wfn.org | Board of Global Ministries highlights mission work

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

Oct. 22, 1999 News media contact: Linda Bloom*(212) 870-3803*New York
10-21-71B{556}

STAMFORD, Conn. (UMNS) - Mission work ranging from the continuing deployment
of Korean-American pastors in the United States to the celebration of an
international youth gathering to efforts at landmine removal was highlighted
during the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries Oct. 18-21 annual
meeting.

Board directors also approved a variety of resolutions and reports for the
2000 General Conference next May in Cleveland, Ohio. General Conference is
the denomination's top legislative body.

In a keynote address, the Rev. Randolph Nugent, top executive of the board,
lamented the fact that many of the board's far-reaching mission programs
never receive the press attention they deserve.

"If the stories of mission were to be more widely told and broadly
shared...others throughout the world would be better equipped to understand
and appreciate the power of the Gospel to change lives," he said.

"The profound hope and the unquenchable zeal of the people in Rwanda or
Sudan or Burundi would be better understood," he continued. "People would be
better able to understand why, in spite of the wars, the violations of human
life, the killing and maiming and torture and rape of women and children as
well as men in these nations, the churches are growing and converts in the
tens of thousands are embracing the church daily."

The diverse nature of the mission work includes the establishing a United
Methodist presence in places like Cambodia and Manchuria; offering grants to
annual (regional) conferences interested in beginning Hispanic language
ministries; encouraging black church development in Arkansas; planting
churches in Latvia and Lithuania; starting programs in prison ministry and
restorative justice and commissioning 337 missionaries, as well as 79 Korean
pastors for specific work in Korean-American congregations.
Future mission and evangelization efforts, according to Nugent, "must
clearly redefine relationships among persons on the basis of our oneness in
Christ, so that people are no longer defined in terms of race, class or
economic status."

Those efforts also would recognize an age gap and foster intergenerational
relationships; restore a human touch to a world of increasing isolation and
be intentional "in issuing the invitation to all people to live a new life
in Christ Jesus," he said.

Addressing social issues for the future, new resolutions approved for
forwarding to General Conference covered the issues of hate crimes,
restorative justice and prison ministry, child soldiers, Pillars of Peace
for the 21st Century, responsible travel, public education and the
international treaty banning landmines.

Directors also approved resolutions that would replace current or existing
resolutions on the following topics: adoption, biblical language,
cooperative ministries, East Timor, gun violence, health and wholeness, Holy
Boldness urban ministry, immigrants and refugees, organ and tissue donation,
peace, justice and reunification of Korea and pornography and sexual
violence.

Resolutions recommended for readoption cover diversity of language,
America's native people, Charter for Racial Justice Policies, Native
American ministries, prejudice against Muslims and Arabs, use of church
facilities, self-determination and nonintervention, nuclear-free Pacific and
U.S.-China political and church relations.

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United Methodist News Service
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