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VOL. 13, NO. 20

UM Men urged to grow in spirituality, activity

By Erik Alsgaard UMConnection Staff

The Baltimore-Washington Conference United Methodist Men elected new leaders and heard the challenge to become more spiritual and active in ministry during the organizations annual meeting Oct. 5 at Woodside UMC in Silver Spring.

Elected president for 2003 was Curtis Brisbon of Bradbury Heights UMC in Washington, D.C. Brisbon had served as vice-president prior to his election. Larry McCrae of Ames UMC in Bel Air, was elected vice-president; Tony Brzeczko of Strawbridge UMC, was elected secretary; and Marvin Hall of Mt. Zion-Magothy UMC in Pasadena was re-elected treasurer.

The officers were installed during a service at the end of the meeting.

My job is to be a servant leader, Brisbon told the group during the lunch business meeting. I do not expect to be served.

Brisbon lamented the low attendance at the meeting.

Its time United Methodist Men, and all men, took a look at ourselves to find out why we dont have more men. If (others) dont want to join you, whats wrong with us? he asked.

We need to start rebuilding, to do some soul searching, he said. Our first mission is to have a spiritual retreat. It is time for healing, time to move forward. We need prayer and to be in prayer, to not be argumentative and agents of confusion.

Brisbon encouraged all United Methodist men to get yourself a prayer partner. He also asked each man to be in prayer and support for the prayer advocacy network.

The prayer advocate network began as a ministry of United Methodist Men in 1997. Since then, more that 26,000 participants from across the United States have called the office, located in the conference center in Columbia, for prayer. Prayers are received via e-mail at prayer center@ bwcumc.org, or by calling (800) 936-6893.

We have to move beyond the four walls. I think we as men have to be spiritual, he said. Let your lights shine.

Similar sentiments were echoed by McCrae. In his brief remarks he said that the prayer network would be among his priorities.

In the morning sessions, participants heard rousing sermons from Bishop Felton Edwin May of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and the Rev. Timothy West, pastor of the Westphalia UMC in Upper Marlboro.

Bishop May, using the Oct. 2 Saving Stations supplement from this newspaper, encouraged the United Methodist Men. God has directed us to go out beyond these walls, he said. The days of three hymns and a holy aspirin for a sermon are not enough for these days, the bishop said.

The bishop challenged the men to become more active in the Saving Stations ministry, and closed his message by having small groups of men hold hands and pray aloud individually, echoing the praying in tongues in Acts 2.

West, addressing the theme of the day, Be Ye Doers, Answer Gods Call, said that before a Christian becomes a doer, they must first become a lover. West preached from John 21:15-17, where Jesus asks Peter three times, do you love me? He outlined each of the instructions Jesus gave Peter: feeding the lambs, tending the sheep, and feeding the sheep.

During the business meeting, a budget of $45,100 was adopted for 2003. Of that total, $30,000 is to be raised and spent on the potato project, a hunger-relief ministry in partnership with the Society of St. Andrew. The Baltimore-Washington Conference United Methodist Men lead the denomination in raising money for this project, said outgoing president, Morris Hawkins of Frederick.

The UM Men also bestowed their annual Man of the Year award on Joseph L. Coleman of Asbury UMC in Washington, D.C., for his outstanding leadership. Coleman, who was not able to be present at the meeting because of illness, is a lay speaker and Sunday School teacher who works with outreach ministries and serves as a prayer advocate.