Planners refine process, goals for ecclesiology consultation.

A unique group of high-level Church of the Brethren leaders met May 12-13 at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., for a thoughtful and, at moments, passionate planning session for a denomination-wide consultation on ecclesiology, or the nature of the church. The broad intent of the work is to help bring about a renewal of the church. The consultation was initiated in 2003 with a statement from the district executives identifying fragmentation in the denomination and calling for conversation "concerning who, whose, and what we are."

The planning group, a gathering of church leaders that may not occur in any other setting, includes district executives and representatives of Annual Conference and Conference agencies, and is not consistently the same group of individuals. This was the third meeting for the group, which wrestled with practical matters such as how to ensure participation by the diversity of the denomination, how to identify an evocative theme, how to acquire funding, how to train facilitators for the discussion, and how to structure a launch event for the consultation.

The group is requesting of the Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee that the launch event be a day at the 2006 Conference in which ordinary business is set aside. Conference was identified as a forum to ensure as broad a representation of the denomination as possible. If the request for Conference time cannot be met, a separate launch event will be held. The process will continue with regional events and a culminating celebration in 2007. A key component will be a study guide, prepared for the launch event and then made available to the denomination. Districts will be invited to use the consultation theme for their 2006 conferences.

Ron and Harriet Finney agreed to be volunteer coordinators for the regional events and for a training event for those who will facilitate the discussions. The Finneys are retired from leadership in South/Central Indiana District and Harriet was moderator of the 2003 Conference.

At the meeting, discussion came to focus on a spiritually searching question, What is God's yearning for the Church of the Brethren? "It's an imperative conversation," said Jonathan Shively, director of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, who also called the consultation "risky" for church leaders who in initiating it, must be ready and willing to lead based on their findings. Brethren Press publisher Wendy McFadden characterized the consultation as exercise for the church's "muscles of conversation," a way of practicing on more fundamental issues now in order to be prepared to take on more difficult questions in the future.

"We want everybody to be part of the conversation," said Southern Ohio district executive Mark Flory Steury, who chairs the group, during a sometimes heated discussion of how to represent the diversity of the denomination. Related worries for the group were that Brethren may not share their excitement for the conversation, that the consultation be a constructive dialogue rather than a forum for polarizing issues, and that it result in renewal and change.

Shively's question, "Who is listening?" prompted the group to discuss the possibility of naming a "listening team" with responsibility to listen to and reflect on responses that are generated. Responses already have been solicited from diverse groups such as the Brethren Revival Fellowship, Womaen's Caucus, and the Brethren and Mennonite Council for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns.

"People have been in prayer for so long in so many ways for the church. I believe this is part of the answer," said Ron Finney. "We're going to do something and put it into God's hands."

At this meeting, Mark Flory Steury, Virlina District executive minister David Shumate, and the Finneys represented the districts; Annual Conference was represented by secretary Fred Swartz; the Association of Brethren Caregivers was represented by executive director Kathy Reid; Matt Guynn, peace witness program coordinator, represented On Earth Peace; academic dean Stephen Reid and faculty Jeff Bach and Dena Pence Frantz represented Bethany Theological Seminary; Jonathan Shively attended from the Brethren Academy; and Stan Noffsinger, general secretary, and staff Wendy McFadden, Mary Jo Flory Steury, Julie Hostetter, and Del Keeney represented the General Board.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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On Earth Peace builds on 30 years of peacemaking.

The year 2004 marks the 30th anniversary of On Earth Peace. In 1974, M.R. Zigler gathered a group of peacemakers at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., because of his belief that the church needed a hands-on organization to teach people about biblical peacemaking, conscientious objection to war, and faithfully living the words of the Gospel.

Since that day, many people have helped to carry out Zigler's vision to make the Church of the Brethren a Living Peace Church, and have provided leadership and programming for thousands of youth and adults to learn how to live and work as Christian peacemakers. On Earth Peace will celebrate these 30 years of empowering people to discern "the things that make for peace" at various regional weekends and at the 2004 Annual Conference.

Each event will feature music from the JOYA (Journey of Young Adults) quartet of LuAnne Harley, Shawn Kirchner, Brian Kruschwitz, and Barb Sayler, which first gathered in 1994 while in Brethren Volunteer Service. At Conference this year, JOYA will be featured at the On Earth Peace breakfast July 6. At each regional weekend, JOYA will provide concerts and worship leadership. At the regional events a "Conflict Transformation for Congregational Leaders" workshop will be provided. Workshop topics include understanding conflict dynamics, centered speaking and listening, transformation in a conflict setting, being a "non-anxious presence," and handling power in leadership roles. Workshop registration is $40, pastors will be eligible to receive 0.6 continuing education units. For more information about the workshops, contact Annie Clark at 260-982-8595 or e-mail annieclark@mchsi.com.

The first regional celebration of the On Earth Peace anniversary will be held in the Great Lakes area of northern Indiana and southern Ohio, June 11-13. There will be JOYA concerts at Trotwood (Ohio) Church of the Brethren June 11 and at Bethany Church of the Brethren, New Paris, Ind., June 12. On June 13, JOYA will provide worship leadership at Manchester Church of the Brethren, North Manchester, Ind. On June 12 at the Bethany congregation, two workshops will be offered: "Conflict Transformation for Congregational Leaders" 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and "Peacemaking in the Family" 1:30-4:30 p.m., for parents and children above age three, led by Judy Myers-Walls. For more details on any of these events, visit www.brethren.org/oepa/30thAnniversary.html or call On Earth Peace at 410-635-8704.

Other regional celebrations will be held Aug. 13-15 in the Mid-Atlantic Region at the Brethren Service Center and Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren; Nov. 12-14 in the Plains Region at First Central Church of the Brethren, Kansas City, Kan., McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren, and Wichita (Kan.) Church of the Brethren; and March 4-6, 2005, in the Pacific Southwest Region at Modesto (Calif.) Church of the Brethren and La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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BBT reviews accomplishments in Socially Responsible Investing.

In April the Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) Board of Directors reviewed accomplishments of the organization's Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) program. The SRI program is three-pronged, with a first component to screen potential investments according to guidelines consistent with Annual Conference statements, a second component of activism through shareholder actions, and a third component of community development through investments.

Each BBT investment fund manager follows screening guidelines to invest in companies whose activities "support the creation and maintenance of a society consistent with the policy statements of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference," according to BBT. Guidelines exclude stock or bond investments in organizations that generate significant revenue from gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or defense contracts. This excludes about 60 of the S&P 500 companies, said Nevin Dulabaum, director of Communications and Information Services.

BBT investors and pension holders need not worry about losing potential returns because of such screening practices, Dulabaum said. Over the past ten years, BBT funds generated returns on par with those of major market benchmarks. "This means that our investors gave up nothing to the markets in order to invest in a socially responsible manner," said Will Thomas, director of Foundation Operations.

Most SRI activity focuses on the second component, shareholder actions. BBT has been lead filer of three shareholder initiatives in 2003-2004: YUM! Brands was asked to adopt a smoke-free policy in company-owned restaurants; Caterpillar was asked to report on the impact HIV/AIDS will have on its African operations and on the company's response to the pandemic; and Xcel Energy was asked to report on efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Boston Common Asset Management, a BBT investment manager, also pursued other initiatives using BBT shares to gain access. In response to a resolution from BBT, Burlington Resources adopted a policy on dealing with indigenous peoples in areas where the company proposes to extract natural resources and BBT is working with the company to make the policy more responsive to the concerns of local people. For more than 20 years, Union Carbide and later Dow Chemical have faced significant claims arising from the gas leak in Bhopal, India, and BBT has filed a resolution with Dow requesting a report on how settling the claims will affect the company. BBT also was a co-filer in a successful effort asking Procter & Gamble to include a fair-trade coffee product in its offerings. The company now offers fair-trade coffee through its Millstone brand.

Other such issues tackled by BBT include human rights policy at Occidental Petroleum, labor rights at Exxon Mobil, greenhouse gas emissions at Apache Corporation, environmental disclosure and other issues at Newmont Mining Corporation, instruments containing mercury at McKesson Medical, HIV/AIDS reporting at American International, marketing of violent video games to children by Target Corporation, extractive industries review recommendations at the World Bank, and licensing of HIV/AIDS drugs by GlaxoSmithKline.

A third component in the SRI ministry, the Community Development Investment Fund, has been available to pension members and foundation clients for a year. These investments are placed with nonprofit lenders and are used to finance affordable homes and small businesses and to help fund agencies working directly with disadvantaged populations and communities.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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General Board renews emphasis on stewardship.

The General Board is renewing its emphasis on stewardship at a time when the national trend may be for more giving to churches and nonprofits, according to a new study by the Barna Group. Increases in giving by individuals have not, however, quite made up for a subtle, long-term decline in congregational giving to the core ministries of the board, according to Ken Neher, director of the board's Funding and Donor Development.

The new stewardship emphasis is an attempt "to help the denomination become financially healthy at all levels," reported Carol Bowman, stewardship development counselor for the board and Congregational Life Team staff for Area 5, in a phone interview that included Neher. Stewardship is not just about fulfilling budgets but is "a foundational faith issue" for Bowman, who is concerned that the Church of the Brethren has not thoroughly educated for stewardship in recent years. "We've often left giving up to conscience, which I think is fundamentally a good thing," she said, "but what we don't do is challenge people at the outset of their faith commitment that it's a life commitment, and giving is a huge part of your faith."

"I've been calling stewardship a priority issue" in a culture of "misguided" priorities, Neher said, listing stewardship concerns that go far beyond the financial choices of individuals. He gave the examples of a US lifestyle of waste and the assumption of personal entitlement, as well as thoughtlessness about how lavish lifestyles affect neighbors around the world. In order to be faithful stewards, the Brethren have to exhibit a "radical counter-culturalness to live what Jesus taught," he said, "and that's not easy."

The call to radical discipleship echoed a recent discussion with Church of the Brethren young adults in which Bowman said she was challenged to present stewardship as a counter-cultural activity of the church. Young adults voice these concerns more than their elders, she said. She sees hope for the church in a new generation who want to live as disciples of Christ.

The two board staff also emphasized that costs for keeping the ministries of the church going—such as health insurance—continue to rise and "put the squeeze on" all ministry priorities, in Neher's words. Both understand rising costs as a problem for congregations and districts as well as for the board and other Annual Conference agencies.

Work has already begun on developing a closer relationship with congregations and districts in regard to stewardship. More than 100 congregations have responded to a survey sent out in April, seeking information about how the board "can better help congregations in growing generous disciples." In addition, Outreach Planning Packets will be provided to districts by the Conference agencies, including information about agency ministries as well as other district and camp ministries. The packets will be passed on to congregations for their use. In mid-July, congregations also will receive a Stewardship Resource Packet containing "Giving" magazine and other resources for year-long stewardship education. "Untamed Stewardship" will be the theme for the Congregational Life Ministries dinner at Annual Conference July 5 with speaker Ed Taylor, director of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center.

For more information about the new stewardship emphasis, contact Carol Bowman at 509-663-2833 or e-mail cbowman_gb@brethren.org.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Church planting event develops 'deep roots, strong wings.'

"Deep roots, strong wings"—the phrase formed a repeating chorus in a song composed by Jonathan Shively and Tara Hornbacker for this year's Church of the Brethren church planting training event. The event itself, sponsored by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and held May 17-21 at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., also echoed the themes: being rooted in heritage while unafraid to soar into new horizons and possibilities. About 85 people attended the conference, the second to be hosted by the Brethren Academy.

Jay Steele, a member of the General Board's New Church Development Advisory Committee, opened the week with a keynote worship message. Steele asked rhetorically whether it mattered for new congregations to be distinctly Brethren. "Spirituality is a 21st-century term for pietism," Steele said. "The pietist movement has been reborn. People want it, and we have what they want." Steele also heralded the Brethren qualities of peacemaking, community, and service as being particularly relevant for today's world. "I just passionately believe that we have a unique message that speaks to some people and is needed," he added, "one that people are looking for."

Bethany dean Steve Reid picked up on the Brethren angle the following night, preaching from the book of Ezekiel. Reid lifted up the need to confront the "brutal facts" facing the denomination while never losing hope because "God is not done with us." Other featured speakers included Bob Logan of Coach Net Inc., Jeff Wright of the Center for Anabaptist Leadership, and Nadine Burton, who works with new church leader development in Indianapolis.

The week also included "house church" worship services, workshops, stories of Brethren church plants, presentation of an upcoming new church development manual, opportunities for spiritual direction, and group discussion.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Spiritual Directors' Network holds retreat.

Twenty people from the Church of the Brethren Spiritual Directors' Network met May 16-18 at Shepherd's Spring Center near Sharpsburg, Md., for a third annual retreat. Tilden Edwards, founder and senior fellow of Shalem Institute, Bethesda, Md., was the keynote leader.

Edwards spoke about the importance of regular Sabbath time to nurture the spirit and said, "In Sabbath time, we get a 'whiff' of the Kingdom of God." He is the author of numerous books including "Sabbath Time, Living in the Presence" and "Spiritual Director, Spiritual Companion," and spoke at last year's Caring Ministries conference sponsored by the Association of Brethren Caregivers.

Participants also spent time in silent prayer and discussed how the network can better serve the needs of congregations, districts, pastors, and laypeople. The network is guided by an advisory committee of Glenn Mitchell, Helen Beery, Ed Poling, and General Board staff Chris Douglas, and is a ministry of the board's Congregational Life Ministries.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Brethren bits: remembrance, personnel, and more.

• Gwen Bobb, an employee at the Church of the Brethren general offices in Elgin, Ill., for 20 years 1959-79, died May 27 at Pinecrest Community in Mount Morris, Ill. She worked as administrative assistant for the Ministry and Home Missions Commission and later for the General Services Commission of the General Board. She completed her employment with the board as coordinator of historical resources. Bobb was a key person behind the restoration of the Kurtz organ and the acquisition of many items of historical interest for the Brethren Historical Library and Archives. After retirement, she still had a desk at the general offices as a volunteer for the Fellowship of Brethren Genealogists, serving as president of the group and producing the organization's newsletter.
  
  
• Brethren Benefit Trust announces the hiring of Lauryn Estes as coordinator of office, production, and information services in its Communications and Information Services Department, effective June 1. Estes was previously employed in the General Board's Brethren Witness program and in Brethren Press, and has worked in a temporary position for the Annual Conference office since February this year.
  
  
• The Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the General Board is acknowledging the service of Bryan Hissong, who completed his term as a Brethren Volunteer Service worker May 28. While working as a legislative associate for the past 18 months, Hissong did extensive research and development around issues of the environment, nuclear energy, and the war in Iraq. He provided leadership at numerous conferences and workshops and assisted groups and individuals in political advocacy work in Washington, D.C. He also helped bridge the transition from one director of the office to another.
  
  
• The 2004 series of Church of the Brethren workcamps for junior and senior highs and young adults began with a May 28-June 10 trip to the Taize community in France and the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. Leaders are Beth Rhodes and Cindy Laprade, co-coordinators of this year's workcamp program. Crystal Waggy, of Rock Run Church of the Brethren, Goshen, Ind., and a student at Manchester College, is assistant coordinator.
  
  
• Flash floods and mud slides on the border of the Dominican Republic and Haiti May 24 have not directly affected Church of the Brethren congregations on the Caribbean island, reported Irv and Nancy Heishman, the General Board's mission coordinators in the DR. Up to 1,000 people may have perished in floods that hit in the middle of the night while most were sleeping, the Heishmans said. "Fortunately, all of our Dominican Brethren were out of harm's way during this intense three-day storm," they said. "However, the Dominican Brethren have caught the Brethren spirit of disaster relief and will likely organize a response effort in the weeks to come."
  
  
• After a week of turbulent weather across the US, with devastating storms, and floods in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, district disaster coordinators are on the alert for ways Brethren can help reports Jane Yount of the General Board's Emergency Response program. A Disaster Child Care team was dispatched to Hallam, Neb., a small town that was nearly obliterated by a tornado, Yount reported.
  
  
• "Celebrating Possibilities: Hope for Our Congregation" is a mini-conference especially for small membership and rural congregations in Michigan, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 26 at Midland Church of the Brethren. The conference is sponsored by the Small Membership/Rural Church Leadership Team and is the third in a series of mini-conferences. A suggested donation of $20 will help cover costs. For more information contact Don Willoughby at 231-362-3345 or e-mail donmar@kaltelnet.net.
  
  
• "Enriching Worship Music" was the theme for a series of events in Shenandoah District April 16-18. Shawn Kirchner, musician and worship leader from La Verne, Calif., was the guest leader. Pastors, church musicians, and others interested in worship gathered at Harrisonburg (Va.) First Church of the Brethren for a session on "Choosing and Using Music to Create Meaningful Worship Experiences in These Changing Times." A hands-on workshop for church musicians, "Theory and Practice," was held at the piano lab at Eastern Mennonite University. Worship services featured Kirchner's music at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren, Front Royal (Va.) Church of the Brethren, and Sunrise Fellowship in Harrisonburg. A total of 205 people from three districts participated. The series was coordinated and sponsored by Shenandoah's nurture commission and the General Board's Congregational Life Team Area 3.
  
  
• Faculty and staff of Manchester College, a Church of the Brethren school in North Manchester, Ind., are donating an estimated 9,000 textbooks to help a fledgling Philadelphia community college for Hispanics build its library. The texts cover subjects ranging from science and education to computers, writing, languages, and math. The collection--including cataloging the texts--is a project of the first graduating class of Manchester's newest degree program, Master of Arts in Contemporary Leadership. The texts will travel this summer to Nueva Esperanza Center for Higher Education of Eastern University.
  
  
• Fourteen young adults from across the country spent Memorial Day weekend at Camp Emmaus in Mount Morris, Ill., at a "Raise Your Voice" retreat offered by the New Community Project, a Brethren-related nonprofit organization. The event was a leadership development experience to equip young adults for advocacy within and beyond the church on issues of justice and care for the earth. Leadership was provided by Don Vermilyea, Brethren Volunteer Service worker who is doing a Walk Across America; David Radcliff, New Community Project director; and Brethren musician Joseph Helfrich. The Ecumenical Eco-Justice Network was a co-sponsor, and funds for participants' travel were provided by Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and Modesto (Calif.) Church of the Brethren. For more information call 888-800-2985 or e-mail dradcliff@newcommunityproject.org.
  
  
• Applications for a Young Adult Stewards Program at the National Council of Churches (NCC) General Assembly 2004, to be held Nov. 9-11 in St. Louis, Mo., are available from the General Board's Youth and Young Adult Office. Call 800-323-8039 ext. 297 or e-mail cdouglas_gb@brethren.org. The assembly will gather delegates from 36 Christian denominations for business, worship, and fellowship. Stewards ages 18-30 will help provide hospitality and help staff the assembly. Stewards also will have opportunities to network with other young adults, join in worship, and interact with national Christian leaders. Expenses, except for personal expenses, will be covered by the NCC. Completed applications are due Aug. 2.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Annual Conference Council issues invitation to conversation hour.

The Annual Conference Council invites all interested persons to an hour of conversation with members of the Council at the 2004 Annual Conference in Charleston, W.Va. The dialogue will take place 9-10 p.m. Sunday, July 4, at the Marriott Town Place Hotel.

The Council wishes to have an initial conversation to facilitate discussion of broad theological and structural questions raised in the query to the 2003 Annual Conference entitled "Query for Clarification of Confusion." The Council has determined that responses to these questions need as wide a discussion as possible from across the denomination, according to a release from Lerry Fogle, executive director of the Conference.

Issues in the query that remain to be addressed include the relationship of set-apart leadership to the Brethren belief in the "ministry of all believers," and understandings and inconsistencies in the call and administration of licensed and ordained ministers. The conversation will be helpful to the Council and other leadership groups in the church as the issues of licensing and ordination of ministers are considered in the future, the release said.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Yum! shareholders' meeting hardly yummy.

At least 30 armed police officers and other plain clothes security personnel were directing motor and foot traffic. To enter the building, all visitors had to be pre-registered, sign in, and get temporary badges. Guests were herded through a metal detector where all sharp objects, weapons, cell phones, and cameras were confiscated.

A White House state visit? Hardly. It was the 2004 annual shareholders' meeting of Yum! Brands, parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's, A&W, and KFC, held May 20 in Louisville, Ky. Will Thomas and I were there to represent the $1.75 million Brethren Benefit Trust pensioners and Brethren Foundation asset management clients own in Yum! stock. For three years BBT has led a shareholder resolution asking Yum! to ban smoking in its corporate-owned restaurants.

Seems like a simple request. Taco Bell took that step several years ago when it was owned by Pepsi. KFC's European division has instituted such a policy. So have McDonalds and Wendys. Moreover, such a ban would remove the threat of costly tobacco-related lawsuits by employees or patrons and reduce health risks to everyone in the restaurants. Even some Yum! officials privately support BBT's resolution and voted for it as shareholders.

Nevertheless, at heart of the issue is control, which Yum! did everything in its power to maintain. Once shareholders passed through the metal detector, aisle controllers guided visitors down the hall. At the meeting, where chairman and chief executive officer David Novak took his seat on a small stage along with corporate secretary Chris Campbell, just off stage were two big men whose job it was to watch the shareholders--Yum! bouncers. Each shareholder resolution was limited to one speaker and three minutes. No additional dialogue was allowed. Each speaker, Will Thomas included, spoke into a cordless microphone firmly grasped with two hands by a Yum! employee.

Once voting concluded, the firm had no plan to announce preliminary results. A majority of shares are voted in advance through proxy statements, and so the outcome of the vote—but not the official vote percentages—is usually known at the start of each meeting. After pleas from several shareholders, the numbers were read with BBT's resolution receiving just over seven percent of the vote. Or did it? The Securities and Exchange Commission mandates that resolutions can return year after year only if they meet increasing percentage thresholds of the vote, not including abstentions. However, Will and other resolution presenters believe that the numbers presented by Yum! included abstentions which, if true, would reflect a much lower percentage of support. The true tally will be available July 1.

Why armed guards, metal detector, aisle controllers, bouncers, and limited shareholder interaction? One reason we were given is that some shareholder activists, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), have been known to become extremely disruptive during shareholder meetings. But having witnessed all of this control, I think Yum! does not want a single shareholder resolution to pass—even those that are just and right. One successful resolution could spawn new resolutions and soon Yum! could have shareholders caring about and participating in the company they own, leading the firm to adopt sensible social practices in addition to maintaining a strong balance sheet. What a concept!

—Nevin Dulabaum is director of Communications and Information Services for Brethren Benefit Trust.

Source: 6/04/2004 Newsline
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Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Chris Douglas, Nevin Dulabaum, Lerry Fogle, Julie Hostetter, Jeri S. Kornegay, Janis Pyle, Barbara Sayler, Will Thomas, and Walt Wiltschek contributed to this report.

Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.

NEWS

• Church membership shows largest decline in three years.
  
• Brethren leaders support ecumenical statements on Iraq, Middle East, Sudan.
  
• Bethany Seminary celebrates ninety-ninth commencement.
  
• Visit to Nigeria a profound experience for US delegation.
  
• Older adult unit begins term of service with BVS.
  
• Brethren bits: Mission nurse remembered, National Press Club, and more.

PERSONNEL

• Joe Buss leaves New Windsor Conference Center.

RESOURCES

• New gardening book published by Brethren Press.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW

• Conference-goers are invited to bring Gifts of the Heart.

Church membership shows largest decline in three years

Church of the Brethren membership showed its largest decline in three years in 2003, according to year-end figures in the Church of the Brethren Yearbook published by Brethren Press. The denomination had a net loss of 1,363 members last year, a decline of just over 1 percent.

Official Church of the Brethren membership in the US and Puerto Rico now stands at 132,481. The 2003 decline follows losses of 984 members in 2002, 1,051 in 2001, and 2,425 in 2000. The Church of the Brethren last showed an annual net gain in membership in 1974 (a small figure that some attribute to a statistical fluke), but the overall decline dates to the early 1960s.

Fifteen of the denomination's 23 districts reported net losses in membership, while eight were higher. Declines were more intense than increases, however, with six districts reporting triple-figure losses. West Marva District had the largest numerical and percentage net gain, up 154 members (2.66 percent). Shenandoah District had the second-largest numerical gain, adding 65 members, while Atlantic Southeast District--which had the largest decline a year earlier--recorded the second-largest percentage gain, up 1.7 percent (net gain of 33).

Atlantic Northeast District, the denomination's largest, had the greatest numerical net loss in 2003. The district reported a decrease of 442 members, a drop of about 2.85 percent. Idaho District, the smallest in the denomination, grew smaller with the biggest percentage decline at 11.8 percent (a net loss of 83 members). Shenandoah District remains the second largest in the Church of the Brethren, now with about 700 fewer members than Atlantic Northeast. Virlina, Western Pennsylvania, and Mid-Atlantic round out the top five, all with at least 10,000 members. By contrast, Idaho, Missouri/Arkansas, and Southern Plains each have fewer than 850 members.

The total number of Church of the Brethren congregations in the US and Puerto Rico also continued a downward trend, dropping from 1,032 to 1,025. A number of new churches were planted, but not enough to offset the number closing. The number of fellowships and projects remained steady, at 32 and 5, respectively. Total reported average worship attendance was down about 5,000 members from a year earlier, at 67,767 per week.

In some good news, total per-capita giving rose from $41 to $44 per person. Giving was up to all special-purpose funds and to all agencies except for gifts to the General Ministries Fund of the General Board, which fell about 4 percent.

Yearbook figures are based on data provided by congregations that turn in updated statistical reports; about 70 percent did so for 2002. The totals do not count overseas membership in the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and the large Ekklesiyar Yanuwa a Nigeria (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria)--which is now larger than the US church at about 150,000 members and growing.

The Church of the Brethren Yearbook will be sent before Annual Conference to all who have placed a standing order. To order, call 800-441-3712. It also will be sold at the Brethren Press bookstore at Annual Conference.

Brethren leaders support ecumenical statements on Iraq, Middle East, Sudan

Three ecumenical statements made in May have received support from Brethren leaders. The statements call attention to situations in Iraq, the Middle East, and Sudan.

A Pastoral Letter on Iraq from the National Council of Churches (NCC) was shared in a May 17 mailing from the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office, which encouraged congregations to read or share it during morning worship on Sunday May 23. The letter has received endorsement from Stan Noffsinger, general secretary, Church of the Brethren General Board.

Recognizing "the broad perspectives of many in the faith community in regards to war" and the stronger stance taken by the Church of the Brethren, the office called "the unified voice represented here as one vital, and needed, in such days as these." The Pastoral Letter is written "out of a deep love for this country, but also out of a profound concern at the direction this cycle of violence is taking us" and calls for a change of course in Iraq. The letter can be found at www.ncccusa.org/news/04iraqpastoralletter.html.

Jones added his signature to a letter from ecumenical leaders to US President Bush sent on May 7 and coordinated by Churches for Middle East Peace. The letter asked for understanding of "the crisis in the Holy Land confronting Christian Palestinians, Christian institutions, and those who wish to visit the birthplace of Christianity." Concerns regarded the effects of the separation barrier being constructed by Israel, taxation issues that may force some church institutions to close due to the removal of their longstanding tax-exempt status, and "the denial and delay of visas, by Israel, for clergy and church personnel result[ing] in understaffed seminaries, churches, hospitals, education and other institutions." Fifty Christian leaders signed the letter.

In another statement on an apparent attempt at ethnic cleansing in Sudan, the Executive Board of the NCC called attention to a genocide going on in Darfur that already has claimed tens of thousands of lives, a May 19 release said. The statement called on the government of Sudan to stop attacks against civilians and called on the US "to continue to press the Sudanese government to bring to a halt this unfolding horror and to support appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian, conflict resolution and peace enforcement efforts by the United Nations to these ends." The statement came after an April 23 observance of the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, sponsored by the NCC, at which speakers noted that the world is not stepping up effectively to stop the killing in Sudan.

"The Church of the Brethren would certainly echo this call of concern guided by the 1996 Annual Conference Statement on 'Nonviolence and Humanitarian Intervention,'" said Noffsinger.

Bethany Seminary celebrates ninety-ninth commencement

On Saturday May 8, Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Ind., celebrated her ninety-ninth commencement. Two observances marked the occasion: a ceremony for conferring degrees in Bethany's Nicarry Chapel, and a public worship celebration held in Stout Meetinghouse on the adjacent Earlham College campus.

John H. Gingrich, professor of Religion and Philosophy and dean emeritus at the University of La Verne, Calif., and chair of the Bethany Board of Trustees, gave an address at the conferring of degrees ceremony on the topic "High Hopes," based on a biblical text of Isaiah 65:17-25. Russell Haitch, Bethany's assistant professor of Christian Education and director of the Institute for Ministry with Youth and Young Adults, was the speaker for the afternoon worship service. His message, "You are the Light of the World," was based on Matthew 5:11-16.

Eleven students received Master of Divinity degrees, one with an Emphasis in Ministry with Youth and Young Adults. Six students received Master of Arts in Theology degrees, four with an emphasis in Peace Studies.Those who received degrees are:

Master of Divinity, with an emphasis in Ministry With Youth and Young Adults: Noel S. Naff, of Tryon, North Carolina.

Master of Divinity: Jeremy Ashworth, of Fort Wayne, Ind., with Distinction in Ministry Studies; B. Elizabeth Cox, of Waynesboro, Pa.; William House, of New Castle, Ind.; Paul Liepelt, of Madison, Conn.; Patricia L. Meeks, of Greenville, Ohio; Brian P. Messler, of Baltimore, Md.; Ever Mudambanuki, of Zimbabwe; Mbode Ndirmbita, of Nigeria; Andrew Sampson, of Forest, Ohio; and Richard Yeager-Stiver, of Marion, Ohio.

Master of Arts in Theology, with a Peace Studies Emphasis: Thomas Coursen, of Richmond, Ind.; Leslie Ann Billhimer Frye, of McPherson, Kan., with Distinction in Theological and Historical Studies and her thesis work; Mark Godfrey, of McPherson, Kan.; and Holly White, of North Hampton, Ohio, with Distinction in Theological and Historical Studies.

Master of Arts in Theology: Joshua Brockway, of North Canton, Ohio; Kathryn S. Eisenbise, of Elizabethtown, Pa., with Distinction in Biblical Languages.

Graduates' future endeavors include careers in pastoral and congregational ministry, teaching, and additional graduate study. Bethany Theological Seminary was founded in 1905 and is the graduate school and academy for theological education for the Church of the Brethren.

Visit to Nigeria a profound experience for US delegation

A small delegation of Church of the Brethren leaders visited Nigeria April 28-May 8. The group included Stan Noffsinger and was the first visit of a Church of the Brethren general secretary to Nigeria in a decade. "It was profound," Noffsinger said of the trip. Merv Keeney, General Board executive for Global Mission Partnerships, emphasized the importance Ekklesiyar Yanuwa a Nigeria (EYN--Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) placed on the visit.

The delegation also included Robert Krouse, who will begin this summer as Nigeria mission coordinator, and board member David Sollenberger, who filmed the trip for this fall's mission offering emphasis. The group met with mission workers, held a consultation with EYN leaders and visited key EYN institutions, visited Hillcrest School, and worshiped with students at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria.

Noffsinger felt a special connection with EYN's new general secretary, Yohana Y. Balami, who like him is the first lay leader to serve as general secretary of the denomination. "We represent a different generation and a different genre of leadership," said Noffsinger.

The US and Nigerian church leaders discussed developing a new level of relationship between the two general secretaries, both to facilitate discussion about how major issues facing the church affect both bodies and to develop respect for the experiences of each nationality. "It's not just about being the church in the US," Noffsinger said. "We're in a church that spans the globe." Keeney reported that, unfortunately, visa requests for EYN leaders to be at this year's Annual Conference were denied by the US government.

Some questions asked of him during the trip came as surprises and highlighted the Nigerian awareness that Christianity is growing much faster in non-western areas of the world--an awareness that Noffsinger shares. When asked, "Why is the world headquarters of the Church of the Brethren in North America?" he was quick to respond that the Church of the Brethren doesn't have a world headquarters. But he took the point of the questions, that the Nigerian church is larger than the US church. Noffsinger said that he had "a great conversation" with those posing the questions.

Noffsinger also preached for two Sunday services--one in English and one in the language of Hausa--at the Yola Jimeta EYN congregation, which has an attendance of 1,000 to 1,800 at each service. The event was filmed by Nigerian television, and Noffsinger was interviewed for a nationwide news broadcast.

Unhappy news greeted the delegation on their return to the US, with the unexpected death of one of their hosts in Nigeria. Gunnar Berndsen, a worker with European-based Mission 21, a longtime partner in Nigeria with the Church of the Brethren, died May 11. Berndsen was working in EYN's Theological Education by Extension (TEE) program, and one of his passions was to develop museums and heritage centers for the Nigerian church, Keeney said. Noffsinger mourned the loss personally, as well as the loss to the church. "What I saw in Gunnar was a man deeply committed to his life and mission as a servant of Jesus," Noffsinger said, "and that commitment was lived out as he shared his gifts and talents through TEE and his interest in bringing improved building structures to the lives of those he served. His death gives a new sense of urgency to the church's mission, to share our talents each and every day with those we serve."

Older adult unit begins term of service with BVS

The Brethren Volunteer Service Older Adult Unit 259 held its training in New Windsor, Md., April 25-May 7. The seven participants all decided to take an assignment in the near future.

David Ort, from Altoona, Pa., will begin serving a one-year commitment at the Brother David Darst Center in Chicago, Ill., on June 1. Carolyn and Edgar Graham, members of Fellowship Church of the Brethren in Martinsburg, W.Va., will be going to CooperRiis in Mill Spring, N.C., in mid-October for a six-month term of service. Roger and Phyllis Ingold, from Spring Creek Church of the Brethren near Hershey, Pa., will be starting a six-month term of service at Meeting Ground in Elkton, Md., on the first of the new year. Frank Kane and Marilyn Schirk, of Ontario, Calif., will be starting a six-month term of service at the Center for Conscience and War in Washington, D.C. in late October.

Brethren bits: Mission nurse remembered, National Press Club, and more

• Former Church of the Brethren missionary to Ecuador, Leanna Faye Koontz Benalcazar, passed away May 10 in Ecuador. She was 86. She worked as a nurse for the General Board's mission in Ecuador for close to a decade beginning in the early 1950s, running a clinic and serving the Quechua Indians of the high Andes as a rural health nurse. Achievements during her time with the mission included setting up family planning clinics with mission doctor John Horning, training of community nursing aides, and a first-ever vaccination of school children. Following her employment with the mission, she continued nursing in Ecuador for almost four more decades. She attended Bethany Bible College and was a graduate of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College as well as the Windber Hospital School of Nursing. She is survived by her husband, Hector Benalcazar, who taught in the mission's primary schools in Ecuador for many years.
  
  
• The appearance by Scott Holland and Ann Riggs at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., has been moved to June, with no firm date yet set. Holland, assistant professor of Peace Studies and Cross Cultural Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary, and Riggs, National Council of Churches associate general secretary for Faith and Order, are members of an organizing committee for the "Watu Kwa Amani" conference in August in Kenya, the next in a series of Historic Peace Church conferences engaging with the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence.
  
  
• Don Vermilyea has taken his 20 millionth step in his Walk Across America. The Brethren Volunteer Service worker is walking across the nation, with the goal of visiting every Church of the Brethren congregation. He took the historic step in Minnesota on May 12, and has now walked 9,689 miles. For more information on Vermilyea's quest, which began in Feb. 2002 in Arizona, go to www.brethren.org and click on keyword box to find the Walk Across America.
  
  
• Wanted: experienced writers for Sunday school curriculum. The Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Church Canada, and Mennonite Church USA are producing a new Sunday school curriculum with units for children ages 2-4, kindergarten to grade 2, grades 3-5, and grades 6-8. Two additional units will be a multi-age unit for children of a variety of ages or for intergenerational use, and a unit for parents and other adult caregivers. First use of the curriculum will be Fall 2006. For information on how to apply, please contact Anna Speicher, Project Director, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 847-742-5100 ext. 209; e-mail aspeicher_gb@brethren.org. The application deadline is June 15.
  
  
• A Faith Expedition to Guatemala is planned for Oct. 23-Nov. 2, jointly sponsored by the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office and Global Mission Partnerships Office. Participants will see Brethren workers in action and participate in colorful cultural events surrounding the Day of the Dead. The expedition will be led by longtime Guatemala worker, Tom Benevento, General Board Latin America specialist. Projected cost is $850. Contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at 800-785-3246 or email washington_office_gb@brethren.org.
  
  
• Nigeria workcamp coordinator Jeff Mummau has announced dates for the next annual workcamp to Nigeria, Jan. 16-Feb. 12, 2005. Projected cost will be $2,100. For more information, see the workcamp section of the Global Mission Partnerships page on www.brethren.org, or call Mary Munson, at 800-323-8039.
  
  
• The General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office has a new resource packet on conscientious objection that includes education resources along with a tool to help youth groups, congregations, or individuals record their personal beliefs and convictions. Among many other resources available from the office are information and updates on pending draft legislation, background information on conscientious objection, and workshops on what it is to be a conscientious objector and how to claim conscientious objector status. The office also extends an invitation to anyone wanting to explore the issue more to call or arrange for a visit. Call 800-785-3246 or e-mail washington_office_gb@brethren.org.
  
  
• Jane Yount, the General Board's disaster response coordinator, was a presenter at the annual Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) conference in Louisville, Ken., on May 19. Yount joined other representatives of faith-based disaster response groups speaking on rebuilding homes with volunteer labor after a disaster. She was quoted extensively in an article on the presentation, "Rebuilding: what's involved?" by Susan Kim, which can be found on the Disaster News Network website, www.disasternews.net.
  
  
• Barb Sayler, co-executive director of On Earth Peace, and Kathleen Campanella, manager of communications at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., attended a Heifer International (HI) event on Capitol Hill, May 12. Campanella is the Church of the Brethren representative on the HI board. A briefing on the role of livestock in community development, economic growth, and childhood nutrition was followed by a reception honoring HI's global partners at the Russell Senate office building. Guests included Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas, and Senator Hillary Clinton of New York. One of the highlights of the day was Beatrice, the young girl from Uganda featured in the children's book "Beatrice's Goat," sharing her story of how an animal from Heifer International transformed her life.
  
  
• Church World Service (CWS) staff including executive director John McCullough, Disaster Response director Rick Augsburger, and Ann Walle, director of Marketing and Communications, were at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., May 8 to work with youth volunteers from the Park United Methodist Church in Bloomfield, N.J., filming footage for a new CWS video. The volunteers, working with General Board Service Ministries staff, unloaded a large trailer, packed 600 health kits brought from their church, and assembled a new type of Gift of the Heart kit that will be introduced in the Fall by CWS. This new children's kit has school supplies, health care items, and culturally neutral toys. A tour of the center and a visit to the SERRV International Gift shop were part of the weekend activities.
  
  
• The Ministers of Music, a male quartet from the Lancaster, Pa., area, presented a concert celebrating their 25th year on May 2 at Florin Church of the Brethren in Mount Joy, Pa. The group sang together for the first time at Florin in 1979, and over the years since have sung at Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and provided concerts throughout central Pennsylvania and in Florida, New England, and Indiana, according to the Lititz newsletter. The quartet includes Lititz pastor Bob Kettering, Lamar Dourte, Dale Engle, and Ron Ludwick.
  
  
• The Central, Ninth Street, and First Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., are jointly sponsoring a Lafiya Weekend May 21-22, which is scheduled to be led by Kathy Reid, executive of the Association of Brethren Caregivers. The event begins 7 p.m. today at First Church and continues through early afternoon May 22. Emphasis is on preparing to be a more hospitable people in Jesus' name.
  
  
• The Southern Ohio District Disaster Response Auction is scheduled for May 22 beginning at 8 a.m. at the Preble County Fairgrounds. Furniture and items for the home, as well as artwork and other pieces will be auctioned. Also for sale will be food and theme baskets.
  
  
• This fall Middle Pennsylvania District will present "Angels Everywhere," a new musical by Frank Ramirez and Steve Engle, as part of a fundraiser to benefit the district's ministry education fund. The musical is about "one of the most intriguing incidents in colonial Brethren history," said Ramirez, the story of Catharine Hummer of the White Oak congregation in Manheim, Pa., who in 1762 claimed to see angels. She also was the first woman to preach among the Brethren. The play will be presented as a dinner theater on Oct. 9 at First Church of the Brethren in Roaring Spring, Nov. 20 at Everett Church of the Brethren, and Dec. 4 at Hollidaysburg Church of the Brethren. Ramirez is author of "The Love Feast" and the Out of Context feature in "Guide to Biblical Studies"; Engle is composer of "The Saint Judas Passion" and "A Rumor of Angels." For more information call Ramirez at 814-652-2634.
  
  
• Shenandoah District is planning a "Celebrating Our Connections" event 3-7 p.m. June 6 at the Brethren Woods camp in Keezletown, Va. The afternoon will include fun and fellowship, and opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking, as well as a carry-in meal.
  
  
• The Brethren Revival Fellowship presents a Brethren Bible Institute on the campus of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College July 26-30. Courses will be offered on church history, contemporary issues, church leadership and administration, missions and outreach, pastoral care and counseling, and "A Gallery of Heroes." Other courses will study the books of Revelation, Mark, and Acts. Cost is $150. For an application form, which must be completed by June 25, write to the Brethren Bible Institute, 155 Denver Rd., Denver, PA 17517. Continuing education units are available for pastors who attend.
  
  
• Manchester College, in North Manchester, Ind., will honor Robert C. Johansen, at commencement May 23. Johansen, a member of Crest Manor Church of the Brethren in South Bend, Ind., and a Manchester graduate who played an important part in developing the college's pioneering program in Peace Studies, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. He is conducting research on enhancing UN peacekeeping and enforcement as senior fellow in the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. The college will deliver 223 bachelor's degrees, 16 master's degrees, and 7 associate's degrees at the ceremony. The college's first three graduates of its Master of Arts in Contemporary Leadership program will collect their diplomas, and 37 seniors will graduate with honor. For more information about the college, visit www.manchester.edu.
  
  
• The National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Program is seeking clergy to help support the Climate Stewardship Act, coming to the US Senate in early June. "Protecting our climate is a religious duty," said Cassandra Carmichael, director of the program, in a letter seeking contact with religious leaders interested in the issue. For more information call 202-544-2350 ext. 27 or e-mail cassandra@toad.net or visit www.nccecojustice.org.
  
  
• Doug Archer, ordained in the Church of the Brethren and peace studies librarian at the Hesburgh Library at the University of Notre Dame, has received the 2004 Intellectual Freedom Award from the Indiana Library Foundation. The award recognizes his longtime advocacy for intellectual freedom and support for local control of library policies, in opposition to last year's Supreme Court ruling that public libraries must have filters on their computers to block out potentially offensive websites. Archer is a member of Mount Pleasant Church of the Brethren in Bourbon, Ind. An article about the award can be found at www.SouthBendTribune.com.
  
  
• The Lombard (Ill.) Mennonite Peace Center is searching for a full-time staff member to serve in the organization's conciliation ministry and assist other aspects of its ministry. Qualifications include a personal faith commitment to Christ and Christ's way of peace and discipleship as understood within the Anabaptist tradition; training and experience in Christian conciliation and mediation; skills in oral and written communication, marketing, organizing, and computer use; interpersonal skills; and an entrepreneurial spirit. Experience in teaching and training preferred. To request a full job description and application information, contact Richard Blackburn, Executive Director, Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, 1263 S. Highland Ave., Suite IN, Lombard, IL 60148; 630-627-0507, fax 630-627-0519.
  
  
• Midwest Peacemakers announces its 2004 conference, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Church of the Brethren Mill Ridge Village Community Center in Union, Ohio, on the theme, "Love or Die." The meeting will focus on the high costs of war, which a statement from the group says cannot be maintained. Speakers will include Wilson "Woody" Powell, executive director of Veterans for Peace; Michael Elzinga, Navy submarine veteran and research physicist; and Sam Hine, of the Bruderhof communities. Nine of the ten members of the Midwest Peacemakers' 2004 committee are members of the Church of the Brethren. For more information contact Charles Cooley at 614-794-2745 or e-mail cfcooley@wmconnect.com.

Joe Buss leaves New Windsor Conference Center

Financial constraints have forced administration to reduce staff of the Brethren Service Center (BSC) in New Windsor, Md., resulting in the reduction of the position of New Windsor Conference Center director Joe Buss. The conference center is a self-funded program of the General Board.

Since September 1997, Buss has provided leadership of the conference center's hospitality ministry. He also led in improvements at the center including the remodeling of Zigler Hall in 2002 and improvements in customer satisfaction, service, and community accessability that resulted in positive customer feedback. Buss's membership in the International Association of Conference Center Administration and other professional groups also helped the center reach clients and groups beyond the local area.

As of May 4, Buss began a three-month separation period with full salary and benefits. The responsibilities of the position will be distributed among other staff.

New gardening book published by Brethren Press.

A new book on gardening, "Gardening for the Earth and Soul" by Heather Dean and Tom Benevento, has been published by Brethren Press.

More than a sustainable gardening book, it's also a book of social commentary, global peace, and children's activities, all pulled together by Benevento's line drawings. Drawing on their education and personal experiences, the authors address both the practical and spiritual benefits of gardening. Benevento, the General Board's Latin America specialist, and Dean both have worked alongside the indigenous people of Central America and used their experiences to create community gardens that thrive in the urban landscape in North America. The book is a practical and inspirational "how to" manual.

Cost is $18.99 plus shipping and handling. To order, call 800-441-3712, go online to www.BrethrenPress.com, or buy it at the Brethren Press bookstore at Annual Conference this summer in Charleston, W.Va. Refer to item number 8534.

Conference-goers are invited to bring Gifts of the Heart.

In May and June, Newsline will offer short previews of special events or features of the 2004 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, to be held July 3-7 in Charleston, W.Va.

Gifts of the Heart school and health kits and Church of the Brethren Clinic Boxes will be collected at Conference this year, in a project of the General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries program. The kits and boxes will be handed on to people in need around the world, with the help of Church World Service.

The kits include useful items such as pencils and paper in the school kits, and band-aids and soap in the health kits. Clinic boxes include supplies such as gauze pads and adhesive tape. Donations for shipping and handling, and for purchasing medicines and supplies appropriate for clinic use at wholesale prices, are being collected by mail, as donations cannot be accepted at Conference. For more information see page 66 of the Conference information packet, which can be downloaded from www.brethren.org/ac, or call 800-451-4407 ext. 3.

Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Walt Wiltschek, Kathleen Campanella, Amy Adkins, Jeri S. Kornegay, Karen Roberts, and Marcia Shetler contributed to this report.

Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.

NEWS

• Brethren Benefit Trust Board adopts five-year strategic plan.
  
• CPT comments on `patterns of abuse' in Iraq.
  
• Emergency Disaster Fund sends aid to Haiti.
  
• Cross Cultural Consultation held in Puerto Rico.
  
• Brethren attend conference on Christian philanthropy.
  
• Brethren bits: Former missionary remembered, BBT job opening, and more.

PERSONNEL

• Middle Pennsylvania District minister Randall Yoder to retire.
  
• Jacqueline Hartley joins ABC staff.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Brethren Witness/Washington Office sponsors Million Mom March, CO day.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW

• Submissions invited for Annual Conference display of Living Peace Church Art.

Brethren Benefit Trust Board adopts five-year strategic plan.

With eyes firmly fixed on the future, the Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) Board of Directors has affirmed its blueprint for operations over the next five years, according to a release from the agency. Meeting April 17-18 at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., the board approved a strategic plan that includes initiatives pertaining to the Brethren Pension Plan, Brethren Medical Plan, Church of the Brethren Credit Union, and Brethren Foundation, as well as overall marketing efforts.

"After 18 months of study, research, and discussion that led to the creation of this plan, we believe these strategic issues will guide a majority of BBT's work for the years to come," said Wil Nolen, BBT president. "We're excited about what the future holds for BBT."

The strategic plan focus on the Pension Plan calls for the board's Investment Committee and staff to improve the method of funding retirement benefits to reduce the possibility of future unfunded liabilities. The board began addressing this issue one year ago when it approved the creation of "A" accounts for contributions before July 1, 2003, and "B" accounts for contributions on or after that date.

The major strategic initiative for the Brethren Medical Plan is a continuing effort to locate and implement reasonable coverage for members at affordable premiums. Inflationary trends and unfavorable claims experience make it a major challenge to provide a good benefit plan at a reasonable cost.

On April 1 BBT fulfilled a strategic plan goal of sponsoring a denominational credit union by assuming all administrative functions of the Church of the Brethren Credit Union (CoBCU), which until mid-February was the Brethren Employees' Credit Union. Staff members reported that they have begun a review of operating policies and procedures and are exploring the development of new products and services. Dennis Kingery, director of Credit Union Operations, supervised relocation of the credit union offices to BBT and the launching of a new "look" complete with new logo, brochure, forms, and website. The board also affirmed the creation of a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) as another strategic priority. A CUSO typically offers an expanded range of financial services to members of a credit union, although it is a separate organization.

Under the umbrella of the Brethren Foundation, the board included a strategic priority to support church agencies and related organizations in the development of their own deferred giving programs. This will support primarily those agencies with insufficient staff to implement such a program on their own. The Brethren Foundation will prepare educational articles, provide descriptive materials, consult with potential donors, and administer gifts that come to client organizations.

The final component of the strategic plan contemplates the development of a consistent marketing identity for the wide range of ministries provided by BBT.

In other business, BBT's long-term care insurance has been the topic of several employee educational seminars. Following numerous inquiries for specific information, about 20 individuals have policies either in force or under way. The board also received reports on preparations for the 2004 Annual Conference, the work of the InterAgency Forum, issues before the executives of denominational agencies, the content of the denomination's ecclesiology consultation, and matters that have come before the Church Benefits Association.

In the last in his series of visits to board meetings of the five Annual Conference agencies, Conference moderator Chris Bowman opened the meeting with a meditation and prayer. Board members expressed appreciation for Bowman's presence.

Future BBT board meetings are scheduled for July 6 in Charleston, W.Va., and Nov. 19-20 in Northern Indiana District.

Source: Newsline 5/7/2004
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CPT comments on 'patterns of abuse' in Iraq.

With horrific images of abused Iraqi prisoners in the media this week, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) urged attention to the patterns of abuse in Iraq and the question, "How did this happen?" CPT is a ministry initiated by Mennonites, Brethren, and Friends, and has an "Adopt a Detainee Program" to support Iraqi detainees.

The organization has been documenting abuses within the detention system in Iraq for nearly a year, a CPT release said. "The problem is very broad," wrote Sheila Provencher in the release. "These photos, tragically, were not a surprise to me." Provencher has been a member of the CPT team in Iraq, where her work focused on detainees. The team left Iraq in April on the advice of Iraqi colleagues of risks to international workers. CPT has had a team in Iraq almost continuously since Oct. 2002.

"We have communicated grave concerns about the detention system in several meetings with US military and Coalition Provisional Authority officials in Iraq, and with representatives in Congress," said Provencher. "Many Iraqis who tell us stories of degrading abuse also comment on the 'noble soldiers' who protested such abuse and treated them with respect. However, the sheer number of allegations of mistreatment, many of which I have heard personally, suggests that the problem is not just a matter of a few 'bad people,'" she wrote. She acknowledged that there are Iraqis guilty of violent acts, but added that "the methods used to capture, imprison, and interrogate such Iraqis are so violent that the Coalition only creates more resisters."

Provencher suggested that factors contributing to the abuse include ideology that separates the world into "good guys" and "bad guys," military hierarchy, and the dehumanization of young US soldiers by their training, combat stress, and neglect. "To feel a constant threat to one's life, coupled with the psychological stress of being separated from home and family, is devastating," she said. She added that routine military orders might be considered abusive, such as the systematic arrests of all male members of a household or community in midnight raids that terrify families "and sometimes end in the injury or death of women and children."

"Once the men are in detention, families find it extremely difficult to secure information about them, and do not know if they are alive or dead," she said. "Many women and children who rely on the male breadwinner become homeless while he languishes in jail."

CPT's Adopt a Detainee Program is coordinated by Rick Polhamus, a member of Pleasant Hill (Ohio) Church of the Brethren. Several Church of the Brethren groups and congregations are taking part, he reported, along with people from other denominations and different interfaith and ecumenical groups. The response has spanned the globe, all the way from Nigeria to Alaska, he said. For more information contact CPT at 773-277-0253 or www.cpt.org, or call Polhamus at 937-313-4458 or e-mail jrp@cpt.org.

Source: Newsline 5/7/2004
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Emergency Disaster Fund sends aid to Haiti.

An allocation of $10,000 has been made from the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund in support of an expanded Church World Service (CWS) appeal for materials and aid for Haiti, following the violent overthrow of the government in March. Despite the presence of an international military force, political violence continues to disrupt everyday life in Haiti, according to the grant request.

The funds will help provide a variety of aid and services including first aid, legal assistance, food security, health assistance, agricultural recovery, income-generating activities, psycho-social assistance, and conflict resolution in nine Haitian provinces. An initial grant of $5,000, made in March, supported an emergency air shipment of food and medicine.

This week, staff of the board's Service Ministries program at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., packed and shipped a CWS container shipment for Haiti valued at $151,003. The shipment included 25,000 pounds of canned meat, 25 Interchurch Medical Assistance Medicine Boxes, 185 cartons of school supplies, and 700 cartons of Mennonite Central Committee refugee buckets. This week's shipment follows on the heels of the March shipment that was channeled through the Dominican Republic to assist Haitian refugees along the Haitian-Dominican border.

Source: Newsline 5/7/2004
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Cross Cultural Consultation held in Puerto Rico.

With tears streaming down his face, Brother Joseph Craddock, a minister of Germantown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, spoke for many when he joyfully proclaimed, "This has been the best experience of my life." Forty-seven pastors and leaders from the mainland joined with sisters and brothers of Puerto Rico at the Cross Cultural Consultation hosted by the Castaner church, April 29-May 3.

Spirit-filled worship occurred several times a day and the Castaner church building was filled to overflowing each evening. Sermons, testimonies, music, and prayers were offered to God in French, Creole, Spanish, and English, held together by the power of the Holy Spirit. Harriet Finney, past Annual Conference moderator, reminded the gathering that the church has not yet arrived in becoming the multi-cultural church of the New Testament, but is on its way and closer to this goal than when it first began. Ruben Deoleo, of Lancaster, Pa., and Miguel Alicia, of Rio Prieto, P.R., also preached. Worship was led by Gilbert Romero of Bella Vista, Calif. Belita Mitchell, of Harrisburg, Pa., retold the Cross Cultural Ministries Team story. Greetings from the General Board were shared by Frank Ramirez, of Everett, Pa.

The worship experience was enriched by the leadership of Puerto Rican Church of the Brethren congregations including Las Casa del Amigo Fellowship of Santana, Arecibo, where Loren and Lily Crespo are pastors; Yahuecas, where Norma Medina Rivera is pastor; Juan and Isabel Figueroa, pastors of Camito Christian Center; the young adults of Vega Baja, where Hector Perez is pastor; and the youth of Castaner, where General Board member Jaime Diaz is pastor.

Educational opportunities included hearing the story of the Brethren in Puerto Rico and a tour of the Castaner hospital led by Elsa Groff; an introduction to the work of the Anti-Racism Training Team led by James Washington, of Whitehouse, Texas, and Sharon Reich, of New Hope, Va.; and a workshop on new ways of dealing with conflict led by Mark Chidley of Cape Coral, Fla.

Castaner church provided hospitality including meals and housing. A work project left behind a new driveway for the church, which was financially assisted by three Indiana congregations: Bremen, Pleasant Dale, and Anderson.

The Cross Cultural Ministries Team is supported by the General Board and receives staff assistance from Congregational Life Team members Duane Grady and Carol Yeazell. A 2005 event is planned for April 21-24 at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind. For more information contact Grady at 800-505-1596 or e-mail dgrady_gb@brethren.org.

Source: Newsline 5/7/2004
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Brethren attend conference on Christian philanthropy.

"Gateway to Giving" was the theme of the 26th North American Conference on Christian Philanthropy (NACCP) this past week, held by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center (ESC) literally under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Mo. The General Board is an important partner and contributor to the training and stewardship resource production efforts of the ESC, said Ken Neher, the board's director for Funding and Donor Development, in his report on the conference.

Twenty Church of the Brethren pastors, stewardship advocates, representatives of care facilities, and General Board staff were among the 250 people at the event. Southern Ohio District was well represented because of an anonymous donor with a passion for stewardship, who paid registration fees with the request that attendees who feel they have received from the event pay for another person to attend with them at the next event in two years. That generosity is making it possible for Southern Ohio to build a solid core of motivated and trained stewardship mentors and advocates, Neher said.

Keynote presentations were by Martin Marty, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago Divinity School and author of over 50 books on topical issues of Christianity. Daily worship was led by Anthony Bailey, senior minister of Parkdale United Church in Canada. In one evening session, attendees were treated to the poignant humor of Mennonite comedians Ted and Lee. Among other pieces, the duo performed "Don't Sit on Your Stuff," a stewardship story co-sponsored by General Board stewardship staff and videotaped and distributed to many Brethren congregations over a year ago as part of a stewardship resource packet.

Two full days of breakout sessions were presented in three tracks for congregational leaders, development leaders, and a general track. Seminars ranged from "The ABCs of Giving," to "Kids and Money," to "Financial Planning for Ministers." Teaching and discussions ranged from the very basics of motivations for giving, to cutting-edge understandings of Christian stewardship in a material-oriented culture.

In his workshop "Speaking of Money," ESC director Ed Taylor asked, "Why are you afraid to give as much as you'd like to give?" and then challenged the church with the question, "How can the church address the worry that delays or lowers our giving and the joy that would follow?" That question is "something for us all to ponder!" said Neher, who invited Brethren to plan to attend the next NACCP in 2006.

Source: Newsline 5/7/2004
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Brethren bits: Former missionary remembered, BBT job opening, and more.

• Shirley Fike, a nurse and former missionary for the Church of the Brethren, died May 2 in Winona Lake, Ind., at the age of 71. With her husband, Don, she served with the General Board in Equador 1957-59; as a house parent in Elgin, Ill., in 1959; and in Puerto Rico at the church and hospital in Castaner, 1960-74. She also taught and lectured about nutrition and spiritual growth as they relate to wholeness, and was a graduate of McPherson (Kan.) College. After pastorates in Indiana, Ohio, and Maryland, the Fikes lived in Warm Springs, Va., for the past several years. A memorial service will be held May 8 at Zion Chapel in Goshen, Ind.
  
  
• The Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) Communications and Information Services Department seeks to fill the newly defined salaried staff position of Office, Production, and Information Services coordinator. The coordinator will provide leadership in the production of news and informational, promotional, and operational resources including desktop publishing, website updating, and work with print vendors. The job also entails office coordination, assistance with business services, tech support, and basic hardware and software functions. For a position description call Susan Brandenbusch, 800-746-1505 or e-mail sbrandenbusch_bbt@brethren.org. Candidates should send a resume, along with three references, to Brandenbusch by noon May 17.
  
  
• On behalf of the Church of the Brethren, the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) has signed on to the Cover the Uninsured Campaign, which focuses attention on the plight of nearly 44 million uninsured Americans. Cover the Uninsured is a national campaign that has organized a range of events to educate the public about the social injustice and compounding problems that the lack of health insurance brings to all Americans. ABC has posted "A Call to Care for People Without Insurance" on its website at www.brethren.org/abc/ and encourages congregations to participate in awareness-raising and educational events planned for their areas during Cover the Uninsured Week May 10-16. To find out more, visit www.CoverTheUninsured.com.
  
  
• Scott Holland, assistant professor of Peace Studies and Cross Cultural Studies at the Church of the Brethren's Bethany Theological Seminary, is scheduled to speak at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on May 20, along with Ann Riggs, National Council of Churches' associate general secretary for Faith and Order. The two are members of an organizing committee for the "Watu Kwa Amani" conference in August in Kenya, the next in a series of Historic Peace Church conferences engaging with the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence, and co-editors of a recently published book of papers from the first such conference, held in Bienenberg, Switzerland, in 2001. The third co-editor is Fernando Enns, a German Mennonite theologian. The book, "Seeking Cultures of Peace: A Peace Church Conversation," can be ordered from Cascadia Publishing at 215-723-9125 or www.cascadiapublishinghouse.com.
  
  
• A new version of an old resource, the "Messenger" study guide, is available at www.brethren.org. The study guide provides food for thought, questions for discussion, and activities to help individuals, classes, and small groups use the denominational magazine "Messenger" as a focus for study and reflection. The first study guide to be posted is for the May issue of the magazine, and future study guides will be posted in time for the arrival in the mail of each month's new issue. The guide is offered in a pdf format. "Messenger" readers are encouraged to print study guides as needed for individual or group use.
  
  
• Dates for the next National Youth Conference have been announced by the General Board's Youth and Young Adult Office. NYC will be held July 22-27, 2006, at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colo., beginning Saturday evening with dinner at 5 p.m. through closing worship Thursday morning ending at 11:30 a.m. Registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday.
  
  
• Dates also have been set for the 2005 Christian Citizenship Seminar, April 23-28 in New York and Washington, D.C. The focus will be on conscientious objection to war.
  
  
• Candidates for Disaster Project Director Training are sought by the General Board's Emergency Response program. The next training will be held in New Windsor, Md., Nov. 7-9. Requirements for volunteer disaster project directors include skills in leadership and organization and a heart for Christian service. Construction or handyman skills are preferred. Couples whose skills complement each other are welcome. Call Jane Yount at 800-451-4407 or 410-635-8730.
  
  
• The New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center seeks service-oriented volunteers interested in being host or hostess. Volunteers receive their own apartment, free meals, and a small stipend. Volunteer hosts typically have been retired couples, widows, and widowers, but other mature adults are welcome. Contact Elaine Hyde at 410-635-8700 or toll free 800-766-1553.
  
  
• More than 130 middle school students, teachers, and chaperones spent April 23 on the campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., for a learning and volunteer experience. Lisa Blevins, a member of the Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren and a teacher at East Middle School in Westminster, coordinated the visit. Staff and volunteers from Emergency Response/Service Ministries, On Earth Peace, SERRV International, Interchurch Medical Assistance, and the Conference Center worked together to plan activities, present information and help with crowd control.
  
  
• "When Saints Become Sad," a workshop on depression sponsored by Western Plains District, will be held May 8 at Topeka (Kan.) Church of the Brethren and June 5 at Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in Littleton, Colo. For more information contact the district office at 620-241-4240 or e-mail WesternPlains@brethren.org.
  
  
• In response to the 2003 Annual Conference call to be a living peace church, Virlina District Peace Affairs Committee is hosting a 2nd Annual Virlina District Peace Seminar 9 a.m. to 12 noon May 8 at Central Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va. Presentations will be made by On Earth Peace, the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, and Christian Peacemaker Teams.
  
  
• The Village at Morrisons Cove, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Martinsburg, Pa., seeks volunteers for a new lay shepherding program in the home's long-term care facility. Chaplain Millie Baker adds, "We are currently seeking training resources and possible information from other programs. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated." Contact Baker at 814-793-2104 or e-mail dccob@nb.net.
  
  
• Good Shepherd Home, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Fostoria, Ohio, is celebrating its 100th year in 2004—all year. The "Big Bash" anniversary celebration is June 25, but Good Shepherd is holding celebrations every month to let the community know of its history and vision. The home also is selling 100th anniversary shirts. For more information contact executive director Chris Widman at 419-435-1801 or log on to www.goodshepherdhome.com.
  
  
• Paul Mundey, pastor of Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren, will deliver the message at Bridgewater (Va.) College's baccalaureate May 16. Mundey is father of graduating senior, Peter. Myles Brand, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, will deliver the commencement address. In other news from the college, Judy Mills Reimer, past general secretary of the Church of the Brethren, was elected to the Board of Trustees. Brethren also were among six honored at an Alumni Weekend April 16-17: Betty Blough Martin, a leading Bridgewater citizen and member of Bridgewater Church of the Brethren; and Stuart R. Suter, a chemist, attorney, and consultant in the field of patent matters and technology transfer in the chemical and pharmaceutical areas and a member of Ambler (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. Others honored were Ralph S. Wolfe, a researcher in the field of microbiology; Matthew Burton Garber, a university professor and physical therapist in the Army; Sarah Smith Greenleaf, a researcher on the pollination services of native bees; and Beverly Wampler Lineweaver, a volunteer in the General Board's Disaster Child Care program.
  
  
• "Raise Your Voice," a retreat and training event for young adults May 28-31 at Camp Emmaus in Mount Morris, Ill., is sponsored by the New Community Project and the Ecumenical Eco-Justice Network. The retreat will equip young adults to raise concerns of justice and caring for the earth, and is open to Church of the Brethren young adults out of high school up to their mid-twenties. Cost is $150 with scholarship assistance available. To register, e-mail Karen Hodges at hodgesk@etown.edu. For more information contact David Radcliff at 888-800-2985 or e-mail dradcliff@newcommunityproject.org.

Source: Newsline 5/7/2004
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Middle Pennsylvania District minister Randall Yoder to retire.

Randall Yoder, district minister for Middle Pennsylvania, has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31.

In almost 20 years as district minister, Yoder has helped strengthen the district's ministry and place in the denomination, and helped develop sensitivity to congregations as the reason for being for the district. He also helped develop the district office into a "state of the art" resource and ministry center for Middle Pennsylvania.

Yoder previously served as pastor of three Church of the Brethren congregations in Indiana--Clear Creek, Roann, and Kokomo. He is a graduate of Manchester College and Bethany Theological Seminary.

In his retirement, Yoder is interested in serving as a trainer and coach for congregational revitalization and redevelopment, and plans to spend more time with his family and with his congregation, Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon, Pa.

Source: Newsline 5/7/2004
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Jacqueline Hartley joins ABC staff.

Jacqueline Hartley began work as coordinator for the Church and Persons with Disabilities Network, a ministry of the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC), on April 27. ABC provides publications and educational and faith opportunities that encourage the church to do caring ministries as the work of Jesus Christ.

"By devoting Jacki exclusively to the Church and Persons with Disabilities Network, we're making sure that this important ministry receives the attention and support that we haven't had the staff time to give it in recent years," said Kathy Reid, ABC executive director. Hartley is working on a part-time, contract basis from her home and the ABC office, and can be reached at 847-742-5100 or jhartley_abc@brethren.org.

Hartley has served previously as a workcamp coordinator for the Youth and Young Adult Office of the General Board when she was in Brethren Volunteer Service 1999-2001, and for On Earth Peace as part of the 1997 Youth Peace Travel Team and the 1996 Conflict Resolution Team. She is a member of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, Elgin, Ill.

Source: Newsline 5/7/2004
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Brethren Witness/Washington Office sponsors Million Mom March, CO day.

Two May events in Washington, D.C., are being sponsored by the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office: the Million Mom March on May 9, and International Conscientious Objector Day May 15.

The office is urging Brethren to join the "Mother's Day March to Halt the Assault" for gun control laws. "People die every day from handguns. Show your convictions of nonviolence, peace, and justice by taking a stand and lending support to those who have lost loved ones needlessly," said an action alert from the office.

The event will begin with an interfaith prayer service at 10 a.m. on the west lawn of the US Capitol building and is expected to continue to mid-afternoon with speeches and a march down Constitution Avenue. Presenters sharing stories of how violence and the gun lobby have influenced their lives and families will include Jesse Jackson Sr., Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and authors Marianne Williamson and Richard North Patterson. The event, organized by the Brady Campaign to Stop Gun Violence, is wheelchair accessible and interpreters will be on hand for the hearing impaired.

On May 15, International Conscientious Objector Day, the office is hosting seminars and workshops about conscientious objection, anti-militarism, counter recruitment, and war tax resistance from noon to 5 p.m. The event will be held at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 337 North Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003.

On May 14, the office is co-sponsoring the Center for Conscientious and War Lobby Days along with Mennonite, Quaker, United Methodist, Unitarian, Catholic, and Presbyterian organizations as well as the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund and Veterans for Peace. The lobbying day will focus on educating Congress about conscientious objection and how a military draft is not a viable option. "During this time when the United States military is stretched thin across the globe in various military campaigns, there are talks about the administration considering a draft. Now is the time to make our voices heard, to let Congress know that we do not want a draft," the action alert said.

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

Source: Newsline 5/7/2004
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Submissions invited for Annual Conference display of Living Peace Church Art.

In May and June, Newsline will offer short previews of unique events or features of the 2004 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, to be held July 3-7 in Charleston, W.Va.

"Join the call for a living peace church. Contribute your art and stories!" invite On Earth Peace and the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office, following the "Call for a Living Peace Church" issued by the 2003 Annual Conference.

Peace art projects by adults and children may be sent in for a display at the Charleston (W.Va.) Civic Center during the 2004 Annual Conference. Send art submissions by June 1, identified with name and address of the artist, to the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 337 N. Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003. Submissions cannot be returned by mail and must be picked up at the end of Conference.

Personal and congregational stories about peacemaking also are sought. There will be brief moments to share the stories during business sessions, times of worship, an insight session on "How to Be a Living Peace Church" 9 p.m. July 6, and in On Earth Peace and Brethren Witness/Washington Office displays. Send stories with contact information by June 1 to On Earth Peace, P.O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776 or e-mail Oepa_oepa@brethren.org.

Source: Newsline 5/7/2004
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Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Mary Dulabaum, Duane Grady, Ken Neher, and Will Thomas contributed to this report

Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.