wfn.org | Re: United Methodist Daily News note 400

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Reply-to: owner-umethnews@ecunet.org (United Methodist News list)
"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 407 by UMNS on Oct. 27, 1997 at 15:44 Eastern (3693 characters).

CONTACT:	Ralph E. Baker						  595(10-71B){407}
		Nashville, Tenn.  (615) 742-5470			Oct. 27, 1997

Social Action group calls church
to reaffirm its historic social witness

by Robert Lear*

	WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- Reaffirmation of United Methodism's "historic social
witness and mission" as the church looks to the new century was called for
Oct. 18 by directors of the Methodist Federation for Social Action.
    "We see forces at work in the church and society that seek to
shrink the Gospel message, still the prophetic witness of United Methodism,
and dismantle or weaken the agencies and groups charged to carry out that
mission at all levels of the Church," the MFSA directors said.  The statement
was issued at the close of the organization's 90th anniversary observance
here.
    MFSA is an independent organization with about 2,000 members in 30
chapters across the nation.  It is not connected officially with the United
Methodist Church.
    The statement by MFSA directors comes as momentum is building toward
exploration of a "common vision for mission and ministry of the church" in the
21st century.  A study commission set up by the l996 General Conference will
bring recommendations to the next session of the church's top legislative
assembly scheduled for 2000 in Cleveland.
     "The United Methodist Church has a long and proud history of
social mission and prophetic witness, rooted in the Gospel of Jesus and our
Wesleyan heritage," the MFSA directors said.  "We call upon United Methodists,
and the Connectional Process Team in particular, to resist efforts to weaken
the prophetic social mission of our church and to affirm and strengthen our
historic social witness and mission."
     Other resolutions adopted during the MFSA session here dealt with
concerns related to both church and international affairs. Included in the
latter was "recognition" of the "State of Palestine" as a step toward
"resolution of tensions in the Holy Land."
     The anticipated Global March Against Child Labor on three continents was
endorsed, as was the U.S.-based "Season of Conscience Against Child Labor
Abuse."  Also, a letter will be sent to President Clinton urging the U.S. to
sign the treaty banning landmines.
     Within United Methodism, the MFSA directors endorsed a proposed service
of repentance for racism at the 2000 General Conference.  A letter of support
was sent to the Rev. Jimmy Creech, pastor of First United Methodist Church in
Omaha, who is "under fire for the pastoral act of celebrating a covenant
service for two women in his congregation."
     Support also was voiced for Bishop Joseph C. Sprague, Chicago,
"regarding the harsh attacks ... upon his views of the work of
Christ."  The criticism by some groups grows out of a book review he wrote.
     As the MFSA 90th anniversary observance ended George Baldwin, Bozeman,
Mont., led the beginning of a month-long, 800-mile walk to Ft. Benning, Ga. 
The walk opposes a U.S. Army school there federation leaders say has "trained
numerous Latin American assassins and operatives terrorizing their own
people."
     A major topic of discussion by MFSA directors was the search for a
successor to the Rev. George D. McClain, MFSA executive director since l974.
	McClain has announced his intention to step down from the post in l998.
     The Rev. Ulises Torres, Fitchburg, Mass., was re-elected MFSA national
co-president.  Continuing as co-president is Mary Ann Haxton, Sumner, Me. 
Larry Medsker, Washington, was re-elected treasurer and the Rev. Jan Munsey,
Denver, secretary. 
#  #  #
	* Lear is retired director of the Washington office of United Methodist News
Service now living in Wernersville, Pa.
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