One hundred years of Methodist men's ministry

By J. Richard Peck*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Men's ministry dates back in some form to the early days of Methodism, when John Wesley and Charles Wesley established the first holy clubs in the 1720s.

The first Methodist Brotherhoods were created in 1908, a milestone that will be celebrated in 2008 as the United Methodist Men's organization celebrates its first centennial. Here are some highlights from the past 100 years:

Early years
1908 Meeting in Baltimore, the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church authorizes Methodist Brotherhoods.
1909 The Otterbein Brotherhood of the Church is organized in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
1924 The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church authorizes Wesley Brotherhoods.
1931 The Albright Brotherhood of the Evangelical Church organizes.
1939 Three branches of Methodism are merged into The Methodist Church.
1940 The General Conference establishes a General Board of Lay Activities with a Department of Methodist Men.
1942 The name Methodist Men is adopted, and the first charters are issued.
1946 Brotherhood of the Evangelical United Brethren Church holds its first convention during the uniting conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and The Evangelical Church.
1952 Methodist Men Radio Hour originates with 38 stations, growing to more than 400 by 1958.
1953 Approximately 4,000 people attend the First Methodist Men's Conference at Purdue University.
1954 Name of men's work program of the Evangelical United Brethren Church is changed from Brotherhood to Evangelical United Brethren Men.

United Methodist era
1968 Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren Church unify into the United Methodist Church. Men's ministry is combined into United Methodist Men.
1975 The National Association of Conference Presidents is formed.
1976 General Conference adopts legislation of United Methodist Men as a section in the Division of Lay Life and Work of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship in Nashville.
1981 The United Methodist Men's Foundation is chartered.
1987 The men's section of the Board of Discipleship is raised to division status.
1988 General Conference requires each local church and charge to have an organized unit of United Methodist Men recertified annually.
1992 The first National Conference on Black Men in Crisis is held at the board.
1996 General Conference creates the Commission on United Methodist Men.
1998 The commission publishes a new quarterly magazine, UM Men: Uniting Men and Meaning and conducts the first Black Methodist Men's Conference at the Atlanta Convention Center.
1999 With support from the commission, the Society of St. Andrew announces the first national (U.S.) hunger relief advocate.
2001 A California Eagle Scout seeks commission help to republish the World War II devotional book Strength for Service to God and Country. Cal Turner, chief executive of Dollar General, makes a $1 million gift to the UM Men Foundation, its largest gift ever.
2002 The commission publishes T-Quest, a small-group resource for men, and 10,000 Strength for Service books are shipped to soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
2005 The Rev. Joseph Harris resigns as top staff executive to become assistant to the bishop of the Oklahoma Area. Bishop William Morris becomes interim top executive. The commission signs a covenant with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. The United Methodist Church becomes the second largest charter organization of the Boy Scouts of America, with 376,472 youth and 11,864 units meeting in 8,000 United Methodist churches; the scouting ministries are based at the commission.
2006 The commission moves into new offices on Nashville's Music Row. The Rev. David Adams is elected top staff executive of the commission.

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

United Methodist Men plan centennial celebration

By J. Richard Peck*

Rev. David Adams, top staff executive of Commission on United Methodist Men

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - United Methodist men across the United States are planning a yearlong celebration during 2008 in honor of the 100th anniversary of men's ministry in the church.

Men's ministry has been a part of the Methodist heritage since Charles and John Wesley established holy clubs in 1729 at Oxford University. The 1908 General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, meeting in Baltimore, authorized the creation of Methodist Brotherhoods, making men's ministry a part of the denominational structure.

Meeting in early March, annual conference presidents of the United Methodist Men's organization approved plans to focus on a different aspect of men's ministry each month. The 2008 celebrations will emphasize:

+January - Men's ministry with various ethnic groups.
+February - Scouting and youth-serving agencies. In 2006, there were 373,242 Boy Scouts meeting in more than 8,000 United Methodist churches.
+March - Women's contributions to men's ministries.
+April - United Methodist Men's relationships with other churchwide agencies.
+May - Publication and free distribution of the World War II book Strength for Service. The commission has printed 250,000 copies, and 230,000 have been delivered free to U.S. troops.
+June - John Wesley's birthday, the Holy Club and John Wesley Fellows.
+July - Mission projects, including hunger-relief efforts with the Society of St. Andrew. Through the society, volunteers glean food for America's hungry, and United Methodist Men provide financial support to the Meals for Millions program.
+August - Local units of United Methodist Men.
+September - The Upper Room Prayer Line. The prayer line received 382,795 calls in 2006, and United Methodist Men provides a $25,000 annual gift to the ministry, which is housed at the United Methodist Board of Discipleship.
+October - Expressing appreciation to pastors and bishops.
+November - Evangelism and spiritual life, including mentoring through Big Brothers/Big Sisters and giving Faith-Sharing New Testaments and Philmont Bibles.
+December - Looking to the next 100 years with men's ministry specialists with funding through Legacy Builders, a program that challenges men to step up in their financial support of United Methodist Men's missions and ministries.

The Rev. David Adams, top staff executive of the churchwide Commission on United Methodist Men, called on conference presidents to focus on image and promotion; structure or connection with others; and funding for the commission. The commission raises three-quarters of its own budget.

In other business at their March 1-4 meeting, the conference presidents:

+Planned for the 10th national gathering to be held in 2009 at Belmont University in Nashville and learned of plans for four 2007 regional gatherings of United Methodist Men in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Washington and North Carolina.
+Learned that men in the Southeastern Jurisdiction will induct former President Jimmy Carter into the John Wesley Society.
+Noted that nine annual conferences are participating in Amachi, a program linking United Methodist men with children of incarcerated parents.
+Received a preliminary report of a study of United Methodist Men.

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

Derek Maul Urges Men to Get Real

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 28, 2007 /GBOD/ --Award-winning writer, Derek Maul has written his first book, GET REAL: A Spiritual Journey for Men, to be published by Upper Room Books in May 2007.

Maul writes a weekly op-ed column for local editions of the Tampa Tribune. His column is read weekly by 300,000 people.

Maul’s commentary and features have appeared in Newsweek, USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor, Presbyterians Today, Guideposts, and many other print and online publications.

“For men even vaguely interested in a deeper spiritual walk, GET REAL is the right book at the right time, says Mark Merrill, founder and president of Family First and host of “Family Minute with Mark Merrill,” a daily radio program.

“Derek Maul has a heart for real men dealing with the real issues of real life. If you are looking for a great resource that will encourage men and strengthen the family, GET Real is right on the money,” said Merrill.

Maul’s meditations regularly appear in These Days, and he has contributed to The Upper Room, The Book of Daily Prayer and Chicken Soup for the Soul, as well as several other inspirational publications.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Derek worked as a public school teacher in Florida for eighteen years. His teaching career includes cutting-edge work with autistic children.

Maul holds bachelor's degrees in psychology and education from Stetson University and the University of West Florida.

Derek is an active teacher in his local church, where he serves in adult Sunday school, small-group ministry, and a men's Bible study/spiritual formation group.

He enjoys the outdoors, traveling, photography, reading, cooking, playing guitar, and golf.

Derek is married to Rebekah, a Presbyterian pastor. They have two children, Andrew and Naomi.

Get Real: A Spiritual Journey for Men by Derek Maul ($14.00, 139 pp.) will be published by Upper Room Books in May 2007. For additional information about the book, please contact Jill Ridenour, Author Relations, 1-877-899-2780, ext. 2780 or jridenour@gbod.org.

Get Real: A Spiritual Journey for Men
By Derek Maul
Upper Room Books softcover; $14.00 U.S./Canada
May 2007; ISBN: 978-0-8358-9911-6
Visit Upper Room Books Online at www.UpperRoom.org/bookstore

Get Real: A Spiritual Journey for Men Leader's Guide

By Derek Maul
PaperbackUpper Room Books softcover; $8.00 U.S./Canada
Ten or More: $6.80 each56 Pages . Trim Size: 6" x 9"May 2007; ISBN# 978-0-8358-9924-6