wfn.org | Board of Global Ministries Wrapup

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (411
notes).

Note 409 by UMNS on Oct. 27, 1997 at 15:48 Eastern (3188 characters).

CONTACT:	Linda Bloom					596(10-21-71B){408}
		New York (212) 870-3803				 Oct. 27, 1997

Mission board targets
North Korea, Africa

	STAMFORD, Conn. (UMNS) -- Starvation in North Korea, mission needs on the
continent of Africa and mutilation and death caused by landmines everywhere
were among the issues addressed during the Oct. 20-23 meeting of the United
Methodist Board of Global Ministries meeting here.
	The board reaffirmed the church's call for justice, peace and reconciliation
in Korea by resolving to continue providing emergency food aid to North Korea
famine victims and calling upon the U.S. government to provide massive
humanitarian assistance as well.
	It also will encourage the U.S. government to normalize diplomatic relations
with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; lift economic sanctions "as a
sign of good will" and get the governments of North and South Korea back to
the negotiating table.
	Proposals on mission needs in Africa emerged after an August meeting in
Zimbabwe between Board of Global Ministries officials and bishops of the
Africa Central Conferences. While the 11 United Methodist annual conferences
on the continent have continued their ministries, they have had to cope with
the consequences of failed governments, civil war, decaying infrastructure,
and millions of displaced persons and refugees.
	The adopted recommendations will provide for funding in such a way that leads
to increasing financial self-sufficiency of the African conferences; will
create an ongoing consultation among the African bishops, the board and the
Methodist European Commission on Mission; will assist with landmine removal
and will affirm mission in Africa as a major priority for the entire church. A
detailed proposal for $7,850,000 for funds, resources or loans for specific
projects was referred to the newly-created Millennium Fund. (See UMNS #591
{403})
	The landmines resolution, initially adopted by the board's Women's Division,
calls upon President Clinton to sign the comprehensive ban treaty on
anti-personnel landmines in December. It also urges Congress to enact
legislation this year calling for a permanent halt in U.S. deployment of
landmines and urges United Methodists to support activities advocating the
signing of the comprehensive ban.
	In other business, board directors:
	* asked the U.S. Attorney General to grant temporary protection status to
people from Sierra Leone currently living here until they can safely return to
their own country;
	* demanded the immediate release of two staff members from the International
Orthodox Christian Charities, who were kidnapped Sept. 20 by unidentified
armed men in Chechnya;
	* approved spending $225,000 for regional dialogues with annual conference
leaders in 1998-99;
	* allotted $175,000 for the board's Africa office in Nairobi, Kenya, and
$150,000 to establish a Europe office in Vienna, Austria;
	* agreed to provide $71,000 to support a Korean-American United Methodist
National Mission Convocation in 1998;
	* heard presentations on the impact of welfare reform, mission work in China
and the human rights situation in Nigeria.
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