United Methodists outside of Liberia tend to forget that the west Africa nation continues to struggle with the after-effects of a devastating 16-year civil war that began in 1989 with an uprising led by Charles Taylor. The Daily Observer of Liberia recently reported on United Methodist efforts to bring about truth and reconciliation in the country. Simeon S. Wiakanty wrote:
"Jefferson Knight, executive director of the United Methodist Human Rights Monitor, said his institution remains supportive of the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia, “because it is time to address the culture of impunity in the country.”
"Knight said if Liberia as a nation must move forward in sustaining peace and stability, it is about time that the government begins to address the issue of impunity which, for far too long, has exempted people accused of crimes, especially heinous crimes, from being punished or free from the injurious consequences of their individual or collective actions against fellow human beings.
"He spoke to the Daily Observer recently at the end of a two-day workshop organized by the Faith and Justice Network-Liberia. The workshop was held in Monrovia under the auspices of the Faith and Justice Network of the Mano River basin."
New evidence submitted in Bay View case
Bay View Association Photo
Bay View Association
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging religious discrimination by a historic Methodist seasonal resort in Michigan have submitted to federal court an email that appears to show some Bay View Association officials intended to tighten its screening process after a recent vote by members to remove religious requirements from its membership by-laws. William T. Perkins of the Petoskey News-Review in Michigan writes:
"The evidence was recently submitted to a federal court by the Bay View Chautauqua Inclusiveness Group, which filed suit against the association. The evidence includes an Aug. 8 email from Jon Chism, Bay View president, to Stan Sutton, membership committee chair. That email involved a response to a vote four days earlier in which nearly 70 percent of Bay View residents agreed to to strike a requirement from their bylaws requiring that prospective association members be of 'Christian persuasion.'
“'Past Bay View member surveys have shown there is strong Member support to keep Bay View as a Christian community,' the email states. 'With the passage of the new membership By-law, which includes the Mission Statement, the Board of Trustees believes the Membership Committee must step up as the gatekeeper of Bay View’s Christian culture.'
"Bay View is a seasonal resort community just east of Petoskey which was founded as a Methodist campground, and offers cultural, recreational and religious programming. Residents must obtain membership to lease property on the Bay View Association campus."
The lawsuit was brought originally by heirs of a Bay View resident who aren't Christian but wanted to lease the property. Other potential owners/lessees who had been rebuffed by the organization also joined the discrimination lawsuit.
The News Round-Up is compiled by United Methodist Insight Editor Cynthia B. Astle.