“Making peace after 9/11” is the story of the denomination-wide effort of the people of the United Methodist Church to help those affected by the attacks.
In a series of stories, commentaries, video and audio pieces that revisit many of those called to action that day, this presentation from Sept. 5 to Sept. 14 explains what the people of the church did and how their work changed their lives as well. The package can be found at http://umc.org/911/.
One of those people is the Rev. Myrna Bethke, who lost her younger brother in the twin towers but refuses to seek revenge and has become internationally known as a tireless worker for peace. A video story about Rev. Bethke is available at http://goo.gl/weQfJ.
The Rev. Chuck Ferrara, a former NYPD officer who had become a United Methodist minister, found himself on Sept. 11 in the middle of the rubble of what once were the very streets he patrolled.
Donna Glessner, a homemaker in Shanksville, Pa., wondered why her house shook that day only to learn a plane had crashed nearby. Since then, Glessner has made sure the “heroes of Flight 93” are honored and remembered as she continues to offer support to the families of those who died in the crash. A video story about the United Methodist ambassadors at the Shanksville site is available at http://goo.gl/Hmlu3.
These are only a few of the stories from United Methodists who were motivated to do whatever they could. Their efforts changed them and changed the church.
United Methodist News Service reporter Linda Bloom writes that “The United Methodist Committee on Relief mobilized its resources and worked with relief agencies and other denominations to come to the immediate aid of people who in the New York, New Jersey and Pentagon corridor areas either lost someone in the attacks or lost jobs because of the destruction.
“United Methodists donated $20.8 million to a fund — aptly named ‘Love in the Midst of Tragedy’ — designed to create a response across the denomination to the Sept. 11 attacks on New York’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
“Practical lessons learned through ‘Love in the Midst of Tragedy’ helped UMCOR expand its capabilities in ways that became apparent in the denomination’s response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.”
From Sept. 5 through Sept. 14, United Methodist News Service will continue to tell the stories of its people and 9/11.
The stories, along with links to other resources, appear at http://umc.org/. All stories are available for re-publication without charge. For information, contact: Tim Tanton, newsdesk@umcom.org, 615-742-5470.