Brethren bits: Remembrance, job opening, and much more.

• Thurl Metzger, a former executive director of Heifer International, passed away July 26 at the age of 90, at his home in Little Rock, Ark. Earlier this spring, Heifer had announced plans to dedicate a new Thurl Metzger Education Center on Aug. 4 at Heifer Ranch near Perryville, Ark. (see "Brethren leader Thurl Metzger to be honored by Heifer International" in the Newsline of June 21). Metzger served Heifer International for some 30 years as executive director, director of International Programs, and senior consultant, beginning in 1953; the Church of the Brethren started Heifer Project in 1944. As a Church of the Brethren leader previous to his service to Heifer, Metzger directed the Polish farm-youth exchange program of the Church of the Brethren Service Commission. Earlier he also worked as a farmer and a high school history teacher in Indiana. Metzger was the author of "The Road to Development," a book about the complexity of carrying out Heifer's vision. The two-story building at the Heifer Ranch that will be named in his honor will serve as an education facility, and also will house memorabilia from Heifer archives and the Metzgers’ personal collections.
  
  
• Bridgewater (Va.) College seeks a manager of technical services and network administrator to oversee technical aspects of information technology at the college. Primary responsibilities include managing the college network; managing campus systems/applications; serving as IT security officer; developing and maintaining custom scripting in support of system administration and dynamic web content; coordinating technical projects and staff; supervising network engineering and desktop computing support staff. Qualifications include skills in customer service, oral and written communication, and organization; bachelor’s degree in a related field with an advanced degree preferred; ten years of experience in network administration, IT security, desktop computing, and management in technical environments; mastery of Windows, Solaris, Linux administration; teamwork skills and experience in a collaborative environment; extensive troubleshooting experience. Experience working in higher education is highly desired. Review of resumes will continue until the position is filled. For the complete announcement go to www.bridgewater.edu/campus_info/jobs/itc_network2006.html. For more information contact Terry Houff, Chief Information Officer and Director of IT Center, at thouff@bridgewater.edu. A completed application will include cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least three letters of references, to be sent to Vikki Price, Director of Human Resources, 402 E. College St., Bridgewater, VA 22812; or sent by e-mail (preferred) to vprice@bridgewater.edu. Bridgewater is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
  
  
• Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board, has completed his move to Elgin, Ill., following a decision by the General Board for all executive-level staff to work from the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin. He previously divided his work between the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., and the offices in Elgin. Contact him at Church of the Brethren General Board, General Secretary’s Office, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 or 847-742-5100 ext. 201.
  
  
• The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) inadvertently included incorrect information regarding airport shuttle service in its confirmation letters to participants at National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) this fall. Correct information follows: Airport shuttle service is available from the Asheville airport to Lake Junaluska through First Class Transportation. To receive the conference discount call 828-452-2907 and tell Leslie that you are attending NOAC. Cost is $60 round-trip or $55 one way. Cash or check is preferred, credit card transactions will be surcharged $5. Those who have already made reservations through the number previously given will not receive a negotiated discount--individuals have been quoted rates ranging from $70 to $90. It is possible to cancel and schedule with First Class Transportation instead. Correct information for the airport shuttle service is posted at www.brethren-caregivers.org and postcards with the information will be sent to those already registered for NOAC. For further information call ABC at 800-323-8039.
  
  
• The Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., hosted a junior high workcamp in mid-July. Workcampers volunteered in Service Ministries, SERRV International, and the Service Center’s buildings and grounds department. They also provided service to employees based in New Windsor by doing a free car wash. Monica Rice, Kim Stuckey Hissong, and the other adult leaders planned a diverse and fun learning opportunity. All of the agencies housed at the center appreciated the work of the young volunteers, reported Kathleen Campanella, director of public relations and hospitality. The New Windsor Conference Center provided ice cream for the workcampers after dinner on the last evening as a way to say thank you.
  
  
• Chiques Church of the Brethren in Manheim, Pa., celebrates its 150th anniversary in August. The history of the congregation began as Brethren in the Mastersonville area of Pennsylvania originally worshiped in homes as part of the White Oak congregation. In 1856, the first meetinghouse was erected on the site of the current church building. Twelve years later, Chiques became an independent congregation. In 1902 it spawned three daughter churches: East Fairview, Elizabethtown, and West Green Tree. The celebration will include two special services, a historical display, and a series of Sunday school lessons on church history. On Sunday, Aug. 13, worship at 10:15 a.m. will be in a style familiar to the congregation more than 100 years ago: Don Fitzkee and Becker Ginder will preach the "long" and "short" sermons, respectively; singing will be a cappella; and men and women are asked to sit on opposite sides of the sanctuary. A "150th Anniversary Celebration of Music" will be held at 7 p.m. that evening. For more information contact Fitzkee at 664-2252 or don@cobys.net.
  
  
• Iowa River Church of the Brethren in Marshalltown, Iowa, celebrated 150 years on July 9 with a special worship service and meal. The church is celebrating the anniversary "because we are a group of people who love each other even in spite of everyone not being the same," church member Jerry Waterman told the "Times-Republican" newspaper of central Iowa. "We all have a universal understanding that Christ needs to be first in our lives and we are celebrating that opportunity."
  
  
• Root River Church of the Brethren near Greenleafton, Minn., held its 150th anniversary on July 8-9 to honor a century and a half of spreading peace and serving those in need, reported the "Chatfield News-Record" newspaper. The church expected about 150 people for the event, which included a youth concert by a local Christian rock band "RE:BORN" and a historical display, sale of anniversary plates, neighborhood tours, open mic sharing, and worship.
  
  
• Dranesville Church of the Brethren in Herndon, Va., along with Herndon Friends Meeting and Northern Virginia Mennonite Church, are instituting a Peacemaker Award for outstanding peacemaking and community building efforts by a Herndon High School student, according to an article in the "Fairfax County Times." This June the award went to Harrison Miller, a senior at the high school.
  
  
• A $500 Skippack Peace Award from Skippack Church of the Brethren in Collegeville, Pa., was given to Allison Gold, a recent Perkiomen Valley High School graduate, according to the "Valley Item" newspaper. "The award is for somebody who had waged peace through random acts of kindness throughout the high school years, and Allison filled those criteria," Skippack pastor Larry O’Neill told the paper. "The money for the award is raised when parishioners drop change and bills into a plastic bear named ‘Skippy’ located at the rear of the church," the article said.
  
  
• Michigan District holds its district conference on Aug. 10-13 in Hastings, Mich. Moderator Mary Gault will preside.
  
  
• Brethren Village Retirement Community in Lancaster, Pa., holds its 48th Annual Pork Barbecue and Auction on Aug. 5. The day begins at 9 a.m. with a sale of baked goods along with an antique engine exhibit, and continues with a vintage and antique car display, morning devotional service and men’s choir at 10:30 a.m., and an 11 a.m. book signing by Rachel Brown, author of "Adoration Quilts." A pork barbecue meal will be served from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The main auction begins at 12:30 p.m., with registration at 11:30 a.m. Main auction items include hand-made quilts and baby quilts, afghans, and wall hangings; antique items including quilts; wooden crafts, carvings, and furniture; children’s toys; gift baskets and fruit baskets; vacation property timeshares; and various gift certificates for dining and entertainment. A children’s auction at 2 p.m. features games and toys, Boyd’s bears, and radio controlled cars. Proceeds benefit the Brethren Village Good Samaritan Fund providing assistance to residents who find themselves unable to pay the full cost of their care, and to the resident-run Brethren Village Auxiliary.
  
  
• Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., is sending two Brethren faculty to Europe next year to do research as Fulbright Scholars. Gregory W. Clark, associate professor of Physics, will work at Cardiff University in Wales on nano-science research involving conducting polymer (plastic) molecules. Steven S. Naragon, associate professor of Philosophy, will translate student notes from 18th century philosopher Kant's metaphysics lectures, in Marburg, Germany. Both attend Manchester Church of the Brethren. Recent Manchester graduate Wendy Matheny, raised in First Church of the Brethren in Peoria, Ill., also received a Fulbright scholarship to research politics at the European Union and NATO in Belgium. Matheny has been studying Capitol Hill politics as an intern for US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton since her graduation from Manchester last year. Hers is Manchester College's 19th Fulbright in 11 years, the college said in a release. For more go to www.manchester.edu.
  
  
• Peggy Redman, director of Teacher Education at the University of La Verne (Calif.), has been honored with the university’s first endowed chair in Education, the Anthony La Fetra Endowed Chair for Excellence in Teaching and Service. The university is related to the Church of the Brethren. "Redman’s office in ULV’s College of Education is the birthplace of teachers," said an article in the university’s "Voice" magazine. Her program received commendation in a recent report by the Institute for Education Reform, the article added, in which the results of a survey of first-year teachers who graduated from private universities in California and their supervisors "revealed that ULV-trained teachers were far better prepared to enter live teaching than their counterparts." In the survey, La Verne graduates and supervisors responded an average of 12 percent more favorably than graduates of nine other private universities, the article said.
  
  
• The Midwest Peacemakers 2006 conference will be at the Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio, on Aug. 19 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The theme will be "Nonviolence Is Christ-Like, Difficult, Powerful, Profound, and Surprising." Presenters include Cliff Kindy of Christian Peacemaker Teams speaking on "Iraq Through the Eyes of a Christian Peacemaker"; Pete Dull on ministry with prisoners and ex-prisoners in the Dayton area; and John Ellison on "What Conscientious Objectors Have Been Doing with Their Lives." Ellison has been touring the country interviewing people "who early on refused to bear arms and since have helped the poor, bound up wounds, preached salvation, encouraged kindness, visited prisoners, and told the story of nonviolence through painting, words, and music," according to a release. The event includes a carry-in dinner, a panel discussion, and worship. A free-will offering will be taken. For more information contact 614-794-2745 or cfcooley@wmconnect.com.
  
  
• On June 18 the CrossRoads Welcome Center in Harrisonburg, Va., was officially opened to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The center is dedicated to Brethren and Mennonite history and heritage. James Miller represented Shenandoah District of the Church of the Brethren, and Steve Carpenter represented the Virginia Conference of Mennonite Church USA. Following a welcome by board president Robert Alley, Program Committee chair Norwood Shank gave thanks to the Myers family--and to God--for bringing the organization to this point in its journey. The Daniel Myers family donated the Burkholder-Myers House and paid to have it moved to its new location. Shank expressed a "heartfelt thank you" to all who contributed to the effort. CrossRoads also is publicizing a reunion for all conscientious objectors who served in Civilian Public Service during World War II, on Aug. 17, 1-7 p.m., with speakers Harold Lehman and Ted Grimsrud. The event will be at Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va. For more go to www.vbmhc.org.
  
  
• The National Council of Churches (NCC) is calling for ecumenical films through its Faith and Order Commission, which will hold its first-ever Oikumene Film Festival next year on July 19-23, 2007, in Oberlin, Ohio. The festival celebrates the commission’s 50th anniversary. Filmmakers are invited to submit original short films that serve the unity of Christ’s church. Six winning entries will be chosen for screening during the conference. Entries, including the film and completed entry form, are due by Feb. 16, 2007. For more visit www.ncccusa.org/faithandorder/oberlin2007/oikumene.html.

Source: 8/2/2006 Newsline
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