wfn.org | As bishops meet, spouses experience mission, Dallas style

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

May 1, 2003 News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn. 
10-71BP{253}

NOTE: Photographs are available with this report.

By Joan LaBarr*

DALLAS (UMNS) - As United Methodist bishops met in business sessions in a
suburban hotel, 44 of their spouses rolled up their sleeves and went to work
in churches and other mission sites across the city.

The spouses fanned out across the city April 28, assigned to several sites as
the United Methodist Council of Bishops met for their weeklong spring
gathering in the Dallas suburb of Addison. 

Kay Croft, a volunteer who helped coordinate the day with the preschool
children at Bethlehem Center in South Dallas, described the scene as
spouses--many retired educators--sat down to read with the children. One
child looked up and asked Ann Hearn, wife of retired Bishop Woodrow S. Hearn,
"Will you be my grandmother?"

Sarah Wilke, North Texas Conference director of urban strategies, said the
husband and wives of United Methodist bishops spent the day embracing
children, serving food and drink to homeless people, sewing with senior
citizens, painting rooms and assisting immigrant families.  

The spouses accomplished much more than helping needy people, Wilke added.
"They affirmed our ministers and mission workers in the value of their daily
efforts."

The concept of "Hands On Mission Experience" began eight months ago as the
Dallas Area host committee for the bishops' gathering planned activities for
spouses. "We wanted a week of activities that would highlight the best of
what the North Texas Conference is about," said Wilke. 

The spouses had a choice of mission opportunities, which included:
7	Reading with children at Dallas Bethlehem Center and East Grand
Foundry.
7	Working in the Immigration Clinic at Urban Park United Methodist
Church.
7	Serving in "Sing and Sew with Senior Citizens" at Wesley-Rankin
Community Center.
7	Painting and caulking at the urban work camp hub at Tyler Street
United Methodist Church.
7	Working in a food pantry by following food from the North Texas Food
Bank to the Oak Cliff United Methodist Church food pantry and after-school
cafi.
7	Serving food to homeless people at Crossroads/Harwood Crossing, a
joint ministry of First United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church
in downtown Dallas.

The international Council of Bishops, which meets twice a year, includes
nearly 100 active and retired bishops from the United States, Europe, Africa
and the Philippines.

# # #

*LaBarr is director of communications for the United Methodist Church's North
Texas Annual Conference.

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United Methodist News Service
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