RESOURCES

• Brethren Press recommends resources for holiday gifts.
  
• Brethren Press offers two new Bible studies for the winter.
  
• Lenten devotional available for pre-publication price.
  
• Thanksgiving resources highlighted by Brethren Witness/Washington Office.
  
• Resource bits and pieces.

Brethren Press recommends resources for holiday gifts.

Brethren Press is recommending several of its current publications and resources as gifts for the holidays. The following list was supplied by marketing director Jeff Lennard. To order an item call Brethren Press at 800-441-3712.

Books

"Lines, Places, and Heritage: Essays Commemorating the 300th Anniversary of the Church of the Brethren" edited by Steve Longenecker and Jeff Bach. This collection of essays honoring the Church of the Brethren's 300th Anniversary is divided into sections of essays on peace and social justice, essays on ministry and higher education, and essays on history. Contributors hail from the seven Brethren institutions of higher education--the six Church of the Brethren-related colleges and university, and Bethany Theological Seminary. In this year of celebration, the editors offer this book as a gift of serious thought and scholarship. Order from Brethren Press for $22.95 plus shipping and handling.

"Schwarzenau 1708-2008" edited by Otto Marburger. Three hundred years after the first Brethren baptism in 1708, the 2008 Brethren World Assembly convened in Schwarzenau, Germany, the birthplace of the Brethren. Authors from Scharzenau and the surrounding Bad Berleburg region as well as authors from different Brethren bodies have contributed to this book, which is in both English and German. Proceeds go to support the Alexander Mack Museum in Schwarzenau. Order from Brethren Press for $24 plus shipping and handling.

Childrens Books

"Give a Goat" by Jan West Schrock, illustrated by Aileen Darragh. Can reading a picture book in class end up making a difference to a family that lives on a different continent? And what does a goat have to do with it? Some people think philanthropy is only for big foundations with lots of money, but that's only part of the picture. In this true story, readers will discover what is possible when a class works together on a small but successful project. Written by the daughter of Heifer International founder Dan West. Order from Brethren Press for $16.95 plus shipping and handling.

"Small Camel Follows the Star" by Rachel W. N. Brown, illustrated by Giuliano Ferri. Wise Balthazar is going on an important journey; he is following a brilliant star and looking for a baby king! Small Camel and his mother are going too, and Small Camel is carrying a special bundle tied to his hump. What is in the bundle? Brown's sweet nativity story is sure to touch the hearts of children everywhere, while Ferri's luminous paintings capture the wonder and joy of the birth of Jesus. Order from Brethren Press for $16.95 plus shipping and handling.

Daily Devotions

"With Heart and Soul and Voice: Devotions for Advent through Epiphany" by Kenneth L. Gibble. The carols and stories we hear during the Christmas season focus our ears--and hearts--on the timeless message of God's love made known in Jesus Christ. Through daily devotional readings and prayers, Gibble encourages us to listen for this familiar refrain and respond by joining our own voices in praise and thanksgiving to God. This small devotional booklet is suitable for individual use, and also is designed for congregations to give to their members during Advent. Order from Brethren Press for $2.25 plus shipping and handling.

Music

"Hymns for a Baby Boy: Christmas Songs and Hymns of the Brethren" by Brent Holl and Friends. Hymns and songs in the Brethren and Mennonite tradition with Celtic influence, done in acoustic folk guitar style. Selections give special emphasis to the birth and life of Christ. Many of the songs came from "Hymnal: A Worship Book" and the "Hymnal Supplement." Order from Brethren Press for $12.97 plus shipping and handling.

Commemorative Anniversary Gifts

Alexander Mack Logo Pewter Pin. This solid pewter pin featuring the Alexander Mack logo is a simple yet elegant keepsake of the church's 300th Anniversary year. Three dimensionally crafted and measuring one inch in diameter, the pin offers striking shadow lines that are not found with flat pins of lesser quality. The pin makes an affordable gift for family and friends. Order from Brethren Press for $5 plus shipping and handling.

Alexander Mack Pewter Coaster. Every detail of the Alexander Mack seal has been carefully engraved on this cork-backed, solid pewter coaster. Both tasteful and affordable, these coasters make wonderful gifts. The coaster measures 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Order from Brethren Press for $10 plus shipping and handling.

Stainless Steel Church of the Brethren Logo Water Bottle. This sleek 20-ounce classic water bottle looks great and is BPA free. It features an unlined single wall stainless steel construction and a black plastic waterproof screw top lid. The bottle is imprinted with the logo of the new Church of the Brethren denominational organization. The bottle is two and three-quarter inches in diameter, eight and five-eighths inches in height. Order from Brethren Press for $19.95 plus shipping and handling.

Videos in DVD Format

"Back to Schwarzenau: Celebrating 300 years of the Brethren Movement" is a video in DVD format produced by David Sollenberger. On Aug. 2-3, more than 600 people came to the small German village of Schwarzenau to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the beginning of the Brethren movement. This DVD contains a narrated 12-minute overview of the gathering, and a three-minute collage of images from the weekend. Bonus tracks include sermons from the Anniversary worship service, the McPherson (Kan.) College choir singing the anthem commissioned for the 300th Anniversary, a presentation by Larry Glick in his role as Alexander Mack Sr., and a video tour of the Alexander Mack Museum in Schwarzenau. Order from Brethren Press for $29 plus shipping and handling.

"300th Anniversary Annual Conference Wrap-up" and "300th Anniversary Annual Conference Sermons." These two videos in DVD format are produced by David Sollenberger. They capture the highlights and sermons from a memorable joint conference with the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church in Richmond, Va., in July. The wrap-up DVD documents highlights of the week and contains special bonus material. The sermons two DVD set offers the week's nine keynote addresses. Order the "300th Anniversary Annual Conference Wrap-up" DVD from Brethren Press for $29.95 plus shipping and handling. Order the "300th Anniversary Annual Conference Sermons" DVD from Brethren Press for $24.95 plus shipping and handling.

"A Tribute to the Seagoing Cowboys" produced by Peggy Reiff Miller. This photo documentary in DVD format tells the story of the men and boys who volunteered to serve as "seagoing cowboys" after World War II. Recruited by the Brethren Service Committee between 1945-47, they tended to the livestock being sent to war-devastated countries by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the Heifer Project. Order from Brethren Press for $12.95 plus shipping and handling.

"A Simple Feast." A musical drama about the Brethren by Steve Engle and Frank Ramirez, in DVD format. When a musical play rehearsal is interrupted by a board meeting that falls apart in anger, a teen actor questions whether the Brethren really have anything to offer her. Can their production of "A Simple Feast" bring the participants back together to demonstrate that Brethren are still committed to live the love of Jesus, no matter what the cost? This entertaining, thought-provoking, intergenerational musical DVD includes a study guide. Sheet music and CD accompaniment are also available. Running time is 1:48. Order from Brethren Press for $15 plus shipping and handling.

Coming Soon from Brethren Press

"Beyond Our Means: How the Brethren Service Center Dared to Embrace the World" by R. Jan and Roma Jo Thompson. A new history with behind-the-scenes details of how the Brethren Service Center campus in New Windsor, Md.--first devoted to education--later became a community of Christian service known around the world. Available early 2009. Order from Brethren Press for $18.95 plus shipping and handling.

Source: 11/21/2008 Newsline Extra

Brethren Press offers two new Bible studies for the winter.

A new Covenant Bible Study titled "The Five Festal Scrolls," and the winter quarter's Guide for Biblical Studies on the topic of "Human Commitment" are now available from Brethren Press.

"The Five Festal Scrolls" studies the Old Testament books of the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, written by Robert W. Neff and Ramirez. The book is designed as a relational resource for small group Bible study. Each of 10 chapters includes suggestions for personal preparations, sharing, and prayer as well an essay to increase understanding of the text, and discussion questions and suggestions for action.

The Guide for Biblical Studies is the Brethren Press adult Sunday school curriculum. This winter quarter by Gene Bucher focuses on the topic of human commitment with weekly study sessions for December on the Christmas story, and weekly studies for January and February on Old Testament people of commitment. Each session offers suggested daily scriptures for personal preparation, an essay on the text for the week, discussion question, and an "Out of Context" feature by Frank Ramirez.

Order "The Five Festal Scrolls" from Brethren Press for $7.95 plus shipping and handling. Order the winter quarter Guide for Biblical Studies from Brethren Press for $3.50, or $5.95 for large print, plus shipping and handling. Call 800-441-3712.

Source: 11/21/2008 Newsline Extra

Lenten devotional available for pre-publication price.

A daily devotional booklet Ash Wednesday through Easter 2009 is now available for a pre-publication price from Brethren Press. The booklet by Guy E. Wampler is titled "May the Road Rise." The booklet is designed both for individual study and for use by congregations to encourage devotions by members during the Lenten season.

Each daily devotion includes a short Bible reading, a meditation related to the reading, and a prayer. By illuminating the road Jesus took to Jerusalem, the places he went, the people he met, the words he spoke, and the things he did, these devotions give perspective on a Christian's own experiences today and lead into a deeper understanding of Easter hope.

Orders received by Dec. 15 will receive a pre-publication price of $2 per copy, plus shipping and handling. After Dec. 15, the devotional is $2.50 per copy, plus shipping and handling. Call 800-441-3712.

Source: 11/21/2008 Newsline Extra

Thanksgiving resources highlighted by Brethren Witness/Washington Office.

The Brethren Witness/Washington Office has highlighted Thanksgiving resources in a recent "Action Alert." The office recommends resources from the National Council of Churches (NCC) and the National Farm Worker Ministry for this year's celebrations of harvest and Thanksgiving.

The NCC's Eco-Justice Program is offering two Thanksgiving resources: "At the Lord's Table: Everyday Thanksgiving" is for worship leaders, adult educators, and teenage youth group leaders in congregations, and focuses on how food choices and the type of agriculture we support reflect our relationship with God's creation. "Sacred Food" is a Sunday school and group activity curriculum for elementary age children. Go to www.nccecojustice.org/resources.html to find these two resources under the title "Food and Farming Resources."

"Harvest of Justice Table Prayers" is available through the National Farm Worker Ministry website. The prayers can be used in worship services throughout the harvest season, in Bible studies, in small groups, or at the family dinner table. The ministry is encouraging participation in a tradition of the farm worker by hosting a sacrificial meal honoring the hands that harvest our food. Go to www.nfwm.org/HOJSeason/HOJmain.shtml for the prayer resource and more information about how to host a meal honoring farm workers.

For more information contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at washington_office_gb@brethren.org or 800-785-3246.

Source: 11/21/2008 Newsline Extra

Resource bits and pieces.

• Brethren Press has unveiled a "new" online store at brethrenpress.com, with a new look and improved functionality. Recommendations for new titles are always welcomed and can be directed to Jeff Lennard or Kirk Carpenter at 800-323-8039. "Remember, when you shop at Brethren Press, your purchases help fund the publishing ministry of the Church of the Brethren," said an announcement from Brethren Press.
  
  
• The 300th Anniversary year for the Brethren is winding down but there's a way for Brethren to preserve some of the excitement, writes Frank Ramirez in an announcement of the publication of the musical drama "A Simple Feast." The drama is authored by Steve Engle and Frank Ramirez, and commissioned by Southern Pennsylvania District. It is available through Brethren Press, Final Focus Productions, or directly from the authors in a professionally taped and edited DVD. "A Simple Feast" is the story of a Brethren congregation struggling to put on a musical about the Tercentennial while confronted with the consequences of a messy board meeting that falls apart in anger. A study guide is included. Sheet music and CD accompaniment will soon be available. The DVD menu is divided into chapter scenes as well as acts, making it flexible for viewing by Sunday school and study groups. The complete production runs 1 hour and 48 minutes. Engle is the composer of "I See a New World Coming," (recently made available in choral form), "The St. Judas Passion," "Rumors of Angels," and "A Christmas Patchwork." Frank Ramirez is the author of "The Love Feast," "The Meanest Man in Patrick County," "Brethren Brush with Greatness," and the "Out of Context" feature in A Guide for Biblical Studies. For more information about "A Simple Feast" go to www.brethrenpress.com or contact the authors at englemedia@juno.com or frankramirez@embarqmail.com.
  
  
• A copy of "Whose Birthday Is It Anyway? Ideas for a Christ-Centered Holiday 2008" has been sent to each Church of the Brethren congregation through the denomination's Source packet mailing. This annual booklet from Alternatives for Simple Living offers reflections on Advent and Christmas, ideas for preparing for Christmas, family activities, and resources for the holidays--all encouraging people of faith to examine and challenge the commercialization of Christmas. The Church of the Brethren's Emergency Disaster Fund is one of two pages of listings of faith-based and nonprofit organizations for charitable giving during the holidays. Go to www.simpleliving.org for more information.

Source: 11/21/2008 Newsline Extra

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. Jeff Lennard contributed to this report.

NEWS

• Children's Disaster Services responds to California wildfires.
  
• Brethren funds disburse grants for disaster relief, food security.
  
• Brethren support hunger report reviewing Millennium Development Goals.
  
• Summit for progressive Brethren meets in Indianapolis.
  
• Brethren bits: Correction, remembrance, personnel, and more.

PERSONNEL

• Bolds to coordinate online gifts for Church of the Brethren.
  
• Heishman to direct theological education in the Dominican Republic.

Children's Disaster Services responds to California wildfires.

Children's Disaster Services worked in three shelters in southern California over the weekend and into the early part of this week, responding to the latest round of wildfires there. Four wildfires sprang up in southern California over the weekend, burning tens of thousands of acres and destroying hundreds of homes.

Children's Disaster Services is a program of the Church of the Brethren, and is the oldest and largest nationwide organization specializing in children's disaster related needs. The program sends teams of trained and certified volunteers to set up child care centers in disaster areas at the invitation of the American Red Cross and FEMA.

On Sunday, Nov. 16, eight volunteers from Children's Disaster Services were at work in the shelters in southern California, and by Monday, 12 volunteers were in place. More than 40 child contacts were made by the volunteers over those two days. The child care response continued on Tuesday as well.

Gloria Cooper often provides leadership for the southern California rapid response team from Children's Disaster Services. “The shelter was in great turmoil today,” she said in an e-mail report from the shelter that served the Oakridge Mobile Home Park. At the mobile home park, “some 488 trailers were melted down by the fire,” Cooper said. “There was a long and confusing process of announcing names and addresses of persons who were to be taken, one bus load at a time to the trailer park. The residents who had homes still standing, had ten minutes to enter their homes and then return to the bus to be returned to the shelter.”

A Children's Disaster Services Level I Workshop is planned for southern California, at La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, in March 2009. Participation in a workshop and a background check are required for Children's Disaster Services volunteers. Go to www.brethren.org/genbd/BDM/CDStraining.html for more about how to volunteer.

In other news from Brethren Disaster Ministries, a flood recovery project in Rushford, Minn., held its first house dedication on Sept. 30 for the Hanson family. The project is scheduled to close on Dec. 14, after having completed the building of seven homes.

Source: 11/19/2008 Newsline

Brethren funds disburse grants for disaster relief, food security.

Two Church of the Brethren funds--the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) and the Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF)--have given a total of $88,000 in recent grants.

An EDF grant of $50,000 has been given for the Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding program at Hurricane Katrina site 4 in Chalmette, La. The grant continues support for the rebuilding project, as well as travel expenses, leadership training, tools and equipment, and food and housing for volunteers.

An additional allocation of $3,000 from the EDF supports the work of Children’s Disaster Services to aid families affected by Hurricane Ike in Texas. A previous grant of $5,000 was not sufficient to meet the food and shelter needs for volunteers who worked at four shelters in Texas.

A GFCF grant of $15,000 supports Church World Service (CWS) partner Christian Center for Development in Haiti. The grant will help coordinate food and livelihood security programs.

An allocation of $10,000 from the GFCF supports a CWS appeal for agricultural and technical assistance to 500 poor farm families in Pakistan, as well as the distribution of cans for safe water storage and hand pumps.

An allocation of $10,000 from the GFCF has been given to Proyecto Aldeal Global in Honduras to support 1,000 families in rural, flooded communities with emergency replanting of corn and bean crops.

Source: 11/19/2008 Newsline

Brethren support hunger report reviewing Millennium Development Goals.

The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Crisis Fund has given $5,000 to support publication of Bread for the World's “Hunger Report 2009.” This year’s Hunger Report reviews the progress of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. “Hunger Report 2009" was released by Bread for the World on Nov. 14 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

In 2006 the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference adopted a resolution in support of the Millennium Development Goals, which aim to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases, ensure environmental stability, and develop global partnership. The goals have been set forth as global objectives to be achieved by 2015. The US signed and committed to the Millennium Declaration along with 188 other countries at a UN summit in 2000.

The Bread for the World report includes an annex with the Millennium Development Goals indicators and visual representations of regional progress made in key areas. The organization plans on having a downloadable, user-friendly way to access this annex online at www.bread.org. Because of the Church of the Brethren sponsorship, the report this year also includes a brief statement about the Global Food Crisis Fund.

In September, the UN issued a Millennium Development Goals Report 2008 and held events to mark the half-way point to the target date of 2015. “The world has made strong and sustained progress in reducing extreme poverty...but this is now being undercut by higher prices, particularly of food and oil, and the global economic slowdown,” a UN release said.

“Improved estimates of poverty from the World Bank show that the number of poor in the developing world is larger than previously thought, at 1.4 billion people,” the release said. “But the new estimates confirm that between 1990 and 2005, the number of people living in extreme poverty has fallen--from 1.8 to 1.4 billion--and that the 1990 global poverty rate is likely to be halved by 2015.... Most of the decline occurred in eastern Asia, particularly China. Other regions have seen much smaller decreases in the poverty rate.”

In a foreword to the UN progress report, secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon wrote that “the largely benign development environment that has prevailed since the early years of this decade, and that has contributed to the successes to date, is now threatened. The economic slowdown will diminish the incomes of the poor; the food crisis will raise the number of hungry people in the world and push millions more into poverty; climate change will have a disproportionate impact on the poor.

“The need to address these concerns, pressing as they are, must not be allowed to detract from our longterm efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,” Ban Ki-Moon stated. “On the contrary, our strategy must be to keep the focus on the MDGs as we confront these new challenges. Looking ahead to 2015 and beyond, there is no question that we can achieve the overarching goal: we can put an end to poverty. But it requires an unswerving, collective, longterm effort.”

A few gains noted in the UN release:

• Primary school enrollment has reached 90 per cent, and is in striking distance of the 2015 goal of 100 per cent, in all but two out of 10 regions of the world. Within primary schools, gender parity (share of girls’ enrollment as compared to boys’) is at 95 per cent in six out of 10 regions.
  
  
• Deaths from measles have been cut in one third between 2000 and 2006, and the vaccination rate among developing world children has reached 80 per cent.
  
  
• More than one and a half billion people have gained access to clean drinking water since 1990--but due to stress on freshwater resources nearly three billion people now live in regions facing water scarcity.

Among challenges noted by the UN report:

• More than half a million mothers in developing countries die in childbirth or from pregnancy complications every year.
  
  
• About one quarter of developing world children are undernourished.
  
  
• Almost half of the developing world population still lack improved sanitation facilities.

For a free copy of the Bread for the World “Hunger Report 2009” contact Howard Royer, manager of the Global Food Crisis Fund, at 800-323-8039.

Source: 11/19/2008 Newsline

Summit for progressive Brethren meets in Indianapolis.

Gathering under the theme “Faithful and Just: Progressive Brethren Speak,” nearly 200 people gathered at Northview Church of the Brethren in Indianapolis, Ind., on Nov. 7-9. The meeting was billed as a “summit” for progressive Brethren exploring the reality and possibilities for the role of progressives in the Church of the Brethren today.

In Friday evening’s worship planned by Nancy Faus-Mullen of Richmond, Ind., preachers Audrey DeCoursey representing the Womaen’s Caucus, and Ken Kline Smeltzer representing Voices for an Open Spirit addressed the theme, “The Challenged Church.” The two speakers explored difficulties progressive Christians face and challenges for the church.

On Saturday morning Robert Miller, chair of Christian and Religious Studies at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., led an educational plenary under the theme, “The Grounded Church.” His lecture provoked wide-ranging queries from the audience, including questions such as, “Who is the historical Jesus?” and “How should we be grounded in the Kingdom of God?”

The afternoon was dedicated to numerous workshops including “Joy-Filled Biblical Spirituality,” “Processing the 2008 Elections,” “Hospitality for the Coming Age,” “Sharing Amidst Scarcity,” “Motivating Greater LGBT Rights and Advocacy,” “Storytelling as a Tool of Resistance,” “Progressive Evangelism,” “Greening the Church,” and others.

Saturday evening worship was led by Kimberly Koczan-Flory of Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren in Fort Wayne, Ind. Susan Stern Boyer, pastor of La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, challenged worshipers to consider what it means to be “A Welcoming Church,” with a call to travel along a “wide road.” The evening culminated with music by David Hupp, James Towns, and Paul Fry-Miller, followed by the band Mutual Kumquat with musicians Chris Good, Drue Gray, and Seth Hendricks. Good performed a song written especially for the progressive Brethren who were at the summit.

Prior to Sunday morning worship, a general strategy session was held in which participants shared hopes and visions for how progressive Brethren might pursue their faith and practice in congregations, the denomination, and their own lives.

Closing worship brought together conference-goers and the Northview congregation in a service designed by Elizabeth Keller of Bethany Theological Seminary. Kurt Borgmann, pastor of Manchester Church of the Brethren in North Manchester, Ind., preached about “A Courageous Church”--a church moving into the future faithfully as it faces conflict and pain.

The summit was hosted, planned, and sponsored by Voices for an Open Spirit, the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests, the Womaen’s Caucus of the Church of the Brethren, Christian Community, and the Northview congregation. A similar event is being planned for 2009, to take place in another region of the country.

--Phil Jones is director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office.

Source: 11/19/2008 Newsline

Brethren bits: Correction, remembrance, personnel, and more.

• Corrections: In the retirement notice for Dave Ingold, incorrect information was given about the replacement of aging air conditioning systems at the Church of the Brethren General Offices: the old system was replaced by a thermal ice storage system.
  
  
• James Brubaker Bowman, 92, an ordained Church of the Brethren minister and life-long missionary to Nigeria, died on Nov. 8. He was born on Aug. 31, 1916, in Hagerstown, Ind., the oldest of four children of Vinna Ressa (Brubaker) and O. Clinton Bowman. He married Merle (Allen) Bowman of Modesto, Calif., in 1937 and they graduated from La Verne College (now the University of La Verne) in 1941. He completed a master of divinity degree at Bethany Theological Seminary in 1944. The Bowmans served as Church of the Brethren missionaries in Nigeria from 1946-75, with three years (1960-63) in Elgin, Ill., working on the Foreign Mission Commission staff of the Church of the Brethren. During his tenure in Nigeria, Bowman built the church, school, shop, dispensary, and mission house at Gulak, and served in evangelism, Christian education, agriculture, dispensary work, vehicle maintenance, and building construction in the towns of Lassa, Garkida, Virgwi (at the leprosarium), and Shafa. He spoke three languages of northeastern Nigeria fluently, a skill that served him well in his translation, literature, and leadership training work. In 1976, following a call from a former student, Jabani Mambula, who was working in the Borno State government in northern Nigeria, the Bowmans taught Christian Religious Knowledge in former Church of the Brethren schools in Waka. In 1982 they retired to Modesto, Calif., and in 1986 moved to Wenatchee, Wash. Until his death, Bowman was very active in the Sunnyslope Brethren/United Church of Christ in Wenatchee, where he served on the Leadership Team and as a deacon. He also sang in Wenatchee's "Columbia Chorale" until age 89 and often played organ for vesper services. He was preceded in death by his wife, Merle, in 2002. He is survived by his children C. Ivan Bowman, Esther (Bowman) and Steven Gregory, James R. and Sally Bowman, Carol Joy Bowman and Ben Green, and Maurice and Bernadette Badibanga; 13 grandchildren; and many great grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Nov. 15 at Sunnyslope Brethren/United Church of Christ. Memorial gifts are received by the Church of the Brethren, designated for "African missions." Condolences to the family may be sent care of Carol Bowman, 1210 Jefferson St., Wenatchee, WA 98801.
  
  
• Allen K. Easley has been named dean of the College of Law at the University of La Verne, Calif. Easley was named to the position in the midst of the university’s effort to obtain full American Bar Association approval for the college. Easley comes to ULV College of Law from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn., where he was appointed dean in 2004. His academic experience also includes 25 years at Washburn University School of Law, 13 of them as associate dean for Academic Affairs. He chaired the ABA's Questionnaire Committee for four years and was a member of the Association of American Law Schools' Executive Committee for three years. He takes a position made vacant by Donald J. Dunn, who passed away in January, and held in the interim by H. Randall Rubin.
  
  
• Bibek Sahu has accepted a short-term position working for the Church of the Brethren in Yei, southern Sudan. He will be placed with Reconcile International, a peace and reconciliation organization. Sahu will work to upgrade and update an existing computer system and train personnel to maintain it, and will assist Reconcile personnel to access and maintain a website. He brings more than 15 years of experience of software development, computer consulting, programing, and UNIX System Administration, and holds a degree in Computer Science from Iowa State University. He has been active in Wichita (Kan.) Church of the Brethren and currently attends Stover Church of the Brethren in Des Moines, Iowa. He also has worked with Trees for Life, a nonprofit organization based in Wichita, as a fulltime volunteer since 2002, giving technical support for the design and implementation of the Trees for Life Journal and assisting in network management and technical service. He departs for Sudan on Dec. 8.
  
  
• Several new employees have begun work at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Nate Gibson is a new employee in Dining Services; he has had previous work experience in large kitchen operations at Westminster Nursing Home. Jed Smith is a temporary employee in the Material Resources program, and after that assignment will work in the kitchen as a regular on-call temporary employee; he comes from a career working with horse farms. Cristian Villegas is a temporary employee in Material Resources, unloading boxcars. Yahaira Rodriguez is a temporary on-call empoyee in Dining Services; she recently relocated from Allentown, Pa.
  
  
• The New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center is extending appreciation to a number of volunteer hosts. Emily and Red Brandon were hosts for the Old Main building in September, and in Zigler Hall for the first two weeks of October. Tony and Claire Fortune are serving as hosts for Zigler Hall through the first two weeks of December. Michael and Barbara Hodson completed a month of service as volunteer hosts in Windsor Hall in October. Ric and Jan Martinez are the hosts for the Old Main building for the month of November.
  
  
• The Church of the Brethren seeks an individual or couple skilled in peace and reconciliation work and/or mediation to serve a three-year placement in Yei, southern Sudan, to begin as soon as possible. The placement will be with Reconcile, a peace and reconciliation partnering organization with the Church of the Brethren. The position will include working within the program of Reconcile, helping further the work that is presently being done as well as helping to develop new programs and possible new locations for expansion, and interpreting Reconcile’s work to the Church of the Brethren. Reconcile’s work includes conflict resolution between groups in southern Sudan following 21 years of civil war, addressing situations such as conflicts between tribes, communities, and the repatriation of ex-combatants; trauma transformation; good governance; holding workshops to help the populace understand what it means to be responsible citizens in light of upcoming elections; working with politicians to help them effectively serve the people. Candidates should bring relevant education and experience in the areas of peace and reconciliation or mediation, experience in international cross-cultural settings, grounding in Church of the Brethren identity and practice, and a team orientation. The church seeks candidates with the maturity that comes from both life and professional experiences. Candidates must be open to living in a cultural milieu that includes people from many countries and different expressions of Christianity. Ordination is not necessary for the position. Contact Karin Krog, Office of Human Resources, at kkrog_gb@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 258.
  
  
• An opening for an archival intern has been announced by the Brethren Historical Library and Archives at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., for one year beginning July 2009. The purpose of the program is to develop interest in vocations related to archives and libraries and/or Brethren history. Compensation includes housing, a stipend of $520 every two weeks, and health insurance. A graduate student is preferred, or an undergraduate with at least two years of college. The intern should be willing to work with details, have accurate word processing skills, and be able to lift 30-pound boxes. The application deadline is Feb. 28, 2009. Send a resume, college transcript (can be an unofficial copy), and three reference letters to the Office of Human Resources, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; or kkrog_gb@brethren.org. For more information contact the Brethren Historical Library and Archives at kshaffer_gb@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 294.
  
  
• The Brethren Witness/Washington Office is inviting church members to an annual vigil at Fort Benning, Ga., to help close the School of Americas (WHINSEC). The School of Americas Watch vigil is Nov. 21-23. Fort Benning houses the School of Americas/Western Institute for Security Cooperation, whose graduates have been connected with human rights abuses. Events sponsored by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office will include an information table outside the gates of Fort Benning Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22-23, a Brethren Gathering on Saturday evening Nov. 22, and an opportunity for Brethren to march together in the procession on Sunday, Nov. 23. Contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 800-785-3246.
  
  
• The deadline is Jan. 19, 2009, for applications for the next Youth Peace Travel Team. The team travels to camps throughout the Church of the Brethren to talk with young people about the Christian message and the Brethren tradition of peacemaking. The team is sponsored by the Church of the Brethren's Youth and Young Adult Ministry, the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, Brethren Volunteer Service, On Earth Peace, and the Outdoor Ministries Association. Church of the Brethren young adults between the ages of 19-22 may apply. A stipend is paid to team members. Applications are due to the Brethren Witness/Washington Office by Jan. 19, go to www.brethren.org/genbd/witness/YPTT.htm or call 800-785-3246.
  
  
• Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., has scheduled its next Campus Visit Day for March 6, 2009. Sixteen people took part in a Fall Campus Visit Day on Nov. 7. Register for the Spring Campus Visit Day at www.bethanyseminary.edu/visit or contact Elizabeth Keller, director of admissions, at kelleel@bethanyseminary.edu or 765-983-1832.
  
  
• Next year’s Song and Story Fest, the annual family camp co-sponsored by On Earth Peace, will be held at Camp Peaceful Pines near Dardanelle, Calif., on July 3-9. The event is timed to follow the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in San Diego.
  
  
• Three dozen senior high youth and advisors gathered Oct. 4-5 at Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., for a Regional Youth Conference exploring faith and politics. Phil Jones, director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, led sessions emphasizing the possibilities that Christians can help bring about. “Politicians and political structures are not going to be the answers for this world,” Jones said. He described from scripture what the world “should be” and told youth, “It’s up to us to help (government) get there. It’s putting our basic and core faith understandings into action.” Sessions explored topics of justice, passion, and humility, using Micah 6:8 as a central text. Paul Fry-Miller led music for the weekend, while Manchester students helped to lead small groups for deeper discussion. The two-man band Jayber Crow gave a concert.
  
  
• A new documentary titled “Pax Service: An Alternative to War” reviews a Mennonite Central Committee service program that ran from 1951-75, and will premier on the Hallmark Channel on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 7 a.m. eastern time. The documentary tells the story of a program in which some 1,200 young volunteers did relief and development work in 40 countries around the world--including the story of a couple of Brethren who took part in the program. Longtime Church of the Brethren members Walter Daggett of Bridgewater, Va., and Ralph Warner of Broadway, Va. both appear in the documentary. Wendy McFadden, executive director of Brethren Press, also consulted on the project. In addition to many individual Pax volunteers funding the production of the program, the Church of the Brethren, Faith and Values Media (now Odyssey Networks), and Mennonite Media all contributed funds or in-kind staff/facilities. The documentary will be made available on DVD, and may be ordered from Brethren Press when it is published in January.
  
  
• Spring Run Church of the Brethren in McVeytown, Pa., celebrated 150 years on Oct. 4-5. The theme of the weekend was “Commitment Kept! Commitment Renewed!”
  
  
• Hollidaysburg (Pa.) Church of the Brethren celebrated its 100th anniversary on Oct. 25-26. A time capsule in the cornerstone of the church was opened. New items were placed in the capsule and returned for another 100 years.
  
  
• Connellsville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren recently celebrated its 85th anniversary. Two worship services were held, with former pastor Chester Fisher as guest speaker.
  
  
• Teams from two Church of the Brethren related schools--Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., and the University of La Verne, Calif.--are competing in the women’s volleyball NCAA Division III 2008 National Championships at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill. Juniata is playing University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 20, and La Verne is playing State University of New York (SUNY) New Paltz. If the two Brethren teams both win their quarterfinal matches, they will face each other in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 21. The Championship Match takes place Saturday, Nov. 22. Go to www.iwu.edu/ncaaVB for the schedule of games and more information.
  
  
• The University of La Verne, Calif., gave a Distinguished Alumni Award to Eric Bishop at a Homecoming Dinner and Dance on Oct. 17. Bishop served on the denominational staff of the Church of the Brethren in the early 1990s as managing editor of “Messenger” magazine and director of news services. Since then he has taught at the University of La Verne as assistant professor of journalism, then worked in administration as director of academic advising and as associate dean of academic support and retention. Last fall he took a new post as director of Chaffey College's Fontana Center.
  
  
• Young Alumni Award recipients have been announced by McPherson (Kan.) College and honored at homecoming on Oct. 10-11, including Church of the Brethren member Dan Masterson. He has served as adjunct music professor at McPherson College and Central College, and currently is a professor of music at Bethany College. He also has held various positions in the Church of the Brethren, including minister of music in the McPherson congregation and the Annual Conference pianist in 1982. The two other recipients were Thomas King, president and CEO of Alexza Pharmaceuticals, and Paula Vincent, who works in the Clear Creek Amana Community School District as superintendent.
  
  
• Leaders from Bridgewater (Va.) College are taking part in Virginia's first workshop on at-risk college students on Nov. 19-21, according to a release. Bridgewater College president Phillip C. Stone will deliver a keynote address to the Virginia Student Services Conference on Nov. 20. The workshop also will feature comments by William Miracle, dean of students at Bridgewater College and president of the Virginia Association of Student Personnel Administrators. The keynote address will be presented by Chris Flynn of Virginia Tech. "The incident at Virginia Tech was a stark reminder of the realities of life on all our campuses across the state. When an incident such as this happens at one of our campuses, all of us share the experience to some extent,” Miracle said. Go to www.virginiastudentservicesconference.org for more.
  
  
• The work of painter Susan Joseph is displayed at Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., through Nov. 30 in its Gallery G. She is a member of the Church of the Brethren from Onekama, Mich. She will display gouache paintings inspired by textile designs from indigenous cultures around the world.
  
  
• Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., and the Manchester Fellowship of Reconciliation are two of the organizations partnering in an “Iraqi Student Project.” The project plans to bring to the US 15 Iraqi students who have been unable to pursue their education due to the war. A 17-year-old Iraqi student arrived this fall at Manchester to study computer science.
  
  
• Last month Church World Service (CWS) issued a report on its refugee resettlement program. In fiscal year 2008, the program resettled 4,892 refugees to the United States, or just over 8 percent of the total of 60,192 refugees who began new lives in the US during the year. CWS is one of 10 agencies that work with the US Department of State to meet the needs of refugees upon their arrival and assist them as they work to attain self-sufficiency. The new CWS arrivals this year are from the Near East (1,821), East Asia (1,724), Africa (730), the former Soviet Union (231) and Latin America (56). Top nationalities resettled through CWS were Karen Burmese, Iraqi, Iranian, Chin Burmese, Bhutanese, Somali, Cuban, Burundian, and Ukrainian.
  
  
• Dale and Carolyn Seburn of Manor Church of the Brethren in Boonsboro, Md., have been inducted into the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, according to the “Herald-Mail” newspaper. The couple were nominated by their pastor, Joy Zepp.
  
  
• The National Council of Churches Eco-Justice program invites churches to take part in a “Cool Congregations Competition.” Interfaith Power and Light is offering $10,000 in prizes--$5,000 for the congregation with lowest overall emissions per congregant and $5,000 for the church that has shrunk its carbon “footprint” the most. Congregations use an online calculator to measure carbon footprints through the end of the year. Go to www.coolcongregations.com for details.
  
  
• The Church of North India (CNI), which has been hit hard by anti-Christian violence in India, held its synod meeting on Oct. 17-21 in Pathankot, Punjab State. The meeting began with a minute of silence as more than 400 delegates representing the 26 CNI dioceses remembered the victims of violence in the eastern state of Orissa, according to a release from the World Council of Churches. Three of CNI's dioceses are located in Orissa. The Church of North India came into existence in 1970 through a merger of six churches including the Church of the Brethren, Baptists, Anglicans, Methodists, and Disciples. The violence in India has not been in areas that were part of Brethren mission work or where India Brethren are located.

Source: 11/19/2008 Newsline

Bolds to coordinate online gifts for Church of the Brethren.

Alan Bolds has accepted the call to the position of coordinator of Online Gifts and Development for the Church of the Brethren, effective Dec. 1. He most recently has been a fundraising professional with Awana International.

At Awana, he held responsibilities in the areas of major donors, annual giving, research, and sponsorships. He implemented Convio, the same web-based constituent relationship management software the Church of the Brethren is launching. Prior to that, he raised income from direct mail, pledge drives, annual banquet, and capital campaign for WCFC-TV38 in Chicago, a viewer-supported television station.

Bolds' educational background includes a degree in Speech and Communications from Greenville (Ill.) College and a certificate of graduate study in Administration from Northern Illinois University. He and his family attend Wheaton (Ill.) Evangelical Free Church.

Source: 11/19/2008 Newsline

Heishman to direct theological education in the Dominican Republic.

Nancy Heishman has accepted a call as the Church of the Brethren’s director of theological education in the Dominican Republic, in addition to being mission coordinator in the DR along with her husband, Irv Heishman. This was effective Nov. 1.

The Heishmans have served as mission coordinators in the DR since May 2003. Prior to her work in the DR, Nancy Heishman served as co-pastor at First Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, Pa., for 15 years. She holds a master of music degree from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a master of divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary.

Source: 11/19/2008 Newsline

Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Judy Bezon, Joan McGrath, Cori Hahn, Mary K. Heatwole, Jon Kobel, Jeri S. Kornegay, Karin Krog, Marcia Shetler, Ken Kline Smeltzer, and Walt Wiltschek contributed to this report.

NEWS

• Grants support hurricane response, Zimbabwe food crisis.
  
• Amwell Church of the Brethren celebrates 275 years.
  
• Brethren bits: Remembrances, personnel, jobs, events, more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• 'We Are Able' is among new workcamps scheduled for 2009.

PERSONNEL

• Ingold retires as director of buildings and grounds at church's General Offices.
  
• Wittmeyer to serve as executive for Global Mission Partnerships.
  
• Rodeffer is called as Brethren Benefit Trust's chief financial officer.
  
• Olson to serve as loan officer for Church of the Brethren Credit Union.

FEATURE

• John Kline Homestead workcamp strengthens hearts and spirits.

Grants support hurricane response, Zimbabwe food crisis.

Grants from two Church of the Brethren funds have been given to support the church's work responding to recent hurricanes, to the food crisis in Zimbabwe, and to the Brethren response to flooding in Indiana.

The Emergency Disaster Fund has made a grant of $20,000 to aid the African country of Zimbabwe, which is experiencing a growing food crisis. The grant has been given through Church World Service (CWS) and will help support monthly food rations and agricultural recovery. Staff reported that it is estimated that up to four million people in Zimbabwe needed food aid beginning in October.

The Global Food Crisis Fund also has allocated $10,000 to support the partner work of CWS, Action by Churches Together, and Christian Care in Zimbabwe. The allocation will assist in conservation farming, food processing, preservation storage, and nutrition education.

Brethren Disaster Ministries requested an allocation of $35,000 from the Emergency Disaster Fund in response to an expanded CWS appeal for hurricane response in the United States. The money will support longterm recovery work in southern Louisiana, as well as providing CWS with material aid, staff deployment for trainings, and financial support to longterm recovery groups in Texas.

Brethren Disaster Ministries has received a grant of $15,000 from the Emergency Disaster Fund for work in Johnson County, Ind., which was affected by heavy rains and flooding. The area had 900 homes suffer damage, with a longterm recovery committee reporting 250 cases pending and waiting for help. The grant will support a Brethren Disaster Ministries project to repair and rebuild homes, to open early this month. The grant will pay for volunteer housing, food, onsite expenses, tools, and equipment.

In Indiana, Brethren Disaster Ministries has been working closely with pastor Chuck Berdel of Christ Our Shepherd Church of the Brethren in Greenwood, Ind. Berdel is the Construction Committee chairman for the Johnson County Long-Term Recovery Committee. He reported that more needs are emerging as the weeks go by. "The time is critical to begin before cold weather gets here," he said. The project is anticipated to continue well into 2009.

Source: 11/5/2008 Newsline

Amwell Church of the Brethren celebrates 275 years.

Amwell Church of the Brethren celebrated its 275th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 5. Amwell is one of the oldest Brethren congregations and the only Church of the Brethren in New Jersey.

The Amwell congregation was organized in 1733, 10 years after the first Brethren congregation in the Americas was organized at Germantown, Pa., in 1723. The congregation claims legendary Brethren figure Johannes Naas as its founder.

"To put this into perspective, George Washington was kicking in his crib when Amwell was doing church!" commented Atlantic Northeast District executive minister Craig Smith.

The Amwell Church is located in a rural area near the town of Sergeantsville, N.J., in the west-central part of the state about 25 miles north of Trenton. The congregation "is a real nice mix of people," said pastor Robert DiSalvio. Average attendance at the church is about 100 people, and DiSalvio added that recently the attendance numbers have been growing.

The congregation makes use of its rich heritage and age as it reaches out to people who do not know the Brethren, DiSalvio said. In fact, most church members have had little connection with the denomination, and most are new converts to Christianity, he said. "We have to use the idea that we have been here since 1733, that kind of diminishes the 'cult' status," he said, an association that those unfamiliar with the Brethren may make with the name.

DiSalvio is working with the congregation's leaders to help a country church "step up to the 21st century," he said. For example, the church website at www.amwell.org offers a variety of interactive features including audio and video recordings of worship services. During his sermons, the pastor uses PowerPoint presentations to highlight words and images and to provide more information to the congregation as he preaches.

The church has been working on a servant leadership model with a team approach, and the leadership also have been identifying the common objections people have to coming to church, DiSalvio said. He intentionally keeps those common objections in mind in designing services and presenting the church's ministries, in order to work to remove those objections.

DiSalvio also is working to reconnect the congregation to the district. He recently was nominated moderator-elect for Atlantic Northeast District.

The 275th Anniversary celebration included a two-hour worship service with about 140 people in attendance. The guest preacher was Phill Carlos Archbold, interim pastor at First Church of the Brethren in Brooklyn, N.Y., and a former moderator of Annual Conference. Others who brought greetings or gave statements included Smith and others representing Atlantic Northeast District.

In a special presentation, the director of pastoral care at Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital expressed appreciation for the congregation's ministry with patients. Up until recently, a busload of patients attended worship at Amwell Church of the Brethren once a month. Pastor DiSalvio is a chaplain at the hospital, and church members visit the hospital as well.

After worship, the congregation held a dinner at a local fire house. Filet mignon and a special chicken dish were on the menu, offered by a chef who is a new member of the church. Another church in the community offered to serve the meal so that Amwell members could relax and enjoy the celebration.

Go to www.amwell.org for more about the congregation and its ministries.

Source: 11/5/2008 Newsline

Brethren bits: Remembrances, personnel, jobs, events, more.

• Marie Elizabeth Kachel Bucher, 98, who was the last surviving member of the German Seventh-Day Baptists at Ephrata, Pa., died on July 27. Born in 1909, she lived the early part of her life at Shady Nook Farm, located on what is now the Ephrata Cloister. The Ephrata Community was begun by Conrad Beissel and a few followers in 1732 after his separation from the Brethren, and grew into a community of some 300 people by 1750. After that date the community began to decline in numbers, and the celibate orders ended in 1814. At that time title to the land and buildings transferred to a German Seventh Day Baptist congregation, according to the Brethren Encyclopedia. Ephrata Cloister is now a National Historic Landmark administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Bucher grew up on the cloister property before it was purchased by the state of Pennsylvania in 1941. She was the daughter of Reuben S. Kachel and M. Kathryn Zerfass Kachel. She graduated from Ephrata High School in 1927, earned a degree in education from Millersville State Teachers College in 1935, the degree of Master of Education from Penn State in 1939, and also studied at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College and Duke University. She began her teaching career in a one-room school in Clay Township, later moving to southern Lancaster County to take a position in the East Drumore Township school system. She concluded her teaching career in the public schools as a math teacher at Solanco High School. In 1945, she married Loren H. Bucher, a farmer in East Drumore Township. As the wife of a farmer, she joined the Society of Farm Women and was an active member for many years, and volunteered as a leader in 4H Clubs. Although she never formally joined the Church of the Brethren, she was active in Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren in Quarryville, Pa. She is survived by her son Loren K. Bucher, her daughter Christina Bucher and spouse Theodore M. Bushong, and two grandsons. A funeral service was held in the Saal at the Ephrata Cloister on July 31, and a memorial service was held at Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren on Aug. 10. Memorial donations are received to Hospice of Lancaster County or to Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren.
  
  
• Roland "Ort" Ortmayer, 91, a longtime faculty member at the University of La Verne, Calif., and a nationally recognized football coach, died on Oct. 9 at Hillcrest Homes in La Verne. Ortmayer spent 43 years guiding the university's Leopards football program. He was appointed head football and baseball coach in 1948 at what was then La Verne College, and grew to become an iconic figure at the school by the time he retired in 1991. While he also managed the basketball and track and field programs and served as athletic director during his tenure, he was most recognized for coaching football. He finished his career with a 182-193-8 record and earned induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1979. His distinctive coaching style, based on the viewpoint that football was supposed to be fun, attracted national attention. One season when his team was struggling to move the football, his observation that "I don't think our offense could get a first down against high grass," found its way into "Sports Illustrated" and other publications. In Sept. 1989 he was the subject of a feature article in the "Sports Illustrated" College Football Preview issue, written by Douglas S. Looney titled "A Most Unusual Man." The article led to a television feature by ABC national news and a feature segment on Paul Harvey's syndicated radio program. Among La Verne alumni, he also is remembered for leading kayaking, rafting, and canoeing trips on a portion of the Lewis and Clark expedition route. He was born on Aug. 22, 1917, in College Park, Md. After his family moved to Montana, he excelled at sports at Billings High School. He attended Intermountain Union College, Rocky Mountain College, and Northwestern University. He was a conscientious objector during World War II, and while with Civilian Public Service in Tennessee he met his future wife, Cornelia "Corni" Burgan. He is preceded in death by his wife, Corni, and son, David. He is survived by two daughters, Suzi Bowles and Corlan Harrison, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Arrangements for services are pending.
  
  
• Athena Gibble of York, Pa. completed her term of service Oct. 20 as a community outreach worker in Rio Verde, Brazil, with the Global Mission Partnerships of the Church of the Brethren. She was serving through Brethren Volunteer Service. She holds a bachelor of science degree in social work and Spanish from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa.
  
  
• Jerry O'Donnell will serve as assistant to the Church of the Brethren mission coordinators in the Dominican Republic--Nancy and Irvin Heishman--beginning Nov. 6. Last year, he assisted with the Church of the Brethren workcamp program as a Brethren Volunteer Service worker. He graduated from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., with an emphasis in Spanish/Hispanic cultures and educational studies.
  
  
• Gerald and Eleanor Roller of Roanoke, Va., began a six-month assignment on Oct. 1 as Rural Health Program consultants for Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). They are working through the Church of the Brethren's Global Mission Partnerships.
  
  
• Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) seeks a director of Brethren Pension Plan/Employee Financial Services to fill a fulltime salaried position located at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The not-for-profit organization provides pension, insurance, foundation, and credit union services for 6,000 members and clients nationwide, and is an agency of the Church of the Brethren. The position serves as chief administrator of the Church of the Brethren Pension Plan and Employee Financial Services, and also administers the Church Workers' Assistance Plan and Supplemental Income Fund for Equitable Annuitants. The director is responsible for program oversight, which includes maintaining the legal plan description, employer agreements, employer supplement sheets, and the plan members' handbook. The director is to be knowledgeable of 403(b) regulations, pastors' tax and housing allowance provisions, and investments. The director also will supervise work with program-related vendors and consultants, will provide oversight of the department's software system, will represent the department in the field for customer service calls with current plan members, offer program interpretation for prospective clients, supervise the customer service representative, travel to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference and to BBT Board meetings and the Church Benefits Association annual meeting and other BBT-related events. BBT seeks a candidate with an undergraduate degree in business, human resources, finance, accounting, or pre-law, and/or certification as an Employee Benefits Specialist, and at least five years of experience in employee benefits plans management, human resources administration, or related management experience. Membership in the Church of the Brethren is preferred; membership in an active faith community is required. The salary is competitive with Church Benefits Association agencies of comparable size and scope of services. A full benefits package is included. Send a letter of interest, a resume, three references (one supervisor, one colleague, one friend), and salary-range expectation to Donna March, 1505 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120, or dmarch_bbt@brethren.org. For more information call 847- 622-3371. Visit www.brethrenbenefittrust.org for more about Brethren Benefit Trust. Applications will be accepted immediately. Interviews will begin on Nov. 17, and will continue until the position is filled.
  
  
• The Church of the Brethren is seeking an individual skilled in information technology to serve a one- to two-month volunteer placement in Yei, southern Sudan, to be filled as soon as possible. The placement will be with RECONCILE, a peace and reconciliation partnering organization with the Church of the Brethren. The position will work to upgrade and update an existing computer system, train personnel to maintain it, and help RECONCILE personnel access and maintain a website. Travel expenses, housing and food, and insurance coverage are provided. Candidates should bring relevant education and experience in information technology, have a good understanding of the relational aspects of Church of the Brethren theology and practice, have a team orientation, and be open to living in a multicultural milieu in a safe and secure compound with ample water available. RECONCILE's present computer network includes satellite connection, wireless connections, and both desktop and laptop computers. The setting provides a steady supply of electricity and international cell phone service. For applications, contact Karin Krog, Office of Human Resources, at kkrog_gb@brethren.org or 800-323-8039.
  
  
• Forty-four women have already registered for the 2009 Clergywomen's Retreat, to be held Jan. 12-15, 2009, at the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Registration is still open and available, go to www.brethren.org/genbd/ministry/index.htm or contact Dana Cassell in the Office of Ministry at dcassell_gb@brethren.org.
  
  
• The Church of the Brethren's Office of Ministry is sponsoring a Young Adult Forum titled "A Theological Conversation on Ministry." The forum is an effort to include young adult scholars, theologians, pastors, and leaders in discussions of the shape of ministerial leadership in the Church of the Brethren. It will bring together Brethren young adults from across the country to worship, fellowship, and engage in theological discussion about questions of ministry in the Anabaptist/Pietist tradition. Questions to be addressed include: What does it mean to be called? How does our tradition of "set-apart" ministry continue to serve and enliven a church facing major changes? How do we envision the future of ministerial leadership in the denomination? The forum will take place Dec. 15-17 at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, Ariz. Dana Cassell is coordinating the event, working with a planning team.
  
  
• Upcoming courses have been announced by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. The courses are open to Training in Ministry students, pastors, and others who are interested. Register through the Brethren Academy unless otherwise noted; go to www.bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy or call 800-287-8822 ext. 1824. Courses through the spring of 2009 include "Church Leadership and Administration" Nov. 13-16 at Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon, Pa., with instructor Randy Yoder (register through the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center at SVMC@etown.edu or 717-361- 1450); "The Reality of the Unseen: An Overview of the Religions of the West and the Indian Subcontinent" Jan. 26-29, at Bethany Seminary in Richmond, Ind., with Michael Hostetter; "The Theology of the Apostle Paul" offered online Jan. 12-March 6 with Craig Gandy; "The Church's Ministry with Children" offered online Feb. 2-March 27 with Rhonda Pittman Gingrich; "Practical Peace Church Theology" Feb. 26-March 1 in Southern Ohio District with Dean Johnson; "Ezekiel" offered online Feb. 16-March 27 with Susan Jeffers (register through the SVMC); "Introduction to New Testament" offered online March 16-May 1 with Susan Jeffers; and "Psalms" April 23-26 at Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon, Pa., with Robert Neff (register through the SVMC).
  
  
• Spring Branch Church of the Brethren in Wheatland, Mo., will hold intercultural revival services on Nov. 8-11, led by the Nueva Vida congregation of Carthage, a church with many members from Guatemala and a new fellowship of Missouri and Arkansas District. Additional services will be led by Duane Grady of the Church of the Brethren's Congregational Life Team.
  
  
• Upcoming district conferences include the Pacific Southwest District Conference on Nov. 7-9 at Community Brethren Church in Fresno, Calif., with moderator John Price; Illinois and Wisconsin District Conference on Nov. 7-9 at Peoria (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, led by moderator Jerry Sales; and Virlina District Conference on Nov. 14-15 at Bonsack Baptist Church, led by moderator Vernon Baker.
  
  
• An exhibit celebrating 300 years of Brethren history and its journey to Bridgewater, Va., will be on display at Bridgewater College's Reuel B. Pritchett Museum through May 2009. "A Journey from Schwarzenau to Bridgewater: Celebrating 300 Years of Brethren History, 1708-2008" will feature artifacts, photographs, documents, and books from the Pritchett Museum and Special Collections in the college's Alexander Mack Memorial Library. The exhibit will be open Monday through Friday 1-4:30 p.m. For further information, call Dale Harter, college archivist and curator of the Pritchett Museum, at 540-828-5457.
  
  
• Phillip C. Stone, president of Bridgewater (Va.) College, will lecture at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., on "Abraham Lincoln's Legacy: Why He Matters" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19. The lecture will be offered in Neff Lecture Hall in the von Liebig Center for Science at Juniata. Stone will describe Lincoln's family ties to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Stone has been president of Bridgewater College since 1994 and founder of the Lincoln Society of Virginia.
  
  
• Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has announced that its Hebron project is to close after 13 years. Several Church of the Brethren members have been fulltime participants in CPT's Hebron team. The announcement emphasized that a strong CPT project continues in the village of At-Tuwani in partnership with Palestinian communities of the Southern Hebron Hills.

Source: 11/5/2008 Newsline

'We Are Able' is among new workcamps scheduled for 2009.

The 2009 schedule of summer workcamps has been announced by the Church of the Brethren's Youth and Young Adult Office. The workcamp theme for the year is "Bound Together, Finely Woven" (2 Corinthians 8:12-15). In 2009, 29 workcamps will be offered in 25 diverse locations in the United States and several international locations.

Each workcamp offers a week-long service opportunity for junior high youth, senior high youth, young adults, or an intergenerational group. Held in the months of June, July, and August, the workcamps provide experiences that unite service, spiritual growth, and Brethren heritage.

Four of the 2009 workcamps are highlighted by staff as offering new or unique opportunities:

• A workcamp titled "We Are Able" for senior high youth and young adults at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., on July 6-10 is a new concept in the workcamp ministry. Recognizing that all people have gifts to share, the workcamp will enable youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities to serve side-by-side with a service-partner youth or young adult.
  
  
• A young adult workcamp in Northern Ireland will be held June 6-14, offering the opportunity to travel to an area of extreme beauty, but also extreme conflict. Participants will learn about conflict and reconciliation while working at Kilcranny House in Coleraine.
  
  
• An intergenerational workcamp titled "Passing on the Peace Witness" at the Brethren Service Center on Aug. 2-7 is co-sponsored by On Earth Peace and is offered to people of all ages. Multiple generations will serve together, exploring the legacy and importance of the peace witness in the Church of the Brethren. Families are invited.
  
  
• A workcamp for senior high youth on the issue of racism is held in Germantown, Pa., on July 27-Aug. 2, co-sponsored by On Earth Peace. Church of the Brethren leaders recently issued a letter calling for continued study and self-examination on the issue of racism. This workcamp will offer that opportunity as participants serve together in an urban setting.

Junior high workcamps will be held at 10 other sites, among them the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., and the John Kline Homestead in Broadway, Va. (see feature story below reflecting on this summer's workcamp at the John Kline Homestead; go to www.brethren.org and click on "Photo Journal" to find a photographic tour of the homestead). Many other senior high workcamps will be offered next summer, at 15 sites including at Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding projects on the Gulf coast.

"Just as each thread is important in a tapestry, each person is important in a workcamp," said an announcement from the workcamp staff. "This summer we will work side by side, giving and receiving; revealing a God already present in the world. Come discover the importance of each thread of the tapestry, bound together and finely woven as the community of all God's children."

Workcamp registration begins online at 8 p.m. central time on Jan. 5, 2009. Go to www.brethrenworkcamps.org for more information. For a brochure with a complete listing of the 2009 workcamp sites and dates contact Jeanne Davies, Meghan Horne, Bekah Houff, or Emily LaPrade in the workcamp office at cobworkcamps_gb@brethren.org or 800-323-8039.

Meghan Horne is one of the coordinators for the workcamp program, through Brethren Volunteer Service.

Source: 11/5/2008 Newsline

Ingold retires as director of buildings and grounds at church's General Offices.

Dave Ingold, director of buildings and grounds at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31. He has served in the position since 1981. He and his wife, Rose, who also works at the General Offices, plan to move to their farm in Missouri.

He has worked for the Church of the Brethren for a total of 28 years, beginning in Oct. 1980 as an engineer. He was promoted to his present position the next year. During his tenure, he has overseen several large capital improvement projects and efforts to "green" the General Offices facilities, most recently the replacement of the roof of the General Offices buildings, and replacement of aging air conditioning equipment with a new environmentally friendly and economical "chiller" system.

In previous positions, Ingold worked in the north African country of Niger with several service institutions including Lutheran World Relief and the International Red Cross. During his service there, the Niger government cited him for his unselfish work. The son of Church of the Brethren mission workers, he grew up on the mission field in Nigeria. He worked briefly for the Church of the Brethren mission in Nigeria training drivers for the Lafiya medical program.

Source: 11/5/2008 Newsline

Wittmeyer to serve as executive for Global Mission Partnerships.

Jay Wittmeyer has resigned as director of the Brethren Pension Plan and employee financial services for Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT), to accept the position of executive director of the Church of the Brethren's Global Mission Partnerships, effective Jan. 5, 2009.

Wittmeyer has served as director of the Brethren Pension Plan and employee financial services for BBT since Jan. 1. Prior to that, he served BBT for 14 months as manager of publications. He concludes his service with BBT on Dec. 31.

He brings a wide range of work experience to the executive position with Global Mission Partnerships, including experience working with Mennonite Central Committee in Nepal and Bangladesh, and as assistant director at the Lombard (Ill.) Mennonite Peace Center. Most notably, his background includes conflict management coaching and congregational mediations for churches and judicatories throughout the US.

Wittmeyer's educational background includes a master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Illinois, a master's degree in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University, and he is a certified teacher for grades 6-12. He and his family attend Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill.

Source: 11/5/2008 Newsline

Rodeffer is called as Brethren Benefit Trust's chief financial officer.

Jerry Rodeffer begins Nov. 19 as chief financial officer of Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. In this role, he will direct BBT's finance department and oversee management of BBT's eight national investment managers and the company's investment system that secures the assets of more than 400 Brethren Foundation clients and 4,300 Brethren Pension Plan members.

Rodeffer has held the position previously, when from Nov. 1990 to July 1994 he served as BBT's chief financial officer and treasurer. During his tenure as Brethren Foundation director, the organization grew to service 75 participating Church of the Brethren-affiliated members with assets of $26 million. Today the Foundation's assets exceed $120 million.

He has worked in banking or in private business for the past 14 years. He has served as a personal banker at Washington Mutual in Seattle, Wash., since June 2007. He also worked for Washington Mutual from Dec. 2002 to July 2004 as a loan officer. From 1994-2002, and again from 2004-07, he managed a multimillion dollar business that bred, developed, and marketed elite genetics from high-producing dairy cattle.

Rodeffer holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University and a master of Business Administration from the University of Washington. He is a member of Olympic View Church of the Brethren in Seattle.

Source: 11/5/2008 Newsline

Olson to serve as loan officer for Church of the Brethren Credit Union.

Jill Olson has been called to serve Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) in the newly created position of loan officer/office specialist for the Church of the Brethren Credit Union, effective Nov. 10. She and her family recently relocated to Illinois from Fishers, Ind.

She formerly worked as senior account manager for Wesleyan Investment Foundation, where she served on the firm's senior management team. In that role, she managed transactions and processes for savings/IRA accounts, developed policies and procedures, managed and audited accounts, managed databases, worked closely with the administration of loans, and was responsible for ACH transactions and deposits.

In her role with the Church of the Brethren Credit Union, she will serve as loan officer and will assist with customer service needs, support the director in the creation and implementation of policies and procedures, assist with administrative duties related to the Board of Directors, and work with product development, marketing, promotion, interpretation, and field-visit initiatives.

Source: 11/5/2008 Newsline

John Kline Homestead workcamp strengthens hearts and spirits.

Going to the John Kline Homestead was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We worked to renew the John Kline property for others who will visit the historic place in its 300th anniversary year.

Our theme for the week was "strengthen our hands," but it was more than just doing hard work for a good cause. Not only did we strengthen our hands, but I feel also our hearts and spirits. It's hard to believe we were able to be part of something that will forever be part of our Brethren history.

To sleep in the house Elder John Kline slept in, and to touch and feel things he actually used with his own hands, was something I'll never forget. Our group spent three days cleaning out the antiques in the horse barn. It was amazing to see these old and dusty things come to life. We saw medicine bottles Elder John Kline used as a doctor, a tanner's bench and shoe forms he used to make shoes, and a gorgeous blue glass coffee table we discovered after cleaning years of dust.

Before going on our trip, not many in our group knew who John Kline was. But through this experience we all learned how important he was. A person to look up to and aspire to be like. He gave so much of himself to help others without really getting much in return. Hopefully each of us who went can feel that we strengthened our hearts and spirits, so that we too can help others in the Brethren way that Elder John Kline did.

Stacy Stewart is a member of the youth group at Spring Run Church of the Brethren. This report first appeared in the Middle Pennsylvania District newsletter. To view a photographic tour of the John Kline Homestead go to www.brethren.org and click on "Photo Journal."

Source: 11/5/2008 Newsline

Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Nevin Dulabaum, Mary Jo Flory-Steury, Duane Grady, Mary K. Heatwole, Jon Kobel, Jane Yount, Karin Krog, Patrice Nightingale, Janis Pyle, Dale Ulrich, and John Wall contributed to this report.