NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Men must feel they have done something that makes a difference if they are to be attracted to United Methodist churches, according to the newly elected president of the denomination's Commission on United Methodist Men.
The United Methodist News Service reports that Gil Hanke, a layman from Nacogdoches, Texas, challenged members of the commission that met Sept. 20-22 in Nashville, to help men recapture a "doing spirit." The lack of church leadership by men is "frightening," he said, and the participation of men under 40 "pathetic."
Hanke, who was elected president of the commission, said he has observed that the most popular activities for men are Scouting, prayer life, hunger relief, missions and Christ-centered fellowship. "All these have in common the desire to be 'doers of the word'," he said.
The Rev. Joseph Harris, re-elected staff executive of the commission, a post he has held since 1996, stressed the importance of "reaching the hearts of men," particularly the next generation.
"Younger men want to experience the faith, not just be told about it," he said. "They want to be participants, not spectators."
Continuing the theme of "doing," Harris urged the commission to give priority to hands-on ministry to help those in need during the next four years.
Commission members approved a "Legacy Builder" program that will seek monthly contributions from men to support the goal of "setting the hearts of millions of men on fire for Christ within and through the United Methodist Church."
The church's General Conference asked the commission to conduct a study of men in the church. Harris said the study, a first for the denomination, will "put some facts behind our theories" and will be "critical to the future of the United Methodist Church as we address why men are not participating in our churches in greater numbers."
