wfn.org | Judith Weidman, United Methodist communicator, dies of cancer

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Date 19, 2000  News media contact: Linda Green·(615) 742-5470·Nashville,
Tenn.  10-21-71B{578}

NOTE: Photo available for use with this story.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The Rev. Judith Weidman, 59, who retired in 1999
after serving for five years as the top staff executive for United Methodist
Communications, died Dec. 19 of gastric cancer in Nashville, Tenn. 

Before joining the denomination's communications agency staff in 1994 she
served for 10 years as head of the interfaith Religion News Service in New
York.  A clergy member of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference, she had
served as communications executive for the United Methodist Board of Higher
Education and Ministry in Nashville, Tenn., assistant editor at the United
Methodist Publishing House, and as associate editor for the forerunner of
today's United Methodist Reporter in Dallas. Her journalistic career began
as a special assignment reporter at the Kokomo (Ind.) Tribune. 

Described by her peers as bold, focused, persistent, visionary and decisive,
Weidman was the principle force behind a churchwide "Igniting Ministry"
initiative to help make United Methodism more visible and local churches
more inviting through the use of media, particularly television spots.  The
$20 million initiative was developed by UMCom and approved by delegates to
the 2000 General Conference.  National support for the four-year campaign is
being supplemented by regional and local church efforts. 

"Judy knew herself to be God's child," said Peggy West, a retired staff
executive at UMCom.  "She lived and died with the clarity of purpose and
courage such a heritage would inspire." When Weidman left the agency at the
end of 1999, West assumed her responsibilities until last July 2000.

As the top staff executive at UMCom, Weidman challenged half-truths and
innuendos, creating new possibilities for effective witness in the world,
said the Rev. Janet Wolf, former pastor at Hobson United Methodist Church
where Weidman was an active member. 

"Judy was committed to the diverse community at Hobson and was intentional
in her efforts to learn from and listen to people across the lines of race,
class, education and experience," Wolf said.  Weidman participated in a
variety of activities at the church but delighted in the congregation's
program with children, she added.

Noting the absence of full-time ethnic minority communications professionals
in the church, Weidman initiated a Racial Ethnic Minority Fellowship Program
at UMCom in 1998. The fellowship, recently named in her honor,  provides
resources so that ethnic minority college graduates can work with an annual
conference communicator as a mentor for a year.  

Weidman became executive editor of Religious News Service in 1984 when the
floundering independent agency was purchased by the United Methodist
Reporter and brought it back to financial health.  Named Communicator of the
Year in 1987 by the United Methodist Association of Communicators, Weidman
served on the advisory board of the Center for Religion and the News Media,
a joint program of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern
University and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.  

A native of Savanna, Ill., she earned here undergraduate degree from DePauw
University, Greencastle, Ind., which also awarded her an honorary Doctor of
Humane Letters Degree.  She earned her Master of Divinity Degree from Duke
University Divinity School, Durham, N.C. She edited two books, Women in
Ministry and Christian Fellowship.

A memorial service will held in mid-January in Nashville. Weidman will be
buried in her hometown of Savanna, Ill. She is survived by a brother, Thomas
A. Weidman of Augusta, Ga.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent in support of the Children's
Program at Hobson United Methodist Church, 1107 Chapel Ave., Nashville, TN
37206 or Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson St., Nashville, TN 37203.
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United Methodist News Service
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