yet another mistake
by Michael D
We made it back to Lexington. I have mixed
feelings about General Assembly that I will discuss in detail in the coming
week. But for now I need to highlight two publicity issues that should tell
Disciples Home Missions specifically, and the OGMP as well, that they have a
continuing problem that is costing them what little credibility they have
left.
First, during his report to the
Assembly, Rev. Arnold Nelson president of DHM, highlighted many aspects of
ministry that DHM provides or supports. He spoke so long about the ministry of
DHM since the last assembly that he left enough time for exactly one question.
And in the process of reporting he mentioned in passing the wonderful youth and
children activities at assembly and never lifted up the names of the persons
responsible for it. At the last assembly DHM cut the program staff for Youth
Ministries and Young Adult Ministries and formed commissions of volunteers to
give direction to these important ministries; and yet he never mentioned any of
the volunteer leaders by name. Not even the ones that were present helping make
the "wonderful" activities happen. The General Youth Council is provided
leadership by a lay person who is paid as a part-time program staff member of
DHM. Her name is Julia Cunningham Holloway and she was at General Assembly
working with the General Youth Council each day from the very early morning
until late at night. Without her leadership the General Youth Council would not
be functioning, and Arnold didn't even mention her. The Youth Ministry
Commission was appointed to think about the future of youth ministry and work
with GYC to envision how youth ministry as a general manifestation would take
place in the denomination. Bill Spangler-Dunning and Julie Richardson Brown,
the co-chairs of the YMC, were both at assembly and yet their names were not
mentioned either. The Young Adult Commission was created just like the YMC to
address the needs of young adults and those persons where not mentioned either.
Those I know who work with the Young Adult Commission are: John Davidson, Nancy
Dunn, and Holly Fuqua. Yes there are others and they too may have been at
assembly. No, they were not mentioned
either.
The second. I received an email
from a KY pastor alerting me to the website where my companion, Rev. Dr. Lisa
Davison's sermon(1) from general assembly was posted. The brief introduction
includes the phrase, "Pretty Rev. Davidson". What follows is not the transcript
of her sermon, but rather a misrepresentation of her words that blend English
and Spanish. No other speaker who has a sermon posted is represented in this
way. Is this an honest mistake or purposeful? I can't say. On Thursday
evening, no one can be reached to explain how this happened and there is no way
to remove the information from the site. Who knows how many people will visit
the site and see this as her work?
These
examples are part of the ongoing public relations problems that face the general
church. Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins told us on Wednesday that we would have to
begin "cutting each other some slack". I agree. I would feel differently if
everyone's posted sermon was as wrong as Lisa's.(2) Let the accountability that
the General Minister and President spoke of begin here and spread through all
the General
units.
Notes
(1)
The text of the sermon to be posted on this blog on Friday morning, July 29.
(2) It can be argued that I am biased about
this being married to Lisa. But this is General Assembly and I expect the
leaders or staff to be more professional than this. I work with websites and
know that sometimes you hit the upload or send button too quickly, but you
always review your work. That is why this seems not so much like a mistake to
me. And yes, I would react in this same way if any of the other speakers were
misrepresented. This is the DOC official site and General Assembly reporting
not a congregational or personal website in gunny swamp [a nod to Dr. Rowell,
retired Professor of Christian Education, Brite Divinity School for creating
that town] that gets fifty hits a year.
Filed Fri - July 29, 2005, 12:17 AM in
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