When Violence Abounds

The murder of Stephen Pitcairn, age 23, on Sunday, July 25, 2010 in the Charles Village section of Baltimore points to the pervasive nature of the violence afflicting the city. Pitcarin was a promising researcher at Johns Hopkins University, and an aspiring physician. We are reminded again of the culture of violence that seems to know no socio-economic bounds, and reminded also that violence anywhere is a threat to safety everywhere. May we be renewed in our resolve to create a culture of peace in the city.

Haiti: Navigating a Landscape of Hope

In the link below is a letter from the Rev. Cynthia Harvey on the work of Unied Methodist Commitee on Relief (UMCOR)in Haiti. Rev. Harvey, director of the relief agency, takes a comprehensive look at accomplishments, challenges, and possibilities in Haiti in the wake of the January earthquake.

The document is at:

http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/newsroom/releases/archives2010/landscapeofhope

Baltimore Poised for Change

It's a rare opportunity for a denomination to be able to transform its presence in a city as large as Baltimore, but a variety of circumstances have come together to make such a transformation both possible and necessary for the United Methodist congregations in the city. In May, members from many of the United Methodist churches in Baltimore gathered for a Summit on the City, the first step in designing a road map that will provide a path forward. To view the full article and details, visit www.bwcumc.org/baltimorechange.

Urban Youth the New Social Justice

"I wonder if addressing concerns of urban youth is not the new social justice frontier in urban ministry. Churches are organizing around issues of education and health care for children. Intervention programs for so-called “at risk” youth, such as “Uth Turn” in New York City are manifestations of a deeper realization that caring for the well-being of youth is a justice issue, to say nothing of taking care that the church will survive for another generation."

Dale T. Irvin, Ph.D.
Pesident, New York Theological Seminary

Prayer for our Cities

An article in the USA Today last week highlighted the rising levels of violent crime in many of our cities during the summer months. Cities across the nation continue to confront this troubling reality. In Batlimore, over the Memorial Day weekend, there were ten shootings in the city. This past weekend, John Crowder, a very promising young high school basketball player was murdered in East Baltimore. Let us all see this violence as our shared concern, and remain in prayer for our cities, the people and each of our leaders.

Prayer for the Nation

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom." Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we have celebrated our nation's independence this past weekend, let us continue to be in prayer for the nation and our leaders.