Committee plans training, communications for TOGETHER.

The steering committee of the new Church of the Brethren denominational initiative titled TOGETHER: Conversations on Being the Church, met at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., Jan. 20-21. Content for the various elements of the process was further defined in this sixth meeting of the steering committee, which was chaired by Mark Flory-Steury, district executive of Southern Ohio.

The goal of TOGETHER is a denomination-wide conversation on the state of the church. In addition to representatives of the Council of District Executives, where it originated, representatives from denominational agencies and Annual Conference attended along with Ron and Harriet Finney, who will coordinate regional conversations in 2006.

Resource leaders for a training to be held Feb. 2006 in New Windsor, Md., were nominated, with priority given to a well-known authority in the field of church analysis who also is familiar with the Church of the Brethren. The training will bring together some 140 people, primarily named by the districts, who will be prepared to lead conversations in their geographic areas.

Following the training, TOGETHER will be launched at Annual Conference 2006, principally through the use of a study guide at each business session. Delegates and others in attendance will be encouraged to join in 30 minutes of conversation about the church at each session. This plan, along with some other references to the program at the Conference, has been approved by the Conference Program and Arrangements Committee.

The steering committee also dealt with funding for the program. "One note of rejoicing was the announcement that the General Board will donate one of its special offerings to TOGETHER," Swartz reported. "The amount of these offerings usually ranges from $15,000-$30,000, according to general secretary Stan Noffsinger." The committee also developed a case statement to pursue foundation grants for the program.

A communications plan, submitted by Brethren Press publisher Wendy McFadden, was adopted with immediate priority given to developing a brochure for distribution at the 2005 Conference. Also in the works are advertisements to appear in "Messenger" magazine, a calling card or badge sticker with a "catchy" phrase related to the program, and a website. A logo is being designed by Debbie Noffsinger. Jonathan Shively, director of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, and Matt Guynn, On Earth Peace program coordinator for Peace Witness, are working on a theme song.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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