wfn.org | United Methodist bishops focus on children, poverty, peace

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Nov. 13, 2002  News media contact: M. Garlinda
Burton7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.  10-21-32-71BP{517}

NOTE: For related coverage of the Council of Bishops' meeting, see UMNS
stories #518 and #519. Photographs are available.

By M. Garlinda Burton*

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (UMNS) - In their first-ever meeting outside the
continental United States, the bishops of the United Methodist Church
recommitted themselves to caring for the world's children, addressing root
causes and effects of poverty, and witnessing for peace.

During their Nov. 3-9 sessions, the 95 active and retired United Methodist
bishops met with their counterparts from autonomous Methodist churches in
Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss critical needs of children and
the poor in those countries, and how Methodist communions might work
together to address those needs.

The United Methodist bishops and leaders of CIEMAL (Council of Evangelical
Methodist Churches in Latin America) exchanged stories of poverty, child
labor, exploitation by U.S. and European corporations, orphans living on the
streets and indigenous families that barely eke out a living in remote
regions of Central and South America.

However, they also told stories of courage, resilience, hope and successful
church-based assistance programs that are changing lives from Mexico to
Uruguay. "God is calling us to be transforming agencies for women, men and
children," said Bishop Pedro Grandon of  the Methodist Church of Chile.

The United Methodist bishops - representing churches in Europe, the
Philippines and Africa - committed themselves to work more closely with
colleagues in Latin America and the Caribbean United States, including the
nearly 12,000-member Methodist Church of Puerto Rico. After almost 80 years
as a United Methodist missionary conference, the Puerto Rico church became
an affiliated autonomous communion in 1992. 

During their semiannual meeting, the United Methodist bishops also visited,
prayed and met with church and civic leaders at Vieques, a Puerto Rican
island largely occupied by U.S. military and used for weapons testing. Many
locals say the testing has led to economic hardship and health problems for
the island's residents.

The bishops subsequently adopted a resolution in which they commended U.S.
President George W. Bush's plans to cease testing on the island next summer.
They also urged Bush to facilitate cleanup in the aftermath of weapons
testing and to help create a new economic and social infrastructure for
citizens of the island.

On their last day of meetings, the United Methodist leaders voiced support
for a pastoral letter opposing U.S. war with Iraq, which was addressed to
the entire 10 million-member United Methodist Church Oct. 4 by Council of
Bishops' President Sharon A. Brown Christopher.

The leader of the church's Illinois Area, Christopher declared in her letter
that such a war "goes against the very grain of our understanding of the
Gospel, our church's teachings and our conscience." Her colleague bishops
agreed and further called on United Methodists around the world to engage in
"prayer, fasting, and sign acts for peace" 

In other action, the United Methodist bishops:

7	Affirmed the work of military chaplains to serve all people, often
putting themselves at risk to be faithful to God's call.

7	Voted to ask the denomination's "supreme court" if the church
Constitution allows for the election of an active bishop to a four-year term
as president of the Council of Bishops without assignment to an episcopal
area. The bishops plan to forward the request the 2004 General Conference if
the Judicial Council agrees to the plan.

7	Asked the council president to write a letter of concern to the U.S.
State Department about the denial of a visa to Cuban Methodist Bishop
Ricardo Periera to attend the San Juan meeting.

7	Urged annual conferences leaders to circulate The Urgent Call, a
campaign seeking endorsement by 10 million people to make nuclear
disarmament a priority on the national agenda.

7	Affirmed the need for a churchwide study on war, security and
terrorism.

7	Received greetings from Puerto Rico Gov. Sila Calderon, who
commended United Methodist support of the people of Vieques.

# # #

*Burton is director of United Methodist News Service. The full text of the
Council of Bishops' resolution on Iraq follows.
 

	BISHOPS' RESOLUTION ON IRAQ
(adopted Nov. 8, 2002)
 
We have gathered as Bishops of the United Methodist Church in prayer,
discernment, and conferencing at our Fall 2002 meeting in Puerto Rico. We
have been especially blessed by the session on the theme of children and
poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean with our colleague bishops and
presidents from Latin America and the Caribbean.
 
We affirm the letter calling for peace sent to the Church by the president
of the Council of Bishops.  Recalling the biblical witness and our United
Methodist tradition with respect to the issues of war and peace, we invite
United Methodists to prayer, fasting, and sign acts for peace.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
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