United Methodist Response to Japan Crisis Will Involve Church and Mission Partners | |||
by Elliott Wright | |||
New York, NY, March 14, 2011--United Methodist response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan will be closely coordinated with churches and church-related agencies in that country, which continues to reel as the death toll continues to rise. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is serving as the denomination's conduit for financial contributions. A request for an offering on March 20 is being made by the denomination's Council of Bishops. The Pacific Emergency Advance number is 3021317. One hundred percent of every Advance gift goes to the designated cause. "Our emergency relief and long-term rehabilitation in Japan will involve our long-term mission partners with whom many of our missionaries and other mission personnel already work," said Thomas Kemper, general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries, of which UMCOR is a part. "Japan is a highly developed nation, and we will depend heavily on our partners to help us focus our resources in areas of greatest need." UMCOR is also investigating collaboration with Global Medic, an international organization with the capacity to provide emergency clean water in crisis situations. All United Methodist mission personnel, missionaries, and volunteers were accounted for on the morning of March 13, but questions lingered over the possible implications of radiation from damaged nuclear reactors. Global Ministries gave all personnel permission to evacuate at their own choice. The agency has a total of almost 20 related professionals in Japan. Virtually all United Methodist work in Japan relates to ecumenical partners, including the UCCJ, the Korean Christian Church in Japan, and the National Christian Council in Japan. Reports from missionaries and mission partners continue to be received in an almost steady stream of email. Several reports indicate that new Wesley Center in Tokyo, related to United Methodist Women, was not damaged and is able to care for a group of now homeless people. However, the Asian Rural Institute, a major mission partner north of Tokyo, sustained considerable damage. Global Ministries uses the institution for the training of persons from Asia and Africa in sustainable agriculture. The General Board of Global Ministries has received no requests from Japan for relief or other volunteers at this time. Information on damage at church-related institutions remains preliminary. The Women's Division of Global Ministries relates to three universities or colleges in Japan through its Higher Education Initiative. Those are Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, Hiroshima Jogakuin University in Hiroshima, and Kwassui Women's College in Nagasaki. Indirect reports from missionaries in Kwansei Gakuin, a school founded by Methodist Episcopal Church South missionaries, indicate that the situation in the area is stable. | |||
RAPPAHANOCK DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TRAINING DAY,
held on January 15, 2011, was a "HUGE SUCCESS"!!!
Thank you to all the wonderful instructors who worked so hard sharing their knowledge with us. You are the best!
We celebrate God's graces in reaching our goal of 10,000 meals for STOP HUNGER NOW!! Pat yourself on the back for this great accomplishment. Anna Siegle, young daughter of Pastor Brian Siegle, of New Hope UMC, worked the entire four hours with Stop Hunger Now. Thank you, Anna, for your hard work!
HISTORIC CENTENARY UMC SOLD
Ending a process that has taken many months to complete, the Rappahannock District Trustees have sold the historic Centenary Church building, which is located next door to the district office in Saluda, to a group of local citizens.
Several community leaders joined together and formed the Centenary Foundation, which then tendered an offer to buy the property last fall. On Sept. 27, 2009, the Rappahannock District Conference, in accordance with the United Methodist Book of Discipline, unanimously approved a resolution to sell the Centenary sanctuary, according to the Rev. Joe Carson, Rappahannock District superintendent.
In May, the Centenary Foundation finalized the purchase of the historic 1883 building in Saluda, said foundation spokesman John “Buddy” Moore, by signing the formal contract. The group is composed of eight civic and business leaders in Middlesex County who want to preserve the church building because of its history.
The sale was complicated because the building had been condemned for having structural problems in 2008, when Middlesex County building official David Selph was asked to conduct an inspection of the building. Selph discovered structural damage to the roof area that would cost about $27,000 to repair.
Another issue that complicated a sale was that there are no restrooms in the building and the land around the church will not sustain a septic system.
At one point it appeared the building was going to have to be razed as a public hazard.
Centenary United Methodist Church closed in 2006 due to a decrease in membership. The church sanctuary has not been used since it was closed.
An adjacent social hall building built in 1964 has continued to be used as the office of the Rappahannock District superintendent. This structure is not part of the sale.
GBGM’S RESPONSE TO HAITI SITUATION
Staff from the Mission Evangelism held a retreat and are working on a strategy to address issues and ongoing needs/concerns around Haiti. A grant was approved from Global Ministries for six months payment of salaries for pastors of six circuits in Haiti.
The Evangelical Dominican Church is working with youth and others in efforts to work on the boarder between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. There are currently 350,000 Haitians estimated in the Dominican Republic.
United Methodist Women: The Womens Division is working through two grassroots organizations that work with women: MUDHA (Movement of Dominican Women of Haitian Descent), and the Lambi Fund of Haiti. The United Methodist Women have also been working on issues of advocacy for debt relief for Haiti. There are two Regional Missionaries working in Latin America and on womens issues: Roseangela Oliveira and Serna Samuel. Weekly updates on United Methodist Womens work in Haiti may be found at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umw/news/news/?i=31813
Since April 16th, $19.8 million has been received for UMCOR Haiti Relief. Hundreds of thousands of kits have been received at UMCOR Sager Brown and are being verified for shipment to Haiti. To get weekly updates, go to: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/emergencies/ongoing/haitiearthquake/betherebehope/
Updated UMCOR Haiti Frequently Asked Questions are found here: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/emergencies/ongoing/haitiearthquake/haitifaq/
The Rappahannock District has generously responded to UMCOR’s request for Health Kits to provide basic necessities for the people of Haiti. On Tuesday, February 2nd, Rev. Jim Tinney, Retired Pastor and Jill Davis, of the District Office, delivered 1,590 Health Kits to the regional site at the Richmond Airport. From there the kits were delivered to UMCOR’s Sager Brown Depot in Louisiana for shipment to Haiti. Our thanks to Jim and Jill for their help in collecting and transporting all those kits in snowy weather! And thank you Rappahannock District Churches! Your generosity is awesome!!!