Quick Takes:

2 From District in Philippines with Bishop

Updated February 16, 2007

The Rev. Dante Tangonan of Geneva Avenue UMC, and the Rev. Susan Griffin, a deacon at Bethany UMC and a Golden Gate district lawyer -- both from San Francisco -- are part of a 19-person fact-finding mission from the California-Nevada Annual Conference to the Philippines from February 14 to 24. Bishop Beverly J. Shamana is among the group, as well as Rev. Tangonan's son, who is producing a film documentary of the visit. Rev. Tangonan said the trip is to look into the "disappearances, killings, and human rights violations in the Philippines. The tension generated by this volatile situation among clergy, laity, the military and the government has resulted into a very unstable political climate." Rev. Griffin asked for prayers for safety, recalling the murders of four nuns in El Salvador in 1980 on a similar mission. The Rev. Al Dale, a retired California-Nevada pastor who served Geneva Avenue UMC in the late 1950s, commented: "I am very aware of the U.S. military sponsorship of war crimes in the Philippines since our government's return to the islands a few years ago. I have seen reports of over 600 persons assassinated: teachers, nurses, labor organizers, community leaders and pastors. I have our friends from the islands in my prayers every day"...

Carol Robb, a member of First UMC of San Rafael and a teacher at San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) in San Anselmo, was amazed in an October Marin Independent Journal article that many of Marin County's "skeptical" artists nevertheless seem to like to choose her church to display their works. "These artists certainly have other outlets for their artistry, mostly in private homes, but something inspires them to place their work in our church." Responding to the invitation of the daily newspaper to offer articles for its Saturday religion section called "Sacred Space," Robb also noted that many seemingly small acts of service done by members leave lasting legacies, even when life calls them to move on geographically or spiritually... In December, San Rafael First member Alison Hendley, a student at SFTS, also responded to the IJ's article invitation. She wrote of her current help with reconstruction in New Orleans. Hendley wrote of also working with an Awesome Girls Mentoring Program for 9-to-18-year-olds, many of whom are still displaced from Hurricane Katrina and living in FEMA trailers. "These girls have had such a lot to deal with in their short lives, yet this program teaches them that they do have choices. And while the program does not change the chaos of their physical surroundings, it does help them feel strong, valuable, and give them hope"...

Suzi Jestadt, the member of First UMC of San Rafael who started the ministry to San Quentin prison in 2004, reported to her church conference in November: "I have had the unique experience of getting to know the men very well [and] their ability to deal with being in prison. Their ability to stay positive and devout has been inspirational for me. It has become a huge focus of my life, and I feel I have a responsibility to work on educating as many people as I can reach about the realities of the prison system. This experience has changed my life."