United Methodist Men slate new methods, officers
Larry Malone (left), director of United Methodist Men's
ministry, discusses ministry opportunities with Brett Clemmer, an
executive with Man in the Mirror ministries. UMNS photos by J. Richard
Peck.
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By J. Richard Peck*
March 13, 2008 | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)
In the same year that the ministry of United Methodist Men is
celebrating its 100th anniversary, annual conference presidents of
United Methodist Men learned of new methods to reach men in the next 100
years.
The
National Association of Conference Presidents (NACP) of United
Methodist Men, meeting Feb. 28-March 2, also elected new officers and
set plans for its 2009 national gathering, to be held in Nashville after
a long tradition of meeting at Purdue University in West Lafayette,
Ind.
"I’m more excited than I’ve ever been before about men’s ministry," said
the Rev. David Adams, top staff executive of United Methodist Men.
While noting the long history of ministry through chartered groups of
United Methodist Men, Adams said "we need to be invitational and provide
many entry points for men."
To help churches launch new efforts in men’s ministry, the commission
has established a process whereby men can become "men’s ministry
specialists."
The specialists will be certified by the United Methodist Board of
Higher Education and Ministry following recommendation and mentoring by
their pastors, training experiences in men’s ministry, a course in
United Methodist history and polity, and experience in leading a local
or regional event. There also will be opportunity for people who have
completed courses in lay speaking ministries to receive additional
training to become men’s ministry specialists.
Change of venue
The 10th national gathering will be held July 10-11, 2009, on the
campus of Belmont University in Nashville. Held once every four years,
the event next year will include speeches by Chicago Area Bishop Hee-Soo
Jung and the Rev. Kevass Harding, pastor of Dellrose United Methodist
Church in Wichita, Kan.
Ingram Howard presents a plaque to the Rev. David Adams with the help of Glenn Wintemberg and Gilbert Hanke.
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A planning team is negotiating with other nationally known speakers and
singers. An informal worship service will be held on Sunday, July 12,
for those remaining in the Nashville area.
United Methodist Men is a ministry to and through all men of The United
Methodist Church. Among other ministries, it supports the Upper Room
Prayer Line, youth-serving agencies including scouting and Big
Brothers/Big Sisters; and hunger relief efforts through the Society of
St. Andrew.
Men’s ministry formally became part of the denominational structure in
1908 when the Methodist Episcopal Church authorized the creation of
Methodist Brotherhoods. During 2008, United Methodist Men's groups have
held a series of celebrations and special events across the United
States in honor of the organization's centennial.
New Officers
A new slate of officers was elected for the 2008-2011 term:
- John Dowell, president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of United Methodist Men, elected NACP president;
- Dean Holloman, president of Oregon-Idaho Conference, elected president of the Western Jurisdiction;
- Dan Ramsey, vice president of the South Central Jurisdiction, elected president;
- L.W. Smith, chairman of the Strength for Service Committee, elected president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction;
- Lee Donley, president of Detroit Conference, elected president of the North Central Jurisdiction.
- Wayne Custer, president of the Northeastern Jurisdiction, reelected to that post;
- Carl Young, an attorney in Edmond, Okla., elected president
of the United Methodist Men Foundation. Robert Powell, Dotham, Ala.,
continues as executive manager.
In other business, the conference presidents:
- Presented the 2007 "Bud the Spud Award" to Virginia Annual
(regional) Conference United Methodist Men for the largest increase in
giving to Meals for Millions. The award honors the late Nelson Curtis of
the Detroit Annual Conference for his efforts to eliminate hunger in
America;
- Endorsed a resolution asking the 2008 General Conference,
the top legislative body of The United Methodist Church, to make the
Society of St. Andrew the denomination's official hunger agency;
- Learned that conference prayer advocates had contributed
$8,741 for the Upper Room Prayer Line and that the United Methodist Men
Foundation had paid the full 2007 watts-line $14,689 phone bill for the
prayer ministry. The ministry receives 30,000 calls each month and 7,000
e-mail requests for prayer;
- Inducted Adams into the John Wesley Society, which
recognizes people who exemplify the characteristics of the founder of
Methodism.
- Previewed a six-minute video celebrating the 100th
anniversary of United Methodist Men’s ministry to be presented to
General Conference;
- Learned the United Methodist Men Foundation has a net worth of $2.5 million.
*Peck is the communications coordinator for the Commission on United Methodist Men.
News media contact: Linda Green, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
Commission on United Methodist Men
National Association of Conference Presidents, UMM |