Edward Mann (1933-2021)

Published at https://keohane.com/services/edward-f-mann

MEMORIAL SERVICE: 

Sunday, January 16, 2022 1 PM
Marsh Chapel at Boston University
735 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA

Edward Floyd Mann of Weymouth, Massachusetts passed away peacefully due to natural causes on June 18, 2021.

He was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Edward Stebbins Mann and Cora Herrshaft Mann on September 29, 1933. Edward graduated from North Quincy High School and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Nazarene College and a Master’s degree from Boston College; both in Mathematics. He married Carol May Hobson from Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1961 and remained her devoted husband for 57 years until her death in 2018.

January 1992: First ENC Group to Romania

Edward began his career teaching Mathematics at Hanover High School and then worked in academic computing at the Rochester Institute of Technology and Carnegie-Mellon University. Inspired by the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he devoted the next 29 years of his career to the cause of Christian higher education. He served as a Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science and in a variety of administrative positions at Mid-America Nazarene College in Olathe, Kansas; Mt. Vernon Nazarene College in Mt. Vernon, Ohio; and Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts. “Prof Mann” was passionate about social-justice and learning through direct service. While at Eastern Nazarene College, he helped establish their study abroad program, in which students volunteered in Romania orphanages and nursing homes while completing their course work. His door was open to all students and colleagues. His tremendous empathy guaranteed a response of “I understand” and heartfelt spiritual advice.

Romanian Studies Program Students: January 1995 

Ed had a beautiful baritone voice. In college, he sang in several gospel quartets, including with his three brothers. He regularly sang in church and community choirs well into his 80s performing in works by Bach, Mendelssohn, and Handel. In his retirement, he was a devoted grandfather to his five grandchildren; eager to pass on his love of nature, Boston sports teams, and British humor. He also remained academically active, working for the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.

He is survived by his son David Mann and his wife Ruthanne Smith-Mann of Weymouth, Massachusetts; his daughter Laurie Strenge-Mann and her husband David Karl Strenge of Marshfield, Massachusetts; his brothers, Merritt Mann of Weymouth, Massachusetts, Richard Mann of Quincy, Massachusetts, and Robert Mann of Mansfield, Texas; his step-brothers and sister Gordon Angell of New London, Connecticut, Gary Angell of Sonoma, California, and Kathy Angell of Quincy, Massachusetts; and his grandchildren, Margaret Mann, Isaac Mann, Garrit Strenge, Annelore Strenge, and Katharina Strenge and Beate Luethje of Korschenbroich, Germany who joined the family as an exchange student in 1981.

A memorial service in honor will be held on Sunday, January 16 at 1pm at Marsh Chapel on the campus of Boston University.

The address is: 735 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA.

2018 Romanian Studies Program Reunion

More detailed directions are here: https://www.bu.edu/chapel/about/directions/

Important notes associated with COVID:
Please understand that there is possibility that this service could be canceled by Boston University! The COVID numbers in Massachusetts are rising and this service will be subject to the rules of the university, which could change at any time. We will send out an update if there are any changes.
Per policy at Marsh Chapel and Boston University: MASKS AND FULL VACCINATIONS ARE REQUIRED.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Eastern Nazarene College George Floyd Memorial Scholarship Fund. To give by check, please make your check out to Eastern Nazarene College with George Floyd Memorial Scholarship in the memo line and send to 23 E Elm Avenue, Quincy, MA 02170.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the nurses, aides and staff of Pope Nursing Home in Weymouth, Massachusetts, who loved and cared for our father as their own “Poppa”. We are eternally grateful for the grace and dignity you bestowed upon our father, and for your heroism during the COVID crisis.

“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” – John 13:17

ENC Alumni Update: Jonathan Phillips

The following was published in Eastern Nazarene College's ENCounter ENC Newsletter, December 2021:

Rev. Jonathan Phillips (2003) was appointed as the Romania District Superintendent in November 2021. Since 2009, Jonathan has been serving as a missionary with the Church of the Nazarene in Romania. Jonathan first came to Romania in 2001 as a student in ENC’s Romanian Studies Program led by Professor Dorothy Tarrant.

Romania - Local Church Sustainability Project

Licensed Ministers (pictured at the 2019 district
assembly) are now candidates for ordination

Five Romanians have just completed the course of study for ordination in 2021 and are expected to be ordained at the next district assembly. This is a tremendous milestone since there are no ordained ministers on the Romania District. These three men and two women are equipped and are being empowered to take on new leadership roles in the Romania District, both in existing local churches and in starting new works in neighboring communities.

The Romania District is a small district, consisting of 3 small churches – with many church members coming from disadvantaged communities. Since none of the churches are currently capable of financially supporting a pastor’s full salary, district and field leaders are developing local sources of income to support them, such as developing a carpentry business, selling handcrafts made by church members, and renting out church-owned properties. As these activities increase income, the churches will gain the means to support their pastor and cover other expenses.

With their official theological studies now behind them, these five ministers can invest their time previously spent with their studies in seeking to develop these income generating activities. Change, however, does not happen overnight. It will take time and effort to develop these income-generating activities to a point so that each local church can not only support their pastor, but also cover other expenses (like utilities) and fund the overall mission of the church by contributing to the World Evangelism Fund and to the district. It will involve educating church members to be good stewards of the resources with which they have been entrusted.

Project Description

This project partners with local churches to provide up to 5 years of supplemental funding as they become financially sustainable.

• Prior to the implementation of the project, the pastor and local church board, together with the district superintendent, will determine current and potential sources of income, as well as expected expenses. More than a budget, this financial strategy needs to outline specific ways the church will expand income-generating activities to cover their expenses, including specific actions to be taken and a time frame in which each step need to be accomplished.
• The first step is for each local church to focus on covering all utilities from internal sources.
• Next, the local church board will set the pastor’s salary, based on available local church resources. During the first year of the project, while the church is strategizing how to generate additional income and taking initial steps toward this goal, project funds may be used to supplement the take-home pay of the pastor, as long as the local church is contributing a portion. During the second year, project funds may be used to cover up to half of the take-home pay of the pastor. From the beginning of the third year onwards, project funds will no longer be used for take-home pay of the pastor; the local church will need to cover this from locally-generated income.
• Throughout the duration of the project, project funds will be used to cover the contributions to the state related to pastors’ health insurance, income tax, and pension – which combined total an additional 66% of the net income of a salary in Romania. (In other words: for every $100 received “in hand,” $66 additional needs to be paid to the state.) At this point in time, our churches cannot take on this financial burden, but not covering it puts our pastors and their families at risk. At the end of years 3, 4, and 5, the amount of project funds allocated will decrease by a third (33.3%), as the expectation is that the church will be increasingly generating more income.
• In order to continue receiving funding throughout the duration of the project, the pastor, together with the local church board, needs to submit quarterly status reports that outline the progress made and challenges encountered during that quarter, to ensure that steps are intentionally being made toward financial sustainability.

This gradual decrease of project funds will help the church and the pastor prepare for what comes at the end of the 5 year period of the project – either the church has the resources to pay the pastor a full-time salary, or the church will pay what it can and the pastor will need to seek part-time bi-vocational employment elsewhere. Either outcome is acceptable and can be planned for well in advance. Early in this process, each of the three churches will determine which is the most realistic and appropriate scenario for their local church.

Give now to invest in this careful strategy to establish long-term financial support for ministers in Romania.

2021 EuNC Graduation in Romania

The Romania Learning Centre held its graduation ceremony at the Romania District Assembly on Sunday afternoon, November 14. Due to COVID restrictions, the assembly took place on Zoom, with participants in different locations. Rector Mária Gusztinné Tulipán conferred the degrees, which were presented by LC Coordinator Jonathan Phillips and LC Administrator Oana Cristurean. Magda Cini, Nelutu Cini, Roxana Cini, and Relu Cristurean all received the Diploma in Christian Ministry, while Paula Creely graduated with the Advanced Diploma in Applied Theology.

This was a momentous event for several reasons. Not only was it the Romania LC’s largest graduation to date and the first time accredited degrees were earned in Romania, but it also marks a significant step forward for the Romania District. This year’s four DCM graduates and one other minister have now completed the courses required for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene and are approved to be ordained as elders, which will happen in the near future.

Congratulations!
EuNC rejoices in the recent appointment of Romania LC Coordinator Rev. Jonathan Phillips as Romania District Superintendent. We praise God for such blessed leadership in our Districts and pray for guidance on this new journey.

This article was printed in the Graduation 2021 Special Edition of EuNC’s “In Touch” newsletter.

Prayer Mobilization Line: Country of Focus

Nazarene Missions International - Prayer Mobilization Line - October 20, 2021

Romania

 Country of Focus • Fast Facts

General:

Romania—work established in 1992; 3 organized churches; 72 members.

Regional:

Romania is on the Central Europe Field of the Eurasia Region.

Cultural:

Romania, as a nation, dates back to 1862, and gained independence in 1877 from the Ottoman Empire. During the First World War, Romania joined the Allied Powers, and following the war acquired Transylvania as new territory. During the Second World War, it aligned itself with Germany in the invasion of the USSR. However, overrun by the Soviets in 1943, and the establishment of a communist “people’s republic” in 1947, along with the abdication of the king that same year, Romania entered into a period in its history marked with oppressive regimes that continued until 1996, when the communist-dominated government lost power. Romania is now a part of NATO and the European Union (EU).  

Special:

The official language of Romania is Romanian. The majority religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity (82%). Protestant denominations make up only 6.4% of the religious landscape. Recent laws (2006) have made it more difficult for denominations and religious charities to register in the country. Over 24% of the population is under the age of 25 years, and the literacy rate stands at nearly 99%. The poverty rate (nearly 24%), is one of the highest poverty rates in the EU. The country reports more than 1.5 million children are living in poverty. It is estimated that 41% of the Romanian population have no access to running water.  

Mission and Ministry

Ministry Challenges

During the COVID-19 pandemic the number of cases in the Romania has reached 1,398,264 with 40,461 reported deaths.

Romania has been reporting few COVID-19 cases, and particularly in areas where our churches are located, the numbers were low. However, those numbers have begun to rise as more people choose to stay inside as colder weather increases. Because of the physical sizes of our church facilities, maintaining required social distance is not easy, and churches have had to go to online or hybrid delivery of services. Re-engaging church members and communities is proving a challenge, and churches who have done significant compassionate ministries are finding that people are feeling disconnected from the churches because of limited access to buildings. In rural communities, young teenagers during the pandemic lockdowns have been married, with some brides being as young as 13 and 14, with many becoming mothers for the first time. This will, no doubt, have an impact upon this young generation. 

Ministry Approaches

One of the significant ministries in Romania is the Open Door Foundation, helping those who have fallen victim to the human trafficking, primarily of women. God has been doing amazing things in the lives of those being helped by Open Door, and the ministry of the Bucharest Church of the Nazarene. Many have come to faith in Christ and have begun mentoring younger women. The pandemic closures of churches have made it possible for repairs and renovations to take place in our buildings, an unexpected blessing. Also, children in Tigmandru have returned to the Child Sponsorship Program in greater numbers. Many children have been anxiously waiting for the return to in-person programs through the churches, and there is great excitement that these programs are beginning again. Small gathering services have begun in several homes that were not operating before COVID-19. 

Praises

• “We give God thanks that our churches are able to meet together in person again. Even during this time of COVID, people have come to Christ and have been baptized. Ministries to children are growing.” (Josh and Shannon Herndon)
• Give praise to God that visitation to many in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the birth of numerous house churches that are beginning to reach new communities with the Good News of Jesus. 
• “The upcoming district assembly will see five Romanians ordained, a significant milestone since there are currently no ordained Romanians serving on the district.” (Jonathan Phillips)
• Missionaries serving in Romania “give thanks to God that there is renewed motivation and inspiration for the work.” (Casey Bloom)

Prayer Requests

• Pray for the ministry to survivors of human trafficking that is being carried out through the Church of the Nazarene in Bucharest.
• Pray for the work being done in the renovation of local churches, and construction work in Sighisoara.
• Pray for the young mothers in Tigmandru and their children, and that children’s ministries may continue to grow and thrive on the district.
• Pray for the Herndon family as they begin to make preparations for a transition from Romania to Italy, and all that will involve for their children.
• Pray for the continued work of education through EuNC in the preparation of ministers for the Romanian churches.
• Pray that God will continue to increase the unity among the churches, pastors, and congregations, as they seek to carry out their ministries, that new believers will develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, and that there will be a spiritual curiosity about God in communities.
• Pray that the church may be a transformative presence throughout the country.

Join us in Prayer...

 

Bibles, Bricks & Blessings

Audrey Simpson served as a missionary to Romania with the Church of the Nazarene in the 1990s. She has recently written a book with many of her memories.

From Amazon:

"Follow Audrey as she takes you on the Romanian phase of her missionary adventures! From the streets of Bucharest to the mountains of Transylvania and beyond, you can expect to encounter intrigue and exploits of faith that will touch your heart and reveal to you the wonder of God's presence."

Click here to order the book from Amazon.