Brethren bits: Job opening, call for dramas, and more.

• Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., has opened its search for a vice president and dean for academic affairs. In addition to leadership of 70 fulltime faculty members in instructional divisions, the athletics program, and campus library, the vice president will have a key role in executing a new five-year strategic plan. Curriculum, academic programs, assessment, instructional technology, and faculty development and recruitment are key roles. The closing date for applications is Nov. 30. Candidates should send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and three professional performance references to Manchester College, Attn: Kimberly A. Votaw, Vice President for Human Resources, 604 E. College Ave., North Manchester, IN 46962.
  
  
• The Annual Conference 300th Anniversary Committee has issued a call for submissions of dramatic pieces representing the theme for the 2008 celebration, "Surrendered to God, Transformed in Christ, Empowered by the Spirit." Submissions can be full-length dramas, skits, monologues, or vignettes for adults, youth, or children. Submissions may be used in congregations and districts leading up to the anniversary year, and at Annual Conference in 2008. For an interpretation of the theme, contact the Annual Conference office at 800-323-8039. Deadline for submissions is Dec. 31, 2005. Name, address, and phone number of the author should be included on a separate page from the submission. All dramas submitted will become the property of the Anniversary Committee and will not be returned. Mail submissions to Annual Conference Office, Attn: Anniversary Drama, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
  
  
• The Intercultural Study Committee (formerly called the Multi-Ethnic/Cross-Cultural Study Committee) elected at Annual Conference this summer held its initial meeting Oct. 17-18 in Elgin, Ill. Asha Solanky was selected as chair; Nadine Monn was selected as recorder. Other members are Darla Kay Bowman Deardorff, Ruben DeOleo, Neemita Pandya, Gilbert Romero, and Thomas Dowdy. An ex-officio member from the American Baptist Churches, USA, will soon be appointed. In addition to organizing, the committee explored reasons for the study, what research needs to be done, and what dialogue is needed with the denomination. A general timeline was established and committee member assignments were made.
  
  
• Nine pastors from Indiana and Northern Illinois recently gathered with Brethren Press staff to select scripture texts for the covers of the 2006 Living Word Bulletin series. The texts based on the Revised Common Lectionary, will be paired with photos by Brethren photographers from around the denomination as well as stock photography provided by Anchor Wallace Publishers. Each quarter, a cross-section of Brethren pastors and laypeople write reflections and worship resources to appear on the backs of the bulletins. Bulletins created and written "by Brethren for Brethren" reach 56,000 people in Church of the Brethren congregations every week, reported Brethren Press managing editor Nancy Klemm. This year's Advent and Christmas bulletins were designed especially for the Church of the Brethren by Gwen Stamm, a Mennonite artist and calligrapher from Scottdale, Pa., who was commissioned by Anchor Wallace at the request of Brethren Press. To place a standing order for bulletin covers call Brethren Press at 800-441-3712.
  
  
• "Disaster response, caring for children, environmental preservation, confronting racial barriers, experiencing new cultures, exploring urban poverty and rural development issues--all of these opportunities and more are available to youth and young adults through the 2005 National Workcamps," said coordinators Cindy Laprade, Beth Rhodes, and Steve Van Houten in a note inviting youth and young adults to participate in workcamps next summer. The theme will be "Rivers of Life" based on John 7:38. Workcampers will be invited to "step into the flow of other people's lives and experiences, and to affect change in the people and places that have been washed away by the currents of our society," the coordinators said. Brochures are available from district offices, congregations, or the General Board's Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office at 800-323-8039. A website also provides information and registration materials, see www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/workcamps. Registration begins Dec. 1. Contact the coordinators at 800-323-8039 or by e-mail at cobyouth_gb@brethren.org.
  
  
• Brethren are invited to join the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office at a rally to "Call for an Absolute End to the School of Americas" at Fort Benning, Ga., Nov. 19-21. The rally culminates a year-long effort by those witnessing against the documented atrocities of the military trained at the School of Western Hemispheric Institution for Security Cooperation--also called the School of the Americas. The office will sponsor a few events at the rally including an information table outside the gates Nov. 20-21 and a gathering for Brethren 5:30-6 p.m. Nov. 20 followed by a concert by the Brethren band Mutual Kumquat in the Howard Johnson Presidential Room, 1011 Veterans Pky., Columbus, Ga. For more information call 800-785-3246 or e-mail washington_office_gb@brethren.org. For a rally schedule see www.soaw.org.
  
  
• Walter Brueggemann will give the Bethany Theological Seminary Founders Lecture Series on Nov. 11-12 in Richmond, Ind. Brueggemann is professor emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Ga.; author of numerous books and articles; has served on the Editorial Council of the "Journal of Biblical Literature"; and has been president of the Society of Biblical Literature. "Nurtured in Thickness" is the theme for the three lectures scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in an open class session at the Earlham College Loose Lecture Hall in the Bolling Center; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Bethany's Nicarry Chapel; and 11 a.m. Nov. 12 at Nicarry Chapel. The lecture series honors the founders of the seminary, A.C. Wieand and E.B. Hoff. All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information call 765-983-1823.
  
  
• The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) is distributing donor pins to lift up National Donor Sabbath Nov. 14. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 81,000 men, women, and children nationwide are waiting for organ transplants, an average of 66 people each day receive a transplant, and some 17 patients die each day while waiting for a transplant. Congregations are urged to honor the observance through worship, prayer, or by wearing donation pins. Resources are available at ABC's website at www.brethren.org/abc/. Congregations can receive up to 25 donor pins by contacting ABC at 800-323-8039.
  
  
• "HIV/AIDS--How Will You Respond?" is a new bulletin insert available for congregations to use with World AIDS Day Dec. 1 or the first Sunday in December. The insert describes the problem of HIV/AIDS in the US and overseas and suggests ways Brethren can respond. Created by the Association of Brethren Caregivers and the General Board's Global Mission Partnerships, the bulletin insert can be downloaded from www.brethren.org.
  
  
• The Chicago-based CBS show "Different Drummers" featured the General Board's youth and young adult workcamp program with coordinators Cindy Laprade and Beth Rhodes. Agata Zalewski, a youth workcamp participant from York Center Church of the Brethren, Lombard, Ill., was interviewed as were several other Brethren members in the audience including youth and advisors from Chicago-area congregations. The show aired Oct. 23 at 5 a.m.
  
  
• Pacific Southwest District holds its conference Oct. 29-31 at Pomona (Calif.) Fellowship, with David Hurlbut as moderator.
  
  
• The location of the Virlina District Conference Nov. 12-13 has been changed to Green Ridge Baptist Church, 5521 Green Ridge Rd., NW, Roanoke, Va. The Ministers and Spouses Dinner will be held at Summerdean Church of the Brethren as scheduled. Contact the district office at 540-362-1816 or e-mail virlina@aol.com.
  
  
• Heifer International received the 2004 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize on Oct. 28. The $1 million award is the world's largest humanitarian award. "Heifer International's success proves that it's often simple ideas that are the best," said Steve Hilton. "Ideas on how to help the poor in our world come and go, but Heifer has produced a model that has endured for 60 years." The organization was begun as a Church of the Brethren program by Brethren leader Dan West, who had the original "simple idea." Today, Heifer works in 38 US states and 50 countries providing more than 30 types of animals. To learn more about Heifer's history and beginnings, order the DVD/video "Dan West Peacemaker" from Brethren Press, call 800-441-3712. A monologue telling Dan West's story is available at www.Brethren.org./genbd/BP/LivingWaters. For more information visit www.heifer.org and www.hiltonfoundation.org.

Source: 10/29/2004 Newsline
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