wfn.org | Mission board sets lectureship, endowment fund

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Oct. 28, 2002	   News media contact: Linda Bloom7(212) 870-38037New York
10-21-71B{494}

NOTE:  The following article may be used as a sidebar to UMNS #493.  

STAMFORD, Conn. (UMNS) -- United Methodist Board of Global Ministries
directors want their retiring chief executive to use his experience and
expertise to convince others of the importance of worldwide church mission.

During the Oct. 21-24 annual meeting, directors approved a two-year mission
lectureship contract with the Rev. Randolph Nugent, as well as the
development a foundation to create a mission endowment fund in his honor.

Bishop Jonathan Keaton of Ohio told directors that the lectureship allows
the board to take advantage of Nugent's 30-plus years of service to the
denomination. "In some of our seminaries...there's a dearth of mission
education and this might be a way of addressing that dearth," he said.

Cashar Evans Jr., a director from Kitty Hawk, N.C., who served with Keaton
and Daniel Soliz, a director from Dallas, on the committee that brought the
proposal, agreed that Nugent's experience and talents could spur others into
mission. "I think this is a wonderful investment in the future," he added
during discussion about the proposal. "It would be a wonderful way to open
the door to mission and ministry throughout the world."

Support for the board's Foundation for Mission Endowment Fund will begin
with a series of lectures in at least 30 seminaries, colleges, graduate
schools and other institutions across the globe during 2003 and 2004.

Up to $200,000 will be put aside each year for Nugent's lectureship to cover
compensation, travel, travel-related costs and administrative assistance,
according to the adopted proposal. That money will come from permanent funds
for mission education work in China, Africa, the Philippines, Korea and
Singapore. Funding also will come from an India permanent fund that allows
teaching in any location and an Inner City Designated Fund. The Women's
Division voted to contribute $25,000 as well. It is hoped that some costs
will be defrayed by contributions from the schools or institutions where the
lectures take place.

A steering committee also is being established to raise money for the
endowment fund.  

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United Methodist News Service
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