Seven staff end their work on the Congregational Life Team.

The Congregational Life Team is being eliminated from the program of the Church of the Brethren, and the following staff are ending their service on the team, effective April 6. Elimination of the positions of Congregational Life Team members is happening because of the economic recession and the budget reduction put in place by the Mission and Ministry Board. Each person whose position is eliminated because of the budget reduction is receiving a three-month severance package of regular salary and benefits and outplacement services.

Stanley Dueck has been serving as a member of the team since June 14, 1999, when he was hired as Congregational Life Team staff for Area 1. He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. During his tenure with the team, Dueck has worked tirelessly as a strategic consultant for congregations, assisting them with vision and mission, reorganization, leadership development, and cultivating a healthy congregational environment. A strength of his work has been the ability to help congregations understand what is happening in the North American context through an evangelical Anabaptist perspective, and then to utilize that knowledge to connect to and express their faith history, journey, and mission. He also has served as a consultant for districts, camps, and not-for-profit entities related to the Church of the Brethren.

Jeff Glass began serving in a half-time position as Congregational Life Team coordinator for Area 5 on Jan. 1, 1998. He has been a part of the dispersed Congregational Life Team staff since its inception more than 10 years ago. He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. Glass’s work on the team has included an emphasis on the complex cultural shifts of today, and efforts to find ways to embody the good news of Jesus Christ in culturally relevant ways. He has helped to encourage and support the emergent church movement among the Brethren, with media ministry and digital communication as special interests. He has helped develop videos and digital presentations, has helped congregations build an Internet presence, and encouraged the church to make better use of technology. During his time on the team, he has worked to develop expertise in the Gallup Strengths rubric, and to further develop his skills for identifying and nurturing gifts through a doctor of ministry program.

Duane Grady has been a part of the dispersed Congregational Life Team staff since its inception. He began as half-time Congregational Life Team coordinator for Area 2 on Jan. 1, 1998, and later also took on the position of coordinator for Area 4. For some years, he concurrently served part-time in pastoral ministry in Indiana with his wife, Bev. He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. During his tenure with the team, Grady helped lead and shape the church’s cross cultural ministries emphasis, and coordinated the annual Cross Cultural Consultation and Celebration for several years, as well as several cross-cultural music tours by Brethren groups. He has incorporated into his work a commitment to expand the diversity of the church and has modeled in his personal and professional relationships a vision of the multicultural reality of God’s world. He also has filled an informal role as "team provocateur," asking tough questions and not settling for simple answers. He has applied a servant’s heart, missional passion, and immersion in scripture to the work of helping churches explore new ways of being in Christ, and has worked tirelessly to nurture healthy relationships between church leaders and congregations.

Steven W. Gregory began work part-time as Congregational Life Team staff for Area 5 on Jan. 1, 2000, at the same time serving part-time as district executive for Oregon and Washington District. He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. During his tenure, Gregory has worked at building relationships and developing leadership in Area 5. His personable nature, spiritual rootedness, and thoughtful engagement have defined his ministry. He has worked collaboratively with districts and staff colleagues to plan and promote learning events such as a recent racism awareness tour by the musical group "Best Friends." He has displayed skill in relating to people and congregations across the theological spectrum. Also, he has a strong interest in church planting, and has spent his sabbatical visiting new church plants in the Church of the Brethren, gathering their stories, and drawing wisdom from their experiences.

Janice Glass King has been a part of the dispersed Congregational Life Team staff since its inception. She began as part-time Congregational Life Team coordinator for Area 1 on Dec. 1, 1997. On Jan. 1, 1998, the position was increased to fulltime. She is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. During her tenure, King worked to support congregations and districts in the areas of Christian nurture, Christian education, women’s ministry, youth ministry, congregational consulting and resourcing, and leadership development. She served as liaison to the Association of the Arts in the Church of the Brethren, coordinated and oversaw completion of the Growing Faithful Disciples project, and served on the Advisory Board for "Giving Magazine" through the Ecumenical Stewardship Center. For a period of time, she also was part-time chaplain at the Village at Morrison’s Cove in Martinsburg, Pa., providing an opportunity to use her studies in gerontology. During her time with the team, she completed a Spiritual Formation program through Oasis Ministries and incorporated her learnings into her work. She has worked out of a deep spiritual center, applying artistic and organizational skills to all aspects of her ministry.

Carol E.O. Mason began as Congregational Life Team coordinator for Area 3 on Dec. 5, 2005. Prior to her service with the team, she also had served the Church of the Brethren as a mission worker in Nigeria. She is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. During her tenure with the team, Mason has applied her creativity, adaptability, and passion for the church and its mission to help congregations improve their Christian education programs, strengthen their evangelism and outreach, practice creative worship, and build healthy systems through Natural Church Development. She has served on a group working with the Gather ’Round curriculum and on the editorial group for "Seed Packet," the Church of the Brethren’s Christian education newsletter. She has been a frequent presenter at Annual Conference and other conferences. Her recognition of the relational culture of the Brethren has served her well in forming working relationships with congregations, districts, and her Church of the Brethren colleagues.

Carol L. Yeazell has been a part of the dispersed Congregational Life Team staff since its inception. Her service with the team started on Jan. 15, 1998, when she began a dual position as part-time Congregational Life Team staff for Area 3 and part-time district executive for Atlantic Southeast District. For seven months in 2005 she served as coordinator for Area 3, and from Jan. 2007-July 2008 was interim director of the Congregational Life Team. She is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. Yeazell’s commitment to prayer and healing, coupled with her organizational and leadership skills, have contributed to working with congregations in transition. During her tenure, she has cultivated the cross-cultural ministry of the denomination, using her bilingual skills in Spanish and English. She has served as liaison to the Hispanic communities in the US and Puerto Rico, where she also has worked with theological education, and has a passion for ministry in the Haitian community. Her passion for church planting has included a successful effort to help plant an intercultural church in Hendersonville, N.C., supporting this initiative along with her husband, Gene. The couple also operate a retreat/Sabbath house for those who need refreshment in body, mind, and spirit.

Ruben Deoleo’s half-time service as a Congregational Life Team member ends April 6, but he continues on the Church of the Brethren staff in a newly expanded fulltime position as director of Intercultural Ministry in the Congregational Life Ministries area. He began serving as Congregational Life Team staff for Area 2 and for Intercultural Ministries on Nov. 12, 2007.

Source: 3/25/2009 Newsline