JULY 2005
Editor: Robin Wagganer
General
Assembly 2005 Legislature
by
Dawn Stueckle, Sunset Youth Services
When we met Claudette she was a bit shy and cautious. She
would come on the van provided by Public Housing in order to be here for the
summer. Soon she became one of our girls, with no hesitations. Claudette was
always smiling. She would run into my office every morning last summer and give
me a hug. When we went on our Girl’s Slumber Party last year I remember her
swimming all day and then putting on her pajamas that night, she was excited
about all of it. She must have used an entire can of whipped cream on her
sundae that night! I will miss having my regular “chats” with her. She loved to
come sit in my office and just talk. We talked about life, death, dreams, and
just being a girl. My life is better because I knew her. Our family at Sunset
Youth Services is grieving her loss. We will always love you baby.
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Nina G. Gunter, general director of Nazarene Missions
International (NMI), and J. K. Warrick, pastor of the College Church of the
Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas were elected as General Superintendents... The
Kansas City First Church junior
high missions team participating in the One Heart, Many Hands compassionate
ministry project was involved in a serious accident outside Indianapolis on
Sunday that left all 12 passengers injured, three critically… Citing the
history of the Church of the Nazarene and its development of “centers of holy
fire,” General Superintendent Jim L. Bond described our nearly 100 year
pilgrimage as a commitment to the “primary passion to ‘spread scriptural
holiness’” as the driving force of our existence... Retiring General
Superintendent W. Talmadge Johnson and retiring General Superintendent Jim L.
Bond were elected General Superintendent Emeritus... Nazarene Compassionate
Ministries International, Nazarene Youth International, and Children’s
Ministries are sponsoring the denominational decadal emphasis, Connecting a New
Generation . At the 2001 General Assembly, the Board of General Superintendents
declared 2002-2012 as a decade of emphasis on children and youth... All of
these reports and more news from General Assembly can be found at www.ncnnews.com
NorCal General Assembly Delegates l-r: Marcia Bundy, John Calhoun, Jim Clayton, Betty Cooper, P.T. Mammen and Carol Van Buskirk.
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Friends of P.T.Mammen gathered at the Japra Vineyards on
Sunday after noon to lunch and great musical experience with Dennis Rawls in
concert, and the highly talented Filipino Youth Chorus led by Henry. Dr. Romesh
and Sunita Japra graciously opened their opulent residence for this great
cause. Assemblyman Gene Mullin of San Mateo County, Professor Alice Bulos, the
prominent Filipino Community leader, and many other well wishers came together.
The event was to help support the mission to care for
children through the International Christian Center of San Jose (3275 Williams
Road, San Jose, CA 95117). Rev. P.T. Mammen serves as pastor there. The Church
of the Nazarene has made available this 7 million dollar property to Dr.
Mammen’s care. The plan is to develop the Center’s resources to provide
children a safe haven. A preschool and kindergarten are already planned. A
well-coordinated playground has been created on this beautiful campus.
Classrooms, a new kitchen and a new restroom are now installed. When the
facilities are adequately equipped, it can care for 45 children. We hope to
serve those who may not have the resources to send a child to high quality
program.
This event was sponsored by Federation of Indian Americans.
The diverse community of 125 attended the event which was opened by FIA
spokesman, Yogi Chugh and led by FIA Chairman, Dr. Romesh Japra. Romesh and
Sunita Japra handed the first donation of $1001.00 to Dr. John Calhoun, the
District Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in Northern California.
John Calhoun along with Jan Calhoun explained the vision of Dr. P.T.Mammen, and
matched the Japra’s gift.
Chris Nallan of South Valley Business Systems gave a power
point presentation to highlight the needs. Eden Community Pre-school and
Kindergarten will provide a supportive and caring environment where children
will learn values that will direct them to a bright future, said Mr. Nallan. We
have to return some funds borrowed to continue construction and provide staff
support. We will need to generate $100,000.00 to actualize this goal. As soon
as the facility is given the final approval from the city, we will begin the
reapplication process for licensing. We expect to launch the project by the
middle of August 2005.
The response from the community began with one donor offering
the first $1,000.00. Another supporter offered to match the donations. Every
gift received through these efforts will double because of the matching offer.
Sunday’s collection reached $24,000 with the matching gift. We invite friends
to share one substantial gift with us at this time to enable this vision to
move forward. Please make checks payable to “International Christian Center.”
The donation is tax deductible. Here is an opportunity to invest in the new
vision. Everyone interested in supporting this effort is invited to send a gift
to ICC, 3275 Williams Road, San Jose, CA 95117.
Another musical extravaganza has been scheduled for
Saturday, September 3, 2005. The evening will begin with dinner 5:00 to 5:45 PM
and the musical program immediately following at the International Christian
Center in San Jose.
Mark Your Calendars
Make sure you’re ready for the Castro Valley “King of the Jungle” Musical on Saturday, August 6. The musical will begin at 10:30am with a family barbecue lunch to follow. 50 Kids from around the NorCal District have been practicing hard, so let’s show our support and have a fun afternoon. Call the Castro Valley Church for more details at 510.581.8377.
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General Assembly 2005 Legislation
In legislative actions on Tuesday, the General Assembly:
• Adopted
a motion giving the presiding general superintendent discretionary power to
ordain divorced persons to the office of elder or deacon. This previously
required action by the entire Board of General Superintendents.
• Changed
the name of the “General Rules” to the “Covenant of Christian Character.”
• Voted
to change rules regarding amending the church constitution to make such changes
possible by a two-thirds vote of General Assembly delegates present and voting.
(The procedure requires two-thirds of all delegates officially registered).
• Narrowly
rejected a motion to require two consecutive General Assemblies to approve
changes to the Articles of Faith before sending the action to the districts for
ratification.
• Removed
the requirement for general superintendent approval before a clergy member “not
in good standing” resigns his or her credential, requiring only district
advisory board approval.
• Rejected
a proposal to make Christian baptism a requirement for membership in the Church
of the Nazarene.
• Referred
for study six resolutions that collectively proposed changes to four of the
church’s 16 Articles of Faith. The General Assembly directed that these
resolutions be studied “by a body with theologians” whose composition “reflects
the world-wide nature” of the denomination. The resolutions sought changes in
Articles 1 (God), 6 (Atonement), 7 (Prevenient Grace), and 15 (The Church).
Articles of Faith are part of the church’s constitution and changes to them
require a two-thirds favorable vote by the General Assembly and ratification by
two-thirds of the church’s phase 2 and 3 districts. While changes are
relatively infrequent, the 2001 General Assembly approved three changes. A current
resolution called for reversing one of those actions.
• Voted
to remove the 903 section from the Manual and place its content in the rulings
of the Board of General Superintendents.
• Referred
to the Board of General Superintendents a resolution that sought to institute a
conflict resolution process in place of the current provisions that allow
laypersons charged with misconduct to insist upon and receive a trial.
• Made
“repeated marital infidelity” a cause that permanently disqualifies a former
minister from ever regaining a ministerial credential from the Church of the
Nazarene.
• Voted
to ban from lay leadership positions anyone who has lost a ministerial
credential due to sexual abuse of a child, homosexual behavior, or repeated
marital infidelity
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Sr. High Camp: Unsinkable Faith
Who: Incoming
Freshmen to graduating Seniors
When: July 11-15, 2005
$50.00 deposit due on June 17
$180.00 Balance due by July 11
Where: Lake Shasta
For more information contact Pastor Drew via phone at
707.226.5551 or via email napanaz@hotmail.com or contact Pastor Donabel at
707.648.1986 or via email donabelcmartin@hotmail.com
Jr. High Camp: Rock-N-Water
Who: For
those finishing 6th grade and entering 9th grade
When: July 24 - 27,
2005
$160
Balance due by July 10
(check
with Pastors Gary or Donabel to see if there’s still spaceif you missed the
June 10 registration deposit deadline)
Where: On the American
River near Sacramento
For more information contact Pastor Gary at 831.722.2407 or
email garyb@watsnaz.org or you may contact Pastor Donabel.
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