wfn.org | Bishop meets Christ during visit to Pentagon disaster site

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Sept. 18, 2001 News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.     10-21-71BP{405}

NOTE: A photograph of Bishop Joe Pennel is available at
http://umns.umc.org/photos/headshots.html online.

A UMNS Report
By Tom McAnally*

United Methodist Bishop Joe Pennel saw symbols of all that's wrong, evil and
sinful as well as symbols of that which is good, just and kind when he
visited the Pentagon Sunday, Sept. 16. Most importantly, he said, he met
Christ.

"There aren't words for me to describe what I saw and heard," the bishop
said, "but I met Christ. We believe that Christ is with the broken in a
unique way and that Christ dwells in suffering in a unique way. I felt the
presence of Christ there." 

Pennel resides in Richmond and supervises the church's Virginia Annual
(regional) Conference.  

After attending services at nearby Calvary United Methodist Church, Pennel
said he spent about two hours at the Pentagon site visiting with police and
fire department workers, Red Cross and military personnel and others. About
188 people are believed dead or missing following a Sept. 11 attack, in
which terrorists crashed a hijacked plane into the Pentagon.

During his visit, Pennel was within 50 yards of the damage. "The people
working there were solemn, intense, almost reverent about what they were
doing," he said. 

"I identified myself as being with the United Methodist Church and had
prayers with various groups of people," he said. "I listened and shared
their pain. I visited with families on the fence overlooking the site. I was
there when body parts were being removed out of the wreckage."

The value of his visit, Pennel said, was simply that of being present. "They
were appreciative that a bishop of the church would come and stand with
them."

With emotion in his voice, the bishop said one man told him, "Bishop, I
could not pray the Lord's Prayer this morning in church because I could not
say that about trespasses." Another person said, "I'll shake your hand,
bishop, but I'm mad as hell at God."

Though chaplains and other clergy are providing an important and meaningful
ministry at the site, Pennel said he was compelled to visit it himself. "The
Pentagon is within the bounds of our conference, and I felt that is where I
needed to be."  

# # #

*McAnally is the director of United Methodist News Service.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org