wfn.org | Commission Head Resigns

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

TITLE:	Commission Head Resigns

Contact:  Joretta Purdue (202)546-8722
{122}
		Washington (202) 546-8722
March 2, 1998

Barbara Thompson, Commission on Religion
and Race executive, to retire 

	WASHINGTON (UMNS) - Barbara Ricks Thompson has resigned as
chief executive of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race,
effective Oct. 31.
She made the announcement on during the semi-annual meeting of the
commission's governing body here Feb. 25-28.
 Thompson, who became general secretary of the agency in 1985, is
eligible to retire in May. She told governing members of the commission
that the timing will allow her successor to have as much time as
possible before the church's top legislative body meets in the year
2000. 
	Bishop Clifton Ives, Charleston, W.Va., president of the
commission, was named chairperson of the search committee.  Applications
may be sent to his office no later than June 30.
	Thompson had to leave the meeting suddenly because of a family
emergency.  Her father had been taken to the hospital emergency room and
her mother, who had accompanied him, became ill and also was admitted.
	Almost a full day of the commission meeting was devoted to
anti-racism training, and an additional half day of instruction was
given in the monitoring process.  Teams from the agency visit annual
(regional) conferences, church agencies and theological schools to help
assess their racial inclusiveness.
	In other business, commission members voted to:
*	send a letter to all bishops reminding them that as annual
conferences restructure, the functions of the conference commission on
religion and race need "to be maintained with integrity";
		*	request that the Council of Bishops consider
having their own anti-racism training and to offer support and
assistance in that endeavor;
		*	send a letter in support of the garment workers
in the sweatshops of Los Angeles to Federated Department Stores and
Dayton Hudson Corporation; and
		*	put the need for jurisdictional commissions on
religion and race on the commission's September agenda.
							# # #