George W. Bush Presidential Library

The George W. Bush Presidential Library is the future presidential library of George W. Bush, announced to be located on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Construction of the library is planned to begin in 2009, and is expected to cost $200 million to $500 million. [] A group of Methodists, including ten active and retired bishops, launched a petition to opposing plans to build the library and museum at SMU. [cite web| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/18/AR2007011800796.html?nav=hcmodule| title = Methodists: No Bush Library at SMU| last = Brown| first = Angela K.| date = January 18, 2007| work = Washington Post ] The petition, called the [http://www.protectsmu.org/ Protect SMU Petition] says that " [a] s United Methodists, we believe that the linking of his presidency with a university bearing the Methodist name is utterly inappropriate" and calls on "Board of Trustees of Southern Methodist University and the South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church to reject this project".

When asked why he was leading the movement, the Rev. Doctor Andrew Weaver explained "Bush has not been willing to speak with Methodist bishops about the war, but he will meet with Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. Why now is he choosing a Methodist school for his library and think tank?" [cite web| url = http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4481941.html| title = Clergy protest Bush library| accessdate = 2007-01-24 | last = Korosec| first = Thomas| work = Houston Chronicle| quote = "What this (petition) will show is there are a lot of Methodists out there who don't wish to give him the gift of our good name because he doesn't deserve it," said the Rev. Andrew Weaver of Brooklyn, N.Y. "Bush has not been willing to speak with Methodist bishops about the war, but he will meet with Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. Why now is he choosing a Methodist school for his library and think tank?" asked Weaver, who graduated from SMU's Perkins School of Theology.]

At the 2008 General Conference of the United Methodist Church, a petition for SMU to reject the Bush library was presented and agreed on by a land slide.fact|date=August 2008

It was subesquently referred to the South Central Jurisdiction for action.

Design contest

The architect Robert A.M. Stern, dean of the architecture school at Yale University, was picked to design the library. The building will reportedly cost between $200 million and $500 million. [cite web| url = http://media.www.smudailycampus.com/media/storage/paper949/news/2007/08/29/News/Architect.Selected.For.Bush.Library.Project-2941602.shtml| title = Architect selected for Bush library project| last = Norris| first = Mark| date = August 29, 2007| work = 'The Daily Campus' ]

The "Chronicle of Higher Education" held its own contest to design the George W. Bush Presidential Library, asking readers to send in designs on the backs of envelopes. About 120 people responded to the contest, and 18 finalists were chosen. The finalists depicted the library in styles that represented a fun house, a bunker, an ancient temple, a cross, a "state of being", among other engaging and satirical designs. [cite web| url = http://chronicle.com/free/v54/i26/26b01401.htm| title = The Back-of-the-Envelope Design Contest| last = Carlson| first = Scott| date = March 7, 2008| work = Chronicle of Higher Education ]

References

ee also

*Stephen Payne (lobbyist)