and dignity.

Currently free legal clinics are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month at Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. The JFON appointment and message line is 615-823-1945.

Contributions to the Justice for Our Neighbors program can be sent directly to JFON, Belmont United Methodist Church, 2007 Acklen Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212, or made through your local church and the conference treasurer to The Justice For Your Neighbors Tennessee Conference Advance Special.

Feed America First. A motion from the floor requested that Feed America First also become a Tennessee Conference Advance Special—this motion was approved contingent on review and approval by the Tennessee Conference Committee on Mercy and Mission.

Feed America First serves about 130 small, mostly rural agencies within a 150-200 mile radius of its Murfreesboro, TN warehouse. Founder and Executive Director of Feed America First, Tom Henry, is passionate about the agency’s mission: “Hunger will cease to be a problem in America when we REFUSE to allow our neighbors to go hungry. Every dollar donated to Feed America First,” says Henry, “provides enough food for 12-15 meals for hungry families.”

Local churches will now be able to assist Feed America First through local church financial gifts or through the office of the Tennessee Annual Conference treasurer. Donations to Feed America First can also be sent to Feed America First, 1105 Blue Springs Road, Franklin, TN 37069.

Friday, June 05, 2009

TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW June 12, 2009

Articles in the June 12, 2009 Edition of The Tennessee Conference Review
1. Faith calls us to love neighbors, pastor says.
2. Local Clergy Tour Metro General Hospital on May 18 and 19
3. Centertown United Methodist Church moves to newly constructed church building.
4. Clarksville Urban Ministries: Offering Hope to Children in Crisis
5. UMC Foundation partners with Nashville Area Foundation for planned giving training
6. Nashville to Malawi: An Expanding Mission Partnership
7. Friesen Family Honored with a going away party
8. Sager Brown: Helping Communities with home repair
9. He's still talking about love of his life--John Meadors
10. Sherry Cothran Woolsey Receives Harkness Scholarship
______________________________



Faith calls us to love neighbors, pastor says
By Kathy L. Gilbert*

June 1, 2009 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) When President Barack Obama opens the debate on immigration with Democratic and Republican legislators June 8, the Rev. Sonnye Dixon will be doing what his faith has taught him: praying for his neighbors.

The Rev. Sonnye Dixon says his faith calls him to pray for his neighbors. UMNS photos by Mike DuBose

Dixon, pastor of Hobson United Methodist Church, joined with community, business and faith leaders at a press conference June 1 to launch a national campaign to reform immigration for America. Similar press conferences were held across the country.

“I have been taught by my faith to welcome the stranger and to love my neighbor even if that neighbor is an enemy,” Dixon said. “I am praying for that conversation because an epidemic of xenophobia is infecting our nation.”

The Reform Immigration for America campaign is an effort of 200 national, regional and local organizations representing labor, faith, education, business and community working for comprehensive immigration reform.

“The June 8 meeting is an extension of Obama’s pledge during the election campaign,” said Avi Poster, president of the Coalition for Education on Immigration in Nashville. “Comprehensive immigration reform is long overdue.”

Remziya Suleyman says, “America doesn’t want families torn apart.”

“America doesn’t want families torn apart, it is time for practical and common sense reform,” said Remziya Suleyman, policy coordinator for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

Praise for conversation
United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño applauded Obama’s decision to start the conversation on immigration and work toward reform in 2009.

“As United Methodists, we believe that immigration is a human rights issue that needs serious attention,” Carcaño said in an April 13 statement thanking Obama for putting immigration reform on his agenda for 2009.

Carcaño, also the chairwoman of the United Methodist task force on immigration, said the church stands “firmly in believing that the inherent value of all immigrants means that all of their civil liberties should be respected and maintained regardless of their legal status. We believe, however, that our present immigration policies violate these basic rights.”

The United Methodist Council of Bishops expressed their commitment to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and to stand in solidarity with “our immigrant neighbors” at the conclusion of its spring meeting May 13.

“I am praying for success,” Dixon said. “How we deal with reform is how we will be viewed in the world.

“God puts people in our paths so we can learn to love them.”
*Gilbert is a news writer for United Methodist News Service in Nashville, Tenn.


Local clergy tour Metro General Hospital on May 18 and 19

Matt Kelley, Pastor of Bethlehem UMC; Dr. Valerie Montgomery-Rice, Dean of Meharry School of Medicine; Rev. Brian Fesler, Church of Scientology; Ken Edwards, Sr. Pastor, Belmont UMC, David Lay, Pastor, St. John's UMC; Dr. Reginald Coopwood, Chief Executive Officer of the Nashville Hospital Authority.

Nashville, TN -- The Metropolitan Nashville Hospital Authority and Nashvillians for Metro General invited area faith leaders to become more familiar with the services and programs of Metro General Hospital during "clergy tours" on Monday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 19. The tours were conducted at 10:00 a.m. each day. The tours were designed to help clergy in their work by familiarizing them with how the hospital can assist their ministries. Each tour concluded with a luncheon with Dr. Reginald Coopwood, the Executive Director of the Hospital Authority, who shared his vision for the future of Metro General and also spoke on the challenges faced by the hospital.

"Metro General is a gift to our community that many people don't know about," stated the Reverend Jay Voorhees, coordinator of the tours. "We wanted to help area faith leaders become more familiar with our community hospital. We think that they would be surprised by the level of service and the number of ways Metro General is working to help our city."

Access for Everyone
“In a city known around the world as a center for health-related businesses,” Voorhees continues, “General is evidence that as Nashville grows, it has not forgotten to make sure that everyone has access to good care. In a city with a reputation for unmatched hospitality, our public hospital is testimony that Nashville does not neglect its own. Conversely, as my friend the Rev. Henry Blaze regularly tells me, a city that fails to care for its sick is a sick city. That is not a description of the Nashville that I know and love. “

The Rev. Jay Voorhees moderates a luncheon discussion with Metro General Hospital and Meharry Medical School leaders.

“Nashville is also known as a center of education. General Hospital serves as the principal teaching facility for Meharry Medical College students. Meharry is the largest private, comprehensive, historically black institution for educating health professionals and scientists in the nation. Without an accredited, strong General Hospital, we could see a long-term impact on our national health infrastructure. “

“More than 75 Nashville clergy have united with others in Nashville to voice our concerns regarding threatened cuts in public funding for Nashville General. Conversations are under way to find ways to strengthen General’s role as our city’s “safety net” facility at a time of deepening need. “


Centertown United Methodist Church moves to newly constructed church building

A sign outside the old church building tells the whole story.

Late in the afternoon of May 24th members and friends of Centertown United Methodist Church gathered in the church’s rather bare sanctuary. The altar table and pulpit had already been removed from the sanctuary as the congregation prepared to move to its newly constructed church building, an estimated quarter of a mile away. After delicious snacks in the old fellowship hall and a brief service “decommissioning” the old Centertown Church, the group--adults and children--prepared for the march to the new facility. Each person carried with him/her a part of the old church—cross, candle sticks, offering plates, hymn books.

The sound of a shofar heralded the beginning of the journey, and the periodic sound of the shofar moved the marchers along. Great hymns of the church were sung along the route, and the Centertown Fire Department stopped traffic along a busy stretch of highway as the procession moved on to the new Centertown facility, a strikingly beautiful structure with a large modern fellowship hall and a inspiring sanctuary. Through a service of consecration led by District Superintendent Jay Archer and Pastor Maurice Moore – the new building, the sanctuary, the altar, the pulpit, the baptistery, the baptism font, and a brand new grand piano were consecrated and blessed.

Photo #13, caption: District Superintendent Jay Archer closes the consecration service with a prayerful benediction. The churches new grand piano is in the background


History of Centertown United Methodist Church
Taken from Centertown United Methodist Church History compiled by Dianne Page, church historian.

The formation of the Centertown United Methodist Church was an outgrowth of a tent revival organized by Dr. L. B. Gilbert, a doctor in Centertown. For nineteen years Dr. Gilbert transported his family by buggy to McMinnville to worship. Desiring a place closer to worship, he persuaded Rev. Bruce Lyles, then pastor of First United Methodist Church, to conduct a revival in Centertown. After several day and night services, Dr. Gilbert, Alex Tassey, Harmon Fennell, and W.C. Lorance, as the main organizers, set about to start the church.

On August 10, 1930, the church was organized with 33 members. Within a year new members were added when Danniels Chapel in Cannon County, Pleasant Hill, and Hickory Grove Methodist churches closed.

Regular church services were held in a garage owned by Gilbert with the Rev. P.A. Kirby as the first pastor. As membership approached 60 in 1931 the church was officially chartered. In the next three years, the Reverends W.F. Burden, A.T. Judkins, and Roy Clarke served the church (Faulkner Springs Charge in the Murfreesboro District). Services were held once a month on the second Sunday.

In 1944 Gilbert bought two lots on the north side of Highway 70 from Robert Deberry and gave them to the congregation as the site for a church. The footing and foundation were laid for a 30x36 concrete building. A year later, Ray Baxter laid the blocks for 8 cents a block. All other labor was free.

The first services were held in the church in the fall of 1944.

The congregation and friends prepare for the decommissioning service in the old sanctuary

The sounds of the Shofar echoed through the hills as the congregation started its walk to the new Centertown United Methodist Church.

Everyone carried something from the old church buildings—cross, candle sticks, offering plates, hymnals

The congregation sang great hymns of the church as it walked to the new building.

There was a feeling of profound joy as members entered the new church home.

Pastor Maurice Moore was surprised at the consecration service by membership in the Nashville Area Order of St. Andrew – an award honoring his ministry at Centertown. Maurice’s wife Nancy, was in on the surprise, but received a surprise herself when Vin Walkup called her forward to receive her own membership in the Order of St. Andrew.

Each worship element in the new sanctuary was consecrated—here water is poured into the new baptistery as it and the baptismal font are consecrated.

Artist’s rendering of the new Centertown United Methodist Church


Clarksville Urban Ministries: Offering Hope to Children in Crisis
By Beverly Dycus, Director United Methodist Urban Ministries/Clarksville District

Have you ever heard the joke about the kid who came home from school and their family had moved? Well, that actually happened in our family. To make matters worse, it happened on my ninth birthday. To be fair to my parents, I need to share “the rest of the story.” They had decided it was time to sell the farm and move to town, and the buyer wanted to move on the farm right away. So when my siblings and I came home from school, the trucks were loaded and ready to go.

Now let me tell you about Brad. Brad is eleven years of age and one day when he came home from school, he discovered his family was moving and things would never be the same. When he stepped from the school bus that spring afternoon, Brad saw his mother, along with his baby sister, sitting in the car. Through the car window, Brad could see bags of clothes, toys and a few household items.

It had been a few weeks since Brad’s mother was beaten by her husband and without the father’s income, rent was due and the electricity had been disconnected. Because of the violence and unpaid rent and utilities, the landlord had asked Brad’s mother to move from the home.

Brad’s story is much too common. In every community within our Tennessee Conference, families are in crisis and, as a result, our children are at risk. Statisticians tell us if all the homeless youth were in one city, it would be the seventh largest in the United States. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, twenty percent (20%) of children in Tennessee live in poverty.

Urban Ministries Grace Assistance Program in the Clarksville District has been offering hope and healing to thousands of families like Brad’s for almost twenty-five years. In addition to placing Brad’s family in safe temporary shelter, Grace Assistance provided nutritious food, personal hygiene items, baby supplies and prescription medications. Immediate contacts were made with appropriate service agencies in the community to assist the family in securing safe affordable housing and to aid them in their journey to recovery.

Throughout our Conference, there are thousands of children at risk because of numerous societal issues: child abuse, family violence, unemployment, medical challenges, lack of health care, educational barriers, and other crises. As the church, we must reach beyond the walls, and beyond our comfort zones, and minister the love of Jesus Christ with those who suffer.
*United Methodist Urban Ministries is located at 217 South Third Street, Clarksville, TN 37040


UMC Foundation partners with Nashville Area Foundation for planned giving training
The United Methodist Church Foundation, a ministry of The General Council on Finance & Administration (GCFA), recently partnered with the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation and Alpha Omega Family Services in hosting a half‐day seminar on estate planning.

The goal was to assist pastors in understanding the importance of estate planning and how to make gifts of assets to continue their own charitable intent as they distribute real and personal property. In addition, estate planning is the process by which an individual or family arranges the transfer of assets in anticipation of death, such as living trusts, charitable remainder trusts and donor advised funds. By partnering with the Nashville Area Foundation, the UMC Foundation furthers its commitment to work with donors and congregations with and through conference‐related foundations as partners.

“By providing these seminars we can educate congregations about various money matters so vital to families and church life. When recessions come and go we want our people to be grounded in knowledge and faith, not fear and despair,” say Sharon Clapp, Director of Giving and Development of The United Methodist Church Foundation, a ministry of GCFA.

The Rev. Vin Walkup, President and CEO of the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation, indicated that the partnership will continue. “This is the first of what will be offered by the two foundations as they seek to work together to enhance estate and endowment planning for churches and ministries within the Nashville Area.”


Nashville to Malawi: An Expanding Mission Partnership
By Elliott Wright*

The hymn says, "blessed be the tie that binds," but ties in Christian mission can also expand.
"Growing stronger" is perhaps the best way to describe a mission partnership between a United Methodist congregation in Nashville, Tennessee, and the denomination's Malawi Missionary Conference in central Africa.

The collaboration between the Belmont United Methodist Church and Malawi United Methodists is taking a new turn as a lay couple from Belmont prepares for a year of service in Malawi as Individual Volunteers in Mission. Jeff and Kara Oliver, both 35, will represent on the scene the deep commitment to Malawi that has become part of life at Belmont.

Kara Oliver speaks at a May 9th Belmont UMC concert and fund raiser for the ministry in Malawi

Mission seeds that have grown into the strong partnership were sown in 2004 when the first volunteer mission (UMVIM) team from Belmont visited Malawi, according to the Rev. Herb Mather, a retired pastor in the Tennessee Annual Conference and a Belmont communicant who has played a leading role in the Belmont-Malawi story.

Village Churches and a Miracle Offering
UMVIM teams went again in 2006 and 2008. More than 20 persons were in the 2004 and 2008 groups. Participants visited many villages and engaged in what Mather terms a "ministry of encouragement." The visitor became interested in the development of village churches. Belmont would subsequently make Malawi a mission priority.

Belmont remembered its mission partner in 2005 when the 1,650-member Belmont Church, located in an older neighborhood of Nashville, near Vanderbilt University, decided to raise $3 million for a new community center. The campaign, Mather says, included $50,000 to begin construction of a United Methodist conference center in Malawi.

"We had a special Christmas Miracle offering last December with a goal of raising $30,000 in hopes of building 10 village churches," Mather stated in an email. "We received over $52,000. Fifteen village churches and one city church will be built with these funds. We are now working on linking Sunday school classes and individuals with the 'miracle' churches, so there is communication between our people and the Malawian people." He continued:
Part of the Christmas Miracle offering was an offering of prayers. People in the congregation were invited to write prayers for Malawi and to bring them to the altar. Around 200 prayers were brought to the front of the church and placed in African baskets. These prayers were taken to Malawi ... [and] some were read at a pastor's training event and all were distributed to the 22 pastors in attendance to take back and share with their congregations.

Across the last five years, the people of Belmont have sent Bibles in the Chichewa and Tumbuka languages, paid for the drilling of 12 deep wells (boreholes) in Malawi, upgraded two parsonages, and sent 12 bicycles, a motorcycle, an automobile, recreational equipment, livestock (goats and pigs), and treadle irrigation pumps to the African country.

United Methodist Women at Belmont are very much a part of the partnership with Malawi, contributing funds for treadle and electric sewing machines and providing training in sewing and funds for 11 literacy classes for village women.

Malawi: A Young Church
The United Methodist Church in Malawi is fairly young. Started some 21 years ago by indigenous leaders, it was for 20 years a district of the episcopal area based in nearby Zimbabwe. In April 2008, the United Methodist General Conference, the denomination's legislature, recognized Malawi was a Missionary Conference, with special ties to the General Board of Global Ministries. Today, there are about 100 congregations organized into 22 circuits.
Malawi is a land-locked country of 10.5 million mostly rural people east of Zambia, west of Mozambique, and south of Tanzania. Like Zimbabwe, it was colonized by English-speaking Europeans in the 19th century. It gained its independence from Great Britain in 1964 and become a democratic republic in 1994. Lilongwe is the capital city. The annual per capital income is $800. Some 80 percent of the population is Christian, 55 percent of those Protestant.
Bishop Eben Kanukayi Nhiwatiwa of the Zimbabwe Area has visited Belmont to cement the partnership and express appreciation for Belmont's commitment.

A UMVIM Couple
Jeff and Kara Oliver were in the delegation that took the prayers to Malawi and now they are devoting a full year to service there as Individual Volunteers in Mission, a program linked to the General Board of Global Ministries. They will work with the leadership of the Malawi church in a variety of ministries, bringing their considerable skills and the strength of their faith to the work. While Jeff is trained in information technology (IT), Kara is a freelance writer who has written for The Upper Room, the international daily devotional guide at the Nashville-based General Board of Discipleship.

Jeff & Kara Oliver check out the local market with Bishop Nhiwatiwa of Zimbabwe. Image by: Jeff & Kara Oliver/blog.oliverville.org

On May 9, a benefit raised $14,000 for the purchase of a used 4x4 vehicle that the Olivers will use during their ministry in Malawi and then leave for the church there. From a base in Blantyre, the couple plans to visit each of the 22 circuits, working under the direction of the Rev. Daniel Mhone, the mission superintendent. The departure date for Malawi is July 6.

"They are a terrific couple," Mather says, "and their commitment has caught the imagination of our large contingent of young adults, who form a major part of our congregation." The Olivers have sold their house in Nashville, put their careers on hold for mission, and spent a great deal of time preparing their children, Carter, 3, and Claire Marin, 9, for the adventure ahead of them.
Support for the couple during their Malawi year is not part of the Belmont budget, but Mather said that they anticipate considerable support from individuals and small groups. "This practice has worked in the past. All of our funds for Malawi have come in response to stories of how God is working among the people of Malawi."

The Olivers' faith journey to Malawi can be followed on an internet blog that goes back several months, and includes the productive time the couple and their children spent in individual mission volunteer training last April. The web address is http://blog.oliverville.org/.

Mather's Personal Story

Retired pastor Herb Mather has played a leading role in the Belmont-Malawi story.

Rev. Mather is himself one of the best advertisements for mission partnership and mission volunteer service within the United Methodist connection. He has spent much of his life building bridges between diverse peoples and cultures in the name of Jesus Christ.

He first went to Malawi in the year 2000 as part of a team from the General Board of Discipleship, where he then worked, leading a training seminar for clergy and laymen. He returned the next year. Following his retirement in 2003, he was asked by Belmont to organize the UMVIM team that went to Malawi in 2004.

Mather and his wife Sue have traveled to Malawi many times in recent years.

Belmont Church
While an older United Methodist congregation in Nashville, Belmont is one of the most vibrant and diverse. It includes members of 25 different nations of birth. There is a group of 150 men, women, and children who are refugees from Myanmar. The congregation has made a successful transition from a mostly older to a young adult membership. It partners with a sister congregation in a low-income neighborhood only a mile from the Hillsboro Village community where it is located.

Belmont Church is strongly connectional and has paid its United Methodist apportionments in full for the last five years. The current pastor is the Rev. Ken Edwards.

Others Can Help
Funds from Belmont to Malawi go through The Advance, the United Methodist designated giving mission channel. The Olivers can also be assisted through The Advance account for Individual Volunteers. Donations can be sent to Advance GCFA, PO Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068. Make checks payable to Advance GCFA and on the memo line write, "Advance #982465, for Jeff & Kara Oliver."
* Elliott Wright is the information officer of the General Board of Global Ministries.


Friesen Family Honored with a going away party

Ed Friesen enjoys his gift from Brooks and Dunn – autographed drawing of the duo as M&M candy

There was a Going Away Party for Brentwood Liberty United Methodist Church’s Pastor Ed Friesen and Family May 31 at a member's home. Ed and his wife, Mickie McCorkle, are full members of the Kansas East Conference and are being appointed back in their home conference this summer. Ed has served Liberty Church and Mickey has served the General Board of Discipleship for four years. Ed was presented a pictorial gift from Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn – a cartoon of Brooks and Dunn in performance dressed as colorful M&M peanut candy. Kix Brooks is a member of Liberty.

A drawing of historical Liberty United Methodist Church, framed and signed by church members, was given to Friesen.

Fred Mindermann, Administrative Council Chairman, presented two gifts from the congregation after fellowship and food at the Hardin’s home -- a hand drawn sketch of the Liberty UMC signed by church members and a love offering.


Sager Brown: Helping Communities with home repair
(Even as this issue of the Review goes to press there are twenty United Methodist Women members from the Tennessee Conference serving at the Sager Brown depot in Louisiana. Conference UMW president Joy Lewter shares a note from two of the women: “Hello---from hot hot hot Louisiana. We helped pack over 220 cleaning buckets today. We are going to get to help load and send a container off to Armenia tomorrow. This is truly a blessed place. Katie and Wanda.”

A phone call revealed that the container was indeed sent out on schedule—and contained 8400 school kits, 84 bedding kits, 2724 layette kits, and 3360 sewing kits. Armenia is one of the places in the world where women and young girls hold subordinate positions in society and are at the bottom of the economic ladder. Because of this, they tend to be more susceptible to luring promises of financial opportunities and fall prey to “sheep in wolves’ clothing—traffickers who betray their trust. The sewing kits make it possible for women to learn an income producing trade, tailoring, and diminish the chance they will fall prey to the traffickers.

Some of the United Methodist Women’s group from the Tennessee Conference are volunteering at Chez Hope, a local women’s domestic violence center.)

Volunteers working at UMCOR’s Sager Brown campus in Baldwin, La., do more than prepare emergency relief kits, they help their community with home repairs.

Sager Brown volunteers helped Bobbie, a Louisiana resident who after colon cancer surgery had to use a walker. Bobbie’s doorway was too narrow to accommodate her walker, so the volunteers brought tools and materials and widened her doorway. The volunteers also replaced her front door.

Barbara Snell, who directs outreach ministries at UMCOR Sager Brown says there are approximately 80 applications from people in the community who are requesting home repairs—demonstrating a strong need in the Sager Brown community in addition to kit ministry that reaches around the world.

Barbara and Bob Snell have recently relocated to UMCOR Sager Brown from the Tennessee Annual Conference, Barbara on the UMCOR staff as Director of Outreach Ministries and Bob serving as a volunteer Project Manager for Home Repair. Both Barbara and Bob are retired Diaconal Ministers in the Tennessee Conference. The couple led one-week volunteer trips to Sager Brown and thought to themselves that it would be great to spend more than a week working at the Depot. They applied to be part of a 3-month volunteer program, “and we’ve been here ever since” Barbara noted with a laugh.

“We love it here,” said Barbara. “The staff is wonderful, and I enjoy meeting the people in the community, and assessing home damage.”

Individuals and churches wishing to support UMCOR Sager Brown Depot may do so by giving to Material Resources, UMCOR Advance #901440.


He's still talking about love of his life

By Claudia Pinto
Reprinted from May 20, 2009, THE TENNESSEAN, Copyright 2009, and used here by permission

Jon Meadors
The only thing John Meadors knew about the girl was she had the most beautiful brown eyes he'd ever seen.

It was 1971, 10 years since the Methodist minister had spied her in the audience of his Tennessee congregation. He had since moved to California, but that didn't stop him from trying to find the brown-eyed girl that he couldn't seem to forget.

"One morning, about 2 a.m., I awoke and the thoughts of this young lass entered my mind," Meadors wrote in a letter that he sent to The Tennessean. "I got on the phone and made several calls to people who know her and after a lengthy process I found out her name, where she lived and her phone number."

Meadors called the girl and told her that he was coming back to Tennessee and might stay.
"She didn't appear too excited about that," he wrote.

When Meadors moved back to town, the first thing he did after finding a job and an apartment was to call her. She reluctantly agreed to go to dinner with him that Friday.

Twenty-seven days later, they got married.

"We have had a wonderful 37 years," Meadors wrote.

John and Wanda Meadors

Meadors died of a stroke just a few weeks ago at the age of 81. His wife, Wanda Meadors of Goodlettsville, had never seen the letter her husband wrote and has no idea why he sent it to the paper.

But that was just like John, she said. Always wanting to tell a story. Talking all the time. Even on his funeral program, there's a picture of him in midsentence, mouth wide open.

"My Lord," she said. "Even after he's gone he's still talkin'."

Wanda Meadors, 69, couldn't help but smile as she read the letter her husband wrote about nearly missing out on the love of his life.

"I feel like it was just meant for us to be together," she said. "We both felt it was God's will.”


Sherry Cothran Woolsey Receives Harkness Scholarship

Sherry Cothran Woolsey at the 2008 session of Annual Conference

Sherry Cothran Woolsey from the Tennessee Annual Conference was one of 11 women chosen to receive a 2009-2010 Georgia Harkness Scholarship. The seminary scholarships go to women over 35 who are preparing for ordination as elders in The United Methodist Church as a second career. The recipients are chosen by a committee of United Methodist elders and GBHEM staff.
Woolsey has a B.A. in Recording Industry Management and has worked in the music industry for much of her adult life, both in management and as a performer. She is presently under appointment as student local pastor at West Nashville United Methodist Church, and will be continuing her seminary work toward an M.Div. at the Vanderbilt School of Theology. She is married to the Rev. Patrick J. Woolsey, also a United Methodist minister.

Her passion is working with communities and churches through synergistic partnerships and genuine relationships that exercise Wesley's "practical divinity."

"Christianity, for Wesley and for us,” says Sherry, “cannot be separated from the acts of charity and of hope that we do for others in the name of Jesus, this is how God's grace inhabits the lives of others and in turn, blesses the body of Christ."

The 11 women chosen to receive the 2009-2010 Georgia Harkness Scholarship will visit the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to advance their leadership development globally.

“They will meet with students and leaders of The Church of Canada, and will visit local churches.
They will also share their commitment to ordained elder’s ministry. In Canada, ordained clergywomen in the local church are still rare,” said the Rev. HiRho Park, the director of Continuing Formation for Ministry at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

Park said there were fewer applicants this year and she believes the economy might be the reason for the decline in applicants.

“We suspect that working women might choose to remain at their job rather than starting full-time theological education,” Park said.

There was an increase of racial-ethnic applicants. “We were especially impressed to see applicants originally from Puerto Rico, Africa, and the Philippines,” she added.
Last year, the 11 scholars visited Honduras.

Harkness, the first woman theologian to teach in a Protestant seminary in the United States, dedicated her life to dismantling discrimination because of race and gender in The United Methodist Church and the world.

Harkness, who taught at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., died in 1974. She was instrumental in the 1956 decision giving women full-clergy membership in The Methodist Church.

Park said the scholarship program is a valuable investment in the future of the church, especially in light of findings from this year’s Lead Women Pastors Survey, which found that one-fourth of senior women pastors who are serving churches with more than 1,000 members began ministry as a second career.

“It is evident that these women bring life experiences and professional skills that enhance their ministry,” Park said.