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Dear RENEW Network Friend,
Early spring greetings to you! The psalmist captured
God’s sovereignty over the seasons in Psalm 147: 15-18. Verse 18 pictures
spring following winter with the words, “He sends out His word and melts
them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.” Whether your
March is “in like a lion and out like a lamb” or vice versa, may you sense
the power of God blowing through your life this month.
In this March letter I want to share with you an
assessment of the February 2005 issue of Response magazine that
focused on the mission and ministry of United Methodist Women under the
leadership of the Women’s Division. The cover story was entitled “United
Methodist Women 101.”
United Methodist Women have an incredibly rich
history and a marvelous mission story to tell. And, this issue of
Response tells some of that story. However, there was much that was
missing—and some things that were showcased in misleading ways. My letter
might be titled “United Methodist Women Advanced Seminar: Discernment and
the Women’s Division.”
Here are a few highlights we don’t want to miss in
this “course.”
The February Response cover shows a pleasant
looking woman reading The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey.
The only problem is that this book is only offered in Spanish in
the 2005 Reading Program, and no Yancey book has been offered since 2002
when Disappointment With God was offered only in large
print. You will, however, find numerous controversial books on this
year’s reading program list, including Bishop Joseph Sprague’s heretical
book, Affirmations of a Dissenter, under Spiritual Growth, and
Fidel Castro’s, War, Racism and Economic Injustice: The Global Ravages
of Capitalism, under Social Action. Is Castro the person we want
assessing our Free Market system for United Methodist Women? (Use the
enclosed card to send for RENEW’s analysis of the 2005 Reading Program.)
The “From the Editor” column used outdated figures in
the statement, “Close to 1 million members of United Methodist Women raise
$20 million to meet the needs of and work for the rights of women,
children and youth everywhere.” The 2003 membership figure for United
Methodist Women, as reported by the General Council on Finance and
Administration, was 765,724, considerably less than one million members.
And, the annual Pledge to Mission, according to the 2003 Women’s Division
Financial Disclosure was a little over 18 million. Integrity in
reporting is important.
One could not help but be disappointed with Dr. Jan
Love’s “Responsively Yours” column that extolled the potential
nurturing—or kick—of “religion,” with mention of Christians, a Hindu
mystic, the Dalai Lama and an Islamic Nobel Peace Prize winner. Setting
these four major world religions within a parable of a cow, as Dr. Love
did, makes one think of religious syncretism. (The cow eats grass and
takes in water and air from the world around it, and then produces milk
which comes from one of its four udders: Judeo/Christian, Islam, Hinduism,
Buddhism.) Is Jesus indeed “Lord of all and the Savior of the world,” as
affirmed by General Conference?
Glory Dharmaraj, executive secretary for justice
education for the Women’s Division, writes an overall good Bible study in
her piece, “Mission-Bearing Women.” On page nine, however, several
statements smack of Liberation Theology as Ms. Dharmaraj speaks of “the
crucified peoples of the world,” and our need to “identify with the
struggles of the human community” in its various aspects of suffering.
She calls upon us as Gospel women to “spend ourselves for the
transformation of the world.” One must ask, where is mention of the
transformation that only Jesus Christ can give to the peoples of the
world?
Although the Women’s Division strongly opposes the
War in Iraq and has gone on record as opposing the War on Terrorism since
October 2001, a prominent picture of an American woman soldier home from
Iraq, embracing her daughter, is featured on page eight. Even though one
can support the soldier while opposing the war, this appears to be the use
of a visual to soothe over a very biased position held by the Women’s
Division.
The Women’s Division’s participation in the
controversial pro-choice rally “March for Women’s Lives” is showcased in
two pictures in this issue of Response, pages 28 and 41. The
Women’s Division was a co-sponsor of this march, making a $5,000
contribution. They found themselves in company with such groups as The
Feminist Majority, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Organization for
Women, National Abortion Federation and Planned Parenthood. On the “March
for Women’s Lives” web site, NOW’s president wrote under “Why We March”
that one of the chief aims of the march was to bring about the repeal of
the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.
Two other pictures feature women participating in the
“Count Every Vote” campaign, pages 22 and 29. “Count Every Vote” claimed
to represent a non-partisan effort to monitor polls in the southeastern
United States where, it was claimed, racial disparities in the electoral
process have long been a problem. A visit to the Count Every Vote web
site showed anything but a non-partisan perspective. (For more
information on these two Women’s Division sponsored activities, request
the 2004 Fall Report of the Women’s Division Board of Director’s
meeting.)
Throughout the magazine the program resources
provided by the Women’s Division were lauded. Sadly, our review of
mission studies, program books and other resources has shown political and
social bias, one-sided reporting and liberal theological perspectives—like
the Fidel Castro and Joseph Sprague books. We find this very unfortunate
because the Women’s Division is in the place of great influence over the
organization of United Methodist Women, and could do good beyond measure
if its programs and policies reflected an orthodox, biblical worldview.
At the local level, United Methodist Women have warm
hearts and ministering hands, doing much good. Yet, many UMW resources
and articles in Response reflect a Women’s Division agenda that is
far, far removed, if not totally out of touch with, women in thousands of
local UMW units.
At this stage, it is time to move beyond United
Methodist Women 101, and even beyond a United Methodist Women Advanced
Seminar on discernment, to United Methodist Women Graduate Studies so that
our ministry locally, nationally and internationally is Christ-honoring,
Spirit-filled and Kingdom-building. We alone can make it so.
Thank you for your support of the RENEW Network that
enables us to work in your behalf, and allows us to work with you for
renewal and accountability. Your continuous prayers and regular
contributions make this possible.
May God’s blessings continue to blow upon you.
Sincerely in Christ,
L. Faye Short
President
P.S. Your gift during this spring season will enable
us to build reserves against the slower summer season so that we will not
lose momentum and will be able to move forward with several initiatives I
will be sharing more about next month. Please give as you are able and as
the Lord prompts.
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