District superintendent truly pastors There is an old cliche: If you live long enough you will see everything. I believe I experienced one of these moments a few weeks ago. My district superintendent visited us on Sunday morning. Whats so great about that? They do it all the time, dont they? Of course they do. They come to preach, break ground for new buildings and for charge conference, but never just to sit in a pew and worship. Gary Memorial is in Daniels, a town consumed by the Patapsco River floods during Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Only the church remains on top of Standfast Hill. When I was asked to serve as its minister more than 14 years ago a neighboring pastor greeted my arrival by suggesting that I do the conference a favor and close it down. But God had more in mind for the faithful at Gary Memorial. While still small in numbers, we are alive, vibrant, serving, paying our apportionments and receiving new members on profession of faith each year. Perhaps one reason for this is that the Rev. Louis Shockley, our superintendent, considers us important. He sat in a pew, sang heartily, prayed and embraced our members. He showed that not only he, but also the bishop and the conference, care that we are doing ministry in the most isolated corner of the district. Maybe all of the district superintendents are pastoring their churches in this fashion. I hope so. If they are not, perhaps they should consider it. Rev. Luther Starnes
Pastor, Gary Memorial UMC
Back to top War has ceased to be productive Since I received my seminary education with funds allotted me for military service in World War II, any pacifist stripes I might ever have had are pretty-well erased. Yet, I must disagree with William A. Holmes Jan. 2 commentary, U.S. response to terrorism is appropriate. I saw immediately that the terrible and totally senseless attacks of Sept. 11 could never be answered by a declaration of war. Pearl Harbor was a betrayal of a neighborly relationship between Japan and the United States. I can clearly remember the pick-up of old and useless motor vehicles in my home state to be sold in the Japanese market. Our state was getting rid of these eyesores, and Japan was getting bargain steel. After Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt was right: The hand that held the dagger has stuck it in the back of its neighbor. War was appropriate. It seemed to be a solution. But this war on Afghanistan seems like choosing to go to war against the homestate of the perpetrator of the ghastly crime in Oklahoma City. No wonder we are being called bullies. My solution to Sept. 11 is to take a fraction of what the war will cost and offer it to a group that can deliver the terrorists. War in our time has ceased to be productive. With our hapless bombing, we are just increasing the number of others who join Sept. 11s victims in death, misery and sorrow. Rev. Richard R. Hively
Retired pastor, Baltimore-Washington Conference
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