wfn.org | Delegates vote to strengthen African-American family life

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

May 3, 2004 GC04-052

By Linda Green*

PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - The United Methodist Church's belief in family as the
place where individuals are nurtured and sustained compelled delegates to
adopt legislation to strengthen African-American family life.

Delegates to the denomination's top legislative body amended and readopted a
resolution stating that while all types of families are affected by economic
and social change, today's African-American families face problems of
epidemic proportions, such as violence within the geographical community, new
and virulent health problems, a high rate of cardiovascular illness and
economic stress. 

In an effort to make more people aware of the problems black families face,
the delegates mandated that the United Methodist Board of Discipleship
identify or create resources and materials to assist local congregations in
developing mentoring, counseling and referral programs, which include
implementing strategies for strengthening African-American family life.
Delegates also called on the discipleship agency to produce listings of the
resources and distribute and promote them in each of the church's 63 annual
conferences.

The Board of Discipleship is the church agency that provides resources and
services to help church leaders build systems that enable every congregation
to fulfill its primary task of making disciples of Jesus Christ.  

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*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer.

News media contact: (412) 325-6080 during General Conference, April 27-May 7.
After May 10: (615) 742-5470. 

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
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