Sunday, June 22, 1997
United Methodist Women focus on Brazil
United Methodist women turned their focus to Brazil in the
first full day of an eight-state Christian mission school Saturday
at McMurry University.
The geographical look at Brazil, a study of the Old Testament
Book of Joshua, and a session on "Christians Living in a
Violent Society" are tied together under the theme "Visioning
Justice and Hope." said Cathie West, dean of the West Gulf
Regional School of Christian Mission.
'And then we're studying Joshua, where the same sort of things
were happening in Joshua's day - landlessness, poverty as result
of people losing their land," she continued.
During a break in the conference Saturday evening, West and
assistant dean Sally Holston deplored the the excess violence
they see expressed by American media, including the news media.
"It's sensationalized - when you watch the news, say the
6 o'clock news, what is the the primary story?" asked Holston.
"The big story, that's the very first thing, it's murders,
it's various crimes in the community. That's the grab for them,
that's the hook," said the St. Louis woman.
"I have a 12 year-old grandson that I'm hesitant to allow
to watch the news; it's as if he's watching some violent show."
West said the conference is designed to enable Methodist lay
women to deal constructively with violence in society.
"I think one of the purposes of our study is to get the
facts, and to separate sensationalism from reality and to realize
what can we actually do to try to counteract the attitude that
'I'm just one person, what can I do?' "
Today's plenary program is "Prayers of the Oppressed:
Joshua and the Land," starting at 8:15 a.m. On Monday, the
plenary program will be "Christians Living in a Violent Society,"
also starting at 8:15 a.m. A Brazil Night celebration at 7 p.m.,
followed by a team evaluation session will cap the last full day
of the conference.
The conference will end Tuesday morning with a final plenary
session, "Sending Forth."
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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