2014 has been an eventful year for United Methodist Men.
Conference Presidents
In March, the National Association of Conference Presidents celebrated the presence of 3,745 chartered units of UM Men, an increase of 149 units over the preceding year. Twenty conferences maintained or increased the number of EMS members (Every Man Shares in Evangelism, Mission and Spiritual Life).
During that conference, the men noted the creation of a new Susanna Wesley Award of Excellence and presented the first award to Martha Davis, GCUMM executive operations officer. During the year, an additional 35 women received the honor, and 12 people were inducted into the John Wesley Society.
During the year, UM Men contributed $35,688 to the Upper Room Living Prayer Center that enabled a total of 246,540 prayers to be answered by volunteers including 148 prayer line groups.
During the NACP meeting, the Society of St. Andrew thanked the men for contributing $191,000 to Meals for Millions. Indiana Conference was honored for having the highest total of $29,300.
General Commission
In September , the General Commission on UM Men and conference presidents of UM Men agreed to find ways to eliminate domestic violence by working in annual conference, creating a resource center and becoming models for other men.
During the meeting, commission members learned that the UM Men Foundation has assets totaling $2.3 million, and the board is now receiving support from the UMC Foundation.
Strength for Service
During the year, the commission created a non-denomination Strength for Service board of directors to assume promotion for Strength for Service to God and Country, a 72-year old book for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and Strength for Service to God and Community, a two-year old book of daily devotions for first responders.
L.W. Smith was elected as chairman of the SFS Board. A total of 485,000 copies of the military book have been distributed and 28,000 copies of the new book have been presented to police officers, fire fighters and other community servants.
Scouting
• 28 Scout leaders participated in the 2014 training expeierence at the Philmont Trining Center in New Mexico
• Ty LaValley was named as a Scouting missionary in Cote d’Ivorie
• The Latimer High-Adventure Center, a 1,550 acre camp in Tennessee, was dedicated.
• Bishop James Swanson, president of the General Commission on UM Men spoke to 1,500 attending a Duty to God breakfast at the National BSA gathering in Nashville.
• 6,500 Backpacking New Testaments were presented to Scouts at the Philmont Scout Ranch, the Northern Tier Base Camps, the Summit Reservation, and the Florida Sea Base.
• 6,300 UM youngsters earned PRAY (Programs of Religious Activities with Youth) Awards, tops among all denominations.
• 365,565 United Methodists involved in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturing, second highest of all denominations
Deaths
Gwen Peck Cole, 91, best known for the $500,000 gift to create a mortgage-free Ed and Gwen Cole Center, the Nashville office of the General Commission on UM Men.
Roy Lifsey, 82, former chairman of the Section on UM Men in the General Board of Discipleship and one of the men behind the creation of the commission during the 1996 General Conference.
Ed Russell Clark, 74, former president of the Western Jurisdiction of United Methodist Men.
George D. Duvall, 66, a legacy builder and life member of United Methodist Men.
Tom Carter Jr. 81, former president of the Florida Annual Conference UM Men and a member of the John Wesley Society.