wfn.org | CEF Board Joins Reconciling Program

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally			(10-21-28-71B){115}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470	Feb. 27, 1998

Christian Educators Fellowship board
declares itself 'reconciling'

by United Methodist News Service

	The eight-member national board of directors for the Christian
Educators Fellowship (CEF) of the United  Methodist Church has
designated itself a "reconciling board."
	With such a designation, it joins a network of United Methodist
congregations, campus ministries, and other units of the denomination
which "publicly welcome the full participation of all persons,
regardless of sexual orientation."
	In a statement issued Feb. 26, the elected board said its
decision was grounded "in our understanding of God's call to be open and
welcoming to all regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation,
family situation, national origin, ethnic background handicapping
condition, or economic status."  President of the board is K. Good,
Sugar Grove, Ill. 
	CEF includes more than 1,000 members, most of whom are pastors
and Christian education leaders in local congregations.  The
organization has 50 local chapters and sponsors national conferences.
	The unofficial United Methodist "Reconciling Congregation
Program" includes 143 congregations, 20 campus ministry units, six
annual conferences, and one churchwide agency (Commission on Christian
Unity and Interreligious Concerns). The movement also reports 13,000
individual reconciling members.  Executive director, with offices in
Chicago, is Mark Bowman.
	CEF elected board members are: Good;  the Rev. Bradford L.
Motta, Morristown, N.J.; Carolyn Hardin Englehardt of Cheshire, Conn.;
Cheryl Luce of Portland, Ore.; R. Ben Marshall of Dallas; Melanie Miner
of Austin, Texas; Ronald E. Preuss of Gainesville, Ga., and Christina
Zito of Basking Ridge, N.J.
	Along with its recent action, the CEF board is encouraging the
reconciling network to establish a category for "reconciling Christian
educators," Motta told United Methodist News Service.
	The next national CEF conference will be held in Chicago Feb.
2-6, 1999.
	Following its most recent meeting, the CEF board announced that
a national convocation will be held October 2-6, 2000 in San Diego,
Calif., with an educational and cultural experience in Mexico.
	The design team for the 2000 event includes Motta; Dick Wilson,
Austin, Texas; Annette Vanzant Williams, Fort Worth, Texas; Songja Park,
Pasadena, Calif.; Mary Beth Anderson, Bloomington, Ill.; and Judy Loehr,
Nashville, Tenn.