Critical Mission, in the Feb. 24 'Reporter'

Greetings e-Readers!

UMC-affiliated Meharry Medical College continues to be a local leader in public health and a national leader in producing African-American physicians and dentists, many of whom work in underserved areas. The Nashville school is on sounder ground financially, and has an important collaboration underway with Vanderbilt University. United Methodist News Service reports. 
 
The Rev. Rebekah Miles made the case in a recent Christian Century article that theologian Reinhold Niebuhr’s wife, Ursula, co-wrote some works  that went out under his name only. Our story looks at how Dr. Miles, who teaches at Perkins School of Theology, got on to this subject, and at the reaction to her article, which has included an email from Jimmy Carter.
 
A dog may be man’s best friend, but there’s no beating the relationship between a certain dog and a certain UM clergywoman. The Rev. Michelle Perry and her dog, Goose, collaborate on ministry, from visiting shut-ins to raising money for a homeless shelter. Goose also alerts Ms. Perry, a diabetic, when her glucose levels seem low. Ms. Perry loved dogs before Goose, but really loves them now, and has started a bring-your-dog worship service at her church near Ogden, Utah. 
 
It’s almost Academy Awards time, and that means publication of UMR’s faith-focused Oscar preview, done by associate editor Bill Fentum and a special contributor, the Rev. Gary Keene. They provide capsule summations of Best Picture nominees, with a focus on faith and inspiration angles.
 
An orphanage in Nigeria provides desperately needy children three square meals to day, safe shelter and educational opportunities, thanks to UMC support. UMNS reports.
 
In commentaries, the Rev. Andrew Thompson writes that there must be a place for suffering in the Christian life, however much American culture argues for ease. L. Gregory Jones and Benjamin McNutt collaborate on an essay about the important witness of Christian institutions.
 
Ben Boruff, a young leader of the UMC, offers a satiric commentary on the denomination’s efforts, or lack of same, to attract people his age. The Rev. Woodie White devotes his “Reflections” column to Lent as an occasion for confessing the evil that lurks without and within.
 
There’s plenty more in this issue, including C. Michael Hawn’s History of Hymns column, this week on “Jesus Loves Me.” He notes that its origins are in an 1860 novel.
 
We welcome story tips, comments and brief, civil letters to the editor. Send to news@umr.org.
 
And thanks, as always, for keeping the faith with us.
 
Sam Hodges, managing editor

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Comments

[Jim]

I am positive, as Ms. Miles infers, that Mrs. Niebuhr is responsible for the lion's share of the published articles by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr--perhaps even every jot and tittle.

[Mark]

Why would Niebuhr credit his wife on some of his works and not others? If he was an egotistical misogynist then he probably would not have credited her on any.

And what the heck does this mean: “Perhaps that’s because Niebuhr scholars are mostly male, and feminist scholars are mostly critical."??

Maybe Mrs. Neibuhr was a bigger influence than commonly appreciated, we don't really know, but I'd be skeptical of evidence propounded by Christian Century since it has become so blatantly ideological.