Quick hits: The Bishop's Seat Cover project, a chance to volunteer in Tampa and more doors open for social justice work

• By RJ Walters, Editor •

Bishop’s Seat Cover project duplicates 2010 success
The Bishop’s Seat Cover project collected over 6,000 pairs of underwear in its annual collection of “seat covers”, including everything from diapers to adult-sized undergarments.
Almost 90 churches plus Detroit Annual Conference attendees contributed undergarments that were distributed to more than 30 non-profit and ministry organizations, according to a press release from the Dixboro United Methodist Church.
The initiative is the brainchild of Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton and people can donate to its cause throughout the year by contacting the Rev. Cathy Freeman at 734-665-5632 or cathyfreeman27@yahoo.com.
Chief officers of Grace Centers of Hope — a non-profit in Pontiac that supports men, women and children but asserts it does not receive government funding — wrote Keaton a letter offering sincere thanks, informing him that the project makes a major difference in the center’s work.

Volunteer marshals and pages needed for General Conference
Volunteers can now apply online to serve as marshals or pages during The United Methodist Church’s 2012 General Conference. The denomination’s top legislative assembly will meet in Tampa, Fla. April 24-May 4, 2012.
Approximately 150 volunteers are needed during General Conference. Marshals and pages are responsible for their own travel and expenses.
Marshals serve in the visitor and reserved seating galleries, assist visitors and special guests and check credentials for proper authorization.
Pages assist delegates, secretarial staff, Bishops, members of the Judicial Council and official visitors. They distribute approved materials and deliver printed information.
Those interested should submit an online application at http://www.umcevents.org/gc2012marshalpage/. Deadline for applications is Aug. 31, 2011. Applicants will be notified of their status by Nov. 30.

Justice for Our Neighbors opens third Michigan clinic
Justice for Our Neighbors of Southeast Michigan (JFON-SEMI), a nonprofit legal immigration services provider, is expanding to meet the growing needs of immigrants in the state.
The opening of its third monthly clinic at the First United Methodist Church in Ypsilanti brings JFON-SEMI to full functionality in the region with additional locations at its flagship clinic in Dearborn and a recently opened location in Pontiac.
Speaking for JFON-SEMI at the Ypsilanti opening, the Rev. Paul Perez, regional
coordinator for JFON-SEMI said, “While there are many dedicated organizations in Southeast Michigan, the need for immigration legal services is still great. We are glad to be able to help address that need.”
Justice for Our Neighbors is a national organization, established by the United Methodist Committee On Relief. It provides free, high-quality legal immigration services, education and advocacy to those in need, regardless of religion or ethnicity. JFON clinics nationwide address cases such as residence status, asylum and naturalization, and provide services ranging from consultations and filing documents to immigration court appearances.
Find out how to help and learn more about Justice for Our Neighbors of Southeast Michigan and United States immigration by visiting www.jfonsemi.org or calling 703-727-9106.

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A look at elected delegates for the 2012 General Conference from the West Michigan Conference

• By RJ Walters, Editor •

At the 2011 Detroit Annual Conference and West Michigan Annual Conference delegates were elected for the 2012 General Conference and 2012 Jurisdictional Conference.

The 2012 General Conference will take place in Tampa, Fl. from April 24 to May 4 and the North Central Jurisdictional Conference will run from July 17-21 in Akron, Ohio.

The conference will work to set policy and direction for the church, as well as handle other business of the global and national church. General Conference is the only entity that speaks for The United Methodist Church.

West Michigan Conference General Conference Clergy Delegates
Rev. Laurie Haller
Age: 56 Church: Grand Rapids District Superintendent
# of times elected: General Conference — 4
The Grand Rapids District Superintendent said the United Methodist Church is at a crossroads where “God is calling our denomination to be a world leader in spreading scriptural holiness, creating a truly global church, and becoming a catalyst for shalom for people of every nation and religious faith as well as the created world.” She said she believes General Conference will include passionate debate about: strategies to revitalize declining congregations, a clarification of the relationship of the UMC in Africa, the Philippines and other countries, a hard look at guaranteed ministerial appointments, the possible reduction of certain boards and conversations about social principles regarding human sexuality.

Rev. Benton Heisler
Age: 54 Church: Cornerstone United Methodist Church (Caledonia)
# of times elected: General Conference - 4
The West Michigan Conference Director of Connectional Ministries said his time spent in large cities, small towns, a university town and in a Native American congregation will help him represent the diverse nature of the West Michigan Conference. Heisler said it is critical for the conferences to address the best ministry foci and leadership structures for moving forward globally in a way that makes local congregations the “most significant area for making disciples.”

Rev. Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai
Age: 52 Church: Milwood United Methodist Church
# of times elected: General Conference - 1
Bigham-Tsai has years of experience related to justice, peace, racial reconciliation and issues of equity from her service on the conference Board of Church and Society and from her time as the director of the Grand Rapids District Peace with Justice Community.
At conference she expects critical debates on sensitive issues including human sexuality, immigration and racial justice, as they pertain to the inclusiveness of the United Methodist Church. “I would hope that we would not pit evangelism and social justice against one another, but would see both as part of the social and personal holiness to which all disciples of Jesus Christ are called,” she said. She said it is also important to grapple with how to live out the church’s mission statement in a time of diminishing resources.

West Michigan Conference General Conference lay delegates

Nichea VerVeer Guy
Age: 56 Home church: Grand Rapids Trinity United Methodist Church
# of times elected: General Conference – 1; Jurisdictional Conference - multiple
VerVeer Guy has long been involved in community ministry programs in Grand Rapids and currently she serves with United Methodist Women and the General Board of Global Ministries. She said that regardless of what issues are discussed she hopes the overpowering theme of conference will be creating an understanding that all are worthy of God’s grace. She believes integrating that love into the structures of the church is essential to being better servants.

Laurie Dahlman
Age: 72 Church: Milwood United Methodist Church
# of times elected: General Conference – 4; Jurisdictional Conference -5
The West Michigan Conference lay leader wants her passion for missionaries to shine through at conference. “In the past few years our church has decreased the number of missionaries and this defeats our purpose,” she said. “We should be about sharing God's Word and growing our churches, not closing them.” Dahlman believes a vital issue is figuring out how the North Central Jurisdictional Conference will be reduced by one bishop, as mandated by General Conference.

Valerie Mossman-Celestin
Age: Unavailable Church: Trinity United Methodist Church (Grand Rapids)
# of times elected: Unavailable
The executive assistant and office manager for the West Michigan Conference is very involved in ministry in Haiti as the co-founder of Haitian Artisans for Peace International (HAPI). She believes that “all means all” inclusiveness in the denomination is an important discussion to have because it is a key issue in attracting and retaining young people. Mossman said that her stance is that being exclusionary in any way harms people and creates obstacles for creating disciples of Jesus Christ. “Wesley’s criteria for evaluating issues boiled down to 3 simple rules,” she said. “Do no harm, do all the good you can, stay in love with God.”

Also:
A glance at the Detroit Conference delegates elected for the 2012 General Conference

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A look at elected delegates for the 2012 General Conference from the Detroit Conference

• By RJ Walters, Editor •

At the 2011 Detroit Annual Conference and West Michigan Annual Conference delegates were elected for the 2012 General Conference and 2012 Jurisdictional Conference.

The 2012 General Conference will take place in Tampa, Fl. from April 24 to May 4 and the North Central Jurisdictional Conference will run from July 17-21 in Akron, Ohio.

The conference will work to set policy and direction for the church, as well as handle other business of the global and national church. General Conference is the only entity that speaks for The United Methodist Church.

Detroit Conference General Conference clergy delegates
Rev. Melanie Carey
Age: 46 Church: Detroit Renaissance District Superintendent
# of times elected: General Conference - 1
The district superintendent for the newly formed Detroit Renaissance District is a major player in Hispanic/Latino Ministries at a national level and she believes strongly in the connectional heritage of the church and inclusion for all people. She said a restructuring of the denomination is inevitable but as changes are rolled out she hopes the UMC doesn’t “throw the baby out with the bathwater” and forget its roots completely. Carey said discussions at conference should focus on how local churches can utilize vibrant missions and ministry to get new people plugged into communities.

Rev. Joy Barrett
Age: 52 Church: Chelsea First United Methodist Church
# of times elected: General Conference – 6
Making her conference-record sixth trip to General Conference Barret continues to have a heart for all people and she desires for ministry to be a means toward helping people deepen their relationships with God. She said General Conference should help determine how transformation and abounding grace can be spread by the UMC without being institutionalized, falling prey to long-held structural conventions that no longer are plentiful. She also hopes to be part of discussions that center around strengthening the Midwest, as the North Central Jurisdictional Conference prepares to merge an Episcopal area and lose one bishop.

Rev. Ed Rowe
Age: Over 65 Church: Central United Methodist Church (Detroit)
# of times elected: Not available
Rowe is a tireless advocate for the poor, marginalized, the GLBT community and working class citizens. He has served on a plethora of boards and committees in the Detroit Conference and he has long focused on inclusiveness and bringing peace to socially volatile issues.

Rev. Charles Boyaue Jr.
Age: 40-55 Church: Second Grace United Methodist Church (Detroit)
# of times elected: Not available
The Liberian native has a unique global perspective of the church and is the founding scribe of the Detroit/Liberia Conference Partnership Agreements. He also helped build a health clinic in Detroit that serves more than 4,000 people annually. Boyaue is passionate about urban ministry and connecting with other local churches to increase the impact of ministries in the city.

Detroit Conference General Conference lay delegates

Jacqueline Euper
Age: 63 Church: Owosso First United Methodist Church
# of times elected: General Conference – 5; Jurisdictional Conference - 6
The former Project Director for the Flint District currently serves on the Michigan Area and North Central Jurisdictional Committees on Episcopacy. Euper believes the number one issue that will be tackled at the conference is church growth, “as the denomination figures out how to turn this ship around.” She said downsizing some boards and agencies at the global level may be necessary to operate more efficiently as the church attempts to follow through with its mission.

Ang Hart
Age: 26 Church: Scott Memorial United Methodist Church
# of times elected: General Conference – 2; Jurisdictional Conference - 3
The Detroit Conference Director of Youth and Young Adults said she feels she has a pulse on what is happening with the up-and-coming generation of churchgoers in the UMC and she hopes to bring to light their unique viewpoints and inspirations. She said she is less concerned with the specific petitions that will come before her at conference and more interested in the gathering brining people to a deeper understanding of their purpose in the church and their walk with Christ.

Paul Thomas
Age: 35 Church: Bay City First United Methodist Church
# of times elected: General Conference – 1; Jurisdictional Conference - 1
The Detroit Conference Director of Communications believes his shrewd knowledge of the Book of Discipline and organizational makeup of the general church will help him make an impact at conference. Thomas said the potential restructuring of the UMC in response to the Call to Action Report set forth in 2010 is the greatest issue to be dealt with in Tampa in his opinion.

Wayne Bank
Age: 66 Church: Lexington United Methodist Church
# of times elected: General Conference – 2; Jurisdictional Conference - 2
Bank’s wide-ranging experience includes serving in five different local churches in three districts and involvement with the General Board of Global Ministries and General Board of Church and Society. He said the recurring debates about crucial social issues and the structure of the global church need to be dealt with in a Christ-like manner that addresses all opinions and voices.




Also:
A glance at the West Michigan Conference delegates elected for the 2012 General Conference

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