HOUSTON, Texas – The head of the nation's Children's Defense Fund (CDF) called on leaders of United Methodist-supported mission institutions to help forge partnerships with the CDF and other advocacy organizations on behalf of young people.

"We need to make connections. We need your witness and your advice," said Marian Wright Edelman, speaking at the Institutional Ministries Quadrennial Conference here, Nov. 12.

The CDF founder and CEO keynoted the four-day gathering of over 400 executive directors, board presidents, and United Methodist Women's representatives from 100 church- related mission institutions located in the United States, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Those institutions including community centers, schools and colleges, women's residences, and children's residential treatment centers--are supported by the denomination through the General Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist Women, in addition to local churches and annual conferences.

Edelman spoke of several crucial issues affecting children around which the institutions should rally as allies along with her organization and supportive congregations. Such issues include healthcare, poverty, violence, and child abuse and neglect. She lifted up mission institutions and churches as safe places where children can find caring, committed adults as role models. "When children see your service, then they too will give their lives to service," she explained. "Children look to us for clues on how they are to look at themselves."

"Her words are both a challenge and an inspiration to us," responded Jairee Counterman, executive director of the United Methodist Neighborhood Center in Harrisburg, Pa. The center houses about two dozen developmental programs for children and youth, including a chess club, a teen-mothers support group, cultural arts activities, and a community health clinic. "We need to be in partnership with other organizations; but that is not always an easy task. It's encouraging to hear this call from a national leader in child advocacy."

In addition to Edelman, attendants heard motivational speeches from Bishop J. Woodrow Hearn of the Houston Area and three General Board of Global Ministries leaders: the Rev. Randolph Nugent, general secretary; the Rev. Robert Harman, deputy general secretary; and Sara Shingler, president of both the Women's Division and United Methodist Women. Each commended the institutions for their various programs to serve, nurture and empower women, children and families in need; and each challenged them to confront emerging social problems and opportunities through creative, cutting-edge measures.

Conference participants also attended Bible study and 21 workshops and forums on diverse topics in social services, community development, multicultural relations, and institutional administration. Moreover, they exchanged information and insights on various concerns and strategies related to their work. And they dialogued about the Special Partners Action Network, or SPAN, a new initiative of the general board to help institutions form a stronger, mutually supportive network by sharing resources and expertise. (The board recently affirmed the SPAN initiative but postponed until 2001 its reallocation of annual appropriation dollars from stronger institutions to bolster weaker ones.)

Finally, participants witnessed tributes to eight recently retired executive directors, and celebrated the life of Joseph Winston, who directed the Northcott Neighborhood House in Milwaukee, Wis., for 25 years before his death in 1999.

In her remarks, CDF head Edelman urged institution leaders to document the effects of welfare reform laws on their constituencies and to join in a coalition to secure healthcare for every child in America. "God didn't mean for us to give healthcare to only half of our children," she said, citing such disturbing statistics as the 13.5 million U.S. children living in poverty despite a $816 trillion economy.

Although states have seen a 60 percent drop in their welfare rolls, Edelman explained, the jobs that many former recipients find do not lift them out of poverty, an outcome made only worse by the lack of affordable, quality childcare and healthcare.

David Morris, executive director of the Friendly Center in Toledo, Ohio, agreed that United Methodist-supported institutions have already seen the fallout from the new laws. "And I don't think we've seen the worst of it, yet," he noted. "The end of the five-year period is coming, when those currently on welfare will see their entitlements end. I don't think the reality has sunk in yet for many. What happens to the other 40 percent when their time is up?"

Speaking on violence and abuse, Edelman reported that U.S. children are 12 times more likely to die from gunfire than children in 25 other industrialized nations combined. She urged the institutions to continue their programs of nonviolent conflict resolution and to educate families about the dangers inherent in the constant diet of violence fed to children through television and video games.

"Congregations need to provide children with good spiritual and moral instructors," she explained. "Take the extra time. Give the extra effort. Celebrate the strengths of children. Find the sacred God-spark in every child. Remember, this is God's child, and you may be her only lifeline."

Click HERE to see additional Quadrennial Conference photos.

Christie House is associate editor of New World Outlook, the General Board of Global Ministries mission magazine. John Coleman is a free-lance writer and marketing communications consultant for the agency.