Wednesday, November 22, 2006

NEWSPERSONNELUPCOMING EVENTSFEATURENEWSLINE EXTRA
Association of Brethren Caregivers tours Advocate Bethany Hospital.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers’ Executive Committee and Wellness Ministry cabinet toured Advocate Bethany Hospital in Chicago, prior to the ABC Board’s fall meetings Sept. 29-30 in Elgin, Ill.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers has some connections to the former Bethany Hospital, which began in conjunction with Bethany Theological Seminary when the school was located in Chicago. The tour allowed executive committee members to view the hospital’s transition to providing acute longterm care, from providing general health and emergency care.

The hospital received widespread publicity when it announced the move last January. At the ABC Board’s previous meeting in March, Church of the Brethren representatives who serve on the Governing Council of Advocate Bethany Hospital met with the board to report on the hospital’s reasons for moving to acute longterm care and how it might better serve its surrounding community.

In other business during its fall meetings, the ABC Board also approved holding National Older Adult Conferences (NOAC) in 2008 and 2009, ensuring that NOAC and National Youth Conference will no longer fall in the same year; received a written report titled “Stem Cell Research Report and Study Guide” from a task force created jointly by ABC and the Church of the Brethren General Board; heard reports about its ministries and events; and discussed the work of the denomination and ways agencies work together with Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board. Noffsinger was invited to the meetings as part of the ABC Board’s ongoing review of the Vision Statement it approved and released to the denomination last fall.

The board also took part in a board development session to evaluate its current make-up, vision, and focus. The session included a component that encourages the board to rethink its future goals and work.

These were the last board meetings for John Wenger of Anderson, Ind., who moves off the board Dec. 31. He will continue to serve on the Wellness Ministry. The board also accepted Gayle Hunter Sheller’s resignation and approved the appointment of Chris Whitacre of McPherson, Kan., to complete her term and represent the western districts.

For more about ABC go to www.brethren.org/abc.

Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
Disaster leadership training provides unique experience.

October was a month of excitement, anticipation, and new beginnings, reported Jane Yount, coordinator of Brethren Disaster Response for the Church of the Brethren General Board. The month represented a new beginning for leadership in the program, as 26 people from 13 states participated in two disaster project leadership trainings in Pensacola, Fla., and Lucedale, Miss.

These were the first trainings of their kind to be offered by Brethren Disaster Response, featuring real-life experience at actual disaster response project sites. Each two-week training was filled with instruction and skill development sessions, as presenters from local disaster recovery groups, Disaster Response staff, and current project leadership provided special training in their field of expertise. The training focused on topics such as construction management, safety, volunteer management, meal planning, hospitality, and more.

In addition to staff, trainers included Bob and Marianne Pittman, Larry and Alice Petry, Brethren Volunteer Service workers Phil and Joan Taylor, and safety expert Steve Hollinger.

Participants found it beneficial to immediately put into practice what they were learning, Yount reported. “We aren’t here by accident, we’re here by blessing. We’ve learned from everybody here,” commented Eddie Motley, trainee from Southeastern District of the Church of the Brethren.

The trainings have come to a close, but the journey for these volunteers has just begun. They will continue their training by working with the leaders of current disaster response projects to hone skills and become comfortable in leadership roles.

In other disaster response news, three grants have been made from the Emergency Disaster Fund of the Church of the Brethren General Board: an additional allocation of $25,000 continues support of the Brethren Disaster Response rebuilding site in Lucedale; an additional allocation of $3,000 completes funding for Disaster Child Care and other volunteers in Florida after Hurricane Wilma; an additional allocation of $1,500 completes funding for a Brethren Disaster Response clean-up project in Alabama following Hurricane Katrina.

A new Hurricane Katrina clean up and rebuilding project opened in Tammany Parish, La., on Oct. 15. Katrina caused devastation for the parish on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Brethren Disaster Response opened the project in Pearl River, a small town outside of Slidell.

Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
Counter-recruitment event challenges Anabaptist peace witness.

On the weekend eve of national elections, Brethren, Mennonites, and others gathered in San Antonio, Texas, to explore national issues of conscience on Nov. 3-5. Meeting on the weekend eve of national elections, the group realized that the time is now for peacemakers of conscience to speak with a clear voice in regards to war and its costly impact to society, said Phil Jones, director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office.

Organized by Mennonite Central Committee, under direction of MCC staff Titus Peachey, the event focused on the impact of military recruitment in communities of color and communities impacted by poverty, and was initiated by the people of color caucus from the Anabaptist Consultation on Alternative Service in March 2005. Participants were hosted by San Antonio Mennonite Church, and were given opportunities for networking and relationship building around the issue of countering military recruitment.

The conference drew more than 70 participants from across the US. Brethren in attendance included San Antonio residents, Brethren volunteers, denominational staff Jones and Matt Guynn of On Earth Peace, Brethren members from Ohio and Pennsylvania, and a large youth delegation from Haitian First Church of the Brethren in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Ertell Whigham, associate pastor of Norristown New Life Church, spoke for the opening session. He shared from his broad military experiences and involvements, including six years in the Marine Corps with a combat unit in Vietnam 1968-69, and as a recruiting sergeant 1973-74. He challenged the conference to seek the truth that lies beneath many military promises and expectations.

Other presenters included J.E. McNeil of the Center on Conscience and War in Washington, D.C.; Dick Davis, pastor of Peace Mennonite Church in Dallas, Texas, who had served as an army chaplain and resigned his commission in 1992 as a conscientious objector; and a three-member panel of former military personnel who were able to leave the military as an act of conscience. They recounted stories of heavy military recruitment, unfulfilled promises from the military, and the growing understanding that their initial choice of the military was one that they could no longer honor.

Workshops were offered on topics such as counter recruitment in schools, racism in the military, peace as worship, alternatives to the military, and seeing counter recruitment as a social movement. Guynn presented a workshop on the theological basis of counter recruitment.

In Sunday morning worship with the San Antonio Mennonites, the Brooklyn Brethren group offered leadership through drama and music. Peachey gave the closing sermon, “Countering Recruitment with Gospel Nonviolence” from Luke 9:51-56, reminding the group that many influences affect the choices we make. Peachey encouraged all to understand that “our own internal work can transform things around us, a greater, more powerful step than dismissing things in anger.”

(Reflections on the conference from the Haitian Brethren youth will follow in the Dec. 6 issue of Newsline.)


Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
Mid-Atlantic District conference incorporates learning centers.

The 40th Mid-Atlantic District Conference was held in Manassas, Va., on Oct. 6-7, incorporating a new approach to business as well as new “learning centers.”

The event began with a Pre-Conference Clergy Workshop with Mennonite comedians Ted and Lee, who brought their “theater works” to help clergy explore biblical stories from a unique perspective and to open eyes to the humor in the stories. Ted and Lee also added an unusual experience to worship Friday evening, with theater and humor transmitting a message on stewardship, “It’s Going to Cost How Much?”

Saturday’s session began with Bible study with Ted and Lee continuing the theme of stewardship. Manassas pastor and conference moderator Jeff Carter led the 281 conference-goers--representing 52 congregations--through the business. A new approach to business was used, as delegates were provided detailed information on each item of business in the morning, with a question and answer period following each explanation, and final decisions made in the afternoon.

Acting on a recommendation from the district’s Leadership Team, the conference decided to provide for an annual district audit in the form of a review by an outside CPA. Financial records of the Outdoor Ministry Facilities will be performed in accordance to its financial guidelines.

In other business, delegates approved accepting Community of Joy as a member congregation, along with a constitution change that affirms District Conference as the final authority to charter member congregations. The 2007 district budget was passed with an appeal for congregations to increase their stewardship and contribution to district ministries. The 2007 leadership slate was affirmed and three members for the Leadership Calling Team were selected. Dale Posthumus was called as moderator-elect for 2007.

The new format also included learning centers on the topics of worship, evangelism, and vital congregations, led by a combination of lay leadership and congregational and denominational staff. Ideas presented in the learning centers were steeped in personal experience and in research gleaned from a variety of resources, and provided attendees with at least one or more ideas to try in their respective congregations.

During lunch, Jim Benedict, author of the six-week curriculum “Together: Conversations on Being the Church,” answered questions and provided information to a small group of delegates. At least one small group from each congregation is encouraged to utilize the Together materials and report back to the denomination by April 2007.

Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
Brethren bits: Correction, remembrance, and much more.
  • Correction: In the Newsline of Nov. 8, a “Brethren Bit” giving information about a new option for tax-free giving for retirees omitted the names of all the agencies of the Church of the Brethren that may receive donations. Those agencies are the Association of Brethren Caregivers, the General Board, Bethany Theological Seminary, and On Earth Peace.

  • Atlantic Southeast District is requesting prayer for the family of Bryan Pata, a University of Miami football star who was shot outside his apartment on Nov. 8. Pata was a member of Eglise des Freres Haitiens (Haitian Church of the Brethren) in Miami, Fla. His death has been ruled a homicide. Pastor Ludovic St. Fleur conducted the memorial service.

  • Marin O’Brien has begun work in Guatemala as a Brethren Volunteer Service and Global Mission worker for the Church of the Brethren General Board. She will work with Red Ecumenica of Totonicapan. O’Brien is from Newton, Mass.

  • The Brethren Witness/Washington Office seeks Brethren members interested in serving as representative to the board of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). Cliff Kindy of Liberty, Ind., and Orlando Redekopp of Chicago, Ill., are concluding their terms of service as Church of the Brethren representatives on the CPT board of directors. Phil Miller continues to serve as a board member appointed by On Earth Peace. “A sincere thank you to Cliff and Orlando for their service to the church through their work with Christian Peacemaker Teams,” said the office in an Action Alert. Contact Phil Jones, director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, at pjones_gb@brethren.org or 800-785-3246.

  • “Life to the World: Devotions for Advent Through the Baptism of Our Lord,” by Christopher D. Bowman, is available from Brethren Press. The small booklet of daily devotions, scripture, and prayer for the 2006 Advent and Christmas season may be ordered for $2 plus shipping and handling from 800-441-3712.

  • Materials for an annual Christmas Offering for the work of the Church of the Brethren General Board are available for the suggested date of Dec. 3. Free materials on the theme “Come Walk with Us in the Ways of Peace,” include a bulletin insert, offering envelope, sheet of stewardship practices, sermon thoughts, music suggestions, and worship resources. Some are available in Spanish and English. Order from Brethren Press at 800-441-3712.

  • The website of the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) is offering a new link for congregations wanting emergency disaster preparedness information for members with disabilities. The link sends congregations to a resource from the National Organization on Disabilities titled "Prepare Yourself: Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Disabilities." This and other resources can be accessed by going to the link at www.brethren.org/abc or by going directly to www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.ViewPage&PageID=1549&.

  • The Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren has announced the disbursement of funds from the quilt auction at the 2006 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. The group has disbursed a total of $11,500 as follows: $5,700 to the Global Food Crisis Fund, a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board, to help fund a bakery in Sudan and micro-loans in Latin America; $4,000 to the Washington (D.C.) City Food Pantry; $1,000 to the Pump House Ministry; and $800 to the New Community Project to help fund development for women in Nepal.

  • Barry and Carol Haller of East Cocalico Church of the Brethren in Reamstown, Pa., are again organizing annual Thanksgiving dinners for their community, this year expecting close to 1,000 guests at two locations. The dinners are served with the help of many other community volunteers. An article in the “Intelligencer Journal” of Lancaster, Pa., tells the story. Find the piece titled “Feeding bodies and spirits,” at http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/27985.

  • A new resource from the National Council of Churches (NCC) Eco-Justice Program titled, "At the Lord's Table: Everyday Thanksgiving," gives churches tools to talk about how faith may influence food choices, to engage in progressive food buying practices, and to advocate for a better farm bill in 2007. The NCC hopes people of faith this holiday season will remember the chain of God's creatures and creation that brings food to their family's table, said a release. “From farmers, farmworkers, rural communities, land, water, air, and soil that was necessary to produce their meal, all deserve to be lifted up as families say their prayers of thanks this holiday season,” the NCC said. The resource addresses justice, economic, and environmental issues related to food production and distribution. It can be downloaded for free from the Eco-Justice Program's Network at www.nccecojustice.org/network (sign in to access the resource downloads).

  • Virlina District reports that a “Brethren Christian Peacemaker Team” is sending four representatives to eastern Tennessee from Nov. 24-28, to the area of the Aerojet plant in Telford to hold meetings and discussions about the production of weapons using depleted uranium. The Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) group is working to educate about the effects of depleted uranium weaponry on the local community, the military, and people around the world. The schedule for the visit includes a potluck supper at Jackson Park Church of the Brethren in Jonesborough, Tenn., followed by a discussion about “Agent Orange and Depleted Uranium--How Do Good Citizens Respond to These Tragedies for Our Soldiers?” with representatives of the VFW’s local “Rolling Thunder” chapter, on Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m.; a discussion at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City on Nov. 25 at 2 p.m.; worship at Jackson Park Church of the Brethren on Nov. 26, at 11 a.m.; a discussion with Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, at Aerojet in Telford, on Nov. 27 at 1 p.m., pizza and discussion with First Tennessee Progressives at Rivers Edge Restaurant in Erwin on Nov. 27 at 6 p.m.; and a meeting with Congressman-elect David Davis in Johnson City on Nov. 28 at 8:45 a.m.

  • In other news from Christian Peacemaker Teams, a team returned to Iraq in early November after taking a short break out of the country. CPT requested prayer for the team, as it reported that the security situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate.

  • A Greater Gift/SERRV is holding a Holiday Overstock sale through Nov. 26 at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., in the Blue Ridge Building 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. through Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. The sale will be closed on Thanksgiving. Discounts include 60 percent off all first-quality crafts, some with greater discounts. For more go to www.greatergift.org.

  • The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has expressed “deep and abiding sorrow and regret for the persecution and suffering visited upon the Anabaptists during the religious disputes of the past.” The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council acted because past statements have become problematic for the ELCA's present-day relationships with the Mennonite Church USA and others who trace their heritage to 16th century Anabaptist reformers, which group includes the Church of the Brethren. The council declared that the ELCA "repudiates the use of governmental authorities to punish individuals or groups with whom it disagrees theologically"; rejected arguments of Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon, two 16th century church reformers, "in which they hold that governmental authorities should punish Anabaptists for their teaching”; and repudiated similar statements in the Formula of Concord and Augsburg Confession.

  • The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) seeks nominations for 2007 fellowships, including Undergraduate Fellowships for rising juniors and seniors, Ministry Fellowships for divinity students, matching grants for Congregational Fellowships for students entering the first year of a divinity program, and Doctoral and Dissertation Fellowships for African-American doctoral students. University and seminary faculty and administrators, campus pastors, and clergy are invited to nominate candidates. For details go to www.thefund.org/programs.

  • In a follow up to the report about Brethren trees (see “Brethren bits” in the Aug. 30 Newsline), the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., has two “Big Tree Champions” on its grounds with awards from the State of Maryland, reports Linda Hollinger, a former Brethren Volunteer Service worker at the center. “The Big Tree champion of species is the biggest documented occurrence of that species in the state,” she said. “The purple beech near the entrance to the Zigler Building (dining hall) measures over 14 feet in circumference. It, and the hinoki cypress on the grounds listed as the biggest in the state can be found by searching the following website http://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/download/forests/bigtreelist.pdf.” (The Brethren Service Center trees are listed on pages 4 and 5.) Ed Palsgrove, director of Buildings and Grounds at the center provided more information. “We have been aware that the purple beach is a unique specimen for quite awhile and have made it a priority to keep it in good shape over the last 25-plus years,” he said. “We have had it trimmed, cabled, fertilized, and applied other longevity efforts. The hanoki cypress was nominated by a local arborist about five years ago and we have taken a few similar measures since then to maintain its health.”
Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
Jim Kinsey retires from Congregational Life Teams staff.

Jim Kinsey, a member of the Congregational Life Team for Areas 2 and 4, has announced his retirement from fulltime ministry through the Church of the Brethren General Board, effective Jan. 2, 2007.

Kinsey began work for the General Board in 1994, beginning fulltime work for the board in 2000. He has done a wide variety of work for Congregational Life Ministries, with a particular passion for small church and rural ministries and for building healthy congregational systems.

He also has served in several other roles denominationally. Prior to his current position, he shared the role of interim co-director of Ministry for the board, and for a time, both those positions coincided with the 17 years of service he provided as executive minister of Michigan District. In earlier years, he served as a pastor in Church of the Brethren congregations in Michigan and Ohio.

Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
Kevin Kessler called as executive of Illinois and Wisconsin District.

Kevin L. Kessler has been called to serve in a half-time position as executive minister of Illinois and Wisconsin District, effective Jan. 1, 2007. Since 1993, he has served as pastor of Canton (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, where he will continue to pastor on a half-time basis.

Kessler completed the Education for a Shared Ministry (EFSM) program at Canton and was ordained in 1997. He is working towards an associate degree in Science at Spoon River College. He also has 17 years of experience in the banking and finance industry, prior to his calling to ministry. In volunteer work for the church, he has served as a District Board member, including a term as chair, and has chaired the District Transition Team.

The Illinois and Wisconsin District Office will continue to be located at York Center Church of the Brethren in Lombard, Ill.

Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
Tim Button-Harrison begins as interim executive for N. Plains District.

Tim Button-Harrison has been named interim executive minister in Northern Plains District, effective Nov. 13 through at least Dec. 31, 2007.

Button-Harrison has served as pastor of Church of the Brethren congregations in the Northern Plains District, most recently Ivester Church of the Brethren in Grundy Center, Iowa. He also brings broad district experience to the position, including service as a District Board member, district moderator, district coordinator for Training in Ministry, and Standing Committee member.

He attended Manchester College, majoring in peace studies and religion, and also holds a degree in religion from the University of Iowa. He graduated from Bethany Seminary in 1990.

Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
“Small Things, Great Love” is theme for 2007 workcamps.
By Amy Rhodes

Mother Teresa’s words, “We can do no great things; only small things with great love,” echoed at National Youth Conference and have been chosen to provide the inspiration for next summer’s Church of the Brethren workcamps.

Workcamps offer week-long service opportunities across the US and Central America for junior high youth, senior high youth, and young adults. Held in June, July, and August, the workcamp program of the General Board provides experiences that unite service, spiritual growth, and Brethren heritage.

The theme for 2007 draws on 2 Corinthians 9:10, “For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”

Workcamps will be offered in 35 new and revisited locations including such as Kansas City, Kan.; Camp Wilbur Stover in New Meadows, Idaho; Reynosa, Mexico; St. Croix, Virgin Islands; Los Angeles; and Phoenix. Six junior high workcamps, 20 senior high workcamps, one combined junior and senior high workcamp, three intergenerational workcamps, two young adult workcamps, and two combined senior high and adult workcamps will be offered.

The program hopes to draw on the excitement generated at NYC and is an opportunity for youth to find out what “Come and See” (the NYC theme) is all about. “Workcamps bring youth together to give a week of service, to go outside of their own hometown and into another community to follow Jesus’ teaching of ‘go and serve,’ ” said Travis Beam, an assistant workcamp coordinator through Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS).

The workcamp program organized by the board’s Youth and Young Adult Ministries began in 1988. The number of participants has grown from 46 in 1988 to 622 in 2005. Recognizing this growing interest, the board has responded with plans for expansion. Primary changes in the program are the addition of office positions including a fulltime staff member as coordinator and additional BVS positions. Steve Van Houten is serving as coordinator; Travis Beam, Rachel McFadden, and Amy Rhodes are assistant coordinators. The new positions support the growth of the program and the greater number of workcamps that are being offered.

The General Board also has outlined several ways of broadening the program in coming years, such as offering workcamps during spring break and January term for young adults, in conjunction with the Brethren colleges; providing workcamp opportunities for adults in Sunday school classes and other groups, especially during non-summer seasons; and creating intergenerational workcamps and family workcamps.

Van Houten emphasized that workcampers must anticipate learning as much as they commit to serving. “We learn as much from the people at these places as we share with them,” he said. “We’re joining together and walking alongside the people in the communities.”

Online registration for the workcamps begins Jan. 3, 2007, go to www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/workcamps/index.html. Promotional DVDs and a printed brochure are available on request--call 800-323-8039 or e-mail cobworkcamps_gb@brethren.org.

--Amy Rhodes is a Brethren Volunteer Service worker and assistant workcamp coordinator for the Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Church of the Brethren General Board.

Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
Boca Chica, Dominican Republic: Building a church, block-by-block.
By Nancy and Irvin Heishman

The congregation of Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic is hard at work building a physical house of worship, and at the same time discovering that God is strengthening their spiritual house (1 Peter 1:4-5). The area in which the congregation ministers is east of the capital city of Santo Domingo. While the neighborhood is a very poor area, many tourist hotels and some of the most gorgeous beaches on the island can be found just on the opposite side of the road.

The Boca Chica congregation consists of approximately 120 members, mostly Haitian immigrants. Lively worship is conducted in both Spanish and Creole.

In 2003, the Brethren World Mission Committee, with members in Atlantic Northeast District and Southern Pennsylvania District, made it possible for this growing congregation to move into a rented facility for worship. Prior to this they were crowding into a fragile pavilion with pieces of tin, tarp, and palm branches overhead. When it rained, the people got drenched and they were impossibly crowded in the little space. This yearly support has been a wonderful blessing for this congregation.

Earlier this spring, the congregation felt a need to relocate when the landlord began to butcher pigs in the lot behind the worship space. The foul odor made it practically impossible at times to use the building for worship. God used this unpleasant experience for good, however, inspiring the congregation to begin raising funds to build a church building on property they had purchased themselves.

One factor in Boca Chica’s success in reaching its building goal is the motivational gifts of its pastor, Catalice Mardoche, who is constantly encouraging members and keeping a positive momentum alive. In a kick-off campaign for the building effort, members were invited to commit themselves to pledge money for concrete block and other building materials. When even children came forward to make commitments, at first the adults discouraged them thinking that they would not be able to follow through. But the children were insistent. They wanted to make their own pledges! Since then, they have been strong supporters of the project as well as the adults.

The steeply sloped and rocky building lot is a challenge. To create a level foundation, the church members first dug trenches through the rocks and soil for the footer, and then blocks were laid. The next difficult project will be to fill the interior with compacted soil to form a level surface on which to pour the floor. All the labor is done by hand and, of course, out in the blazing hot sun.

But the spirit of cooperation and determination is truly inspiring. Led by pastor Mardoche and an excellent board of leaders, the church truly has a “can do” spirit, with God’s help. They know the meaning of the truth, “With God all things are possible!”

–Nancy and Irvin Heishman are Dominican Republic mission coordinators for the Church of the Brethren General Board.

Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
DISTRICTS DEAL WITH DIVISIONS OVER SEXUALITY, AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

Divisions over issues of sexuality, the authority of scripture, and other related issues have surfaced in recent months in at least three districts in the Church of the Brethren. The districts of Northern Plains, South/Central Indiana, and Illinois and Wisconsin are dealing with divisions in different ways.

Northern Plains District

In Northern Plains, “our board is trying to deal with this in a way that we actually talk with each other,” said former executive minister Connie Burkholder, in an interview conducted while she was still serving the district. Divisive issues for the district are not just about sexuality, but also the authority of scripture, Jesus Christ as the only savior, and disagreement over use of funds.

Another concern, Burkholder said, is whether new church projects will welcome homosexuals without expecting them to change. Open Circle Church of the Brethren in Burnsville, Minn., the newest congregation in the district, has become a focal point for the concerns.

A factor in the situation was a decision by the district board to give a loan--taken in part from money gained in the sale of Camp Mon-Dak--to Open Circle to pay off its mortgage. Brethren in the area of the camp had relinquished claim to the camp property, although some still felt connected with the camp, said Burkholder.

Six congregations have sent letters to the district on various concerns related to these issues. One was framed as queries for district conference. The district also has received communications from “people at the opposite end of the theological perspective,” Burkholder said, including a letter from Open Circle explaining its viewpoint.

The district board invited congregations to a day of prayer in mid-May, outlining in the invitation the main issues it perceived in the district. The district board also began planning for a district face-to-face conversation.

That gathering took place Oct. 7-8 at Camp Pine Lake. The main focus of discussion related to homosexuality and church leadership, said Tim Button-Harrison, who is currently serving as interim district executive. “The gathering really was giving members of the district an opportunity to be in respectful conversation with one another, and to both listen and share the range of views represented in our district,” he said. More than 150 people attended, representing most of the congregations.

The district has benefited from the gathering “to bring us together as the church and prayerfully listen and share with one another,” Button-Harrison said. Also, the district board has received a 15-page document of participant feedback to the gathering, including individual responses and some group responses from congregations. The feedback ranged from appreciation for the gathering, personal insights gained, and benefits gained for the district, to identification of frustrations and disappointments, hopes for a resolution to differences, and ideas for what the district board’s next steps should be.

Many in the district “desire to work at these issues in a different kind of way that is upbuilding of the church and honors the variety of ways of understanding that are in our churches,” Button-Harrison said. “We feel called to draw from the best of who we are to model another way.”

South/Central Indiana District

South/Central Indiana District also has attempted a process of dialogue in response to Manchester Church of the Brethren, an “open and affirming” congregation in North Manchester, Ind., according to executive minister Allen Kahler. However, district meetings for dialogue and discussion have not healed divisions.

Instead, on Oct. 21, a specially called district conference responded to Manchester’s holding of a same-sex covenant ceremony by deciding to sanction any church that holds a covenant service in the future. The decision was not retroactive, and Manchester is not under sanction at this time.

The action of the district conference, which was recommended by the district board, stated that a congregation “that allows a same-sex covenant service on church property or with the assistance of church ministerial leadership will have a three-year moratorium placed upon their participation in elected and appointed district offices, including seating delegates at district conference.”

It also includes follow-up activities a congregation under sanction will be required to “submit to,” possibly including work with the district board, the Ministry of Reconciliation of On Earth Peace, and the Annual Conference Council; and direction to suspend the holding of covenant services on church property or with the assistance of the church’s ministers.

The conflict in the district has been brewing for many years, beginning as early as 1996 when Manchester decided to become “open and affirming.” The congregation’s decision-making process included a lengthy study of sexuality from a biblical and scientific perspective. With 605 members, Manchester is by far the largest congregation in South/Central Indiana District--the next largest having 264 members (statistics from the 2006 “Church of the Brethren Yearbook.”)

In 2002 the district sent a query to Annual Conference, which was answered in 2004 by the paper “Congregational Disagreement with Annual Conference Decisions.” (For the full answer to the query go to www.brethren.org/ac/ac_statements/2004DisagreeAC.html.)

The district also created an advisory council that included members from Manchester. The advisory council functioned for a year or more, Kahler said, and it attempted to find a way to have conversation between differing groups, helped keep the district board apprised of the situation, and helped care for the situation of conflict while the district board continued to do the regular business of the district.

Then came news of the same-sex covenant ceremony at Manchester in October last year. District leaders met with leaders of the congregation. There followed a series of written communications between the congregation and the district board, and the board also received communications from other congregations about the issue.

A final letter from the district board to the Manchester congregation, sent earlier this year, reportedly was perceived by the district and the congregation in very different ways, according to Kahler: it was perceived by the district board as a statement of last steps in the process Annual Conference has outlined in the event of congregational disagreement, but may have been perceived by the congregation as a threat.

On June 11, Manchester reaffirmed its “open and affirming” position in a congregational business meeting. It communicated that commitment in a letter to the district board, which also requested that the district engage in a process of reconciliation.

The district board, however, responded instead by making its recommendation to sanction congregations, and scheduled the specially called district conference. At that Oct. 21 meeting, attempts to amend the recommendation failed and it passed by a two-thirds majority.

Illinois and Wisconsin District

In Illinois and Wisconsin District, leaders have been working in several ways to hold together congregations that are in very different places on issues of human sexuality. The variety of efforts have included visits to all congregations by the district moderator, an invitation for congregations to respond to a draft of a “District Covenant,” and a time for open prayer for concerns of the district at this year’s district conference.

The district has been in conversation about issues of sexuality for at least two years. The district includes three congregations that are “open and affirming” or have statements of welcome for people of all sexual orientations.

In June 2004, five congregations proposed a query titled “The Church of the Brethren Position on Homosexuality and Lesbianism.” The query was received during a year of transition in the district. The district’s transition team attempted a series of meetings with representatives or members of the five congregations, and then determined that the query was not made in proper form. The five congregations reframed and resubmitted the query, and five more congregations joined the original group.

After several months of study, a district study team determined that the query had already been answered by Annual Conference. The query was returned along with a detailed response providing information that supported the answers to the query, according to Kevin Kessler, who has been named district executive minister to begin in the new year.

In the meantime, Springfield (Ill.) Church of the Brethren announced its position as “open and affirming.”

District leaders are continuing conversation with the 10 congregations, which have not resubmitted the query and have not filed a formal grievance with the district, and with the Springfield congregation. Astoria (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, however, has sent a letter of grievance directly to the Annual Conference officers.

District leaders have tried to be very careful in responding to the query, to the 10 congregations that brought it, and to the Springfield congregation, said former district executive minister Jim Yaussy Albright, interviewed for this article while he was still serving the district. “The study team was balanced, (including) people who think homosexuality is a sin and those who do not,” he said. In its dealings with Springfield, the district has been equally careful, and has tried to follow the latest Annual Conference guidelines.

“Christ made us brothers and sisters,” Albright said. “We didn’t choose it. We are covenanted to deal with each other despite the differences.”

(For relevant Annual Conference statements referenced in this article, see www.brethren.org/ac/ac_statements/83HumanSexuality.htm for the 1983 “Human Sexuality from a Christian Perspective”; www.brethren.org/ac/ac_statements/79BiblicalInspiration%26Authority.htm for the 1979 “Biblical Inspiration and Authority”; www.brethren.org/ac/ac_statements/98NewTestament.htm for the 1998 “The New Testament as Our Rule of Faith and Practice”; and www.brethren.org/ac/ac_statements/2004DisagreeAC.html for the 2004 “Congregational Disagreement with Annual Conference Decisions.”)

--Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford is director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. She is a member of Illinois and Wisconsin District, at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren.

Source: 11/22/2006 Newsline
Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Mary Dulabaum, Jody Gunn, Phil Jones, Linda Kjeldgaard, Nancy Knepper, Jon Kobel, Jeri S. Kornegay, Karin Krog, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

NEWSUPCOMING EVENTSFEATURE
Easing burdens of disaster recovery in Mississippi.

Through its 300 volunteers who began arriving in Mississippi in January, the Church of the Brethren has lifted some of the burdens of families with unmet needs after Hurricane Katrina. They've helped primarily in George County by rebuilding or repairing more than 60 homes, replacing roofs and taking on countless other tasks that have earned them the respect and friendship of several communities mauled by Hurricane Katrina.

The Church of the Brethren is one of many voluntary agencies that work together in their disaster preparedness efforts through the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), formed after the devastating Hurricane Camille in 1969 to coordinate services provided to communities affected by disasters. NVOAD participate in the National Response Plan. The plan forms the basis of how the federal government coordinates with the state, local and tribal governments, and the private sector during domestic natural or man-made disasters.

"I have a calling...to assist people and to use my talents to give back to the US and to people in need," said church member Don Atkins, an Indiana resident who spent a month in Lucedale supervising others late this spring. He's been doing disaster relief work with the Church of the Brethren for more than six years.

Atkins and the group of volunteers he supervised worked on Naomi Hudson's house.

"The shingles were down, water damaged the porch, and I had no electricity or water for weeks after the storm," said Hudson, a retired sportswear factory worker in George County. "But I was able to move in just two days after these people (the Church of the Brethren) came to help."

Disaster Recovery Services of George County (DRS) gave Hudson's name to the church's relief workers. DRS, which also serves neighboring Greene County, is one of many longterm recovery committees established with the encouragement of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) throughout the damaged counties of Mississippi to work on Hurricane Katrina rebuilding and repair projects. The Church of the Brethren is among more than 60 members or voluntary organizations that pitch in to help those people designated by DRS as needing the most attention.

Hudson has insurance but not enough to restore her house for occupancy. The Brethren volunteers showed up at her house with tools, building materials, and lots of elbow grease. She reciprocated with daily meals that included baked ham and sweet potatoes, cheesecakes, and strawberries.

Volunteers, young and old, are trained by the church to rebuild and make repairs.

The church has been responding to disasters since 1941 through its Brethren Disaster Response program. When disaster strikes, the Church of the Brethren Disaster Response provides volunteers to clean up debris and to repair or rebuild homes for disaster survivors who lack sufficient resources to hire a contractor or other paid labor. The presence of these volunteer work teams helps to ease the trauma that is felt in the aftermath of a disaster. Its Emergency Disaster Fund was established in 1960. The church also is known worldwide for its Disaster Child Care program.

Disaster Child Care (DCC) offered a post-Katrina hand to more than 2,700 children, many of them evacuees, at 14 locations in 9 states, including Mississippi. The program trains, certifies, and mobilizes volunteers to disaster sites in the US to provide crisis intervention to young children of families suffering from natural or man-made disasters. Professional counselors are also available to inform and educate parents, teachers, community workers, and the general public about the effects of disasters on children.

Voluntary organizations are an important part of the US Department of Homeland Security's FEMA mission to provide support and guidance to states recovering from disaster.

"I've got new friends from all over the world," said Hudson about the Brethren.

The feeling is mutual.

"We get more out of this work than we put in," said Atkins.

--This article appeared originally as a press release from FEMA and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. It is reprinted here with permission.

Source: 11/08/2006 Newsline
Disaster Child Care responding in New York, Pacific Northwest.

Six Disaster Child Care (DCC) volunteers are currently serving families affected by storms in New York state. The ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board also is exploring a response to a typhoon in the Pacific Northwest, according to a report from coordinator Helen Stonesifer.

A DCC Center has been set up at FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Buffalo, N.Y., following a surprise snowstorm Oct. 12-13 that dumped two feet of snow in the New York area. The storm caused nearly 400,000 people to be without power for several days. High winds and heavy ice and snow downed trees and power lines. As the snow melted rather quickly, other households coped with basement flooding. Damage ranged from trees that fell on roofs, to several feet of flood water inside of homes, Stonesifer said.

The New York child care center opened Nov. 6 "and will remain open for as long as our services are needed," Stonesifer added. Barbara Weaver from Tonawanda, N.Y., is serving as project manager.

Disaster Child Care also is assessing the needs of families affected by the typhoon in the northwest, where some areas of Oregon and Washington states have received 26 inches of rain in the last day. Almost every river and stream is flooded, with many at 15 feet above flood stage, and heavy rains have forced schools, roads, and industrial closures in the Tillamook area of Oregon, Stonesifer reported.

DCC regional coordinator Carol Elms is contacting disaster relief agencies, such as the American Red Cross and FEMA, to offer child care services and to research the number of families with children who are affected, and if plans are being made to open shelters, service centers, or disaster recovery centers.

Source: 11/08/2006 Newsline
Committee on Interchurch Relations sets interfaith focus for 2007.

The Committee on Interchurch Relations (CIR) met Sept. 22-24 at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. CIR is responsible for ecumenical and interfaith relations on behalf of the Church of the Brethren General Board and Annual Conference.

It was decided that an emphasis on interfaith conversations and understanding will highlight the CIR's contributions to Annual Conference 2007. The speaker for the Ecumenical Luncheon will be Brethren minister and scholar Paul Numrich, professor of World Religion and Inter-Religious Dialogue for the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus, Ohio. A Tuesday evening insight session will be on the theme, "Can We Talk? A Muslim and an Evangelical Christian Come Together."

In addition, the committee is working on a statement related to Muslim-Christian relations and the crusades.

The CIR took action to recommend to Annual Conference and the General Board that the Church of the Brethren become a full participant in Christian Churches Together in the USA (more information appeared with the report from the General Board's fall meeting).

CIR also put in place a plan to receive a report on the Church of the Brethren's annual Cross-Cultural Consultation and Celebration.

The committee received reports that Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board, was elected to the board of the US Conference of the World Council of Churches; and that Becky Ullom, General Board director of identity and relations, has been appointed proxy for National Council of Churches delegate David Whitten who has assumed staff responsibilities with the General Board in Nigeria.

In other reports, American Baptist Churches USA representative Rothang Chhangte reported on the work of that denomination, reports were received from the annual conferences of other Brethren groups, and from the CIR representation at the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church USA.

The committee will meet next by conference call for further planning and for conversation with Church of the Brethren delegates to the National Council of Churches.

Committee members are Ilexene Alphonse, James Eikenberry, Michael Hostetter, Robert Johansen, Rene Quintanilla, and Carolyn Schrock, who was unable to be present due to weather-related flight delays. Stan Noffsinger and Jon Kobel provided staff support from the General Board. Chhangte represented the American Baptist Churches USA for the second consecutive year.

Source: 11/08/2006 Newsline
Brethren Revival Fellowship BVS unit has begun service.

The annual Brethren Revival Fellowship unit of Brethren Volunteer Service has begun a year of service at the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Lewiston, Maine. The unit completed orientation Aug. 30 at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.

The five members of Unit 271 are Matt Fuhrman of Pleasant Hill Church of the Brethren in Spring Grove, Pa.; Tonia Little of Blue Rock Independent Brethren Church in Mercersburg, Pa.; Nathan Meyers of Upton Church of the Brethren in Greencastle, Pa.; and Andy and Renae Newcomer, and children Abigail and Alex, of the Pleasant Hill congregation.

Source: 11/08/2006 Newsline
Atlantic Southeast District conference is held in Puerto Rico.

The 82nd annual District Conference of Atlantic Southeast District, moderated by Hector Perez Borges, was held on the island of Puerto Rico. The host church was Yahuecas, and the host pastor was Norma Medina.

Two workshops were held prior to the Conference: "Building Healing and Welcoming Congregations" led by Juan G. Feliciano, and "Unleashing the Power of Prayer: Becoming a Spiritual House Acceptable to God" led by Belita Mitchell, moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.

Opening worship was led by Heriberto Martinez, with youth from the Arecibo congregation offering a pantomime presentation and a concert following the worship service. A licensing service conducted by district executive Martha Beach was held for Jose Medina of Manati Church of the Brethren. Ordinations were also conducted at the service for Jaime Diaz of the Castaner congregation and Hector Perez Borges of the Vega Baja congregation. Diaz and Ana Figueroa interpreted for the service.

Youth were involved in the conference, with youth from the Arecibo congregation offering a pantomime presentation for the opening worship service and a concert following the service, youth from the island serving breakfast on Saturday morning.

In business sessions, delegates accepted the nomination of Wayne Sutton of Miami (Fla.) First Church of the Brethren as moderator elect. Ana Figueroa of St. Petersburg (Fla.) Church of the Brethren will serve as moderator for the 83rd District Conference to be held next year in St. Petersburg. Other persons installed for district leadership were James Graybill and Jerry Hartwell on the District Board, Ray Hileman and Isabel Martinez on the Church Development Council, Jose Medina on the Nominating and Personnel Committee, and Jerry Hartwell on the Discipleship and Reconciliation Committee.

Delegates also accepted written by-laws changes; accepted a recommendation to close the Brandon "Good Samaritan" church, "made and accepted with sadness," according to the report from Beach; accepted a recommendation of the District Board to establish a District Designated Fund for the purpose of helping to create financial stability for the District; and accepted for a one-year term a request from the District Board to revise the 1998 District Conference decision for the distribution of undesignated funds given to the district. A committee is to be formed and a recommendation is to be brought to next year's conference with regard to the undesignated funds. A bread and cup communion was served following the business session.

During a final worship service, Mitchell offered a closing challenge to the 70-some people in attendance, and Diaz and Borges were consecrated with a moving laying-on-of-hands service at the conclusion of her message. Guests from denominational agencies, along with all of the credentialed ministers in attendance and associate district executive Jorge Rivera and Beach participated in the service.

Source: 11/08/2006 Newsline
Brethren bits: Job openings, tax-free giving, and more.
  • The Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign seeks an assistant director. This grant-funded staff position of the National Council of Churches works with the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, and national and state campaigns to coordinate state field organizers and implement initiatives. The campaign's mandate is to proclaim and enact God's biblical mandate of stewardship by working within the faith community to curb global warming, with special attention to the needs of the poor. Starting in the fall of 2006, the organization will engage in an intensive grassroots campaign that utilizes an education-to-advocacy framework. Location is in Washington, D.C. Salary is commensurate with experience. For the full job posting go to www.ncccusa.org/jobs/jobshome.html (scroll down to find the posting). Send cover letter, resume, and writing sample to ICEC Search, Attn: Joan Gardner, jgardner@ncccusa.org or National Council of Churches, 475 Riverside Dr., Rm. 812, New York, NY 10115 (electronic applications preferred). The NCC is an equal opportunity employer. Deadline for applications is Nov. 27.

  • Retirees have a new option for tax-free giving to the church or church agencies through the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Those age 70-and-a-half or older may give up to $100,000 in 2006-07 directly from an individual retirement account (IRA) without reporting the gift as income. Previously such gifts would be taxable. Gifts must be made on or before Dec. 31, 2007, and transferred directly from the IRA by its administrator or trustee. Some funds are ineligible to receive such gifts including charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and donor-advised funds. For more information contact one of the funding staff of the Church of the Brethren General Board or the Brethren Benefit Trust, or a personal financial advisor.

  • The US federal budget for 2007 calls for cuts in domestic human needs programs so that more money can be allocated for defense, said an Action Alert from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office. The alert supports a call for action by the faith community from Domestic Human Needs, an ecumenical faith-based working group. The budget will be finalized in the upcoming "lame duck" session of Congress. The alert listed how budget cuts will affect domestic human needs programs including cuts in job-training programs for the fifth year in a row; cuts in the budget of Head Start of $140 million less than the program would need to provide a 2006 level of service; a cut of $43 million for child care, primarily provided through the Child Care and Development Block Grant, likely to cause 11,000 children to lose assistance; funding for Pell Grants for low- and middle-income students of $725 million below the 2006 level plus inflation; funding for the National Institutes of Health that is $351 million below the 2006 level plus inflation. The office is providing a sample letter expressing these concerns to send to a local newspaper or to members of Congress. Contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at 800-785-3246 or washington_office_gb@brethren.org.

  • A workshop titled, "A Faithful Response: Supporting and Welcoming Those Who Choose Military Service or Conscientious Objection," will be held Nov. 11 at Messiah Church of the Brethren in Kansas City, Mo. On Earth Peace staff Susanna Farahat and Laura Partridge of the American Friends Service Committee, along with Kansas City pastors Barbra Davis and Sonja Griffith, will provide leadership for the day-long peace retreat sponsored by the Kansas City Metro Parish. Sessions include "Christian Nonviolence," "Military Recruitment/Conscientious Objection," "Sharing Stories in Community," and "Welcoming Veterans Home." Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The event begins with worship at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. To register at no cost, e-mail messiah15@isp.com or call 816-678-7664. Church of the Brethren ministers receive .5 continuing education units for participating in this event.

  • A fire broke out at Middle River Church of the Brethren in Fort Defiance, Va., early on the morning of Nov. 7. An inspector was due to assess the damage later the same day. Shenandoah District has requested prayers for the congregation.

  • The Moms and Tots program meeting at Annville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The free program attracts at least 30 moms and even more children, according to a report in the "Patriot-News" newspaper. Moms and Tots offers a program for mothers and activities for children, taught by Lebanon Valley College students and other parents.

  • Virlina District holds its district conference Nov. 10-11, in Rocky Mount, Va. Shirley Jamison will serve as moderator.

  • Bridgewater (Va.) College is working with two community colleges to make a bachelor's degree more accessible to local students. Bridgewater has signed Guaranteed Admission Agreements with Germanna Community Collge in Locust Grove, and Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in Daleville, to allow students meeting certain requirements to transfer directly from the community colleges to Bridgewater's bachelor's degree program. For more information go to www.bridgewater.edu.

  • "Who's Who Among American Teachers" is recognizing eight Manchester College faculty members for educational excellence: James R.C. Adams, chair of the Department of Art; Mark Angelos, who teaches European history and medieval and gender studies; Dagny Boebel, chair of the Department of English; Gregory W. Clark, chair of the Department of Physics; Mary P. Lahman, professor of communication studies; Heather A. Schilling of the Department of Education faculty; Scott K. Strode, chair of the Department of Communication Studies and director of theater; and Janina P. Traxler, chair of the Department of Modern Languages. For more visit www.manchester.edu.

  • The Church of the Brethren's Womaen's Caucus has given its 2006 "Friend of Caucus" award to Jan Fairchild. She has served on the Womaen's Caucus Steering Committee for four years, including a time when the group had no administrator. Fairchild is retired from a ministry position in Oregon and Washington District, and currently living in Bloomington, Ind., where she is a regular volunteer at Middle Way House Domestic Violence Shelter.

  • The Annual Pinecrest Bazaar has added a home tour this year. The event, now in its 15th year, is sponsored by Pinecrest Community, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Mount Morris, Ill. The bazaar on Nov. 10, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. features holiday gifts, homemade baked goods, barbecue lunch, and hand-crafted items including jewelry, dolls, clothing--and this year the possibility of shopping for a retirement home at Pinecrest Grove, a 20-acre active adult development. For more information about the bazaar call Janell Miller at 815-734-4103 ext. 218. For more information about the tour, call Chrystal Bostian at 815-734-4103 ext. 242.

  • The New Community Project is holding a Fall Retreat at Camp Brethren Woods in the mountains of Virginia, on Nov. 24-25. Leaders includes David and Daniel Radcliff of New Community Project, Carol Lena Miller of the Virginia ilderness Committee, Chris Keeney of the National Youth Conference band, and Susan Chapman, program director at Camp Bethel. Activities include singing, sharing, hiking, a photo tour of Nepal and Burma, and a special visit by "St. Francis of Assisi." Cost is $40 for an individual, $25 for each additional family member, $100 family maximum. Register by Nov. 20 at http://newcommunityproject.org/fall_retreat.shtml or contact ncp@newcommunityproject.org or 888-800-2985. The New Community Project is a Brethren-related nonprofit, "following Christ toward a new community of justice, peace, and respect for God's earth."

  • John Braun, who has directed Brethren in Business, has announced that the network has come to an end. "More than 400 Brethren business persons have given time and encouragement for conversations about Brethren in Business. My personal thanks is enormous," he wrote in the announcement. He added that the network accomplished connections with a wider community of Brethren who run businesses, and helped stimulate entrepreneurism with Brethren ethical values.

  • Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has announced delegations for 2007: To the Arizona Borderlands March 1-8 and May 24-June 4, to monitor human rights and meet with representatives of human rights groups, government officials, and individuals on both sides of the border; participants arrange their own transportation to Tucson, Ariz., and raise $400 for on-ground expenses. To Colombia Jan. 17-30, May 23-June 5, July 18-31, and Sept. 26-Oct. 9, to meet with human rights workers and church leaders to gain perspective on the longest ongoing armed conflict in the Western Hemisphere, and to provide accompaniment to villagers threatened by armed groups; delegates raise $1,800 to cover costs. To Israel/Palestine on Jan. 10-22, March 19-31, May 29-June 10, July 30-Aug. 11, Oct. 16-28, and Nov. 19-Dec. 1, to meet with representatives of Israeli and Palestinian peace and human rights groups, tour the "security wall," and visit Palestinian families threatened by Israeli settlements; delegates raise $2,000 to cover costs. For more information see www.cpt.org, click on "Delegations." Originally a violence-reduction initiative of the historic peace churches (Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, and Quaker), CPT now enjoys support and membership from a wide range of Christian denominations.

  • The National Council of Churches has released a report giving churches "bright ideas for reducing utility bills and caring for creation." Lighting, heating, and housing activities comes at a cost to a church's bottom line and negatively impact the environment and human health, the NCC said in a release about the report. "Bottom Line Ministries that Matter: Congregational Stewardship with Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Technologies" outlines how congregations can save money as they reduce carbon emissions that lead to global warming. The report promotes moral and financial stewardship and gives examples of how churches successfully saved $8,000-$16,000 a year using energy efficient technologies. Download from www.nccecojustice.org/network (user must sign up for the network to download resources)
Source: 11/08/2006 Newsline
National Young Adult Conference is planned for 2008.

"NYAC is coming!!! NYAC is coming!!!" said an announcement of the Church of the Brethren's next National Young Adult Conference, planned for Aug. 11-15, 2008. Young adults from Church of the Brethren congregations across the country will meet at the Estes Park YMCA camp in Colorado, just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Smaller young adult gatherings will continue to be held annually. The 2007 gathering is planned for May 25-27.

The 2008 event is the second larger "national" conference for young adults, sponsored by the Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the General Board. The first was held at Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA in Colorado in 2004, and featured worship, workshops, fellowship, singing, and meeting new people. The 255 young adults who attended called for another such conference, said the announcement from Youth and Young Adult Ministries director Chris Douglas.

"Plan now to gather with other young adults for this exciting event!" Douglas said. "We hope that over 500 young adults will come and help shape this important opportunity in our denomination."

A Brethren Volunteer Service position of coordinating NYAC will be available in June of 2007. This fulltime volunteer will work for a year in the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office in Elgin, Ill. To express interest in the position of NYAC coordinator, request an application from Chris Douglas at cdouglas_gb@brethren.org.

Source: 11/08/2006 Newsline
Brethren Volunteer Service presents a personal face to congregations.

By Todd Flory

If for no other purpose, the newly-formed Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) special assignment of visiting churches and pastors proved valuable in placing a personal face on the program. For pastors, deacons, and youth groups in 154 congregations in 8 districts, that personal face belonged to Sam Bowman, who recently completed a year of traveling the country to talk about BVS. Bowman has been serving as a fulltime BVS volunteer.

Two other BVS workers also have been making visits to congregations: Carolyn Gong has visited pastors in the Middle Pennsylvania District over the past several weeks and in Pacific Southwest District earlier in the year, and Monica Rice will visit pastors in northern and southern Ohio in upcoming months.

"The idea was to go to congregations, build bridges, have face-to-face contact, and talk about BVS," Bowman said. "A large number of them (the pastors) thanked me for coming, for being a face, a warm body, instead of a piece of paper that could slide across a table into a trash can," he added. "I wasn't going with a presentation, but to listen."

During the visits, the volunteers' main objective was to ask what pastors knew about BVS, to provide additional information if asked, to listen to what the church leaders like or dislike about BVS, and to receive any suggestions of what they would like to see in BVS. A secondary purpose was to ask pastors their thoughts on the prospect of a military draft, and to find out what support churches will need in the event of a draft.

The volunteers also gave pastors BVS materials and conscientious objection packets from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office. Bowman said many pastors were unaware of the materials on conscientious objection. "An amazing number would say, 'There should be a packet for CO's and how people could register as a CO,'" said Bowman, "and I'd show them the packet and they'd say, 'Oh, this is great!'"

Gong said the pastors she spoke to were very receptive and supportive of BVS, and that each congregation seemed like a family. "Overall, it's been a really positive experience, " she said, describing the pastors as having "a deep love for Christ in what they're doing. That's their life work, their passion." It is that passion that Gong hopes will help push more people into choosing to do volunteer service. "Sometimes people are hesitant to leave home," Gong said. "They go straight from school to the job, but that's our mainstream, our culture. I think any kind of volunteer service is vital to the country."

As diverse as the over 17,000 miles of landscapes through which Bowman drove, the views on service and peace were often just as varied. "I got to see the reality of the diversity" in the Church of the Brethren, he said. He described his congregational visits as a roller-coaster. Often, on the same day, he talked with pastors who had completely differing views on certain issues. "I could see why this person was on the right or the left, and each side had truth to what they said and believed," he commented.

Even on the peace issue, which has been and remains such an integral part of Brethren identity, there emerged varying viewpoints. "All the pastors I talked to have been proponents of peace, and try to incorporate that into their sermons, but some have different views of how to promote peace," Gong said, noting that some pastors said they were pro-peace, but still supported the military, while others viewed the military as an impediment to peace.

Positive aspects of BVS for the pastors included that it is an opportunity to live out one's faith, serve the community and God, and is an avenue for personal growth. A common aspect that many pastors wish to see more of in BVS is evangelism and more project placements for faith and faith-sharing.

A discovery for Bowman was the need for greater communication and connectedness between congregations and the denomination. Some congregations, Bowman said, feel disconnected from the larger church. Many feel not enough is being put back into the congregations, that there needs to be an emphasis placed on the congregation as the strongest part of the denomination rather than an emphasis on certain programs or agencies.

Part of creating a better sense of connectedness, Bowman feels, is sharing stories. "In general, members of the Church of the Brethren aren't doing a good job of telling their faith stories with the congregation or the district," he said. "I'd ask, 'How many former BVSers or conscientious objectors do you have in the church? Do they ever share their stories?'" The pastors would reply, "'No, not really,'" he said.

"We need to be telling and sharing our stories, because that's how things are passed down--how we share what's important," Bowman said. "If one thing can be gleaned from this, it's that our churches want more personal contact with each other, with their leadership, with programs, and I would say with God as well."

--Todd Flory is a Brethren Volunteer Service worker in the BVS office in Elgin, Ill. Previously he served as a legislative associate at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office.

Source: 11/08/2006 Newsline
Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Martha Beach, Michael Hostetter, Jeri S. Kornegay, and Helen Stonesifer contributed to this report.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Newsline Special: Report from Fall meetings of the General Board
General Board sets 2007 budget, discusses immigration and stem cell research, recommends joining Christian Churches Together.

The Church of the Brethren General Board held its fall meetings Oct. 20-23 at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The board set a 2007 budget, issued a pastoral letter responding to immigration issues (see story below), considered a study paper on stem cell research, and recommended that the Church of the Brethren join Christian Churches Together in the USA.

The board also received a report about the Sudan mission initiative (see story below), and an interim report from a committee exploring options for the Brethren Service Center, among other business. Daily worship services and frequent prayer and hymn-singing marked the meetings. A prayer by board chair Jeff Neuman-Lee gave a sense of the overall tone of the gathering: "O God, you put a lot on our plate, and we rejoice in it."

Budget

A 2007 budget of expenses of $9,741,900 was approved, representing all ministries of the General Board including self-funded ministries. Matched against budgeted income for 2007, the figure anticipates a net expense of $12,800 for the year.

Christian Churches Together

The board approved a recommendation for Church of the Brethren participation in Christian Churches Together in the USA, agreeing to join with the Committee on Interchurch Relations (CIR) in recommending to Annual Conference that the denomination become a full participant. CIR chair Michael Hostetter explained that Christian Churches Together would not replace the church's membership in the National Council of Churches. The new organization is an attempt to foster ecumenical interaction that also includes those not involved in the NCC, he explained, such as the Roman Catholic Church, evangelical and pentecostal communions, and groups such as the National Association of Evangelicals. Earlier this year, 34 churches and national Christian organizations officially formed the new organization. Cost for Church of the Brethren participation will be $1,000 annually, and church leaders including the general secretary of the General Board and the Annual Conference moderator will be invited to attend the annual meeting (for more go to www.christianchurchestogether.org).

Stem Cell Research Study

A document on stem cell research was received by the board as a work in process. The document was called for by an action of the board last year, and is a joint document with the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC). The board recommended to ABC that the two agencies disseminate the document to the denomination as a study guide.

The study paper was prepared by a small committee of Church of the Brethren members including board staff Del Keeney, executive director of Congregational Life Ministries; former ABC staff member Scott Douglas; Joel Eikenberry, a physician; Charles Hite, an ethicist; John Katonah, a chaplain; and Marla Ullom Minnich, a physician.

Keeney presented the paper to the board, and outlined the changes requested by the ABC board, including further editing and formatting. The ABC board has approved the document pending those changes.

The study paper provides scientific background, a discussion of the ethics surrounding the issue, scriptural and theological information, case studies, and study questions. General Board members expressed affirmation for the work done so far, but also asked for more attention to balance.

Brethren Service Center Committee

In an interim report from the Brethren Service Center Ministry Options Exploration Committee, chair Dale Minnich told the board that "we have a good committee." Members are Jim Stokes-Buckles of New York, N.Y.; Kim Stuckey Hissong of Westminster, Md.; David R. Miller of Dayton, Va.; Fran Nyce of Westminster, Md.; Dale Roth of State College, Pa.; Jack Tevis of Westminster, Md.; and Minnich as General Board representative. Janet Ober of Upland, Calif., is not able to continue on the committee, Minnich announced.

His report to the board reviewed the group's first meeting at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., and the board action from March that initiated the committee.

(In March, the General Board turned away from a recommendation by the Stewardship of Property Committee to lease or sell the Brethren Service Center, and called instead for an exploration of options for ministry there. For the full report from the March 2006 meeting go to www.brethren.org/genbd/newsline/2006/mar1706.htm.)

"It's too early to give a preview of recommendations," Minnich said. He did, however, review the general thinking of the committee in some detail. He said the group is seeking to be transparent especially with the New Windsor community and staff in order to avoid a "pressure cooker" situation when it presents recommendations next October.

"It's clear that the big issues that we need to deal with relate to the (New Windsor) Conference Center," Minnich said. He outlined many options for the Conference Center, and also some possible ways to improve the financial bottom line for other General Board ministries located at the Brethren Service Center. The committee will meet again in New Windsor in November.

Other business

Several documents related to the internal organization of the board and its programs were adopted, including a new set of vision and mission statements and core values, a conflict of interest policy for board members and staff, a job description for board members, and a committee organization for the General Board member development committee. In executive session, the board also worked on envisioning for future emphases, in a process being called, "new wineskins."

The board heard reports on the Sudan mission initiative (see story below), 2006 financial reports, planning for an update of the 1996 paper "Ethics in Ministry Relations," National Youth Conference, the Gather 'Round Sunday school curriculum, and Brethren Volunteer Service visits with pastors. A report on a National Council of Churches trip to Lebanon was brought by Thomas Swain, clerk of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

An offering of $1,680.24 received during the meetings will be divided between the Emerging Global Mission Fund and the Sudan mission initiative.

Employee recognitions and staff citations, and sessions offering the opportunity for more informal conversations about ministry areas, rounded out the agenda.

After the General Board meetings, board members and staff had the option of staying for a professional growth event led by Tim McElwee, Jim Chinworth, Jack Gochenaur, and Jo Young Switzer of Manchester College.

Source: 11/3/2006 Newsline
Pastoral letter encourages church to love neighbors equally.

By Todd Flory

In the waning light of a congressional session that featured immigration as its top domestic issue, and a strict border enforcement bill authorizing funding for a 700-mile fence between the US and Mexico, the General Board has issued a pastoral letter on welcoming the stranger.

"In the midst of debating economic and political issues, we who follow Jesus are called to speak out on behalf of those who live, work, worship, and reside among us without legal protections. More than that, we are to love them," the letter said.

"My intent for bringing up the paper was not to resolve the political issues...but to ask as we think about these issues, What does the Bible say about this issue and how does that affect our decision making?" said Duane Grady. He and Carol Yeazell, both on the Congregational Life Teams staff, presented the paper as a result of receiving letters from church members about the issue and hearing requests for the General Board to issue a statement regarding immigration for pastoral and congregational use.

The letter will be sent to congregations to help guide understanding and dialogue among church members and congregations. It also will be used by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and shared with the National Council of Churches and Church World Service.

While the general focus of the letter's first draft was well received by the board, some members thought additional work was needed. "I'm glad you brought it up but it needs to be clearer," said board member Frank Ramirez, acknowledging the vast political complexities of the issue.

After a small ad hoc group rewrote the letter, it was revisited by the board and adopted.

The letter encourages Church of the Brethren members to be in conversation about immigration issues and to love neighbors as all people are loved equally in the eyes of God, even if they are labeled as "aliens," "illegal," or "undocumented." Among scriptural passages, Leviticus 19 was referenced highlighting God's call to make sure that strangers in our midst have food to feed their families. The passage reminds the people of Israel that they had been aliens in Egypt, and to deal justly with foreigners. The 1982 Annual Conference statement on undocumented persons and refugees also was lifted up as a helpful resource for addressing the immigration issue.

"I think it's an issue that's really relevant today," said general secretary Stan Noffsinger. "If it causes some unrest, then praise God for its success, because this is an issue for every one of us."

The pastoral letter is available online in both English and Spanish (go to www.brethren.org/genbd/clm/clt/index.html).

--Todd Flory is a Brethren Volunteer Service worker in the BVS office in Elgin, Ill. Previously he served as a legislative associate at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office.

Source: 11/3/2006 Newsline
Mission visit to southern Sudan receives a warm welcome.

A visit to southern Sudan to explore opportunities for Brethren mission work there has received a warm welcome from church leaders and others, reported Bradley Bohrer, who began in September as director of the Sudan mission.

The delegation that returned Oct. 4 from the four-day trip included Bohrer; Louise Baldwin Rieman, a former mission worker in Sudan; and Merv Keeney, the board's executive director for Global Mission Partnerships. The group spent time in Nairobi, Kenya, and Rumbek, southern Sudan, visiting with officials of the New Sudan Council of Churches, various churches, local government offices, and assistance organizations. The Brethren met with possible partners for the mission--an initiative approved by the General Board one year ago--and identified locations that may be options for placing mission workers.

Bohrer described the mission in southern Sudan as two-fold--seeking to help rebuild and heal the community after years of war, and also to form churches. He highlighted the great amount of work needed just to rebuild the infrastructure of southern Sudan, an area he described as almost as large as the area of the southern states in the US. It has been virtually destroyed by the country's civil war, he said. There are few schools, few wells, few paved roads, and no real health care for most people. The delegation saw signs of war everywhere, including shot-up churches, destroyed buildings, bomb shelters--now being used for other purposes since last year's peace accord--and areas that cannot be farmed because of land mines.

On the other hand, Bohrer said, the south of Sudan is a land of potential, with resources in abundance and the people desiring to live in peace as they rebuild. "The people spoke of hope and of future, even in the midst of disrupted lives."

The southern Sudanese and their church leaders are welcoming the Church of the Brethren mission, Bohrer said. "It's important to remember that we've been in Sudan since 1980," he said. At least 16 Brethren mission workers have served in Sudan since 1980, and the board has also supported three staff of the New Sudan Council of Churches.

"We need to enter this work to walk alongside, not to lord over, because we will find the answers alongside the Sudanese," Bohrer said. "We are not starting the work of Jesus Christ in Sudan," he added. "The gospel work is happening there. We are going to go into the setting to find our place there."

This trip enabled the Brethren to reconnect with church partners, Bohrer said, and will help staff decide where to place mission workers. A rough timeline outlined to the board includes the hiring and placement of the first mission workers by next spring. An initial team of two couples or families will continue to be in conversation with Sudanese partners to help develop the mission. An Advisory Council also will be created to help with communication and development of the mission.

Bohrer noted that timing is an important consideration related to the peace process in Sudan. The Comprehensive Peace Accord includes a provision that in 2011 the South hold a referendum to determine if it will become an independent country, or stay as part of one country with the North. This may affect the Brethren mission effort.

Mission workers to Sudan will help raise their own financial support. Bohrer called it a "new/old" model, offering congregations and others the opportunity to directly support a mission worker and family, while continuing to include the mission and its staff in the structure and organization of the General Board. Congregations and church members will be called on to support mission workers both financially and in less tangible ways by means of prayer and regular communication such as letters, care packages, and notes. Prayer cards will be sent to congregations and members as reminders to keep mission workers in prayer.

Bohrer acknowledged that the Brethren will be able to tackle only a small portion of the work needed in southern Sudan. "The work in Sudan is enormous," and is more than any one denomination can do, but recalling Jesus' parable of the effects of yeast on bread, he added, "we're potentially going to have a strong impact on part of it."

The church in the US also needs to be prepared to be changed through this mission, Bohrer said. He called on the church to make itself ready for the journey with Sudan, "no matter how long and how hard this journey becomes, because it has the potential to be more difficult... We're going to learn what it means to be faithful in a place of violence and uncertainty."

For an online report of the trip go to www.brethren.org/genbd/global_mission/Sudan/index.htm.

Source: 11/3/2006 Newsline
Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260.