wfn.org | Riley speaks to United Methodists

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (2885 notes).

Note 2885 by SUSAN PEEK on April 22, 1996 at 11:16 Eastern (4332 characters).

SEARCH: education, schools, Riley, delegates, General Conference
General Conference '96

022 {2886}                                          April 20, 1996

Wesley's passion for education needs 
to once again be focus of the church

     DENVER (UMNS) -- In 1996, John Wesley's passion for education
once again needs to be the center of the work and mission  of the
United Methodist Church, according to United States Secretary of
Education Richard W. Riley.
     
     Riley, a United Methodist, delivered that message as the
keynote speaker for Higher Education Night during the
denomination's 1996 General Conference here April 19 at the
University of Denver.  
     
     Addressing approximately 600 General Conference delegates;
United Methodist-related college and university presidents; other
educators; and visitors, Riley said, that America is in the midst
of one of the greatest shifts in history -- the "fundamental
assumptions" that have guided the nation and its citizens are
being questioned. 
     
     There is a great need to see the advance of education as the
"touchstone for a new spirit of optimism for our people," he said.
To create that new spirit, will require re-kindling the Wesleyan
passion for education.
     
     He explained that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism,
believed that education forms faith and "is the essential stepping
stone" to spirituality. Riley said, Wesley was convinced that
everyone has a right to education and not being "left in the
darkness of ignorance, and lost to God."
     
     There was resounding applause when Riley called for United
Methodists once again to make Wesley's passion for education the
focus and commitment of the church. He said America can only
advance in the new era if education at all levels is advanced at
the same time.
     
     Riley, former governor of South Carolina, said the core of
education for the next century must be sustained "by a deep and
powerful respect" for everyone's God-given gifts and potential.
     
     Riley said he is encouraged by Education: the Gift of Hope, a
United Methodist study document that calls for reclaiming our
heritage and commitment both to public and private education. This
"timely" document addresses the problems in education today, Riley
said.
          
     He was given a copy of the 51-page document to deliver to
President Bill Clinton. It is under consideration by the 998
delegates attending the General Conference. The churchwide Board
of Higher Education and Ministry is requesting the conference
recommend the document for churchwide study.       
     
     He said, unless a stronger emphasis is placed on making
elementary and secondary schools "exciting places of hope,
creativity and learning," a generation of children will grow up
unable to cope with the "demanding standards" of colleges and
universities and life afterwards. 
     
     There are 125 schools, colleges and universities related to
the United Methodist Church.
     
     Riley praised the document for recognizing that parents,
schools and churches have individual and collective roles in
educating children. He said that since many social problems are
part of the fabric of daily life, the education of all children
must be a community-wide activity. 

     He called on General Conference delegates "to fulfill this
powerful document" by:

     * more effectively preparing a new generation of teachers to
work with parents; 
     * reaching out to the local public school and making an
active effort to sustain them in their attempts to prepare
students for college;
     * responding to the shrill voices of divisions, wedge issues
and cynicism with positive options. 
     
     He said there is a gap between teachers and parents because
teachers who graduate from college today are not given the skills
needed to encourage parents to be full partners in the learning
process. "We really do need to overcome this gap and now is the
time to do it," he said.
     The Africa University Choir, a product of mission and labor
by the United Methodist Church sang at the dinner. The choir will
sing to the entire General Conference, Tuesday, April 23. 
                              #  #  #
                                                  -- Linda Green   

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