On Earth Peace commemorates day for peace, holds Together conversations.

The On Earth Peace Board of Directors and staff met September 21-23, 2006, at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The devotional theme used scriptures that focused on "Transformational Change." The board, led by chair Bev Weaver, continued its use of the formal consensus process for discussion and decision-making.

Just prior to the beginning of the board meetings, board, staff, and others from the Brethren Service Center community gathered to commemorate the United Nations' and World Council of Churches' International Day of Prayer for Peace. For this commemoration, hundreds of handmade pinwheels for peace were placed around the Brethren Service Center.

Throughout the meeting, the board and staff joined together for four sessions of Together: Conversations on Being the Church, facilitated by Joe Detrick, executive minister of Southern Pennsylvania District.

In other highlights of the meeting, the board and staff considered a proposal and began discernment work on issues of sexual orientation and inclusion in the church. A small group of board and staff members was created to coordinate planning for future discernment.

Committee reports included the Finance Committee's presentation of the current financial report and proposed fiscal year 2007 budget. For fiscal year 2006, which ended Sept. 30, it appears income will be sufficient to cover expense, with income somewhat below budget and expenses considerably below budget. The board approved a balanced budget of $515,000 for fiscal year 2007.

In addition, the Advancement Committee presented ideas to increase approaches to congregations and how board members can hold a house party as a way to connect people to the ministries of On Earth Peace. The Personnel Committee reported on revisions in the personnel policy manual and other matters. The Executive Committee reported on subgroups created to provide support and supervision for the On Earth Peace co-directors, the appointment of Bev Weaver as the On Earth Peace representative to the Annual Conference Program Feasibility Committee, and the dates the board will meet in 2008: April 17-19 and Sept. 25-27.

Staff reports highlighted the first of the Shalom Series practical peacemaking booklets, "Shalom--Christ's Way of Peace," which will be out this fall; the Brethren Service Committee video "Food and Clothing, Cattle and Love: Brethren Service in Europe After World War II," which debuted at National Older Adult Conference; the launch of On Earth Peace's newly designed website; On Earth Peace's presence and activities at Annual Conference, National Youth Conference, and National Older Adult Conference.

Upcoming events include the Counter Recruitment Conference Nov. 3-5, sponsored by Mennonite Central Committee, where On Earth Peace staff member Matt Guynn will be a featured speaker; a January 10-22 delegation to Palestine and Israel co-sponsored by On Earth Peace and Christian Peacemaker Teams led by Rick Polhamus; an Advanced Reconciliation Skills workshop at Camp Mack, Nov. 15-17, focused on building healthy congregations and led by General Board staff member Jim Kinsey; and an inter-generational weekend planned for January with the Manchester Church of the Brethren, North Manchester, Ind., including sessions with adults as well as youth.

Reports were received from board members who serve in liaison relationships and roles in other organizations, including Christian Peacemaker Teams, the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, and the New Community Project. Members of the Doing Church Business Committee gave a report from Annual Conference and the next steps in the consideration of the paper brought by this committee.

The board called the following people to leadership: chair Bev Weaver, vice chair Dena Lee (also serving as pastor to the board), secretary Lauree Hersch Meyer, treasurer Doris Abdullah, and additional executive committee members Dena Gilbert and Robbie Miller.

For more about On Earth Peace go to www.brethren.org/oepa.

Source: 10/11/2006 Newsline