Release #022 {2886}April 20, 1996
DENVER (UMNS) -- In 1996, John Wesley's passion for education once again needs to be the center of the work and mission of the United Methodist Church, according to United States Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley.
Riley, a United Methodist, delivered that message as the keynote speaker for Higher Education Night during the denomination's 1996 General Conference here April 19 at the University of Denver.
Addressing approximately 600 General Conference delegates; United Methodist-related college and university presidents; other educators; and visitors, Riley said, that America is in the midst of one of the greatest shifts in history -- the "fundamental assumptions" that have guided the nation and its citizens are being questioned.
There is a great need to see the advance of education as the "touchstone for a new spirit of optimism for our people," he said. To create that new spirit, will require re-kindling the Wesleyan passion for education.
He explained that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed that education forms faith and "is the essential stepping stone" to spirituality. Riley said, Wesley was convinced that everyone has a right to education and not being "left in the darkness of ignorance, and lost to God."
There was resounding applause when Riley called for United Methodists once again to make Wesley's passion for education the focus and commitment of the church. He said America can only advance in the new era if education at all levels is advanced at the same time.
Riley, former governor of South Carolina, said the core of education for the next century must be sustained "by a deep and powerful respect" for everyone's God-given gifts and potential.
Riley said he is encouraged by Education: the Gift of Hope, a United Methodist study document that calls for reclaiming our heritage and commitment both to public and private education. This "timely" document addresses the problems in education today, Riley said.
He was given a copy of the 51-page document to deliver to President Bill Clinton. It is under consideration by the 998 delegates attending the General Conference. The churchwide Board of Higher Education and Ministry is requesting the conference recommend the document for churchwide study.
He said, unless a stronger emphasis is placed on making elementary and secondary schools "exciting places of hope, creativity and learning," a generation of children will grow up unable to cope with the "demanding standards" of colleges and universities and life afterwards.There are 125 schools, colleges and universities related to the United Methodist Church.
Riley praised the document for recognizing that parents, schools and churches have individual and collective roles in educating children. He said that since many social problems are part of the fabric of daily life, the education of all children must be a community-wide activity.
He called on General Conference delegates "to fulfill this powerful document" by:
* more effectively preparing a new generation of teachers to work with parents;
* reaching out to the local public school and making an active effort to sustain them in their attempts to prepare students for college;
* responding to the shrill voices of divisions, wedge issues and cynicism with positive options.
He said there is a gap between teachers and parents because teachers who graduate from college today are not given the skills needed to encourage parents to be full partners in the learning process. "We really do need to overcome this gap and now is the time to do it," he said.
The Africa University Choir, a product of mission and labor by the United Methodist Church sang at the dinner. The choir will sing to the entire General Conference, Tuesday, April 23.
-- Linda Green
If you want to know how to get more information about this story, call InfoServ at 1-800/251-8140.