wfn.org | Presbyterian Men Adopt New Mission Emphasis as Bible Study

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6-December-1996 
 
 
96485      Presbyterian Men Adopt New Mission Emphasis 
                as Bible Study Resources Flourish 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Encouraged by the success of the "Men's Bible Study" 
resources, Presbyterian Men (PM) has adopted a new programmatic emphasis 
called "Men Mentoring Young Men."  The new emphasis was adopted during the 
National Board of  Presbyterian Men  meeting Oct. 18-20 in Indianapolis.  
 
     PM's National Council, through its vice president for mission, Yu Bang 
Lee of Davis, Calif., is planning to raise awareness of the need for 
mentors in fatherless or absent-father households in America.  "About 35 
percent of the households in this country contain youth at risk," Lee told 
the Presbyterian News Service. "But the data indicates the risk is greater 
in fatherless or absent-father households."  
 
     Lee said that during the Presbyterian Men National Council meeting in 
Seattle in April, representatives of the Mentoring Center in Oakland, 
Calif. will conduct a workshop on mentoring youth and will train mentors. 
This training will then be passed on to local congregations by PM members. 
 
     To finance the program, a fundraising plan called "Cup-A-Day" is being 
developed to encourage men in local congregations to contribute the price 
of a cup of coffee (25 cents) on days that they drink coffee, tea, etc. 
 
                      A Booming Bible Study 
 
     Meanwhile, the "Men's Bible Study" resources, published by the 
Curriculum Publishing Program Area in cooperation with the Men's Ministry 
office of the Congregational Ministries Division (CMD) and Men of the 
Church Emphasis Day, continue to exceed sales expectations, acccording to 
the Rev. Curtis A. Miller, CMD associate for Men's Ministry. 
 
     "The Men's Bible Study resources have been received very well by 
congregations," Miller said, adding that the first of eight studies for 
1997 will be available this month. "It's probably been the best selling 
resource that we've developed. More than 9,000 Bible studies have been sold 
so far." 
 
     The Bible studies are designed for small groups of  8-10 to be led by 
laypersons for periods of seven weeks.  Eight studies were published in 
1996 and funding has been received for more studies to be completed in 1997 
and 1998. 
 
     Authors and editors for upcoming studies have also been selected. 
They include the Rev. David Lewis, former CMD associate for Men's Ministry; 
Ron Peters, associate professor of urban ministry and director of the 
Metro/Urban Ministry Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; the Rev. 
Steven Eason, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Morganton, N.C.; and 
the Rev. Michael Brewer, pastor of Crescent Springs Presbyterian Church in 
Crescent Springs, Ky.  
 
     Dale Vandiver, PM president, said the growing popularity of  "Promise 
Keepers," (a Colorado-based, non-denominational ministry for Christian men) 
has prompted PM to be "more intentional" in providing participants at PM's 
National Council and National Board meetings more quality in inspiration, 
education and excitement. He said this is done by emphasizing music, 
workshops and preaching by proven leaders. 
 
     "I think Promise Keepers is going to be good for Presbyterian Men and 
I think we can actually learn a lot from them," Vandiver said.  He noted 
that the 1996 National Board meetings in Pittsburgh and Indianapolis 
reflected this new emphasis and were "well accepted" by attendees. 
 
     "It appears to me that men in recent years have kind of lost their 
way," Vandiver said. "For whatever reasons, many have taken a back seat to 
the women's movement. They are under a lot of pressure because of 
downsizing of jobs, trying to find a career that provides for their family 
and lots of other major stressors. But response to the Word seems to give 
them some hope...something for them to hang their head on." 
 
     Presbyterian Men is an organization of the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.), accountable to the General Assembly through CMD. 
 
     It is governed by both the National Board of Presbyterian Men and the 
National Council of Presbyterian Men. The national board, which oversees 
the organization's planning operations, is composed of eight executive 
committee members, a representative from each synod, four ministers, two 
representatives from Black Presbyterian Men, two representatives from 
Korean American Men, two youth representatives, and two ex-officio members, 
Miller and Jim Furuya, liaison with the General Assembly Council. 
 
     The National Council of Presbyterian Men, which is repsonsible for 
approving the board's operations and reports on national activities, is 
composed of  all the PM National Board members plus 172 presbytery 
representatives. 
                                                             
     PM's basic purposes are to lead men into a vital relationship to Jesus 
Christ; to develop their understanding of the mission of the church; and to 
encourage men of the church to fulfill the ministry to which men are called 
in families, in daily work, and in ministry to other people in the world, 
while being inclusive of men of various racial/ethnic backgrounds and ages. 

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