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BY CHRISTINE KUMAR
UMCONNECTION STAFF

As songs filtered throughout the hallway, the hotel staff peeked inside the ballroom to hear where the singing was coming from.

Inside they saw more than 210 women and a few men who sang Christian hymns during the 2007 Cooperative School of Christian Mission School July 19-22 at the Hilton Hotel in Gaithersburg. The theme was 'Sing Across the Walls.'

The Rev. Terri Rae Chattin, Frederick District superintendent, led the group in the Bible study of Missio Dei (God?s mission) and music each day.

Chattin encouraged participants to explore lyrics and tunes and how they can evoke different emotions. From her experience of Volunteer in Mission trips around the world, she spoke of the

'modern' missionary movement, spanning from the 1700s to 1991, and how each hymn expressed the characteristic of the emerging movements.

Participants sang different hymns from the past that spotlighted different social issues from abolition to women?s liberation with songs like 'Jesus Shall Reign' and 'We?ve a Story to Tell to the Nations.'

'Mission is faith in action,' said Chattin. 'It is giving of yourself by serving those in need by doing, giving, telling, caring and praying. Tell the world what God is doing.'

One of this year?s mission studies focused on 'Globalization: It?s Impact in Our Lives,' taught by the Rev. Cynthia Belt, pastor of Centennial-Caroline UMC in Baltimore, and Linda Douglas Smith, Executive Secretary for Administration in the Women?s Division of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church.

Students learned the nature of world economics and the impact it has on people and community today. Some of the topics discussed were free trade policies, outsourcing business operations to other countries and global media consolidation.

'The participants were enlightened by the classes,' said the UMW Dean of Christian Mission Sandra Brooks, 'especially the Israel-Palestine class which opened our eyes to different issues that the media does not portray.'

Ruth Daugherty, a freelance educator and consultant, taught about Palestinian women and children who are easy targets to harm. 'The women have no access to education and medical care,' she said.

In a video that Daugherty played for the class, professional working women spoke of the strip searches they endured while traveling from the United States to Palestine and vice versa. Many of them do not want to go back to visit their homeland because of the humiliating experience, she said.

'Curfews in Palestine are different,' said Daugherty. 'They could last from one day to weeks and you cannot leave your home.'

'This class was enlightening, it shows how many cultures have repeated the same mistakes,' said music leader, the Rev. Tony Love, pastor of Covenant Point UMC in Waldorf.

Jim Vitarello, president of the Sharing Jerusalem USA board and member of Foundry UMC, and the Rev. Doris Warrell who serves at Dumbarton UMC in Washington, D.C., taught another class on Israel/Palestine. Warrell recently co-led a VIM trip to Palestine.

Missionaries Martha Stockwell-Goering and her husband Rev. Chris Stockwell-Goering spoke of their work in Tucuman, Argentina, for the past six years where they ministered to families in low income neighborhoods and advocated for human rights.

'When we participant in God?s mission, expect the unexpected,' said Martha Stockwell-Goering. She told of a woman named Alicia who went from being a quiet mother to a human rights activist all because God?s spirit moved her to be the front runner for social change.

Participants also attended focus groups on Israel/Palestine, Nothing but Nets, General Conference, trafficking women, and children of Africa; viewed mission project displays and bought gifts from Red Bird Mission.

This year?s study was relevant and many issues were presented, remarked Leesa Sipe, president of the United Methodist Women at St. John?s UMC in Lutherville. 'This is useful for me to present to my church.'

Sipe has been attending the School of Christian Mission for the past 30 years.