wfn.org | Shalom Zones celebrated

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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 (2909 notes).

Note 2908 by SUSAN PEEK on April 24, 1996 at 21:54 Eastern (2342 characters).

SEARCH: shalom, zone, May, Los Angeles

047 {2911]                                          April 24, 1996

General Conference '96

General Conference delegates 
celebrate success of Shalom

     DENVER (UMNS) -- "Shalom is on the loose."  That was the
testimony given by officials of the Communities of Shalom ministry
as they addressed the 1996 United Methodist General Conference.
     
     The "shalom zone" concept was created during the 1992 General
Conference after riots broke out in Los Angeles to protest the
verdict in the Rodney King beating case. "Shalom" is the Hebrew
word for peace.
     
     Coordinated through the United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries' National Division, the shalom program shows churches
how to work with their communities to stimulate economic
development, improve race and class relationships, address health
issues, and develop congregations.
     
     Bishop Felton E. May, Harrisburg, Pa., proclaimed "shalom is
on the loose" in 103 urban and rural communities, 24 annual
conferences, 250 congregations, 50 community organizations and 71
ecumenical ventures, where laity, clergy and business leaders are
working toward the biblical image of shalom.

     According to May, the next steps in the shalom initiative are
to:
     
     * develop 300 new shalom cites in the U.S and abroad by the
year 2000;
     
     * raise $2 million for the development of shalom cities;    

     * celebrate 2,000 new Shalom graduates by the year 2000.
     
     According to Guannie Dixon, staff person for the Los Angeles
Shalom Zone, the United Methodist Church set into motion "one of
the most powerful" strategies for church and community
transformation when it created the first shalom zone in 1992.

     She said the transformation has not been without pain and
struggle. Obstacles have ranged from floods and earthquakes to
lack of money and the change in pastors as a result of
appointments. 

     However, she said, the laity remained focus on the vision and
the obstacles became opportunities for growth and development.
"The people persevered because of God's amazing grace to build
communities of hope and daring -- communities of shalom," she
added.
                              #  #  #
                                                   -- Linda Green 

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