Carrying On, in the Dec. 30 'Reporter'

Greetings e-Readers!

In 2011, United Methodists took on plenty of challenges, including helping communities and congregations bounce back from natural disasters. Many clergy pledged to go against church law by conducting same-sex unions, prompting a counter-movement that called on bishops to uphold the Book of Discipline. Other clergy spoke out and hit the streets, opposing tough immigration laws or supporting the Occupy movement. Meanwhile, top UMC leaders prepared for General Conference 2012, which will likely see budget cutting and an effort to restructure the church bureaucracy. We take a look at these and other highlights of a most eventful year.
 
There’s no keeping religion out of the news, and Religion News Service offers its roundup of the major religion-related stories of 2011.
 
Staff writer Mary Jacobs reviews 25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics. She notes that John Wesley, Methodism’s founder, was an inspiration for this new volume.
 
The Rev. Rudy Rasmus has thought a lot about hope, which isn’t surprising, given that he works with thousands of hard-luck folks through his Houston church. He shared his insights in a Q&A with the Rev. Kathy Noble, of Interpreter magazine.
 
A UM congregation in State Park, Pa., has had to cope with fallout from a scandal involving one of their own – former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Special contributor Jackie Campbell snagged an interview with the church’s pastor, the Rev. Ed Zeiders. Her piece comes to us via United Methodist News Service.
 
In commentaries, the Rev. Andrew C. Thompson explains why he’s retiring his column title “Gen-X-Rising.” (He’ll continue writing for UMR.) Retired Bishop Woodie White,  in his Reflections column, praises “special shepherds” who do Hospice Ministry. And Missy Buchanan uses her Aging Well column to note that while it may be true that the UMC is a graying denomination, it’s also true that the ranks are full of wise, gracious seniors who ought to be better appreciated and better put to use.
 
There’s plenty more in this edition, including C. Michael Hawn’s History of Hymns column on the French carol “He is Born” (“Il Est Né”), and a feature on a Phoenix physician who runs a UM-sponsored mobile clinic that brings medical care to the homeless.
 
We welcome story ideas, comments and brief, civil letters to the editor. Send to news@umr.org.
 
Thanks for keeping the faith with us, and please continue doing so in 2012. 
 
Sam Hodges, managing editor

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