- Congregations across US, Nigeria, Puerto Rico pray for peace.
- BBT issues alert about proposed rules on minority shareholders.
- Council holds meeting to review Annual Conference decisions.
- Congregations to be asked for new information about accessibility.
- Brethren bits: Remembrances, personnel, jobs, Jena 6, and more.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
NEWS
Congregations across US, Nigeria, Puerto Rico pray for peace.
More than 90 congregations and other communities associated with the Church of the Brethren, including groups in the US, Puerto Rico, and Nigeria, have sponsored events as part of the International Day of Prayer for Peace last Friday, Sept. 21. “This initiative has clearly tapped into a widespread desire to take action about violence,” said campaign organizer Mimi Copp.
The response within the Church of the Brethren has been tremendous to a four-month campaign initiated through the leadership of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and On Earth Peace. The initial goal of the campaign was to seek 40 congregations to plan prayer events as part of the International Day of Prayer for Peace, being observed by the World Council of Churches and coinciding with the United Nations’ International Day of Peace.
Church of the Brethren groups, including congregations, district conferences, colleges, and other institutions, planned a wide variety of events in order to raise concerns about violence in their own communities and the world. Some of the 93 participating groups and congregations were initiating such events for the first time, others have participated in previous peace efforts. Vigils or services were planned to take place on the grounds of church properties, around peace poles, along busy roads and in other public spaces, in prayer rooms, and in schools. Several congregations planted or rededicated peace poles. Events included candlelight prayer walks, fellowship meals, hymn sings, Bible studies, sermons, and worship services. One youth group met in a pizzeria to pray, another initiated a prayer walk from a park to the county courthouse.
Many events were co-planned with other Christian communities or other religious bodies including Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu-Jain. For example, Peace Covenant Fellowship Church of the Brethren in Durham, N.C., planned an ecumenical vigil at the site of the greatest number of incidents of gun violence in Durham, with an additional focus on remembering those killed in the Virginia Tech shootings.
Congregations in Puerto Rico planned prayer services to take place in the streets outside their church buildings, and a request was passed from the headquarters of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) to its 400 church councils inviting participation.
Sunday Wadzani, a member of EYN participating in prayer events, wrote, “God promised to be with us whenever we come together in His name. I have a strong belief that by coming together in prayer like this so as to bring peace in the world, God will surely hear us. This is a unique prayer that God will surely be happy of, and I cannot afford to miss the blessing that will follow.”
--Matt Guynn is coordinator of peace witness for On Earth Peace.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
More than 90 congregations and other communities associated with the Church of the Brethren, including groups in the US, Puerto Rico, and Nigeria, have sponsored events as part of the International Day of Prayer for Peace last Friday, Sept. 21. “This initiative has clearly tapped into a widespread desire to take action about violence,” said campaign organizer Mimi Copp.
The response within the Church of the Brethren has been tremendous to a four-month campaign initiated through the leadership of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and On Earth Peace. The initial goal of the campaign was to seek 40 congregations to plan prayer events as part of the International Day of Prayer for Peace, being observed by the World Council of Churches and coinciding with the United Nations’ International Day of Peace.
Church of the Brethren groups, including congregations, district conferences, colleges, and other institutions, planned a wide variety of events in order to raise concerns about violence in their own communities and the world. Some of the 93 participating groups and congregations were initiating such events for the first time, others have participated in previous peace efforts. Vigils or services were planned to take place on the grounds of church properties, around peace poles, along busy roads and in other public spaces, in prayer rooms, and in schools. Several congregations planted or rededicated peace poles. Events included candlelight prayer walks, fellowship meals, hymn sings, Bible studies, sermons, and worship services. One youth group met in a pizzeria to pray, another initiated a prayer walk from a park to the county courthouse.
Many events were co-planned with other Christian communities or other religious bodies including Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu-Jain. For example, Peace Covenant Fellowship Church of the Brethren in Durham, N.C., planned an ecumenical vigil at the site of the greatest number of incidents of gun violence in Durham, with an additional focus on remembering those killed in the Virginia Tech shootings.
Congregations in Puerto Rico planned prayer services to take place in the streets outside their church buildings, and a request was passed from the headquarters of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) to its 400 church councils inviting participation.
Sunday Wadzani, a member of EYN participating in prayer events, wrote, “God promised to be with us whenever we come together in His name. I have a strong belief that by coming together in prayer like this so as to bring peace in the world, God will surely hear us. This is a unique prayer that God will surely be happy of, and I cannot afford to miss the blessing that will follow.”
--Matt Guynn is coordinator of peace witness for On Earth Peace.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
BBT issues alert about proposed rules on minority shareholders.
Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) has issued an alert about proposed rule changes by the Securities and Exchange Commission that, if implemented, would render the voice of minority shareholders silent. BBT manages $435 million for Brethren Pension Plan and Insurance members and Brethren Foundation clients. All of the funds are invested in a socially responsible manner, with investment screens and activist initiatives guided by Annual Conference statements and resolutions.
Citizen action to avert the proposed rule changes “will only take five minutes, but needs to be done no later than Oct. 2,” the alert said.
The SEC is holding a 60-day open comment period for feedback on several proposals related to shareholders. If implemented, the proposals would severely limit the capabilities of minority investors to sponsor shareholder resolutions by eliminating nonbinding resolutions, by allowing companies to opt out of receiving shareholder resolutions, or by doubling the current voting percentages needed by resolutions to be allowed to be refiled with the same companies the following year. The proposed changes would also limit or eliminate the ability of shareholders to nominate members of corporate boards.
Over the past 35 years, 95 percent of shareholder resolutions filed have been nonbinding, in an attempt to give shareholders the ability to advise companies on shareholder sentiment, the alert said. “Such resolutions do not force companies to run at the whim of their shareholders; rather, they allow shareholders to address a number of critical issues, such as non-responsive corporate boards, a history of pollution and/or inaction on climate change, a history of racial- or gender-based lawsuits, failure to recognize indigenous peoples rights, and other issues of sustainability.”
Faith-based investors, such as BBT, are nearly always minority investors. “Although the Church of the Brethren and other faith-based investors are small in voice, the impact our organizations have had in effecting change in corporate board rooms over the past 35 years has been remarkable,” said Nevin Dulabaum, BBT’s interim director of Socially Responsible Investing.
One recent example is a proposed resolution submitted to Aflac earlier this year that pertained to executive compensation. The resolution was filed by Boston Common Asset Management using BBT’s shares in the firm and prompted the company to agree to giving shareholders a nonbinding vote on executive compensation. The initiative, which included Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) members petitioning 50 Fortune 500 companies, proved to be a success. Not only did Aflac become the first major company in the US to agree to give its shareholders such a vote, similar resolutions with other companies also garnered a good percentage of votes.
BBT staff learned of the SEC comment period last week during the ICCR’s fall meetings. ICCR and the Social Investment Forum has established www.saveshareholderrights.org to allow organizations and individuals to quickly send such letters. The website also offers links to additional resources. For more go to www.brethrenbenefittrust.com.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) has issued an alert about proposed rule changes by the Securities and Exchange Commission that, if implemented, would render the voice of minority shareholders silent. BBT manages $435 million for Brethren Pension Plan and Insurance members and Brethren Foundation clients. All of the funds are invested in a socially responsible manner, with investment screens and activist initiatives guided by Annual Conference statements and resolutions.
Citizen action to avert the proposed rule changes “will only take five minutes, but needs to be done no later than Oct. 2,” the alert said.
The SEC is holding a 60-day open comment period for feedback on several proposals related to shareholders. If implemented, the proposals would severely limit the capabilities of minority investors to sponsor shareholder resolutions by eliminating nonbinding resolutions, by allowing companies to opt out of receiving shareholder resolutions, or by doubling the current voting percentages needed by resolutions to be allowed to be refiled with the same companies the following year. The proposed changes would also limit or eliminate the ability of shareholders to nominate members of corporate boards.
Over the past 35 years, 95 percent of shareholder resolutions filed have been nonbinding, in an attempt to give shareholders the ability to advise companies on shareholder sentiment, the alert said. “Such resolutions do not force companies to run at the whim of their shareholders; rather, they allow shareholders to address a number of critical issues, such as non-responsive corporate boards, a history of pollution and/or inaction on climate change, a history of racial- or gender-based lawsuits, failure to recognize indigenous peoples rights, and other issues of sustainability.”
Faith-based investors, such as BBT, are nearly always minority investors. “Although the Church of the Brethren and other faith-based investors are small in voice, the impact our organizations have had in effecting change in corporate board rooms over the past 35 years has been remarkable,” said Nevin Dulabaum, BBT’s interim director of Socially Responsible Investing.
One recent example is a proposed resolution submitted to Aflac earlier this year that pertained to executive compensation. The resolution was filed by Boston Common Asset Management using BBT’s shares in the firm and prompted the company to agree to giving shareholders a nonbinding vote on executive compensation. The initiative, which included Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) members petitioning 50 Fortune 500 companies, proved to be a success. Not only did Aflac become the first major company in the US to agree to give its shareholders such a vote, similar resolutions with other companies also garnered a good percentage of votes.
BBT staff learned of the SEC comment period last week during the ICCR’s fall meetings. ICCR and the Social Investment Forum has established www.saveshareholderrights.org to allow organizations and individuals to quickly send such letters. The website also offers links to additional resources. For more go to www.brethrenbenefittrust.com.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
Council holds meeting to review Annual Conference decisions.
The Annual Conference Council held its summer meeting Aug. 23-24 at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The council chose Belita Mitchell, immediate past Annual Conference moderator, to be chair until August 2008, succeeding Ron Beachley. The council reviewed the decisions of the 2007 Annual Conference, defined the role of the process committee called for by the “Doing Church Business” paper, took action to complete work on revising a paper on controversial issues, set an agenda for a retreat in November, and modified the appeals process for concerns related to Annual Conference policies.
The council spent a large block of time reviewing the decisions of the 2007 Conference and the recommendations and assignments of each business item. A communication will be sent to those agencies, groups, and congregations named in the actions to implement them. Among other communications related to 2007 Conference decisions, the council will send e-mails to the districts and to the Annual Conference agencies urging the implementation of the recommendations related to the “Reverse Membership Trend” query.
Relative to the “Doing Church Business” item, the council received a concern from the Conference officers who recognized the potential for confusion in regard to a Process Committee, and the action that called for the paper to be available for use to the officers in planning future conferences. The council formed the following refinement to the action:
The policy by which the council is designated to receive appeals related to decisions made by the Program and Arrangements Committee was addressed as well. Concern has been raised about the propriety of half of the elected members of the council also being members of that committee. The council decided to refer the matter to Standing Committee, offering two possible solutions: that the Program and Arrangements Committee members recuse themselves from the discussion and decision of an appeal, or that another group be named to receive such appeals. It is also clear from denominational polity that Standing Committee is the ultimate judicial group, and any member of the church can bring a complaint to Standing Committee. Standing Committee, however, confines its deliberation to whether the process used to make a decision that is being appealed was fair and proper, not the decision itself. Standing Committee’s appeals process can be found on the Annual Conference website.
In other actions, the council gave approval to complete work on an update of the 1998 paper, “A Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues.” The council had suspended completion until the 2007 items related to conducting Conference business were answered. Council members Joan Daggett and Fred Swartz will bring a proposed revision to the paper in November. Any revision will need to be processed as new business to Annual Conference.
The council meets next in November, with a day of retreat to deal with two major items: format and financing of future Annual Conferences, and developing broad strokes for denominational envisioning. Both of these items are a part of the council’s functions, as defined by the 2001 Annual Conference. Don Kraybill of Elizabethtown, Pa., will be a facilitator for the retreat.
--Fred Swartz is the secretary of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
The Annual Conference Council held its summer meeting Aug. 23-24 at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The council chose Belita Mitchell, immediate past Annual Conference moderator, to be chair until August 2008, succeeding Ron Beachley. The council reviewed the decisions of the 2007 Annual Conference, defined the role of the process committee called for by the “Doing Church Business” paper, took action to complete work on revising a paper on controversial issues, set an agenda for a retreat in November, and modified the appeals process for concerns related to Annual Conference policies.
The council spent a large block of time reviewing the decisions of the 2007 Conference and the recommendations and assignments of each business item. A communication will be sent to those agencies, groups, and congregations named in the actions to implement them. Among other communications related to 2007 Conference decisions, the council will send e-mails to the districts and to the Annual Conference agencies urging the implementation of the recommendations related to the “Reverse Membership Trend” query.
Relative to the “Doing Church Business” item, the council received a concern from the Conference officers who recognized the potential for confusion in regard to a Process Committee, and the action that called for the paper to be available for use to the officers in planning future conferences. The council formed the following refinement to the action:
“The council was asked by the Annual Conference officers to assist with determining the role of the Process Committee in light of the action of Annual Conference to make the recommendations of the report, resources, and study information available for use in planning future Annual Conferences. In consultation with the council, the officers deemed it appropriate that a committee of three be called by the Nominating Committee to be the Process Committee. The Process Committee is to work with the officers and with the Program and Arrangements Committee to help define and prioritize options to pursue the intent of the paper. The committees will be affirmed by the 2008 Annual Conference and will serve for one year. The officers will convey this action to the Standing Committee. For several years into the future, the officers and Program and Arrangements Committees will be given this prioritized report. Each year the officers will report to Standing Committee any implementation of the prioritized options.”An inconsistency in the Intercultural Committee’s report adopted by the 2007 Conference, which calls for licensed ministers to earn continuing education credits in intercultural content, was also considered. Currently, licensed ministers are not required to have certified continuing education. The council recognized the intent is for intercultural training, which can be included in the training track without involving continuing education units. The council referred this matter to the Ministry Office of the General Board for implementation.
The policy by which the council is designated to receive appeals related to decisions made by the Program and Arrangements Committee was addressed as well. Concern has been raised about the propriety of half of the elected members of the council also being members of that committee. The council decided to refer the matter to Standing Committee, offering two possible solutions: that the Program and Arrangements Committee members recuse themselves from the discussion and decision of an appeal, or that another group be named to receive such appeals. It is also clear from denominational polity that Standing Committee is the ultimate judicial group, and any member of the church can bring a complaint to Standing Committee. Standing Committee, however, confines its deliberation to whether the process used to make a decision that is being appealed was fair and proper, not the decision itself. Standing Committee’s appeals process can be found on the Annual Conference website.
In other actions, the council gave approval to complete work on an update of the 1998 paper, “A Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues.” The council had suspended completion until the 2007 items related to conducting Conference business were answered. Council members Joan Daggett and Fred Swartz will bring a proposed revision to the paper in November. Any revision will need to be processed as new business to Annual Conference.
The council meets next in November, with a day of retreat to deal with two major items: format and financing of future Annual Conferences, and developing broad strokes for denominational envisioning. Both of these items are a part of the council’s functions, as defined by the 2001 Annual Conference. Don Kraybill of Elizabethtown, Pa., will be a facilitator for the retreat.
--Fred Swartz is the secretary of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
Congregations to be asked for new information about accessibility.
Reporting forms for Church of the Brethren congregations will have a newly revised page for information about accessibility, thanks to staff of the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC). The forms are copied to the district offices and also used to provide statistical and other information for the annual “Church of the Brethren Yearbook” published by Brethren Press.
Executive director Kathy Reid of ABC is helping revise the statistics section of the Yearbook to include more information about accessible facilities and programs of congregations and districts. Some of the resources used by the Mennonite Church USA, including icons and adaptations of descriptions, will aid in the process. These symbols will be used beginning with the 2008 Yearbook to help people identify the accessibility of congregations in various categories.
Congregations will be asked to fill out reporting related to accessibility each year. In the past, they could simply mark "same as last year." The aim of this change is to regularly encourage churches to work at issues of accessibility for those with disabilities.
To help congregations with this self-evaluation, the Disabilities Ministries of ABC has sampled several self-assessment tools and created an online "Congregational Accessibility Survey," with a check list and explanations of what it means to indicate that a congregation is accessible. The website also displays the icons that the Yearbook will use. Go to www.brethren-caregivers.org.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
Reporting forms for Church of the Brethren congregations will have a newly revised page for information about accessibility, thanks to staff of the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC). The forms are copied to the district offices and also used to provide statistical and other information for the annual “Church of the Brethren Yearbook” published by Brethren Press.
Executive director Kathy Reid of ABC is helping revise the statistics section of the Yearbook to include more information about accessible facilities and programs of congregations and districts. Some of the resources used by the Mennonite Church USA, including icons and adaptations of descriptions, will aid in the process. These symbols will be used beginning with the 2008 Yearbook to help people identify the accessibility of congregations in various categories.
Congregations will be asked to fill out reporting related to accessibility each year. In the past, they could simply mark "same as last year." The aim of this change is to regularly encourage churches to work at issues of accessibility for those with disabilities.
To help congregations with this self-evaluation, the Disabilities Ministries of ABC has sampled several self-assessment tools and created an online "Congregational Accessibility Survey," with a check list and explanations of what it means to indicate that a congregation is accessible. The website also displays the icons that the Yearbook will use. Go to www.brethren-caregivers.org.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
Brethren bits: Remembrances, personnel, jobs, Jena 6, and more.
- June Adams Gibble, 70, passed away Sept. 20 at her home in Elgin, Ill., from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). She was a former denominational staff member of the Church of the Brethren, having served as director of Congregational Nurture and Worship for the General Board from 1988-97, and as program field staff with the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) from 1998-99. In her work for the denomination, she provided leadership to the deacon ministry and Christian education, edited Sunday school and small group curriculum, wrote worship resources, and provided leadership for women’s ministries, among other areas. Her volunteer work for the church included service on the steering committee for Bethany Theological Seminary’s centennial celebration in 2005 along with her husband, Jay Gibble, who is a former executive director of ABC and former staff of the General Board. Early in her career, Gibble studied elementary education and was a school teacher in Minneapolis. She was ordained to ministry in 1986--when she was almost 50--and also served as a pastor. For some years she was a chaplain with Provena St. Joseph Hospice in Elgin, Ill., where she continued her work even after her diagnosis. For the last year and a half, Gibble and her family have been active supporters of ALS research and the Les Turner ALS Foundation. She had continued to write and paint, contributing worship resources for the 300th Anniversary celebration of the Brethren, and creating poems and paintings for her 18 grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill., on Sept. 29 at 12:30 p.m.
- Claire Randall, 91, general secretary of the National Council of Churches (NCC) from 1974-84, died on Sept. 9 in Sun City, Ariz. She was the fourth general secretary and the first woman to lead the organization, and was an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church USA. NCC president Michael E. Livingston said, "Claire Randall was general secretary of the NCC at a turbulent time of history, for the nation and the world as well as the church. Looking back on those days, it is especially obvious that her leadership skills and clear vision were those of a woman chosen by God 'for a time such as this.'" Randall was general secretary during the fallout of a 1983 broadcast of CBS' "60 Minutes" that implied the NCC and the World Council of Churches were leftist organizations that defied the conservative wishes of their membership. The following year, an article in “The Reader's Digest” made a similar claim. Randall firmly denied the allegations and organized member communions of the NCC to inform their congregations that the reports were false. She was partially vindicated in 2002 when retiring "60 Minutes" producer Don Hewitt characterized the report as the one show he regretted in his 36-year career. Randall is remembered for insisting on a racially and ethnically diverse staff. She also gave leadership that would later culminate in the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRSV), and was associate executive director of Church Women United before she came to the NCC. A private family memorial service will be held.
- Beth Burnette is finishing a two-year special promotions position with the General Board’s “Messenger” magazine, as of the end of the month. She started in the position in June 2005, after she retired as administrative assistant for Illinois and Wisconsin District and as Christian education director for York Center Church of the Brethren in Lombard, Ill., where she is a member. Previously, Burnette also had experience in nonprofit and for-profit marketing and developing print materials for advertising in the Chicago area and in Maryland.
- Justin Barrett began Sept. 24 as program assistant for the Global Mission Partnerships of the Church of the Brethren General Board. His career has been centered in the field of office administration since 2001, with responsibilities in all areas within a variety of organizations. Most recently, he has been office coordinator for Student Services at North Park Theological Seminary in the Chicago area. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University and North Park Theological Seminary, with a master of arts degree in Christian Ministry, and is an active member at Resurrection Covenant Church in Chicago.
- Two new members have joined the Steering Commitee for the Church of the Brethren’s Cross-Cultural Ministries Team: Founa Augustin of the Miami (Fla.) Haitian Church of the Brethren, and Victor Olvera, from the ministry team at Bella Vista Church of the Brethren in Los Angeles.
- Bethany Theological Seminary and the Brethren Journal Association seek a managing editor for the academic quarterly journal “Brethren Life and Thought.” The journal is a joint publication of the seminary and the association. The managing editor position is part time, about ten hours a week, and has responsibility for the operational activities of the journal including printing and mailing, promoting circulation, providing an archive, storage of back issues, and a permanent record of association minutes and related documents. Other duties may include maintainance of a computer and office, a subscription database, communications with patrons and donors, paying bills and making deposits. Minimum qualifications area high school diploma, with a year of previous experience in a business environment preferred. For a full job description go to www.bethanyseminary.edu/pdf%20files/Managing%20Editor.pdf. Applicants are invited to contact Stephen Breck Reid, academic dean of Bethany Seminary, at deansoffice@bethanyseminary.edu.
- The Gather ’Round curriculum project of Brethren Press and the Mennonite Publishing Network is accepting applications from experienced writers. Requirements include the ability to write clearly, convey Brethren and Mennonite faith perspectives, and develop creative and meaningful activities. Teaching experience and background in Bible studies are helpful. Writers produce up to four quarters of teacher’s session plans, student material, and other resources for one age group. The next writing year begins with a writers’ conference on March 1-6, 2008. Learn more about the curriculum at www.gatherround.org. Request an application from gatherround@brethren.org or call 847-742-5100 ext. 261. The application deadline for the next writing year is Dec. 31.
- A Greater Gift/SERRV International seeks temporary fall staffing in warehouse picking and packing orders at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The Customer Service Department also is seeking fall staffing. Accuracy, dependability, and attention to detail are required. Hours are flexible. Contact Pam Sheedy at 410-635-8750.
- On Earth Peace last week sent an e-mail alert to its Peace Witness Action List to raise awareness of the “Jena 6,” six African-American youth in Jena, La., who have been threatened with years in prison “in a spiraling situation of race-based intimidation,” the alert said. On Earth Peace called the situation in Jena to Brethren attention, and referred to the work of Color of Change on the issue (ColorOfChange.org). The situation in Jena centered on racially charged incidents at the high school, in one instance nooses hung from a tree, followed by several outbreaks of white-on-black violence, according to news reports. Then, last December, the six African-American teens were accused of beating a white classmate and received what many characterize as unequal and excessive punishment by local authorities. On Earth Peace encouraged participation in a protest in Jena on Sept. 20. CNN reported that at least 15,000 people from across the country attended the protest.
- The National Council of Churches (NCC) Governing Board this week also issued a call for "equal justice under the law" in Jena, La. "This is indeed a tragic situation and many lives, both Black and White, have been negatively impacted by the events that have taken place in Jena: the nooses hanging from a tree; a justice system and community that seemed to ignore this hate crime; violent retaliation against a white youth; excessive criminal charges against six African-American teenagers; a community torn apart; and protests and cries for justice from across the country," said the NCC. The NCC plans to send letters to Louisiana elected officials stating this position, work collaboratively with the Louisiana Interchurch Conference, and invite Jena church leaders to its General Assembly in November for a report and guidance on ways the NCC can support their community.
- The Ministry of Reconciliation of On Earth Peace has announced its fall practitioner workshop, “Appreciative Inquiry Workshop/Practitioner Consultation,” at Camp Alexander Mack, Milford, Ind., on Nov. 14-16. The event is for church leaders, Shalom Team members, pastors, and consultants who are interested in leading congregations through change by identifying and building upon the positive characteristics of the group. Leadership for the workshop will be provided by Marty Farahat, a Ministry of Reconciliation practitioner and congregational consultant. Following the workshop will be the Practitioner Consultation to learn more about each other's work, share effective tools for consulting, experience a clinic where case studies are explored, and consult on practitioners’ educational needs along with the next steps for the Ministry of Reconciliation in supporting practitioners. The consultation is open to all levels of practitioners. Leadership for the consultation will be provided by Carol Waggy and Annie Clark. Cost for the entire event is $195 for tuition and lodging or $155 for commuters. The workshop and consultation begin Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., and end at 4 p.m. on Nov. 16. One continuing education credit is available for Church of the Brethren ministers. For more information or to register, visit www.brethren.org/oepa/programs/mor/upcoming-events/index.html#AIPC or contact Annie Clark, Ministry of Reconciliation coordinator, at annie.clark@verizon.net. Registration closes Oct. 26.
- Oregon-Washington District Conference is Sept. 28-30 at Wenatchee (Wash.) Brethren-Baptist Church, on the theme, “Three Hundred Years of Brethren History.” The conference will provide a weekend of worship and fellowship, beginning with Love Feast. A disaster auction will take place on Saturday afternoon. A hymn sing Saturday evening will include time for congregational sharing. Worship on Sunday will be shared with the two Wenatchee congregations.
- Mid-Atlantic District Conference will be held Oct. 5-6 at Hagerstown (Md.) Church of the Brethren, led by moderator Gretchen Zience. The event will begin with worship and a message from Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm, associate professor of Preaching and Worship at Bethany Theological Seminary. A business session and workshops will be held Saturday.
- Camp Blue Diamond in Petersburg, Pa., will hold its 2007 Heritage Fair on Sept. 28-30. The event raises funds for Middle Pennsylvania District ministries including the camp, Breezewood Trucker Traveler Ministries, CentrePeace Prison Ministries, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, the Prince Gallitzin State Park Chaplaincy Program, Heifer International, and youth workcamp scholarships. This year a fundraising goal of $35,000 has been set. Go to www.campbluediamond.org.
- Camp Alexander Mack near Milford, Ind., holds its ninth annual Camp Mack Festival on Saturday, Oct. 6. The event offers a variety of festival foods, demonstrations, displays, entertainment, children’s activities, horse-drawn carriage rides, hayrides, train rides, and pontoon rides on Lake Waubee. Auctions will feature quilts, theme baskets, old books, and other items. Part of the proceeds will provide scholarships for campers. Go to www.campmack.org.
- Camp Bethel’s 23rd Heritage Festival Day also is Oct 6. Events at the fundraiser for the camp located near Fincastle, Va., include the sale of crafts, baked goods, food, and displays. More information is at www.campbethelvirginia.org/hday.htm, or call 540-992-2940.
- Ronn Moyer, the first administrator of Peter Becker Retirement Community in Harleysville, Pa., has written a history of the home titled, “I Want to Go Home: A Pictorial, Anecdotal Story of the Peter Becker Community from Idea in 1960 to a Home for 500 Residents in 2007.” In addition to being the center’s first administrator, Moyer was the community’s first employee, and is a current resident. For the last 45 years, he has collected stories, history, and anecdotes of the community he once served--a continuing care retirement community that has met the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of seniors since opening in 1971. The book is illustrated by Leon Moyer. It is being sold for $15, with the proceeds benefiting those at Peter Becker Community who can no longer afford to pay for their care. For more information contact Colleen M. Hart, director of Community Relations, at 215-703-4029.
- Professor Scott Strode is retiring after 34 years with Manchester College, as of the end of this school year--but first will take the stage in one of the lead roles in the Tony-winning “Foxfire” for the college’s Homecoming play. Strode is theater director and chair of the Communication Studies Department for more than 20 years, and is a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren in North Manchester, Ind. Performances will take place Oct. 4-6 at 7:30 p.m., in Cordier Auditorium. Tickets are available in advance, order from 260-982-5551, or on the night of the show at $7; $6 for senior citizens. For more information visit www.manchester.edu.
Susanna Farahat resigns from position with On Earth Peace.
Susanna Farahat, On Earth Peace coordinator of peace education, has announced her resignation effective in February 2008. Farahat joined the staff of On Earth Peace in August 2005.
She has coordinated the youth peace retreat program, the Peace Basket project, and provided primary staff support for the Youth Peace Travel Team, a project shared by the Church of the Brethren General Board and Outdoor Ministries Association. Farahat is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, and brought teaching experience and understanding of the educational process, along with a wide variety of community service experiences, to the position.
"She has provided excellent program leadership, expanding our capacity for offering peace retreats to the youth of the church, and has contributed significantly in several other areas, as well," said Bob Gross, On Earth Peace executive director. Farahat's work was based at the New Windsor (Md.) office of On Earth Peace, on the campus of the Brethren Service Center.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
Susanna Farahat, On Earth Peace coordinator of peace education, has announced her resignation effective in February 2008. Farahat joined the staff of On Earth Peace in August 2005.
She has coordinated the youth peace retreat program, the Peace Basket project, and provided primary staff support for the Youth Peace Travel Team, a project shared by the Church of the Brethren General Board and Outdoor Ministries Association. Farahat is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, and brought teaching experience and understanding of the educational process, along with a wide variety of community service experiences, to the position.
"She has provided excellent program leadership, expanding our capacity for offering peace retreats to the youth of the church, and has contributed significantly in several other areas, as well," said Bob Gross, On Earth Peace executive director. Farahat's work was based at the New Windsor (Md.) office of On Earth Peace, on the campus of the Brethren Service Center.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
On Earth Peace sponsors Middle East peacemaking delegation.
On Earth Peace has extended a special invitation to Church of the Brethren peacemakers to join a delegation to the Middle East (Israel/Palestine) led by executive director Bob Gross on Jan. 8-21, 2008. The group will travel to the cities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron. There they will have the unique opportunity to meet with Israeli and Palestinian peace and human rights workers.
In addition, delegation members will join Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Hebron and the village of At-Tuwani in a limited amount of accompaniment and documentation, and in a public witness. The trip is being led in conjunction with CPT, which since June 1995 has maintained a team of trained peacemakers in Hebron.
On Earth Peace will assist Church of the Brethren members in raising funds for the cost of the trip by offering ideas, networking, and limited scholarships. Applications are available through the On Earth Peace website (www.onearthpeace.org) and are due in November. Contact On Earth Peace executive director Bob Gross at 260-982-7751 or bgross@igc.org; or Claire Evans at Christian Peacemaker Teams (www.cpt.org), 773-277-0253 or delegations@cpt.org.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
On Earth Peace has extended a special invitation to Church of the Brethren peacemakers to join a delegation to the Middle East (Israel/Palestine) led by executive director Bob Gross on Jan. 8-21, 2008. The group will travel to the cities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron. There they will have the unique opportunity to meet with Israeli and Palestinian peace and human rights workers.
In addition, delegation members will join Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Hebron and the village of At-Tuwani in a limited amount of accompaniment and documentation, and in a public witness. The trip is being led in conjunction with CPT, which since June 1995 has maintained a team of trained peacemakers in Hebron.
On Earth Peace will assist Church of the Brethren members in raising funds for the cost of the trip by offering ideas, networking, and limited scholarships. Applications are available through the On Earth Peace website (www.onearthpeace.org) and are due in November. Contact On Earth Peace executive director Bob Gross at 260-982-7751 or bgross@igc.org; or Claire Evans at Christian Peacemaker Teams (www.cpt.org), 773-277-0253 or delegations@cpt.org.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
Book offers insights on Amish forgiveness following school shooting.
Oct. 2 marks the first anniversary of the Amish school shooting at Nickel Mines, Pa. A new book, “Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy” (Jossey-Bass, 2007, hardcover, 254 pages) by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher, offers a study of how the Amish could demonstrate radical forgiveness in the face of their sorrow and grief.
Kraybill is senior fellow at the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Nolt is a professor of history at Goshen (Ind.) College. Weaver-Zercher is associate professor of American religious history and chair of the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa.
In a short report of their research, the authors explained how they explored the Amish response in the wake of the shooting that killed five schoolgirls and wounded five others. They also highlighted several particular findings, including in part:
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
Oct. 2 marks the first anniversary of the Amish school shooting at Nickel Mines, Pa. A new book, “Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy” (Jossey-Bass, 2007, hardcover, 254 pages) by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher, offers a study of how the Amish could demonstrate radical forgiveness in the face of their sorrow and grief.
Kraybill is senior fellow at the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Nolt is a professor of history at Goshen (Ind.) College. Weaver-Zercher is associate professor of American religious history and chair of the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa.
In a short report of their research, the authors explained how they explored the Amish response in the wake of the shooting that killed five schoolgirls and wounded five others. They also highlighted several particular findings, including in part:
- Numerous Amish people expressed forgiveness to the killer’s widow, her parents, and the killer’s parents. The expressions of forgiveness were spontaneous. There were no meetings within the Amish community to decide when and how to express forgiveness. Amish leaders did not offer formal expressions of forgiveness on behalf of the Amish community. Amish forgiveness involved not only words, but behavior--giving food, flowers, and money to the widow and her family, attending the burial of the killer, and participating in reconciliation events with the family of the killer.
- The investigators found no instances of rage, revenge, or retaliation toward the killer’s family. Feelings of anger were muted by cultural and religious restraints.
- The parents of the murdered girls experienced deep grief, but they were aided in processing their grief by distinctive Amish rituals of grieving. Amish families reached out to professional counselors to assist them in processing their grief.
- Forgiveness for the Amish is a religious imperative based on the teachings of Jesus, and encouraged by communal practices (e.g., twice-yearly worship services that emphasize forgiveness and reconciliation) and sustained by communal memory (e.g., reciting stories of 16th-century Christian martyrs who readily forgave their persecutors).
- The immediate decision to forgive, inspired by their religious faith, started an emotional and spiritual process of forgiving that remains ongoing. For the Amish, forgiveness means letting go of grudges and ill will toward those who wrong them. It does not mean condoning, pardoning, or forgoing punishment.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline
Religious Leaders Meet With President Ahmadinejad of Iran
Three Church of the Brethren representatives were among some 140 Christian leaders who met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York this morning, Sept. 26, at the Tillman Chapel at the Church Center for the United Nations.
The event titled "East West Dialogue: An Interfaith Encounter Between North American Religious Leaders and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran: A Time of Dialogue and Prayerful Reflection Among the Children of Abraham," was arranged by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and hosted by the UN office of MCC. The Church of the Brethren General Board was one of 11 endorsing agencies.
The Brethren participants were James M. Beckwith, Annual Conference moderator and pastor of Annville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; Doris Abdullah, the Church of the Brethren representative to the United Nations and a board member of On Earth Peace; and Phil Jones, director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office.
Leaders from all the major Christian denominations were present, Jones said. Groups that also endorsed the meeting included the Mennonite Church USA, American Friends Service Committee, World Council of Churches, Pax Christi, and Sojourners, among others.
Intentions for the event were "to build bridges of hope and peace with sisters and brothers around the world," said Stanley J. Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board. "Our participation as a Living Peace Church will speak clearly to our understanding that it is God’s desire for his creation to live together peacefully."
The meeting began with the reading of sacred scripture, from the Bible and the Koran, and included a 20-minute address from President Ahmadinejad, responses and questions from a five-member panel, an opportunity for the president to respond, a brief opportunity for questions from the audience, and closing prayers, both Christian and Muslim. Romans 12:18 was read at the beginning of the meeting, and Philippians 4 was read at the closing. Readings from the Koran included Al-Baqarah 285, Al-Nimran 64, and Yunus 31. Opening and closing comments were brought by staff and leaders of MCC and the United Methodist Church.
The panel included Father Drew Christiansen, editor of "America" magazine; Rev. Chris Ferguson, representative to the UN Commission to the Churches on International Affairs; Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, executive secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches; Mary Ellen McNish, general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee; and Dr. Glen Stassen, professor of Christian ethics at Fuller Seminary.
"This gathering came on the heels of two other gatherings," explained Jones. A small group of religious leaders met with President Ahmadinejad during his last visit to the US, and a delegation of US religious leaders traveled to Iran in February, with Mennonite initiative. President Ahmadinejad asked to meet with a larger group of religious leaders during his current visit, Jones said.
Beckwith said the meeting was both a personal opportunity to meet President Ahmadinejad in the spirit of Matthew 18, and an opportunity for the Church of the Brethren to accompany and stand with the Mennonites--who have workers in Iran--as they continue dialogue with the Iranian government.
"It seems to me that truth telling is a critical step in seeking justice and peace," Beckwith said. "It is important to hear the truths that a person reveals for himself." The Christian leaders invited President Ahmadinejad to "speak from the heart," Beckwith said, and the meeting was held in a much less hostile environment than some venues where President Ahmadinejad has spoken in recent days.
President Ahmadinejad was asked honest questions that did not avoid difficult issues, Beckwith said. The president on his side said religious leaders need to cleanse their true faith from materialism and deceit, and called on religious leaders to weed out the root causes of materialism, Beckwith said, adding that the president also reiterated a basic theological point that the day will come when the promised One will appear and God’s will will be established.
Jones noted that President Ahmadinejad gave "a very theological discourse," on the theme of the narrative of Abrahamic faith, in his 20-minute presentation, and did not address political issues until the question and answer period.
Questions that were asked of the president mirrored many of those that have been asked in other venues, for example touching on his statements about the Holocaust and the state of Israel, Abdullah said. The Brethren group noted one panelist who said she had heard the president speak differently of the Holocaust in private settings than the inflammatory rhetoric he uses publicly, and asked him to speak publicly the way he speaks privately. Another panelist asked him to envision what kind of peace was possible if Iran and the US began to talk again.
However, President Ahmadinejad did not really answer questions, Abdullah said. "He basically stuck to his talking points used in other presentations," she said. "He did say that any talks (between the US and Iran) would have to be fair and would have to follow international law." She said the president’s remarks emphasized that the US has a stockpile of nuclear weapons and 100,000 people on Iran’s borders, and that the Iranians are the ones who should feel threatened. He also asked why chemical weapons were used against his people during the time of Iran’s war with Iraq, and reiterated his view that Palestinians are being punished for the Holocaust. He asked the group, "Who told the US we were responsible for the world?" Abdullah added.
"A lot of people may say the religious community comes to this out of some naive perspective," said Jones. "I come to this from a place of hope, out of humble prayer. Dialogue can lead to understanding."
Jones said he and a group of US Christian leaders have asked for a meeting with President Bush to talk about the situation with Iran, and to talk about the underlying issues that can lead to war, but they have not yet had that opportunity. They had that opportunity with the president of Iran today, he noted.
"It was important that the Church of the Brethren was at the table," Jones said. "We came representing a people of nonviolence. We have a responsibility as the people of Christ to make our voice heard." Jones said the Matthew 18 passage "is imperative to who we are as a faith community. If we can carry that to the political community, everyone benefits."
For more information contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 337 N. Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003; 202-546-3202; 800-785-3246; washington_office_gb@brethren.org.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline Special
Three Church of the Brethren representatives were among some 140 Christian leaders who met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York this morning, Sept. 26, at the Tillman Chapel at the Church Center for the United Nations.
The event titled "East West Dialogue: An Interfaith Encounter Between North American Religious Leaders and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran: A Time of Dialogue and Prayerful Reflection Among the Children of Abraham," was arranged by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and hosted by the UN office of MCC. The Church of the Brethren General Board was one of 11 endorsing agencies.
The Brethren participants were James M. Beckwith, Annual Conference moderator and pastor of Annville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; Doris Abdullah, the Church of the Brethren representative to the United Nations and a board member of On Earth Peace; and Phil Jones, director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office.
Leaders from all the major Christian denominations were present, Jones said. Groups that also endorsed the meeting included the Mennonite Church USA, American Friends Service Committee, World Council of Churches, Pax Christi, and Sojourners, among others.
Intentions for the event were "to build bridges of hope and peace with sisters and brothers around the world," said Stanley J. Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board. "Our participation as a Living Peace Church will speak clearly to our understanding that it is God’s desire for his creation to live together peacefully."
The meeting began with the reading of sacred scripture, from the Bible and the Koran, and included a 20-minute address from President Ahmadinejad, responses and questions from a five-member panel, an opportunity for the president to respond, a brief opportunity for questions from the audience, and closing prayers, both Christian and Muslim. Romans 12:18 was read at the beginning of the meeting, and Philippians 4 was read at the closing. Readings from the Koran included Al-Baqarah 285, Al-Nimran 64, and Yunus 31. Opening and closing comments were brought by staff and leaders of MCC and the United Methodist Church.
The panel included Father Drew Christiansen, editor of "America" magazine; Rev. Chris Ferguson, representative to the UN Commission to the Churches on International Affairs; Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, executive secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches; Mary Ellen McNish, general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee; and Dr. Glen Stassen, professor of Christian ethics at Fuller Seminary.
"This gathering came on the heels of two other gatherings," explained Jones. A small group of religious leaders met with President Ahmadinejad during his last visit to the US, and a delegation of US religious leaders traveled to Iran in February, with Mennonite initiative. President Ahmadinejad asked to meet with a larger group of religious leaders during his current visit, Jones said.
Beckwith said the meeting was both a personal opportunity to meet President Ahmadinejad in the spirit of Matthew 18, and an opportunity for the Church of the Brethren to accompany and stand with the Mennonites--who have workers in Iran--as they continue dialogue with the Iranian government.
"It seems to me that truth telling is a critical step in seeking justice and peace," Beckwith said. "It is important to hear the truths that a person reveals for himself." The Christian leaders invited President Ahmadinejad to "speak from the heart," Beckwith said, and the meeting was held in a much less hostile environment than some venues where President Ahmadinejad has spoken in recent days.
President Ahmadinejad was asked honest questions that did not avoid difficult issues, Beckwith said. The president on his side said religious leaders need to cleanse their true faith from materialism and deceit, and called on religious leaders to weed out the root causes of materialism, Beckwith said, adding that the president also reiterated a basic theological point that the day will come when the promised One will appear and God’s will will be established.
Jones noted that President Ahmadinejad gave "a very theological discourse," on the theme of the narrative of Abrahamic faith, in his 20-minute presentation, and did not address political issues until the question and answer period.
Questions that were asked of the president mirrored many of those that have been asked in other venues, for example touching on his statements about the Holocaust and the state of Israel, Abdullah said. The Brethren group noted one panelist who said she had heard the president speak differently of the Holocaust in private settings than the inflammatory rhetoric he uses publicly, and asked him to speak publicly the way he speaks privately. Another panelist asked him to envision what kind of peace was possible if Iran and the US began to talk again.
However, President Ahmadinejad did not really answer questions, Abdullah said. "He basically stuck to his talking points used in other presentations," she said. "He did say that any talks (between the US and Iran) would have to be fair and would have to follow international law." She said the president’s remarks emphasized that the US has a stockpile of nuclear weapons and 100,000 people on Iran’s borders, and that the Iranians are the ones who should feel threatened. He also asked why chemical weapons were used against his people during the time of Iran’s war with Iraq, and reiterated his view that Palestinians are being punished for the Holocaust. He asked the group, "Who told the US we were responsible for the world?" Abdullah added.
"A lot of people may say the religious community comes to this out of some naive perspective," said Jones. "I come to this from a place of hope, out of humble prayer. Dialogue can lead to understanding."
Jones said he and a group of US Christian leaders have asked for a meeting with President Bush to talk about the situation with Iran, and to talk about the underlying issues that can lead to war, but they have not yet had that opportunity. They had that opportunity with the president of Iran today, he noted.
"It was important that the Church of the Brethren was at the table," Jones said. "We came representing a people of nonviolence. We have a responsibility as the people of Christ to make our voice heard." Jones said the Matthew 18 passage "is imperative to who we are as a faith community. If we can carry that to the political community, everyone benefits."
For more information contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 337 N. Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003; 202-546-3202; 800-785-3246; washington_office_gb@brethren.org.
Source: 9/26/2007 Newsline Special
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. Annie Clark, Mary Dulabaum, Nevin Dulabaum, Cyndi Fecher, Duane Grady, Bob Gross, Kathy Harley, Gimbiya Kettering, Jeri S. Kornegay, Don Kraybill, Karin Krog, Wendy McFadden, and Walt Wiltschek contributed to this report.
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. Annie Clark, Mary Dulabaum, Nevin Dulabaum, Cyndi Fecher, Duane Grady, Bob Gross, Kathy Harley, Gimbiya Kettering, Jeri S. Kornegay, Don Kraybill, Karin Krog, Wendy McFadden, and Walt Wiltschek contributed to this report.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Newsline Special
GERMANTOWN CHURCH HOSTS OPENING EVENT OF THE 300th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
On Sept. 15-16 Germantown Church of the Brethren in Philadelphia hosted the opening event of a year-long celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Brethren movement, which began in Germany in 1708. Events took place at the "mother church," the first congregation of Brethren in the Americas, and featured worship, workshops, tours, exhibits, and music. About 150 people registered Saturday, and close to 220 attended worship on Sunday, filling the Germantown sanctuary to capacity.
Throughout the weekend, the historic setting remained at the center--alongside recognition of the current ministry of the Germantown church. "For 285 years...the gospel of Jesus Christ has been preached" at Germantown, said pastor Richard Kyerematen as he led worship Sunday morning. The congregation was founded on Christmas Day 1723 by German immigrants to the Americas, and its meetinghouse built in 1770 was the first Brethren meetinghouse in the US. Today the predominantly African-American congregation includes several members from African countries, with pastor Kyerematen himself coming originally from Ghana.
Festivities kicked off with a lunch served by the Germantown Women's Fellowship under a tent on the church's front lawn. The tent also housed exhibits by the 300th Anniversary Committee, Brethren Press, the Brethren Church, the Germantown Trust, the Brethren Encyclopedia Inc., and the Atlantic Northeast District Historical Committee.
Following lunch, participants chose from a variety of workshops on subjects such as the Sauer Bible, outreach ministries at Germantown, the history of the congregation, a Bible study on the anniversary theme, and several others. A Germantown Cemetery Tour was led by Ken Cosgrove, a Grace Brethren member and treasurer of the Germantown Trust, featuring the gravestones of Alexander Mack Sr., the founder of the Brethren movement, and several other important Brethren figures. A Wissahickon Creek Tour took participants to the site of the first Brethren baptisms in the Americas in 1723.
Children's activities were designed to give hands-on experiences of the life and work of early Brethren leaders. The children did paper stamping after talking about the Sauer press, for example. As a service project, the group of about a dozen children planted bulbs to create a flower border around the Germantown parsonage. The planting project harked back to the farming profession of the founder of Coventry Church of the Brethren in Pottstown, Pa., which is the second oldest Brethren church in the US. The children's activities were led by Karen Christophel, a member at Coventry.
Late afternoon Saturday, an adventurous group participated in a humorous re-enactment of the crossing of the Atlantic about 1730, led by members of the 300th Anniversary Committee. The group sat in a "ship" in an arched tunnel leading to the Germantown Cemetery, to get a taste of some of the hardships experienced by the first Brethren to travel to the Americas.
A worship concert by musicians and ministers at Germantown closed out the first afternoon of the celebration, and offered a reminder of the fundamental reason for the church's existence. "Standing in this great church that we love, we desire that God minister to you, as he does to us," said Joseph Craddock as he gave a welcome. "This is a happening church!"
Craddock is one of the Germantown ministers involved in the church's ministry of visitation to nursing homes. Other outreach ministries include a food pantry, involvement in Philadelphia's "Point Man Ministries" for veterans with Germantown minister Lester Outterbridge serving as coordinator, a developing youth program, and a beginner's class taught by pastor Kyerematen "for people who desire to learn the Bible and live right," as Outterbridge told his workshop group. Part of the offering from the weekend will go to a new multipurpose center, housed in a building next door to the parsonage, which will provide space for community events and ministries such as a computer lab for seniors and tutoring for children.
That evening, Coventry Church of the Brethren hosted a hymn sing and pastor Sandy Christophel gave a presentation on the history of the congregation and its links to the Germantown church.
Worship continued on Sunday with a morning service led by the Germantown congregation, and an afternoon service sponsored by the Church of the Brethren denomination, with a catered lunch between.
Earl Ziegler preached for the morning service, with pastor Kyerematen as worship leader and Germantown musicians leading praise hymns and songs. Ziegler, former executive minister of Atlantic Northeast District and a former Annual Conference moderator, called for continuing balance between sharing the Gospel and the work of serving others as the church moves into the future. In the past, as Brethren witnessed for peace during times of war, witnessed against the slave trade, started international missions, birthed Heifer International, and were active in Brethren Service and disaster relief, "Brethren moved forward with vision and courage," he said. "Our witness has been a powerful witness in the national and international communities. All of this was launched in the Schwarzenau beginnings." Referring to Acts 1:8, the account of the first Christians receiving the Holy Spirit, Ziegler said, "We have the power. Do we have the vision worthy of that power?"
Afternoon worship began with a procession of pastors and district and denominational leaders, and greetings were given from the denomination, district, and congregation. Belita Mitchell, who moderated the 2007 Annual Conference and pastors First Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, Pa., gave the message. Robert Kettering, pastor at Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and a former associate minister for Atlantic Northeast District, directed the hymns and served as worship leader. Music was brought by the Inspirational Choir from Harrisburg First.
Preaching on Acts 19:1-6, and continuing the theme from the morning of receiving power through the Holy Spirit, Mitchell said that sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through the grace of God is the witness of the Spirit. "That's what the early Brethren did, and that's what we're to do too.... The Holy Spirit gives you the power, power to anticipate the future," she said, as she called the church to look ahead with hope, to plan for diversity, and to welcome new people into the Brethren movement. "We who are here need to leave a little room for the brothers and sisters who are coming," she said. "If we're doing it right, they're coming. Don't you feel the Holy Spirit?"
A comment from Renee Ibo of the Germantown church summed up the celebratory atmosphere of the day's worship services: "It gives me such a blessing to be part of a church that has such a rich heritage."
Major support for the celebration came from the Germantown Trust and the five agencies of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference: the General Board, the Association of Brethren Caregivers, Bethany Theological Seminary, Brethren Benefit Trust, and On Earth Peace.
The Germantown Event Committee that organized the weekend included pastor Kyerematen, Marilyn Ansah, George Ansah, Sandy Christophel, Karen Christophel, Joseph Craddock, Norma Keith, Jeff Bach, and Lorele Yager. The Church of the Brethren's 300th Anniversary Committee includes chair Jeff Bach, director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College; Dean Garrett, an ordained minister at Poplar Grove Church of the Brethren in Union City, Ohio; Rhonda Pittman Gingrich of Open Circle Church of the Brethren in Burnsville, Minn.; Leslie Lake, associate pastor of East Chippewa Church of the Brethren in Orrville, Ohio; and Lorele Yager of Churubusco, Ind.
A photo journal of the Germantown event is online at www.brethren.org, click on "Photo Journal." For more about the 300th anniversary celebrations, go to www.churchofthebrethrenanniversary.org.
Source: 9/18/2007 Newsline Special Edition
GERMANTOWN CHURCH HOSTS OPENING EVENT OF THE 300th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
On Sept. 15-16 Germantown Church of the Brethren in Philadelphia hosted the opening event of a year-long celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Brethren movement, which began in Germany in 1708. Events took place at the "mother church," the first congregation of Brethren in the Americas, and featured worship, workshops, tours, exhibits, and music. About 150 people registered Saturday, and close to 220 attended worship on Sunday, filling the Germantown sanctuary to capacity.
Throughout the weekend, the historic setting remained at the center--alongside recognition of the current ministry of the Germantown church. "For 285 years...the gospel of Jesus Christ has been preached" at Germantown, said pastor Richard Kyerematen as he led worship Sunday morning. The congregation was founded on Christmas Day 1723 by German immigrants to the Americas, and its meetinghouse built in 1770 was the first Brethren meetinghouse in the US. Today the predominantly African-American congregation includes several members from African countries, with pastor Kyerematen himself coming originally from Ghana.
Festivities kicked off with a lunch served by the Germantown Women's Fellowship under a tent on the church's front lawn. The tent also housed exhibits by the 300th Anniversary Committee, Brethren Press, the Brethren Church, the Germantown Trust, the Brethren Encyclopedia Inc., and the Atlantic Northeast District Historical Committee.
Following lunch, participants chose from a variety of workshops on subjects such as the Sauer Bible, outreach ministries at Germantown, the history of the congregation, a Bible study on the anniversary theme, and several others. A Germantown Cemetery Tour was led by Ken Cosgrove, a Grace Brethren member and treasurer of the Germantown Trust, featuring the gravestones of Alexander Mack Sr., the founder of the Brethren movement, and several other important Brethren figures. A Wissahickon Creek Tour took participants to the site of the first Brethren baptisms in the Americas in 1723.
Children's activities were designed to give hands-on experiences of the life and work of early Brethren leaders. The children did paper stamping after talking about the Sauer press, for example. As a service project, the group of about a dozen children planted bulbs to create a flower border around the Germantown parsonage. The planting project harked back to the farming profession of the founder of Coventry Church of the Brethren in Pottstown, Pa., which is the second oldest Brethren church in the US. The children's activities were led by Karen Christophel, a member at Coventry.
Late afternoon Saturday, an adventurous group participated in a humorous re-enactment of the crossing of the Atlantic about 1730, led by members of the 300th Anniversary Committee. The group sat in a "ship" in an arched tunnel leading to the Germantown Cemetery, to get a taste of some of the hardships experienced by the first Brethren to travel to the Americas.
A worship concert by musicians and ministers at Germantown closed out the first afternoon of the celebration, and offered a reminder of the fundamental reason for the church's existence. "Standing in this great church that we love, we desire that God minister to you, as he does to us," said Joseph Craddock as he gave a welcome. "This is a happening church!"
Craddock is one of the Germantown ministers involved in the church's ministry of visitation to nursing homes. Other outreach ministries include a food pantry, involvement in Philadelphia's "Point Man Ministries" for veterans with Germantown minister Lester Outterbridge serving as coordinator, a developing youth program, and a beginner's class taught by pastor Kyerematen "for people who desire to learn the Bible and live right," as Outterbridge told his workshop group. Part of the offering from the weekend will go to a new multipurpose center, housed in a building next door to the parsonage, which will provide space for community events and ministries such as a computer lab for seniors and tutoring for children.
That evening, Coventry Church of the Brethren hosted a hymn sing and pastor Sandy Christophel gave a presentation on the history of the congregation and its links to the Germantown church.
Worship continued on Sunday with a morning service led by the Germantown congregation, and an afternoon service sponsored by the Church of the Brethren denomination, with a catered lunch between.
Earl Ziegler preached for the morning service, with pastor Kyerematen as worship leader and Germantown musicians leading praise hymns and songs. Ziegler, former executive minister of Atlantic Northeast District and a former Annual Conference moderator, called for continuing balance between sharing the Gospel and the work of serving others as the church moves into the future. In the past, as Brethren witnessed for peace during times of war, witnessed against the slave trade, started international missions, birthed Heifer International, and were active in Brethren Service and disaster relief, "Brethren moved forward with vision and courage," he said. "Our witness has been a powerful witness in the national and international communities. All of this was launched in the Schwarzenau beginnings." Referring to Acts 1:8, the account of the first Christians receiving the Holy Spirit, Ziegler said, "We have the power. Do we have the vision worthy of that power?"
Afternoon worship began with a procession of pastors and district and denominational leaders, and greetings were given from the denomination, district, and congregation. Belita Mitchell, who moderated the 2007 Annual Conference and pastors First Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, Pa., gave the message. Robert Kettering, pastor at Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and a former associate minister for Atlantic Northeast District, directed the hymns and served as worship leader. Music was brought by the Inspirational Choir from Harrisburg First.
Preaching on Acts 19:1-6, and continuing the theme from the morning of receiving power through the Holy Spirit, Mitchell said that sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through the grace of God is the witness of the Spirit. "That's what the early Brethren did, and that's what we're to do too.... The Holy Spirit gives you the power, power to anticipate the future," she said, as she called the church to look ahead with hope, to plan for diversity, and to welcome new people into the Brethren movement. "We who are here need to leave a little room for the brothers and sisters who are coming," she said. "If we're doing it right, they're coming. Don't you feel the Holy Spirit?"
A comment from Renee Ibo of the Germantown church summed up the celebratory atmosphere of the day's worship services: "It gives me such a blessing to be part of a church that has such a rich heritage."
Major support for the celebration came from the Germantown Trust and the five agencies of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference: the General Board, the Association of Brethren Caregivers, Bethany Theological Seminary, Brethren Benefit Trust, and On Earth Peace.
The Germantown Event Committee that organized the weekend included pastor Kyerematen, Marilyn Ansah, George Ansah, Sandy Christophel, Karen Christophel, Joseph Craddock, Norma Keith, Jeff Bach, and Lorele Yager. The Church of the Brethren's 300th Anniversary Committee includes chair Jeff Bach, director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College; Dean Garrett, an ordained minister at Poplar Grove Church of the Brethren in Union City, Ohio; Rhonda Pittman Gingrich of Open Circle Church of the Brethren in Burnsville, Minn.; Leslie Lake, associate pastor of East Chippewa Church of the Brethren in Orrville, Ohio; and Lorele Yager of Churubusco, Ind.
A photo journal of the Germantown event is online at www.brethren.org, click on "Photo Journal." For more about the 300th anniversary celebrations, go to www.churchofthebrethrenanniversary.org.
Source: 9/18/2007 Newsline Special Edition
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
NEWS
- Caring Ministries Assembly 2007 focuses on ‘Being Family.’
- Youth cabinet issues 300th anniversary challenge to youth groups.
- Steering committee plans next denominational gathering for young adults.
- Western Plains District meeting invites, ‘Come and Walk with Jesus.’
- Brethren bits: Personnel, job openings, and much more.
- Hendricks retires as president of the Mutual Aid Association.
- Van Houten resigns as workcamp coordinator for General Board.
- Surber to begin as Brethren Volunteer Service orientation coordinator.
- Kettering begins as co-coordinator of communications for On Earth Peace.
- 300th Anniversary update: Annual Conference 2008 theme reflects anniversary theme.
- 300th Anniversary bits and pieces.
- Cross-Cultural Consultation furthers Revelation 7:9 vision.
- Mission offering invites Brethren to ‘widen the circle.’
- New resources are available for observing National Children’s Sabbath.
Caring Ministries Assembly 2007 focuses on ‘Being Family.’
Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren was a busy place last week as more than 200 deacons, pastors, chaplains, and other caregivers attended this year’s Caring Ministries Assembly, sponsored by the Association of Brethren Caregivers on Sept. 6-8. The theme, “Being Family: Reality and Renewal” (Acts 26:18a), was explored through keynote presentations, workshops, Bible study, and worship.
The assembly began Thursday evening with worship and the first of two keynote presentations by David H. Jensen, associate professor at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, who explored family life in our society. On Friday morning, Jensen continued his look at family life with a presentation called, “Marking Time Together: Christian Faith, Brethren Tradition, and the Renewal of Our Days.”
On Friday afternoon, participants attended their choice of workshops about family, including a look at step families, end-of-life spiritual care, healthy aging, strengthening marriage, creatively handling conflict, and self-care for caregivers. An hour-long “Time for Renewal of Body, Mind, and Soul” provided the opportunity for silent reflection, walking a labyrinth, prayer, journaling, meditative movement, and massage therapy.
Marilyn Lerch led the Friday evening worship and communion service, sharing stories about family. Musicians and songwriters Jim and Jean Strathdee performed a concert of music of compassion, justice, healing, and hope.
The Saturday sessions featured Donald Kraybill and Kate Eisenbise, authors of “The Brethren in a Post-Modern World,” who shared a multi-generational look at how their own families have changed as they interviewed each other. Afternoon workshops again provided opportunities to learn, in workshops about communication, healthy relationships, bridging multicultural differences, and deacon visitation etiquette.
The assembly concluded Saturday afternoon with worship. Belita Mitchell, immediate past moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, challenged worshipers to “go and tell” others what the Lord has done, and what they learned at the Caring Ministries Assembly.
Other highlights of the conference included Bible study led by Stephen Breck Reid, academic dean of Bethany Theological Seminary; musical leadership by the Strathdees throughout the entire assembly; and the hospitality of members of the Lititz church as they shared the congregation’s facilities with the conference.
The next Caring Ministries Assembly is planned for September 2010.
--Kim Ebersole is director of Family and Older Adult Ministry for the Association of Brethren Caregivers.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren was a busy place last week as more than 200 deacons, pastors, chaplains, and other caregivers attended this year’s Caring Ministries Assembly, sponsored by the Association of Brethren Caregivers on Sept. 6-8. The theme, “Being Family: Reality and Renewal” (Acts 26:18a), was explored through keynote presentations, workshops, Bible study, and worship.
The assembly began Thursday evening with worship and the first of two keynote presentations by David H. Jensen, associate professor at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, who explored family life in our society. On Friday morning, Jensen continued his look at family life with a presentation called, “Marking Time Together: Christian Faith, Brethren Tradition, and the Renewal of Our Days.”
On Friday afternoon, participants attended their choice of workshops about family, including a look at step families, end-of-life spiritual care, healthy aging, strengthening marriage, creatively handling conflict, and self-care for caregivers. An hour-long “Time for Renewal of Body, Mind, and Soul” provided the opportunity for silent reflection, walking a labyrinth, prayer, journaling, meditative movement, and massage therapy.
Marilyn Lerch led the Friday evening worship and communion service, sharing stories about family. Musicians and songwriters Jim and Jean Strathdee performed a concert of music of compassion, justice, healing, and hope.
The Saturday sessions featured Donald Kraybill and Kate Eisenbise, authors of “The Brethren in a Post-Modern World,” who shared a multi-generational look at how their own families have changed as they interviewed each other. Afternoon workshops again provided opportunities to learn, in workshops about communication, healthy relationships, bridging multicultural differences, and deacon visitation etiquette.
The assembly concluded Saturday afternoon with worship. Belita Mitchell, immediate past moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, challenged worshipers to “go and tell” others what the Lord has done, and what they learned at the Caring Ministries Assembly.
Other highlights of the conference included Bible study led by Stephen Breck Reid, academic dean of Bethany Theological Seminary; musical leadership by the Strathdees throughout the entire assembly; and the hospitality of members of the Lititz church as they shared the congregation’s facilities with the conference.
The next Caring Ministries Assembly is planned for September 2010.
--Kim Ebersole is director of Family and Older Adult Ministry for the Association of Brethren Caregivers.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Youth cabinet issues 300th anniversary challenge to youth groups.
The 2007-08 National Youth Cabinet held its first meeting Aug. 1-3 in Elgin, Ill., giving input for the national youth program, selecting a 2008 youth ministry theme, developing resources for the 2008 National Youth Sunday, and preparing for the denomination's 300th anniversary.
Elizabeth Willis of Tryon, N.C., Tricia Ziegler of Sebring, Fla., Joel Rhodes of Huntingdon, Pa., Seth Keller of Dover, Pa., Turner Ritchie of Richmond, Ind., and Heather Popielarz of Prescott, Mich., are serving on the cabinet. Dena Gilbert of La Verne, Calif., is serving as advisor to the group, along with Chris Douglas, Youth/Young Adult Ministries director for the Church of the Brethren General Board.
The cabinet settled on "By the Manner of Their Living" for next year's youth ministry theme, drawing on a familiar quote attributed to Alexander Mack Sr. for the denomination's 300th anniversary year. Mack is considered the founder of the Church of the Brethren. The theme scripture is Colossians 3:12-15. Resources will be drawn on this theme for the National Youth Sunday scheduled for May 4, 2008.
In addition, the group issued a 300th anniversary challenge to youth groups across the denomination, following up on a General Board challenge to do something in multiples of 300 for the anniversary year, such as rebuilding 300 homes in disaster areas or having 300 more people participate in summer workcamps. Suggestions to youth groups include giving 300 hours of service, preparing 300 school kits for disaster relief, giving 300 cans of food to a local food pantry, or offering 300 prayers of peace.
The meeting also included conversations about Brethren Volunteer Service, a tour of the offices, and several times of worship. The cabinet next meets July 31-Aug. 3, 2008, in Elgin.
--Walt Wiltschek is editor of “Messenger” magazine for the Church of the Brethren General Board.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
The 2007-08 National Youth Cabinet held its first meeting Aug. 1-3 in Elgin, Ill., giving input for the national youth program, selecting a 2008 youth ministry theme, developing resources for the 2008 National Youth Sunday, and preparing for the denomination's 300th anniversary.
Elizabeth Willis of Tryon, N.C., Tricia Ziegler of Sebring, Fla., Joel Rhodes of Huntingdon, Pa., Seth Keller of Dover, Pa., Turner Ritchie of Richmond, Ind., and Heather Popielarz of Prescott, Mich., are serving on the cabinet. Dena Gilbert of La Verne, Calif., is serving as advisor to the group, along with Chris Douglas, Youth/Young Adult Ministries director for the Church of the Brethren General Board.
The cabinet settled on "By the Manner of Their Living" for next year's youth ministry theme, drawing on a familiar quote attributed to Alexander Mack Sr. for the denomination's 300th anniversary year. Mack is considered the founder of the Church of the Brethren. The theme scripture is Colossians 3:12-15. Resources will be drawn on this theme for the National Youth Sunday scheduled for May 4, 2008.
In addition, the group issued a 300th anniversary challenge to youth groups across the denomination, following up on a General Board challenge to do something in multiples of 300 for the anniversary year, such as rebuilding 300 homes in disaster areas or having 300 more people participate in summer workcamps. Suggestions to youth groups include giving 300 hours of service, preparing 300 school kits for disaster relief, giving 300 cans of food to a local food pantry, or offering 300 prayers of peace.
The meeting also included conversations about Brethren Volunteer Service, a tour of the offices, and several times of worship. The cabinet next meets July 31-Aug. 3, 2008, in Elgin.
--Walt Wiltschek is editor of “Messenger” magazine for the Church of the Brethren General Board.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Steering committee plans next denominational gathering for young adults.
The Young Adult Steering Committee for the Church of the Brethren met Aug. 24-26 in Elgin, Ill., to plan National Young Adult Conference (NYAC). The denomination’s young adult program is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board.
NYAC is scheduled for Aug. 11-15, 2008, in Estes Park, Colo., at the YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center. The conference is open to all young adults ages 18-35. The Steering Committee is encouraging congregations to put NYAC scholarships in their 2008 budgets to help support the young adults in their churches. Go to www.NYAC08.org.
Members of the Young Adult Steering Committee are Hannah Edwards of Southeastern District, Bob Etzweiler of Middle Pennsylvania District, Megan Fitze of Southern Ohio District, Ethan Gibbel of Atlantic Northeast District, Caitlin Haynes of Mid-Atlantic District, and Virginia Meadows of Middle Pennsylvania District. Staff working with the steering committee are Chris Douglas, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the General Board, and Brethren Volunteer Service worker Rebekah Houff, who serves as NYAC coordinator.
--Bekah Houff serves as coordinator of National Young Adult Conference, and can be contacted at rhouff_gb@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 281.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
The Young Adult Steering Committee for the Church of the Brethren met Aug. 24-26 in Elgin, Ill., to plan National Young Adult Conference (NYAC). The denomination’s young adult program is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board.
NYAC is scheduled for Aug. 11-15, 2008, in Estes Park, Colo., at the YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center. The conference is open to all young adults ages 18-35. The Steering Committee is encouraging congregations to put NYAC scholarships in their 2008 budgets to help support the young adults in their churches. Go to www.NYAC08.org.
Members of the Young Adult Steering Committee are Hannah Edwards of Southeastern District, Bob Etzweiler of Middle Pennsylvania District, Megan Fitze of Southern Ohio District, Ethan Gibbel of Atlantic Northeast District, Caitlin Haynes of Mid-Atlantic District, and Virginia Meadows of Middle Pennsylvania District. Staff working with the steering committee are Chris Douglas, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the General Board, and Brethren Volunteer Service worker Rebekah Houff, who serves as NYAC coordinator.
--Bekah Houff serves as coordinator of National Young Adult Conference, and can be contacted at rhouff_gb@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 281.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Western Plains District meeting invites, ‘Come and Walk with Jesus.’
The Western Plains District Conference convened July 27-29 at McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren and McPherson College with the theme, “Come and Walk with Jesus.” Paintings by artist Connie Rhodes of Newton (Kan.) Church of the Brethren, lined the sanctuary and sidewalks leading to the church, illustrating the theme. Moderator David Smalley led the 260 attendees including 78 delegates from 33 of the district’s 40 congregations.
“The spirit of the conference reflected an appreciation of God’s movement in our midst,” said the conference report from the Western Plains District office. “The action-packed weekend included 11 workshop opportunities, youth and children’s activities, and an ice cream social hosted by the Cedars, following a presentation by the Youth Heritage Team.”
Inspirational worship services were led by moderator Smalley, who spoke for Friday evening worship, and Annual Conference moderator Jim Beckwith, who spoke on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Other speakers included Mary Jo Flory-Steury, executive director of the Ministry Office of the Church of the Brethren General Board, who addressed the minister and spouse dinner; and Paula Frantz, who spoke for the women’s breakfast.
Business items were interspersed with stories of transformation. The conference celebrated the life of Pueblo (Colo.) Fellowship and Navarre Church of the Brethren in Abilene, Kan., as the district brought official closure to their ministries. A Milestones in Ministry celebration acknowledged 65 years of ordained ministry for B. Wayne Crist, D. Eugene Lichty, and J. Jack Melhorn; 60 years for Duane L. Ramsey; 45 years for Robert L. Sifrit; 30 years for Donald E. Roberts; 25 years for Kenneth W. Davidson; 20 years for Joyce E. Petry and David L. Smalley; and 15 years for C. Bryan Harness.
Offerings received $10,000 for the district budget and $2,230 for the Church of the Brethren’s Sudan mission. A Projects Unlimited auction raised $5,100 for various outreach ministries.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
The Western Plains District Conference convened July 27-29 at McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren and McPherson College with the theme, “Come and Walk with Jesus.” Paintings by artist Connie Rhodes of Newton (Kan.) Church of the Brethren, lined the sanctuary and sidewalks leading to the church, illustrating the theme. Moderator David Smalley led the 260 attendees including 78 delegates from 33 of the district’s 40 congregations.
“The spirit of the conference reflected an appreciation of God’s movement in our midst,” said the conference report from the Western Plains District office. “The action-packed weekend included 11 workshop opportunities, youth and children’s activities, and an ice cream social hosted by the Cedars, following a presentation by the Youth Heritage Team.”
Inspirational worship services were led by moderator Smalley, who spoke for Friday evening worship, and Annual Conference moderator Jim Beckwith, who spoke on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Other speakers included Mary Jo Flory-Steury, executive director of the Ministry Office of the Church of the Brethren General Board, who addressed the minister and spouse dinner; and Paula Frantz, who spoke for the women’s breakfast.
Business items were interspersed with stories of transformation. The conference celebrated the life of Pueblo (Colo.) Fellowship and Navarre Church of the Brethren in Abilene, Kan., as the district brought official closure to their ministries. A Milestones in Ministry celebration acknowledged 65 years of ordained ministry for B. Wayne Crist, D. Eugene Lichty, and J. Jack Melhorn; 60 years for Duane L. Ramsey; 45 years for Robert L. Sifrit; 30 years for Donald E. Roberts; 25 years for Kenneth W. Davidson; 20 years for Joyce E. Petry and David L. Smalley; and 15 years for C. Bryan Harness.
Offerings received $10,000 for the district budget and $2,230 for the Church of the Brethren’s Sudan mission. A Projects Unlimited auction raised $5,100 for various outreach ministries.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Brethren bits: Personnel, job openings, and much more.
- Cyndi Fecher has announced her resignation as project assistant for the Gather 'Round curriculum project, effective Oct. 12. She has accepted a position teaching English as a second language in South Korea. Fecher started working for Gather 'Round, a joint curriculum project of Brethren Press and the Mennonite Publishing Network, on Sept. 22, 2006, in a three-quarter-time position located in Elgin, Ill. Previously she worked as a paralegal for Visser and Associates, PLLC, a law firm in Grand Rapids, Mich., and interned with Brethren Press in the summer of 2003.
- The New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center has welcomed Cori Hahn as conference coordinator. She began work on Sept. 4. The New Windsor Conference Center is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board, located at the Brethren Service Center. With 10 years of hospitality experience, Hahn has been the general manager of the Westminster (Md.) Inn for the past five years. She is a graduate of Westminster High School and has studied Business Management at Carroll Community College in Maryland. She will be a member of the New Windsor Conference Center management team, which includes managing chef Walt Trail, hospitality program assistant Connie Bohn, and housekeeping supervisor Gerry Duble.
- Jordan Blevins has completed an internship at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the Church of the Brethren General Board, and has begun work as assistant director of the Environmental Justice Office of the National Council of Churches in Washington, D.C. He started work for the Brethren Witness/Washington Office on Jan. 1 this year as a legislative intern. During his internship he participated in a Faith Expedition to Vietnam, and did follow-up reporting and helped develop a Brethren Water and Sanitation project in that area through the church’s Global Food Crisis Fund. He also helped to staff the 2007 Christian Citizenship Seminar and assisted in the planning and presentation of many conference workshops and events. He is a graduate of American University and Wesley Theological Seminary.
- Rianna Barrett joined the Brethren Witness/Washington Office on Aug. 20 as a legislative associate, serving through Brethren Volunteer Service. She is a member of Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren and graduated in May from the College of William and Mary with a bachelor’s degree in Government and Psychology. One of her focus areas will be environmental justice. She plans to attend law school following her year of volunteer service.
- Two Brethren Volunteer Service workers, Sharon Flaten and Jerry O'Donnell, have begun work with the Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board as assistant workcamp coordinators. Flaten is a graduate of Bridgewater (Va.) College. O’Donnell is a graduate of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa.
- The New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center has welcomed new volunteers for September. Adrian and Elaine Sayler are returning as host and hostess in Zigler Hall. David and Maria Huber, members of this year’s older adult Brethren Volunteer Service unit, will serve as host and hostess in Windsor Hall. Art and Lois Hermanson are staying on as volunteers to assist with the Conference Center’s busy fall schedule.
- The Church of the Brethren General Board seeks a coordinator of Workcamp Ministry to fill a fulltime staff position based at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Responsibilities include providing overall coordination and leadership of workcamps for junior high, senior high, and young adult age groups under the auspices of the Youth and Young Adult Ministries; developing and expand the workcamp offerings and schedule; training and mentoring Brethren Volunteer Service workers who serve as assistant workcamp coordinators; and managing workcamp budgets, databases, and online registrations. Qualifications include membership in the Church of the Brethren, experience working with youth and young adults, experience on workcamps or mission trips, organizational and administrative skills, previous experience working in a team, interpersonal and relational skills, ability to mentor young adults and provide spiritual leadership for workcamps, competency with database and spreadsheet software, willingness to travel extensively, and a bachelor’s degree as a minimum, with seminary education preferred. Start date is Jan. 2008. A position description and application form are available on request. The application deadline is Oct. 15. Qualified candidates are invited to complete the General Board application form, submit a resume and letter of application, and request three references to send letters of recommendation to the Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694; 800-323-8039 ext. 258; kkrog_gb@brethren.org.
- The Mutual Aid Association for the Church of the Brethren (MAA) seeks new leadership to fill the position of president/general manager. Location is Abilene, Kan., some two-and-a-half hours west of Kansas City. The president/general manager serves as the principle administrator of the organization. Responsibilities include to plan, direct, and coordinate programs and staff to assure that stated board objectives are attained, policyholder needs are met, and effective internal and external relationships are maintained; demonstrate leadership skills and office management; and direct the organization’s vision, cooperatively with the Board of Directors. Qualifications include holding Church of the Brethren values, being trustworthy and reliable, having a positive attitude toward change, demonstrating effective written and oral communication skills, demonstrating successful people skills, insurance and marketing experience, managerial or supervisory experience, and a minimum education of a bachelor’s degree. Salary is commensurate with experience. Benefits include pension and medical benefits, vacation and other leave. Start date is March 1, 2008, or negotiable. Send a letter of interest, along with a one-page resume, and minimum salary requirement to the Chair, MAA Board of Directors, c/o 3094 Jeep Rd., Abilene, KS 67410; fax 785-598-2214; 785-598-2212; maa@maabrethren.com.
- The Gather 'Round curriculum project seeks an editorial and marketing assistant, to fill a fulltime hourly position at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Gather 'Round is a joint project of Brethren Press and the Mennonite Publishing Network. Responsibilities include assisting the project director, managing editor, and marketing staff; updating curriculum websites; and other tasks as assigned. Skills include excellent communications skills, written and verbal; ability to organize and execute tasks carefully and thoroughly; a keen eye for details; excellent computer technology skills; and ability to work autonomously. Required experience includes experience working in an office environment, facility with computer software and website technology, familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel, and familiarity with Microsoft Front Page or Macromedia Dreamweaver. Familiarity with Quark XPress and Adobe Acrobat is helpful, experience in copy editing and proofreading is preferred. A minimum of an associate's degree or comparable level classes, training, or responsibilities is required, with a bachelor’s degree preferred. Understanding of Church of the Brethren or Mennonite heritage and theology is helpful. The application deadline is Sept. 28, or until the position is filled. Preferred start date is Oct. 15. To apply, contact the Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694; 800-323-8039 ext. 258; kkrog_gb@brethren.org.
- On Earth Peace has announced another networking call for those working against military recruitment, on Sept. 26 at 1-2:30 p.m. eastern time. On Earth Peace regularly sponsors national networking calls as an opportunity for those working on military recruitment in their communities, and related issues such as poverty and lack of opportunity. The calls are an opportunity to connect to a broader community of organizers, receive inspiration, offer advice, and provide each other with practical tips and spiritual support. The theme for the upcoming call is "Clarifying Vision, Strength for the Journey: Setting Goals for the Fall." Send an e-mail to mattguynn@earthlink.net or call 503-775-1636 to reserve a place in the call. For more information go to www.brethren.org/oepa/programs/peace-witness/counter-recruitment/NetworkingCalls.html. On Earth Peace is a peace education and action agency of the Church of the Brethren.
- The Brethren Witness/Washington Office has called attention to two events calling for the end to the Iraq war: an Interfaith Fast to End the War in Iraq on Oct. 8 sponsored by the National Council of Churches (NCC) along with diverse religious groups; and a Continuous Prayer Vigil on Sept. 16 planned as a follow up to the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq that took place on March 16 (www.christianpeacewitness.org/vigil). The Oct. 8 fast is supported by leaders from many religious communities, who are urging Americans of all faiths to fast from dawn to dusk to call for an end to the war. Local communities are invited to organize joint interfaith events to break the fast together. Register events at www.interfaithfast.org, where an organizing toolkit and bulletin insert are available.
- The fall planning retreat of officers of the Ministers' Association is being held Sept. 12-13 at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., hosted by the Ministry Office. Officers include Lisa Hazen, pastor of Wichita (Kan.) Church of the Brethren; David W. Miller, pastor of West Richmond (Va.) Church of the Brethren; Nancy Fitzgerald, on the pastoral team of Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren; Sue Richard, co-pastor of Elm Street Church of the Brethren in Lima, Ohio; and Tim Sollenberger Morphew, pastor of Bethany Church of the Brethren in New Paris, Ind.
- The Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., will be a rest stop again this year for the Maryland Lung Association Bike Tour on Sept. 15. Hundreds of cyclists participate in this fundraising event to benefit children with asthma through the programs of the American Lung Association of Maryland.
- The Fall orientation unit of Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) will be held Sept. 23-Oct. 12 in Peace Valley and Kansas City, Mo. This will be the 277th BVS orientation unit, and will include 33 volunteers. The group will spend three weeks exploring project possibilities and topics of community building, peace and social justice, faith sharing, diversity training, and more. The vollunteers also will have the opportunity for several work days, in both rural and urban communities, and will attend the Missouri/Arkansas District Conference. For more information contact the BVS office at 800-323-8939.
- Preparations for the International Day of Prayer for Peace continue. The Church of the Brethren General Offices has joined the growing list of Brethren congregations and communities sponsoring prayer events, which has now increased to 80 including churches and groups in the US, Puerto Rico, and Nigeria. The General Offices will hold a short prayer service on Friday, Sept. 21, at 9:15 a.m. at the offices in Elgin, Ill. Brethren involvement in the International Day of Prayer for Peace is jointly promoted by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and On Earth Peace, with Mimi Copp as the grassroots organizer. “It has been incredible to watch the number of Brethren communities involved in the International Day of Prayer for Peace multiply. Our original goal was 40! This is a Spirit-filled effort,” wrote Copp in an e-mail update. The international event is linked with the World Council of Churches Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV). Hansulrich Gerber, DOV coordinator, wrote to Copp to thank the Brethren for participating: “This morning on my Google Blogs Alert for ‘overcome violence’ I found one item: ‘Newsline Brethren Churches to observe day of prayer for peace....’ The news about the Church of the Brethren churches is a happy and enormously encouraging one. Thank you for setting a good example! Blessings of peace to you." Copp requests Brethren who are planning prayer vigils to list the events at www.idpvigil.com, so others in local communities can find out about them. Contact Copp at miminski@gmail.com. For more information about Brethren involvement with the International Day of Prayer for Peace, go to www.brethren.org/oepa/programs/peacewitness/prayforpeace.html.
- McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren is hosting an art show and auction by seven-year-old Emma Marten on Sept. 22. Marten is selling her paintings and drawings as a benefit for Greensburg, Kan., which was destroyed in May by a tornado. The show and auction are from 7-9:30 p.m., and will feature 25 pieces of art.
- First Church of the Brethren in Eden, N.C., is holding a centennial celebration on Sept. 16. A special Homecoming Service is planned with David K. Shumate, district executive minister and moderator-elect of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, bringing the morning message. Following the service, a covered dish meal will be held on the church recreation area with music, games, and activities under the title, “Dunkard Day.” Participants are encouraged to dress in old Brethren garb. A revival service will begin that evening at 7 p.m. and continue through Thursday evening. Chuck Davis, pastor of Calvary Church of the Brethren in Winchester, Va., will be the revival speaker. Contact the church office at 336-627-7063.
- Upcoming district conferences include two on Sept. 14-15: the 148th District Conference of Northern Indiana District will be at Goshen (Ind.) City Church of the Brethren with the theme, “Surrendered to GOD, Transformed by CHRIST, and Empowered by the SPIRIT”; Idaho and Western Montana District will meet under the theme, "Mission Possible! Extending the Kingdom in South Sudan and South Idaho," at Bowmont Church of the Brethren in Nampa, Idaho. Two districts plan their annual meetings for Sept. 21-22: South/Central Indiana District will meet at Living Faith Church of the Brethren in Flora, Ind.; West Marva District will meet at Moorefield (W.Va.) Church of the Brethren.
- Northern Ohio District’s 51st Chicken Barbecue and Inspiration Celebration at Inspiration Hills, a camp near Burbank, Ohio, will take place Saturday, Sept. 22. The barbecue will be served from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Other activities include a camper reunion, hikes, crafts, games, wagon rides, and church booths. At 10 a.m. a time of singing old-time camp songs is planned, followed by worship at 10:30 a.m. A basket auction takes place 1-3 p.m. A freewill offering will be received for the Student Ministry Fund for scholarships for those going into Christian service. The celebration is organized through the Outdoor Ministry Commission of the district.
- The Village at Morrison’s Cove, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Martinsburg, Pa., hold its Good Samaritan Banquet on Sept. 22 at the Casino in Altoona, Pa. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the $100 per person event will assist residents who have outlived their financial resources; the Village supplied $1.6 million in unreimbursed care in 2006, according to the announcement in the Middle Pennsylvania District newsletter. The program features Lou Stein, who has played with Lawrence Welk, the Dorsey Brothers, and the full chorus of the Sweet Adelines. The Village will honor a staff member with an Award of Giving and the Distinguished Service Award.
- Pinecrest Community, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Mount Morris, Ill., is hosting a public “Block Party” on Sept. 20 to provide the community with a “sneak peek” of its new Pinecrest Community Center scheduled for completion in 2008. The new center is located in Pinecrest Grove, a 20-acre development for active adults 62 or older. The Block Party kicks off with Business After Hours at 5 p.m., followed by a community-wide celebration at 7 p.m. Block Party guests will be treated to live entertainment with musician Jazzy Jeff at 5 p.m. and Beth and John Chase with Ed Garrison at 8 p.m. Attendees will also get a glimpse of the kinds of activities that are expected to take place in the center with tours. There will be the opportunity to meet local authors Clarence Mitchell, centenarian author of “The Diary of a Journeyman,” and Gary Haynes, veteran United Press International photographer and author of “PICTURE THIS!,” as well as sculptor Jeff Adams. For more information call 815-734-4103.
- At two events on Sept. 25, Elizabethtown College professor Donald B. Kraybill and his two co-authors will discuss their recently published book, “Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy,” which tells the story of Amish grace and forgiveness in the wake of the shooting at the Nickel Mines Amish schoolhouse last October. The first presentation begins at 4 p.m. in High Library at the college, followed by a talk at 7:30 p.m. at Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing at both events, which are open to the public free of charge. Published by Jossey-Bass, “Amish Grace” was written by Kraybill along with Steven M. Nolt, professor of history at Goshen College; and David L. Weaver-Zercher, associate professor of religious history at Messiah College. Royalties from sales of the book will be donated to the Mennonite Central Committee.
- Brethren Voices, a 30-minute community television program produced by Ed Groff of Portland's Peace Church of the Brethren, is highlighting two upcoming programs. The September program features the New Community Project and native Gwich’in Charley Swaney of Arctic Village, Alaska, in a program titled "The Gwich'in--A Matter of Survival.” The lifestyle and culture of the Gwich'in tribe revolve around the caribou, which could be threatened by the possibility of oil drilling in the calving areas of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, said a release from Brethren Voices. Copies of the September program are available for $9 from Brethren Voices, 12305 NE 27th St., Vancouver, WA. 98684. "The US Military Wants to Use You" is the October program featuring Matt Guynn of On Earth Peace, who has been supporting youth and congregations dealing with the recruiting efforts of the US military. The program is hosted by Rachael Waas Shull and is supplemented by video provided by On Earth Peace and the American Friends Service Committee. Brethren Voices is being submitted to local community television stations by 12 different Church of the Brethren congregations around the country, and is used as a video resource by others for Sunday school programs and campus ministry. For more information, contact Ed Groff at groffprod1@msn.com or 360-256-8550.
- Sept. 29 is the annual Harvest Day at CrossRoads (Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center) in Harrisonburg, Va. Events from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. include children’s activities such as old-time games and crafts, painting pumpkins and gourds, hayrides, shelling and grinding corn to feed barnyard animals, making pancakes and butter, and yarn dolls. Adults will enjoy stories, music, boiling molasses, pressing cider, sawing logs with a crosscut, spinning thread, quilting, homemade foods, and more. Entry fee is $8 per carload. For more go to www.vbmhc.org.
Hendricks retires as president of the Mutual Aid Association.
Jean L. Hendricks has announced her retirement as president and general manager of the Mutual Aid Association for the Church of the Brethren (MAA), effective May 1, 2008. Since February 2001, Hendricks has led the association’s ministry of offering property insurance to Church of the Brethren individuals, congregations, and organizations.
Her work has included serving as the chief executive officer for MAA and providing general oversight for the company. She also has offered leadership with the MAA board of directors, coordinated area representatives, and supervised staff in the association's office in Abilene, Kan. She has represented MAA at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference and district conferences, and has aided the growth of the annual Members' Meeting.
Hendricks is a graduate of McPherson (Kan.) College and Bethany Theological Seminary, and earned a doctorate from the University of Kansas. She has pastored congregations in Iowa and Kansas, and worked for the Church of the Brethren General Board from 1991-97 in the ministry training program. She worked for McPherson College from 1997-2000 as director of church relations. She also has served on Bethany's board of directors, has been an officer for the Brethren Ministers' Association, and was a board member for MAA.
Hendricks helped guide the association through a transition period in leadership at the beginning of her term as president, and will help MAA through another period of transition over the next eight months as new leadership is put in place.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Jean L. Hendricks has announced her retirement as president and general manager of the Mutual Aid Association for the Church of the Brethren (MAA), effective May 1, 2008. Since February 2001, Hendricks has led the association’s ministry of offering property insurance to Church of the Brethren individuals, congregations, and organizations.
Her work has included serving as the chief executive officer for MAA and providing general oversight for the company. She also has offered leadership with the MAA board of directors, coordinated area representatives, and supervised staff in the association's office in Abilene, Kan. She has represented MAA at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference and district conferences, and has aided the growth of the annual Members' Meeting.
Hendricks is a graduate of McPherson (Kan.) College and Bethany Theological Seminary, and earned a doctorate from the University of Kansas. She has pastored congregations in Iowa and Kansas, and worked for the Church of the Brethren General Board from 1991-97 in the ministry training program. She worked for McPherson College from 1997-2000 as director of church relations. She also has served on Bethany's board of directors, has been an officer for the Brethren Ministers' Association, and was a board member for MAA.
Hendricks helped guide the association through a transition period in leadership at the beginning of her term as president, and will help MAA through another period of transition over the next eight months as new leadership is put in place.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Van Houten resigns as workcamp coordinator for General Board.
Steve Van Houten has resigned as coordinator of the Workcamp Ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board, effective Jan. 30, 2008. He began his work with the General Board on July 1, 2006, when he was hired to fill the new staff position of workcamp coordinator in the board's Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
In the past year, Van Houten and the workcamp staff began a significant expansion of the workcamp program. This summer, he oversaw 37 workcamps involving 854 participants.
Prior to coming to the General Board Van Houten served as a pastor for 25 years, most recently as senior pastor of Akron (Ohio) Springfield Church of the Brethren. Over the past decade he also frequently served as a volunteer workcamp leader for the General Board, and was dean or service project coordinator at the last four National Youth Conferences. He is contemplating returning to pastoral ministry.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Steve Van Houten has resigned as coordinator of the Workcamp Ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board, effective Jan. 30, 2008. He began his work with the General Board on July 1, 2006, when he was hired to fill the new staff position of workcamp coordinator in the board's Youth and Young Adult Ministries.In the past year, Van Houten and the workcamp staff began a significant expansion of the workcamp program. This summer, he oversaw 37 workcamps involving 854 participants.
Prior to coming to the General Board Van Houten served as a pastor for 25 years, most recently as senior pastor of Akron (Ohio) Springfield Church of the Brethren. Over the past decade he also frequently served as a volunteer workcamp leader for the General Board, and was dean or service project coordinator at the last four National Youth Conferences. He is contemplating returning to pastoral ministry.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Surber to begin as Brethren Volunteer Service orientation coordinator.
Callie Surber begins Sept. 17 as coordinator of Brethren Volunteer Service orientation for the Church of the Brethren General Board. She has been working as a teaching classroom aide at Accel Schools in Phoenix, Ariz., where she has assisted the head teacher with a classroom of nine severely autistic teenagers.
Previously, Surber taught English to 160 middle school students in Mubi, Nigeria, as a mission worker and Brethren Volunteer Service volunteer for the Global Missions Partnerships of the Church of the Brethren. She is a member of Circle of Peace Church of the Brethren in Peoria, Ariz., where she has functioned as a youth group leader. In other service to the church, she has mentored and facilitated programs for youth, attended a Combined Youth Fellowship Conference, taught Sunday school, and recently began coordinating the start-up of small group meetings.
Surber's education was earned at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Callie Surber begins Sept. 17 as coordinator of Brethren Volunteer Service orientation for the Church of the Brethren General Board. She has been working as a teaching classroom aide at Accel Schools in Phoenix, Ariz., where she has assisted the head teacher with a classroom of nine severely autistic teenagers.
Previously, Surber taught English to 160 middle school students in Mubi, Nigeria, as a mission worker and Brethren Volunteer Service volunteer for the Global Missions Partnerships of the Church of the Brethren. She is a member of Circle of Peace Church of the Brethren in Peoria, Ariz., where she has functioned as a youth group leader. In other service to the church, she has mentored and facilitated programs for youth, attended a Combined Youth Fellowship Conference, taught Sunday school, and recently began coordinating the start-up of small group meetings.
Surber's education was earned at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Kettering begins as co-coordinator of communications for On Earth Peace.
On Earth Peace has introduced Gimbiya Kettering as co-coordinator of communications. In this shared position with Barb Sayler, Kettering will focus on writing and editing newsletters, publicity for events, and other written communications.
Kettering is joining the staff of On Earth Peace from Takoma Park, Md. She brings a balance of writing and editorial skills. Raised in Nairobi, Kenya, by an interracial family rooted in the Church of the Brethren, she also brings a unique perspective on issues of diversity and multi-cultural awareness.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Maryville (Tenn.) College, and a master’s degree in Creative Writing from American University in Washington, D.C. She is co-author of “Inside Sudan: People-to-People Grassroots,” published by the New Sudan Council of Churches. She can be reached at gimbiyakettering@yahoo.com or 301-717-0971.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
On Earth Peace has introduced Gimbiya Kettering as co-coordinator of communications. In this shared position with Barb Sayler, Kettering will focus on writing and editing newsletters, publicity for events, and other written communications.Kettering is joining the staff of On Earth Peace from Takoma Park, Md. She brings a balance of writing and editorial skills. Raised in Nairobi, Kenya, by an interracial family rooted in the Church of the Brethren, she also brings a unique perspective on issues of diversity and multi-cultural awareness.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Maryville (Tenn.) College, and a master’s degree in Creative Writing from American University in Washington, D.C. She is co-author of “Inside Sudan: People-to-People Grassroots,” published by the New Sudan Council of Churches. She can be reached at gimbiyakettering@yahoo.com or 301-717-0971.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline
Annual Conference 2008 theme reflects 300th anniversary theme.
The following theme statement has been adopted for the 2008 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Brethren movement. The statement--taken from the 300th anniversary theme--was adopted by both the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church. The two denominations are participating together in the joint annual meeting on July 12-16, 2008, in Richmond, Va.
"Surrendered to God--Transformed in Christ--Empowered by the Spirit:
"‘Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me’ (John 12:24-26a).
"Our Scripture Focus: John 12:24-26a catches up the different aspects of the 300th Anniversary theme. As the grain of wheat falls into earth, so we surrender to God, in order to be made fully alive as we are transformed in Christ. As we are empowered by the Spirit, God can bear fruit in our lives and in the church. The Brethren began as people who were willing to surrender their lives to God in order to receive the life that God gives. They became servants of Christ Jesus by following him and bearing fruit through the Spirit’s power. The 300th Anniversary is a time to celebrate what God has done in our midst in the past, and to seek prayerfully new surrender to God, new transformation through Christ, and new empowerment by the Holy Spirit in faithful witness to God for the future.
"Surrendered to God: Surrendered to God points to the attitude of the early Brethren as they decided to form a body of believers in the bond of faith and baptism. Surrender to God is also the starting point for any one entering the Christian faith. Surrender to God is not passive, but a total yielding of self for God’s will to become active in our lives individually and as a church. This phrase catches some of the Pietist emphasis on letting go of self in order to enter fully into faith and active discipleship. Our celebration of the 300th anniversary of the beginning of the Brethren holds up the total surrender of the early Brethren to God, and our hope that Brethren can move faithfully into the future with full surrender of our lives to God.
"Transformed in Christ: The surrender to God acknowledges that we need to be transformed in Christ, forgiven of sin by God’s gracious redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Transformation forgives and begins to form believers for Christ-like living, trusting in God’s grace in order to live as disciples. The early Brethren saw themselves being transformed in Christ as believers and as a body, seeking to live in obedience born of faith in and love for Christ. This catches some of the Anabaptist emphasis on transformation for discipleship, taking up the cross, risking everything for faithfulness, and sharing faith joyfully with others. As Brethren celebrate the 300th anniversary by seeking the fullness of transformation in Christ, the church can experience anew God’s gift of forgiveness and fresh vitality in our desire to be formed into the likeness of Christ.
"Empowered by the Spirit: Disciples who are surrendered to God and transformed by Christ engage in ministry empowered by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives power for believers to live and minister faithfully together in the variety of spiritual gifts and fruit born by the Spirit. Brethren have had a long history of active ministry sharing material aid, comfort, and the good news of Jesus Christ near and far. We celebrate this extension of ministry outward through the power of the Holy Spirit during the last 300 years. We look forward to new ministries empowered by the Holy Spirit as we follow the Spirit’s leading into the future.
"The phrase ‘Surrendered to God, transformed in Christ, empowered by the Spirit’ names our trinitarian faith in God. It acknowledges God’s redemptive gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, both vital components of the biblical faith of the Brethren. The theme celebrates our past journey, embraces confessional faith and practice in the present, and seeks renewed faithfulness in moving toward the future God has for us."
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline Extra
The following theme statement has been adopted for the 2008 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Brethren movement. The statement--taken from the 300th anniversary theme--was adopted by both the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church. The two denominations are participating together in the joint annual meeting on July 12-16, 2008, in Richmond, Va.
"Surrendered to God--Transformed in Christ--Empowered by the Spirit:
"‘Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me’ (John 12:24-26a).
"Our Scripture Focus: John 12:24-26a catches up the different aspects of the 300th Anniversary theme. As the grain of wheat falls into earth, so we surrender to God, in order to be made fully alive as we are transformed in Christ. As we are empowered by the Spirit, God can bear fruit in our lives and in the church. The Brethren began as people who were willing to surrender their lives to God in order to receive the life that God gives. They became servants of Christ Jesus by following him and bearing fruit through the Spirit’s power. The 300th Anniversary is a time to celebrate what God has done in our midst in the past, and to seek prayerfully new surrender to God, new transformation through Christ, and new empowerment by the Holy Spirit in faithful witness to God for the future.
"Surrendered to God: Surrendered to God points to the attitude of the early Brethren as they decided to form a body of believers in the bond of faith and baptism. Surrender to God is also the starting point for any one entering the Christian faith. Surrender to God is not passive, but a total yielding of self for God’s will to become active in our lives individually and as a church. This phrase catches some of the Pietist emphasis on letting go of self in order to enter fully into faith and active discipleship. Our celebration of the 300th anniversary of the beginning of the Brethren holds up the total surrender of the early Brethren to God, and our hope that Brethren can move faithfully into the future with full surrender of our lives to God.
"Transformed in Christ: The surrender to God acknowledges that we need to be transformed in Christ, forgiven of sin by God’s gracious redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Transformation forgives and begins to form believers for Christ-like living, trusting in God’s grace in order to live as disciples. The early Brethren saw themselves being transformed in Christ as believers and as a body, seeking to live in obedience born of faith in and love for Christ. This catches some of the Anabaptist emphasis on transformation for discipleship, taking up the cross, risking everything for faithfulness, and sharing faith joyfully with others. As Brethren celebrate the 300th anniversary by seeking the fullness of transformation in Christ, the church can experience anew God’s gift of forgiveness and fresh vitality in our desire to be formed into the likeness of Christ.
"Empowered by the Spirit: Disciples who are surrendered to God and transformed by Christ engage in ministry empowered by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives power for believers to live and minister faithfully together in the variety of spiritual gifts and fruit born by the Spirit. Brethren have had a long history of active ministry sharing material aid, comfort, and the good news of Jesus Christ near and far. We celebrate this extension of ministry outward through the power of the Holy Spirit during the last 300 years. We look forward to new ministries empowered by the Holy Spirit as we follow the Spirit’s leading into the future.
"The phrase ‘Surrendered to God, transformed in Christ, empowered by the Spirit’ names our trinitarian faith in God. It acknowledges God’s redemptive gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, both vital components of the biblical faith of the Brethren. The theme celebrates our past journey, embraces confessional faith and practice in the present, and seeks renewed faithfulness in moving toward the future God has for us."
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline Extra
300th Anniversary bits and pieces.
- The opening celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Church of the Brethren takes place this weekend, Sept. 15-16, at Germantown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren near Philadelphia--the "mother church" of the Brethren in the United States. On the schedule for Saturday afternoon are children’s activities, a historic simulation of crossing the Atlantic ocean, and a number of short afternoon presentations such as a Bible study on the anniversary scripture, guided exploration of the Germantown Cemetery, and a presentation of the current work and vision of Germantown Outreach Ministries, among many others. On Saturday evening Coventry Church of the Brethren will hold a Historical Presentation and Hymn Sing. On Sunday morning, worship is planned by the Germantown congregation led by pastor Richard Kyerematen, with guest preacher Earl K. Ziegler. Afternoon worship will feature guest preacher Belita Mitchell, moderator of the 2007 Annual Conference, marking the official opening of the anniversary year. For more information go to www.churchofthebrethrenanniversary.org/germantown.html.
- Registration is required by Sept. 20 for an academic conference titled "Honoring a Legacy, Embracing a Future: Three Hundred Years of Brethren Heritage" hosted by the Young Center at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College from Oct. 11-13. Designed for scholars, pastors, church leaders, and others in various forms of ministry, the conference will feature plenary speakers and more than two dozen papers related to Brethren history and contemporary issues. On Oct. 13 following the conference, at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., Young Center director Jeff Bach will lead and interpret a special Love Feast celebration. The service will last approximately two hours and will combine scripture readings, devotional commentary, and hymn singing. A traditional meal of beef-and-bread soup will be served, and a freewill offering will be taken. Registration is required to attend the conference and the Love Feast. Contact the Young Center at 717-361-1470 or visit www.etown.edu/YoungCenter for more information.
- Additional 300th anniversary events at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College include an exhibit of artifacts, pictures, and descriptive material about the Brethren Love Feast from Sept. 4, 2007, through March 15, 2008, in the lobby of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. A hymnody exhibit will open in late March 2008 at the Young Center, featuring a display of historic hymnbooks and interpreting some of the hymn traditions of Lutherans, Anabaptists, and Pietists. In conjunction with this, the Elizabethtown College Concert Choir will present a concert of Anabaptist and Pietist hymns on April 5, 2008, in the Leffler Chapel and Performance Center.
- The 300-day deadline--Sept. 16--is approaching for those who plan to take up the 300-Day Anniversary Challenge issued by the Wellness Ministry of the Church of the Brethren. Participants in the challenge are invited to commit to doing at least one health-promoting activity a day to celebrate the anniversary, and to mark it on a personal chart. "Are you up to the challenge?" asked Wellness director Mary Lou Garrison. "Brethren individuals, congregations, and agency staff are already taking on the challenge to be well in body, mind, and spirit. Sept. 16 is exactly 300 days before Annual Conference 2008, so start today!" Details are at www.brethren-caregivers.org. Share stories, successes, and photos with the Wellness Ministry by sending them to mgarrison_abc@brethren.org. The ministry is a joint program of the Church of the Brethren General Board, Association of Brethren Caregivers, and Brethren Benefit Trust.
- Sept. 23 is the date for the kick-off 300th anniversary event hosted by Atlantic Northeast and Southern Pennsylvania Districts. An inspirational worship service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23, at the Sight and Sound Millennium Theatre located six miles east of Lancaster, Pa. The speaker will be Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren General Board. Music will be provided by the Brethren Heritage Singers. There is no charge for the event. A freewill offering will be taken toward expenses and disaster relief. Brochures are available from the Annual Conference office at 800-688-5186.
- The 300th Anniversary District Committee for Northern Indiana District has been hard at work, according to the district newsletter. Northern Indiana’s 300th Anniversary District Celebration is planned for April 20, 2008. Every church in the district also is encouraged to have a congregational celebration during the year of 2008, and are invited to request a visit from the district’s Youth Heritage Team. The committee has been planning an exhibit and insight session at District Conference, with 300th anniversary calendars also available for purchase. The district plans to make a District Quilt for the 300th anniversary, with fabric pieces sent to every congregation.
- Hollins Road Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., celebrated the 300th anniversary of the denomination on Sept. 9 with a special worship service in the morning, a lunch, and activities for children including sack races, face painting, a giant fun slide, and mini moonwalk. Music was to be provided by "Larry and the Gang." The Homecoming Committee created a bookmaker with anniversary logo and logo explanation, a picture DVD, and booklet of the church's rich past that was given to each family. In addition, at each table at the luncheon, picture centerpieces were placed, with albums of remaining pictures displayed in a hallway named "Memory Lane." The event was planned to "celebrate our past, witness in the present, and look to Christ Jesus for the future," said the Virlina District newsletter.
Cross-Cultural Consultation furthers Revelation 7:9 vision.
The Church of the Brethren's 10th consecutive Cross-Cultural Consultation and Celebration will be held April 24-27, 2008, at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. During this 300th anniversary year of the Church of the Brethren, the consultation will consider Brethren history and look ahead to envision where God is leading the church.
"Predominantly, we gather in Jesus' name as we further the Kingdom’s vision expressed in Revelation 7:9," said an announcement from Duane Grady, one of the Congregational Life Teams staff working with the steering committee that coordinates the event. Also working with the event is staff member Carol Yeazell.
The consultation will include an opportunity to see the offices of several Brethren agencies and to meet their staff. The group also will visit congregations in the greater Chicago area, where participants will be hosted for meals and worship.
There is no registration fee for the event. Freewill offerings will be collected during the worship service each evening to offset expenses incurred for meals, airport transportation, travel, and other expenses related to hosting this annual event. The General Board can provide travel assistance for one to two people per congregation.
Options for housing will include two hotels in the Elgin area, and private homes. Hosts will be asked to provide transportation each day from their homes to the Church of the Brethren General Offices, and to provide breakfasts.
Members of the Cross Cultural Ministries Team Steering Committee are Barbara Date, Springfield Church of the Brethren, Oregon/Washington District; Thomas Dowdy, Imperial Heights Church of the Brethren, Pacific Southwest District; Carla Gillespie, Bethany Seminary, South/Central Indiana District; Sonja Griffith, First Central Church of the Brethren, Kansas City, Western Plains District; Robert Jackson, Lower Miami Church of the Brethren, Southern Ohio District; Marisel Olivencia, Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren, Atlantic Northeast District; Gilbert Romero, Bella Vista Church of the Brethren, Pacific Southwest District; Dennis Webb, Naperville Church of the Brethren, Illinois/Wisconsin District.
Advance registration will assist with the planning for the conference. Registration and schedule information are available at www.brethren.org, follow the keywords to "Cross Cultural Ministries." Registration forms are available in Spanish and English and are due Feb. 1, 2008. Online registration will be available after Dec. 1. For more information contact Joy Willrett at the Congregational Life Ministries office, 800-323-8039 or jwillrett_gb@brethren.org.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline Extra
The Church of the Brethren's 10th consecutive Cross-Cultural Consultation and Celebration will be held April 24-27, 2008, at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. During this 300th anniversary year of the Church of the Brethren, the consultation will consider Brethren history and look ahead to envision where God is leading the church.
"Predominantly, we gather in Jesus' name as we further the Kingdom’s vision expressed in Revelation 7:9," said an announcement from Duane Grady, one of the Congregational Life Teams staff working with the steering committee that coordinates the event. Also working with the event is staff member Carol Yeazell.
The consultation will include an opportunity to see the offices of several Brethren agencies and to meet their staff. The group also will visit congregations in the greater Chicago area, where participants will be hosted for meals and worship.
There is no registration fee for the event. Freewill offerings will be collected during the worship service each evening to offset expenses incurred for meals, airport transportation, travel, and other expenses related to hosting this annual event. The General Board can provide travel assistance for one to two people per congregation.
Options for housing will include two hotels in the Elgin area, and private homes. Hosts will be asked to provide transportation each day from their homes to the Church of the Brethren General Offices, and to provide breakfasts.
Members of the Cross Cultural Ministries Team Steering Committee are Barbara Date, Springfield Church of the Brethren, Oregon/Washington District; Thomas Dowdy, Imperial Heights Church of the Brethren, Pacific Southwest District; Carla Gillespie, Bethany Seminary, South/Central Indiana District; Sonja Griffith, First Central Church of the Brethren, Kansas City, Western Plains District; Robert Jackson, Lower Miami Church of the Brethren, Southern Ohio District; Marisel Olivencia, Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren, Atlantic Northeast District; Gilbert Romero, Bella Vista Church of the Brethren, Pacific Southwest District; Dennis Webb, Naperville Church of the Brethren, Illinois/Wisconsin District.
Advance registration will assist with the planning for the conference. Registration and schedule information are available at www.brethren.org, follow the keywords to "Cross Cultural Ministries." Registration forms are available in Spanish and English and are due Feb. 1, 2008. Online registration will be available after Dec. 1. For more information contact Joy Willrett at the Congregational Life Ministries office, 800-323-8039 or jwillrett_gb@brethren.org.
Source: 9/12/2007 Newsline Extra
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