wfn.org | United Methodist to head Project Equality board

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

May 12, 1998	Contact: Thomas S. McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville,
Tenn.     {298}

DAYTON, Ohio (UMNS) - Donald L. Hayashi, a staff executive for the
United Methodist General Council on Ministries, has been elected to a
two-year term as president of the 36-member board of Project Equality.

Project Equality, headquartered in Kansas City, Mo.,  is a national
program with a 32-year history of working to change employment
practices. It uses the purchasing power of its members to spur suppliers
of goods and services to take affirmative employment action.

Twenty-five national not-for-profit and religious organizations,
comprising 30 million constituent members, monitor their vendors'
employment practices. Project Equality enables members to put their
purchasing power where their values are by supporting businesses listed
in the organization's annual Buyer's Guide.  Staff executive of  Project
Equality is the Rev. Kirk Perucca, a clergyman of the Presbyterian
Church USA.

Hayashi, 51, has been a member of the General Council on Ministries
staff since 1990.  He previously was on the staff of the church's
California-Nevada Annual Conference.

United Methodists have been very active in Project Equality throughout
its history.  Hayashi becomes the second United Methodist to chair the
organization's board of directors.  Holding the position previously was
Barbara Ricks Thompson, top staff executive of the churchwide Commission
on Religion and Race.   The Rev. Raul Alegria, staff member of the
churchwide Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville, Tenn.,
is currently on the board.  The Rev. Maurice Culver, clergy member of
the Kansas East Conference, was chief executive officer of Project
Equality for more than 20 years before his retirement.

Hayashi said Project Equality is forming partnerships with corporate
members such as Marriott and United Parcel Service and is seeking to
work more closely with historic civil rights organizations.   "Corporate
members, represented on our board, believe that it is important that
they be in partnership with not- for-profit and religious
organizations," he said.  "It's good for business and good for building
relationships." 

United Methodist News Service
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