Exemplary Teachers, in the Feb. 3 'Reporter'

Greetings e-Readers!

The UMC’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry gives Exemplary Teaching Awards to outstanding professors at UMC-affiliated schools. We take a look at some recent winners, including an Ohio Wesleyan University English professor who knocks herself out to make sure students understand and appreciate Native American culture. Staff writer Mary Jacobs has the story.
 
The recent Pre-General Conference Briefing made clear that some delegates have serious questions about such proposed UMC reforms as ending guaranteed appointment for clergy and restructuring general church agencies. It seems certain too that the issue of homosexuality will continue to be a challenge when delegates meet for General Conference on April 24-May 4. We have a report from Tampa, scene of the briefing and the fast-approaching GC.
 
Hennepin Avenue UMC in Minneapolis has a number of outreach ministries, including one to help Haitians turn flour milled from breadfruit into a cash crop. United Methodist News Service reports. Meanwhile, special contributor Kara Witherow writes about a South Georgia Conference initiative to help clergy lose weight and improve their health overall.
 
In commentaries, the Rev. Gary Keene argues that fear shouldn’t be the governing factor as the UMC weighs proposed reforms. The Rev. Christopher P. Momany sees danger for the church if it makes changes based on corporate models. And the Rev. Donald Haynes devotes his latest Wesleyan Wisdom column to revisiting a memo he wrote in 1995, suggesting changes for the UMC. Some of his ideas still need to be acted on, he asserts.
 
There’s plenty more in this edition, including C. Michael Hawn’s History of Hymns column, about Isaac Watt’s “I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath,” and a UMNS feature on a new church initiative called Spark12. It aims to get young United Methodists engaged, and quickly, in social justice ministry.
 
We always welcome your story tips and comments, as well as brief, civil letters to the editor. Send to news@umr.org.
 
Thanks for keeping the faith with us. 

Sam Hodges, managing editor

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Comments

[Gary Bebop]

How about doing a story on all the "outside" money being poured into an effort to sway General Conference in favor of pro-gay policies? It has investigative merit, since many are talking about what's going on.