D.S. Challenges United Methodist Women

District Superintendent, Forest Wells, recently spoke at a Wisconsin District United Methodist Women’s meeting.  He challenged the women to be “…doers of the word…” (James 1:22)   Asking the question, “Why has the membership of the United Methodist Church plunged the last 30 years?”, he answered by saying that we have been saying many things and doing less. He said our mission as United Methodists is to make disciples for Jesus Christ, and we have just been taking care of ourselves—worrying about budgets, buildings, etc., and forgetting mission.

The women were asked, “How can we capture the vision of mission again and hear the call of God in our lives?”  The answer, he said, is to “be concerned about the least, the last, and the lost”.  He then cautioned that it is possible to be doers of the Word,  but not proclaim the Word.  He used the example of Red Bird Mission, where a survey given to the people in the surrounding community indicated they didn’t know the Mission was Christian. Top of Page

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Ingathering Alive for 25

 by Darrell and Carol Needham — 25th Anniversary Committee Co-chairpersons

 November 6th marked the 25th anniversary of the Thanksgiving Ingathering.  Twenty-five years ago, about 300 people gathered on the campus of Westmar College in LeMars out of commitment, curiosity, and casual interest to see what all the fuss was about.  Corn, cattle, kits and Church World Service blankets were delivered that day to assist, as Jesus stated, “...some of the least of these my brethren.”

From that first Ingathering (which raised $44,882), the Thanksgiving Ingathering has grown to include five sites:  Cedar Falls, Cherokee, Fort Dodge, Greenfield, and Mt. Pleasant, and is held the first Saturday of November each year.  Continual growth in attendance and giving has placed the Ingathering as one of the major mission outreaches of our United Methodist Church.  The goal for 2003 was one million dollars!

A central committee, made up of site and district representatives, coordinators, and chairpersons, guides the policies, selects the projects to be supported and generally coordinates the activities; but each site operates with considerable autonomy.  Three of the original projects continue to be supported throught the years:  Heifer Project International, Selp Help, and the United Methodist committee on Relief.  Church World Service was an early project addition.  For the last decade or more, Iowa Nigeria Partnership has become a vital part of the Thanksgiving Ingathering.

Quilt and, more recently, wood working items have been auctioned, adding to the excitement and income of the bake sales, mission presentations, crafts and comforters, and food.  Youth are involved through lock-ins the night before the event and helping on the day of the Ingathering.  The outpouring of school, health and sewing kits to Church World Service, and layettes, dorm, and uniform kits, as well as books for pastors’ libraries are a major part of inkind giving.  All the particulars are available in the Thanksgiving Ingathering booklets available from your church pastor, secretary, or Mission chairperson.

 A theme song has been composed and is ready for use.  Bible School material is being developed and a new video with a message from Bishop Palmer will be available early in 2004. Top of Page

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Inspirational Thoughts

by Heather DeRocher, Merrill, Iowa

 Clouds.  Have you ever thought about them?  Clouds are almost always present in some form or another.  They may be big and puffy, light and wispy, grand and beautiful, but always existing, fulfilling the purpose God intended for them.

That’s a lot like life.  We’re always present, but often in different forms.  We may be big and puffy, boldly sharing The Truth  with every opportunity we’re given.  We may be light and wispy, holding strong to The Truth in a quiet manner.  We may be grand and beautiful, shining so that everyone notices and sees The Truth in us.  But we are always here, and if we are striving to live our lives for Christ, we are fulfilling our purpose just as God has intended.  So let us continue to hold strong, without frustration, and trust that the different “clouds” of life are all part of His Divine plan. Top of Page

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Iowa Bishop Recommended

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer has been recommended for appointment to the U. S. Institute of Peace. Palmer is the only person currently recommended for this partisan appointment. If he is appointed by President Bush and approved by the Senate, he would be the only religious leader serving on the board of the federal institute. Top of Page

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John Wesley Portrayed by Tom Albin

Delegates to the Iowa Annual Conference had the privilege of helping celebrate John Wesley’s 300th birthday through portrayal of Wesley by Tom Albin. Tom is dean of The Upper Room in Nashville, and has done extensive study of John Wesley.   Albin’s doctoral research of Wesley’s system of small groups is summarized in the August 2003 issue of Christianity Today.

Note: Another article in the August 2003 issue of Christianity Today is entitled “Turning the Mainline Around”, emphasizing that new sociological studies show that evangelicals may well succeed at renewing wayward Protestantism. Top of Page

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Laity Address at Conference

 The Vice-Chair of the Board of Laity of the Iowa Annual Conference, Norma Morrison of Muscatine, challenged clergy and laity to “…examine their hearts and answer God’s call to ministry.”   Following are excerpts from her speech. 

“How would our world be different if every one of us and every person in our congregations at home served our Lord with a ministry?…Each of you is unique with special talents and abilities God has given you.  God has a special purpose for each of you.  There is no other person exactly like you on this earth, only you can share what God has given you.  If you don’t share your unique love for Christ, it will be lost.  No one else can give what you have to give….I believe it is possible to change the world-possible because of people like you-possible because of United Methodist Churches like those in Iowa-possible because our Lord Jesus commands us to-”Go therefore and make disciples of All nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” Top of Page

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 Questions from a Lay Person

A. Why, at the Iowa Annual Conference 2003, was just one viewpoint presented by the Conference artist, Ted Hatten?  Why was one artist allowed to decide for all of us what reality might be?  Didn’t Jesus weep when Saddam Hussein murdered millions of people and buried them in mass graves, and when armed services men and women were and are being killed?  Why were the posters so one-sided that a lay member resorted to taking the posters so that another view could be recognized?  Is this a pattern in our Conference — that views contrary to what some in positions of authority believe are labeled as hateful and wrong?

    B. Is it fair to the churches in our Conference that many resolutions were “railroaded” through without discussion?  Is it fair that members who had prepared amendments were not allowed to speak for or against resolutions because last minute motions were made to push through resolutions without discussion?  Why were so many denied the opportunity to express themselves-even after the Bishop assured them they would have an opportunity?  Why are some Conference members’ suspicious, hateful, and paranoid about lay and clergy leaders trying to do God’s work and perfect resolutions instead of just pushing any idea through?  Why are there FAR TOO MANY resolutions? Top of Page