wfn.org | Ethnic participation increases at 2000 General Conference

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CLEVELAND (UMNS) -The recruitment of younger delegates has led to an
increase in ethnic participation at the 2000 General Conference, observers
say.

This General Conference has seen greater involvement of ethnic minorities,
both clergy and lay members, than any previous meeting of the legislative
assembly, according to the Interethnic Strategy Development Group, which
comprises five ethnic caucuses in the United Methodist Church.

The five groups are Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR), Methodist
Association Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans (MARCHA), National
Federation of Asian American United Methodists (NFAAUM), Native American
International Caucus and the Pacific Islander National Caucus of the
Methodist Church.

In addition to the overall increase of ethnic minority participants, a
larger number of young people and baby boomers are participating, said Mark
Nakagawa, director of NFAAUM.

"This is a tribute to the work of the five leaders of our ethnic minority
caucuses who have worked with their respective constituencies to encourage
and develop leadership for this General Conference," he said.

In all areas of the conference, especially in the legislative committee
meetings, people from racial and ethnic minorities are serving in leadership
roles. At least 15 percent are subcommittee chair people, and 18 are leading
legislative and General Conference committees.

"Ethnic participation at this General Conference has increased, and I am
heartened by what appears to be a younger delegate," said Bishop Felton E.
May, one of 10 active African-American bishops in the United Methodist
Church.

While overall participation has increased, a Native American woman said her
constituency has not been as actively engaged as other ethnic bodies. Anne
Marshall, an executive with the United Methodist Commission on Christian
Unity and Interreligious Concerns, applauded the fact that a Native American
man is the chairman of one of the legislative committees and has presented
issues to the entire assembly.

"We've never had visibility up front in a leadership role," Marshall said.
"This was a huge step for us in having that type of role, and the fact that
there was someone in leadership that was Native American is a step forward.
But, since there has been only one, this shows that we really are
invisible."
  
Thirteen Native Americans from across the country are among the 992
delegates of the United Methodist General Conference addressing legislation
that affects the Native American community, ministries and programs. An
inter-tribal team of observers also is present.

Bishop Emerito P. Nacpil of Manila Area agreed that the ethnic presence at
General Conference has increased. While ethnic minority people have not
often taken the plenary floor to speak, they have made contributions in
legislative committees, he said.

Although many central conference delegates have spoken against changing the
denomination's proscriptions against homosexuality, Nacpil noted that they
have not participated as much in floor discussion because most of the
matters are issues related to the United States. "Most from outside the U.S.
will find it intimidating to talk about U.S. matters," he said.

Nacpil played an important role at this gathering. He was the first United
Methodist bishop living outside the United States to deliver the traditional
Episcopal Address to the assembly. 

African Americans are the largest ethnic group to have leadership roles at
the conference. Twelve blacks and one African chaired legislative or General
Conference committees.

The Rev. Tyrone Gordon, immediate past chairman of BMCR, said more African
Americans are in the annual conference delegations this year. He attributed
the increase to the conservative movement in some annual conferences.
"African Americans tend to be more conservative theologically, and that may
be the attraction of the evangelical push in the delegations for African
Americans."

Likewise, more Korean-American delegates are attending this General
Conference, according to
Se Hee Han of the California-Pacific Annual Conference. This is particularly
true of Korean-American women, she said, noting that the 15-person
delegation has four clergywomen.

"Our increase is also because we are more visible (at our annual
conferences) and contribute gifts and graces as clergy and laity," Han said.

The Hispanic constituency has been active, said Orlando Rivera, president of
MARCHA. Two members were elected to general church positions. One was
elected to serve on the University Senate, and the other was named to the
Judicial Council.

A lack of translators may have hampered the voting and participation of
central conference delegations, especially those from some African
countries. The General Conference, in a resolution, offered a formal apology
to delegates who were denied adequate material and services. The delegates
also voted to ensure that 30 days before the 2004 General Conference, the
necessary materials to do conference business would be translated into a
variety of languages. Those languages include Spanish, German, French,
Korean, Portuguese and Swahili.
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--Linda Green

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United Methodist News Service
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