NEWS

• Don Vermilyea completes 10,000th mile of his Walk Across America.
  
• Record number train for Ministry Summer Service.
  
• Disaster grants fund storm relief, aid Sudan and Sierra Leone.
  
• Puerto Rican churches hold 18th annual assembly.
  
• Brethren bits: Personnel, 'Pennies for Seeds,' and much more.

PERSONNEL

• Mission staff complete terms of service in Nigeria.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• ABC offers seminar on older adult ministry, disabilities listserve.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW

• International visitors are refused visas for Annual Conference.

FEATURE

• 'Out of context' milestone prompts writer's reflection.

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Don Vermilyea completes 10,000th mile of his Walk Across America.

"We're calling it 10,000," said Don Vermilyea as he completed 9,999 3/4 miles of his Walk Across America. A Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) worker on a mission to connect Brethren gathering places by walking to each Church of the Brethren congregation in the United States, Vermilyea has been walking since Feb. 2, 2002. On June 15 his 10,000th mile took him through the door of a country church just like many of those he has visited in the wide-open west—the Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren, located on a gravel road three miles from York, N.D.

Vermilyea's walk is sponsored by BVS and the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office. When he visits a congregation, Vermilyea offers to preach, teach, or simply join in worship. Host congregations provide housing and simple meals and congregation members are invited to walk along for a few yards or a few miles. Vermilyea takes donations to a walk fund that benefits the Global Food Crisis Fund and the Emergency Disaster Fund.

The walk challenges Vermilyea with times of discouragement, loneliness, and weakness, as well as times when God gives him new strength. "When I look at it one day at a time, one step at a time, it's easier to deal with," he said in a telephone interview. "Sometimes I say to myself, why am I doing this?"

That kind of honesty is why the walk works, he said. Vermilyea doesn't tailor his message—about the need for peace and justice in this world—to the different kinds of congregations he visits or the different types of people he meets on the way. His basic message is clear. "God is truly great," he said. "We just need to pay attention."

Vermilyea started walking in Tucson, Ariz.; headed west to California; north to Oregon, Washington, and Idaho where he spent the winter of 2002; crossed the Rocky Mountains in the summer of 2003; and visited congregations of the plains states, where he continues to walk this summer. "I predicted the walk would take five years and 5-10,000 miles," he said. "It's going to be a few more," he added, as he looked forward to the next steps on a journey that eventually will take him all the way to the east coast. From Pleasant Valley he plans to visit Prairie Peace Fellowship in Surrey, N.D., then will take two weeks to walk to the Big Sky American Baptist/Brethren Church in Froid, Mont., and then will walk 700 miles to Worthington (Minn.) Church of the Brethren. Then he will head south again, hoping to be in south Texas in Jan. 2005.

Vermilyea is ready to retire his sixth pair of shoes, which will be auctioned off at the Northern Plains District Conference on the same day that his fifth pair—retired in McPherson, Kan.—will be auctioned at the Western Plains District Conference. "The more they get worn out, the more money they'll bring," he said.

"I ask for your prayers," he said to all who will read this article. "This walk works by my relationship with the Lord and the prayers of others."

For more information call 800-323-8039 ext. 239 to hear Vermilyea's telephone updates or log on to www.brethren.org and click on the keyword box to find "Walk Across America."

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Record number train for Ministry Summer Service.

A record number of interns met in Richmond, Ind., June 5-11 for this year's Ministry Summer Service (MSS) orientation. Some late additions raised the total number of young adults participating to 17, the highest total in the program's nine years. The program sponsored by the General Board's Youth/Young Adult Ministries office gives young adults ages 18-24 an opportunity to explore ministry options under the guidance of a mentor. Interns serve for nine weeks in congregational or other church-related settings.

Ministry Office director Mary Jo Flory-Steury and Youth/Young Adult Ministries director Chris Douglas led many of this year's sessions. Faculty from Bethany Theological Seminary, Southern Ohio District executive Mark Flory Steury, and other denominational staff provided additional leadership. Topics addressed included Brethren heritage, personality styles, ministerial ethics, and church polity. The group also worshiped at Richmond Church of the Brethren, visited the Bethany campus, and took turns leading devotions. Mentors arrived for the final three days of the orientation, getting to know their interns and building plans for the summer. The week concluded with a commissioning service.

Ten female and seven male interns are participating this year. Ten are serving in congregations, others are working with camps, on the Youth Peace Travel Team, with youth workcamps, in the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, and with Companeros en Ministerio of Tijuana, Mexico.

More than 100 young adults have been part of MSS since it began in 1996. The challenge now is to secure support so the program can continue. Underwritten by an individual donor for its first eight years, the program now requires other funding. General Board staff are seeking donors and funding resources.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Disaster grants fund storm relief, aid Sudan and Sierra Leone.

A total of $55,000 in grants from the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund have been given to storm relief efforts and to aid Sudan and Sierra Leone.

A grant of $20,000 will continue funding a long-term Emergency Response project in Poquoson, Va. The repair and rebuilding project was begun following Hurricane Isabel, which caused extensive coastal damage in Sept. 2003. The project is expected to continue into 2005.

In the aftermath of a multitude of spring storms and extreme weather across the US, an allocation of $10,000 supports a Church World Service (CWS) appeal for aid. Since April, 520 tornadoes have caused deaths and injuries in 14 states and Puerto Rico, and widespread damage including the destruction of homes, power outages, flooding, and thousands of tons of debris. The spring storms relief effort also includes shipments of supplies from the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., and a grant of $5,000 to fund Disaster Child Care in affected areas. The child care program has deployed volunteers in Nebraska, following a tornado in Hallam, and in West Virginia where four counties—Mingo, Raleigh, Wyoming, and Logan—have had repeated flood damage.

Another $5,000 has been given to open a flood recovery project in Greenbrief County, W.Va. Last November, storms again flooded numerous communities that already had suffered multiple floods in less than two years. About 19 families currently await assistance from the Brethren volunteers who are doing repair work, Emergency Response staff reported.

The Church of the Brethren has responded to an appeal for Sudan with $15,000 to help displaced people in the Darfur region with food, medicine, water, and agricultural training. Sudan is holding peace talks to end its civil war but continues to experience violence. "One of the worst humanitarian crises in Africa has been unfolding in Darfur," according to the appeal from CWS, which said that the area has suffered systematic killings, the burning of villages, and human rights violations by militias tied to the government.

The Brethren fund also is supporting civil war recovery in Sierra Leone, sending $10,000 to a community empowerment and sensitization project for children, youth, and young workers. Following a decade-long civil war, the grant will support a program combining education, food production, and skills and management training as an alternative to armed conflict.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Puerto Rican churches hold 18th annual assembly.

The 18th annual island-wide assembly of Church of the Brethren congregations in Puerto Rico was held at Cristo Nuestra Paz Fellowship in Yahuecas on June 4-5.

Opening the weekend event was a workshop on leadership led by Carol L. Yeazell, General Board Congregational Life Team staff from Area 3-Southeast. Evening worship began with Miguel Alicea, pastor of Rio Prieto, Iglesia de los Hermanos, preaching on the conference theme "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season..." from Psa. 1:3a.

Under the leadership of Maria Otero, moderator and member of the Vega Baja congregation, 23 delegates heard reports, voted to recognize La Casa del Amigo, Santana Arecibo, as a fellowship, and approve a budget. Lydia Fernandini was chosen as moderator elect. A group from La Casa del Amigo shared about exciting work being done in Arecibo where 25-30 young people now gather on a weekly basis for worship, teaching, and fun in a drug-free environment. Already the testimonies of changed lives is resulting in church growth for this new church plant.

Wilson Novia, fraternal delegate from the Dominican Republic, gave a report on the crises involving Haiti and the DR. No Church of the Brethren congregation was affected directly by recent flooding on the border of the two countries, but extended family and friends of church members suffered losses. The Dominican Brethren are making plans to assist with construction of 20 homes and are at work to provide needed medical and material aid to those who have been left bereft.

Next year's annual assembly will take place in Vega Baja on June 3-4, 2005.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Brethren bits: Personnel, 'Pennies for Seeds,' and much more.

• Leland W. Flora, director of admissions for Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., has announced his resignation effective June 30. He served Bethany just under one year. Prior to his work at Bethany, Flora was a teacher, assistant principal, and for 27 years a personnel supervisor for the Prince William County, Va., public schools. He plans to enjoy more time in retirement and volunteer activities.
  
  
• Bethany Theological Seminary announces the appointment of two associates in the Institutional Advancement office. Theresa Eshbach, who earlier this year announced her retirement as executive director of Institutional Advancement, will continue in this new capacity half time, working from her home in York County, Pa. Fred Bernhard, pastor of Oakland Church of the Brethren in Greenville, Ohio, will join Bethany's staff, working from his home in Arcanum, Ohio. Bernhard and Eshbach will serve for two years as Bethany completes its "Inspired by the Spirit, Educating for Ministry" financial campaign.
  
  
• McPherson (Kan.) College has named Michael Schneider vice president of advancement, a role in which he will provide leadership for career services, communications, and development. Schneider has served the college as director of career services since Aug. 2002. He is a 1996 graduate of McPherson and completed an MBA at the University of Denver.
  
  
• Bethany Theological Seminary announces an opening for director of admissions, available immediately. The school seeks a creative professional to help identify and encourage leaders to develop their gifts through graduate theological education. The director of admissions will be responsible for student development and recruitment, will represent the seminary at off-campus events, and travel to visit students and attend camps and conferences. Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree with seminary experience preferred. Understanding of the Church of the Brethren is required. Two to five years of professional experience in a field working with people is valuable. Applicants should demonstrate skills in communication, listening, organization, and the ability to help individuals discern vocational direction. Experience in communication technology and multicultural recruitment is a plus. Bethany is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from those who can enhance the breadth and diversity of the educational community. Submit a letter of application and resume to the Executive Director of Student and Business Services, Bethany Theological Seminary, 615 National Rd. W., Richmond, IN 47374.
  
  
• McPherson (Kan.) College is accepting applications for director of development and director of career services. In a recent release the college announced that it has restructured its advancement department to replace the position of director of alumni and community relations with a second director of development. Each development position will provide constituent relations from a team approach. Members of the development team will lead alumni events and coordinate community programming. For more information contact Michael Schneider, vice president of advancement, at 620-241-0742 ext. 1227 or e-mail schneidm@mcpherson.edu.
  
  
• After the children of Calvary Church of the Brethren in Winchester, Va., collected "Pennies for Seeds" for the Global Food Crisis Fund, someone left an anonymous donation at the church office: a five-gallon bucket full of pennies. Karol Hottle, the Sunday school superintendent who already had counted and wrapped most of the $225 worth of pennies collected by the children, knew she needed help when the bucket showed up. She took the bucket to a bank that wrapped 207 more rolls of pennies—10,396 in all. "Our check for Pennies for Seeds came to $332.24," she said. "We also got two washers, one button, two foreign coins, and three paper clips! This morning, there was a small bank envelope with more pennies in my church box. This project not only helped the hungry, but it got a bunch of pennies back in circulation!" Hottle wrote in a follow-up note to General Board staff, "Next year I think we'll do 'Dollars 4 Seeds'!"
  
  
• A "19th Annual Run for Peace" and "4th Annual Walk for Peace" will begin at 8:15 a.m. June 28 at Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. Runners and walkers will follow a course through town and the Elizabethtown College campus. A 5K run, 10K run, and 5K walk will be held. Registration costs $15 before June 21, then $20 until race day. This year's beneficiaries are the Brethren Housing Association and the Emergency Disaster Fund, according to the church's newsletter. For more information visit www.etown.edu/cob/peace-run-walk.htm.
  
  
• A program on Civilian Public Service will be presented by Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center, 2 p.m. June 19 at Garbers Church of the Brethren, Harrisonburg, Va. The video "A Life of Peace in a Time of War" will be shown followed by a discussion. Exhibits will highlight the CPS story. Al Keim, first director of the center and author of "The Politics of Conscience" and "The CPS Story" is the program coordinator. For more information call 540-438-1275.
  
  
• Volunteers to help with the blood drive and a display booth at this year's Annual Conference in Charleston, W.Va., are sought by the General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries. The blood drive will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 5 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 6, and five volunteers are needed each day to help with registration, escort donors, and serve in the canteen. Volunteers also are sought to staff the ER/SM booth, to greet guests and answer questions related to the Disaster Response and Disaster Child Care programs. Contact Diane Gosnell at 800-451-4407.
  
  
• Helen Stonesifer and Glenn and Helen Kinsel, of the General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries, attended a Region III Disaster Child Care Reunion at the home of Jean and Carl Myers in Sinking Spring, Pa., on June 5. Approximately 28 child care givers attended the event from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. "Everyone had a great time of fellowship, fun, sharing disaster response pictures and stories," reported Stonesifer.
  
  
• Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 260 is holding a potluck 6 p.m. July 31 for former BVS workers and Civilian Public Service (CPS) workers and anyone connected to BVS or CPS in the area of Union Bridge, Md. The potluck will be held at Union Bridge Church of the Brethren. "We see this potluck as a wonderful opportunity for the volunteers in training from Unit 260 to be able to connect with people who have done similar service," said Sam Bowman, assistant to orientation. "Please bring a covered dish to share, or any other type of food for the potluck. There will be a short informal time of introduction and sharing. We hope to see you there."
  
  
• Brethren Village, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Lancaster, Pa., was given attention in a Workforce Management publication reported Ralph McFadden, staff for the Association of Brethren Caregivers' Fellowship of Brethren Homes. Under the title, "They Don't Retire Them, They Hire Them," Brethren Village was commended for its policy of hiring older adults. The article noted the leadership of David Fleming, who heads human resources. "Because Lancaster is an older area, so is Brethren's workforce: 34 percent of its workers are over age 50," the article read in part. "Fleming goes to senior job fairs when he stresses the many job attributes at Brethren that surveys show are particularly important to older workers....If workers want to spend the winter in Florida, Brethren will be happy to employ them during the warmer months. Knowing that health insurance can be a hot-button topic for older workers, Brethren gives health-care coverage year-round to part-time workers."
  
  
• The Cedars, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in McPherson, Kan., was honored April 29 with two awards from the Kansas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. The Cedars received a Clinical Care Award for its risk management program, which demonstrated significant improvement for residents in the areas of weight, skin integrity, fall prevention, restraints, infections, and pain. The Cedars also received a Recognition Award that is presented to association members receiving three or fewer nursing care deficiencies on their annual surveys. The Cedars received only two.
  
  
• The Good Shepherd Home, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Fostoria, Ohio, went to extremes to make the news in May, according to Ralph McFadden, staff of the Association of Brethren Caregivers' Fellowship of Brethren Homes. The town newspaper ran an article titled, "Stag wreaks havoc, injury at Good Shepherd" after a deer jumped through a window in the home's assisted living facility at about 3:30 a.m. on May 20, injuring two residents and three staff members. The police and fire departments captured the deer. The home's executive director Chris Widman noted that the response of the home's staff to the emergency was tremendous.
  
  
• Heifer International's 60th anniversary will be celebrated June 25-27 at HI's Midwest Regional Center in Goshen, Ind. The event will recognize the beginnings of HI in Elkhart County, where Church of the Brethren leader Dan West first found support for a shipment of heifers to Spain in 1944. The weekend will include educational forums, dedication of the center, a Ken Medema concert, animal displays at the Elkhart County fairgrounds, speakers from HI projects around the world, a celebration banquet at Greencroft Senior Center, and church services Sunday morning. A Dan West monologue co-authored by his daughter, Jan Schrock, will be performed at the banquet by Brian Kruschwitz, a former Brethren Volunteer Service worker. Registration is required for the concert and banquet. For more information call 574-642-3096.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Mission staff complete terms of service in Nigeria.

John and Patty Crumley, mission staff of the General Board in Nigeria, have completed their term of service and have returned to the United States. Program volunteers Gerald and Eleanor Roller also have returned to the US.

The Crumleys began their work in Nigeria in 1999. Patty taught music at Hillcrest School in the town of Jos, and John filled a variety of mission support positions including the tutoring of students and working on buildings and grounds projects at Hillcrest. For the past year John also has taught at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria.

Also completing a term of service in Nigeria are Gerald and Eleanor Roller, who have served for six months as program volunteers in the areas of leadership training, marriage enrichment, and the Rural Health Program.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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ABC offers seminar on older adult ministry, disabilities listserve.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) is offering "A Seminar on Effective Ministry for, by, and with Older Adults" in conjunction with its National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) in Lake Junaluska, N.C., Sept. 6-8. The association also has a new listserve for those interested in disabilities issues.

Keynote leader for the seminar will be Ted Sample, coordinator of the Network for the Study of US Lifestyles which has focused attention on generational research. Church of the Brethren presenters also will provide leadership for the event, which is designed for clergy, chaplains, retirement center personnel, social workers, and lay leaders involved in older adult ministry.

Clergy will receive one continuing education unit and EFSM/TRIM students who attend may receive one ministry skills unit through the Brethren Academy. Registration for the seminar includes participation in NOAC. Cost is $175, $285 for EFSM/TRIM students. For more information contact ABC staff member Scott Douglas at 800-323-8039 ext. 303.

ABC has launched a new e-mail listserve for individuals and congregations interested in discussing disability issues and concerns. The listserve is a ministry of the Church and Persons with Disabilities Network. To subscribe to the list, go to http://listserver.emountain.net/mailman/listinfo/cpdn and follow the instructions.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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International visitors are refused visas for Annual Conference.

Several international guests who were invited to attend Annual Conference this year were not able to get visas to enter the United States. Those denied visas include Anastasia Buena, moderator of Iglesia de los Hermanos (Church of the Brethren) in the Dominican Republic; her husband, pastor Isaias Pena of San Luis Iglesia de Los Hermanos; Filibus Gwama, president of Ekklesiyar Yanuwa a Nigeria (EYN—the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria); and Yohanna Y. Balami, EYN's general secretary.

Although a July 6 insight session that was to feature the Nigerian leadership will be canceled, an International Welcome Dinner on July 3 will still take place with speakers Jeff and Peggy Boshart, mission staff for economic development in the Dominican Republic. Another July 5 evening insight session that was to be led by Buena may still take place as well.

Haruun Ruun, executive secretary of the New Sudan Council of Churches, will attend the Conference to speak about efforts for peace in Sudan. He will be accompanied by Merlyn Kettering, NSCC strategic advisor. Ruun will be at the International Welcome Dinner and will be the featured speaker for the Global Ministries Dinner and an insight session on July 6.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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'Out of context' milestone prompts writer's reflection.

Nearly ten years, two churches, and four computers later, the 500th meditation in my weekly feature "Out of Context" will appear in the June 27 lesson of the Brethren Press curriculum "A Guide for Biblical Studies," in the issue for June, July, and August 2004.

The feature has appeared without a break as I moved from Indiana to Pennsylvania, traded in my Atari 800XL word processor for the first in a series of PCs and laptops, and said goodbye to my children and hello to the empty nest I share with my spouse, Jennie.

Each week, "Out of Context" hones in on a Bible verse to provide a second focus to complement the lesson. The result is a meditation built around a personal experience, a figure from Brethren history, an observation about the natural universe, or a reminiscence about a friend or place. In some I have written about my travels (always on the cheap). In others I've given a glimpse of my personal life (usually at my expense). Often I uncover some facet of the lesson I was pretty sure was too odd for the writer assigned to the quarter. Some are poignant, some funny, and most, I hope, are thought provoking. All, I pray, give glory to God.

The idea for "Out of Context" was loosely based on the work of a friend and fellow writer, Bob Baker, of Elkhart, Ind. Bob wrote a short weekly feature called "If I Taught the Lesson" for the Mennonite publication "The Builder." The more I thought about Bob's feature, the more I realized I'd like to try something like it. Julie Garber, then editor of Brethren Press, sounded intrigued. She asked me what I wanted to call the feature. I hadn't given it a lot of thought, but I blurted the words, "Out of Context." The name stuck.

I do a lot of writing, but nothing is as much fun as "Out of Context." Originally the meaning of the title was my belief that out of context comes meaning. In other words, look at the context of a Bible verse and you'll have a better idea what the writer—and God—was trying to say. In the end I liked the title for itself. I was taking verses out of context and seeing where they led me.

In an interesting coincidence, both the first and the 500th "Out of Context" accompanied lessons written by Nancy Heishman. The first "Out of Context" was based on Matthew 3:4 and the odd appearance of John the Baptist. I tied the verse to the theft of part of an outdoor nativity set at the Elkhart City (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, and how pastor David Bibbee made lemonade out of lemons by putting a sign out front promoting an upcoming service with the saying "The Manger Is Empty! Find Out Why!"

The 500th meditation includes a memory of a meal shared with a poor family in Guatemala, and the reference to Melchizedek in Hebrews 5:6. The hosts of the meal were survivors of a brutal civil war and both had lost spouses who had been murdered during the conflict. Over a meal of black beans, rice, and corn tortillas in a cramped, smoke-stained kitchen, I pointed out that just as Melchizedek's lone encounter with Abraham echoed over the centuries, so our brief encounter made a lasting impression and sharpened our desire for ministry and service in the name of Jesus. That simple meal prefigured the common meal we all will share at the heavenly banquet table.

—Frank Ramirez is pastor of Everett (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and frequently writes for Brethren publications.

Source: 6/18/2004 Newsline
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Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Sam Bowman, Ralph McFadden, Marcia Shetler, Helen Stonesifer, Walt Wiltschek, and Carol Yeazell contributed to this report.

Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.

NEWS

• Planners refine process, goals for ecclesiology consultation.
  
• On Earth Peace builds on 30 years of peacemaking.
  
• BBT reviews accomplishments in Socially Responsible Investing.
  
• General Board renews emphasis on stewardship.
  
• Church planting event develops 'deep roots, strong wings.'
  
• Spiritual Directors' Network holds retreat.
  
• Brethren bits: remembrance, personnel, and more.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW

• Annual Conference Council issues invitation to conversation hour.

FEATURE

• Yum! shareholders' meeting hardly yummy.

Planners refine process, goals for ecclesiology consultation.

A unique group of high-level Church of the Brethren leaders met May 12-13 at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., for a thoughtful and, at moments, passionate planning session for a denomination-wide consultation on ecclesiology, or the nature of the church. The broad intent of the work is to help bring about a renewal of the church. The consultation was initiated in 2003 with a statement from the district executives identifying fragmentation in the denomination and calling for conversation "concerning who, whose, and what we are."

The planning group, a gathering of church leaders that may not occur in any other setting, includes district executives and representatives of Annual Conference and Conference agencies, and is not consistently the same group of individuals. This was the third meeting for the group, which wrestled with practical matters such as how to ensure participation by the diversity of the denomination, how to identify an evocative theme, how to acquire funding, how to train facilitators for the discussion, and how to structure a launch event for the consultation.

The group is requesting of the Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee that the launch event be a day at the 2006 Conference in which ordinary business is set aside. Conference was identified as a forum to ensure as broad a representation of the denomination as possible. If the request for Conference time cannot be met, a separate launch event will be held. The process will continue with regional events and a culminating celebration in 2007. A key component will be a study guide, prepared for the launch event and then made available to the denomination. Districts will be invited to use the consultation theme for their 2006 conferences.

Ron and Harriet Finney agreed to be volunteer coordinators for the regional events and for a training event for those who will facilitate the discussions. The Finneys are retired from leadership in South/Central Indiana District and Harriet was moderator of the 2003 Conference.

At the meeting, discussion came to focus on a spiritually searching question, What is God's yearning for the Church of the Brethren? "It's an imperative conversation," said Jonathan Shively, director of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, who also called the consultation "risky" for church leaders who in initiating it, must be ready and willing to lead based on their findings. Brethren Press publisher Wendy McFadden characterized the consultation as exercise for the church's "muscles of conversation," a way of practicing on more fundamental issues now in order to be prepared to take on more difficult questions in the future.

"We want everybody to be part of the conversation," said Southern Ohio district executive Mark Flory Steury, who chairs the group, during a sometimes heated discussion of how to represent the diversity of the denomination. Related worries for the group were that Brethren may not share their excitement for the conversation, that the consultation be a constructive dialogue rather than a forum for polarizing issues, and that it result in renewal and change.

Shively's question, "Who is listening?" prompted the group to discuss the possibility of naming a "listening team" with responsibility to listen to and reflect on responses that are generated. Responses already have been solicited from diverse groups such as the Brethren Revival Fellowship, Womaen's Caucus, and the Brethren and Mennonite Council for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns.

"People have been in prayer for so long in so many ways for the church. I believe this is part of the answer," said Ron Finney. "We're going to do something and put it into God's hands."

At this meeting, Mark Flory Steury, Virlina District executive minister David Shumate, and the Finneys represented the districts; Annual Conference was represented by secretary Fred Swartz; the Association of Brethren Caregivers was represented by executive director Kathy Reid; Matt Guynn, peace witness program coordinator, represented On Earth Peace; academic dean Stephen Reid and faculty Jeff Bach and Dena Pence Frantz represented Bethany Theological Seminary; Jonathan Shively attended from the Brethren Academy; and Stan Noffsinger, general secretary, and staff Wendy McFadden, Mary Jo Flory Steury, Julie Hostetter, and Del Keeney represented the General Board.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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On Earth Peace builds on 30 years of peacemaking.

The year 2004 marks the 30th anniversary of On Earth Peace. In 1974, M.R. Zigler gathered a group of peacemakers at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., because of his belief that the church needed a hands-on organization to teach people about biblical peacemaking, conscientious objection to war, and faithfully living the words of the Gospel.

Since that day, many people have helped to carry out Zigler's vision to make the Church of the Brethren a Living Peace Church, and have provided leadership and programming for thousands of youth and adults to learn how to live and work as Christian peacemakers. On Earth Peace will celebrate these 30 years of empowering people to discern "the things that make for peace" at various regional weekends and at the 2004 Annual Conference.

Each event will feature music from the JOYA (Journey of Young Adults) quartet of LuAnne Harley, Shawn Kirchner, Brian Kruschwitz, and Barb Sayler, which first gathered in 1994 while in Brethren Volunteer Service. At Conference this year, JOYA will be featured at the On Earth Peace breakfast July 6. At each regional weekend, JOYA will provide concerts and worship leadership. At the regional events a "Conflict Transformation for Congregational Leaders" workshop will be provided. Workshop topics include understanding conflict dynamics, centered speaking and listening, transformation in a conflict setting, being a "non-anxious presence," and handling power in leadership roles. Workshop registration is $40, pastors will be eligible to receive 0.6 continuing education units. For more information about the workshops, contact Annie Clark at 260-982-8595 or e-mail annieclark@mchsi.com.

The first regional celebration of the On Earth Peace anniversary will be held in the Great Lakes area of northern Indiana and southern Ohio, June 11-13. There will be JOYA concerts at Trotwood (Ohio) Church of the Brethren June 11 and at Bethany Church of the Brethren, New Paris, Ind., June 12. On June 13, JOYA will provide worship leadership at Manchester Church of the Brethren, North Manchester, Ind. On June 12 at the Bethany congregation, two workshops will be offered: "Conflict Transformation for Congregational Leaders" 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and "Peacemaking in the Family" 1:30-4:30 p.m., for parents and children above age three, led by Judy Myers-Walls. For more details on any of these events, visit www.brethren.org/oepa/30thAnniversary.html or call On Earth Peace at 410-635-8704.

Other regional celebrations will be held Aug. 13-15 in the Mid-Atlantic Region at the Brethren Service Center and Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren; Nov. 12-14 in the Plains Region at First Central Church of the Brethren, Kansas City, Kan., McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren, and Wichita (Kan.) Church of the Brethren; and March 4-6, 2005, in the Pacific Southwest Region at Modesto (Calif.) Church of the Brethren and La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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BBT reviews accomplishments in Socially Responsible Investing.

In April the Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) Board of Directors reviewed accomplishments of the organization's Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) program. The SRI program is three-pronged, with a first component to screen potential investments according to guidelines consistent with Annual Conference statements, a second component of activism through shareholder actions, and a third component of community development through investments.

Each BBT investment fund manager follows screening guidelines to invest in companies whose activities "support the creation and maintenance of a society consistent with the policy statements of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference," according to BBT. Guidelines exclude stock or bond investments in organizations that generate significant revenue from gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or defense contracts. This excludes about 60 of the S&P 500 companies, said Nevin Dulabaum, director of Communications and Information Services.

BBT investors and pension holders need not worry about losing potential returns because of such screening practices, Dulabaum said. Over the past ten years, BBT funds generated returns on par with those of major market benchmarks. "This means that our investors gave up nothing to the markets in order to invest in a socially responsible manner," said Will Thomas, director of Foundation Operations.

Most SRI activity focuses on the second component, shareholder actions. BBT has been lead filer of three shareholder initiatives in 2003-2004: YUM! Brands was asked to adopt a smoke-free policy in company-owned restaurants; Caterpillar was asked to report on the impact HIV/AIDS will have on its African operations and on the company's response to the pandemic; and Xcel Energy was asked to report on efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Boston Common Asset Management, a BBT investment manager, also pursued other initiatives using BBT shares to gain access. In response to a resolution from BBT, Burlington Resources adopted a policy on dealing with indigenous peoples in areas where the company proposes to extract natural resources and BBT is working with the company to make the policy more responsive to the concerns of local people. For more than 20 years, Union Carbide and later Dow Chemical have faced significant claims arising from the gas leak in Bhopal, India, and BBT has filed a resolution with Dow requesting a report on how settling the claims will affect the company. BBT also was a co-filer in a successful effort asking Procter & Gamble to include a fair-trade coffee product in its offerings. The company now offers fair-trade coffee through its Millstone brand.

Other such issues tackled by BBT include human rights policy at Occidental Petroleum, labor rights at Exxon Mobil, greenhouse gas emissions at Apache Corporation, environmental disclosure and other issues at Newmont Mining Corporation, instruments containing mercury at McKesson Medical, HIV/AIDS reporting at American International, marketing of violent video games to children by Target Corporation, extractive industries review recommendations at the World Bank, and licensing of HIV/AIDS drugs by GlaxoSmithKline.

A third component in the SRI ministry, the Community Development Investment Fund, has been available to pension members and foundation clients for a year. These investments are placed with nonprofit lenders and are used to finance affordable homes and small businesses and to help fund agencies working directly with disadvantaged populations and communities.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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General Board renews emphasis on stewardship.

The General Board is renewing its emphasis on stewardship at a time when the national trend may be for more giving to churches and nonprofits, according to a new study by the Barna Group. Increases in giving by individuals have not, however, quite made up for a subtle, long-term decline in congregational giving to the core ministries of the board, according to Ken Neher, director of the board's Funding and Donor Development.

The new stewardship emphasis is an attempt "to help the denomination become financially healthy at all levels," reported Carol Bowman, stewardship development counselor for the board and Congregational Life Team staff for Area 5, in a phone interview that included Neher. Stewardship is not just about fulfilling budgets but is "a foundational faith issue" for Bowman, who is concerned that the Church of the Brethren has not thoroughly educated for stewardship in recent years. "We've often left giving up to conscience, which I think is fundamentally a good thing," she said, "but what we don't do is challenge people at the outset of their faith commitment that it's a life commitment, and giving is a huge part of your faith."

"I've been calling stewardship a priority issue" in a culture of "misguided" priorities, Neher said, listing stewardship concerns that go far beyond the financial choices of individuals. He gave the examples of a US lifestyle of waste and the assumption of personal entitlement, as well as thoughtlessness about how lavish lifestyles affect neighbors around the world. In order to be faithful stewards, the Brethren have to exhibit a "radical counter-culturalness to live what Jesus taught," he said, "and that's not easy."

The call to radical discipleship echoed a recent discussion with Church of the Brethren young adults in which Bowman said she was challenged to present stewardship as a counter-cultural activity of the church. Young adults voice these concerns more than their elders, she said. She sees hope for the church in a new generation who want to live as disciples of Christ.

The two board staff also emphasized that costs for keeping the ministries of the church going—such as health insurance—continue to rise and "put the squeeze on" all ministry priorities, in Neher's words. Both understand rising costs as a problem for congregations and districts as well as for the board and other Annual Conference agencies.

Work has already begun on developing a closer relationship with congregations and districts in regard to stewardship. More than 100 congregations have responded to a survey sent out in April, seeking information about how the board "can better help congregations in growing generous disciples." In addition, Outreach Planning Packets will be provided to districts by the Conference agencies, including information about agency ministries as well as other district and camp ministries. The packets will be passed on to congregations for their use. In mid-July, congregations also will receive a Stewardship Resource Packet containing "Giving" magazine and other resources for year-long stewardship education. "Untamed Stewardship" will be the theme for the Congregational Life Ministries dinner at Annual Conference July 5 with speaker Ed Taylor, director of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center.

For more information about the new stewardship emphasis, contact Carol Bowman at 509-663-2833 or e-mail cbowman_gb@brethren.org.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Church planting event develops 'deep roots, strong wings.'

"Deep roots, strong wings"—the phrase formed a repeating chorus in a song composed by Jonathan Shively and Tara Hornbacker for this year's Church of the Brethren church planting training event. The event itself, sponsored by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and held May 17-21 at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., also echoed the themes: being rooted in heritage while unafraid to soar into new horizons and possibilities. About 85 people attended the conference, the second to be hosted by the Brethren Academy.

Jay Steele, a member of the General Board's New Church Development Advisory Committee, opened the week with a keynote worship message. Steele asked rhetorically whether it mattered for new congregations to be distinctly Brethren. "Spirituality is a 21st-century term for pietism," Steele said. "The pietist movement has been reborn. People want it, and we have what they want." Steele also heralded the Brethren qualities of peacemaking, community, and service as being particularly relevant for today's world. "I just passionately believe that we have a unique message that speaks to some people and is needed," he added, "one that people are looking for."

Bethany dean Steve Reid picked up on the Brethren angle the following night, preaching from the book of Ezekiel. Reid lifted up the need to confront the "brutal facts" facing the denomination while never losing hope because "God is not done with us." Other featured speakers included Bob Logan of Coach Net Inc., Jeff Wright of the Center for Anabaptist Leadership, and Nadine Burton, who works with new church leader development in Indianapolis.

The week also included "house church" worship services, workshops, stories of Brethren church plants, presentation of an upcoming new church development manual, opportunities for spiritual direction, and group discussion.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Spiritual Directors' Network holds retreat.

Twenty people from the Church of the Brethren Spiritual Directors' Network met May 16-18 at Shepherd's Spring Center near Sharpsburg, Md., for a third annual retreat. Tilden Edwards, founder and senior fellow of Shalem Institute, Bethesda, Md., was the keynote leader.

Edwards spoke about the importance of regular Sabbath time to nurture the spirit and said, "In Sabbath time, we get a 'whiff' of the Kingdom of God." He is the author of numerous books including "Sabbath Time, Living in the Presence" and "Spiritual Director, Spiritual Companion," and spoke at last year's Caring Ministries conference sponsored by the Association of Brethren Caregivers.

Participants also spent time in silent prayer and discussed how the network can better serve the needs of congregations, districts, pastors, and laypeople. The network is guided by an advisory committee of Glenn Mitchell, Helen Beery, Ed Poling, and General Board staff Chris Douglas, and is a ministry of the board's Congregational Life Ministries.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Brethren bits: remembrance, personnel, and more.

• Gwen Bobb, an employee at the Church of the Brethren general offices in Elgin, Ill., for 20 years 1959-79, died May 27 at Pinecrest Community in Mount Morris, Ill. She worked as administrative assistant for the Ministry and Home Missions Commission and later for the General Services Commission of the General Board. She completed her employment with the board as coordinator of historical resources. Bobb was a key person behind the restoration of the Kurtz organ and the acquisition of many items of historical interest for the Brethren Historical Library and Archives. After retirement, she still had a desk at the general offices as a volunteer for the Fellowship of Brethren Genealogists, serving as president of the group and producing the organization's newsletter.
  
  
• Brethren Benefit Trust announces the hiring of Lauryn Estes as coordinator of office, production, and information services in its Communications and Information Services Department, effective June 1. Estes was previously employed in the General Board's Brethren Witness program and in Brethren Press, and has worked in a temporary position for the Annual Conference office since February this year.
  
  
• The Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the General Board is acknowledging the service of Bryan Hissong, who completed his term as a Brethren Volunteer Service worker May 28. While working as a legislative associate for the past 18 months, Hissong did extensive research and development around issues of the environment, nuclear energy, and the war in Iraq. He provided leadership at numerous conferences and workshops and assisted groups and individuals in political advocacy work in Washington, D.C. He also helped bridge the transition from one director of the office to another.
  
  
• The 2004 series of Church of the Brethren workcamps for junior and senior highs and young adults began with a May 28-June 10 trip to the Taize community in France and the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. Leaders are Beth Rhodes and Cindy Laprade, co-coordinators of this year's workcamp program. Crystal Waggy, of Rock Run Church of the Brethren, Goshen, Ind., and a student at Manchester College, is assistant coordinator.
  
  
• Flash floods and mud slides on the border of the Dominican Republic and Haiti May 24 have not directly affected Church of the Brethren congregations on the Caribbean island, reported Irv and Nancy Heishman, the General Board's mission coordinators in the DR. Up to 1,000 people may have perished in floods that hit in the middle of the night while most were sleeping, the Heishmans said. "Fortunately, all of our Dominican Brethren were out of harm's way during this intense three-day storm," they said. "However, the Dominican Brethren have caught the Brethren spirit of disaster relief and will likely organize a response effort in the weeks to come."
  
  
• After a week of turbulent weather across the US, with devastating storms, and floods in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, district disaster coordinators are on the alert for ways Brethren can help reports Jane Yount of the General Board's Emergency Response program. A Disaster Child Care team was dispatched to Hallam, Neb., a small town that was nearly obliterated by a tornado, Yount reported.
  
  
• "Celebrating Possibilities: Hope for Our Congregation" is a mini-conference especially for small membership and rural congregations in Michigan, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 26 at Midland Church of the Brethren. The conference is sponsored by the Small Membership/Rural Church Leadership Team and is the third in a series of mini-conferences. A suggested donation of $20 will help cover costs. For more information contact Don Willoughby at 231-362-3345 or e-mail donmar@kaltelnet.net.
  
  
• "Enriching Worship Music" was the theme for a series of events in Shenandoah District April 16-18. Shawn Kirchner, musician and worship leader from La Verne, Calif., was the guest leader. Pastors, church musicians, and others interested in worship gathered at Harrisonburg (Va.) First Church of the Brethren for a session on "Choosing and Using Music to Create Meaningful Worship Experiences in These Changing Times." A hands-on workshop for church musicians, "Theory and Practice," was held at the piano lab at Eastern Mennonite University. Worship services featured Kirchner's music at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren, Front Royal (Va.) Church of the Brethren, and Sunrise Fellowship in Harrisonburg. A total of 205 people from three districts participated. The series was coordinated and sponsored by Shenandoah's nurture commission and the General Board's Congregational Life Team Area 3.
  
  
• Faculty and staff of Manchester College, a Church of the Brethren school in North Manchester, Ind., are donating an estimated 9,000 textbooks to help a fledgling Philadelphia community college for Hispanics build its library. The texts cover subjects ranging from science and education to computers, writing, languages, and math. The collection--including cataloging the texts--is a project of the first graduating class of Manchester's newest degree program, Master of Arts in Contemporary Leadership. The texts will travel this summer to Nueva Esperanza Center for Higher Education of Eastern University.
  
  
• Fourteen young adults from across the country spent Memorial Day weekend at Camp Emmaus in Mount Morris, Ill., at a "Raise Your Voice" retreat offered by the New Community Project, a Brethren-related nonprofit organization. The event was a leadership development experience to equip young adults for advocacy within and beyond the church on issues of justice and care for the earth. Leadership was provided by Don Vermilyea, Brethren Volunteer Service worker who is doing a Walk Across America; David Radcliff, New Community Project director; and Brethren musician Joseph Helfrich. The Ecumenical Eco-Justice Network was a co-sponsor, and funds for participants' travel were provided by Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and Modesto (Calif.) Church of the Brethren. For more information call 888-800-2985 or e-mail dradcliff@newcommunityproject.org.
  
  
• Applications for a Young Adult Stewards Program at the National Council of Churches (NCC) General Assembly 2004, to be held Nov. 9-11 in St. Louis, Mo., are available from the General Board's Youth and Young Adult Office. Call 800-323-8039 ext. 297 or e-mail cdouglas_gb@brethren.org. The assembly will gather delegates from 36 Christian denominations for business, worship, and fellowship. Stewards ages 18-30 will help provide hospitality and help staff the assembly. Stewards also will have opportunities to network with other young adults, join in worship, and interact with national Christian leaders. Expenses, except for personal expenses, will be covered by the NCC. Completed applications are due Aug. 2.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Annual Conference Council issues invitation to conversation hour.

The Annual Conference Council invites all interested persons to an hour of conversation with members of the Council at the 2004 Annual Conference in Charleston, W.Va. The dialogue will take place 9-10 p.m. Sunday, July 4, at the Marriott Town Place Hotel.

The Council wishes to have an initial conversation to facilitate discussion of broad theological and structural questions raised in the query to the 2003 Annual Conference entitled "Query for Clarification of Confusion." The Council has determined that responses to these questions need as wide a discussion as possible from across the denomination, according to a release from Lerry Fogle, executive director of the Conference.

Issues in the query that remain to be addressed include the relationship of set-apart leadership to the Brethren belief in the "ministry of all believers," and understandings and inconsistencies in the call and administration of licensed and ordained ministers. The conversation will be helpful to the Council and other leadership groups in the church as the issues of licensing and ordination of ministers are considered in the future, the release said.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Yum! shareholders' meeting hardly yummy.

At least 30 armed police officers and other plain clothes security personnel were directing motor and foot traffic. To enter the building, all visitors had to be pre-registered, sign in, and get temporary badges. Guests were herded through a metal detector where all sharp objects, weapons, cell phones, and cameras were confiscated.

A White House state visit? Hardly. It was the 2004 annual shareholders' meeting of Yum! Brands, parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's, A&W, and KFC, held May 20 in Louisville, Ky. Will Thomas and I were there to represent the $1.75 million Brethren Benefit Trust pensioners and Brethren Foundation asset management clients own in Yum! stock. For three years BBT has led a shareholder resolution asking Yum! to ban smoking in its corporate-owned restaurants.

Seems like a simple request. Taco Bell took that step several years ago when it was owned by Pepsi. KFC's European division has instituted such a policy. So have McDonalds and Wendys. Moreover, such a ban would remove the threat of costly tobacco-related lawsuits by employees or patrons and reduce health risks to everyone in the restaurants. Even some Yum! officials privately support BBT's resolution and voted for it as shareholders.

Nevertheless, at heart of the issue is control, which Yum! did everything in its power to maintain. Once shareholders passed through the metal detector, aisle controllers guided visitors down the hall. At the meeting, where chairman and chief executive officer David Novak took his seat on a small stage along with corporate secretary Chris Campbell, just off stage were two big men whose job it was to watch the shareholders--Yum! bouncers. Each shareholder resolution was limited to one speaker and three minutes. No additional dialogue was allowed. Each speaker, Will Thomas included, spoke into a cordless microphone firmly grasped with two hands by a Yum! employee.

Once voting concluded, the firm had no plan to announce preliminary results. A majority of shares are voted in advance through proxy statements, and so the outcome of the vote—but not the official vote percentages—is usually known at the start of each meeting. After pleas from several shareholders, the numbers were read with BBT's resolution receiving just over seven percent of the vote. Or did it? The Securities and Exchange Commission mandates that resolutions can return year after year only if they meet increasing percentage thresholds of the vote, not including abstentions. However, Will and other resolution presenters believe that the numbers presented by Yum! included abstentions which, if true, would reflect a much lower percentage of support. The true tally will be available July 1.

Why armed guards, metal detector, aisle controllers, bouncers, and limited shareholder interaction? One reason we were given is that some shareholder activists, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), have been known to become extremely disruptive during shareholder meetings. But having witnessed all of this control, I think Yum! does not want a single shareholder resolution to pass—even those that are just and right. One successful resolution could spawn new resolutions and soon Yum! could have shareholders caring about and participating in the company they own, leading the firm to adopt sensible social practices in addition to maintaining a strong balance sheet. What a concept!

—Nevin Dulabaum is director of Communications and Information Services for Brethren Benefit Trust.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Chris Douglas, Nevin Dulabaum, Lerry Fogle, Julie Hostetter, Jeri S. Kornegay, Janis Pyle, Barbara Sayler, Will Thomas, and Walt Wiltschek contributed to this report.

Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.