wfn.org | Indiana bishop leads statehouse rally for children, poor

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

Jan. 27, 1999        Contact: Linda Bloom*(212)870-3803*New York
10-71BP{046}

NOTE:  Photographs are available with this story.

By Lynne DeMichele*

INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS) -- As usual, the children stole the show. And in this
case they were supposed to.

Several hundred United Methodist lay and clergy members from the farthest
reaches of the state gathered at the Indiana's capitol rotunda here Jan. 26
to literally stand up for children and the poor. They were joined by groups
of restless but well-behaved young children from two United
Methodist-related local ministries. 

The day had been declared a Day of Fasting and Prayer by Bishop Woodie W.
White. A concurrent rally at the state's capitol was designed to raise
legislators' and the public's awareness of the unmet needs of Indiana's
children and poor families. 

The midday event began with a procession of adults and children bearing
church district banners and huge signs. Each sign contained a different fact
and statistic, expressed in oversized characters.

Forming a backdrop for the speakers, the placards presented a grim picture
of the state's record -- among the worst in the nation -- in the high number
of violent incidents involving children, the infant mortality rate and the
number of families living below the poverty line. 

About 10 United Methodist state senators and representatives took time from
the day's legislative session to stand in symbolic solidarity with White as
he spoke about the unmet needs of the state's children and poor families.

The bishop spoke with a sense of urgency on behalf of "children who too
often are forgotten, too often don't have health care, too often are
abused." He emphasized that they are the responsibility of, not only
legislators, but each citizen in assuring the health, education and safety
of our children -- "who are our future." 

Indiana's First Lady, Judy O'Bannon, spoke in response to the bishop's
address, adding her own appeal and emphasizing the importance of respect for
"the least of these" and sharing with the poor "not our castoffs, but only
our best."

Gov. Frank and Mrs. O'Bannon are members of Central Avenue United Methodist
Church in Indianapolis.

Representing the United Methodist legislators and adding their own
endorsement for the focus on children were Congressman Tim Brown, (R)
Crawfordsville , a member of Linden Kirkpatrick United Methodist Church, and
Senator Glen Howard, (D) Indianapolis, a member of Barnes United Methodist
Church.

The bishop's blessing of the legislators, a time of shared prayer and a
special "Litany for all God's Children" were also part of the hour-long
program.

The rally was a local expression of the denomination-wide Bishops'
Initiative for Children and Poverty launched last year and organized by the
Rev. Darren Cushman-Wood, pastor of Indianapolis East Tenth United Methodist
Church.

Set in the midst of the legislature's biennial 60-day session, the event was
planned to encourage lawmakers to keep children in mind as they consider
legislation before them. Two pertinent items are the governor's proposed
state support for day-long kindergarten and a new program to combat violence
in schools.

Thick coasters with the initiative's logo and the words "Remember the
children; remember the poor," were presented to each legislator. The
presentations were made by children from Fletcher Place Community Center
Preschool Ministry and Little Dove Day Care. 

Last year, hearings took place at various sites around the state led by the
two Indiana conferences' Committees on Children and Poverty to assess
current status and discover areas where ministry is needed. The next step,
according to organizers, is to provide information and resources to help
local congregations develop outreach programs in their communities.

#  #  #
 
*DeMichele is communications director of the Indiana Area of the United
Methodist Church and editor of the Hoosier United Methodist News.

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