Retired United Methodist Bishop Marion Edwards kisses newly elected Bishop Paul Leeland during the Service of Consecration July 19 at Lake Junaluska, N.C.

Wrap-up: United Methodists elect, assign U.S. bishops for 2009-12

A Special Report
By United Methodist News Service*
July 21, 2008

United Methodists in the U.S. elected and assigned eight new bishops and re-assigned the rest during jurisdictional meetings held in five regions last week.

It was an often-intense week as delegates worked to fill leadership vacancies created by seven retirements, one resignation and a death. Bishops are the top clergy leaders of the denomination, and the 50 or so U.S. bishops oversee some 7.9 million of the church's 11.5 million members worldwide.

The United Methodist Southeastern Jurisdiction wasted no time, taking its first ballot on opening day, July 16, and announcing the first elected bishop of the 2008 group--Paul Leeland--the next morning. The Northeastern Jurisdiction, which began meeting two days earlier than the other jurisdictions, also took its first ballot July 16 and finished choosing a bishop the next day.

The process took longer elsewhere. The Western Jurisdiction, which had two bishops to elect, went into the wee hours of the morning July 19 before completing its selections. The South Central Jurisdiction started quickly, electing the first of three bishops on the third ballot before noon on July 17, and then worked until late in the evening July 18 to elect the third. The North Central Jurisdiction experienced slow going, at one point disqualifying a ballot because of a chocolate chip cookie smudge, but it managed to complete its work July 18.

The newly elected bishops expressed feelings of humility and gratitude, and also shared glimpses of their personal visions.

"I claim my baptism this day and the special callings to which God has called me," said Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky, at the Western conference in Portland, Ore. "... May God lead us faithfully forward in the name of Jesus Christ."

At the South Central gathering in Dallas, Bishop John Michael Lowry said a bishop needs to be the spiritual leader "casting a vision for God's people and God's kingdom that is really inclusive." Most of the people the church makes decisions about are not in the church, he said.

Also in Dallas, Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe said his philosophy is that "the church is either growing or dying, and if it is standing still, it is dying." In a briefing after his election, he said the connectional system, the diversity of theological thought and differences of opinion are what he views as hopeful about The United Methodist Church. "We are a church that allows people to develop their faith and grow in their faith experience," he said.

In addition to choosing and assigning bishops, delegates in the jurisdictions acted on other items:

—In the South Central Jurisdiction, delegates approved a regional mission council's decision to give Southern Methodist University permission to lease land for a President George W. Bush Presidential Center. SMU in Dallas is operated by the South Central Jurisdiction. Leasing land for building the center, which would be part of a Bush presidential library, has generated debate. Some United Methodists support it, while opponents say Bush's policies on major issues contradict church positions and that the center would be a partisan think tank.

—In the Western Jurisdiction, delegates adopted four statements challenging the denomination's position that homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching." One resolution celebrated a May 15 ruling by the California Supreme Court clearing the way for gay marriages in that state. Another asks that church leaders look for "creative ways" to "be in full ministry with all who come to us." The resolutions followed others passed in June by the California-Pacific and California-Nevada annual conferences in support of United Methodist clergy who choose to perform same-sex marriages—an action forbidden by the church's Book of Discipline. The Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference also voiced support for those clergy.

—In the Northeast, church members approved a redrawing of annual conference boundaries, decreasing the number of episcopal areas from 10 to nine by 2010.

—North Central delegates gave permission July 18 to the North Indiana and South Indiana annual conferences to unite into one new Indiana Conference. Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner has called both conferences to attend a special session Oct. 4 to finalize details.

	Barely visible is newly elected Bishop Jim Dorff hugging episcopal candidate Cheryl Jefferson Bell. Dorff was the third to be elected bishop in the South Central Jurisdiction. The final vote was taken very late Friday night.

James "Jim" Dorff elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church, third SCJ candidate to be elected

by Linda Green, United Methodist News Service

DALLAS (UMNS) - The Rev. James (Jim) E. Dorff of McKinney, Texas, has been elected a bishop by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Dorff, 61, area provost of the North Texas Annual Conference, was elected July 18 following a long balloting process. He will fill one of the vacancies created in the denomination's South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops by the retirements of two bishops and the death of a third.

Endorsed by the North Texas Conference's delegation to the 2008 General and Jurisdictional conferences, Dorff was elected on the 23rd ballot, receiving 187 of 292 votes cast.

"This is quite a shock," he said. "I'm very excited and pleased ... and looking forward to serving."

Dorff was the third bishop elected by 297 delegates attending the South Central Jurisdictional conference. He will be among 11 active bishops leading an episcopal area of one or more of the 15 annual conferences that make up the eight-state jurisdiction. The South Central Jurisdiction is home to 1.8 million United Methodists in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

A consecration service for the three new bishops will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 19, at First United Methodist Church in downtown Dallas.

An episcopal assignment committee is already considering where Dorff and the other active bishops in the jurisdiction will serve for the next four years. Their assignments will be effective Sept. 1.

Dorff, a former superintendent of the Dallas-Denton District, learned about the episcopacy from North Texas Bishops William Oden and the late Rhymes Moncure. He described Oden as a superb thinker and Moncure as one who liked to be with people and bring people to the church.

The value of relationships is one of the most important lessons he learned from both men, he said.

"People need to know that you love, support and appreciate them, but that you need to be able to say the things to them that they need to hear," Dorff said.

A bishop needs to be thoughtful, strategic, thinking about the future and directly involved with people, helping people to be Christ in the world, he said.

Following his election, Dorff, who served as the director of pastoral care and counseling at Highland Park United Methodist Church from 1979-1989, said that his passion for ministry was three-fold.

"We need to get back to the business of youth ministry, campus ministry and ministry to young adults," he said.

Area provost since 2005, Dorff said the church has to be about building the leadership of new churches so that they become lasting communities of faith. He wants to examine how the church and bishops "can continue to increase clergy effectiveness, moving to excellence."

While the South Central Jurisdictional Conference is occurring, four other United Methodist jurisdictional conferences are also meeting to elect bishops.

A United Methodist bishop is elected for life. Although eight years is the standard term for a bishop to serve in an episcopal area, it is not unusual for a bishop to be assigned to one area for 12 years for "missional reasons."

Bishops are charged by the church's Book of Discipline to "guard the faith, order, liturgy, doctrine and discipline of the Church" and "lead all persons entrusted to their oversight in worship, in the celebration of the sacraments, and in their mission of witness and service in the world." They are also charged "to be prophetic voices and courageous leaders in the cause of justice for all people."

A jurisdictional conference has the following power and duties:
"To promote the evangelistic, educational, missionary and benevolent interests of the church and to provide for interests and institutions within their boundaries. The South Central Jurisdictional Conference institutions are Mt. Sequoyah, Fayetteville, Ark.; the Lydia Patterson Institute, El Paso, Texas; and Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

- To elect bishops.
- To establish and constitute jurisdictional conference boards as auxiliaries to the general boards of the church.
- To determine the boundaries of annual conferences.
- To make rules and regulations for the administration of the church's work within the jurisdiction.
- To appoint a committee on appeals.

The United Methodist Church was created in 1968 by a merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist churches. Methodists elected their bishops at one national gathering until 1940, when the jurisdictional system was instituted. Bishops in the EUB church were elected at one national gathering until 1968.

The Rev. Seth Leypoldt offers opinion on SCJ episcopal elections

by the Rev. Seth Leypoldt, Chadron UMC, Nebraska delegate to the SCJ

What a night! I am tired and also running on a lack of energy. Only one out of my three candidates won but that is not why I'm feeling deflated. As a Nebraskan raised in the church I have heard how you must have a Texas connection to be elected as a Bishop. When I was in seminary I wanted to prove this assertion so I did research on this process in one of my classes. The conclusion of my paper—yes! You need to have a connection with Texas to be elected as a Bishop. Just look at what has happened this year:

Earl Bledsoe - Texas Conference
Mike Lowry - Southwest Texas Conference
Jim Dorff - North Texas Conference

Now some may say we just elected the best people to the job. I would disagree. Earl, I believe, was the best but the other two were elected with a lot of help from other Texans. I know this because I was sitting between the Missouri and Kansas East and West delegations. When it became inevitable that Cheryl Jefferson Bell, from Kansas, was losing it felt like everyone's hope was becoming deflated. It was also a sense that here was was strong, African-American woman that would be an incredible Bishop not given the chance because of her gender, her race, and her lack of a Texas connection.

Some may disagree with my assertions here, but it is my observations.

I will say that Earl, Mike, and Jim will make great bishops. I was impressed with all three and I think they will do a great job. However, I do believe we could have done better but as with any election there are always winners and losers.

In a picture taken around the time of Jim Dorff's election. You will notice that in one picture, Bishop Dorff is hugging someone. He is hugging Cheryl Bell who he had been campaigning against up until tonight. That was very impressive and showed that Jim is not a bad guy he is just not Cheryl.

	Earl Bledsoe and his wife, Leslie, react following the announcement that he was elected bishop in the South Central Jurisdiction on July 17 the third ballot.

First newly elected SCJ bishop fulfills father's dream

Written: 7/17/2008 by Lisa Elliott Diehl, Kansas East and West communications director

Every time newly elected Bishop Earl Bledsoe visits his father in the nursing home, he's asked the same question, "Earl, are you a bishop yet?" Next time he visits his father, he'll be able to say, "Yes."

"My father always knew I would be a bishop," he said. His father, a retired United Methodist pastor, now has Alzheimer's disease. After his election, Bledsoe called his mother. She promised to go and tell his father the good news.
Bledsoe and his wife, Leslie, have six children and 11 grandchildren. Their youngest daughter will start college at the University of Texas at Arlington this fall.

"We are very surprised and very nervous," Bledsoe told a group of conference communicators nearly 30 minutes after his election. "I feel like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs."

Bledsoe said he and his wife prayed last night for God's will to be done.

"Our hope has always been in Christ," he said.
Leslie Bledsoe lost her sight six years ago, but it has not stopped her from being his partner in ministry.
"She speaks from the heart. She has a concern for the homeless," Bledsoe said.

He said he received his call to ministry much earlier than he answered it. Because he grew up in parsonages, he perceived that you had to starve yourself to be in ministry. It was hard work, and he felt it was more important to provide a good living for his family. He became a program director for YMCA and eventually began serving churches part time.
In 1976 or 1977, he was preaching a sermon on stepping out in faith when he felt God asking him, "When are you going to let go of that job and go into the ministry?" In 1980, he finally did.

Bledsoe said he sees a number of signs of hope in the United Methodist Church. One is our connection to each other through our structure. Second is the diversity of theological thought in the denomination. Third is that there are differences of opinion, which Bledsoe said he sees as healthy for a church.

"My philosophy is the church is either growing or dying. If the church is standing still, it's dying," he said. He has spent his ministry working for church growth and evangelism, banners he plans to carry on into the episcopacy.

Bledsoe is the first of three bishops to be elected at the 2008 South Central Jurisdictional Conference.

Learn more about Bledsoe on the UMC.org Web site at
United Methodist Communications

Lowry rollercoaster ends with election

By Lisa Elliott Diehl, Kansas Area communications director

In the lead for the seven previous ballots, Bishop J. Michael Lowry was elected second on the 11th ballot in the South Central Jurisdictional Conference July 18 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. Lowry likened the experience to a rollercoaster ride.

Lowry, 58, has been serving as Executive Director for New Church Development and Transformation for the Southwest Texas Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Lowry and his wife, Jolynn, have two children, a son and a daughter. A week ago, he and his wife attended a spiritual retreat for clergy. There, he discovered a Russian Orthodox prayer about living in the will of God which he said has helped him survive the roller coaster balloting process over the past two days.

"I've been incredibly blessed," he said.

Lowry said he was raised in the church but left when he was in high school. Through a conversion experience while attending a Quaker College in Indiana, Lowry found is his way back into faith in Jesus Christ. It's this experience that he says has informed his work in evangelism throughout his ministry.

"I have experienced life without Christ and life without faith," Lowry said. "I understand what that's like. I've wrestled with that myself."

He calls this experience a blessing for his ministry. The churches he has pastored have grown not just through transfers but through new professions of faith. He said he often reminds his churches when they are making decisions that they are not just deciding for the people who are in the church; they are also making decisions for the people outside the church who really need Christ's love.

Lowry said there are two towering emphases in his ministry -- evangelism and social holiness. He has a passion for bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to others and a passion for ministries of love, justice and mercy.

He said a bishop needs to be a spiritual leader, casting a vision for God's people that reaches out to those who are outside the church walls.

His wife, Jolynn, is a nurse with an interest in mission with medically underserved populations. The couple met while Lowry was attending seminary at Perkins. Saturday, he will be consecrated in the sanctuary where they attended church together while they were dating.

Learn more about Bishop Lowry on the UMC.org website: http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=5058&ptid=2&Can={E4DE9EDB-B7B7-4FD5-A98C-230D86226E64}<

SCJ—Follow the Election

Earl Bledsoe first elected, Mike Lowry second elected
Follow the South Central Jurisdictional balloting by going to the United Methodist Communications Web site.

SCJ Election Results

	Nebarska laity delegation members sit together for a briefing.

The Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede provides reports and commentary on 7Villages blog

The Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede is the press representative for the Nebraska Conference. She has South Central Jurisdictional Conference press credentials and has access to news room services. She is also keeping a blog with daily news and infromation.

We had church! Access Seth Leypoldt's blog

by Rev. Seth Leypoldt, Nebraska delegate to SCJ


Tonight was the Memorial Service where we honored three Bishops who have died in the past four years. The theme of the Jurisdictional Conference is "Hope of the World." The entire worship service tonight was focused on hope. It was very impressive and very powerful! After the worship service I turned to my good friend and District Superintendent, Brian Kottas, and said "tonight WE HAD worship!

One of the great things about the Memorial Service is you get to see who is here! Below is a picture of a few from Nebraska: Sam Rathod, Doug Delp (he used to serve Heminford), Harold Backus (a new District Superintendent), Brian Kottas (our District Superintendent), and me. The next couple of pictures are of the church and the service. As you can tell from the outside view we are right in the heart of Dallas. When I am here I keep humming the theme song of "Dallas" and thinking of that opening sequence of the TV show as it flies over the downtown buildings. I will have to watch it again to see if I can see the church. We are also just a few blocks from the Kennedy assassination location.

Interesting tid-bit about the location of our service tonight - First United Methodist Church. This is where the Unity Conference was held that brought together the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Bretheran back in 1968.

For more stories from Rev. Leypoldt, go to the Chadron UMC Web site and read his posts, go to http://www.chadronumc.org and click on the "Electing a Bishop" link.

SMU vote early on conference agenda

by Cynthia B. Astle, UM NeXus Editor

Crucial votes on the George W. Bush presidential complex at Southern Methodist University will take place this morning at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in Dallas, TX. Last night the Committee on Petitions and Resolutions voted to recommend rejecting the petition from South Carolina United Methodist Diane Smock to refuse the entire Bush complex. The committee also voted "non-concurrence" on a petition from four Central Texas Annual Conference delegates to approve the library and museum, but not the independent institute that the Bush Foundation has said will "further the domestic and international goals of the Bush Administration."

A third petition proposed by the North Texas Annual Conference that originally proposed to study the situation was so radically amended during the committee meeting that its final form won't be known until this morning's proceedings. Primary amender was youth delegate Arthur Jones, son of Bishop Scott Jones (Kansas Area). Bishop Jones who has been the primary defender at the SCJ gathering of the Bush complex and the process by which it was approved. Jones has accused a grass-roots opposition campaign of spreading "misinformation" and "using the media to cause fear" among concerned United Methodists.

The petitions committee report will be presented after the first ballot for bishops, scheduled to take place at 9:30 AM, said Bishop Charles Crutchfield (Arkansas Area), current president of the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops. UM NeXus will have a full report of the floor debate and the votes as soon as possible after the conference takes action.

The election of bishops is the main task of the Jurisdictional Conference. Clergy Delegate, the Rev. Seth Leypolt is offering his blog to those who are interested. To read his posts, go to http://www.chadronumc.org and click on the "Electing a Bishop" link.

	Bishop Ann B. Sherer shares a laugh during the South Cenetral Jurisdictional gathering held July 16-19 in Dallas, Texas.

South Central Jurisdictional meeting, July 15-19

South Central Jurisdiction Meeting—July 15-19

The South Central Jurisdiction (SCJ) of the United Methodist Church was formed by the Uniting Conference of 1939 in Kansas City, Missouri. Fifteen Annual Conferences are included in the Jurisdiction, which spans eight states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The South border of the Navajo Indian Nation in northeastern Arizona was placed in the SCJ by the 1968 General Conference.

The Jurisdiction contains 11 Episcopal Areas presided over by 11 active bishops. There are 118 districts in the 15 Annual Conferences of the SCJ. Approximately 1,830,000 United Methodists belong to approximately 6,400 local churches of the SCJ.

The three institutions most closely related to the SCJ are:
Lydia Patterson Institute, El Paso, Texas;
Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas;
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.
---Wesley Foundation - SMU, Dallas, Texas
Each of these institutions is supported, in part, by the apportionments that each Annual Conference pays to the SCJ.

The South Central Jurisdiction is governed by its Mission Council, which includes representatives from each Annual Conference.

	More than 100 people gathered at Grand Island Trinity UMC for the installation of Rev. Dr. Harold Backus, new district superintendent for the Prairie Rivers District.

Prairie Rivers District installs new district superintendent

Claiming that he loves to preach and loves to be with people, Rev. Dr. Harold Backus talked about how grace undergirds his theology during his sermon on Sunday, July 13, The installation worship service attracted more than 100 people primarily Prairie Rivers District pastors and their families.

Backus noted that the Hymn of Promise sung earlier in the service is one of his favorites because he views his calling one of being one together. He referred to it as being "home" saying whenever we are gathered together we get a taste of heaven or what it might be like to be "home."

Another theme in his ministry includes being open. He told a story about a former parishoner who panicked on "Daffodil Sunday" because the flowers did not open. The tight bud of the daffodil speaks to life he said. It represents the possibilitiies when one is willing to be open. He said the budding of the daffodil is like light coming through a curtain and can also mean that we must let go of some things in order to be open. Backus spoke of letting go of things that make us closed to the world and holding on to those things that make us selfless and open to new possibilities.

Another theme for Backus is the door. There is a door in the Auburn sanctuary that portrays Jesus at a door. Backus said he used to interpret that as Jesus want us to let him in. After a particular moving experience in the sanctuary Backus noted that he nows interprets the window as Jesus calling us out, inviting us to not have doors, to be open to new people and new possibilities.

Another image Backus introduces was that of a key. He told the story of noted evangelist Roger Swanson. Swanson grew up in Chicago. On hot summer days, he and his brother would break into a local United Methodist Church to play pool. One day, the two boys got caught. Instead of calling the police or punishing them, the pastor of the church gave them the key and said, "come any time."

For Backus the key symbolizes a birthright to the grace and glory of God. All have the opportunity to know the grace and love of God through Jesus Christ. Backus noted that too often people set us situations where a key is needed to enter the gates of heaven. Backus promotes an open door policy.

His last image presented was that of an open hand. He said he believes in a self-revealing God. God wants us to know his will, he said. Backus said He's giving us all direction&38212and we need to be open to hearing what God has to say to us.

In closing Backus said, "We need to pray—and listen to what God says—as I serve you my hands are open.

During the service gifts of ministry were presented to Backus by extended cabinet members. Bishop Ann B. Sherer and Backus prepared the communion bread and cup.Several Prairie Rivers pastors planned the service and participated in the readings.

The Wallace UMC launched The ARK Project this summer to offer activities to youth in the community.

Wallace United Methodist Church reaches out to children in community

The Wallace nurture committee started a program entitled The A.R.K. Project (acronym stands for Actively Reaching Kids). There are many programs that help children and support efforts in communities, however, the Wallace UMC decided to start one that is sponsored by the church. (Wallace has TEAMMATES at the school and it has made a positive impact on youth, however, it is geared to about 7th grade on.

Smith teaches fourth grade in Wallace and felt very compelled to do more things with youth during the summer. The committee has arranged several activities for kids to do this summer. "Not only did we want the kids to stay busy and have fun, we also wanted to teach some 'Pay It Forward' instincts," said Kelley Smith, one of the project initiators.

The project mission statement is: "We are making disciples who make a difference." We even designed t-shirts with Noah's ark on the front in rainbow colors with this mission statement on the back.

If you would like more information on the Wallace project please contact Kelley Smith at sksmith@nebnet.net.

	Kelly Smith said the program targets children below seventh grade with summer fun and learning activities that teach youth about being a part of a community.

Actively Reaching Kids

The Actively Reaching Kids project of the nurture committee from the Wallace United Methodist Church hopes to instill some "pay it forward" instincts in the youth of their community.

Some of the activities have been: donating about 33 books to the local library in honor or memory of a loved one; supporting the Wallace Community Foundation with $50 and learning about shopping wisely and saving money; a special "cookie buddy" day was shared with 15 of the local senior citizens and a pre-4th of July celebration was held that honored 19 veterans.

The "Pay it forward" gift for them was a rosebush planted in their honor. The thorns stand for the price they had to pay for our freedom and the beautiful rose stands for our American freedom.

A job shadow day will teach the children about the importance of rural health care. They will also donate teddy bears or small blankets to the local fire department in honor/memory of someone.

The final culminating "pay it forward" activity will be donating Noah's Ark toys to the children's hospital in Omaha and/or Denver in honor of two children in the Wallace area that are dealing with cancer.

All financial support has been donated graciously from people in the Wallace UMC. Other support will be sent to The Fowcus Group in Kenya, Africa. This Fowcus Group has been initiated by Pastors Anne and Harun Gatobu (originally from Kenya). There will be a mission trip to Kenya during the summer of 2009 and we will send Noah's Ark toys to support the children in the orphanage that is supported by The Fowcus Group.

For more information contact on this outreach ministry contact Kelly Smith at sksmith@nebnet.net.

2008 NUMB--Day 4--Not to late to contribute to a great cause

Made it!

The Columbus United Methodist Men put on a breakfast of eggs, sausage and toast, plus fruit and cereal, etc., to fortify the NUMB riders for their final day. Breakfast was served up adjacent the bike trail and Pawnee Park in a park shelter house.

Once the ride began, the wind shifted from the east, to the south and finally to the northwest (finally a wind to our back).

Lots of Stop and Gear support the last day made it all the more enjoyable on the short, but still hilly road back to Wahoo.

Many a shout of Wahoo! were uttered as riders entered the parking lot next to the school where the ride began.

"Goodbye" and "see you next year" were said among friends, family and new acquantances. It was a great ride for a great cause.

Last report the fund raising total was about $38,000. It's not too late to contribute to the ride and push it over the $40,000 mark. Remember to make your check out to NUMB or to the Conference Treasurer and put NUMB in the memo line and send it to the Conference Office at 2641 N. 49th St., Lincoln, NE 68504, or put it in the collection plate of your local church.

Every time you take a breath, someone in the world dies of hunger. Please help keep just a few more people healthy and vital.

More photos to come next week.

NUMB 2008--Day 3

by Kathryn Witte

Riders headed out early in the day hoping to beat the southerly winds only to find that they were already well in place by the time they were riding. Day three's 81-mile ride ended up being more like 87 by the time we reached our campsite. Some of the longest riders didn't come in until 5:30 p.m., with the earliest riders coming in at 1:30 or 2:00 p.m. Needless to say it was a very taxing day.

Once in camp, we retreated at the Columbus United Methodist Church with a feast that would rival the largest family reunion with the largest United Methodist Church Sunday dinner imaginable. The food was incredible. Following that, we enjoyed a concert featuring music from Bill Ritter and his band along with other prizes and festivities. Most people turned in pretty early in preparation for the next day's 56-mile ride from Columbus back to Wahoo.

Don Briggs from Curtis, Neb., is the NUMB Stop and Gear (SAG) coordinator. When it's hot and windy, it's Don's crew that sees the riders through to the end of a long day.

NUMB day 3 to be hot and windy

Day three will take riders from Wayne to Columbus. The Wayne newspaper reporter came by the Wayne State College cafeteria during the NUMB Ride dinner and invited riders to pose with the Wayne community official chicken before the ride begins Tuesday morning. This weekend is Wayne's Chicken Days.

Hills await riders and wind out of the south.

• NUMB 2008--Day 1
• NUMB 2008--Day 2

Ride co-director Bill Ritter announces the route for the optional Saturday ride that has traditionally signaled the beginning of the NUMB Ride.

NUMB 2008 begins in Wahoo

About 30 riders made the trek to Memphis, a round trip of about 40 miles, on the optional day of the 2008 NUMB Ride. The ride starts in earnest on Sunday with a 60+ mile ride from Wahoo to Tekamah. The goal is to raise about $40,000 this year. That would bring the multi-year total to well over $300,000 for hunger projects in Nebraska and around the world. Contributions will be taken through July 31.

• NUMB 2008--Day 1
• NUMB 2008--Day 2

A youth group from Omaha First UMC spends time at the Clair Memorial UMC garden plot planting seedlings and learning about the Big Garden Project. The group's stop at the garden was part of a week-long mission focus on the Omaha community. (Photo clockwise from left) Sarah Weidner, Shelby Anderson, Matt Serfass (Big Garden worker from Hanscom Park UMC), Sue Weidner and Big Garden worker Jon Stewart from Lincoln, plant new seedlings into the raised beds that will offer produce to the Clair Memorial UMC congregations as well as people living in the neighborhood.

The Big Garden continues to inspire, receiving national Sierra Club recognition

by Sara Brockhoft

June 19, at Clair Memorial United Methodist Church, the Omaha Sierra Club released the organization's first-ever national report on the environmental engagement of communities of faith, making a special presentation to The Big Garden project staff.

The Big Garden is the name of a project dedicated to the creation and maintenance of a string of community gardens throughout the neighborhoods of east Omaha, a federally designated enterprise zone in which 40 percent of Nebraskans in poverty live.

Entitled, "Faith in Action: Communities of Faith Bring Hope for the Planet," the report highlights one exceptional faith-based environmental initiative from each state with the selection from Nebraska being Omaha's Big Garden project.

The Sierra Club presented The Big Garden with the Faith in Action Environmental Stewardship Award to recognize the outstanding efforts the organization has made to be a leader in helping individuals and families sustain a healthy supply of food and bring together the community.

The Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede, The Big Garden executive director, says the garden serves as a prime example of what people are capable of achieving when they decide to work together.

"One of the strengths of the Big Garden is the partnership between neighbors, non-profits and faith communities," stated Ahlschwede. "We are so much stronger when we work together, building on each other's strengths."

Since The Big Garden's birth, the project has grown from 12 gardens to 23 over the course of three years. The garden has also grown from being an entity from which people obtain food to a place for spiritual and personal growth--offering classes on basic gardening, yoga, arts and literacy, cooking, health and nutrition and bilingual education.

With the number of Big Garden sites and volunteers expected to only rise in coming years, The Big Garden Project will continue to bring hope to the Omaha community and serve as an inspiration to all Nebraskans.

• "Omaha's Big Garden wins award" by Christopher Burbach of the Omaha World Herald

St. Andrew's helps a refugee family

by Mandy Barkhaus

During the month of March, St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in Omaha took on the task of sponsoring a Karen refugee family from the country of Burma. Sein Chit and Mi Cho and their four children arrived in Omaha on March 18, coming from a refugee camp in Thailand. Through donations from its members, St. Andrew's put together a home with beds, couches, tables, clothes, food and other essentials. This was a lot of work and a rewarding experience. There was an overwhelming amount of help given to this family from St. Andrew's.

The family is settling into their new home, but their journey is far from over. St. Andrew's, through Church World Service, has become Sein Chit's family co-sponsors. Now St. Andrew's will help with all of the things that will enable them to become independent--learn English, enroll in school, ride the bus, go grocery shopping, budget their money, use the washing machine...

The team working with this family learned that they have another daughter, age 14, who still is in a refugee camp in Thailand and will be doing whatever it takes to get their daughter over here to be with her family.
Please keep them in your prayers for all their family and friends that are still in Myanmar (Burma) with the recent tropical cyclone. If you are interested in helping with our family, please contact Mandy Barkhaus 402-431-8560, ext. 23 or barkhaus@standrewsomaha.net.

The first floor of Mary Jean Lane's house on "A" Avenue NW was four feet above ground level, so the water from last week's seven foot flood reached a mere three feet into her house. Unfortunately, that ruined just about everything on the first floor. Friends and family are helping her clean up. Photo courtesy of Greg Henshall of FEMA.

UMCOR Sager Brown in Urgent Need of Flood Buckets

By Melissa Hinnen*

BALDWIN, LA., June 26, 2008--UMCOR Sager Brown Depot has nearly depleted its supply of flood buckets after shipping thousands of buckets in response to recent floods. This low inventory is a serious concern especially when the Atlantic hurricane season is just beginning.

Depot executive, Kathy Kraiza, reports, "Since June 17, we have shipped more than 5,000 flood buckets in response to requests from annual conferences in the mid-west. We are down to only 200 flood buckets in stock and we are only two weeks into the hurricane season." Sager Brown distributed 4,008 buckets in all of 2007. Increasing the supply of flood buckets has become the most urgent need at the Depot, as communities in the Midwest continue the clean-up process.

These five gallon buckets are filled with supplies to enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood or hurricane. UMCOR Sager Brown Depot and other United Methodist depots in the connection collect, package and ship buckets to flooded areas all over the United States.

UMCOR needs your help to ensure this kind of support continues to be readily available. The many emergencies over the past months have depleted response supplies with 6,624 flood buckets shipped to emergencies around the country in the past six weeks.

Many Ways to Provide Flood Buckets

Pleasant Hills UMC in Middleburg Heights, Ohio recently raised $700 to purchase flood buckets. They contacted Wendell Procter of Asbury UMC in Franklin, La. who then used the money to purchase supplies, assemble the buckets and deliver them to the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot.

Laura Fiffick, secretary at Pleasant Hills, explained, "We wanted to purchase as many flood buckets as possible and knew that if we were to send the supplies directly, a lot of the money would be spent on shipping." She continued, "People were so excited to know their donations would be put to direct use that we exceeded our goal by $200."

Congregations and individuals are urged to send completed buckets, bulk materials or a contribution to purchase supplies. A list of the contents can be found here, or you can give $45 towards the purchase of these items for each bucket.

Gifts can be made to UMCOR Material Resources Advance # 901440 which will enable UMCOR to purchase needed relief supplies.

* Melissa Hinnen is the staff writer for UMCOR communications

	The Rev. Ken Diehm preaches at First United Methodist Church in Grapevine, Texas.

Clergy effectiveness study will impact training

A UMNS Report
By Vicki Brown*
June 24, 2008

An analysis of what makes an effective pastor will enhance training provided this summer to United Methodist annual (regional) conferences.

The Rev. Sharon Rubey, director of candidacy and conference relations at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, said the study would provide useful information for those who work with candidates for ministry, assign pastors to churches, and do clergy supervision.

Richard P. DeShon, a psychology professor at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., used focus groups to conduct the study. "The breadth of tasks performed by local church pastors, coupled with the rapid switching between tasks and roles prevalent in this job is unique," he reported. "It is remarkable how complex this job is."

The next step, according to Rubey, is to develop and distribute a survey about the underlying behaviors associated with effective ministry "to learn more about the amount of time and the value that is given to each behavior."

"Along with that, we hope to survey congregations... to find out the kinds of knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal characteristics (that) are desired in pastoral leadership," she added. "Together, these studies will offer guidelines that can be helpful in matching pastors with congregations."

The study, completed last December, used focus groups of pastors who were identified as "high performing pastors" by boards of ordained ministry and district superintendents. The 20 pastors chosen were diverse in gender, racial/ethnic background and age and represented a variety of ministry settings and different sizes of churches.

Tasks contribute to effectiveness

A set of 13 clusters or groups of tasks that contribute to effective performance emerged from the discussions. Those are: administration, caregiving, rituals and sacraments, facility construction, communication, relationship building, evangelism, fellowship, management, preaching and public worship, self-development, United Methodist connectional service, and other development, such as performing activities to teach, train or mentor individuals and groups to improve their knowledge and skills.

"Every pastor is not going to be able to perform all these tasks well," DeShon said. He pointed out that "the people who are effective at very big churches could out-compete CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. The problem is there aren't that many of them."

The Rev. Tom Pace, senior pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Houston and focus group participant, believes there is one crucial element an effective pastor must have. "You have to know how to learn, and you have to like doing it," he said.

"I also think pastors have to be self-assured enough that they can be psychologically grounded," he said. "There is no work other than politics or acting where it is so much about whether people like you."

When he first came to St. Luke's -- a church with about 2,000 weekly attendance at worship -- some people left simply because he wasn't the former pastor, and they did not like him as much, Pace acknowledged.

Scope of responsibilities

The Rev. Sara Thompson-Tweedy, pastor of The Federated Church of Kerhonkson in Kerhonkson, N.Y., said she was stunned at the scope of the tasks identified by the focus groups.

"But really, it's the work of the church. It falls on clergy to do it or see that it gets done, but there is no way one person could do everything," she said. The church she pastors has about 100 members in a community of 2,000.

Both Thompson-Tweedy and Pace said churches teach their pastor things they need to know.

"When I went into ministry, I would have thought care giving was my strength," she explained. But now, she believes her particular strengths are preaching and public worship. "I feel so alive when I preach, teach, and lead worship."

Tweedy-Thompson said good pastors must learn to delegate and be willing to let people fail gracefully. "If you stand over someone with your foot in their chest, they are going to do nothing or get sick of you and leave. You may discover you've delegated to the wrong person. If they fail, you need to pat them on them on the back and say that's fine."

DeShon said all of the pastors in the focus groups talked about the importance of a strong call and also about finding a balance between life and being clergy.

In addition to a call, DeShon noted it was clear that good pastors have to be adaptable, intelligent, and have good social skills. "You must have a strong sense of call and nothing can substitute for that," he said. "A lot of other things you can work on."

To read the study, visit www.gbhem.org and click on Boards of Ordained Ministry.

*Brown is associate editor and writer, Office of Interpretation, United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

Iowa United Methodists respond to storms and flooding

Iowans are experiencing major flooding and eighty-three counties in the state have been declared disaster areas. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is currently responding to emergency needs in the Cedar Rapids area, according to Chuck Smith, Iowa Conference Treasurer.

Donations for UMCOR's relief efforts in the Midwest can be made to Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670. More information can be found on the Iowa Conference Web site at http://www.iaumc.org along with other ways to assist these persons in need. Please remember these people in your prayers.

2008 Spring Storm Relief Funds

Many communities in the state of Nebraska have experienced damage related to the 2008 spring storms. The United Methodist Church has a disaster relief fund available to assist persons facing unusual circumstances due to severe weather and those who may need spiritual assistance. If individuals or congregations wish to assist in this effort, financial contributions can be made through any United Methodist Church or sent to the Nebraska Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, made payable to Conference Treasurer, P.O. Box 4553, Lincoln, NE 68504. Please clearly mark the donation as "Nebraska 2008 Storm Relief"—Advance 781.

The Nebraska Conference has received confirmation that a $10,000 grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will be available as well. All funds will be pooled together and distributed by local disaster relief committees working at United Methodist Churches across the state. For more information, contact Roger Gillming at the Bushnell-Kimball United Methodist Church at 308-235-2320 or roger.gillming@gmail.com

• Diaster relief request form