1999, v40, n4 - Methodist University
1999, v40, n4 - Methodist University 1999, v40, n4 - Methodist University
CHURCHShawn Hartman has the motivation and the dedication to help make a differenceto attend his second General Conference of the UnitedNext Methodist Maya Methodist Church. Shawn CollegeHartman seniot will of Chambersburg, journey to Cleveland PA isone of eight lay persons elected by the Central Pennsylvania Conferenceto attend the quadrennial world meeting of the church.Hartman, 22, is one of 48Shawn Hartman ranksnear thetop of his classacademically andwill graduate next May with adouble major in criminal justiceand political science. He has beenactive in numerous studentorganizationshereand hasreceivedseveral academic and serviceawards. He has been a residentadvisor, peer counselor, andStudent Government Associationsenator and treasurer, and amember of the MC Show Choirand the Christian LYFE Council.He alsofounded theMC ResidenceHall Association and served as adirector of the North CarolinaAssociation of ResidenceHalls.delegates under the age of30and one of three personsorganizing a TUT (TwentyUnder Thirty) Fellowship "toget together and talk aboutissues that affect us." He andother TUT members arealready communicating by email in preparation forGeneral Conference. A totalof 996 delegates are slated toattend.Like other delegates, hehas been assigned to one of10 subcommittees that willrecommend concurrence ornonconcurrence withresolutions submitted forchurch action. Hartman willserve on the Subcommitteeon Higher Education andOrdained Ministry; in 1996he served on the Subcommitteeon Discipleship.What's it like being adelegate to GeneralConference?"At General Conferenceyou are overwhelmed by theaura, intensity and pace ofaction," he said. "There's alot of controversy. The firstweek you meet in subcommittee to consider resolutions and reportscontained in a book about three inches thick. The second week youattend plenary sessions with all delegates to consider and vote on variousagenda items. You sit from early morning 'tillate at night. The only freetime you have is on Sunday in the middle of the two weeks."Despite all the meetings, Hartman describes General Conference as "a'very spiritual experience, with a lot of prayer and soul-searching." In1996, the church's ordination clause (prohibiting ordination ofhomosexuals) provoked intense and lengthy debate."I voted to reverse what we now do," said Hartman. "I would deleteany reference to sexual orientation. I have some gifted friends who cannotbe ordained as clergy because of their sexual orientation. We need to getaway from judging people and move toward affirming diversity."Hartman also holds the distinction of being the only college studentin the United Methodist Church to serve on the General Council onFinance and Administration (1996-2000). He supports a newapportionment formula for annual conferences within the church and anend to guaranteed appointments for United Methodist clergy. He alsobelieves United Methodists should talk more about the spiritual side ofstewardship."When local churches or annual conferences don't pay theirapportionments, budget cuts have to be made," he explained. "The firstcuts usually come in the areas of youth ministry, young adult ministryand college ministries. The answer to this problem is to get rid ofguaranteed appointments. Churches fail primarily because of poorleadership by the clergy. Not enough clergy are willing to fight to changethings. We need to have equitable compensation, so talented pastors cango to small churches."Last summer Hartman completed a political science internship withthe United Methodist Church's General Board of Church and Society inWashington, DC. He said he enjoyed lobbying Congress and monitoringthe progress of the Employment and Non-Discrimination Act which theUnited Methodist Church supports and which Congress is considering.As proposed, this law would ban job discrimination based on sexualorientation.The Methodist senior wrote a paper about his experience as an intern"Religion in Washington: An Insider's Look" -which he presented at aStudent Lyceum on campus Nov. 29. In that paper he commends theGeneral Board of Church and Society for joining a political coalition(headed by the Leadership Council on Civil Rights and the Human RightsCampaign) to seek congressional passage of ENDA.Hartman feels strongly that United Methodists "need to refocus frompolitical and ideological issues to spiritual and discipleship issues," but heis also optimistic about the future. "I love the United Methodist Churchand what it's doing," he said. "I'm glad we're focusing on small groupministry and mission work. I think that's the way to grow."9 Methodist College
STUDENTSCENEAmazing Turn 01 Events Leads Student To MeLithuanian finds Methodist with help from an Outer Banks residentfall, a fteshman named Zilvinas Mecelis.MethodistHow College he foundenrolled Methodist its fitst College studentis from a temarkable Lithuania story. thisIt began on the Outer Banks June 11. Mecelis was hitchhiking fromKitty Hawk to Corolla and a summer job at Food Lion when a UnitedMethodist named Luke Lucas gave him a ride. Lucas is a constructionsuperintendent with B.D. &A. Realty & Construction, Inc. in Corolla.During the ride, Mecelisexplained ro Lucas that he hadarrived in New York the previousday to take part in the Work andTravel in the USA Program. Hesaid he was on his way to a job atFood Lion (he applied on theInternet) and needed a place to stay.Lucas was impressed withMecelis and offered to let him staywith his family. As the summerprogressed, Mecelis shared hisdream of getting a collegeeducation in America. Thatprompted Lucas to take Mecelis toWilson to meet the Rev. BillPresnell, a Methodist Collegegraduate and trustee. Presnell wasLucas' minister at Kitty HawkUnited Methodist Church severalZilvinas Mecelisyears ago.Presnell was also impressed with Mecelis and referred him to GeorgeBlanc, director of international programs at Methodist. Mecelis appliedfor admission and was accepted. "My family was very happy for me,"he said. "With my summer earnings, some help from Mr. Presnell, anda Transfer Scholarship, I was able to pay for tuition and board for onesemester."Luke Lucas now considers Mecelis part of his family. "He's aremarkable young lad," he said, "very focused and direct. Interestinglyenough, Dare County's motto is 'Land of Beginnings' because the Englishcolonists landed here. It's been a good start for Zilvinas. He's doneeverything he set out to do. His heart is slowly being thawed and warmedup by American love. He wasn't very enamored of religion when he gothere, but is now viewing Christianity a lot differently."Mecelis said the job at Food Lion changed his attitude and motivation."I wrapped and stocked meat," he said. "It made me want an educationeven more."Although his parents are professionals-his mother is a doctor andhis father is an engineer with a gas company-they do not earn enoughmoney to pay for an Americaneducation. An only child,Mecelis attended Tautas MagnusLithuania 3.7 millionispeople a small locatedon countrytheof University in Kaunas, Lithuania,Baltic Sea. It declared its infor one year.Mecelis is taking five coursesthis semester, including two inEnglish as a Second Language.He plans to major in financialeconomics at Methodist and isdependence from the former SovietUnion in 1990, but had a militaryconfrontation with Russia and wasnot secure until 1993, when theCommunist putsch took place inMoscow. MecelisdescribesLithuaniaas "the most Western" of the 15republics that once made up theSoviet Union."Our country has done well," hesaid. "We have manufacturing andfinancial services. We have fivelooking for a summer internshipto help him meet his costs fornext year. He lives in Garber Hallarl~ is a student assistant in theCareer Counseling Center."I like Methodist very much,"he said, "especially the way thepoliticalparriesand a republican formprofessors relate to the students.of government with a Parliament."The staff is very supportive ofstudents. I miss my homecountry and parents, but I've changed a lot and I'm a better studentnow. I really appreciate all those who have helped me.""Back home I was active in politics," said Mecelis. "I started a youthorganization in my hometown, was a member of Lithuanian Children'sCouncil, and was an assistant to a member of Parliament. " The Children'sCouncil is made up of 13 young people who advise Parliament on youthIssues.Zilvinas Mecelis left for home Dee. 11 and will rerurn for the springsemester in January. While there, he plans to take some informationabout Methodist College to three secondary schools. ''I'm going tohelp George Blanc set up a student recruitment program in Lithuania,"he said.Hats 011 to ...• Jerry Hogge and Rob Pilewski '92, who received awards from the Carolinas Section of the Professional Golfers Association Nov.28. Hogge, who serves as associate professor of business administration and director of Methodist's professional golf managementprogram, received the Horton Smith Trophy for outstanding contributions to the Carolinas PGA over the last year.Pilewski, who is assistant professional at Pine NeedJes Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, was named Assistant Professionalof the Year.• Dr. Suzan Cheek, professot of political science, who recently received the 1999 Athena Award from the Fayetteville Chamber ofCommerce. Given at the chamber's Women in Business Leadership conference, the award recognized Dr. Cheek for helpingwomen gain career skills.• the 120 poetry lovers who attended the Nov. 13 poetry reading by Jonathan Minton and Judas Riley Martinez. Minton andMartinez read from their poetry chapbooks.MethodistCollegeToday 10
- Page 2 and 3: Methodist College students, faculty
- Page 4 and 5: CAMPUS NEWSNew ChallengesTally Foru
- Page 6 and 7: 27TH WINTER GRADUATIONCelebrate you
- Page 8 and 9: Members of Coach Bruce Shelley's ba
- Page 10 and 11: A member of the men's soccerteam lo
- Page 14 and 15: Expect an economic slowdown in the
- Page 16 and 17: Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Ann
- Page 18 and 19: ALUMNI1993JENNIFER KIMBALL is getti
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CHURCHShawn Hartman has the motivation and the dedication to help make a differenceto attend his second General Conference of the UnitedNext <strong>Methodist</strong> Maya <strong>Methodist</strong> Church. Shawn CollegeHartman seniot will of Chambersburg, journey to Cleveland PA isone of eight lay persons elected by the Central Pennsylvania Conferenceto attend the quadrennial world meeting of the church.Hartman, 22, is one of 48Shawn Hartman ranksnear thetop of his classacademically andwill graduate next May with adouble major in criminal justiceand political science. He has beenactive in numerous studentorganizationshereand hasreceivedseveral academic and serviceawards. He has been a residentadvisor, peer counselor, andStudent Government Associationsenator and treasurer, and amember of the MC Show Choirand the Christian LYFE Council.He alsofounded theMC ResidenceHall Association and served as adirector of the North CarolinaAssociation of ResidenceHalls.delegates under the age of30and one of three personsorganizing a TUT (TwentyUnder Thirty) Fellowship "toget together and talk aboutissues that affect us." He andother TUT members arealready communicating by email in preparation forGeneral Conference. A totalof 996 delegates are slated toattend.Like other delegates, hehas been assigned to one of10 subcommittees that willrecommend concurrence ornonconcurrence withresolutions submitted forchurch action. Hartman willserve on the Subcommitteeon Higher Education andOrdained Ministry; in 1996he served on the Subcommitteeon Discipleship.What's it like being adelegate to GeneralConference?"At General Conferenceyou are overwhelmed by theaura, intensity and pace ofaction," he said. "There's alot of controversy. The firstweek you meet in subcommittee to consider resolutions and reportscontained in a book about three inches thick. The second week youattend plenary sessions with all delegates to consider and vote on variousagenda items. You sit from early morning 'tillate at night. The only freetime you have is on Sunday in the middle of the two weeks."Despite all the meetings, Hartman describes General Conference as "a'very spiritual experience, with a lot of prayer and soul-searching." In1996, the church's ordination clause (prohibiting ordination ofhomosexuals) provoked intense and lengthy debate."I voted to reverse what we now do," said Hartman. "I would deleteany reference to sexual orientation. I have some gifted friends who cannotbe ordained as clergy because of their sexual orientation. We need to getaway from judging people and move toward affirming diversity."Hartman also holds the distinction of being the only college studentin the United <strong>Methodist</strong> Church to serve on the General Council onFinance and Administration (1996-2000). He supports a newapportionment formula for annual conferences within the church and anend to guaranteed appointments for United <strong>Methodist</strong> clergy. He alsobelieves United <strong>Methodist</strong>s should talk more about the spiritual side ofstewardship."When local churches or annual conferences don't pay theirapportionments, budget cuts have to be made," he explained. "The firstcuts usually come in the areas of youth ministry, young adult ministryand college ministries. The answer to this problem is to get rid ofguaranteed appointments. Churches fail primarily because of poorleadership by the clergy. Not enough clergy are willing to fight to changethings. We need to have equitable compensation, so talented pastors cango to small churches."Last summer Hartman completed a political science internship withthe United <strong>Methodist</strong> Church's General Board of Church and Society inWashington, DC. He said he enjoyed lobbying Congress and monitoringthe progress of the Employment and Non-Discrimination Act which theUnited <strong>Methodist</strong> Church supports and which Congress is considering.As proposed, this law would ban job discrimination based on sexualorientation.The <strong>Methodist</strong> senior wrote a paper about his experience as an intern"Religion in Washington: An Insider's Look" -which he presented at aStudent Lyceum on campus Nov. 29. In that paper he commends theGeneral Board of Church and Society for joining a political coalition(headed by the Leadership Council on Civil Rights and the Human RightsCampaign) to seek congressional passage of ENDA.Hartman feels strongly that United <strong>Methodist</strong>s "need to refocus frompolitical and ideological issues to spiritual and discipleship issues," but heis also optimistic about the future. "I love the United <strong>Methodist</strong> Churchand what it's doing," he said. "I'm glad we're focusing on small groupministry and mission work. I think that's the way to grow."9 <strong>Methodist</strong> College
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