| United Methodists
lead dialogue at global health summit
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A UMNS photo by Larry Nelson
Barbara
Boigegrain, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Pension
and Health Benefits, addresses participants at the Global Health
Initiative Dialogue gathering in Washington.
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Barbara
Boigegrain, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Pension
and Health Benefits, addresses participants at the Global Health
Initiative Dialogue Dec. 18-19 in Washington. Other panelists are (from
left) the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist
Communications; the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the United
Methodist Board of Global Ministries; the Rev. Kent Millard, senior
pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Indianapolis; United
Methodist Bishop David Yemba of the Central Congo Area; and James
Winkler, head of the denomination's Board of Church and Society. About
60 United Methodist leaders and health experts met to raise awareness of
global health issues and to mobilize United Methodists for action. A
UMNS photo by Larry Nelson. Photo #061431. Accompanies UMNS story
#06735. 12/21/06
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Dec. 20, 2006
By Deborah White*
WASHINGTON -- Singing "nza mu ranza" from an
African praise song, an advisory council of United Methodist bishops,
pastors, agency executives and lay leaders demonstrated their support for a
global health initiative by spontaneously placing $868 on a conference
podium.
With hands raised and singing in unison, they responded to a challenge to
save lives issued by Bishop Thomas Bickerton during the Global Health
Initiative Dialogue Dec. 18-19 at the National Press Club. Sixty United
Methodist leaders and health experts met to raise awareness of global health
issues and to mobilize United Methodists for action.
"Buy a net. Save a life," said Bickerton, president of the United Methodist
Commission on Communication. He was referring to the Nothing But Nets
campaign to buy anti-malaria bed nets for families in Africa. Partners in
the campaign include the people of The United Methodist Church, the United
Nations Foundation, Sports Illustrated, the National Basketball
Association's foundation NBA Cares, Millennium Promise and the Measles
Initiative.
"We are in a denomination of predictability that has become an institution,"
said Bickerton, who leads the denomination's Pittsburgh Area. "Let's make it
a movement again! What do you say? This can help."
The Global Health Initiative Dialogue was organized by United Methodist
Communications, the General Board of Global Ministries of The United
Methodist Church and the United Nations Foundation. A grant from the United
Nations Foundation
helped underwrite the meeting.
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A UMNS photo by Larry Nelson
"We
are in a denomination of predictability that has become an institution.
Let's make it a movement again, what do you say?" Bishop Thomas J.
Bickerton says.
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United
Methodist Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, leader of the denomination's
Pittsburgh area and president of the United Methodist Commission on
Communication, addresses participants at the Global Health Initiative
Dialogue gathering in Washington. About 60 United Methodist leaders and
global health experts met Dec. 18-19 to raise awareness of global health
issues and to mobilize United Methodists into action. The event was
organized by United Methodist Communications, the United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries and the United Nations Foundation. A grant from
the United Nations Foundation helped underwrite the meeting. A UMNS
photo by Larry Nelson. Photo #061433. Accompanies UMNS story #06735.
12/21/06
|
"It's a time for children to celebrate," said the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief
executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. And yet
children affected by malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS don't have the chance to
celebrate holidays, he said. "The children aren't able physically to do
that. They don't have the chance to live. They don't have a chance even to
be children. I think that's part of what pulls us together."
"This is a conversation among leaders about a potential major initiative to
invite the people of the United Methodist Church to help end the diseases of
poverty," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist
Communications. "Together we may do collaboratively what we individually
could not do alone."
Momentum is building for a global health initiative.
Strong support from participants in the Global Health Initiative Dialogue
came on the heels of Bishop Janice Riggle Huie's presidential address to the
Council of Bishops' meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, in November in which she
called on the church to "stamp out the diseases of poverty, particularly
malaria and HIV/AIDS." The church's general agencies and members of the
Connectional Table, the denomination's program coordination group, are also
developing a global health proposal in addition to emphasizing leadership
development, new church starts and congregational renewal, and caring for
children by addressing poverty.
"It's timely that we meet on the issue," said Hollon, pointing to Dec. 18
editorials in The New York Times and The Washington Post
lifting up concerns about global health. On Dec. 14 The United Methodist
Church's commitment to eradicating malaria was recognized at the White House
Summit on Malaria in Washington. Day was among the participants.
On the first day of the Global Health Initiative Dialogue, health experts
and church leaders described global health challenges, including malaria and
HIV/AIDS, that affect millions of people. Experts included Michael Madnick,
senior vice president of the UN Foundation, Andrea Gay, director of
children's health for the UN Foundation, and Todd Summers, senior policy
officer for global health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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A UMNS photo by Larry Nelson
The
Rev. Larry Hollon speaks to a gathering of 60 United Methodist leaders
and global health experts meeting Dec. 18-19 in Washinton.
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The
Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications,
speaks to a gathering of 60 United Methodist leaders and global health
experts meeting Dec. 18-19 in Washinton. The Global Health Initiative
Dialogue aimed to raise awareness of global health issues and to
mobilize United Methodists into action. The event was organized by
United Methodist Communications, the United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries and the United Nations Foundation. A grant from the United
Nations Foundation helped underwrite the meeting. A UMNS photo by Larry
Nelson. Photo #061434. Accompanies UMNS story #06735. 12/21/06
|
In Africa, approximately 800,000 children die every year of malaria, a
mosquito-borne disease that can be prevented and treated effectively.
Approximately 39.5 million people are living with HIV, and about 2.9 million
people have died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2006, according to the United
Nations Foundation.
The Rev. Kent Millard, senior pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church
in Indianapolis, described a challenging question posed to him by the rock
star Bono during a tour stop: "What will you tell your children and
grandchildren in 20 years when a whole continent wasted away with AIDS?"
Then Millard asked participants, "What will we say The United Methodist
Church did?" The church needs to focus in the same direction together, he
said. "Not only will it bring the good news of Jesus Christ, it will bring
us together as a denomination."
AIDS and malaria are interrelated and they are both connected to poverty,
Day said. "People want to do something. They want to save children.".
To help move forward a global health initiative, participants spent the
second day of the meeting working to suggest action steps. They emphasized
partnerships and making global health a priority. "Our compelling vision
will unify and pull us together," said Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher, who
leads the Illinois Area.
Action steps suggested include:
- Use the Nothing But Nets campaign as a
launching point for a global health initiative addressing diseases of
poverty, such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and measles.
- Create a new coordinating entity with
global representation to focus on global health.
- Form partnerships within The United
Methodist Church, with other faith groups and with outside
organizations.
- Involve every aspect of the
denomination, including hospitals and universities.
- Develop clear messages that resonate
with people in the pews and stimulate local church participation.
- Make global health a priority at General
Conference in 2008 and educate leadership in advance.
- Use the Advance for Christ and His Church as
a fundraising and delivery system.
Two participants announced support for
Nothing But Nets during the meeting.
The Rev. Timothy Bias, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Peoria,
Ill., pledged to raise money for 1,000 nets. Bishop Janice Huie of the
Houston Area, president of the Council of Bishops, said, "I am prepared to
make Nothing But Nets the priority for the Texas Conference."
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A UMNS photo by Larry Nelson
"Our compelling vision will unify and pull us together," Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher says.
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United
Methodist Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher of the Illinois Area,
addresses participants at the Global Health Initiative Dialogue
gathering in Washington. "Our compelling vision will unify and pull us
together," Christopher says. About 60 United Methodist leaders and
global health experts met Dec. 18-19 to raise awareness of global health
issues and to mobilize United Methodists into action. The event was
organized by United Methodist Communications, the United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries and the United Nations Foundation. A grant from
the United Nations Foundation helped underwrite the meeting. A UMNS
photo by Larry Nelson. Photo #061432. Accompanies UMNS story #06735.
12/21/06
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One of the highlights of the meeting was the presence of two bishops from
Africa. Bishop David Yemba of the Central Congo Area, said, "I know in my
heart that our church can be a leader in bringing health and wholeness to
Africa." Bishop Benjamin Boni, resident bishop of the Cote D'Ivoire Area,
also attended.
Consulting frequently with bishops and networks in Africa is crucial to a
global health initiative, said Bishop Joel Martinez of the San Antonio Area,
president of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. "It's about
justice and equality and hearing the call of Jesus to that," he said.
"I'm involved in a two-day hope meeting," said James Salley, associate
vice-chancellor for institutional advancement at Africa University. "The
Holy Spirit unites us all. They said we would never build Africa University,
but The United Methodist Church has done it. You have done it."
Participants responded with clapping -- and a shout of "nza mu ranza."
That's the beginning of a song in the Xitswa language of Mozambique that
means, "I worship Christ. There is no one like Him."
*Deborah White is associate editor of Interpreter magazine, a ministry of
United Methodist Communications.
News media contact: Ginny Underwood, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.
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