TITLE: Rural Fellowship Hears Bishop
SEARCH: Rural Fellowship, racism, land, rural churchRelease # 004 {2867} April 17, 1996
General Conference '96
DENVER (UMNS) -- Resident United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson described her area as very rural, addressing the quadrennial convocation and banquet of the United Methodist Rural Fellowship here April 16.
"We are people of land, air, water, big sky and animals," she told approximately 150 fellowship members and guests. The United Methodist Denver Area includes Colorado, Utah and Montana.
But Swenson lamented that in the Denver Area, "racism is alive and well" -- a veiled reference to the Freeman standoff and capture of the Unibomber that occurred in Montana.
"It is painful to be aware of racism around the world," she said.
When we value beauty, color, diversity, creativity and God's grace, she said, "we will know ourselves as God's people -- Christ's people."
The Rev. Peggy Page, a clergy member of Detroit Annual Conference received a citation of merit for work done for the fellowship.
The organization recognized four new chapters organized during the last four years. They are the Central Texas United Methodist Rural Fellowship, Rex Squires Chapter in Louisiana, the John Baxter Howes Chapter in the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference and the Wisconsin United Methodist Rural Fellowship.
Among officers elected for the next four years were: Wanda Hayes Eichler, Pigeon, Mich., president; Dale Fooshee, Topeka, Kan., vice president; Shirley Townsend Jones, Maxton, N.C., recording secretary; and Edwin Eichler, Pigeon, Mich., treasurer.
-- Ralph E. Baker
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