TUESDAY 27 APRIL 2004

The 2004 General Conference opened with multicultural worship on Tuesday, April 27. Africans carrying incense pots, and dancers joined the procession of bishops carrying colorful banner streamers. They entered to the accompaniment of drumming, and a variety of languages and customs calling all the delegates and visitors to worship in the theme of the General Conference, "Water Washed and Spirit Born." During the worship we were invited to remember our baptism and shared in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The preacher was a person familiar to Wisconsin, Bishop Ruediger R. Minor, Eurasia Area, president of the Council of Bishops and a guest at last years Annual Conference.

The General Conference spent time debating the proposal offered by the General Conference rules and organization committee to have bishops convene and preside over the legislative committee meetings at General Conference. The Conference voted to continue the practice of each legislative committee electing a Chairperson to preside. The legislative committees met for the first time on Tuesday evening to elect officers (in addition to the Chairperson each committee elects a vice-chairperson and secretary). Each Committee will have Recorders and assistants for the Secretary. Cindy Churan, the Administrative Assistant to Bishop Rader, will serve assisting the Secretary as a Recorder in one of the legislative committees.

On Wednesday the Conference began the day with worship. The preacher was Bishop Blake of the Oklahoma Area. The morning session included the report of the General Council on Ministries, including a series of video presentations covering the breadth of the United Methodist mission and ministry in the US and around the world. The Conference also heard the Laity Address and will spend the afternoon and evening in legislative committee work.

      + Steve Polster

WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL 2004

Greeting in the name of the risen Christ. It is a privilege to be representing the Wisconsin Conference as a delegate to the General Conference of the United methodist Church. I will be keeping you informed about what is going on in General Conference regarding Racial Ethnic Ministries.

Here is some information:

1. There are 196 Racial Ethnic delegates in the Conference
2. The Inter-Ethnic Caucus and the Commission on Religion and Race provided a training and orientation for all racial ethnic delegates on Monday 26th. from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
3. Tuesday the Legislative Committees and sub-committees were organized
4. Wednesday April 28th the sub-committees started to work.
5. In the sub-committee of GLobal Ministries, of whi8ch I am a part, we worked with the Plan for Ministry of the ethnic groups and they voted concurrence with all the plans: Native American, Hispanic, Korean, and Black.
6. There are a good representation of racial ethnic delegates in every committee and some of them are presiding in their respective committees.

      + Jorge Mayorga Solis

On Wednesday, April 28 the General Conference meeting in Pittsburgh gathered for worship with Bishop Bruce Blake, Oklahoma Area, preaching on the theme, "giving until it heals". The Daily Christian Advocate quotes a portion of his sermon "Our attitude is one of giving until it hurts, rather than heals. Everything is focused on our limited resources when, in fact, if United Methodists would give until it heals, we would have so much money to facilitate God's mission in the world that conferencing would be a celebration of sharing rather than our experience of divvying up a shrinking pie." ( Daily Edition Vol 4. No. 3 p. 1502).

The Laity Address was shared by Gloria Holt, lay leader of the North Alabama Annual Conference representing the association of Conference Lay Leaders. In her address she challenged the United Methodists gathered. She told the delegates, "until each church member is willing to let go of "me, myself and I" and make a concerted effort to become, "we, ourselves, and us," the denomination will continue to be involved in "power struggles, selfish decision-making, and un-Christian action toward each other."

United Methodists and Methodists from all regions of the world are present here in Pittsburgh and many were introduced to the Conference in plenary session.

During the plenary session on Wednesday the General Council on Ministries presented a report entitled, "Living into the Future" which proposes merging the work of program and finance agencies into a "connectional table". In that structure, leaders from around the the church would coordinate the work of most of the denominations agencies and would oversee ministry and budgets. If this proposal in enacted as presented it would be fully implemented by January 2007. The General Conference is now working on the legislation in committee and it will likely come to the floor for a vote next week.

The Legislative Section Committees continue to work afternoons and late into the night reviewing and deciding on recommendations for all the petitions and legislation to come before the Conference. Mary Council Austin, a clergy delegate from Wisconsin was elected and is serving as Secretary of the Local Church Legislation Section Committee.

Amy Valdez Barker, a lay delegate from Wisconsin was nominated from the floor on Thursday morning for a seat on the Judicial Council. Elections are scheduled for next Monday.

At the end of the plenary session on Thursday Eunice Jones Matthews was recognized on her 90th birthday by the General Conference singing, "Happy Birthday". Eunice is a life long Methodist, a champion of missions, especially in India where she was born ninety years ago today the daugher of evangelist and missionary E. Stanley Jones. She and her husband Bishop Matthews (retired) now live in Boston. Both were presented with flowers and a reception in Eunice's honor was held following the plenary.

      + Steve Polster

THURSDAY 29 APRIL 2004/FRIDAY 30 APRIL 2004

This report relies a great deal on the information shared in the Daily Christian Advocate, the official publication of the General Conference which includes a recap of the previous days events as well as the reports on legislation from the legislative section. Some of the legislation coming out of the committee has already been reported in the Daily Christian Advocate in preparation for the work of the General Conference delegates in plenary session. Please note that none of these issues have been addressed by the General Conference in plenary. For example, the Legislative Committee dealing with the part of the Discipline on Annual Conference amended the petition from the General Council on Finance and Administration (Petition No. 40939) to reduce the number of bishops in the United States to take effect immediately after the 2008 General Conference instead of the proposed 2004 implementation. The proposed formula would reduce the number of bishops by one in each of the five U.S. jurisdictions. This matter will now be on the agenda for the General Conference to take action at the appropriate time.

On Thursday afternoon a semi-trailer arrived filled with 50lb. bags of potatoes salvaged from a company in Maine and transported in a joint effort of the Society of St Andrew, an ecumenical nonprofit organization, and the United Methodist Men. The potatoes were unloaded and transferred to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank truck. It was announced that the potatoes will help feed some of the approximately 120,000 Pittsburgh area residents served by the Food Bank. The Daily Christian Advocate featured a picture of Bishop Don Ott assisting other volunteers in unloading the bags of potatoes. General Conference participants are invited to fast for one meal and donate money to help cover the shipping cost.

Friday morning worship was a service of worship for appreciation for African American United Methodists who remained in the denomination in spite of the institutional and personal racism that forced others to form primarily African American denominations (African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church Zion and the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church) and through the segregation forced upon the African American Methodists in the formation of the Central Conference, as well as other times and events where racism was practiced in the life of our Church. The worship music led by the West Virginia Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble and the Paine College Choirs was nspiring and celebrative, often bringing everyone to their feet in joyous participation. Bishop Thomas, a retired member of the North Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops, was recognized by the General Commission on Archives and History and the General Conference for his leadership in the formation of the United Methodist Church and 40 years of leadership.

Bishop Rader as the outgoing Secretary of the Council of Bishops read the names (including her own) of the 24 active bishops who will be retiring in September of this year.

The afternoon and evening are once again spent in long hours of deliberation in legislative section committees. The schedule calls for the committees to meet all afternoon and then again in the evening after a two hour break for dinner. Many of the committees don't adjourn for the evening until after 10:00 p.m. All of the work of the legislative committees is scheduled to be completed by Sunday night.

Prayer and worship surround the General Conference. A prayer room is available each day and prayers are being offered on a regular basis. In addition to beginning each day in worship, at 12:30 p.m. each day those attending General Conference are invited to join in a communion service led by one of our bishops around the altar in the plenary meeting room.

      + Steve Polster

SATURDAY 1 MAY 2004

Worship on Saturday, May 1 was highlighted by the preaching of Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton, a bishop of the North Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops serving as Resident Bishop of the East Ohio Area, and the singing of a massed youth choir made up of youth choirs from Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Ohio, Florida, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The Daily Christian Advocate reported in the Saturday edition the vote by the Legislative Section on Church and Society by a vote of 52-43 that passed a motion to amend Paragraph 161.G of the Social Principles. the General Conference will debate and decide on the motion in plenary session next week. The amendment keeps the current statement that, "The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching." and adds a new sentence. "We recognize that Christians disagree on the compatibility of homosexual practice with Christian teaching and affirm that God's grace is available to all. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons."

On Saturday morning in the plenary session, the General Conference heard the report of the Judicial Council ruling on a requested decision on whether Paragraph 304.3 is a declaratory statement of the United Methodist Church and if it is, does 2702.1b apply. The decision of the Judicial Council was read by the Secretary of the General Conference and will appear in written form at a later date. In a split decision with an accompanying written dissent, the Judical Council ruled that Paragraph 304.3 is a declaration of the United Methodist church and Paragraph 2702.1b. does apply.

Some of the legislative committees have completed their work, while others have not. Overall a higher percentage of the petitions have been dealt with by legislative committees thus far in 2004 that in the previous General Conference.

Sunday is a day set aside by General Conference for worship and rest although it is anticipated that a few of the legislative committees may need to meet in the afternoon or evening to complete their work.

      + Steve Polster

MONDAY 3 MAY 2004

Monday, May 3 was to be the day that the Judicial Council elections were held. Instead, due to a software problem in the voting process the election of the two lay members was declared invalid and the balloting will resume on Tuesday. After the first ballot on Monday, Amy Valdez Barker (lay delegate from Wisconsin) withdrew her name from nomination. Amy withdrew because she said it was apparant to her that the United Methodist Church was open to the voice of youth and young adults in every part of the church, except the Judicial Council. She reported that she had been told by some that the Judicial Council was no place for a young person. It is not certain if she will reenter the process now that Monday's vote has been declared invalid.

The General Conference voted on Monday to enter into a concordant relationship wtih the United Methodist Church of Puerto Rico. Representatives of both churches signed the agreement as the closing event in the evening session of the General Conference on Monday. Concordant relationships are outlined in Paragraph 552 of the 2000 Discipline. Concordats allow for mutual acceptance, respect and create opportunities for closer fellowship between the two churches.

Last week the General Conference voted to form a new division under the Board of Discipleship, the Division of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. This decision provides a new focus for creating and equipping youth and young adult disciples.

The Monday, May 3 edition of the Daily Christian Advocate (p. 1672) reported that On Saturday, May 1 the General Conference voted to ask the Judicial Council to determine what the "meaning, application, and effect" of the decision handed down on April 29 (Judicial Council Decision No. 984) would have on the outcome of the Dammann trial. The clergy member of the Pacific Northwest Conference was found innocent of the charge of engaging in "practices incompatible with Christian teaching" as listed in Paragraph 2702.1(b).

On Monday the General Conference asked for a ruling by the Judicial Council on whether the promotion of non-payment of apportionments by a pastor is a chargeable offense.

The legislative sections have for the most part completed their work and the General Conference now meets in morning, afternoon and evening plenary sessions.

On a lighter note, The General Conference sang "Happy Birthday" and presented a nametag "sticker" to Don Mendenhall, the Chair of the Wisconsin Delegation, and several other delegates who are celebrating birthdays during this session of the General Conference. Don celebrated his birthday on May 2.

      + Steve Polster

Dear United Methodist Sisters and Brothers:

Greetings in the name of the risen Christ. we write this letter in the season of Easter, a season of hope and new life. Christ's ministry, suffering, death and ressurection is our inspiration as we gather on the eve of the 2004 General Conference.

Every General Conference is a pivitol moment for the churh. During this General Conference, we ask for prayer, not only from the delegates meeting in Pittsburgh, but also from all who call themselves United Methodist.

We come to Pittsburgh from many cultures around the globe. An abundance of issues and concerns await our area and the care of the General Conference. We are committed to Christ and to the mission of The United Methodist Church. God calls us to do justice, love mercy and walk in humility.

We are aware of a sense of anxiety in the atmosphere. Some persons are anxious because of visa difficulties encountered by many deleagtes of Africa., Latin America, and the Phillippines. Others are concerned about raism, poverty, war, and terrorism. Still othres are focused on the tension between our passion for mission and our finanial and stewardship challenges. The recent churh trial in the Pacific Northwest Annual conference has also ontributed to the stress.

Fear and anxiety are not the only forces at work in the world. Days after the death of Jesus, the disciples were so fearful they stayed behind locked doors. suddenly, Jesus appered and said, "peace be with you... receive the Holy Spirit." When they saw the Lord, the disciples rejoiced. John. 20:19-20.

When Jesus Chirst is present, we have nothing to fear. We are convinced more than ever that Jesus Christ is with us here , leading us to serve in all that we do.

As a Council of Bishops, we consisder ourselves to be family. That means we love each other, we listen to each other, and sometimes we vigorously disagree with each other. However, we do not question the integrity of our colleagues and their commitment to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to them. We have learned that honest stuggle is a part of love. Our love for Christ, the church, and one another transends our differences.

On some issues, including human sexuality, we are not of one opinion. At the same time, we are united in our commitment to Jesus Christ. We are united in our commitment to practice and advocate unity. We are united in our commitment to uphold the Book of Disipline. We are united in our conviction that the critical issues will not be unltimately resolved with legislation. We will find the answers in Christ-like love, expressed in dialogue, mutul respect and a humble search for the mind of God, Schism is not a part of God's plan for the church.

In recent days, we have spent many hours in dialogue, listening to God and to one another. We have emerged from these conversations strengthened and commited to the Weslyean spirit of Holy conferencing . We pray that the Genereal Conferene will do its work in the same spirit of mutual respect and unity.

The Book of Disipline is our most current statement on how United Methodist agree to live their lives together. (Episcopal Greetings, page v, Book of Disipline) Each General Conference is charged with considering the past and fousing on the future. In the spirit of Holy Conferenceing, we pray that the General Conference will speak prophetically and at wisely.

Our prayer is "that your love will overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you determine what is best, so that in the day Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God." Phillipians 1: 9 - 11.

The Council of Bishops
Ruediger Minor, Prsesdent
April 26, 2004

Daily Wrap Up: Assembly begins with worship, bishops' address -
Apr. 28, 2004
Different voices joined in a common song as the 2004 United Methodist General Conference officially opened with an April 27 worship service at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. In the afternoon’s traditional Episcopal Address, Bishop Kenneth L. Carder of the Mississippi Area told the nearly 1,000 delegates that God is calling the church to be a sign and instrument of a new creation.

International assembly begins with worship -
A common song, sung in different voices, marked the beginning of the 2004 General Conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Native American, African, Hispanic, Korean, Caribbean and gospel drumbeats called the church together for its quadrennial legislative assembly. The 998 delegates and more than 1,000 visitors joined a mass choir and orchestra in the historic hymn “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” at the April 27 “Service of Holy Communion and Remembrance.”

United Methodists cook up snacks for delegates -
Despite John Wesley’s historic counsel that “for studious persons, about eight ounces of animal food and 12 of vegetable in 24 hours is sufficient,” delegates and visitors to the 2004 General Conference of the United Methodist Church will enjoy sugary snacks during breaks at the April 27-May 7 worldwide gathering here.

Bishops say God is calling church to a new future -
The bishops of the United Methodist Church believe God is calling the people of the church to a new future and a new creation. “The promise of a new creation provides the foundation and vision for the church’s mission in this new millennium,” said Bishop Kenneth L. Carder of the Mississippi Area, speaking on behalf of the Council of Bishops.

Daily Wrap-up: Budget items, nominations and a lot of spuds
Apr. 29, 2004
News media contact: General Conference Newsroom 415.325.6080
By Linda Bloom

PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - When it comes to church finances, the buck stops - and starts - with each individual giver.

That's why Sandra Kelly Lackore, the United Methodist Church's chief financial officer, reminded delegates to the denomination's top legislative gathering that their budget decisions are "not just about dollars" but about gifts to God.

In her April 29 report, Lackore told delegates to use the $585 million proposed quadrennial budget by the church's General Council on Finance and Administration as a starting point for their decision-making. She advised them to look to the future and preserve what is worthwhile, eliminate what isn't and be "innovative" in the process.

The final budget, she said, must reflect what the delegates believe are the missional and financial priorities of the church. "Do not think of it as a budget of dollars, think of it as a sacred trust."

Action items during the April 29 morning session included 24 nominations for four openings on Judicial Council and 17 nominations for four posts on the University Senate.

The nine-member Judicial Council is considered the supreme court of the United Methodist Church. Two clergy and two lay members are elected for eight-year terms. Voting is scheduled for May 3, after brief biographical sketches of the 24 nominees are printed in the Daily Christian Advocate.

The University Senate is a body of professionals in higher education that determines which academic institutions meet the criteria to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Four senate members will be elected by General Conference on May 3; the remaining 21 members are selected by other groups.

One church member, Eunice Jones Mathews, was singled out during a 90th birthday tribute. The wife of Bishop James K. Mathews, she is the daughter of E. Stanley Jones and Mabel Lossing Jones, Methodism's premier missionary couple of the 20th century, and a longtime activist for mission herself.

The day also included a hands-on demonstration of putting mission into action as bishops and delegates transferred 50-pound bags of potatoes from a tractor-trailer in the convention center loading zone to a Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank truck. The "potato drop" was sponsored by the Society of St. Andrew, an ecumenical nonprofit organization, and United Methodist Men.

The salvaged potatoes were shipped from a company in Maine and are expected to help feed 120,000 Pittsburgh-area residents served by the food bank. General Conference participants were asked to fast for one meal and donate money to help cover the shipping cost.

Daily Wrap-up: Delegates honor black members, mark UMW milestone
April 30, 2004
By Linda Bloom

PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - African Americans were part of the church when Methodism began, but often have been denied full participation because of racism.

That reality was acknowledged April 30 by delegates to the United Methodist General Conference who, in a Service of Appreciation, honored and celebrated African-Americans who remained as members of the denomination and its predecessor bodies. Today, there are 423,456 African-American U.S. members, including 14 bishops.

The service celebrated God’s presence in the life of the church, recognized wounds and encouraged healing. Delegates confessed to the sin of racism in the denomination.

"It is important to be clear that I would not be here if they had not stayed," said the Rev. Vincent Harris, a third-generation Methodist and president of Black Methodists for Church Renewal. "I believe in the church, I believe in what Jesus brought to us in the Gospel, and I believe that by staying, we not only make the church better, but we build a foundation for our future."

In her sermon, Bishop Charlene Kammerer of the denomination’s Charlotte (N.C.) Area thanked the generations of black Methodists who stayed in an institution that excluded them. "For all those faithful, courageous black Methodists who stayed in an inhospitable place and abusive church, we say ‘Thank you, God,’" she said.

"Those of us in the white majority confess that we have sinned against you and against God who made us all one family," she said. "We have excluded you from our sanctuaries, schools, colleges, our public domains, our neighborhoods, our homes and, worst of all, our hearts. For that, we are truly sorry."

After the morning worship and business session, delegates spent the afternoon and evening attending one of 11 legislative committee sessions. The committees are processing legislation aimed at either The Book of Discipline, the denomination’s book of law and social principles, or The Book of Resolutions, which focuses on global and societal social-justice issues. Some legislation may be processed during the May 1 morning session, but, most of that day will be spent in committee meeting. On Monday, May 3, the assembly will begin voting on proposals as they are approved or amended in the legislative committees.

United Methodist Women invited General Conference participants to help mark the organization’s 135th anniversary at an afternoon reception at the Westin Hotel. Started by a handful of women in Boston who paid dues of 2 cents a week, the group began home missionary societies to meet the needs of newly freed slaves and poor women and children.

Over the years, the organization and its administrative arm, the Women’s Division, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, have built schools, hospitals, orphanages and community centers; started anti-lynching leagues; built the Church Center for the United Nations; funded programs and projects for women and children in more than 100 countries and educated themselves about the church and the world through schools of mission and national seminars.

During an afternoon press conference, three church leaders supported efforts to get General Conference to provide $4 million to address the HIV/AIDs pandemic. It is time for the church "to put its money where its mouth is," said the Rev. Donald Messer, author of Breaking the Conspiracy of Silence: Christian Churches and the Global AIDS crisis. Bishop Felton E. May of the Washington Area and Linda Bales, a staff member of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society also spoke at the press briefing. There are 42 million people globally living with HIV/AIDS, and 29.5 million of those reside in sub-Saharan Africa, panelists said.

Six bishops were honored during a luncheon hosted by the Commission on United Methodist Men. Bishop William W. Hutchinson of the Louisiana Area, Bishop Woodie W. White of the Indiana Area, Bishop Ann Sherer of the Missouri Area, Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton of the Ohio East Area, Bishop Alfred L. Norris of the Houston Area, and Bishop May were named fellows in the John Wesley Society, an award program that helps fund a foundation supporting scouting and other outreach ministries.

(Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer.)

Daily Wrap-up: Delegates hear judicial ruling, approve youth emphasis
May. 1, 2004 News media contact: General Conference Newsroom
NOTE: News media contact: after May 10: (615) 742-5470.
By Linda Bloom

PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - The March acquittal of a lesbian pastor will be re-examined by the highest court of the United Methodist Church.

A majority of delegates to General Conference requested the ruling following the reading of another Judicial Council ruling on homosexuality.

On April 29, the Judicial Council ruled that the practice of homosexuality is a chargeable offense for clergy. By a 6-3 margin, the court ruled that the statement "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching" (Paragraph 304.3 of the 2000 Book of Discipline) is indeed a declaration of the General Conference, the only body that can speak for the 10 million-member denomination.

After a reading of that ruling, the Rev. Maxie Dunnam, Kentucky Annual (regional) Conference, moved that Judicial Council be asked to rule on the "meaning, application and effect" of the April 29 decision on the outcome of the trial of the Rev. Karen Dammann. The self-avowed homosexual clergy member of the Pacific Northwest Annual (regional) Conference was found innocent of the charge of engaging in practices "incompatible with Christian teaching." Dunnam also asked the council to determine if a United Methodist bishop can legally appoint a self-avowed, practicing homosexual.

Delegate Frank Dorsey, Kansas East Conference, opposed the motion, saying that it was "striking at our heart with a knife to ... destroy our church," but Dunnam's motion was approved by a vote of 551-345.

In other business, the delegates took actions that will expand the church's ministries with young people and in rural communities.

By a 780-109 vote, the General Conference approved the creation of a Division on Ministries with Young People; 11 delegates abstained from voting. The budget of $6.6 million, which included $1.8 million off the general church budget, was approved by a 749-140 vote, with 7 abstentions.

"This is an historic moment," said Jeffrey Greenway, Western Pennsylvania delegate and chair of the legislative committee on discipleship. "The young people have shown us a model where the old things pass away and new things come into being."

As part of the proposal, the United Methodist Youth Organization and the Forum for Adult Workers in Youth Ministry will disband. The Shared Mission Focus on Young People will be folded into the new division.

In an effort to support rural ministries, the General Conference adopted a $425,000 budget earmarked for strengthening rural congregations. By doing so, the assembly gave permission to the denomination's National Comprehensive Plan for Town & Country Ministries to develop and support ministries in rural cultures and contexts for the next four years.

The plan will also assist in developing effective leadership for town and country ministries. Town & Country Ministries is a program of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

(Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer.)

Daily Wrap-up: Assembly OKs Taco Bell boycott, thanks Africa University
May 3, 2004
By Linda Bloom

PITTSBURGH (UMNS) – United Methodists are saying “no” to tacos.

Specifically, the denomination is joining several other communions in the National Council of Churches, as well as the council itself, in observing the Taco Bell boycott initiated by the Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

The consumer boycott is in protest of Taco Bell’s refusal to address the issue of alleged worker exploitation by its tomato suppliers, including poor wages and a lack of fundamental labor rights.

Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans (MARCHA) brought the boycott petition before the United Methodist General Conference, which passed it without debate along with other items on a consent calendar.

Among the criteria for the lifting of the boycott is for Taco Bell to “convene serious three-way talks” with the workers and tomato suppliers. United Methodists will establish a monitoring committee to assess the progress of negotiations.

Denomination-wide boycotts are rare in the United Methodist Church and can only be approved by General Conference, the top legislative body.

Supporters of Africa University want United Methodists to continue to say “yes” to the church-related school in Zimbabwe. General Conference delegates received a “thank you” May 3 for past support of the university. Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo, the school’s chancellor, said it already is making an impact on the African continent.

Over the last four years, United Methodists pledged $10 million to the Africa University Fund and the institution is requesting the same levels of funding over the next quadrennium. However, they are encouraging the church’s annual (regional) conferences to pay their full apportionment. In past years, giving has only totaled 90 percent of what was budgeted, according to Lloyd Rollins, the school’s director of development.

“If full apportionments (of $2.5 million per year) were paid, we would have, on average, an additional quarter of a million dollars to spend on this ministry,” Rollins said.

Conference delegates did vote May 3 to continue support for the Native American Comprehensive Plan, first passed in 1992.

According to Ann Saunkeah, the plan’s executive director, the task force which guides the plan has provided resources for Native American ministries, fellowship and programs across the denomination. Some 19,000 United Methodists identify themselves as Native Americans.

Funding for the plan over the next four years is budgeted at $1.1 million. Included is a new emphasis on increasing youth and young adult participation in the church.

The importance of racial and ethnic churches in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ was emphasized by Bishop Hae-Jong Kim of Pittsburgh during the May 3 morning worship.

“Finding one’s ethnic and racial identity is so important to one’s well-being,” said Kim, the denomination’s first Korean-American bishop. “That’s why it’s so important that racial and ethnic churches are there – because people find identity in their churches.”

The bishop, who survived the Korean War as a refugee with his mother, brother and two sisters, found his own Christian identity when his mother converted to Christianity and offered her four children to God. After coming to the United States, Kim was ordained in the United Methodist Church.

In other business, the delegates:

• Acknowledged the problems facing today’s African-American family–– such as violence within the geographic community, new and virulent health problems, a high rate of cardiovascular illness and economic stress––by mandating that the United Methodist Board of Discipleship identify or create resources on these issues for local congregations.
• Authorized two churchwide agencies to study the church’s worship needs, including the need for resources to support congregational singing.
• Voted against petitions that would establish scouting committees at the conference and district levels. Arthur Jones, North Texas Conference, said the legislative committee working on the petitions was not opposed to the Boy or Girl Scouts but did not think such a requirement was necessary in the Book of Discipline, the church’s law book.
• Adopted a resolution urging local churches to set aside a Sunday of their choice to highlight the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission program, which provides opportunities for individuals and groups to participate in hands-on mission projects.
• Approved a “Concordat Agreement” between the United Methodist Church and the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico that will continue the special relationship between the two bodies.
• Overwhelmingly supported a plan to strengthen older-adult ministries in local churches by creating a council on older-adult ministries in each annual (regional) conference.

Some 1,900 United Methodists sampled Pittsburgh’s cultural offerings as they listened to the River City Brass Band and Jazz vocalist Etta Cox during a May 2 concert at Heinz Hall.