wfn.org | Delegates vote support for European churches; elect judicial

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

reserves

CLEVELAND (UMNS) - Delegates to the United Methodist General Conference
backed a plan to give  $12 million over the next four years for
congregational growth and theological training for churches in formerly
Communist Eastern European countries.

The 992-member international legislative body referred the plan to the
denomination's General Council on Finance and Administration, which must
approve the churchwide budget for the quadrennium.

An earlier proposal for theological education in Russia was expanded in a
substitute motion brought by the Rev. Eddie Fox, Holston Annual Conference,
who directs global evangelism for the World Methodist Council.  

Fox, backed by other delegates, proposed instead that the denomination
establish a $10 million Advance Special program to support the work of the
church in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia,
Lithuania, Russia and several other former Eastern Bloc countries, and
Austria. According to the proposal, an additional $2 million would be
apportioned to local United Methodist congregations.

The program - and the funding for it - is to be coordinated by United
Methodist bishops in Europe.

Delegates also approved a petition calling for the development of  "an
innovative and economically strategic report for a God-centered alternative
to gambling-centered economic development for Native American communities."
Recommendations are to be brought to the 2004 General Conference.

In other action, delegates voted six clergy and six laity as reserve members
of the denomination's "supreme court," the Judicial Council. Reserves are
available to fill slots vacated by Judicial Council members unable to
complete their terms.

Clergy reserves (in order of election): Susan Henry-Crowe, South Carolina
Conference; Theodore "Ted" Walter, South Carolina Conference; Linda Thomas,
Northern Illinois Conference; Belton F. Joyner Jr., North Carolina
Conference; Frank B. Davies, Sierra Leone Conference. 

Lay reserves (in order of election): Sally Geis, Rocky Mountain Conference;
John Gray, Missouri West Conference; Paul Ervin, North Georgia Conference;
Daniel A. Ivey-Soto (believed to be the first Hispanic ever elected), New
Mexico Conference; Daniel Evans Jr., South Indiana Conference; and Ann
Alberty Saunkeah (believed to be the first Native American ever elected),
Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.
# # #
--M. Garlinda Burton

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United Methodist News Service
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