wfn.org | UMNS# 034-United Methodist delegation comforts Indonesian church,

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United Methodist delegation comforts Indonesian church, bishop says

Jan. 14, 2005

NOTE: Photographs, audio and related reports - UMNS stories #035-038 -
are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Linda Bloom

MEDAN, Indonesia (UMNS) - The tsunami disaster in Indonesia has allowed
United Methodists to reconnect with their Methodist counterparts here.

The Jan. 12 arrival of a United Methodist delegation "is of great
significance to our church," said Bishop Rusman Pungka Mual Tambunan of
the North and Central Sumatran Conference of the Gereja Methodist
Indonesia (Methodist Church of Indonesia).

The tsunami tragedy is "so sad and so vast," the bishop said, then added
through a translator: "Our heart is comforted by your presence. I thank
you for being with us as members of one family."

United Methodist Bishop Joel Martinez of San Antonio, who is president
of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, brought greetings on
behalf of the delegation. He noted that the Board of Global Ministries,
the Council of Bishops and United Methodist Communications - as well as
United Methodists everywhere - "have been of one heart in prayer for
you."

One purpose of the delegation's Jan. 12-16 visit to Indonesia is to
provide pastoral support. "We want to pray with you, we want to walk
with you, we want to offer what ministry of consolation that we can to
your people," he said.

The delegation also comes in a spirit of partnership, according to
Martinez, "as we work with you to respond to the crisis that has struck
the people of Indonesia."

The fact-finding mission should help United Methodist agencies determine
the needs and opportunities arising from the disaster. "We want to work
with you as long as it takes," he added. Part of the delegation's
mission included delivering antibiotics and other medicine for tsunami
survivors.

This year, the Gereja Methodist Indonesia is celebrating its 100th
anniversary. Started as an outreach ministry of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Singapore, the denomination became autonomous in 1964 and
serves a constituency of about 100,000 people.

In the Aceh Province, Methodist churches and schools can be found in the
tsunami-damaged cities of Banda Aceh, Bireuen, Lhokeumawem and Melaboh.
Most church members in that province are of Chinese descent.

In addition to the North and Central Sumatran Conference, the church has
a South Sumatran and Java Conference, led by Bishop Baktiar Kwee. Each
of the conferences has its own seminary, and most of the current pastors
are graduates of those seminaries.

Besides Martinez, other members of the United Methodist delegation
include the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive, and the Rev. David Wu,
staff executive and Asia specialist, from the Board of Global
Ministries; the Rev. Paul Dirdak, director of the United Methodist
Committee on Relief; Kyung Za Yim, president of the board's Women's
Division; the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist
Communications; and the Rev. Henry Leono, a native of Indonesia and
pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Willingboro, N.J.

Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759; Stephen
Drachler, (615) 742-5411; or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org