Updated Thursday, September 14, 2000 11:55 am

Click here for the Sept. 15 edition in PDF format:

Click here for the Latest News

Here are some of the stories you'll find in the September 1, 2000 edition
Quiet helpers for 44 years

Dave and Annis Beutke have been helping out at Fred Finch Youth Center most of their lives. Annis used to go with her mother who volunteered at the former orphanage. Since 1960, the couple has lived in the same neighborhood as the youth center, which now helps severely emotionally disturbed youth. Fred Finch photo

Fred Finch Youth Center depends on more than money

Fight over Fresno Church?

Fresno pastor defies suspension

Wainscott

Fresno-St. Luke's Pastor David Wainscott has been suspended for holding back apportionments and for starting a new church. He faces charges for violating the United Methodist Book of Discipline. An angry St. Luke's leadership changed the doors on the church, which prevented retired pastor Doug Norris from entering the church, for which he has been appointed interim pastor. St. Luke's website says it "does not recognize" the change in pastors, and deems Norris, "unacceptable". Wainscott was ordered "not to serve the congregation" by Bishop Melvin Talbert, but has continued to preach and pastor at Fresno's largest UM church. The congregation was expected to hold a vote on whether to leave the United Methodist Church Aug. 27, but has put that off so that the church leadership can negotiatate with the Conference to take over the property.

For the latest on this ongoing story, click here: WainscottSuspended.html

Another pastor leaves UMC

Congregation splits at Hope, Sacramento

The Rev. Greg Smith and what is said to be "most of" the 550 member congregation at Hope UMC in southern Sacramento have left the denomination.

Recent candidate for Bishop, the Rev. Ben Silva Netto has been appointed to pastor the church on an interim basis. 111 were in worship the first Sunday after the split, described as amicable by both former pastor Greg Smith, and Delta District Superintendent Dave Bennett.

Get details with a click here: HopeUMCSurvives.html

Most ERF Pastors say they'll stay in the UMC

Reorganized group changes name, seeks conciliation

Pastors at an Evangelical Renewal Fellowship reorganization meeting are “committed to staying within the conference and within the United Methodist Church at this time,” said ERF president Robert Kuyper, pastor of Bakersfield-Trinity UMC. “The good news is there are a lot more staying than there are leaving.” The Aug. 22 meeting drew more than 25 people. Five of the six pastors who departed this year were ERF members.

Kuyper said ERF pastors are looking forward to a meeting they’ve requested with new Bishop Beverly Shamana, who took office in West Sacramento on Sept. 1. “I look forward to the dialogue,” she told United Methodist News Service.

Kuyper says her predecessor, Bishop Melvin Talbert is being unfairly blamed for action taken by a committee which decided there were no charges to press against 68 pastors involved in a holy union for two women. “People were way too harsh on him. I think frankly, even though I disagree with the outcome, I think he upheld the Discipline, so I don’t think it’s fair to accuse him of being unfaithful.” Kuyper said that nothing in the Discipline says a committee has to bring charges against someone. (UMNS)

Click here to see the full United Methodist News Service story: MostERFtoStay.html

Review's pastoral departure coverage criticized
In a letter to the editor, Board of Ordained Ministry official Don Cunningham takes the paper to task for the way we handled the departure of former Yuba City First UMC pastor John Shepperd, II. Read his letter here, CoverageCriticized.html, then comment to news@calnevumc.org

New Bishop Arrives

Bishop Beverly Shamana arrived in Elk Grove Friday, Aug. 25, moving into the Episcopal Residence just five days before her first four-year term as spiritual leader of the California Nevada Annual Conference. Difficulties in coordinating an interview in the three weeks before she left Los Angeles, and as she arrived in Sacramento have delayed our profile which was promised for this issue. If you have questions you’d like to have posed, or e-mail the Review editor at news@calnevumc.org. Please include your name, address, e-mail and phone so we can contact you if we don’t understand your question. We may leave copies of your questions with Bishop Shamana for her to follow up.

2000 Journal update

The latest Conference Journal is now being printed in Dallas, and will be mailed directly from there. 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. Additional Journals can be ordered from Cokesbury in the Country West Shopping Centerat 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.

Labor Day closures

District offices, The UM Center and Conference offices in West Sacramento will be closed, Monday, Sept. 4.

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 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

Organist needed in Novato

Novato UMC needs principal organist for fully expanded Allen AP-6 digital organ and Sohmer piano. Duties: accompany the chancel choir at weekly rehearsals as well as at one Sunday service; play for congregational hymn singing and for a limited number of special events during the year. Compensation is negotiable. Contact: Kay Walker, (415)883-5780, fax: (415) 883-6984 or e-mail to kaywalker@quixnet.net

Oroville choir director needed

A part-time Chancel Choir Director is needed one morning and one evening per week at Oroville United Methodist Church. To request an application and more detailed job description, contact Elaine Klein, Chairperson Staff Parish Committee, Oroville UMC, PO Box 5700 Oroville, California 95966, call (530) 534-9455) or e-mail aeklein@cncnet.com

Free mahogany pews

Following recent remodeling, Palo Alto UMC has to find a new home for some of their sanctuary seating. The pews are mahogany color with almost new blue-grey upholstery. There are three rows, 12 pieces. Seats and backs are fully upholstered, and six pieces have hymnal racks, communion cup, guest and pencil holders. The comfortable seats are 18” deep. Six measure 80” long, and six are 172” long. All are 40” high and have 19” wide ends. For details contact Evelyn Berk, Church Business Administrator, First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, 625 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94025 (650) 323-6167 or fax (650) 323-3923 or e-mail funceberk@aol.com.