Brethren bits
- Remembrance: Teresa Anne "Terri" Meushaw, 62,
died on Dec. 17 after a long battle with cancer. (The story of her
struggle with cancer is told in an online journal, find it at www.caringbridge.org/visit/terrimeushaw
.) She had retired as administrative assistant for the Church of the
Brethren’s Mid-Atlantic District. She was a long-time presence at the
Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., having also been a part of
SERRV, a former administrative assistant to Miller Davis when he was
director of the center, and director of the New Windsor Conference
Center. Her memorial service will be held on her birthday, Dec. 31, at
noon at Uniontown Bible Church in Union Bridge, Md. Memorial
contributions are received to Uniontown Bible Church in support of
missions. “Please keep Terri’s husband Bill and her children in your
prayers,” said a prayer concern from the district.
- The Church of the Brethren seeks a coordinator of Workcamps and Volunteer Recruitment.
This full-time salaried position located at the General Offices in
Elgin, Ill., provides oversight and administration of youth and young
adult workcamps and supports recruitment of volunteers for Brethren
Volunteer Service. Applicants will need the following: Experience in
leadership during workcamps or mission trips; experience working with
youth; strong interpersonal skills and an ability to take initiative
without regular supervision; experience working in a team; excellent
ability in organizational skills; demonstrated ability in communication
skills (verbal and written); demonstrated ability in providing
faith/spiritual leadership in group settings; experience in word
processing, database, and spreadsheet software. In addition the
candidate will be well-grounded in Church of the Brethren heritage,
theology, and practices, and be able to articulate and operate out of
the vision of the Mission and Ministry Board of the Church of the
Brethren. Recruitment experience in a college or equivalent volunteer
service setting preferred. Understanding of managing a budget required.
Experience managing a budget preferred. Willingness to travel
extensively is required. A bachelor’s degree is expected, with a
master’s degree or equivalent work experience helpful but not required.
Request an application packet and full job description by contacting
Director of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave.,
Elgin, IL 60120; mjflorysteury@brethren.org.
- The Church of the Brethren seeks a manager to fill a three-quarter time salaried position with benefits to provide oversight and administration of the Global Food Crisis Fund and the Emerging Global Mission Fund.
This includes fundraising, grant making, and education and support of
the Church of the Brethren regarding hunger issues. A bachelor’s degree
is required, a master’s degree or equivalent experience is preferred in
sustainable agriculture, economic development, community development, or
a related field. Requirements also include strong interpersonal skills;
ability to take initiative without regular supervision; strong verbal
and written communication skills; willingness to travel; experience in
word processing, database, and spreadsheet software; and understanding
of budget management, with experience with grant management preferred.
Knowledge of Church of the Brethren heritage, theology, and polity
strongly preferred. Request an application packet and full job
description by contacting Director of Human Resources, Church of the
Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; mjflorysteury@brethren.org.
- The Church of the Brethren seeks a program assistant in Human Resources,
a part-time hourly position located at the General Offices in Elgin,
Ill. The program assistant will facilitate human resources activities
such as employment, compensation, labor relations, benefits, training,
and employee services. Requirements include an associate’s degree, with a
bachelor’s degree strongly preferred; two to four years generalist
experience and/or training in the Human Resources field, business, or
equivalent combination of education and experience; knowledge of the ADP
Workforce Now human resource and payroll system a plus. Request an
application packet and full job description by contacting Director of
Human Resources, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL
60120; mjflorysteury@brethren.org.
- The World Council of Churches (WCC) has publicized vacancy notices for four positions: Manager Income Monitoring and Development (deadline for receiving applications is Jan. 25, 2012); Associate General Secretary for Programmes Public Witness and Diakonia to
set strategic directions for the WCC’s programmatic work in the area of
Public Witness and Diakonia (deadline for receiving applications is
Jan. 25, 2012); Programme Executive for Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation to
facilitate reflection and action on dialogue and cooperation with other
religions, especially in relation to East Asian religions (deadline for
receiving applications is Jan. 10, 2012); and EAPPI Communications Officer.
The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)
is a program of the WCC that brings internationals to the West Bank to
experience life under occupation. Ecumenical Accompaniers provide
protective presence to vulnerable communities, monitor and report human
rights abuses, and support Palestinians and Israelis working together
for peace and for a just and peaceful resolution to the
Israeli/Palestinian conflict through an end to the occupation, respect
for international law, and implementation of UN resolutions (deadline
for receiving applications is Jan. 16, 2012). Vacancy notices are at www.oikoumene.org/en/who-are-we/vacancy-notices.html . Applicants should apply online to HRO@wcc-coe.org within the planned time frames.
- Applications for the Church of the Brethren’s Youth Peace Travel Team for
summer 2012 are due Jan. 13. Each year four young adults ages 18-23
spend the summer visiting Brethren camps and conferences to educate
youth about Christian peacemaking, with sponsorship from the Youth and
Young Adult ministry, On Earth Peace, the Outdoor Ministries
Association, Brethren Volunteer Service, and Global Mission and Service.
Find information and application form at www.brethren.org/yya/peaceteam.html.
- Also due Jan. 13 are applications for Ministry Summer Service 2012.
MSS is a leadership development program for college students in the
Church of the Brethren who spend 10 weeks of the summer working in the
church either in a local congregation, district office, camp, or
denominational program. The 2012 orientation is June 1-6. For more about
the program go to www.brethren.org/yya/mss.
- A number of online registration opportunities begin in the next few days:
- Jan. 2 is the opening date for early registration for congregational delegates to the 2012 Annual Conference in St. Louis, Mo. Registration opens at noon (central time) on Jan. 2 at www.brethren.org/ac. The early registration fee is $285 per delegate. The fee increases to
$310 on Feb. 23. Congregations will be able to register their delegates
online and will be able to pay either by credit card or by sending a
check. A memo and registration form has been mailed to every
congregation. Nondelegate registration and housing reservations will
begin Feb. 22. Contact the Conference Office at annualconference@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 229.
- Jan. 6 is when online registration opens for National Young Adult Conference. Registration opens at 8 p.m. (central) on Jan. 6 at www.brethren.org/yac. The conference is June 18-22 at the University of Tennessee,
Knoxville, with the theme, "Humble Yet Bold: Being the Church" (Matthew
5:13-18). Go to the YAC web page above for more information about the
conference.
- Jan. 9 is the opening day of registration for the 2012 workcamps.
“Get ready, get set, and get registered!” says a reminder from the
Workcamp Office. “Can’t wait to see you this summer!” Workcamp
registration opens Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. (central). Go to www.brethren.org/workcamps to register. For questions, please contact Cat Gong or Rachel Witkovsky in the Workcamp Office by e-mail at cobworkcamps@brethren.org or by phone at 800-323-8039 ext. 283 or 301.
- A draft revision of “Ministerial Leadership Polity in the Church of the Brethren” as well as resources to help explain and interpret the paper are posted at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/polity-revision.html
. The revision will come to the Annual Conference for a first read in
2012, to be voted on in 2013. “Until Annual Conference approves a new
polity document on ministerial leadership, the Church of the Brethren
follows polity laid out in the paper on Ministerial Leadership adopted
by Annual Conference in 1999,” explains an introductory note from the
Ministry Office. “Calling and sustaining leadership for the church are
the responsibilities of the whole church. Individuals, congregations,
districts and the denomination work together to call forth leaders for
our life together. Our hope in making this draft widely available is
that we might read, study, and consider all that it includes--together.”
Plans are for each district to host a listening and information session
for its District Ministry Commission, facilitated by Office of Ministry
staff and representatives to the Ministry Advisory Council, in the
early months of 2012. Available at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/polity-revision.html are the draft revision, timeline, and responses to frequently asked questions.
- “Benign Neglect Imperils Children after a Disaster” is the title of an article contributed by Judy Bezon,
associate director of the Church of the Brethren’s Children’s Disaster
Services, to the “The Dialogue,” a journal published by the Disaster
Technical Assistance Center of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA). The journal provides information and
resources to disaster behavioral health professionals. Find the article
at www.samhsa.gov/dtac/dialogue/Dialogue_vol8_issue2.pdf.
- The Brethren Historical Library and Archives has
acquired a historic chest originally belonging to the Kurtz family. The
chest reportedly was brought over to the US from Europe in 1817 by Henry Kurtz (1796-1874),
first Brethren publisher (“Monthly Gospel-Visiter”). Measuring two feet
by two feet by 55 inches, made of wood with metal fastenings and
handles, the chest stayed in the family long after the death of Henry
Kurtz. It was donated to the archives at the Church of the Brethren
General Offices in Elgin, Ill., by Edward and Mary Jane Todd of
Columbiana, Ohio, members of Zion Hill Church of the Brethren. The chest
is a companion piece to a pipe organ (1698) brought over to America by
Henry Kurtz in 1817. For a “Hidden Gems” page about Henry Kurtz go to www.brethren.org/bhla/hiddengems.html.
- The Third Peace Gathering of the Historic Peace Churches in Florida will
be held Jan. 28, 2012, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. hosted by Sebring Church
of the Brethren. The $20 registration fee includes lunch and snacks. A
special peace testimony will be given by Enten Eller, former draft
resister and now staff at Bethany Theological Seminary, who also will
lead a morning workshop on “Social Networking and Electronic
Communications for Peace.” Other workshops will address praying for
peace, peace education, witnessing to lawmakers, and more. Contact Phil
Lersch, facilitator of the coordinating committee, at 727-544-2911 or phillersch@verizon.net .
- Emmert F. Bittinger’s book, “Allegheny Passage:
Churches and Families of the West Marva District of the Church of the
Brethren, 1752-1990,” is being reprinted and will be made available in
early 2012 by West Marva District. The book had been out of print for
some years. A group from West Marva, working with the Bittinger family,
facilitated the reprinting. A pre-publication discount price of $64.95
(plus $6 shipping and handling per copy by mail) is available for those
purchasing the book by Dec. 31. After the first of the year, the cost
will be $79.95 plus shipping and handling. Contact West Marva District
Office, 384 Dennett Rd., Oakland MD 21550.
- The Milestones in Ministry dinner was again a part of the Shenandoah District Conference this
year. Twenty-eight ministers were recognized for years of service since
ordination: Fred Bowman and Emerson Fike, 65 years; Bob McFadden, 60
years; Dee Flory, David Rittenhouse, and Albert Sauls, 55 years; Auburn
Boyers and Fred Swartz, 50 years; J.D. Glick, 45 years; Ed Carl and John
Foster, 40 years; Sam Sligar, 35 years; JuliAnne Bowser Sloughfy, Don
Curry, and Bruce Noffsinger, 30 years; Jim Jinks and Elaine Hartman
McGann, 25 years; Bill Abshire, Shelvie Mantz, Julian Rittenhouse, and
George Yocum, 20 years; George Bowers, Walt Crull, Bill Fitchett, and
Don Guthrie, 15 years; Gary Major, Daryl Ritchie, and Glenn Shifflett, 5
years.
- At least two other districts also honored ministers for terms of service: Virlina District Conference honored L. Clyde Carter Jr. for 50 years of service. Atlantic Southeast District Conference recognized
the following ministers: Steve Horrell and Jaime Diaz, 5 years; Jimmy
Baker, 20 years; Jerry Hartwell and Benjamin Perez, 35 years; Terry
Hatfield, 40 years; Wendell Bohrer and Merle Crouse, 55 years. Also,
Berwyn Oltman received the Gemmer Peace Award at the Atlantic Southeast
District Conference.
- Feb. 3, 2012, is the Annual Dinner and Meeting of the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center in
Harrisonburg, Va. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Shady Oak beside
Weavers Mennonite Church. In addition to food prepared by the Rhodes
Sisters and provided by a generous donor, guests will see a preview of
the play, "Jordan's Stormy Banks."
- The December edition of "Brethren Voices," the community television program produced by Portland's Peace Church of the Brethren, features the Intentional Community Houses of Brethren Volunteer Service.
Since 2009, BVS has created Intentional Community Houses in Elgin,
Ill.; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Portland, Ore. These projects offer
volunteers a community living experience and the opportunity to
volunteer with local organizations serving the needs of the nearby
community, along with relationship to a local congregation. This edition
of “Brethren Voices,” hosted by Brent Carlson, features five volunteers
who have been the first to serve in the Portland project. Members of
the congregation provide insight into how a small church was able to
bring this into reality as part of its ministry. The January 2012
“Brethren Voices” features 2012 Annual Conference moderator Tim Harvey of
Roanoke, Va. “Brethren Voices” is offered as community television
resource and isbeing used by some congregations as a resource for Sunday
school classes. Contact Ed Groff at Groffprod1@msn.com for more information.
- A children’s book by Jan West Schrock, daughter of Heifer International founder Dan West, has been made into a play. Schrock reports, “My little children’s book, ‘Give A Goat,’
is featured in the Dec. 2011 ‘Library Sparks’ magazine. It has become a
play in the Reader’s Theater for children Grades 3-5.” Find an
interview with Schrock at www.librarysparks.com , click on “Meet the Author.”
- Two Church of the Brethren members have
co-authored “Beneath the Tip of the Iceberg: Improving English and
Understanding US Cultural Patterns” (Univ. of Michigan Press, Ann
Arbor). Darla K. Bowman Deardorff of Peace Covenant
Church of the Brethren in Durham, N.C., is executive director of the
association of International Education Administrators based at Duke
University where she also teaches cross-cultural courses, and on the
faculty at North Carolina State University and the University of N.
Carolina, Chapel Hill. Kay M. Bowman of Bridgewater
(Va.) Church of the Brethren is a retired minister’s wife, speaker,
author, and writer for more than 50 years. Their book introduces
students who are new to the US to deeper levels of American culture in
order to help improve their interactions with others in their
communities.
Source:12/29/2011 Newsline
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