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Updated Tuesday, September 19, 2000 2:06 PM

Click here for the Sept. 15 edition in PDF format

Here's 200 years of history

Worshipers enter Gridley UMC on Aug. 20, a week before their pastor suddenly quit the UMC. Gridley has roots in the 200 year old United Brethren Church. The building seen here was built in 1950 to replace a 19th century castle-like structure a couple of blocks away, which was sold to a Lutheran congeregation that still uses it. UM Review photo/Ted Langdell

Here are the stories you'll find in the September 15, 2000 print edition Celebrating 200 years of United Brethren roots New Bishop surviving whirlwind 'Our daily bread..." Commentary on the Lord's Prayer from Jubilee 2000 Complaints against Bishop Talbert dismissed Conference takes Fresno-St. Luke's to court Two more pastors leave UMC NewsBreaks Letters to the Editor

National celebration of United Brethren roots is this month

Beverly Shamana is "excited to be here", and listening to all

In her first days in office, Bishop Beverly Shamana has been getting acquainted with the people, possibilities and problems in the California-Nevada Annual Conference.

Seen often with a phone glued to her ear or in meetings at the UM Center in West Sacramento, the Conference's new team leader was interviewed by the Review on Thursday, Sept. 7 for the September 15 print edition.

The new bishop says she's excited to be in this Conference, and wants to hear from lay and clergy to help her as she learns "how to bishop", as she put it. Shamana says there are good, exciting things happening within the Conference, and that she wants the Conference leadership to help nurture those kinds of things.

Click here to read BishopTalks.html. Then comment to news@calnevumc.org

Give us this day...

Joyce Sohl examines the Lord's Prayer as 'our daily bread' at Jubilee

The Lord's Prayer (The "Our Father" to our Catholic friends) is the most important prayer in Christian tradition. More than 2,000 year old, it was Christ's simple response to his disciples request. Teach us to pray. During the entire Jubilee 2000 week, the short, 64 word prayer (65 if you count, "Amen") was illuminated phrase by phrase by some of the best minds in the Conference, and in United Methodism. Each presenter read and reflected on a different phrase. Thursday morning, Aug. 10, the phrase was "Give us this day, our daily bread." Joyce Sohl, Deputy General Secretary, Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries said, ³I contend that we who call ourselves Christians have messed up these teachings of Jesus over and over again."

Read what else she said in SohlPrayer.html

Complaints against Bishop Talbert dismissed

Three complaints lodged against Bishop Talbert before he retired have been dismissed by a committee investigating them. Click here to read the full story: TalbertComplaintsDismissed.html

Cal-Nevada Conference takes
Fresno-St. Luke's to court

Involuntary leave of absence sought against St. Luke's pastor

A dispute over who's in charge at Fresno-St. Luke's UMC ended up in a Fresno County Superior Court September 7. The judge denied a temporary restraining order sought by the Conference, which would have turned over control of Fresno's largest United Methodist church to the regional leadership. Fitch ordered lawyers to agree on a trial date regarding control of the property, and a 364-day lease of the church facilities which the church board approved.

Pastor David Wainscott continues to preach at the church, despite being suspended Aug. 15 from all pastoral activity by the Conference. Because of Wainscott's refusal to step awayfrom the church, the Conference is seeking an involuntary leave of absence. A church hearing is set for Monterey, Sept. 26. If he bypasses the hearing, the involuntary leave could happen the next day.

For the latest in this ongoing story, click here: StLukesInCourt.html

Gridley and Biggs UMCs get interim pastoral support

Pastor exits denomination, surprising District Superintendent

The departure of Gridley and Biggs Community UMC pastor Ben Kelly from the denomination, Sunday, Aug. 27 came as a total surprise to Shasta District Superintendent Ruth Ocera Cortez. She had spoken with him last week, before she went on vacation, "and never had an inkling" that Kelley planned to leave.

A retired pastor preached the following Sunday. A Yuba City and a Chico pastor are providing ministeral support to the the congregations, and Sunday sermons while a more permanant solution is found.

See PastorsQuit.html for details.

Yuba City minister also leaves UMC

Former Yuba City First UMC minister Peter Cremer has turned in his elders orders. He was on sabbatical for more than a year. Cremer is the sixth California-Nevada Conference elder to resign since Annual Conference in June. He follows his former boss, ex-Yuba City First UMC senior pastor John Shepperd, II who left the United Methodist Church in July. (See July 21, 2000 Review)

See PastorsQuit.html for details.

New missionary

Mt. Tamalpais UMC member Katherine T. Parker has been commissioned a United Methodist Mission Intern. The Mill Valley resident has been assigned to the Asian Rural Institute in Tochigiken, Japan. Parker will be involved in the institute's sustainable agriculture program and community development program for men and women from rural Japan. She will work and study in Japan for 15 months, then return to the U. S. for 16 months of action and education. Parker is one of 27 young adults commissioned in Atlanta, Georgia in August.

Annual Conference Videos available

Rev.'s Don Fado and Robert Kuyper

Videos Video cassettes of three Annual Conference sessions can be ordered for $19.95 plus shipping.

The sessions include Fridayıs "Spiritual conferencing" with sermon by the Rev. Pam Abbey, "Just Jesus!", and a reasoned discussion of homosexuality and the UMC by the Rev.'s Don Fado and Robert Kuyper.

Other tapes available include the Saturday night Ordination and Sunday morning Celebration. These three tapes will help you recall one of the most spiritual Conference Sessions in years!

See the Ordinands and Consecrands faces as Bishops Talbert and Johnson lay hands on them. It is a sight rarely seen by people in the audience. You'll get a close-up view from three cameras.

Hear dynamic preaching, sing along with some of your best-know and loved hymns.

Order forms are available online ACSVideoOrders.html, or by calling the Conference office at (916) 374-1500.

Jubilee house video

(Check payee corrected on Tuesday, 9/19/00)

You can also order a 30 minute video showing the Habitat for Humanity house-raising as it happened from Tuesday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, August 13. Some would call it a miracle. Price is just $15. Send a check payable to "Cal-Nevada Annual Conference" marked "Jubilee Video". Order deadline: Sept. 29. The tapes will be mailed after that date. The address is "Jubilee Tapes", St. Mark's UMC, 2391 St. Mark's Way, Sacramento, CA 95864.

Jubilee Holy Communion music available

Want a copy of the Holy Communion music Juan Saavedra wrote and played at Jubilee? Call him at (408) 445-0317, or e-mail him at JuSaave651@aol.com.

2000 Journals have been sent out

The latest Conference Journal has been mailed directly fromUMR Communications in Dallas, Texas, and should be in eager hands at churches around the Conference. The Conference office noted last week that some were being returned to bad addresses for churches or others who are entitled to receive the book. A toll-free call to the Cokesbury store in West Sacramento should enable correction of the problem, and speed a Journal on the way to the correct address. (See below for details). The Journal is the Conference-wide directory. It lists all Conference agencies and staff, all churches, pastors (both active and retired), lay members of local churches, lay people involved in Conference, their addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses.

Each church will be sent three to ten Journals, one for the church, one for each appointed pastor, and one for each Lay Member of Annual Conference. Retired clergy and surviving spouses will also receive copies. So will Diaconal Ministers, Laity who are members of Annual Conference by virtue of office, Clergy in ATEM appointments, on leave, sabbatical or disability, Youth or Young Adult delegates who requested Journals, and people who ordered them. If you have not received your Journal or need additional copies, order them from Cokesbury in the Country West Shopping Center at 2907 W. Capitol Ave., West Sacramento, CA, 96691. Toll free phone orders can be placed via (888) 768-0142, in the Capital region via (916) 371-2778 or by fax to (916) 371-2278.

Conf. Communications post open

The California-Nevada Annual Conference is seeking applications for a new position. Responsibilities include establishment of a conference-wide communication plan, public relations, and print and electronic media development. Application deadline is Oct. 15. Salary DOE; excellent benefits. For a job description, see the link at http://www.calnevumc.org, or http://www.gbgm-umc.org/conferences/CANV/coord.html. For information contact the Rev. Charles Johnstone, 19806 Wisteria St, Castro Valley, CA 94546. Call him at (510) 581-3486. Resumes may be faxed to (510) 881-3684 or e-mailed as an Microsoft Word attachment to revchuckj@aol.com

Free mahogany pews are gone

After notice appeared twice in the print and web editons of the Review, Palo Alto UMC found a new home for some of their sanctuary seating.

In a letter to the editor, a long-time Chico reader says the imminent replacement of the Review is a "faulty move. A San Jose reader applauds the wrap-up of Jubilee 2000, written by Chuck Myer and Bill Sanford, and noted three "courageous" soloists who volunteered for the Jubilee Chorus.

Read their thoughts here: Letters.html then comment to news@calnevumc.org