How dying churches can ‘pass the mantle,’ in the July 24 Reporter

Greetings, e-Readers!

 

When a congregation declines, it faces a number of options, and none of them are easy. But for those that take a hard look at the possibilities, rebirth can happen. Mary Jacobs spoke with congregational leaders at some churches that have "passed the mantle" for new ministry to happen. 
 
Mary also has a Q&A with a pastor who cautions against being too busy. Ironic that his book, Addicted to Hurry, is now out in an audio version? (I'm listening to it on my morning commute, which never seems to be in a hurry). The book's message is targeted to on-the-run pastors and laity.
 
In commentaries, Donald Haynes says the Western North Carolina Annual Conference this year was particularly inspiring, Kathleen LaCamera highlights a major step in Northern Ireland's peace-building process, and former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders (who is a United Methodist) urges health care reform.
 
Plus, Ken Lowery reviews the new film The Hurt Locker, which he says is well-crafted and worth watching; a United Methodist church helps reunite an Iraqi family; Camp Collinswood offers retreats to wounded veterans and their families; and more.

Enjoy!

Blessings,
Robin Russell, Managing Editor

p.s. -- You can now follow the Reporter on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook!

Comments

[Kevin]

I had no idea Dr Elders was still active and a Methodist as well. I wish her well. I cannot however allow her comments to pass unchallenged. She is clearly parroting the Obama health care reform line with all the usual disinformation.
Health care does indeed consume lots of money but the Obama plan will cost 1.5 trillion more according to the CBO and her concern for business and profits seems misplaced since our leaders plan on taxing those same businesses even more to finance this reform. The result will be higher unemployment and put a huge drag on our economy. The countries with universal health care practice rationing. That is the only way to contain costs. Some bureaucrat decides who does and who does not get treatment. Look at the wait for diagnostic prcedures in Canada or Britain.
USA is 46 in infant mortality among the industrialized world. This does not take into account the very widspread use of abortion in Europe where unhealthy babies are culled out before being born. Sweden has an abortion ratio double that of the United States. Life expectancy from birth is also dependent upon that number. Sweden has a low infant mortality rate and higher life expectancy. So what? Look what they do to get that.

Medicare overhead costs are low. Another myth. Much of medicare costs are buried in various Federal government offices and not tied directly to medicare where they should be. It is impossible to determine actual medicare admin costs. Even so the average medicare insurance cost per person is $6,600 per year and in the private insurance sectors it is $2,700 per person peryear. Medicare is still way more expensive. Take that number and multiply it across 50 million people and we have a cost problem.

Massaachusetts has tried universal health care and what has it achieved. Doctors are reimbursed less that 70% of the costs on the state plan. And the state plan is broke.

With a 1 trillion dollar debt and growing now is not the time to add acouple trillion more.