United Methodist Men's ministry gets a new home

The Commission on United Methodist Men will occupy the former Nashville, Tenn., office of the church's finance agency in mid-February. Photo courtesy of the Commission on United Methodist Men

Jan. 26, 2006
By Rich Peck*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The United Methodist agency responsible for men's ministries will soon have a home of its own for the first time since its creation in 1996.

The Commission on United Methodist Men will move to Music Row, an area populated by the country music industry. Until now, the nine-member staff has occupied crowded rooms in the Kern Building, a structure owned by the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. The building also houses offices of the discipleship agency and the Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

The commission bought a building formerly owned by the Nashville office of the General Council on Finance and Administration. The 4,200-foot structure became available when the finance agency moved to a larger space nearby, where it consolidated its Nashville operations and its main office from Evanston, Ill.

The men's commission received permission to buy the $750,000 building from its 24-member board of directors, GCFA, and the denomination's Connectional Table.

Following the purchase, the commission renovated the bathrooms to make them handicapped accessible and established a large conference room with a movable divider so commission meetings can be held in the one-story building.

The agency also changed the entry door, bought new carpets and made other repairs totaling about $100,000. The agency borrowed $600,000 from the United Methodist Men Foundation, an endowment fund that receives funds for scouting and men's ministries from United Methodist groups and individuals. The balance was paid by commission reserve funds.

The commission expects to move into the building in mid-February.

The agency is also in the process of selecting a new top staff executive. The Rev. Joseph Harris, general secretary since the birth of the agency, resigned last June to become the assistant to the bishop of the Oklahoma Area and director of communications for the Oklahoma Annual (regional) Conference. A search committee, led by Bishop James King of the Louisville (Ky.) Area, expects to nominate a new top executive in the next few months. Bishop William W. Morris, retired, is serving as interim general secretary.

*Peck is communications coordinator for the churchwide Commission on United Methodist Men.

Learn How to Empower Laity at Frazer Conference, March 3-5

Have you ever wondered how a United Methodist Church could get more than 90 percent of its laity involved in ministry? How it could pledge a $10 million budget? How one church could reach more than 300 persons on profession of faith every year?

You can learn the answers to these questions and more at the Every Member in Ministry Conference presented by Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, 6000 Atlanta Highway, in Montgomery, AL, March 3-5.

The event, which is held twice each year, is designed to help church leaders learn how to empower their members to discover their spiritual gifts, equip them to use their gifts in specific ministries, and turn them loose to do ministry. More than 60 workshops are taught by Frazer staff and volunteers who are actively involved in ministries, from children’s worship and computers to urban ministry and marriage preparation.

The seminar begins Friday night at 5 p.m. with registration and supper, followed by an opening session with Frazer’s Senior Minister, Dr. John Ed Mathison. Workshops on Saturday will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with breaks for lunch and supper. A special Praise and Worship Service will be held on Saturday at 7 p.m. A question and answer session with lay leadership kicks off Sunday’s activities, followed by regular Sunday worship services.

Cost for an individual is $195, or $160 per person for groups of ten or more.

Frazer Memorial has more than 8,400 members. In 2005, it took in 666 new members, with 319 of those on profession of faith. The church’s budget for 2006 exceeds $10 million.

A downloadable brochure and registration form is available on Frazer’s website at www.frazerumc.org, or you may call Jane Bridges at 334-272-8622.