wfn.org | Church caucuses organize

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3388 notes).

Note 3387 by UMNS on Jan. 22, 1997 at 16:07 Eastern (2535 characters).

SEARCH: ethnic, caucus, coalition, United Methodist Church
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                           33(10-30-71B){3387}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             Jan. 22, 1997

Inter-ethnic coalition 
organizes for next four years

                 by United Methodist News Service

     The Inter-Ethnic Strategy Development Group, a coalition of
the national ethnic caucuses affiliated with the United Methodist
Church, recently organized for the next four years during a three-
day meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
     This 17-member group meets twice a year to develop strategies
and advocate for ethnic ministries within the denomination. The
group consists of presidents and executive directors of the four
major ethnic caucuses in the church as well as national agency
staff who serve as liaisons and collaborators.
     Elected chairman was the Rev. Jose Orlando Rivera, executive
director of MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause
of Hispanic Americans).  Elected vice chairman was the Rev. Man
Singh Das, executive director of  the National Federation of Asian
American United Methodists (NFAAUM); secretary, Anna Dirl,
executive director of Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR);
and treasurer, the Rev. Alvin Deer, executive director of the
Native American International Caucus (NAIC).
     In other business, coalition members requested the churchwide
General Council on Ministries to include representatives from the
Inter-Ethnic Strategy Development Group in discussions of the
Connectional Process Team. The team was appointed by the 1996
General Conference to study the future organization and operating
style of the United Methodist Church.
     The group also agreed to:
     * follow-up on 1996 General Conference actions that have
implications for ethnic individuals in the church;
     * send a letter of support and good wishes to the Pacific
Islanders Caucus, which will organize in Hawaii in February.;
     * mutually support national plans of the various caucuses;
     * support the empowerment of the laity in the church;
     * be a voice in justice issues such as immigration, the
environment and affirmative action;
     * begin planning for the 2000 General Conference.
     The group's next meeting in May will be held in Los Angeles.
                               # # #

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 To make suggestions or give your comments, send a note to 
 umns@ecunet.org or Susan_Peek@ecunet.org

 To unsubscribe, send the single word "unsubscribe" (no quotes)
 in a mail message to umethnews-request@ecunet.org

-----------------------------------------------------------------------