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SECTION 1
News & Updates
SECTION 2
Urban Pastor Nobu's Column
SECTION 3
Church of the Month
Previous Issues
of our Newsletter
Introducing Epworth Fellowship
Introducing Bethany UMC
Introducing Pine UMC
Introducing Grace UMC
Introducing Sf Korean UMC
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I attended the National Shalom Committee
last month in Philadelphia. Allow me to share a recent article
covering the Committee, so that you may become familiar with
Shalom's unique approach to ministries. I would like our
churches in the City to consider establishing some Shalom
sites in San Francisco. I plan to make a full presentation at
the SUMM Board meeting scheduled for May 18 at Temple United
Methodist Church. (Nobu Hanaoka)
National
team brings shalom to communities around globe
April
18, 2005
By
Suzy Keenan*
PHILADELPHIA
(UMNS)—The United Methodist Church’s Shalom Zone
ministries would have impressed Methodism’s 18th century
founder, according to church leaders.
"I
think John Wesley would have liked Shalom," said the Rev.
John Culp, referring to the Communities of Shalom initiative,
as the National Shalom Committee reviewed the ministry March
30-31.
Culp,
a
South
Carolina
pastor and new committee member, was impressed with Shalom’s
biblical emphasis and its results in congregations and
communities across the
United
States
and in
Zimbabwe
and
Ghana
.
Today,
more than 300 Shalom ministries work to transform negative
forces within their communities into positive actions for
shalom, or peace. Their focuses include spiritual renewal,
economic development, health, healing and strengthening race,
class and cultural relationships.
"Urban
and rural communities alike have embraced Shalom goals and
principles," said
Bishop
John R. Schol
,
who leads the denomination’s Baltimore-Washington Annual
Conference. "Shalom brings the church into the community
and the community into the church. Shalom is scriptural, and
it’s the way in which we live out the Wesleyan principle
that the world is our parish. For this reason, Shalom is truly
timeless."
The
Communities of Shalom initiative was organized through the
United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. The national
committee, led by Schol, gathered in
Philadelphia
to assess its progress and set goals and direction for the
next four years.
The
initiative took root at the 1992 General Conference, following
the acquittal of four white
Los Angeles
police officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King.
Schol recalled that, as fires from street violence burned in
South Central Los Angeles, General Conference business halted
and delegates prayed and fasted for the Lord’s vision of
hope. The Communities of Shalom was born out of that prayer
and fasting.
"Access
to affordable, decent housing, to a living wage, to good
schools and education, to health care, to creative
outlets—these are what makes your community livable; all
these things are Shalom," said the Rev. Robin Hynicka, a
team member and former director of the Frankford Group
Ministry, one of more than 300 communities of Shalom in 44
annual conferences around the world.
To
observe a model community of Shalom, 14 members of the
national team visited the Frankford Group Ministry, located in
the working-class neighborhood of Frankford and surrounding
areas in lower
Northeast
Philadelphia
.
The
ministry, now directed by the Rev. Catherine Bowers, unites
four United Methodist congregations in ministry. Some of their
programs include youth leadership development, partnering with
the Frankford Community Development Corp. to build affordable
housing, and working with a Muslim association to create
community celebrations of diverse cultures and faiths. The
ministry also has brought back nearly $1 million into the
hands of low-income residents by helping them take advantage
of the Earned Income Tax Credit on their income-tax returns.
"In
keeping with the United Methodist Igniting Ministry campaign,
Communities of Shalom open doors for people to come in, but
also open the doors of our churches for us to walk out into
our immediate community, so we are in partnership in creating
a more whole community," Hynicka said. "This makes
for a more whole congregation as well."
The
team reviewed established goals for Communities of Shalom
based on the Old Testament concept of the shalom community
from Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, and the New Testament understanding
of the kingdom of God. Those goals are to renew the spirit of
God in the church and the community; develop the prosperity
and economy of communities; strengthen race, class and
cultural relationships; and improve community health care and
coordination of social services.
Principles
for establishing Shalom in communities are based on proven
strategies: witnessing to the transforming power of God
through community action; focusing on church and community
strengths rather than problems; working with churches,
businesses, community organizations, residents and
governmental agencies; and addressing the systems that create
poverty.
The
committee identified objectives to:
- Strengthen Shalom sites by evaluating and
updating resources, including goals and strategies,
training programs and manuals, conference coordinator
manuals, grants and summits, as well as re-energizing
sites.
- Strengthen the partnership among the general
church/National Shalom Committee, annual conferences and
local sites.
- Identify and resource the staff for general
oversight and administration of the Shalom Initiative,
local training, conference coordinators and the Community
Investment Foundation.
- Develop a financial plan for greater
self-sufficiency.
"The
Shalom movement has made great progress during the last 12
years, as well as tested different ideas for resourcing and
staffing," Schol said. "It is clear that we must
build on our past and identify how the Shalom movement will
equip and maintain Shalom sites for the future."
More
details are available from
Deanna Martinez
,
Board of Global Ministries, at (212) 870-3711 or dmartine@gbgm-umc.org.
*Keenan
is director of communications for the Eastern Pennsylvania
Conference of the
United
Methodist
Church
.
News
media contact: Tim Tanton,
Nashville
,
Tenn.
,
(615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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