Brethren bits: Personnel, jobs, Caring Ministries Assembly, and more.

• Robert Raker, Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) worker and mission staff with the General Board's Global Mission Partnerships, completes two years of service in the Dominican Republic this month. He is a member of Greencastle (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and has been teaching English as a second language in the DR.
  
  
• Several programs of the Church of the Brethren General Board are welcoming new fulltime volunteers through BVS. Todd Flory began Sept. 11 as assistant to the director of BVS; he is a member of McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren and recently completed a year of volunteer service at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office. Hannah Kliewer begins Sept. 18 as orientation assistant for BVS; she has completed a year of service at the Center on Conscience and War in Washington, D.C. Trevor Myers began with Brethren Disaster Response on Aug. 18; he is a member of Oakland Church of the Brethren in Bradford, Ohio, and will be assigned to a repair and rebuilding site in Pensacola, Fla. Emily O'Donnell has begun at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office as a legislative associate; she is a member of Green Tree Church of the Brethren in Oaks, Pa. Amy Rhodes has begun with the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office as an assistant workcamp coordinator; she is from Roanoke, Va. Monica Rice began Sept. 11 as recruiter for BVS; she is a member of Springfield Church of the Brethren in Akron, Ohio, and recently completed a year with the Youth and Young Adult Office. In addition, Sue Snyder began Sept. 11 as a part-time program volunteer with BVS; she is a former General Board staff member who has served seven years in BVS at St. Mary's Westside Food Bank in Surprise, Ariz.
  
  
• The National Council of Churches is publicizing two job openings: an associate general secretary for Administration and Finance; and a communication officer for its Washington Office. The associate general secretary provides executive leadership as the Chief Financial Officer for financial and business management; qualifications include, among many others, 10 years of experience as a financial administrator in a nonprofit agency, comprehensive understanding of administrative and financial operations, and experience in a denominational office or local or regional council of churches; location in New York. The communications position is in the joint Washington office of the NCC and Church World Service, and requires a generalist in the fields of journalism and public relations to provide general communication support to the NCC office in Washington and, as assigned, to other NCC departments and the Washington offices of member communions; qualifications include a college degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, or communication-related field with seminary training a plus, five years of experience in the field of media relations, journalism, radio or television broadcast production, or related field. Position descriptions and full details for applicants are at www.ncccusa.org/jobs/jobshome.html.
  
  
• An executive director for the Indianapolis Peace House is sought to lead the consortial "study away" program operated by Manchester, Earlham, and Goshen Colleges in Indiana, beginning no later than Nov. 15. Peace House students engage in cooperative living, academic coursework, and internships in urban organizations, with a focus on peacemaking and social justice. This is the fourth year of a five-year program funded by the Lilly Endowment. The executive director is responsible for overseeing the house and developing a comprehensive plan for moving it towardsustainable independence after grant support ends in June 2008. Qualifications include commitment to peace and justice coupled with relevant knowledge and experience; history of success in strategic and consultative leadership and effective administration; background and skills in recruitment, advancement, marketing, public relations; entrepreneurial acumen and organizational abilities for program assessment; record of effective interaction with young adults; human relations skills; successful record of budget and facilities management; communication skills; self-motivation and goal orientation. An appreciation of the historic peace churches and of developmental theory as related to college students enhances candidate strength. Working understanding of nonprofit sector internships, college and university academic systems, and college study-away programs is desired. Experience in teaching and curriculum development is a plus. Respect for personal and institutional diversities is expected. A collaborative problem-solver is needed for this position. A doctorate or master's degree in a related field is preferred. Review of applications begins Sept. 15. Send applications to Dr. Nelson E. Bingham, Special Assistant to the President, Drawer #55, Earlham College, Richmond, IN 47374-4095. Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information go to www.plowsharesproject.org/php/peacehouse/index.ph.
  
  
• BVS holds its fall orientation unit from Sept. 24-Oct. 13 at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. This will be the 272nd unit for BVS, and will be made up of 19 volunteers from across the US and Germany. A majority are members of the Church of the Brethren. A potluck with the unit is open to all those who are interested on Sept. 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Union Bridge (Md.) Church of the Brethren. For more information call 800-323-8039 ext. 423.
  
  
• The Ministry of Reconciliation (MOR) of On Earth Peace, and Mid Atlantic District are co-sponsoring a training for Shalom Team members featuring design of reconciliation processes and group facilitation. This training will introduce Shalom Team members to congregational conflict intervention and provide solid tools for consultation. All eastern districts are invited to participate. The event takes place Nov. 17-18 in New Windsor, Md. Leadership is provided by Bob Gross, co-director of On Earth Peace. Cost is $50 for each Shalom Team member or $100 for an entire team. Continuing education credit is available through the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. Registration deadline is Oct. 20. To register or for more information, contact Annie Clark, MOR coordinator, at annieclark@mchsi.com.
  
  
• Several district conferences are held this weekend: Northern Indiana meets at Camp Alexander Mack; South/Central Indiana at Salamonie Church of the Brethren in Warren, Ind.; Missouri-Arkansas at Camp Windermere in Roach, Mo.; Southern Pennsylvania at New Fairview Church of the Brethren in York, Pa.; and West Marva at Moorefield (W.Va.) Church of the Brethren.
  
  
• The annual Brethren Disaster Relief Auction in Lebanon, Pa., marks its 30th anniversary this year. Events are held at the Lebanon County Fairgrounds Sept. 22-24. The auction sponsored jointly by Atlantic Northeast District and Southern Pennsylvania District is the largest of the Brethren disaster auctions. Duane Ness chairs the board of directors. A portion of the funds raised benefits the Emergency Disaster Fund of the Church of the Brethren General Board. This year, attendees will be challenged to the goal of assembling 30,000 Gift of the Heart Health Kits. Events begin 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, with baked goods stands and a farmer's market--with lots of other food available throughout the weekend. Auctions include a heifer auction, a livestock auction, a pole barn auction, a quilt auction, and general auctions. Gift of the Heart kit building begins at 8 a.m. Saturday. A hymn sing and orchestra closes the weekend at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. For a detailed schedule go to www.brethrenauction.org.
  
  
• "Springs of Living Water!" a church renewal breakfast, will be held at Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 8-11:45 a.m. The event will include leadership training for church renewal, biblical inspiration, and testimonies of churches in renewal. "In 'Springs of Living Water!' a church enters a spiritual journey and is trained in servant leadership to be a healthy church with an urgent, Christ-centered mission," explained leader David Young. Child care will be provided. RSVP by Sept. 23 to davidyoung@churchrenewalservant.org or 717-738-1887. For more information go to www.churchrenewalservant.org.
  
  
• Peggy Gish, a Church of the Brethren member who has been working in Iraq with Christian Peacemaker Teams, will speak at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill., on Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Childcare will be provided; the children will make peace pinwheels to place on the church lawn as a witness on the International Day of Prayer for Peace Sept. 21.
  
  
• Camp Harmony in Hooversville, Pa., is holding its 24th Annual Brethren Heritage Festival on Sept. 16, from 10 a.m.-5p.m. The event is co-sponsored by Western Pennsylvania District. Meals, booths, entertainment, Lizzie's Attic and Jacob's Shed sales of collectibles and antiques, a quilt auction and basket auction, pastor's bake off, pie eating contest, farmer's market, and children's activities will be offered. For more go to www.campharmony.org/brethren_heritage/index.html.
  
  
• Bridgewater (Va.) College's Constitution Day celebration features a presentation by Donald B. Kraybill, nationally recognized expert on Anabaptist groups, on "Cultural Clash: Amish Conflicts with the State," at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 in Cole Hall. Paul Grout, moderator of the 2001 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, will speak for the college's Fall Spiritual Focus on Sept. 26. During the 9:30 a.m. convocation, Grout will speak on "Jesus as Warrior," and at 7:30 p.m. his topic will be "Jesus as Mystic Monk." For more go to www.bridgewater.edu.
  
  
• Ending hunger is the topic of a National Council of Churches (NCC) television documentary, "Hunger No More: Faces Behind the Facts." The one-hour special was made available to NBC television network affiliates beginning Sept. 10. The documentary approaches hunger from the perspective of faith, declaring that it is more than a social issue. Howard Royer, manager of the Global Food Crisis Fund for the Church of the Brethren General Board, noted that the program may be a good resource for World Food Day on Oct. 16. A study guide is available at www.councilofchurches.org/hunger.
  
  
• Church leaders from Sudan have issued a statement listing current priorities for their country, including the merger of the two councils of churches--the Sudan Council of Churches in the north and the New Sudan Council of Churches in the south. The Church of the Brethren has worked with both councils. The statement affirmed the peace agreement reached between the government of Sudan and southern rebel groups in Jan. 2005, and the Darfur peace process under the African Union, but also noted isolation of churches in the implementation of the peace agreement, expressed concern about escalation of fighting in Darfur and eastern Sudan and the internally displaced refugees, and called for acceptance of a United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur. "We the Sudanese Heads of Churches commit our churches to fully support the unity of the people of Sudan and to walk together as one ecumenical family. We urge our partners/donors and the rest of the global ecumenical family to continue accompanying us in the task of rebuilding Sudan," the statement said. The church leaders made the statement during a meeting in Kenya Aug. 17-19 under the auspices of the All Africa Conference of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Source: 9/13/2006 Newsline