Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty

Rocky Mountain Conference Committee

Resources

The Episcopal Initiative on Children and Poverty

January 1, 2005

_____________________________________________

The United Methodist Bishops' Episcopal Initiative on Children and Poverty concluded on December 31, 2004 after eight years. The Council of Bishops, on November 5, 2004, determined to continue "Children and Poverty" as an "emphasis" of the Council - an expression of the Council's commitment to "...focus its energy and leadership resource to lead the church in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."(cf. The Book of Discipline paragraphs 121-124).

The eighteen (18) items listed below are Episcopal Initiative on Children and Poverty resources available as of January 1, 2005 and how to access them. Many continue to provide valuable information and are resources for the continuing ministries that have been developed, and are developing across the church in all part of the world.

1 - Community With Children and the Poor - A Guide for Congregational Study based on the United Methodist Bishops' Letter Community With Children and the Poor - prepared by the Task Force for the Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty © Cokesbury 2003. This 64 page booklet contains, as an appendix, the 1996 and 2001 statements of the Council of Bishops, "Children and Poverty: An Episcopal Initiative Biblical and Theological Foundations"** and "Community with Children and the Poor Renewing the Episcopal Initiative." Order English language version #X516543 from Cokesbury 800-672-1789 USD$8.00. (Spanish version available for printing off the Initiative website or contact the Office of the Council of Bishops listed below.) (German version is available in printed form. Order by title from the Office of the Bishop of the Germany Area, Wilhelm-Leuschner-Strasse 8, D-60329 Frankfurt Germany or <emk.kirchenkanzlei@t-online.de.> (See item 13 below for promotional video available - in English only - for the Study Guide)

2 - Our Shared Dream: The Beloved Community the November 2003 statement of The Council of Bishops © 2003 by the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church. This 8 page paper introduces the vision/image "Beloved Community" and states the bishops "Longings, Learnings, and Discoveries" and sense of the "Continuing Crisis/Continuing Commitment." Order #X518934 from Cokesbury 800-672-1789 Available in quantity without charge in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, German and French.

3 - Community With Children and the Poor - Renewing the Episcopal Initiative the May 2001 statement of The Council of Bishops © 2003. This 8 page paper renews and expands the goals of the Initiative with an emphasis on the economic elements of the crisis affecting children and the poor. Order by title from Cokesbury 800-672-1789 Available in quantity without charge in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, German and French.

4 - "Children and Poverty: An Episcopal Initiative Biblical and Theological Foundations"** copyright © 1996 by the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church. This 8 page paper is the first of three Council statements on the Episcopal Initiative. It states the crisis among children and the poor that led the Bishops to this Initiative, gives the theological, historical and missional mandate and states the three primary goals. Order by title from Cokesbury 800-672-1789. Available in quantity without charge - in English.

5 - Prayer Calendar 2004-2005 Creating the Beloved Community - developed by the Initiative Task Force for use by the Episcopal Areas within the Jurisdictional Conferences. May be altered for local use with appropriate credit. May be used beyond 2005 with appropriate changes of dates. Sample copies only available and only in English. Order from the Office of the Council of Bishops - see below for contact information.

6 - Hope For the Children of Africa interpretive and promotional literature, including the 1998 statement of the Council of Bishops "...AND THE LEAVES OF THE TREE ARE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS - Biblical and Theological Foundations of the Bishops' Appeal: Hope For the Children of Africa "Relief, Reconciliation and Rebuilding"** - available in quantity without charge from United Methodist Communications (UMCom) 810 Twelfth Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203-4744 or 615-742-5400 or < For information on current developments contact the Chair of the Council of Bishops Task Force on Hope For the Children of Africa at the Office of the Council of Bishops - see below for contact information.

7 - Hope For the Children of Africa General Advance Special - #101000 "Gives relief to children who have suffered from war; rebuilds United Methodist churches and ministries, with special attention to children's well-being." Partnership in Missions Catalog of General Advance Specials 2004 page 5 <

8 - A Church For All God's Children - local congregational self study materials first printed in 1998 by the Initiative Task Force. The 12 page guide is available for printing from the Initiative website < Four color poster size certificates for recognition of congregations by Bishops/Annual Conferences is available in English and Spanish until April 1, 2005 by request to

9 - A Progress Report based on Interviews with Episcopal Area Coordinators © The Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty 2003. This 21 page booklet authored by Dr. Pamela D. Couture of the Task Force reports on the perspectives of Initiative Coordinators in the United States and asserts that, "The Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty is challenging social isolation and rebuilding communities...promoting ecclesial renewal in the denomination and in local congregations." It is available, without charge, from the Office of the Council of Bishops - see below for contact information.

10 - Episcopal Area expressions of the Initiative on Children and Poverty are numerous in both type and quantity. Information about those local developments may be accessed through individual Area/Conference websites, Annual Conference offices and Bishop's offices. For postal and email addresses consult < or InfoServ 800-251-8140 or the Office of the Council of Bishops - see below for contact information.

11 - Prayer of the Children - Video #1 developed by the Initiative Task Force in 2001. The video presents the goals of the Initiative and is motivational and instructive. It additionally supports the Hope For the Children of Africa. 8 minutes. Available without charge from UMCom. See above #6 for UMCom contact information.

12 - Video #2 developed by the Initiative Task Force in 2002. The video presents an overview of the Initiative and was designed for use at the 2002 Annual Conference sessions. 7 minutes. Available without charge from UMCom. See above #6 for contact information.

13 - Video #3 developed by the Initiative Task Force in 2003. The video introduces the congregational study guide, "Community With Children and the Poor" (see above item 1) 10 minutes Available without charge from UMCom. See above #6 for contact information.

14 - Marching for All God's Children 2001 - a video developed by the Richmond Area/Virginia Conference on the VA Area's March for Children. Available from the Virginia Conference Office and UMCom. This model was the basis for the Council of Bishops affirmation in Spring 2002 of Area Marches for Children. The Task Force developed a CD "A Children's March" and instructive materials were developed for the Bishops and their Areas. The materials may be secured from UMCom. See above #6 for contact information.

15 - Circuit Rider March/April 2002 Volume 26 Number 2 © 2002 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Guest Editor Bishop George W. Bashore, Initiative Task Force member. This issue contains articles on local expressions of the Initiative and challenges to engagement on behalf of children and the poor. This back issue may be available by contacting

16 - Prayer of the Children CD © ® 1999 The Pinnacle Group, Inc. (BMI) is available from Pinnacle Music Group, 4425 South 500 West, Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT 84123-2559 Phone 801-269-8000 < The first song on this CD is the background music on Video #1 noted above as item #11. It is frequently requested and is listed here to aid persons in locating the CD. It is commercially sold by Pinnacle Music Group.

17 - Website - Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty the website will be available until at least August 1, 2005. Questions and Comments may be directed to the Office of the Council of Bishops - See below for contact information.

18 - Area Coordinators of the Initiative on Children and Poverty - The names and contact information of Coordinators named by the respective Area resident bishops in the 2001-2004 quadrennium are available on request to the Office of the Council of Bishops - see below for contact information. Coordinators may be willing, on request, to furnish information about children and poverty projects, developments, grants, etc. within their respective areas. The Coordinators are linked by an invitation only LISTSERV maintained by United Methodist Communications with the administrative secretary of the Office of the Council of Bishops as manager.

** Designates items which are contained in Vision and Supervision - A Sourcebook of Significant Documents of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, 1968-2002 James K. Mathews and William B. Oden, Editors Copyright © 2003 by Abingdon Press (This volume also contains a statement made to the Council of Bishops in November 2001 as part of a seminar on the linkages of poverty and HIV/AIDS developed for the Council by the Task Force on the Initiative on Children and Poverty. The article is "Poverty, HIV and AIDS - The Challenge to the Church in the New Millennium" by Christo Greyling.)

The logo of the Initiative is able to be reproduced from the Initiative website. This "Children and Poverty The Bishops Initiative" statement with the sunburst above the words and the trademark symbol of the United Methodist Bishop to the lower right is, itself, in its entirety, a registered service mark ® No. 2,271,900 registered August 24, 1999 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office by General Council on Finance and Administration United Methodist Church.

Information above provided by Bishop Donald A. Ott, Coordinator of the Initiative September 2000 - December 2004.
c&p11:\finalresourcelist1204