wfn.org | United Methodist Women tackle public education, tobacco

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

April 16, 2002       News media contact: Linda Bloom7(212) 870-38037New York
10-21-71B{164}

STAMFORD, Conn. (UMNS) - United Methodist Women are being encouraged to act
as advocates for children in the areas of public education and control of
tobacco products.

During the April 12-15 meeting of the Women's Division, United Methodist
Board of Global Ministries, directors decided to focus on public education
as Phase III of a continuing Children's Campaign. They also voted to join
the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

The Women's Division is the administrative body of United Methodist Women
(UMW), a 1 million-member organization.

David Cassidy, a representative of the U.S. Department of Education, spoke
to directors about the crisis in public education and the need for systemic
change. As a first step in their new campaign, members of every UMW unit
will be asked to visit local schools. A book offering guidance for those
school visits, a brief history of U.S. public school education and other
ways to be involved in public school advocacy will be available this summer
from the division.

The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids urges states to substantially increase
their excise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products. UMW members are
encouraged to urge their state and local affiliates and various partners to
join in on the campaign. 

The organization's involvement in the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids is
supported by the denomination's Social Principles, which recommends "total
abstinence from the use of tobacco" by all ages and advocates the
restriction of smoking in public areas and workplaces. The churchwide Board
of Church and Society is also supporting the campaign.

The actions are part of what Joyce Sohl, the division's top executive,
referred to as the organization's measures of accountability. They are
accountable to their history, for example, by continuing to address the
concerns that the women before them addressed - concerns for women, children
and youth, racial inclusiveness, human rights, justice and peace.

"Our history must ever be a direction-setting force for the future, but not
become so binding that we are unable to take risks and move into new arenas
as did our foremothers within the organization," Sohl told the directors.
"We have a remarkable history of women organized for mission. Our history
gives us courage to take the needed risks in our day and to stand firm on
our convictions and decisions without apology."

A catalyst for taking such risks is the UMW Assembly, which has met every
four years for nearly six decades. Genie Banks, Women's Division president,
predicted that the upcoming assembly, set for April 25-28 in Philadelphia,
will continue the tradition of helping women speak out. About 10,000 women
are expected to attend.

"Women have been challenged to confront and engage in emerging mission
initiatives," Banks noted about past assemblies. "The bonds of membership
have been strengthened, and voices from women just like us have been heard.
And women have left learning that not only did they have a voice, they could
use that voice to further the work of Christ on earth."

In other business, directors elected two new staff executives and recognized
the upcoming retirements of three others. Elected were Sung-ok Lee,
currently working for the division, to executive secretary for mission
education; and Diane Miller, an educator in Pittsburgh, as executive
secretary for schools and mission studies. Miller replaces Mary Grace Lyman,
who retires July 15 after 22 years of service. Also retiring, effective June
1, are Mary Kercherval Short, service center director, after 17 years, and
Louise Fawcett, assistant general secretary for administration, after six
years.

Women's Division directors also:

7	Approved a new district leadership training plan for the
organization, with a budget of $2.8 million over a four-year period,
starting in 2003.

7	Provided grants of $10,000 each to the Mississippi Workers Center
for Human Rights and the National Farm Work Ministry.

7	Voted to send one representative to the June 4-8 World Conference on
Breast Cancer in Victoria, British Columbia.

7	Heard a report from Regina Nesmith, who received the 2001 Theressa
Hoover Community Service and Global Citizen Award, about the rural community
health program she designed and has been conducting through United Methodist
churches in Williamsburg County, S.C.

7	Learned from David Ostendorf, director of the Center for New
Community, about the Christian Identity movement and how to confront such
hate groups in local communities.

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United Methodist News Service
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