I didn’t know thatChurch praises inventor of golf tee, page 6

Vol. 62 / Issue 12 March 18, 2009

In this issueMission & Ministry 2-3 Sunday School Lesson 4-5 Around the Conference 6-7 Obituaries 10 Ministry Connection/Classifieds 11 Reviews 12

By Woody WoodrickAdvocate Editor

Given his choice, this would not likely be the time the Rev. Danny Rowland would pick to chair the Mississippi

Conference Council on Finance and Admin-istration.

The conference saw a dip in giving in 2008, and the national economy has taken

a downturn. However, Rowland said he feels good about the 2010 budget CFA will present to the 2009 session of Annual Conference in June, which features a 10 percent overall re-duction in the budget.

“We worked hard at it, but didn’t have a knife looking for cuts,” said Rowland, pastor at Starkville First UMC. “We all pretty much approached it with the idea that we’ve got to

be sensitive to the needs of the conference and to the local churches. When we finished, I felt we had truly done the work.”

The proposed fund-ing plan for 2010 is $20,671,993. That’s some $208,258 less than the funding plan for 2009 which totals $20,880,251.

“My thought was that in this economy, we can’t increase the budget and need to hold the budget if we can,” Rowland said. “I thought we needed to either keep it level or lower it; that we just simply couldn’t increase it.”

Rowland said he believes all members of CFA were more involved in setting the bud-get because of a restructuring of the com-mittee. The council was divided into six sub-committees that examined specific areas of the budget.

“I love the way we’ve reorganized because it gives everybody more input,” he said. “Each subcommittee took its task seriously. “

The subcommittees and their recommen-dations:

n The 2010 Dollar Level subcommittee chaired by Larry Davis of Long Beach deter-mined the ceiling for all funding of the an-nual conference in accordance with the 2008

Budget plan for 2010shows 10% reduction

Rowland

By Woody WoodrickAdvocate Editor

How does one go from pastoral ministry to a more administrative bent as a district

superintendent?That’s a question the

Rev. Geoffrey Joyner can’t answer now, but ask again in a few months.

“Friends who have already been in the role of district superinten-dent tell me it’s impos-

sible to understand the different demands of the job until I do it,” said Joyner, who was appointed by Bishop Hope Morgan Ward on March 8 to serve the Tupelo District.

In addition, the Rev. Henderson Rasberry was appointed to the

West Jackson District. Joyner follows the Rev. Carl Grubbs, and Rasberry will replace the Rev. Willis Britt. Grubbs and Britt have applied for retired status in the Mississippi Conference.

“I give thanks for the experience, vision,

Bishop pickspair to fillCabinet spots

See CF&A, page 9

Covenant for Common Life

General Church: The centerpieces for ministry in The United Methodist Church over the next four years are: • Developing principled leaders for the church and the world • Creating new places for new people by starting congregations and renewing existing ones • Engaging in ministry with the poor • Stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally

Mississippi Conference: The ministry focus of the Mississippi Annual Conference is to make dis-ciples of Jesus Christ by connecting to More People, More Younger People and More Diverse People (MP3).

RasbeRRy

JoyneR

See superintendents, page 10

Annual ConferenceReady to sign up for Trans4mation?, page 3

By Woody WoodrickAdvocate Editor

In communities across Mississippi, United Methodists and Episcopalians have worked together on a variety of projects, ranging from battling racism to serving the homeless.

Now, those collaborations won’t just be matters of practicality, but of intention.

In a service held March 3 at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in down-town Jackson, the Right Rev. Duncan M. Gray III and Bishop Hope Morgan Ward signed “A Covenant for Common Life Between the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi and The United Methodist Conference of Mississippi.” The service featured a sermon by Ward, episcopal leader of the Mississippi Conference, an ecu-menical choir and shared communion.

The Very Rev. Edward O’Connor, Dean of St. Andrew’s Cathedral believes the covenant at its basis seeks to carry on the Christian work of reconciliation between the two denominations as well as to the community at large.

“I see this very outward, visible and growing relationship as an opportunity to live into our common mission. Galloway (United Methodist) and St. Andrew’s both have long and excellent his-tories of providing for the least of these in our community. We believe that these historic churches can and should unite to have a stronger voice in the ongoing social and economic issues that face us. Ultimately we are committed to reconciling all people to unity with God and each other in Christ,” said O’Connor.

Some of those who attended the service expressed their delight with the covenant. Tom Welch, who grew up at First United Methodist Church in Brookhaven and regularly attended Galloway for years, found the moment significant. “It’s about time,” he said. “I like to see God’s hand at work in unconventional ways.”

See Agreement, page 9

Bishop Hope Morgan Ward signs “A Covenant for Common Life” as the Rev. Michael Nation and the Very Right Rev. Duncan Gray III watch during worship services March 3.

2 Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

Mission and Ministry

UM Men seek volunteers to aid scoutsSpecial to the Advocate

NASHVILLE — The United Methodist Scouting Ministries Committee has selected the Mississippi Conference to test a volunteer position to help local churches establish and expand scouting ministry opportunities.

An average district in a United Methodist conference includes about 70 churches, and a volun-teer district scouting coordinator cannot effectively work with that many congregations. For exam-ple, the Mississippi Conference has 11 districts, including the Hattiesburg District with 79 churches and the Senatobia District with 56 churches.

In an average district, 14 churches sponsor one or more scout units. District scouting coordinators spend most of their time resourcing the churches that already have scouting units, They seldom have the time to help the other churches understand how scouting can enrich the lives of their youth and reach non-churched members.

“To say that our current model is flawed would be an under-statement,” said Larry Coppock, director of scouting ministries and youth-serving agencies for the General Commission on UM Men. He noted that most general church programs effectively reach the 488 district superintendents, but the programs seldom reach the 26,000 pastoral charges.

The solution: a scouting minis-try specialist.

Patterned similar to the Men’s Ministry Specialist, a scouting ministry specialist will help up to five churches understand the

importance of scouting and help them launch Cub packs, Girl and Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews. They will:

n Provide information about national awardsn Introduce churches to the God and Country seriesn Encourage church leaders to attend regional and national train-

ing opportunities

n “I am the true vine and my father is the gardener.” — John 15:1

Spring is arriving at last. The birds are singing and it’s time to start planting new flower

beds. We’re getting ready to start getting our yard in shape. We’re just about ready to get outside and get things done. We get our tools and whatever we need to prune our big bushes.

We haven’t had too much winter this year, but a lot of things need to be done. We trim trees and bushes so that we can watch everything grow.

Today’s scripture tells us that God is the gardener, and he watches everything we have and He wants us to enjoy all things that like we do. So many times we seem to forget what He has given us. Why can’t we take care of things that He has placed in our care? So many times we find ourselves not taking care of His creation. We don’t understand how we must work to keep His land. Sometimes we act like we’re not sure what He wants, and we just leave it alone and let it pass away. After He created this world, why can’t we help keep it growing and have something beautiful?

The Bible tells us how God takes care of us, and gives us everything we need even if a lot of it we don’t deserve it. As the gardener, He prunes us like trees so that we can grow. He likes to shape us so that we enjoy doing for Him and His will. When He prunes, He reshape us, and we learn that we have a clean soul for Him to work with. He wants to clean our life and have Him us as our Lord and savior. All you have to do is try Him. He will take you by the hand and guide you through life.

We were doing things on our own and not talking to Him first. By let-ting Him shape you into something of His, He will always be with us. When we don’t know it, He’s reshap-ing our life. Just as we prune our bushes and trees, He’s reshaping our lives. Remember, we belong to God, all we need to do is answer, “Here I am Lord, reshape me and tell me what you would like to me do.”

He’s waiting.Let’s open ourselves to God, let

Him prune us and make us new as He wishes.

n Westbrook is a member of Pearl United Methodist Church and a reg-ular contributor to the “Advocate.”

The weeds and the bushes

a streaM of faith

Charles Westbrook

Anderson UMC proud of its DIVAAS

Special to the Advocate

The One Great Hour of Sharing offering makes the necessities of life, such as food, shelter and clothing, a reality by sharing the goodness of life with those who hurt.

When a catastrophe occurs, offerings to One Great Hour of Sharing enable the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to reach out and ease the pain and suffering by provid-ing humanitarian aid of food, shelter, health and peace.

Giving to One Great Hour of Sharing enables UMCOR to keep the promise that 100 percent of designated gifts go to the spe-cific causes. Unlike other United Methodist mission programs, UMCOR receives no World Service or other apportionment money. This is why faithful support of One Great Hour of Sharing offering is crucial.

One Great Hour of Sharing is one of the six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church. Last year, the Mississippi Conference gave some $42,283 to UMCOR, which provide millions of dollars in relief following Hurricane Katrina.

One Great Hour of Sharing is observed the fourth Sunday in Lent, March 22 this year. The offering can be received at any time of the year, though.

In 1946 One Great Hour of Sharing began as a special effort of the Episcopal Church. In 1949 the observance became ecumeni-

Special offering supports UMCOR

LaReeca RuckerThe Clarion-Ledger

The word “diva” is often used to describe someone larger than life, demanding and self-centered, but the DIVAAS at Jackson’s Anderson United Methodist Church believe it’s better to be humble and giv-ing.

DIVAAS, an acronym for Developing and Inspiring Virtue in the African-American Sisterhood, is a ministry Senatobia native Kashelia Harrion created. It is designed to help meet the social, spiritual and aca-demic needs of African-American girls recruited to the program in grades 7-9.

“Girls today need to know that Beyonce is not a role model,” Harrion said. “I know many would disagree because she’s wealthy and has achieved success, but when I say Beyonce, I mean our oversexu-alized, materialistic culture. That is not the way you should live your life or what

you should strive to be.”Harrion graduated from Tougaloo

College in 1997 with a degree in English, earned a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University in 1998 and a doctor-ate in education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She teach-es English at Jackson State University.

“I was incredibly blessed, had wonder-ful parents who raised me well, and grew up in the ’80s and ’90s when there weren’t as many negative influences,” she said. “They’re everywhere now, and I felt the

need to combat that.”The ministry founded in 2006 serves

about 30 girls. Most are not members of Anderson. They are recruited each spring from schools in Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties to participate in the ministry that typically meets from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Topics discussed include teen pregnancy.“Our state (teen birth rate) is No. 1 in the

nation,” Harrion said. “And that is some-thing, unfortunately, that is very prevalent among African-American girls. We need to fix that. They need to know that doesn’t have to be their future.”

Harrion also hopes the ministry will decrease the number of high school dropouts. The girls participate in weekly sessions that address studying, college preparation, health and hygiene, AIDS

More about DIVaaSFor information about DIVAAS, call Anderson United Methodist Church at 601-982-3997, e-mail Kashelia Harrion at kbjph@hotmail.com or visit www.ander-sonchurch.org/.

See one greAt hour, page 2

See sCouts, page 5

See divAAs, page 5

3Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

Mission and Ministry

On-line registration ready for ‘Trans4mation’ eventBy the Advocate

On-line registration began March 15 for Trans4mation, the workshops connected to the 2009 session of

the Mississippi Annual Conference.“Changing the World by Changing YOUR

World” will feature guest speakers, work-shops, worship, networking and best-prac-tices testimonies.

The event is scheduled for June 11 at the Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson. Speakers include Rudy Rasmus, Chris Lahr, Steve Sjogren and others. Workshop lead-ers include general church, board agency leaders and Mississippi laity and clergy.

To register on-line, point your web browser to www.mis-s i s s i p p i - u m c . o r g /trans4mation or call the conference office at 601-354-0515 ext. 28 or 866-647-7486.

Rasmus, a local pas-tor, is co-pastor of St.

John’s United Methodist Church with his wife Juanita in downtown Houston, Texas. He began his ministry with nine existing members in 1992. St. John’s has grown to more than 9,000 members. Some 3,000 of these are either currently or formerly homeless. He is also the co-founder of St. John’s Academy and Bread of Life, providing a wide range of services to disadvantaged community members.

Sjogren launched the Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati in 1985 with 37 people. Under his leadership, the congregation grew to more than 6,000 in average attendance. From the onset VCC had a strong emphasis on servant evangelism, small groups, church planting and caring for the needy. Following a medical accident in 1997 and during his recovery, Sjogren became the launch-ing pastor. Through the years the church planting internship program and Sjogren’s coaching efforts have produced several dozen successful church plants. Sjogren is currently focused on writing, speaking and mentoring church planters. Sjogren’s pas-sion for evangelism, church planting and leadership development is reflected in his

writing.Lahr works as a

recruiter and academ-ic director for Mission Year, which is a pro-gram that provides people ages 18 and older the opportunity to live in intentional community and serve

in an urban center. Lahrs graduated from Eastern University and Asbury Theological Seminary. Lahr and his family have lived in Philadelphia since 2000. Lahr speaks on topics ranging from God’s heart for the poor, Jesus, the kingdom of God, community, hospitality, racism and white identity and embracing the “least of these.”

In addition, conference leadership awards will be given that night at the Trans4mation banquet.

Meal planGroups planning special meals dur-

ing Annual Conference may begin mak-ing reservations. The Jackson Convention Complex has plenty of room to accommo-date groups and events of all sizes. All food is provided by the complex’s catering staff.

Leading the Food and Beverage team for Annual Conference are the Rev. Elbrist Mason of Brandon and conference staff members the Rev. Fitzgerald Lovett and Brenda McGloster.

To schedule a meal:

n Contact the meal planning team by Mason at 666-647-7486 (the conference office) or 601-813-5597 or e-mail mason-time321@yahoo.com to receive a meal package and other information.

n Request the date, time and type of meal you desire. Return the information to the Mississippi Conference, Attn: Food and Beverage Team, P.O. 1147, Jackson, MS 39215-1147.

n The Convention Complex’s JCC’s catering staff (catering) will review the meal request, including the number of

participants and the cost. The Convention Complex will inform you and the con-ference’s team of the set up and cost. The team will help selection menus and room lay out if desired.

The team requests that June 11 be reserved for seminary lunches and din-ners. June 12-14 are open to any group beginning with breakfast (before 8 a.m.) through dinner.

In addition, any group seeking a private celebration or event may also reserve space by following the same procedure.

Volunteer (please print) Day/Time Task• Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Greeter

• Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Greeter

• Thursday: 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Greeter

• Thursday 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Greeter

• Friday 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Greeter

• Friday 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Greeter

• Friday 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Greeter

• Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Greeter

• Saturday 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Greeter

• Saturday 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Greeter

• Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Greeter

• Sunday 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Greeter

• Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Information Desk

• Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Information Desk

• Thursday: 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Information Desk

• Thursday 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Information Desk

• Friday 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Information Desk

• Friday 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Information Desk

• Friday 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Information Desk

• Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Information Desk

• Saturday 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Information Desk

• Saturday 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Information Desk

• Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Information Desk

• Sunday 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Information Desk

• Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Parking lot assistant

• Thursday 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Parking lot assistant

• Friday 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Parking lot assistant

• Friday 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Parking lot assistant

• Saturday 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Parking lot assistant

• Sunday 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Parking lot assistant

• Sunday 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Parking lot assistant

• Thursday 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Information in hotels

• Friday 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Information in hotels

Meeting in a new place brings new challenges, and we need your help! If you are not a Conference delegate but live in the Jackson

area or are the spouse of a delegate and will be in Jackson during Annual Conference Thursday through Sunday, June 11, 12, 13, and 14, please check the tasks and times below and let us know when and how you can serve. Sign your name under “Volunteer” for each

time and task you are willing to tackle. Return the form to Brenda McGloster at the United Methodist Building, P.O. Box 1147, Jackson, MS, 39215-1147, and join the Hospitality Team! We will be in touch as we make assignments and give you more information. Thanks for your interest! For more information, e-mail Brenda@mail.mississippi-umc.org.

(Please print)

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address : __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your e-mail: ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Join the Annual Conference Hospitality Team!

Rasmus

sJogRen

lahR

4 Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

sunday sChool lesson

By Rev. Michelle Foster

April 5Suffering Unto DeathPurpose: To learn to trust God even in the face of suffering and death.

Scripture: Luke 23: 32-46

Key Verse: “Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I com-mend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last.” — Luke 23:46

How do you determine whether someone is worthy of your trust? To what extent do you trust someone? Or, is there anyone that you completely trust? We live in a world that encourages us not to trust. Everyday there are stories in the media about those whose trust has been exploited. Regardless of whether the breech of trust is violated by institutions, family members or complete strangers, we learn to rely and depend upon only ourselves and our own abilities and skills.

Our appointed scripture for this lesson challenges our understanding of trust. In this particular passage Jesus is on the cross about to be crucified. He is surrounded on his right and his left by self-admitted thieves. The taunting crowds are gathered and at Christ’s feet are those gambling for his clothes.

What is Jesus’ demeanor towards it all? Though we are not given overwhelming details, we can hear in Jesus’ words his sense of trust in God. Even as he is being mocked by the crowds he prays that his father would forgive those who are seeking to do him harm. Later on, he assures one of the crimi-nals that they, the criminal and Jesus, will be together in paradise. Finally, just before he draws his last breath he entrusts his spirit into his father’s hands.

Jesus is looking squarely into the face of suffering and death. He knows that his days and moments on this earth are few. All that he had spent his life working for was coming to an end. His legacy was not yet known. Yet there was calmness, a peace, an attitude of trust and surrender that surrounded him. He knew and claimed the presence of God alive and at work in his life, his ministry and in his suffering and in death.

What about us? Can we honestly say that we completely trust God, not just on the good days, but even in those days of confu-sion, pain and suffering? We have the good pleasure of knowing the rest of this story … Jesus’ death and ultimate resurrection brings to each of us the promise of life eternal. Why, then, are we afraid to trust? How do we sur-render to the desires of self-will, human fear and human control in order to commend our lives completely into the hands of God? How do we day after day seek to fully and completely trust God even in the face of suf-fering and death?

April 12Resurrected Unto New LifePurpose: To live like Jesus’ resurrection makes a difference in our daily lives.

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Key Verse: “Why do you look for the liv-ing among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” — Luke 24:5-6

It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and several other women who first discovered the empty tomb on that Easter morning. Scripture tells us that they were perplexed that the body of Jesus was gone from its burial site. These female disciples arrived at the tomb expecting to encounter the dead body, prepare it accord-ing to tradition and return to their daily rou-tines. We also know that Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James were close followers of Jesus Christ. They knew and believed in his teachings and promises; they shared with him in prayer and worship; and even witnessed his last words from the cross as he drew his last breath. Only three days have elapsed since he was with them. In these short three days they had forgot-ten the days and times spent at the feet of the master teacher. The women who had gathered to give Jesus a proper burial have forgotten the importance and influence that their relationship with Christ had made in their lives as he lived and led on this earth. It was not until they were confronted with the question of the angels, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” that they remembered the promises of Christ. In this instant, their lives were transformed. Their

faith and belief in Christ experienced a res-urrection of sorts! It was infused with new life. They ran with energy and enthusiasm sharing the promised good news of Jesus Christ fulfilled: Christ is alive!

How often do we live like Mary and Joanna, as though we are in a relationship with a dead God; a savior whose life ended on a cross and whose body was buried in a cave far, far away? Think about it for a few moments … where in your own life do you express your faith in a savior, God-with-us, who is alive and active in our daily lives? How often do we find ourselves surprised by the fulfilled promises of God? How does our understanding of life and death reflect our Christian belief that Christ’s resurrec-tion makes a difference both now and in life after death? How might we remind others in the Christian community that we serve a risen savior? In what ways will we “run and tell” the Good News of our Easter faith to those who already believe and to those who do not yet believe? How will we sustain our Easter day joy and excitement all 365 days of the year?

April 19Witness to New LifePurpose: To claim our role as witnesses for Christ.

Scripture: Luke 24:44-53

Key Verse: “You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised.” — Luke 24:48

Have you ever thought about the job description of a Christian? What would be the vocational responsibilities of a Christian? Though each of us may choose different words or phrases to convey it, I believe each of us could boil it down to four main respon-sibilities:

n To have belief in and offer worship to the triune God

n To learn and share the word of God;n To live in love with one another as Christ

lives in love with usn To share the Good News – the death and

resurrection of Jesus offers forgiveness to all people in order that we might have new and eternal life with God.

When we begin to read the appointed scripture for today we learn that it is Easter evening. Jesus’ disciples know that he is no longer dead — he is alive! He has, according to Luke, already appeared to some disciples who were on the road to Emmaus, and now is appearing to all of his disciples. In verses 44-47 the risen Christ explains to the gath-ered disciples why this day has unfolded as it has and what will happen next. In verse 48 Jesus informs the disciples that they will become witnesses to the world. His next sentence seems to be offered almost as a way of calming their fears and questions even before we can hear or see the nervous-ness and anxiety of the disciples. Jesus says in verse 49, “And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised.” Here Jesus

is referring to the coming of the Holy Spirit whose role it is to teach and remind us of all that Christ had first taught to us.

It is interesting that even as Jesus calls his first disciples to a new “job” with new responsibilities, he also equips them to do their new job well. The gift of the Holy Spirit is offered as companion, teacher, encour-ager, and advocate who will join with the disciples as they go into the whole world as witnesses of Jesus’ ministry of love and forgiveness.

We are like Christ’s first disciples. We, too, are called to be Christ’s witness in the world. Though we are not eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry as he lived on this earth, we have witnessed the ministry of Jesus Christ. We have witnessed the ministry of Christ through the recorded Word, the movement of God’s Spirit in our own lives and in the lives of others, and the life and ministry of the church.

We call ourselves Christians and take advantage of all the “perks” that come with that job title. We know the job description. We know what is expected of us, we have been given the tools to do the job well, and we also recognize that this work may at times challenge us, confound us, and cause us to be uncomfortable. The question becomes: Will we accept not just the title, but also — and more importantly — the job?

April 26Bringing New Life to Those in NeedPurpose: To go into the world sharing God’s gift of new life.

Scripture: Acts 9:32-43

Key Verse: “Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, ‘Please come to us without delay.’” — Acts 9:38

The theme for this month’s Sunday school lessons is new life. It is no coincidence that the theme of new life is also connected to the church’s celebration of Easter. It is through Christ’s death and resurrection that we are offered new life. This is the joy of Easter!

Already we have seen the joy that has come to the disciples as they begin to expe-rience new life in Christ. On Easter Sunday we witnessed the joy that overcame the women when they realized Christ was alive. Last week we studied how the risen Christ appeared to the disciples preparing them for what was to come next. The appointed pas-sage for today moves us, with the disciples, one step closer to a more thorough under-standing of new life in Christ.

Our scripture today centers around Peter, a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ who went about the areas of Caesarea, Lydda and Joppa instructing and encouraging Christian communities in the Christ-like way of liv-ing. Specifically we are given two healings in which Peter is directly involved. The first is the healing of Aeneas who was made to walk. Peter found him as he went from place to place in ministry.

The second account of healing is even more fascinating. It is the healing of Dorcas, aka Tabitha. Unlike the healing of Aeneas, Peter did not find or come across Dorcas in his travels; the family of Dorcas came and sought out Peter. When the disciples found Peter and requested that he come quickly, we are told that Peter went without delay. It is interesting to note that we are not told the

Jesus put complete trust in God even on crossCalleD to teaCh?

Would you like to take part in the Advocate’s Sunday school lessons? Laity and clergy who would be interested writ-ing lessons for 2009 are encourage to call 601-354-0515 ext. 16 or 866-647-7486 or e-mail advocate@mississippi-umc.org..

See lesson, page 5

5Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

intended purpose of Peter’s summons. Was it to comfort those who mourn and assist in the burial of Dorcas, a beloved disciple, or was it to raise her to new life in Christ? We know that upon arrival, Peter found Dorcas dead in her bed. As we continue in our read-ing we discover what Peter did – he raised Dorcas to new life. Why is this significant? Peter, representing the church, took the love and compassion of Christ to those who needed it at the time that they needed it.

As a child do you remember the little church hand game where you interlock both of your hands together and say:

“Here is the church“Here is the steeple“Open up the door and look at all the

people.”The cute little rhyme defines the church as

a building where people gather to worship and praise God. I would dare say that this is only one-half of the definition of church. Maybe a second verse of this little rhyme could be:

“Out they now go “To serve in Christ’s name“Reaching and teaching the poor and the

lame.”Truly, the church is at its best when it

stands at the doors of its sanctuary, looks outward into the world and goes, without delay, to witness and share the new life of Christ where ever it is that God beckons us to go. Peter took the church into the world. People received new life because of Peter’s faithful acts. How will you serve as Peter served this week in the world?

n Foster serves on the conference staff in Connectional Ministries working with min-istry to children and family ministries.

MemorialsMr. L. G. AdamsMs. Helen AycockMr. & Mrs. John Crabtree

Mr. Donald AllredMr. & Mrs. John Crabtree

Mrs. Betty ArmstrongMrs. Betty W. FlynnDr. & Mrs. Doyce W. GunterMs. Addie Mae JamiesonMr. & Mrs. Gerald KruegerMrs. Dot Pridmore

Mr. O. D. BarnesMr. & Mrs. Danny L. BroadfootMr. & Mrs. Horace Broome

Ollie BeanMr. Everett Youngblood

Ms. Earlene BeldingMs. Monica R. Pearson

Mrs. Tressie BlackMs. Shelley R. Tuggle

Mr. W. J. BradyMr. Everett Youngblood

Mrs. Katie Ruth BushMr. Medford M. LeakeMr. & Mrs. George B. Pickett, Jr.

Mrs. Opal E. CarrollMrs. James L. Droke

Ms. Willie Mae ChaffinMs. Shelley R. Tuggle

Mrs. Lois CombsMs. Shelley R. Tuggle

Mr. Howard CoseyMr. & Mrs. Danny L. Broadfoot

Mr. Ed DanielsMr. & Mrs. Jack BunchMs. Lanora KennettMr. Eddie J. Waldrup

Miss Leola G. DawkinsMr. & Mrs. Glen Gibson

Ms. Laura EarnestMr. Everett Youngblood

Ms. Josephine FranklinMr. & Mrs. Duncan A. Clark

Mr. Floyd GalyeanMrs. Martha E. AnthonyMs. Mary BradshawMr. & Mrs. Danny L. BroadfootMr. & Mrs. Horace Broome

Ms. Wenona GriceMr. & Mrs. Danny L. Broadfoot

Mrs. Annie Ruth GrimMs. Dorothy D. Miley

Ms. Joy HalesMs. Durene P. Moore

Ms. Lela HeindlMr. & Mrs. Danny L. Broadfoot

Mr. Ralph JohnsonMs. Mary Bradshaw

Mrs. Mildred KatzMs. Shelley R. Tuggle

Mr. Gordon KeithMr. Everett Youngblood

Mr. Raymond KitchensMs. Shelley R. Tuggle

Mrs. Dorothy C. MassengaleMr. & Mrs. Sam Long

Mr. & Mrs. Chester MillerMr. & Mrs. John Crabtree

Mr. Joe W. Mitchell, Jr.Mr. Everett Youngblood

Miss Sara Frances MitchellMr. Medford M. Leake

Mrs. Nell MizeMr. & Mrs. John CrabtreeMr. Medford M. Leake

Mr. George ParrishMrs. Elsie L. Sanderson

Ms. Hilda PendleyMs. Shelley R. Tuggle

Mrs. Ida T. RamseyMr. & Mrs. Sammie L. Griffin

Mrs. Jackie S. RiversMr. & Mrs. Stephen M. CorbanDr. and Mrs. Allen CrowE-Wing Residents - Traceway Manor

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis HubbardMs. Mary W. OlliffDr. & Mrs. Max R. Taylor, Jr.

Mrs. Catherine Hunter SadlerMr. Medford M. Leake

George & Louise SandersMr. & Mrs. William J. Robertson

Mr. Lou SheffieldMrs. Martha E. Anthony

Mrs. Lathel SheltonMr. & Mrs. Thomas McCrary

Ms. Mary A. StillMr. & Mrs. Sammie L. Griffin

Ms. Barbara TaylorMs. Addie Mae JamiesonMr. & Mrs. Gerald KruegerMr. & Mrs. Tommy Moses

Ms. Trecy TrimueMs. Shelley R. Tuggle

Mr. Lou WatsonMr. Everett Youngblood

Mrs. Mary Irene WilliamsMr. & Mrs. Erik Grupp

Ms. Eva WinfieldA-Wing Residents Traceway Manor

HonorariumsDr. & Mrs. Gerry GrantMr. & Mrs. Richard M. Hamberlin III

Ms. Gatha HurtMs. Durene P. Moore

Ms. Dee MathisMs. Janelle F. Craig

Ms. Durene P. MooreMs. Irene M. Nichols

Residents of Henry ClayMs. Janelle F. Craig

Ms. Brittany ThomasMs. Durene P. Moore

Gifts for February 2009Methodist Senior Services gratefully acknowledges the following honor and

memorial gifts made in February 2009. Acknowledgment cards were also mailed as directed by the donor. Thank you for helping us fulfill our mission of serving older adults in the spirit of Christian love.

P. O. Box 1567 • Tupelo, MS 38802-1567 • Phone: 662-844-8977 • www.mss.org

lesson, from page �

cal. Originally, one special worship hour during the year was reserved for people of faith to contribute over and above their regular offerings. Today different denomi-nations celebrate One Great Hour of Sharing on various dates, but the coopera-tive spirit remains.

The United Methodist Church relies on One Great Hour of Sharing to support humanitarian aid through UMCOR. You can be assured that when catastrophes cause suffering, your denomination, impelled by Jesus’ love and compassion, will be in the lead to ease the pain. UMCOR’s special-ized ministries are responding in disaster,

fighting hunger, alleviating poverty, pro-viding relief supplies around the world, and offering hospitality to immigrants and refugees. All assist the most vulnerable people whose need is greatest.

“The One Great Hour of Sharing offer-ing on March 22, provides for those basic needs that make the rest of UMCOR’s work possible,” said the Rev. Sam Dixon, UMCOR deputy general secretary. “Without this offering so much of what UMCOR does to bring hope and healing to the world could not happen.”

Most gifts coming to UMCOR have been designated for specific programs, and those

programs receive 100 percent of those gifts. So part of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering plus a small percentage of other general donations support UMCOR’s cost of doing business.

Donations to One Great Hour of Sharing also assist UMCOR programs that have not been fully funded through designated Advance gifts. United Methodists’ dona-tions often become the springboard for additional funding.

n This story was adapted from an article that appeared in the March 9 edition of “Faith in Action,” the newsletter of the General Board of Church and Society.

n Assist with bishop’s dinners and other district and conference events

n Cultivate relationships with conference and district leaders.

If each scouting ministry specialist works with five congregations, the denomination will need 7,000 volunteers to serve the 35,000 local UM churches. While that sounds like an overwhelming number of persons to recruit,

Coppock said an experimental ad for per-sons interested in aiding scouting ministries in the Tennessee Annual Conference news-paper resulted in 300 responses.

In order to become a scouting ministry specialist, a candidate must:

n Be 21 years of age or oldern Provide proof of Youth Protection

Training and-or take an online Sexual Ethics

and Safe Sanctuaries coursen Show a record of scouting-youth minis-

try experiencen Read Scouting Guidelinesn Attend Philmont Scout Ranch or another

scouting-ministry training experiencen Submit a registration fee of $30 An initial test of recruiting and training

these specialists will be conducted in four

annual conferences in 2009. These confer-ences are Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Tennessee.

The Scouting Ministry Committee is an arm of the Nashville-based General Commission on UM Men.

For information, contact Coppock, lcop-pock@gcumm.org, or Marc Stowe, mstowe@gcumm.org.

awareness, abstinence, attitude and self-respect.

They also hold an annual talent show and conduct charity projects. Last year, members held a Christmas party at a wom-en’s shelter and created care packages for soldiers. They will participate in a breast cancer walk in April. An awards ceremony is held each May for the girls.

Christy McGowan, 14, has been a part of DIVAAS since seventh grade and now serves as group president. “When I first started, I was kind of quiet,” she said. “It opened me up, and I met a lot of new people. It’s like we’re all family now.”

Through DIVAAS, she’s learned to bet-ter communicate with her parents and improve her etiquette skills.

“They talk to you about things like dat-ing, relationships, studying,” she said.

Jackson resident Breanna Young, 13, one of the youngest members, said she likes the camaraderie. “We talk about things going on at school and peer pressure.”

Her mother, Daphne Young, said Breanna had difficulties adjusting to junior high, but since joining DIVAAS, her grades have improved. “I can tell that she is maturing a little more each day,” she said. “She’s opened up a little more to me about things that are going on, and even if she doesn’t talk to me, I know there is someone she can talk to.”

Brandon resident Angela Bryant, 22, is a DIVAAS mentor. Harrion recruited the Tougaloo College elementary education student two years ago to help with the pro-gram. “We have seen tremendous change in some of the girls.”

Ridgeland resident Traci Brent, who

became a DIVAAS mentor three years ago, said meeting frequently “gives the girls an opportunity to ask questions and bond with us so they’ll feel comfortable talking to us.”

Harrion said the church plans to offer a ministry for African-American boys this summer.

“What we really want young people to know is the stereotypes and myths that are out there in society about them don’t have to be true,” she said. “We want them to know that God loves them and has something wonderful in store for them, but they have to do something to receive those blessings.”

n This article appeared in the March 7 edi-tion of “The Clarion-Ledger” and is used with permission.

one great hour, from page 2

divAAs, from page 2

scouting, from page 2

6 Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

around the ConferenCe

Many items used commonly in daily life were invent-ed by African-Americans. Those lesser known, but important folks were the focus of Black History

Month at Columbus St. James United Methodist Church.While the church recognized and celebrated the lives of

the stalwarts of the African-American legacy such as Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglas, W.E.B. Dubois, Booker T. Washington and Sojourner Truth, leaders also focused other contributors to the African American experience in America. Of the many notable African Americans over the years, some featured in this years’ celebration were:

n Sen. Hiram Rhodes Revels (R-Miss.), the first African American elected to the United States Senate in 1870

n Bishop Daniel Payne, president of Wilberforce College, the first African-American owned and operated college in the U.S. (1863)

n A.J. Beard, inventor of the first rotary engine (patented 1892)

n G.F. Grant, inventor of the golf tee (patented 1899)n F.M. Jones, inventor of the air conditioning unit (pat-

ented 1949), the two-cycle gasoline engine (patented 1950) and a thermostat and temperature control system (patented 1960).

In a skit, the church celebrated biblical characters of African descent. Portrayed by the youth and adults of the congregation were biblical characters Hagar and Ketura (concubines of Abraham), Ham (son of Noah), Makeda (the queen of Sheba) and Jethro (a Midian priest and father-in-law of Moses).

The celebration also included a static display of African-American art, crafts, clothing and items of the olden days.

Washington college features King during Black History Month events

The Rev. Ed King of Jackson was the featured speaker for Black History Month events at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash.

A United Methodist pastor, King was active in the civil rights movement in Mississippi during the 1960s. King

is currently a semiretired profes-sor of sociology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. In 1963, he was a leader in the historic Woolworth sit in that took place in Jackson. He was also a good friend and co-civil rights leader with Medgar Evers, who was later assassinated.

In addition to King’s speeches, two films about the movement were shown. They included Standing on My Sisters’

Shoulders and Freedom Summer. King acted as a consul-tant on the development and filming of Freedom Summer. The award-winning documentary, Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders, relates the firsthand stories of Mississippi women who risked their lives in the fight for Civil Rights and emerged as heroines.

Freedom Summer follows the events of the summer of

1964, including the disappearance and murder of three civil rights workers — Michael Schwerner, James E. Chaney and Andrew Goodman — and the discovery of their bodies in a dam on a farm near Philadelphia. The documentary was run as one episode of the History Channel series “10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America.” King officiated Chaney’s funeral.

King also spoke at First United Methodist Church in Port Angeles.

’09 Tobias Gibson, Francis Asbury awards need your nominations

The Mississippi Conference seeks nominations for the Tobias Gibson and Francis Asbury awards.

The Tobias Gibson Award is given to individuals who have made major contribution preservation, collecting and pro-moting Methodist history. The Francis Asbury Award is for Fostering Ministries in Higher Education.

Bishop Francis Asbury encouraged United Methodists to build schools in locations central to churches so that young adults and youth would have more opportunities to broaden their minds. The Francis Asbury Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to higher education and campus ministry at the local, district or annual conference level of the church.

The Asbury Award recognizes those who meet the follow-ing criteria:

n A United Methodist, lay or clergyn Active in strengthening and promoting the church’s

work in higher education and campus ministries at the annual conference, district or local church level

n Offers leadership beyond the basic responsibilities, to help bring more awareness to the importance of the church’s ministries in higher education

n Involved in efforts that agree with the direction and goals of Mississippi Conference’s board of higher education and campus ministries as well as those of the Division of the General Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry.

All awards will be presented during Annual Conference at the Award Banquet June 11.

To nominate an individual, contact the Rev. Fitzgerald Lovett at P. O. Box 1147, Jackson, MS 39215 or fitzgerald@mississippi-umc.org.

Deadline for nominations for the Tobias Gibson and Francis Asbury awards is April 13.

Footsteps in Hope walk to raise funds for global AIDS/HIV groups

The second annual Footsteps In Hope AIDS Walk/Run will return to Old Trace Park in Ridgeland.

The inaugural event last spring drew hundreds of partici-pants to help support local and global HIV/AIDS organiza-tions. Over $20,000 was raised.

The 2009 event is set for 2 p.m. March 29. Registration is now active through www.footstepsinhope.org.

Natchez-area group includes UM pastor among Caring Women

The Rev. Darian Duckworth was honored Feb. 16 at the annual Caring Women banquet in Natchez.

Duckworth, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, was honored in the leadership category. A Caring Woman of leadership is described as “one who inspires others to take actions for a common good,” according to the Natchez Democrat newspaper.

The Caring Women program is sponsored by Natchez Community Hospital and Comcast Spotlight and presents awards for leadership, perseverance, mentor, defender and promise.

Sue Stedman, emcee of the program, said Duckworth’s

6St. James honors lesser-known leaders

Methodist Tested RecipesH 1 pt. crabmeat ¾ c. melted butter ¼ c. green pepper ¾ c. green onion 1 clove garlic ¼ c. all-purpose flour¼ tsp. dry mustard2 c. milk2 Tbsp. pimento8 oz. sour creamSalt and pepper to tasteCrushed cracker crumbs

Place bread crumbs on cookie sheet and broil for a few minutes. Place crumbs into a 6 cup greased casserole with H cup melted but-ter and mix together. Press mixture to cover bottom of the casserole dish and sides. Preheat oven to 370 degrees. Add remaining 1/4 cup melted butter to saucepan. Add green onion, green pepper, and garlic to saute. Add flour and dry mustard. Slowly add milk, stirring constantly. Cook until smooth. Add crabmeat, chopped pimento, salt, and pepper. Cook until heated. Remove from heat and add sour cream. Pour into casserole dish and bake at 375 degrees for 15 min-utes or until bubbly.

— By Cynthia Bogdahn in Recipes to Remember published by pascagoula First united methodist Church

Crab Casserole

Have a recipe too good to keep? Share it with our Advocate readers. If your church has its own cookbook, we would like a copy. Mail to Woody Woodrick, Methodist Tested Recipes, P.O. Box 1093, Jackson, MS 39215.

The Rev. Fred Brown and a parishioner review a static display of African-American artifacts.

King

7Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

around the ConferenCe

commitment to her congregation as well as the commu-nity as a whole made Duckworth an obvious choice for the award.

Reading the words of Duckworth’s nominator, Stedman said Duckworth made an impact on her congregation from her first Sunday at the church. “She greeted everyone by name her very first Sunday,” Stedman said.

Duckworth was recognized for her leadership in church meetings and worship services and for also providing monthly worship services at Magnolia House. Duckworth is also a yoga instructor and board member at United Way. “She has filled the pulpit with such love,” Stedman read.

Fund-raising expert to offer ideas to Miss. agencies, ministry groups

Fund raising expert Ted Hart will be the featured speaker at a conference designed to help Mississippi Conference agencies develop resources for their ministries.

Hart will speak at the event scheduled for 10:30 a.m. April 1 at the Mississippi United Methodist Foundation building in Ridgeland. Deadline to register is March 27.

All conference community centers and agencies are encouraged to attend.

Hart, of Washington, D.C., is chief executive officer of Hart Philanthropic Services, an international consulting firm to non-profit and non-government organizations. He has been certified as an advances certified fund-raising executive by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and an e-phil-anthropic master trainer by the ePhilanthropy Foundation.

To register, contact Brenda McGloster at 866-647-7486 or Brenda@mississippi-umc.org.

Clinton First UMC plans annual garage sale to support missions

Where can you get a great deal on used household goods and do good for God’s household too?

At the Clinton First United Methodist Church Missions Garage Sale April 3-4. This annual event raises funds for church mission projects and brings people from miles away

to get great deals on fur-niture, electronics, toys, books, jewelry, kitchen items, outdoor equipment, clothes and almost any-thing else. The church is located on U.S. 0 in Clinton across from Newk’s restau-rant. ”Early bird” shopping will be available from 2-4 p.m. April 3 for $5. After 4 p.m., not entry fee will be charged. Doors will be open until 8 p.m. on April 3 and from 6 a.m. until noon on April 4.

Church members have been collecting their dona-tions and bringing them to

the church for several weeks. “This garage sale is a great way to make room in my closet, and I love that it is an easy way to help missions,” said church member Katie Conway.

Volunteers help label, sort, and display the items before and during this yearly event. Missions Committee Chair Mike Grove encouraged shoppers to come early to have the best choice and stay late. He noted that there will also be an assortment of homemade cakes, pies and cookies for sale.

Proceeds from the sale support local missions and trips to both Costa Rica and Russia. For information, call the church 601-924-6671.

Napier set to take over conference disaster response leadership role

The Rev. Wayne Napier of Baldwyn will take over duties as Mississippi Conference disaster response coordinator in June.

Napier follows the Rev. C.J. Caufield who has accepted a position at Delanco Camp in Tabernacle, N.J.

Caufield said he believes this is the most natural selec-tion.

“The breadth of experience, diligence, flexibility, training, dedication and theological lenses through which he views and executes within this ministry make him the perfect person for this transition. Wayne will bring many new gifts to this exciting and growing ministry. I can think of nobody bet-

ter for the task,” Caufield said. “We are so grateful that Wayne is willing to step up the plate and continue doing much of what he is already doing.

Weems, Carter to give suggestions on dealing with difficult economy

Lovett Weems and Ken Carter will present pastors ways to be joyful, faith-ful stewards in these tough economic times at the National Association of United Methodist Foundations annual gathering.

The event is scheduled for June 23-25 in San Antonio, Texas.

Interactive presentations will focus on “Ministry Resources for Challenging Times,” including:

n Weems, author, consultant and director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, on “Stewardship Leadership and Best Practices for Ministry in Challenging Times”

n Ken Carter, author, speaker and pastor in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference

n Val Walker, executive director of the Minnesota U.M. Foundation, on

coaching pastors as stewardship leaders.Time will be also be devoted to share ideas and resources

and connect with one another.This event is planned by the NAUMF Faith and Money

Focus Group, which includes the Rev. LaRue Owen of the Mississippi United Methodist Foundation.

For information or call Betsy Schwarzentraub at 530-333-0852.

Starkville Aldersgate UMC offers lessons in conversational Spanish

Those planning on going on a mission trip to a Spanish-speaking nation might want to sign up for a language course being offered by Starkville Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

Aldersgate UMC is offering a second language, conversa-tional Spanish classes Thursday evenings in April. The class meets from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. through the first Thursday in May.

This interactive course introduces and facilitates basic Spanish usage. Students will practice the language within different contexts:

n Meeting-inviting peoplen Asking for and giving basic information about wants,

needs, likes and about what one has to do. The vocabulary usage will include transportation-travel-

ing, money, shopping, construction and basic emergency and medical information.

The leader is the Rev. Maggie Little. Little has over 30 years of experience teaching Spanish in the Atlanta area and recently returned to Starkville after serving as the coordina-tor of the Hispanic Outreach Ministries at Norcross (Ga.) First UMC.

The $15 registration fee covers all course materials. Aldersgate UMC is located at 820 Evergreen St. in Starkville. To register call 662-323-4657 or e-mail gbuell@starkville-aldersgateumc.org.

Tennessee church plans seminar on providing ministry to seniors

Anyone involved in ministry relating to senior adults might want to attend the seminar “Living as a Spiritual Older Adult.”

The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 31 at First United Methodist Church in Jackson, Tenn. The cost is $15 per per-son, and the registration deadline is March 23. No walk-ins, please. Call 731-664-8480 to register.

Marvin W. Cropsey, editor of Mature Years magazine, managing editor of The New International Lesson Annual and popular Bible teacher and retreat leader for older adult groups, will lead this three-session seminar.

Session one will discuss reminiscence; the faith past and how it all comes together in the faith that older adults expe-rience in the present. Session two will cover the present; faith’s support of the present life and the concept that faith evolves in an unbroken, unified pattern. Session three will talk about the future; older adults’ faith needs and expecta-tions for the future.

This seminar is sponsored by the Memphis Conference Older Adult Council. Call Luci Cromer, 901-755-0803, for more information. This seminar is open to the public.

Ocean Springs St. Paul schedules second Winshape summer camp

Ocean Springs St. Paul United Methodist Church is host-ing its second Winshape summer day camp experience at its East Campus.

Open to the community, it offers a staff trained by the WinShape Camp organization based in Rome, Ga., and a variety of activities for children who have completed first through sixth grades.

The game is set for 7:30 a.m. daily June 15-19.“We were one of 27 cities to participate in the first year of

WinShape’s off-site camps,” said St. Paul Children’s Minister the Rev. Leanne Burris. “This unique experience seeks to connect children to the new C3 (Camps Connecting Communities) program, sponsored by Chick-fil-A, that combines sports, arts, Bible study and worship.

Activity tracks include: Basketball, soccer, archery, secret ops, digital photography, percussion, yard games, wacky science, music, crafts, fast food and drama.

The last day of camp is Chick-fil-A Friday Family Fun Day. On this day all family members will be invited to enjoy the last day of camp together (and to eat a Chick-fil-A lunch with their children).

More than 90 children attended the camp last summer.Registration must be made online by going to www.win-

shapecamps.org and selecting the C3 option. Cost is $169 per child with discounts available for a second child from the same family. Some scholarships are available. Contact the church for more information about financial assistance.

St. Paul’s east campus is located on the corner of U.S. 90 and Mississippi 57. For information, call the church office at 228-875-5701.

Mississippi Boychoir to perform concert at Eupora First UM Church

The Mississippi Boychoir will present its spring concert at Eupora First United Methodist Church.

The concert is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 29. . The Mississippi Boychoir, founded in Columbus in 1995,

is an independent arts organization funded in part by the Mississippi Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, corporate partners, audience members and par-ents. Membership is by invitation to second through 12th-grade boys after an audition process. Weekly rehearsals are currently held in Hattiesburg and in Jackson. The program is tuition-based, although scholarships are available for talent boys with financial need.

The choir is under the direction of Margaret Ewing Thomas of Hattiesburg, its founder, conductor, and administrative and artistic director.

Donna Mardis works as a vol-unteer at the 2008 garage sale.

CaRteR

The Rev. Leanne Burris, associate pastor and children’s minister at Ocean Springs St. Paul United Methodist Church, takes a look at the creations of several WinShape Campers Christian Calloway, Spencer Flottman and Jon Burris following a chemistry experiment in 2008.

weems

Editor’s note: Fourth in a series.

An Ole Miss football fan got into an area where LSU fans were yelling for their team in a long-standing rivalry.

LSU was driving toward the goal when one of their fans tapped the shoulder of the Ole Miss fan and said, “I’ll bet you $10 we score.” The Ole Miss fan turned around and said, “Man, I’m a Methodist preacher,” to which the LSU fan quickly responded, “OK, I’ll bet you $2.”

Many church folks frequent casinos for the good food and a little “affordable” gambling. That’s one way of risking a habit with growth potential and serious consequences. Our sin-ful natures tend toward indulgence, whether in a casino, on-line, drinking, or “all you can eat” food bars. History verifies it. Our vision verifies the wide span food bar habit.

America has become a nation of excesses and of forbidden fruit. The old farmer said, “If yo’ outgo exceed yo’ income, yo’ upkeep gon’ become yo’ down-fall.” We are now facing the results of decades of careless living. “You shall reap what you sow” is a Biblical, agricultural, moral, spiri-tual and economic principle.

Bailout and stimulus may be genuine efforts to help, but any real reversal of our dilemma will come with accountability —

moral, spiritual and economic — to God and to each other. Who got us into this mess? We tend to blame those we elect. I believe it’s safe to say that unredeemed human beings from the top CEOs to the one who steals a small item from his employer is a contribu-tor.

Pure honesty must have escaped our attention. Deception in our legal system, in commercials, and in corporate bookkeep-ing seems to be more prevalent than truth. The Ten Commandments have not only been removed from most public display, but also from our hearts as well. They are God’s requirements for our well-being.

Ezekial quotes God, “ ... they who follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and

rev. Glenn Martin

advoCate ColuMnist

Forward to the basics: Accountability

8 Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

Published twice a month, 24 times a year, on the first and third Wednesday of each month, by the Mississippi Annual Conference of The

United Methodist Church, 321 Mississippi Street, Jackson, MS. Periodicals postage paid at

Jackson, MS and additional mailing offices.

■ Woody Woodrick, Editor ■ Cindy W. Clark, Layout

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Mississippi United Methodist Advocate,

P.O. Box 1093, Jackson, MS 39215-1093

Mississippi United Methodist AdvocAte (Usps 354-360)321 Mississippi Street / P.O. Box 1093

Jackson, MS 39215-1093Telephone: 601-354-0515

n “I shall give her vineyards and make the valley a door of hope.” — Hosea 2:13

The 2009 Annual Conference Offering will be received for feed-ing hungry people — in Mississippi

and around the world. Half of the offering will support The

Society of St. Andrew in the mission of providing food for families in communi-ties in Mississippi. Through SoSA, food that would go to waste is gleaned and delivered to those in need.

Half of the offering will support Stop Hunger Now in the mission of providing food for the world. SHN works in coun-tries around the world, providing nutri-tion in areas impacted by natural disaster, war and poverty.

Annual Conference will offer oppor-tunities for hands-on involvement with these ministries. Lay and clergy members will be invited to bag sweet potatoes or other produce for distribution by SoSA and to package meals for distribution by SHN.

Thank you for interpreting this offer-ing in your local church. We look forward to another generous offering at Annual Conference in June.

When the congregations of Jackson’s Galloway United Methodist Church and St. Andrew’s Cathedral

Episcopal church met recently to cement their ministries in the capital’s downtown area, some might have viewed the coming-together as a first-time event for the two religious groups.

Not true. I grew up in McComb and was a witness to the racially-divisive dark days of the 1960s in a place that called itself the “Camellia City of America,” but became labeled nationally and globally as the “Dynamite Capital of the World.”

The firebombings in McComb and Pike County of more than a dozen African-American churches and homes by the Ku Klux Klan in 1964 constituted one of the most

frightful chapters of the civil rights move-ment in the ‘60s. But one of the prettiest pictures to emerge

was the cooperation of McComb’s religious community in setting things right again, led by the Episcopalians and Methodists.

Today, they are at it again through an initiative spearheaded by Bishops Hope Morgan Ward of the Mississippi Conference of The United Methodist Church and The Right Rev. Duncan Gray III of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi. The Rev. Joey Shelton, who shares the pulpit at Galloway United Methodist Church with his wife Connie, pointed to working with the homeless in Jackson’s Smith Park as one major focus of

this effort. Galloway UMC and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral are only about two blocks apart, separated by Smith Park and the Governor’s Mansion.

“With (Galloway‘s) Grace Place minis-try to the homeless, our primary strength is the ability to offer respite,” Shelton told the Mississippi United Methodist Advocate newspaper. “But we can’t do everything that the people of Smith Park need. So, let’s be in dialogue with St. Andrew’s about what is their passion for the homeless in Smith Park. We have the opportunity to see how we can all engage this common problem.”

The first covenant meeting of Galloway and St. Andrew’s folk was held the evening

Ecumenical agreement historic stepMaC Gordon

Guest ColuMnist

M any of us have heard lately a sort of mantra that says that things are so out of kilter that we must

return to the “basics,” a sentiment with which I agree completely. In the case of our church it would be a return to the basics of our Christian doctrine and our Wesleyan heritage, which together form the basis of our faith as Christians and our identity as Methodists.

It appears to me that we need to go back and review, think and then practice the beliefs of what being a Christian is, which is to say, we need to translate these inter-nal head and heart matters into external actions in order for our faith and identity to come alive and become real to us and to the world. And, while we all need to practice our beliefs it is essential for us as leaders to model what we preach.

As Christians we are the spiritual descen-dents of Abraham and the nation of Israel in that we are a called out people whose mission is to be a blessing to the nations (Gen. 18:18-19). Micah in 6:8 reminds us of the basics “… To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (emphasis added)

How are we acting out this truth? How are we putting into daily practice

our Lord’s greatest command to love Him above all things and our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39)? Often we stray from the basics and get lost in worldly pursuits that in the end distract us from our Christian faith and practice. We become habitual or even compulsive collectors of money, pleasure, attention and prestige failing to develop into practicing Christians by exercising our common mission to love God and our neighbors by making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In the process of pursuing other things we fail in our mission and miss out on the privilege to “be a blessing to the nations.”

A return to basics

JorGe navarreteConferenCe staff

See mArtin, page 11

CoMMentary

Stop Hunger Now’s Sharehouse project and the Society of St. Andrew’s potato drops have been popular mission projects of United Methodist in Mississippi.

GleaninGsbishop hope

MorGan Ward

Annual Conference

offering

See gordon, page 11

See nAvArrete, page 8

9Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

Annual Conference’s call for a 10 percent re-duction.

n The Apportionment Formula subcom-mittee chaired by Red Moffat of Jackson studies the formula to be certain that it is fair to the local churches as a whole. A study to base the formula on receipts of the local church in lieu of disbursements is planned. Before a formula can be changed, it must be presented to the Annual Conference for approval. Any apportionment change must be reviewed by the General Conference on Finance and Administration.

n The Rev. Andy Ray of Tupelo chairs the Direct Bill subcommittee, which reviews the progress of direct billing churches for the conference pensions and insurance plans along with the conference Board of Pen-sions. The groups recommended allowing the 2009 Annual Conference session to de-termine what steps to activate Jan. 1. The apportionments and direct bill amounts will be presented as three options: The current method, beginning Phase 2 or beginning Phases 2 and 3. CFA will recommend that all phases be based on a percentage of the pastor’s base compensation. This is different from Phase 1 where a premium of $1,630 is billed regardless of salary. The change reduc-es the direct bill of the comprehensive pro-tection plan for churches paying their pastor less than $54,333.

n The Benevolence sub committee chaired by Tommy Barrett of Grenada reviewed all budget requests for the benevolence work of the conference. The committee recom-mended a 10 percent reduction as was ad-opted by the 2008 Annual Conference.

n The Rev. Rod Borders of Madison chairs the Ministerial Support subcommittee. A study of salary levels for district superinten-dents was presented. Because the salaries were frozen on Jan. 1, pending annual con-ference action, a 2 percent salary increase is sought for 2009 or 2010, but not both.

n Ellen Short of Tupelo chaired the Ad-ministrative subcommittee. The committee recommended that the salaries of the ad-ministrative assistant to the bishop, director of Ministerial Services, director of Connec-tional Ministries and treasurer-director of Administrative Services no longer be tied to the district superintendent level, but not ex-ceed that level. The Personnel Committee, in conjunction with the ministry area to which the employees report, including the bishop, will determine the salary level. The adminis-trative budget was reduced by 17.7 percent.

CFA is scheduled to meet in May to deter-mine whether to amend the 2009 budget or take other actions based on the current eco-nomic conditions.

CF&A from page 1

Welch is now a parishioner at St. Phillips Episcopal Church in Jackson.

George Burdell, a member of the St. Andrews choir, and Brenda McIntyre, a long-time member of Galloway, both want to continue the fellowship between the two downtown congregations. McIntyre, whose husband Jim was born and raised at St. Andrews, particularly hopes the two church-es can continue to participate in worship services more regularly. “This is just wonder-ful,” she said. “We have so many friends in both churches.”

“In our lives together, we have tended to make more of differences than the great center of our shared life,” Ward told the gath-ering. “Tonight is a night when we celebrate this grand center of our shared life.”

Gray, who has long had a working relation-ship with Ward, agreed. “We’ve gathered to do a remarkable thing. We’ve gathered to claim our unity in Christ,” Gray said. “Our divisions within the body of Christ are a scandal. We’ve gathered together to say one very important thing: We need each other to

be the church.”The agreement urges members of both

denominations to visit a worship service of the other during the next 12 months and to engage in the six-week study “Make Us One With Christ” together and complete it within 24 months. The document recognizes that many churches have already developed relationships and encourages the strength-ening of those by planning joint program-ming including religious education, mission, evangelism, social action and the joint use of facilities.

The event began with a shared meal at Galloway Memorial UMC, located just two blocks from St. Andrew’s in downtown Jackson. Laity and clergy, wearing full vest-ments, then proceeded from Galloway down Congress Street to Capital Street where St. Andrew’s is located. Clergy from both denominations took part in the service, and the choir included singers from both churches.

The denominations have a shared history. Brothers John and Charles Wesley were sons

of an Anglican priest and both were devoted to the church. Although both remained in the Church of England throughout their lives, they are credited, especially John Wesley, with starting the Methodist movement in England in the 1700s.

Gray said that the covenant is a local outgrowth of a decades-long ecumenical national study between the two denomina-tions to seek ways to connect in areas of wor-ship and common ministry. Also, the exist-ing close relationship among the Methodist, Roman Catholic and Episcopal bishops in Mississippi for the last 30 years facilitated the covenant’s formation.

In 2005, the United Methodist Church approved a scholarly agreement called “Joint Interim Eucharistic Sharing.” The agree-ment was later approved by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2006 and is the foundation of the newly formed Mississippi covenant. Gray and other Episcopal clergy took part in a joint commu-nion service at the 2007 Mississippi Annual Conference.

The covenant was first proposed to Gray by Diocesan Ecumenical Officer the Rev. Michael Nation. Nation based his idea on similar agreements being forged around the country that were consistent with the Joint Interim Eucharistic Sharing guidelines. Gray and Ward were taken with the proposal and representatives from both churches refined the covenant based on Nation’s initial draft.

“As United Methodists and Episcopalians together we rejoice in the ministries we share. We have the same challenges as Christ’s faithful people in the world,” said Ward. “We long for stronger leadership within our con-gregations, for more younger clergy, for more younger people and more diverse people to be gathered in for the work of the people of God.

“We long for our state and nation to be a kinder, gentler more compassionate place. We’re working together to do that.”

n The Rev. Scott Lenoir, editor of the “The Mississippi Episcopalian,” and Jim Woodrick contributed to this article.

Agreement, from page 1

2010 Proposed Budget

AditionalPhase2 AdditionalPhase DirectBill Apportioned DirectBill 2&3DirectBill 2009SpendingPlan 2010Proposal 2010Proposal 2010Proposal

Fund #

UMNUMBER1AVENUEOFGIVING

1 World Service* $1,550,387 $1,553,100 $1,553,100 $1,553,100

MSUMEXTENDEDMINISTRY

2 Community Centers*** $315,000 $252,000 $252,000 $252,000 3 Children’s Home*** $140,265 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 4 Choctaw Mission*** $72,000 $64,000 $64,000 $64,000 5 United Methodist Hour*** $58,500 $52,000 $52,000 $52,000 6 Baddour Center*** $45,000 $40,000 $40,000 $40,000 $630,765 $533,000 $533,000 $533,000

MSUMCONFERENCECLERGYSUPPORT

7 Board of Medical Benefits $5,026,516 $5,026,516 $5,026,516 $5,026,516 8 Board of Pensions $3,692,977 $4,102,884 $3,202,884 $ - 9 District Superintendents Fund $1,375,143 $1,375,143 $1,375,143 $1,375,143 10 Board of Ministry and Related Funds $342,656 $333,700 $333,700 $333,700 11 Equitable Compensation $235,914 $291,500 $291,500 $291,500 $10,673,206 $11,129,743 $10,229,743 $7,026,859

MS UM ANNUAL CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP WORK AREAS

12 Annual Conference Administration $2,236,644 $1,839,013 $1,839,013 $1,839,013 13 Congregational Development $1,042,813 $1,032,097 $1,032,097 $1,032,097 14 Connectional Ministries $552,645 $544,400 $544,400 $544,400 $3,832,102 $3,415,510 $3,415,510 $3,415,510

UMHIGHEREDUCATIONSUPPORT

15 Campus Ministries (MS) $721,706 $689,658 $689,658 $689,658 16 Ministerial Education Funds (General Church)* $536,225 $531,669 $531,669 $531,669 17 Millsaps College (MS)*** $360,000 $320,000 $320,000 $320,000 18 Back College Fund (General Church)* $213,921 $212,103 $212,103 $212,103 19 Rust College (MS)*** $180,000 $160,000 $160,000 $160,000 20 Africa University (General Church)* $47,877 $47,470 $47,470 $47,470 $2,059,729 $1,960,900 $1,960,900 $1,960,900

MSUMCAMPINGANDRETREATCENTERS

21 Camp Lake Stephens*** $144,000 $128,000 $128,000 $128,000 22 Camp Wesley Pines*** $144,000 $128,000 $128,000 $128,000 23 Seashore Assembly*** $112,500 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 25 Gulfside Assembly*** $36,000 $32,000 $32,000 $32,000 $436,500 $388,000 $388,000 $388,000

UMGENERALCHURCHADMINISTRATION

26 Episcopal Fund* $421,130 $427,196 $427,196 $427,196 27 Administration (General Church)* $172,756 $168,280 $168,280 $168,280 28 Southeast Jurisdiction Programming** $129,885 $129,885 $129,885 $129,885 29 Interdenominational Cooperative Fund* $41,791 $41,379 $41,379 $41,379 30 Lake Junaluska Levee Renovation Project** $32,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $797,562 $791,740 $791,740 $791,740

Apportioned Budget Total $19,980,251 $19,771,993 $18,871,993 $15,669,109

Direct Bill Amount $900,000 $900,000 $1,800,000 $5,002,884

Funding Total $20,880,251 $20,671,993 $20,671,993 $20,671,993

*Apportioned by General Church **Apportioned by Southeastern Jurisdiction ***Affected by 10% Reduction in CFA Report # 1

10 Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

Rev. G. Howard Freeman, Jr.retired clergy

Gaston Howard Freeman, Jr., M.D., 81, physician, minister and Navy chaplain, died at the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Jackson on March 4, 2009.

Services were held March 6 at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home on Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland. A mili-tary burial followed services at Magnolia Cemetery in Meridian.

Dr. Freeman, a native of Meridian, was the son of Gaston Howard Freeman, Sr., Jewel Wall Dandridge, and Robert C. Dandridge. He attended Meridian Public Schools and Hickory High School. At 16, he joined the United States Navy and served in Guam during World War II. He remained in the Naval Reserve as a pilot, chaplain and phy-sician until he retired in 1987.

Dr. Freeman held a B.S. from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Masters of Divinity from Emory University in Atlanta. He completed his pre-med requirements at Millsaps College and earned his M.D. at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School. He completed an intern-ship at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. He conducted his residency in psychiatry at Emory University and the University of Mississippi, where he was chief resident. He also completed a resi-dency in neurology at the University of Mississippi.

His medical career included private prac-tice in Meridian, Jackson and Madison, as well as Riverside Hospital, later Charter Hospital, in Jackson where he was medi-cal director. He had a special interest in obsessive compulsive disorders and group therapy.

He was a former president of the Mississippi Psychiatric Association and a lecturer for pharmaceutical companies to primary care physicians and medical con-ferences. He was a member of various med-ical associations, including the American

Psychiatric Association, the Mississippi Psychiatric Association, and the American Medical Association.

He also served as a pastor in the Mississippi Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Survivors include sons, Howard R. Freeman of Gulfport and Dr. Kevin B. Freeman of Jackson; daughters, Dr. Teena F. Horn of Houston, Patricia Hughes of Jackson and Kellye Makamson of Columbia, Mo.; former spouse, Marilyn Freeman Zachary; and 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials to the United States Naval Academy Foundation or the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center may be mailed to Dr. Teena Horn, P.O. Box 604, Houston, MS 38851.

Mamie Lee Knoxclergy spouse

STARKVILLE — Mamie Lee Knox, 91, a clergy spouse, died March 3, 2009 at Oktibbeha County Hospital.

Services were held March 9 at Plair United Methodist Church with burial in Plair Cemetery. The Rev. Kenneth Casey officiated. West Memorial Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Mrs. Knox was the spouse of the late Rev. Jesse J. Knox Jr., a United Methodist pastor.

Survivors include: son Wallace Knox of Starkville.

Rachel D. Landerclergy spouse

BRANDON — Rachel Louise Dunn Lander, 79, a clergy spouse, died March 8, 2009, in McComb.

Services were held March 10 at Caswell Springs United Methodist Church in Wade. Heritage Funeral Home handled arrange-ments.

Mrs. Lander was the spouse of the late Rev. Percy W. Lander, a United Methodist pastor.

Survivors include: sons, Ellis Lander,

Rodney Lander and Bill Lander; daughter, Kay Troxler; nine grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

Elenes B. Sutphinteacher, clergy spouse

MERIDIAN — Elene Brooks Sutphin, 92, a retired teacher and clergy spouse, died March 3, 2009.She had battled the effects of a stroke for the past seven years.

A memorial service was held March 7 at Central United Methodist Church, with the Rev. David Price, the Rev. Bob Whiteside and the Rev. Johnny Crosby officiating. Honorary pallbearers were the Williams Sunday School Class. Stephens Funeral home of Meridian is in charge of local arrangements.

The daughter of John and Ida Brooks of Mathiston, Mrs. Sutphin exhibited interests and talents as a child that she would use later as the wife of a Methodist minister and college president.

While a student at Wood Junior College, she was president of the YWCA, worked with the college newspaper, was a member of the drama club, sang in the choir, the a capella choir and the double quartette.

She also met her future husband of 68 years, Felix Sutphin. Both were involved in many of the same activities as students including acting together in the play, Hold Everything. They also worked together during the summers on the Wood Junior College farm.

After graduating from Wood, she taught at Simpson School in Choctaw County. She was instrumental in establishing extracur-ricular activities that enhanced the educa-tional experiences of her students.

The Sutphins were married after he grad-uated from Millsaps College and the couple moved to Warm Springs, Ga., so that Felix Sutphin could attend Candler School of Theology of Emory University. While there, Mrs. Sutphin taught at Warm Springs and also served as a social caseworker with

the Fulton County Department of Public Welfare.

The Sutphins returned to Mississippi upon his graduation from Emory and the couple began their full-time ministry in the North Mississippi Conference of The Methodist Church.

Mrs. Sutphin was active in the work of the Methodist church, especially the Women’s Society of Christian Service. She held numerous leadership positions and represented the state at national and world conferences. While serving a four-year team as president of the North Mississippi Methodist Conference Women’s Society she led the group to adopt the Charter of Racial Policies of the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries. Also during her tenure, the state hosted the Southeastern Jurisdiction of Methodist Women when they met at Jackson St. Luke’s Methodist Church.

Mrs. Sutphin acted in stage productions, designed inspirational church worship centers, produced and directed the Elene Sutphin Beauty Pageants and May Day cel-ebrations and co-authored the play Keeping Christmas. Mrs. Sutphin was frequently called upon to teach Bible study courses and lead spiritual life retreats. She also was the first woman to serve as president of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Methodist Foundation.

She was preceded in death by her par-ents, John and Ida Brooks of Mathiston; two brothers, Vernon Brooks of Mathiston and Joe Ed Brooks of Eupora; and two sis-ters, Mae Oswalt of Ackerman and Bernice Brooks of Mathiston.

She is survived by her husband, Felix Sutphin of Meridian; son, Phil Sutphin of Decatur; and two grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Elene Brooks Sutphin Healthcare Simulation Fund in care of the East Central Community College Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 129, Decatur, MS 39327.

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integrity and missional energy Geoffrey and Henderson bring to the work of the Cabinet,” Ward said.

While the job carries some uncertainty, Joyner said he had some good examples to follow.

“I have been blessed to have served in districts with very effective superintendents. They were servant-leaders,” said Joyner, who currently serves Vicksburg Crawford Street UMC. “They all had different strengths but

shared a love for our church and a deep commitment to Jesus Christ. I envision the role of a district superintendent to be that of a servant-leader.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to serve the people of the Tupelo District.”

Rasberry, in contrast, has already served as a district superintendent. He led the East Jackson District from 1996-2001. He cur-rently serves Madison United Methodist Church, where he has been since coming

off the Cabinet. He previously served the Barlow Charge, Caswell Springs, Pascagoula Eastlawn, Jackson Leavell Woods and Clinton First UMC.

A graduate of Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Joyner has served at Crawford Street since 2000. Previous appointments include the Sandersville-Glade Charge, West Laurel-Gitano Charge, Purvis-Talowah and Jackson Broadmeadow.

“The Cabinet continues to focus our work

on making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world as we reach out together to more people, more younger peo-ple and more diverse people,” Ward said. “In addition, we keep before us at all times these missional priorities: Development of spiri-tual leadership, new places for new people, engaging ministry with the poor and global health and wellness.”

superintendents, from page 1

11Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

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she enters the room. She dreams of a better life with parents that are more attentive. When she discovers a magical door in the house that leads to a parallel world, her dreams seem to have come true.

At first, this parallel reality seems like her real life — only much better. Here, her parents are solicitous and adoring, catering to her every whim. The other residents of the boarding house, who were just odd in the real world, are delightfully entertaining in this one. But before long, sinister details emerge. Her “other mother” in particular is almost predatory in her possessiveness, and eerily, everyone in this other world has

buttons for eyes. Fearing that she will lose her, the Other Mother kidnaps Coraline’s real parents. With this dream world dissolv-ing into a dangerous nightmare, Coraline finds that it’s up to her to rescue her real parents and free them all from the Other Mother’s clutches.

Coraline is far from a “message” movie, but like any good children’s story, there are lessons and learning moments galore. We see the reassuring message of good tri-umphing over evil. Coraline herself makes an inspiring heroine. Though small in stat-ure, she possesses great resourcefulness, determination and courage. Witnessing her

bravery could help foster bravery in a young heart. We also see her willingness to risk her own safety in order to rescue her parents. Coraline learns to appreciate her real par-ents, faults and all, and discovers that those we love do not need to be perfect or live up to some fantasy ideal. Perhaps most impor-tantly, Coraline learns the lesson that the things we want are often not the things we need. Sometimes parents — and yes God — have a wiser, better plan.

This brings us to the question of fear. Is Coraline too scary? It might be too intense for younger children, but children at least 8- or 9-years-old should do just fine. There can

be value to a little scariness. A scary story can be a tonic to young minds, providing a wakeup call of sorts. In the case of Coraline, things are sometimes not what they seem: Danger can be lurking behind a pleasant and attractive package. Reality — however imperfect — is better than the most alluring fantasy. Plus, the presence of a little danger and a touch of fear give Coraline’s vic-tory, and new appreciation of her parents, greater resonance.

Coraline is a richly imaginative, beauti-fully crafted and haunting film with the potential to be rewarding and enriching experience.

review, from page 12

A director of a local Christian social ser-vices organization issued a call to Christian action by interpreting what Jesus said in Matthew 25:40 in this way: “Ministry work, for Christians, should not be done out of a sense of shocked moral obligation or civic shame, but rather as ministering to our Lord Himself.”

Yes, all of us have strayed from the basics, but not far enough that we cannot start today claiming the ministry of our baptism and heritage by giving a witness of our faith

or visiting Jesus in prison or providing food for Him and clothing Him.

“Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. I move on toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.” Philippians 3:13-14.

n Navarrete serves in Connectional Ministries for the Mississippi Conference working in the missions area.

of March 3. About 300 people from the two churches broke bread at Galloway and then marched in unity past Smith Park and the Mansion to worship and communion at St. Andrew’s. With clergy in their ceremonial vestments and banners of both faiths aloft, it was a sight to see, filling the brisk night air with a healthy dose of hope for those des-tined to sleep on a park bench or street.

I will admit that members of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator first entered the McComb fray in 1964 – one family in par-

ticular. But when it came time to helping our African-American brethren rise from the ashes, the folk of my church, Centenary United Methodist, raised the first dollar, or one of the first, led by the fiery newspaper editor John Oliver Emmerich Sr.

That Episcopal family would be the Albert W. “Red” Heffners, who rose with courage against the McComb terrorists. Inarguably one of the town’s most popular families before 1964 (one daughter, Jan Nave, was the reigning Miss Mississippi), the Heffners were

driven from McComb and the entire state later that year because mom and pop had the gall to inject themselves into the torrid civil rights strife that engulfed the place.

The Church of the Mediator’s rector, Colton M. Smith, was full-throttle into trying to solve the city’s and state’s racial troubles, with Red and Malva Heffner strongly at his side. The Heffners took the word “mediator” to mean just that; they tried to broker the struggles between the city’s whites, African-Americans and dozens of summer volunteers who had

come south to lead voter registration drives.More Episcopalians became involved, and

then hosts of Methodists and others. By fall 1964, a semblance of law and order had been restored. I could not have been more proud then of the Methodists and Episcopalians, but this latest initiative ranks mighty close.

n Gordon is a McComb native. He is pub-lic information officer for the Mississippi House of Representatives. He is a mem-ber Galloway Memorial UMC and lives in Flowood.

obey them ... they shall be my people and I will be their God.” (11 :20) Every effort to remove God from our focus, whether through so-called separation of church and state, for-bidding Bibles in a classroom or prayer before a ball game is an affront to the Almighty and leads us into a pagan culture which God has no reason to protect and sustain.

Irresponsible behavior at home or church, in business or pleasure, is condemned by the red letters of the new covenant.

Jesus said if it offends, cut it off. The supreme price paid for our sinfulness on a

rugged cross was not to increase our sin but to stop it. Our God promises accountabil-ity both now and in the final judgment. The expensive commercials call for drinkability. God requires accountability.

Focus on the scripture, on the cross, and on the Savior. That will produce accountability to God and each other. Our relationship to God is not by birth; it is by faith when we trust and obey.

n Martin is a retired clergy member of the Mississippi Conference.

gordon, from page 8

navarrete, from page 8 martin, from page 8

12 Mississippi United Methodist Advocate/March 18, 2009

Review by David Williamson

■ Notes to New PastorsBy Ben Chamness

In order to appreciate Notes to New Pastors, it helps to know a little about its author and the occasion that prompted its writing.

Ben Chamness entered the ministry in 1959 as a student pastor, and over the next 49 years he served in a vari-ety of settings and roles — from pastoring small rural congregations and large urban churches to serving as a district superinten-dent in Houston and as the bishop for the Central Texas Conference.

In 2007, Chamness began writing a series of reflections on the lessons he had learned throughout his years of min-istry. The theme of the series was: “If I Could Do My Ministry Over . . .” These articles originally appeared in his conference news-letter and then were gathered into the present book. Although not originally intended exclusively for young pastors, the theme of his reflections lends itself most to those who are starting out in ministry.

Each of the short 15 chapters represents

an area of ministry that Chamness believes should deserve the full attention of any pastor; he covers a wide range of topics, from “Developing Dynamic Worship” to “Involving Laity” to “Building Friendship among Colleagues.” Perhaps Chamness’ finest chapter is his final reflection upon “Trusting God.” It is a reminder that, though ministry is full of many challenges, there

is a God who is bigger than all of those chal-lenges. And though we are sometimes tempt-ed to “work overtime” in order to help God accomplish the goals we’ve set for our churches, the more we trust in God’s power and leading, the freer we are to enter into and receive all the blessings that ministry affords.

As a young minister still in

his first appointment, I greatly enjoyed reading Chamness’ book. There were times when it seemed, in describing his own first experiences in ministry, he was describing mine as well. But his words have the added weight of perspective: Chamness is writing

from the view point of one who has “been there and done that,” and is, therefore, able to look back at those early years and see the habits and foci that would have made his ministry more meaningful and effective.

There were times I felt a sense of confir-mation, the joy of being affirmed in some of the choices I’ve made in ministry so far. But I also experienced many moments of convic-tion that reminded me of areas of ministry I have tended to overlook.

It is important, though, to remember the goal that Chamness had in writing this book: Not to provide an extensive road-map for successful ministry, but to touch upon key issues like “Visionary Leadership” and “Youth Ministry.” Though Chamness is unable to tell us how to develop the leader-ship potential of our laity or how to maintain a vibrant personal devotional time, he is able to raise our awareness about the importance of these matters. The beauty of Chamness’ book is that in a few short pages he is able to point us towards those topics that deserve our highest effort in order for us to have a fulfilling life in ministry.

n Williamson is newly ordained pastor serving at Milroy United Methodist Church in Milroy, Ind.

Reprinted with permission from Circuit Rider (February/March 2009). All books reviewed may be purchased from any Cokesbury Bookstore, at www.Cokesbury.com or by calling 1-800-672-1789.

New pastors gain from bishop’s advice

revieWs

By Gregg TubbsUMC.org

■ Coraline Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ian McShane and John HodgmanDirector: Henry SelickRating: PG for thematic elements, scary images, some lan-guage and suggestive humor.

Coraline is a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience about a girl with a different kind of name who longs for a different and more exciting life.

She wants to live in a different place, have different friends, and most of all, have different (better) parents. When she enters a parallel world where another mother and father wait to greet her, she learns the truth of the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for.” Coraline is an intoxicatingly imaginative romp that

swings from fun-filled joyride to preteen nightmare. There are moments in Coraline that are playfully ghoulish and others that could scare the very young. But isn’t that the charm of a good fairy tale or ghost story — to feel a little tingle of fright and still know that it will be all right?

Based on Neil Gaiman’s international best-selling book, Coraline has been brought deliciously to life by director Henry Selick using the arcane but spectacular art of stop-motion ani-mation. Available in select theatres in 3D, Coraline is above all else a feast for the eyes and ears. Its haunting musical score by Bruno Coulais perfectly matches the visual design, evoking an air of childlike whimsy tinged with just enough menace.

Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning) longs to escape the boredom of the boarding house in the country her family has moved to so her parents can concentrate on writing a gardening catalogue. Completely focused on meeting their publishing deadline, Coraline’s parents barely look up from their computers when

By Steve MorleyUMC.org

■ Lindsey BuckinghamGift of Screws

Fleetwood Mac would become one of the most celebrated names of the 1970s, but it was a floundering rock band in search of an identity in 1975, when the then-unknown musician Lindsey Buckingham was brought into the fold.

It’s no coincidence that Fleetwood Mac hit its commercial stride under Buckingham’s direction. His vision for blending Mac’s three primary songwriters and voices into a cohe-sive pop-rock powerhouse contributed sig-nificantly to the success of 1977’s Rumours, one of the best-selling albums in pop history. Three decades and half a dozen solo albums later, he’s still balancing his instincts for glistening pop-rock with his mad-scientist producer side.

His latest album, Gift of Screws, is an exercise in swirling sonic textures that finds Buckingham manipulating the studio knobs as masterfully as he does his guitar. Time Precious Time represents the album’s most indulgent aspects, joining harp-like arpeg-gios with a vocal phrase that grows increas-ingly disorienting, as if the artist is falling down a stairway of his own cascading guitar notes. On tracks like these, Buckingham con-firms the force of well-implemented sound, a feature that frequently takes precedence on the disc. But the album’s immersing atmospheres mirror the recuring themes of being submerged or alienated from one’s prevailing surroundings .

The haunting but tuneful Did You Miss Me captures those moods in a relational setting, while Underground addresses Buckingham’s disconnect with, and distaste for, a music industry uninterested in artistic motivations. But the musician’s loftier and more left-of-center ambitions hardly nullify his prowess with pop landscapes.

The ultra-dynamic Love Runs Deeper, which maintains that the broken and iso-lated among us may possess a greater emo-tional capacity, progresses from a restrained verse to a supercharged chorus.

While Buckingham’s characteristically dark and acidic sides haven’t disappeared, the album’s hints of emerging hope bloom fully into the promise of redemption on the comforting and anthemic Treason.

Fans of classic Fleetwood Mac are accom-modated by The Right Place to Fade, a Mac knockoff that is both letter-perfect and iron-ic, as Buckingham references his past and seeks to finally separate himself from the suffocating effects of its legacy.

For all the album’s odd turns, Gift of Screws shows that the tools from which Buckingham once fashioned success remain sharp and firmly in his grasp, even if the blueprints have changed.

Buckingham’slatest scores bigOther Father

(voiced by John Hodgman), Other

Mother (voiced by Teri Hatcher)

and Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) share a

delicious breakfast in Henry Selick’s stop-motion ani-

mated 3-D adven-ture Coraline.

© 2008 LAIKA, Inc. All rights reserved

See revieW, page 11

Be careful what you wish for