September 2012 - OE - lists.wedgeblade.net

congratulations, George! congratulations to the O:E!
by W. J. 05 Sep '12

05 Sep '12

http://www.umcmission.org/Learn-About-Us/News-and-Stories/2012/August/Congr… George Howard, his entire family, and all his colleagues are to be congratulated on his new job! As one who toiled for years (& peanuts, BTW) in the back rooms at 475 Riverside Drive for what was then the Methodist Board of Missions, I am particularly proud to celebrate this occasion. For years Joe Mathews and company went hat in hand to the Methodist establishment to offer a new model of 'mission' -- and to invite their cooperation and financial support for our efforts to demonstrate this model globally. Without, of course, all the theological and institutional baggage that conservative Methodists tended to perpetuate through their "career missionaries." Bottom line is that although we created some amazing partnerships with churchmen of all denominational stripes, particularly at the local and regional level and especially in places like Asian nations where there was a strong institutional infrastructure of Methodist presence, the denominational hierarchy @ 475 tended to be institutionally rigid (reflecting the conservative mission theology in local churches that sent and supported their career missionaries). Their response was more like, "Yes, BUT . . ." "Yes, but where's your orthodox Christology and your evangelical preaching calling individuals to make decisions for Christ?" Et cetera. Fast forward a half century, more or less. Amazingly, almost all of those career missionaries are gone. As are most of the short term misisonaries in the program Lela Jahn was in. And, amazingly, this Board finally gets it that in order to create significant partnerships with Methodists and their institutions worldwide, it's necessary to give up the old (and resented) model of sending missionaries and money controlled from 475, invest in new, non-hierarchical, cooperative relationships with these Methodists (not to mention others outside the denominational fold), and pursue what they call "asset-based community development" (which means tapping and developing the potential resources that are already present, rather than pouring in vast quantities of outside funding). Sounds strangely familiar! Of course they were wise enough to hire George Howard! So to all of us who sweated blood for years in the global band of human development projects and the religious houses and local colleagues who made it all happen (despite an absence of institutional support in many cases), I offer my profound gratitude for all we did together to be part of 'the great turn.' Now we see more evidence that our years of practical research and demonstration have finally taken root and blossomed within the established church. Amazing. But what else could they do? The fundie missionaries are clueless and up the proverbial creek without a paddle. As one who is about to REALLY retire and just enjoy the amazing view from my front porch rocking chair (& I mean this LITERALLY!), I'm very happy to let go of any sense of having to pursue any unfinished business. Let the Order Archives team organize, preserve, and disseminate our corporate wisdom for the new world. And let Terry and company take care of the Kemper Building and preserve our footprint in Chicago to be of service in the new world. Amen. Marshall

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Re: [Oe List ...] P.T, James
by Del Morril 03 Sep '12

03 Sep '12

We only have their address: James, PT (Prabhaker) & Hemalatha - 3825 NE 155th Pl, #204, Lake Forest Pk. WA 98155-6718 (Daughter and son-in-law, Kavitha & Fleetwood Wilson, also live there) _____ From: oe-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of George Holcombe Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2012 7:18 AM To: Order Ecumenical Community; ICA LIST SERVE Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] P.T, James Anyone have info on P.T. James, address, ph. no., etc.? Thanks. George Holcombe 14900 Yellowleaf Tr. Austin, TX 78728 Mobile 512/252-2756 geowanda(a)earthlink.net Hope appeareth, but it is not your Hope-you do not have anything to do with it. It just appeareth. It comes as a stranger, as an alien-it just appeareth! You do not even know why you hope. How in the world could you hope when there is absolutely nothing to justify any hope? ~Joseph W. Mathews

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Re: [Oe List ...] P.T, James
by George Holcombe 02 Sep '12

02 Sep '12

Anyone have info on P.T. James, address, ph. no., etc.? Thanks. George Holcombe 14900 Yellowleaf Tr. Austin, TX 78728 Mobile 512/252-2756 geowanda(a)earthlink.net Hope appeareth, but it is not your Hope—you do not have anything to do with it. It just appeareth. It comes as a stranger, as an alien—it just appeareth! You do not even know why you hope. How in the world could you hope when there is absolutely nothing to justify any hope? ~Joseph W. Mathews

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update on Del's journey & the Morrill clan
by Del Morril 02 Sep '12

02 Sep '12

Dear family and friends, This will be redundant to some, and maybe some of it new to others. The delete button is handy. As some of you know, at the end of August I had major surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm doing this update because of a number of people who contacted me, indicating they had not known of this and wished for more information. Unfortunately, lumpectomy was not an option, due to an MRI having discovered 2 different types of cancer in the right breast, one quite virulent. I found out that my left breast also had cells that were malformed. So between the doctor, my family and me, the decision was to go for double mastectomy. Despite the difficulties, doctor and family and I all agreed the decision has been the best, in light of the aggressiveness of at least one of the cancers and the high risk regarding the other breast. My daughters and friends have had fun with listing the various reasons that flat-chested is beneficial - can't trip on your boobs or get them caught in your belt the older you get, no more bras (which I hate anyway), no more being flattened like pancakes in mammograms, etc. I'm sure others can add to this list. There were considerations of games that could be played at a special party, including how many words you can think of for "breasts. The humor of it all was really beneficial in getting me through the first stages of waiting for appts, tests, biopsies, and other dates, the surgery, follow-ups with doctors, and other aftermath. I'm doing better each day, though still uncomfortable under the arms. That will soon subside I'm told. Weird thing is always seeing my stomach! As I recover, some days are difficult for me, but mostly I'm coming along pretty well, especially after I got rid of the drains and we got the news that I don't have to have CHEMO!!! It helps to be reminded by friends that it takes several months to fully recover, and my daughters who remind me that I haven't anything that can't be fixed. This includes doing some further work to deal with what is fondly called "dog ears", but I choose to call "elephant ears", under my arms - a kind of residue from the surgery. It also involves, as soon as is possible, re-doing my left knee with a total replacement (due to a fall causing broken bone in the right foot and torn ligament in the left knee), and something related to my spine which has some anomaly (also from a fall). So who knows what these next months will hold? Right now, I'm learning to deal with a different body, a different way of walking (flitting is now out of the question), different shoes (no more heel-less shoes , and my daughters and Justin are adamant that I do not go downstairs anymore. Also, I'm learning to rest and not worry about what isn't done. I spend some time at the computer, but try to keep the sitting time down, breaking with rests. I'm not taking clients yet, and probably won't for awhile. I still don't feel much like getting out a lot or sitting for long periods at baseball games or concerts. That will come, in time. I do get out on occasion - Justin takes me to a restaurant now and then and has packed picnic dinners to take to the park on our warmer evenings. Other info on the family: Justin is near the end of raising 26 million (5 million away) for a new health clinic that will serve the uninsured, minimally insured and insured. This is the third one, thus far, that he has been responsible for since joining Community Health Care. We like their medical services so much that we have left Group Health and taken doctors at these clinics. It is through these changes that both Justin and I have gotten new leases on our health - Justin with the discovery of the reason for the pain he was getting in his gut, and the discovery of my cancer. This particular clinic will also house in-house training for doctors and nurse practitioners. He is taking a sabbatical from his many years on the board of the Northwest Sinfonietta, until we get past a few things in our lives. Some of the other things on the family have been sent out in pieces - Eileen and George are moving to New York. Starting October 1, George begins his new job as the Deputy Secretary for Mission and Evangelism for the United Methodist Church's General Board of Global Ministries. : http://www.umcmission.org/Learn-About-Us/News-and-Stories/2012/August/Congre gation-and-Community-Developer-Nominated-to-Lead--United-Methodist-Mission-a nd-Evangelism-Efforts . Eileen, who had been so worried about being a little fish in a big pond regarding her work in the theatre and jazz, already has been given a role in a musical in NYC. Their eldest, Kathryn, and her family will spend at least 2 years in Uganda, where Kathryn is responsible for a cadre of lawyers whose concern is to enable widows and other women to receive their rights in a country where they are often taken away when no man heads the household. Jennifer, their youngest, continues to enjoy her first year as a local pastor. Anita continues as principal of a grade school and Sam continues to teach in the Highschool where he has spent most of his teaching years. Both of their girls, Courtney and Emily, are in college - Courtney has another semester (I believe) at the U of Wash and a part-time job at the reception desk in a hotel. Emily will enter her 2nd year at Univ. of Portland. We are most grateful to have them live only 4 blocks away. Gen is in her third (I think) year as CEO of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and her husband Mike is working on some special projects as a professional chef. So here we are in a nutshell, still going strong. We're very proud of our various family members; and they have been real god-sends in ways we never had expected! Again, I have appreciated so much your kind good wishes, visits, calls and cards, etc. which have been encouraging and uplifting, including those that allow me to keep my humor intact. With much affection, Del (and Justin, too)

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