January 26, 1997 --Conference Schools of Christian Mission will undergo a change in studies for the summer of 1999.
The annual mission-education events are meant to provide spiritual growth and help expand concepts of the world and United Methodist mission outreach for United Methodist Women members, laity, clergy, youth, and children. The Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church, provides resources, training, and curriculum for the Conference Schools of Christian Mission.
This week in a letter to deans and assistant deans of schools of mission, Mary Grace Lyman, executive secretary for schools and mission studies of the Women’s Division, stated that a team from the Board now will develop resources for the schools because of recent changes in Friendship Press, Inc.
For decades, an ecumenical committee of persons from two dozen denominations committed to mission education created the geographical study and the general issue study for the schools. Friendship Press, Inc., published the studies, which the Women’s Division approved annually for use in the conference schools of Christian mission. This year, due to reduced income from sales and denominational contributions, the ecumenical committee decided they could no longer fund the production of mission studies.
Therefore, the Women’s Division, advocated for the development of United Methodist resources for the 1999 Schools of Christian Mission. In response, the General Board of Global Ministries created a team made up of members of various units to develop resources and make changes in the 1999 curriculum.
Ms. Lyman, also a team participant, says that the Women’s Division will continue to develop the Spiritual Growth Study, "The Bible Part II: Authority and Interpretation." However, the team now will produce two new studies. "Mission in the Twenty-First Century" will replace the Cuba study in 1999. While maintaining a geographical focus, it will explore current and emerging mission concepts. The new general issue study, "Humanity Comes of Age" will look at the contributions and challenges of a population living longer into maturity.
"The General Board of Global Ministries staff will continue to participate in the ecumenical Committee on Education for Mission as it looks toward new ways of enabling mission education among the denominations," says Ms. Lyman.
She continues that the resources for 1998 are far along in the development process and will be ready for this summer’s conference schools of mission, so they are not affected by this change. The newly developed team will continue to work on creating resources for schools of Christian mission in 2000 and beyond, she says.
The Women’s Division represents United Methodist Women, an organization of one million members. The organizations’ purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders, and advocate for social justice. Members raise more than $25 million dollars a year for programs and projects related to women, children, and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world.