wfn.org | Man who led pension board in opposing apartheid dies

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

June 30, 1999	Contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-31-71B{358}

By United Methodist News Service

The Rev. Allen M. Mayes, a former staff member in the denomination's Board
of Pension and Health Benefits who led opposition to South African
apartheid, died after a lengthy illness June 26. He was 79.

A funeral service was scheduled for 11 a.m. July 1 at St. James United
Methodist Church in Beaumont, Texas. 

Mayes served as senior associate general secretary at the pension board from
1963 to 1990. He was director of corporate relations and social concerns and
served under five different top staff executives. At the same time, he
served as the pastor of Sherman United Methodist Church in Evanston, Ill.,
and shepherded that congregation for 10 years.

Upon his retirement in 1990, he returned to live in Beaumont, where he had
served as pastor in the 1950s, and began working in the pension office of
the Texas Annual Conference. He retired as director of ministerial services
there in 1997.

A clergy member of the Texas conference, Mayes served as a director of
migrant ministries in New York and Florida for the Home Missions Council,
dean of the Central Jurisdiction's Pastor's School, annual conference
secretary and pastor of two churches. He also was a seven-time General and
jurisdictional conference delegate.

During a celebration honoring his service to the churchwide Board of Pension
and Health Benefits, Mayes said his greatest contribution was his
participation in the development of the corporate relations and social
concerns department. The board's investments are monitored through this
department to ensure harmony with the denomination's Social Principles. He
had a leadership role in implementing the board's commitment to shareholder
advocacy and in the filing of numerous shareholder resolutions.

Under his leadership, the board urged companies doing business in South
Africa to oppose apartheid by implementing corporate policies that would
support black employees and other people there.
 
"Dr. Allen M. Mayes was an agent for change in many areas, including his
role in encouraging corporations to be better corporate citizens," said
Vidette Bullock Mixon, director of corporate relations at the Board of
Pension. As his successor, she said, she "benefited from his generous
mentoring in the art of diplomacy and corporate persuasion on issues of
human rights in South Africa and equal employment rights in the United
States."

Mixon said Mayes' passion for social justice will be missed, "but his
achievements serve as a solid foundation on which the General Board of
Pension and Health Benefits is building."

Mayes gave his heart and soul to the task of building a strong retirement
program for the Texas conference, treasurer Jim Crawford said in an e-mail
message to pastors and laity.

Mayes collected antique fountain pens, oriental rugs and pocket knives, but
"his heart beat quickest for Methodism and Methodist clergy," Crawford said.
"He wanted the best for his colleagues and worked tirelessly to create the
best environment for them. ... He was a valiant soldier for our Lord whose
imprint on the annual conference will last forever."

Mayes is survived his wife LaVerne, one daughter and two sisters.

# # #

______________
United Methodist News Service
http://www.umc.org/umns/
newsdesk@umcom.umc.org
(615)742-5472