Brethren bits: Personnel, Annual Conference, and more.

• Marilyn Ziegler has been appointed interim manager of the Pension Plan and Church Workers Assistance Plan at Brethren Benefit Trust effective March 1. She will occupy the former office of Don Fecher. At this time, the appointment is until the end of 2005.
  
  
• Pre-registration for Annual Conference 2005 in Peoria, Ill., is now available online at www.brethren.org/ac or by using the pre-registration form in the Information Packet. The packet has been sent on CD to Church of the Brethren congregations in the March Source mailing, and is available online. For more information call the Annual Conference Office at 800-323-8039.
  
  
• The Annual Conference Anniversary Committee invites submissions of music, drama, and worship resources representing the 2008 Tricentennial theme "Surrendered to God, Transformed in Christ, Empowered by the Spirit." Music submissions, due June 30, may include hymns, folk songs, praise songs, anthems, and children's songs. Dramatic writings, due Dec. 31, may be full-length dramas, skits, monologues, and vignettes for adults, children, and/or youth. Worship resources, due Dec. 31, may include calls to worship, prayers, litanies, responsive readings, offertory statements, children's stories, benedictions, worship centers (description and/or drawing), power point presentations, and interpretive movements. All submissions become the property of the Anniversary Committee for use in tricentennial activities. Name, address, and phone number of the writer or composer should not appear on the submission but should be included on a separate page. Send submissions to the Annual Conference Office, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
  
  
• March 31 is the deadline for this year's "Messenger" youth essay contest. It is open to anyone age 13-18 during the current school year. Answer the question, "What do you like best about the Church of the Brethren?" in 300 words or less and send it to messenger@brethren.org or to 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120, postmarked by March 31. Include name, address, age, phone number, e-mail, and home congregation. Up to five entries will be published in the July/August issue; the writer of the top entry will be invited to share his or her essay at the 2005 "Messenger" dinner at Annual Conference.
  
  
• "Messenger" magazine readers noted a few months ago that a Church of the Brethren high school senior was recognized as a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist. While these names often are published in local newspapers, there is no way to research the total Church of the Brethren list. If you are aware of a National Merit Scholarship finalist who is a member of the Church of the Brethren and attending either high school or college, please send that information to cobnews@aol.com.
  
  
• "Ever eaten a haystack?" asks the Global Mission Partnership Office of the General Board, sponsor of the Mission Alive 2005 conference in Goshen, Ind., April 1-3. Youth from Goshen's Rock Run Church of the Brethren are providing a regional dish known as a "haystack" for the Saturday evening meal at the conference, as a fundraiser for National Youth Conference. Participation by nearby congregations in meal preparation, music, and other aspects of the conference has been an important dimension of the event, organizers said. Participants also are coming from across the US and a few other nations. Keynote speaker Nathan Showalter is traveling from China to attend, and workshop and panel speakers Marcos and Suely Inhauser will attend from Igreja da Irmandade Brasil (the Church of the Brethren in Brazil). Participants are reminded to bring a gift for new missions from their congregations and "Hymnal: A Worship Book." For more information see the Mission Alive page of www.brethren.org, including the list of 21 workshops that will be offered. Registration also continues at this site, or call Mary Munson at 800-323-8039 ext. 230.
  
  
• The General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office is supporting activities March 18-20 in Fayetteville, N.C., to voice opposition to the war in Iraq on the second anniversary of the war. Activities will include a march and rally, a concert by hip-hop artists Ricanstruction and Little Brother, and a meeting on "Organizing in the South: Strengthening Our Communities, Sharpening Our Skills." The first national meetings of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Gold Star Families for Peace are also planned. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office will set up a table March 19 and will gather Brethren participants to march together. Last year a similar event in Fayetteville, which is home to Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, drew 1,500 people. Heavy involvement by veterans and military families makes the Fayetteville events unique, according to an Action Alert from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office. For more information see www.ncpeacejustice.org, call the office at 800-785-3246 or e-mail washington_office_gb@brethren.org. See www.unitedforpeace.org for information about events planned in other parts of the country.
  
  
• Don Vermilyea has passed the 14,000-mile mark and has begun year four of his Walk Across America. The Brethren Volunteer Service worker is attempting to walk to every Church of the Brethren congregation. See http://www.brethren.org/genbd/witness/Walk.html or listen to Vermilyea's phone message at 800-323-8039 ext. 239.
  
  
• "Study of the Psalms," a Teleconference Continuing Education Event sponsored by Bethany Theological Seminary's Susquehanna Valley Satellite 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 9, will feature Robert Neff, a Church of the Brethren biblical scholar. Cost is $100 plus a $10 continuing education fee. Pre-registration is required by March 25. The teleconference is limited to 20 seats at each location. For more information call 814-643-6001 or e-mail svs@etown.edu.
  
  
• A church-supported boycott of Taco Bell and its parent company, Yum Brands, ended March 8 after Taco Bell agreed to a penny-per-pound increase in wages for migrant tomato pickers in Florida, reports Religion News Service. Church groups that joined the boycott included the National Council of Churches, the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the Presbyterian Church (USA). Tomato pickers earn about 40 cents for each 32-pound bucket of tomatoes they pick, according to "The Washington Post," and must pick two tons of tomatoes to earn $50. Labor leader Lucas Benitez said, "This is an important victory for farmworkers, one that establishes a new standard of social responsibility for the fast-food industry and makes an immediate material change in the lives of workers."
  
  
• The early-bird registration deadline is approaching for a New Life Ministries event led by Tony Campolo and Brian McLaren in Telford, Pa., April 26. "Renewing the Church—Reclaiming the Gospel" also features Brethren workshop leaders Fred Bernhard, Steve Clapp, S. Joan Hershey, David Young, and Paul Mundey. Save $10 by registering before April 1. Church of the Brethren attendees will earn .6 continuing education units. For more information call 800-774-3360, e-mail NLMServiceCenter@aol.com, or visit www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org.
  
  
• "Let March 20 this year be a celebration of the beginning of the end of the war and occupation" in Iraq, wrote Cliff Kindy, a Church of the Brethren member of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). March 20 is the second anniversary of the beginning of the war. "This is the day the US public should proclaim the end of the war," Kindy urged in a letter to supporters of his peacemaking work based in Baghdad. His suggestions for celebratory peacemaking actions on March 20 included bringing the US soldiers home, supporting military resisters, and wrapping peace ribbons around weapons factories, among many others. "CPT has been here in Iraq for well over two years. Please hear this proposal," Kindy asked. "March 20 will no longer be a time to remember war, but a time of new beginnings." For more information about Kindy's work see www.cpt.org. CPT is an initiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, and Quakers) with support and membership from a range of Catholic and Protestant denominations.

Source: Newsline 3/16/05
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Julie Hostetter resigns from Congregational Life Teams.

Julie M. Hostetter, coordinator of Congregational Life Team (CLT) Area 3 for the General Board, has resigned effective April 30. She has accepted the position of Academic Coordinator for United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where she received her master of divinity degree in 1982 and served as administrative staff for five-and-a-half years.

Hostetter began with the board in 1997, working from Roanoke, Va. She brought experience as a co-pastor, pastoral administrator, church musician, and teacher, as well as a priority for education and the place of children to her work. Her duties included resourcing and consulting with congregations and districts, networking with Annual Conference agencies, and providing leadership training in Christian education, worship, music, and ethics. She coordinated the editorial team for "The Seed Packet" Christian education newsletter, served on the advisory committee for the new Gather 'Round curriculum, and chaired the launch committee for TOGETHER: Conversations on Being the Church.

Hostetter plans to bring her regional work to a close by April 30, but will continue denomination-related tasks during a time of transition. Carol Yeazell, Area 3 CLT member, will serve as interim coordinator until a new CLT staff member is hired.

Source: Newsline 3/16/05
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Young adults will meet on 'Provoking Love and Good Deeds.'

Young Adult Conference (YAC) will be held the weekend of May 27-29 at Woodland Altars, a Church of the Brethren camp near Peebles, Ohio. The theme for the conference is "Provoking Love and Good Deeds" from Hebrews 10:24.

"A majority of the leadership is already in place," reported Bob Etzweiler of the Young Adult Steering Committee. "Music and worship are in good hands." Church of the Brethren musicians Shawn Kirchner and Joseph Helfrich are leading music and General Board staff Walt Wiltschek and Becky Ullom are planning worship. Speakers Kurt Borgmann, Cliff Kindy, and Margo Miller will focus three worship times during the weekend. A fourth worship time will use drama and multimedia to explore the theme.

"Workshops were done a little differently at National Young Adult Conference this past year," Etzweiler added. "Called 'padares,' there was a shift from focus on the seeker to more group participation. They'll be a part of YAC this year with a lot of topics to choose from," he said. "With the chance to meet other young adults, singing, worship, a coffeehouse or two, small groups, recreation, padares, free time, and just hanging out, YAC promises to be a great weekend. We hope to see you there!"

For more information and to register see www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/yac.htm. Cost is $80. Participants may request the Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office to send a letter to their home congregations asking them to provide a $50 scholarship. Scholarship requests must be received by April 30.

Source: Newsline 3/16/05
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General Board shares glimpses of the church.

The General Board in its March 11-14 meeting shared stories from congregations and districts that became, in effect, an informal collective "snapshot" of the church.

Many board members talked enthusiastically of energy and excitement in their congregations and districts for the work of Jesus Christ and the task of calling new disciples. In his general secretary's report, Stan Noffsinger spoke of being at the annual assembly of the Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic, where each announcement of a new fellowship was met with a round of applause. From that point on, General Board members applauded each mention of a new fellowship—as well as other signs of new life in the church.

"God indeed has blessed our congregation," said J.D. Glick, who pastors a new church that three weeks ago moved into its first building, enabled by generous gifts to pay half of the $700,000 cost in one down payment. Jaime Diaz reported news of a large youth group at the new fellowship in Arecibo, P.R., and an "explosion" in attendance at Rio Prieto. Dale Minnich talked about the transformation movement in Western Plains District. Russell Betz reported renewal in two small congregations in Southern Plains District. "We're seeing God working in our churches," he said. Janet Stutzman praised the powerful prayer chain at the Sunnyslope Brethren/United Church of Christ congregation. "I just think the church is ready to explode," said Doug Diamond of his congregation's enthusiasm for saving souls, "because people are just ready to invite their neighbors to be part of the church."

"What does it mean to build a church?" asked Doug Price, one of several board members who also gave voice to key questions currently facing the church. Price reflected on the experience of helping to build a church in Honduras, for a congregation that grew out of disaster relief work. Tim Harvey asked a related question, "How do we become a missional congregation?"

"Are we intentional about calling pastors out of our congregations?" asked Jay Carter, who recently began work as a pastor after 28 years in secular work. David Sollenberger echoed the concern for calling ministers and the process of licensing and ordination.

How the church welcomes children is another challenge, said Michael Benner. The church can see children "as a gift God has brought into our midst" or "give them the cold shoulder." Others echoed the concern for youth and extended it to young adults. Susan Kinsel Fitze told the story of a youth ministry that began in the Trotwood (Ohio) Church of the Brethren following the tragic death of the custodian's 18-year-old son. Jeff Neuman-Lee reported on a personal "What If" project to new patterns of worship for young adults. Is the church "willing to attract young people or are they not?" Carol Kussart asked.

"This is an incredible time to be in church work," summarized Annual Conference moderator Jim Hardenbrook. "Believe it or not, the world is looking to us, looking to the church for answers. We are in a spiritual awakening."

In his moderator's report, he urged the board not to squander what may be a crucial moment of opportunity for the Church of the Brethren. Hardenbrook referred to two unprecedented events as indicators of what he called a "tipping point," that when looking for a church to provide its annual Christmas Eve service, CBS turned to the Church of the Brethren; and Selective Service also turned to the Brethren from among the peace churches. "It is very possible in this church's life that this is one of those tipping points," Hardenbrook said. "Use it well."

Source: Newsline 3/16/05
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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. Bob Etzweiler, Mary Lou Garrison, Julie Hostetter, Irvin and Nancy Heishman, Merv Keeney, Fred Swartz, and Walt Wiltschek contributed to this report.

SPECIAL REPORT

• Anabaptist Consultation on Alternative Service meets on the possibility of a military draft, discusses military recruitment, and highlights the tradition of Christian service.
  
  
• Statement by members of the Council of Moderators and Secretaries in attendance at the Anabaptist Consultation on Alternative Service.

An Anabaptist Consultation on Alternative Service March 4-5 in Elgin, Ill., brought together more than 90 people from the historic peace churches--Church of the Brethren, Mennonites, Brethren in Christ and Friends (Quakers)--and other peacemaking traditions to address the possibility of a military draft, discuss increased military recruitment, and highlight the tradition of Christian service.

Participants came away from the meeting with renewed determination and new ideas to strengthen the peace witness of their churches, the task of working together in the event of a draft, and a priority to counter military recruitment of youth and young adults, which was called a "back-door draft" that is already happening across the country.

Participants also said the churches need to strengthen their commitment to Christian service whether there is a draft or not, and need to extend the Christian peace witness and the conversation about these issues beyond the peace churches. "This calling is not just for Anabaptists," said Dick Davis, pastor of Peace Mennonite Church in Dallas, Texas, and a former Southern Baptist Army chaplain. "This calling extends beyond our communities. We are agents of reconciliation, ambassadors of Jesus."

A Selective Service System official told the group no draft is planned. "The administration's position on the draft is quite simple: There isn't going to be any," said Richard S. Flahavan, associate director of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for Selective Service. Cassandra Costley, manager of Selective Service's Alternative Service Division, also gave a presentation on current planning for what a draft would look like if it were enacted.

In a counter viewpoint, J.E. McNeil, executive director of the Center on Conscience and War, a conscientious objector advocacy group, urged participants to consider the draft a real possibility. Recruitment shortfalls by the National Guard, Army, and Marines indicate a draft can't be ruled out, she said.

Many speakers warned that increased military recruitment is creating unprecedented enticements that disproportionately target youth in communities of color and in impoverished communities. "In reality, the draft is ongoing as we speak. It's what I call a back-door draft," said Davis, who noted he hoped this would stir churches to become increasingly concerned about communities outside their own.

The military has long enticed people of color by promising a better life and options that would not otherwise be available to them, Conrad Moore, an anti-racism trainer for Mennonite Central Committee US, told the group. Moore, who joined the Marines as a young man and later turned against the violence of the military, pointed out that slaves were promised freedom for fighting in wars, that those who were free hoped to become first-class citizens. For all people of color "it was always about improving our condition," Moore said.

Presentations on denominational volunteer service programs focused on discipleship to Jesus Christ as the foundation of Christian service. Dan McFadden, director of Brethren Volunteer Service, represented service as counter-cultural in North American society, and talked of preparing volunteers to deal with the racism, sexism, classism, and the discrimination endemic in society.

He also pointed out the need for more funding, staff, and church support for volunteer programs in the event of a draft, citing rises in numbers of volunteers in church service programs during the Vietnam war.

Mennonite service programs reflect the belief that "we really can transform the world," said Iris de Leon-Hartshorn, director of Peace and Justice Ministries for Mennonite Central Committee US. She cited the reform of the mental health care system after Civilian Public Service workers—mostly conscientious objectors—worked in state hospitals and other mental health facilities during World War II, witnessed abuses, and worked to correct them. "The historic peace churches were a voice for the voiceless," she said.

De Leon-Hartshorn raised three ethical questions for denominational service programs: how to listen to communities in which service is being done, how to connect short-term service experiences with longterm advocacy, and how to connect overseas and domestic assignments. "We must form partnerships that are loving and mutual," she urged.

Other questions related to service included how to create service opportunities for people of color and economically disadvantaged youth, and how service programs can provide opportunities to undocumented church members.

The Council of Moderators and Secretaries (COMS), a group of leaders of Mennonite and Brethren denominations that sponsored the consultation, will carry forward the issues and concerns raised in the consultation.

The consultation was held at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Participants attended from the Church of the Brethren, the Mennonite Church USA, the Brethren in Christ Church of North America, the US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, Mennonite Central Committee US, the Conservative Mennonite Conference, the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (Evangelical Friends International), the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Friends United Meeting, the Beachy Amish, Amish Mennonite Church, and the Bruderhof Communities.

Church of the Brethren members who took part were Jim Hardenbrook, Annual Conference moderator; Ronald D. Beachley, Annual Conference moderator-elect; Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board; Dan McFadden, director of Brethren Volunteer Service; Phil Jones, director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office; Ken Shaffer, archivist for the General Board's Brethren Historical Library and Archives; Kim Stuckey Hissong, program coordinator for Peacemaker Formation at On Earth Peace; Verdena Lee, a physician and board member of On Earth Peace; Tim McElwee, Plowshares Associate Professor of Peace Studies at Manchester College; Debbie Roberts, campus minister and director of the Peace Studies Program at the University of La Verne (Calif.); Belita D. Mitchell, pastor of First Church of the Brethren, Harrisburg, Pa.; William Olivencia, a youth from First Harrisburg; Andrew Duffey, a youth at Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren; Scott Duffey, pastor at Westminster; Richard M. Judy Jr., on the ministry team at New Covenant Church of the Brethren, Columbus, Ohio; Carrie and Torin Eikler, students at Bethany Theological Seminary; and Travis Poling, a student at Manchester. Brethren videographer David Sollenberger filmed the consultation.

Source: Newsline 3/7/2005
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A statement by members of the Council of Moderators and Secretaries in attendance at the Anabaptist Consultation on Alternative Service:

The Council of Moderators and Secretaries includes the leaders of the following denominations: Brethren-in-Christ, Church of the Brethren, Conservative Mennonite Conference, Mennonite Brethren, and Mennonite Church USA.

"As members of the Historic Peace Church family of churches, we gathered in Elgin, Ill., on March 4 and 5, 2005, as people in need of God's salvation, seeking God's healing and peace in a time of war and violence. Aware of the rich history on which we stand, we leave asking God for grace and courage as we face the challenges and the opportunities before us.

"We are called to a clear allegiance to Christ above all other allegiances, and a recognition that it is only through Christ that we can show love to our enemies. We confess that not only have we often failed to love our enemies, we have not always shown respect and love to one another in the Spirit of Christ. We remain rooted in our conviction that Jesus calls us to a life of love and peace, and call on our members to reject violence in all its forms.

"We listened carefully to presentations by staff from the Selective Service System and the Center on Conscience and War about the potential for a return to military conscription. Selective Service reported that a draft has not been authorized and is not imminent, but detailed plans for a draft and alternative service are in place in the event a draft becomes law. We acknowledge with appreciation the sincere efforts of Selective Service to protect the right of conscientious objection to war.

"Whether conscription is imminent or in the distant future, we know that God calls us to lives of joyful and sacrificial service in the way of Christ. We confess that we have not always modeled this in our own lives. To teach peace only when a draft seems imminent is a failure to live out the full meaning of Christ's ministry of reconciliation.

"We learned that intensified, high-pressure military recruitment is already occurring where poverty and racism exclude our brothers and sisters from the opportunities that give life meaning and hope. We were challenged to offer clear and meaningful alternatives to young people who would otherwise go to the military for jobs, education, or leadership training.

"We learned that many past and present models of service are designed around the needs of those serving without adequate thought to the longterm impact on the communities being served. We believe that God's Spirit is stirring anew among us, enlivening our imaginations and opening our hearts to patterns of relationship that are characterized by mutuality across the lines of race, class, and nation that too often divide us.

"We were called to openness and transparency in sharing Christ's way of peace and loving service beyond ourselves, with our neighbors, our communities, and our world.

"The Council of Moderators and Secretaries will be the authorizing and delegating body for continuing work on the issues discussed at the consultation, such as: contingency plans for a military draft or mandatory national service; responses to the ongoing military recruitment among communities of color and areas of poverty."

—Stan Noffsinger, Church of the Brethren; Charles Buller, US Conference of Mennonite Brethren churches; James Schrag, Mennonite Church USA; and Ben Shirk, Conservative Mennonite Conference.

Source: Newsline 3/7/2005
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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. Marla Pierson Lester and Paul Schrag contributed to this report.

NEWS

• Ballot is announced for Annual Conference 2005.
  
• Church of the Brethren, American Baptist leadership teams meet.
  
• On Earth Peace gives peace resource to ministry students.
  
• Brethren bits: Remembrance, personnel, and more.

PERSONNEL

• Grace Mishler completes term of service in Vietnam.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Health Promotion Sunday explores impact of uncompensated care.
• Early registration for Bethany worship conference due soon.

RESOURCES

• Believers Church Bible Commentary on Proverbs is published.

FEATURE

• 'Tenderness Tours' leave a trail of awe, appreciation.

SPECIAL REPORT

• Brethren congregations, individuals, and groups continue tsunami relief efforts.

Ballot is announced for Annual Conference 2005.

The Annual Conference Office has announced the ballot for Annual Conference July 2-6 in Peoria, Ill. The Nominating Committee of Standing Committee developed a full slate of candidates in January. Standing Committee then voted to create the ballot that will be presented to the Conference delegates.

Nominees on the ballot, by position, are:

• MODERATOR-ELECT:
  • Ruthann Knechel Johansen,
  • Belita D. Mitchell;
• ANNUAL CONFERENCE COUNCIL:
  • Earle Fike Jr.,
  • James F. Myer;
• PROGRAM AND ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE:
  • Sonja Pauline Griffith,
  • Kristi A. Kellerman;
• PASTORAL COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
  • Jill I. Loomis,
  • David Shoup;
• REVIEW AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE:
  • Dale W. Brown,
  • Wanda Will Button,
  • Michaela Camps,
  • Rebecca Baile Crouse,
  • Craig L. Gandy,
  • Paul Hoffman,
  • Brian Mackie,
  • James Edward Martinez,
  • Janet Ober,
  • Orlando Redekopp;
• ASSOCIATION OF BRETHREN CAREGIVERS:
  • Brian S. Black,
  • Tammy (Craig) Kiser,
  • Patrick R. Liley,
  • Heather L. Neff;
• BETHANY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY TRUSTEE--MINISTRY:
  • John David Bowman,
  • Craig Alan Myers;
• BETHANY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY TRUSTEE--LAITY:
  • Ted Flory,
  • Mary Patterson Wysong;
• BRETHREN BENEFIT TRUST:
  • Sally A. Brubaker,
  • Carol Ann Jackson Greenwood;
• ON EARTH PEACE:
  • Janice Dull Eller,
  • Sarah Quinter Malone;
• COMMITTEE ON INTERCHURCH RELATIONS:
  • Ilexene Alphonse,
  • Rene Quintanilla.

On March 4 the Annual Conference Information Packet on CD including registration and housing information will be mailed in a Source packet to each congregation; on March 10 the Information Packet will be available on the Annual Conference website at www.brethren.org/ac/. This year, housing registration will be made by mail only and will begin March 11. Online registration for the Conference will be available on the website.

The 2005 registration fee schedule for adult non-delegates is $75 for the whole conference if pre-registered, $85 onsite; $40 pre-registered for the weekend only, $50 onsite; and $25 for daily registrations. For more information about children's rates, rates for Brethren Volunteer Service workers, and group discounts, see the website. The Conference hotel price range this year is $70-$92 with an 11.5 percent hotel room tax.

Source: 03/02/2005 Newsline
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Church of the Brethren, American Baptist leadership teams meet.

Leadership teams from the Church of the Brethren General Board and the American Baptist Churches USA met Feb. 7 at the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center, following up a similar meeting a year ago at American Baptist headquarters in Valley Forge, Pa. The two denominations have had an associated relationship since 1973 and have been renewing connections over the last two years.

The meeting began with worship and then noted the variety of ways in which the two denominations are interacting. Among newest developments: the American Baptists were pleased by a request that an American Baptist be appointed to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference committee studying ways to become a more multicultural church, and have made an appointment to that committee; the president of American Baptist-affiliated Judson College in Elgin, Ill., attended a Church of the Brethren consultation on church-college connections Feb. 10-12 at Manchester College; and Belita Mitchell, chair of the Church of the Brethren Committee on Interchurch Relations, attended the American Baptist Committee on Christian Unity.

The group spent time discussing Brethren approaches to working at reconciliation in situations of conflict. The session was led by Annie Clark, program coordinator of Conflict Transformation for On Earth Peace. In other conversations the group shared experiences about specific areas of denominational work, including long-range planning, new church planting, and overseas mission. A tour of the Brethren Service Center gave the American Baptists the opportunity to see the warehousing and distribution work of Church World Service and Interchurch Medical Assistance, as well as their own "White Cross" program.

American Baptists attending the meeting were Roy Medley, general secretary, and members of the executive leadership council: Sumner Grant, Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board; Margaret Cowden, National Ministries; and Charles Jones, International Ministries. From the Church of the Brethren General Board leadership team, participants were Stan Noffsinger, general secretary, and executive directors of the General Board's ministry areas: Judy Keyser, Centralized Resources; Merv Keeney, Global Mission Partnerships; Wendy McFadden, Brethren Press; Roy Winter, Brethren Service Center; and Del Keeney, Congregational Life Ministries.

Source: 03/02/2005 Newsline
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On Earth Peace gives peace resource to ministry students.

On Earth Peace is giving a copy of Dale Brown's book "Biblical Pacifism" to each ministry student and minister-in-training in the Church of the Brethren. With a concern for pastoral leadership well-grounded in the scriptural basis of the teachings of the church, On Earth Peace is donating copies of the book to students at Bethany Theological Seminary and its Susquehanna Valley Satellite, and all participants in the nondegree ministry training programs TRIM and ACTS. In addition, the book will be available to students in district-based ministry training programs.

On Earth Peace also has offered to provide leadership for seminars or Bible studies focused on the book by Brown, a retired Bethany professor who continues to teach as adjunct faculty for the seminary's satellite program.

Leaders of ministry training programs were appreciative. "Let me express deep gratitude for this generous gift to the students. Dale's book is timeless and important," said Amy Gall Ritchie, director of student development at Bethany.

The gift of hundreds of books is made possible by a donation from longtime supporters of On Earth Peace. "We deeply appreciate the initiative and generosity of these donors," said Bob Gross, co-executive director. "We are always glad for this kind of partnership with other denominational institutions, and with committed individual members who care about the faithfulness and vitality of the church."

Source: 03/02/2005 Newsline
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Brethren bits: Remembrance, personnel, and more.

• Florence (Flossie) Miller Royer, a longtime mission worker with the Church of the Brethren, died Feb. 25 in Ft. Wayne, Ind. She and her husband, Ralph, served with the church in Niger and Nigeria for 35 years. Royer began her mission work in Nigeria 1951-55 as a nurse in the mission-run leprosarium. She received her nursing degree from the nursing school at Swedish Covenant Hospital. In 1957 the Royers returned to Nigeria where she continued to work as a nurse in hospitals and dispensaries and her husband worked as an educator. Royer also served as a houseparent at Hillcrest School in Jos, Nigeria, and was a leader in Girl's Brigade, a Christian organization for Nigerian girls similar to Girl Scouts. In 1976 the couple moved to Niger during a time of drought and famine to do community development work on behalf of the church. There in 1980 Flossie began a six-year term as a nurse in a Peace Corps medical unit while Ralph helped develop appropriate technology and then led the work of Church World Service in Niger. The Royers also served with Church World Service in Liberia. The Royers spoke three African languages--Margi, Bura, and Hausa--as well as French. Since 1987 the Royers have lived in Claypool, Ind., where they farmed and built an energy-efficient home. They have been active in Eel River Community Church of the Brethren, Silver Lake, Ind. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 4, at the church.
  
  
• Brethren Press and the Mennonite Publishing Network, which are jointly sponsoring the new Gather `Round Sunday school curriculum, have secured two additional staff for the project. Amy Gingerich of Washington, D.C., has begun as fulltime managing editor. She has a master of divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion and writing and editing experience with newspapers in Indiana and California. Terry Stutzman Mast of Lodi, Calif., has begun as half-time associate editor. Mast is a graduate of Bluffton College in Ohio, a degree in writing from Illinois State University, and background in writing, design, and editing for a variety of magazines and projects. Gingerich and Mast join Gather 'Round project director Anna Speicher on the curriculum staff.
  
  
• Mark Hartwig will begin March 28 as computer and programming specialist for the General Board in Elgin, Ill. His background includes positions as computer coordinator/trainer and Information Services manager. He also holds a master's degree in pastoral studies and is a spiritual director.
  
  
• Diane Graefen of East Dundee, Ill., has begun as Annual Conference registration coordinator, a temporary position through June 10. Her primary responsibilities are registration for delegates and non-delegates attending the Conference July 2-6 in Peoria, Ill.
  
  
• On Earth Peace, an agency of the Church of the Brethren with responsibility for peace and reconciliation ministries, seeks a program coordinator for Peacemaker Formation to work at its office at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The position plans and coordinates overall peace education program including retreats for youth and peace resource programs, interpretation, and cooperative projects. Qualifications are commitment to Christian peacemaking; experience with faith-based education; understanding of conflict resolution, justice issues, nonviolence, and the scriptural basis of peacemaking; ability to work independently and in a team; communication and computer skills and organizational ability; willingness to travel; familiarity with the Church of the Brethren; and a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. For position description see www.brethren.org/oepa/PeacemakerFormationCoordinator.html. The position is available Aug. 15. Review of applications begins April 30 until the position is filled. Send resume, letter of application, and contact information for three to four references to both On Earth Peace executive directors: Barbara Sayler, bsayler_oepa@brethren.org, 502-222-5886; and Bob Gross, bgross@igc.org, 260-982-7751. E-mail with attachments is the preferred form of application. If applying by post or fax send to: Search Committee, On Earth Peace, P.O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776-0188; fax 410-635-8707.
  
  
• The General Board seeks a part-time (15 hours per week) promotions specialist for "Messenger" magazine, location negotiable. The position is available spring of 2005, with funding available for two years. The promotions specialist will work with congregations and small groups to increase subscriptions to "Messenger." The ideal candidate has abilities in the areas of marketing or promotions and strong knowledge of the Church of the Brethren including familiarity with "Messenger"; is skilled in oral and written communication and is proficient in Word, Quark Xpress, other graphic design tools, and Internet use; and has a minimum of an associate's degree or equivalent, with a bachelor's degree preferred. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Mary Lou Garrison, Director of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. Application deadline is April 15.
  
  
• Today the General Board's Global Mission Partnerships hosted Church World Service regional director Janet Young and a delegation of eight church leaders from Argentina at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The group is visiting the US to observe church ministries responding to hunger, homelessness, and poverty. They visited Elgin's Interfaith Food Pantry and met with Elgin Cooperative Ministries, PADS (a cooperative organization of churches providing shelter to the homeless), and the Community Crisis Center. The delegation will spend about two weeks in Illinois and Nebraska and conclude the trip at the Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C.
  
  
• The Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., will host a by-invitation-only Anabaptist Consultation on Alternative Service March 4-5. The meeting will bring together more than 85 people from the historic peace churches--Church of the Brethren, Mennonites, Brethren in Christ, and Friends (Quakers)--and other peacemaking traditions to do contingency planning in case of a military draft, discuss increased military recruitment, and highlight the tradition of service. The Council of Moderators and Secretaries, a group of leaders from Anabaptist denominations, is sponsoring the consultation.
  
  
• Two more 2005 Level 1 Disaster Child Care Training Workshops have been announced, in addition to those listed in the Newsline of Feb. 2. The additional workshops for those interested in becoming child care volunteers following disasters will be held Sept. 16-17 at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., and Nov. 11-12 at Brook Park (Ohio) Community Church of the Brethren. For more information call Helen Stonesifer at 800-451-4407 (option 5) or see www.disasterchildcare.org.
  
  
• Brochures and registration forms are available for the Retreat for Clergy Women Nov. 14-17, sponsored by the General Board's Ministry Office. The retreat in East Troy, Wis., is for licensed and ordained clergywomen in the Church of the Brethren. Leadership will be provided by Jan Richardson, an artist, writer, and ordained United Methodist minister. Registration is $175 before June 1, $200 before Aug. 1, with a discount for fulltime seminary or TRIM students. Contact Myrna Wheeler, 608 Santa Cruz Ct., San Dimas, CA 91773-3332.
  
  
• Members of Hope Church of the Brethren in Freeport, Mich., combined talents on Feb. 12 to produce a show called "Love Blooms on Hopeful Prairie," in the vein of Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion." James Kinsey, a member of the General Board's Congregational Life Teams, organized the show to celebrate the area served by the church, according to an article in the "Lakewood News." The show benefited Habitat for Humanity. Contact Kinsey for a copy of the script, which is available for use by anyone who is interested; e-mail jkinsey_gb@brethren.org
  
  
• Williamson Road Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., will host "Awakening 2005" on March 10-12. Bridgewater (Va.) College will provide leadership for the event with Robbie Miller, director of Religious Life and college chaplain, speaking Thursday evening; the college's Concert Choir, Chorale, and Bell Choir performing Friday to begin their spring concert season; and William Abshire, associate professor of Religion, bringing the message Saturday evening. The Thursday and Saturday services will begin with a hymn sing at 7 p.m., with the services and the Friday concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Child care will be provided and rides are available for residents of Friendship Manor. For more information call the church at 540-366-0291.
  
  
• Beatrice Biira of Uganda will be the featured speaker at a Heifer International information forum and fundraising banquet 6 p.m. March 14 at Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren, Quarryville, Pa. Biira will explain how the gift of a goat helped her fulfill her lifelong dream of going to school. She is a freshman at Connecticut College. Cost is $135 for a table of eight. For more information e-mail wjb@paonline.com.
  
  
• Eighteen Brethren congregations met together for a service to benefit York (Pa.) Habitat for Humanity Feb. 27. The hymn and praise service was at First Church of the Brethren in York.
  
  
• Twenty two people gathered in Wonder Valley in the foothills below Sequoia National Park for a retreat for licensed ministers in Pacific South West District Feb. 5-6. The retreat was planned to offer encouragement, educational experiences, and opportunities for ministers to support each other, reported R. Jan Thompson. "Spouses were invited to attend so they could also learn to know others who are seeking to fulfill a call into some form of ministry," he said. Del Keeney, the General Board's executive director of Congregational Life Ministries, provided leadership, drawing upon his years of experience in the pastoral ministry. Planning Sunday morning worship as a group was a highlight of the weekend. Bryan Boyer, district executive, also led the group in a full love feast. For a few attendees, it was the first time to participate in feetwashing. Licensed ministers traveled as far as 740 miles because of the large geographic size of the district.
  
  
• Southern Pennsylvania District is holding its First Annual Missions Dinner at 6 p.m. March 5 at Chambersburg (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. The featured speaker is Irvin Heishman, General Board mission staff in the Dominican Republic. Cost is $10. An offering will be taken to support the denomination's work in the DR. For more information see www.cob-net.org/church/sopa_dinner.htm.
  
  
• Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, Ohio, is hosting "Cherry Lodge Get-Away: Peace Skills for the Family" March 11-12, with leadership from On Earth Peace and Northern Ohio District's Peace Task Team and district Peace/Conciliation worker Russ Veal. Overnight charge is $15 per person. For more information call 419-945-2327 or 330-484-1106, or e-mail djparker@bright.net or vealrev@aol.com.
  
  
• Bridgewater (Va.) College's 45-voice Concert Choir will perform at Brethren congregations during its spring tour: 7:30 p.m. March 11 at the Roanoke Valley Churches of the Brethren Awakening Service at Williamson Road Church of the Brethren; 7:30 p.m. March 12 at Antioch Church of the Brethren, Rocky Mount, Va.; 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 13, at Peters Creek Church of the Brethren, Roanoke; 3 p.m. March 13 at Charlottesville (Va.) Church of the Brethren; 7:30 p.m. March 13 at Waynesboro (Va.) Church of the Brethren; 7:30 p.m. April 1 at Somerset (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; 7:30 p.m. April 2 at Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; 10:40 a.m. Sunday April 3 at Waynesboro (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; and 11 a.m. Sunday April 10 at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren. Concerts will feature, in addition to the choir, the 23-voice Chorale and student-directed Handbell Choir. The choir and chorale are directed by Jesse E. Hopkins, the Edwin L. Turner Distinguished Professor of Music who was choir director for the 2004 Annual Conference. Repertory includes requiem movements from works by Brahms, Durufle, Faure, and Mozart, as well as works by contemporary composers.
  
  
• Church World Service (CWS) is working with WorldManna.org on an interfaith initiative to persuade the food industry to donate one percent of proceeds to hunger. Established in June 2004, WorldManna.org is an interfaith program initiated by SocialAction.com of Jewish Family & Life. Proceeds will go to international nonprofits. "By amassing the collective purchasing power of consumers, faith-based organizations are sending a clear message to food manufacturers to compel them to join us in the worldwide effort to alleviate and prevent world hunger," said CWS executive director John L. McCullough. Consumers visit www.worldmanna.org to sign a pledge indicating how much they spend on groceries each month. With this collective purchasing power, WorldManna.org hopes to persuade food companies to exchange one percent of profits for permission to put the WorldManna.org seal on their products, as a sign that the purchase directly fights hunger. WorldManna.org estimates that the 7,900 who have signed the pledge already represent a purchasing power of more than $1.3 million.

Source: 03/02/2005 Newsline
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Grace Mishler completes term of service in Vietnam.

Grace Mishler of Union Center Church of the Brethren, Nappanee, Ind., has completed a four-year term of service in Vietnam on Feb. 28. She was jointly sponsored by the General Board and Eastern Mennonite Missions. While serving in Ho Chi Minh City at National Vietnam University, she networked and empowered people with disabilities.

Mishler developed a course titled, "Social Awareness of Persons with Disabilities." She not only opened doors for those with disabilities to take a greater role in Vietnamese society, but also began a grassroots movement that has given people with disabilities an authentic voice, reported the board's Global Mission Partnerships Office.

After a period of settling back in to the US, Mishler will share her experiences in Vietnam with congregations and other groups. Contact Janis Pyle, coordinator for Mission Connections, at 800-323-8039 ext. 227.

Source: 03/02/2005 Newsline
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Health Promotion Sunday explores impact of uncompensated care.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) invites Church of the Brethren congregations to consider "Exploring the Impact of Uncompensated Care" on Health Promotion Sunday May 15.

The Fellowship of Brethren Homes, a ministry of ABC, has brought the issue to the attention of church leaders and the denomination through a booklet titled "The Burden of Uncompensated Care in Brethren Retirement Centers and the Church." The booklet will be included in the Health Promotion Sunday packet from ABC. Other materials will discuss when to consider different levels of care and long-term care insurance, and offer worship and sermon ideas.

"When older adults are encouraged to gift away their assets and rely on federal programs to cover their care expenses, there are moral implications," said ABC in a release about the event. Federal and state programs have severely curtailed reimbursement for this kind of care, causing Brethren retirement centers to provide as much as $14 million annually in uncompensated care rather than moving out residents who can no longer pay for their care, ABC said.

Health Promotion Sunday resources are available at www.brethren.org/abc/. A printed version can be requested at no charge by calling ABC at 800-323-8039. ABC sponsors Health Promotion Sunday for the Church of the Brethren each year.

Source: 03/02/2005 Newsline
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Early registration for Bethany worship conference due soon.

March 8 is the early registration deadline for "Hebrews 12:28--Brimming With Worship," a conference celebrating music and the arts in worship April 8-10 in Richmond, Ind. A late registration fee of $30 will be added after March 8. The conference is part of Bethany Theological Seminary's centennial celebration and is funded by the Rosenberger Memorial Recital Series and the Stephen I. Katonah Endowment for Faith and the Arts.

Keynote speakers are Sally Morgenthaler, founder of Sacramentis.com--Re-imagining Worship for a New Millennium; James Abbington, professor of Music at Morgan State University and executive editor of the African American Church Music Series from GIA Publications, Inc.; and Nadine Pence Frantz, professor of Theological Studies at Bethany, who is developing reflections around images of Jesus as the Christ and a book using visual art to engage with the theological task. Each speaker, as well as a variety of other leaders, will give workshops. Workshops will be offered on a variety of topics including choral directing, drama, worship centers, banners, technology, organ and piano performance, and storytelling.

Registration including three lunches and three nights' lodging is $229 for the first person from a congregation, $159 for others. Commuter registration (no lodging) is $99 for the first person from a congregation, $69 for others. Participants qualify for 1.5 continuing education units. Registration forms were mailed in the March Source packet to all Brethren congregations. Registration forms also are available at www.bethanyseminary.edu or may be requested from 800-287-8822 or bethanysem@aol.com.

Source: 03/02/2005 Newsline
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New Believers Church Bible Commentary on Proverbs is published.

The Proverbs Believers Church Bible Commentary by John W. Miller has been published by Herald Press. The book may be ordered from Brethren Press for $24.99 plus shipping and handling, call 800-441-3712. It is the 19th volume in the commentary series, a cooperative venture of Anabaptist denominations and other groups.

Miller is professor emeritus at Conrad Grebel University College, an affiliate of the University of Waterloo in Canada. The commentary "is unique for its detailed uncovering of evidence for two editions of Proverbs, a first in the time of Solomon and a second in support of King Hezekiah's historic religious reforms," a release from Herald Press said. "In this light heretofore puzzling features of the book's design, purpose, and message are clarified and the book's relevance for its time and ours is greatly enhanced."

Source: 03/02/2005 Newsline
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'Tenderness Tours' leave a trail of awe, appreciation.
By Tom Mullen

Richard Propes likes to travel. Since 1989 he has visited over a hundred cities and towns in Indiana, and many others in Kentucky and Ohio. What makes those visits extraordinary is that Richard is a paraplegic, and all those trips totaling over 3,000 miles were made in his self-propelled wheelchair.

Richard was born with spina bifida and later lost both feet to amputation due to infection. He was also abused as a child, and so he has been riding his wheelchair since 1989 hoping to get our attention and help in the fight against child abuse. We met him when he started attending the Northview Church of the Brethren in Indianapolis and since have become acquainted with his remarkable journey.

Richard calls his wheelchair trips "Tenderness Tours" and how they began and what they've become is a remarkable story. In his own words: "When I began the `Tenderness Tours' in 1989, I never expected it to become a lifelong journey. I had no plan, no agenda, no vision beyond speaking my own truth and healing myself and, hopefully, a few others along the way.... In October 1989, I left Indianapolis from the downtown office of Prevent Child Abuse Indiana with no support team, a backpack on my chair, $20 in my pocket and a few letters proclaiming my mission.... In some way, I must confess, I hoped this tour would be a 'final mission' in my pathetic life.

"Instead, I experienced rebirth after 41 days and 1,086 miles on the roads of Indiana. I traveled by wheelchair the entire way, dependent on the kindness of strangers for my very survival. I was never let down. I came home with a renewed faith in God and humanity, knowing my disability did not define me, my child abuse did not define me.... I came home with a mission for my life."

And how his life has progressed. In addition to his many wheelchair excursions around the Midwest, including one from Indianapolis to Chicago, he has flown to St. Louis, Denver, several cities in Arizona and Orlando, Fla., where he received the Donna J. Stone Award, which recognizes nationally the top volunteer working to prevent child abuse. His efforts have raised something close to $100,000, every penny of which goes to charities that deal with child or domestic abuse.

He accepts donations for his cause, hospitality along the way, and often speaks or meets with sponsoring organizations. Sometimes volunteers escort him or help with logistics and publicity. Some physicians and nurses have provided medical care when needed. Mostly, however, he is self-reliant. One item on a list of needs he showed me demonstrated his modest attitude toward what he does: "Donation of a new/gently used sports wheelchair for use during tour events (a demo model would be acceptable)."

A graduate summa cum laude from Martin University with a degree in counseling psychology, he has supported himself and does not receive disability benefits. At this writing he was waiting for the results of a third vocational interview for a position with a mentoring agency in Indianapolis. Richard lives in a modest northeast home which he purchased, drives his own car, and is considering enrolling in seminary next year.

Many others besides this writer have been impressed by this modest, unassuming, funny man who lives his life with commitment, joy, and--so far as I could tell--total lack of self-pity. If all his awards, keys to cities, plaques, and certificates were laid end to end, including having been named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Frank O'Bannon, well, it would take Richard a long time to wheel past all of them. And to the surprise of no one who is acquainted with Richard Propes, in 1999 he founded the Tenderness Award to recognize outstanding contributions to Indiana's children. He not only wins honors, he honors others as well.

Every so often we meet people whom it is easy to admire because they live exemplary lives. Some prove to be genuinely modest, full of good humor, and living their lives with faith and courage. Richard Propes has been such a person for me. I hope you'll meet him sometime along the way. He'll be driving a four-wheeler with a backpack attached and probably wearing a smile. Say "hi" and tell him thanks.

--Tom Mullen of Richmond, Ind., is an ordained minister, author, and public speaker. This article is reprinted with permission of the "Palladium-Item," where it was originally published Jan. 30.

Source: 03/02/2005 Newsline
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Special Report:
Brethren congregations, individuals, and groups continue tsunami relief efforts.

Many Church of the Brethren congregations, individuals, colleges, and other Brethren groups have been raising money and material donations to aid survivors of the Dec. 26 tsunami in Asia, through the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) and Emergency Response/Service Ministries program. Since the beginning of the year the EDF has received $764,521 in donations.

Following is a compilation of the latest of these efforts:

First Church of the Brethren in Wichita, Kan., voted to send $25,000 to the EDF, depleting the congregation's reserves built up from an extended period of time without a pastor, according to the Western Plains District newsletter. "The congregation had been counting on these reserves to match their income to their new budget for the year, which goes beyond their present level of giving," the newsletter reported. "We commend them for their vision and seeking to be faithful to God's claim upon their lives."

Mountain View Church of the Brethren in Boise, Idaho, held a community fair Feb. 12 to raise money for tsunami relief. "God be praised!" reported pastor David McKellip. "We had a great turnout from the community and moved a huge amount of second-hand stuff. Sold over $80 of donuts and chili. The silent auction went very well.... It looks like when everything is in, we will raise over $2,000." Information tables featured Church World Service and its CROP and Blanket Sunday programs, Heifer International, Habitat for Humanity, World Relief, A Greater Gift (SERRV), and Ten Thousand Villages.

Easton (Md.) Church of the Brethren youth held a Tsunami Fast for 30 hours Feb. 25-26, reported Jody Gunn. The funds raised by sponsorships were donated to the EDF. "Last year the group raised $1,000 for World Vision and decided to change their recipient organization for 2005," Gunn said. The youth began a juice and water fast after lunch Friday and broke it with a light supper Saturday. A work project during the weekend lock-in was assembling Health Kits. "They hope other youth groups in the Church of the Brethren will participate in a fast to aid survivors of the tsunami," Gunn said.

At Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren Jennie Reist, a recent college graduate, asked about the possibility of going to Asia to assist personally with relief efforts. "Since this wasn't an option," reported Lititz moderator Jim Gibble, "she was encouraged to collect relief kits. Jennie delivered the kits to Church World Service at New Windsor. This was her first visit to the Brethren Service Center. Also more than $5,000 has been raised to support the efforts of the General Board." The Lititz congregation and community embraced the project, according to the "Lititz Record Express." Many individuals and families in the church, as well as Sunday school classes, families from the church's Toddler Gym, the Friends Club from the ALIVE program, and even a local fifth-grade elementary school class helped collect and assemble Health Kits for tsunami victims as well as Emergency Clean-Up Kit buckets to help disaster-devastated areas in the US. "It would be wonderful if the kits wouldn't all fit in my car," Reist told the newspaper.

Many other congregations collected Gift of the Heart kits as well, notably Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren, which delivered 3,612 Health Kits to the Brethren Service Center as of Feb. 1 and was planning to put together 400 more.

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren in Glen Arm, Md., which usually makes about 700 Gift of the Heart kits every year, by mid-February had assembled 875 kits and delivered them to the Brethren Service Center. After hearing about the tsunami, "money came in, supplies were purchased, and we met three times to assemble kits," reported Marian Bollinger. "One Sunday, folks stayed after worship for soup and salad (contributed money towards kits) and then assembled 200 kits. It was great to see 35 or 40 persons having so much fun working together and helping others around the globe."

The Pathfinders at Panther Creek Church of the Brethren near Adel, Iowa, sent 37 Health Kits and three Medical Kits. "We have a good start to meet pastor Peg's challenge to send 100 more kits by Easter," they reported in the church newsletter.

Among others collecting kits were Staunton (Va.) Church of the Brethren, which placed a notice in the newspaper inviting the community to contribute to its kit collection; Polo (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, which worked with several individuals as well as other churches and area businesses to donate 609 kits; Freeport (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, which stationed drop-off barrels for Health Kit donations at two sites in town; and the four Church of the Brethren congregations in the mid-shore region of Maryland--Easton, Denton, Fairview, and Ridgely--which will collect items for Health Kits through April 1, unless the need then is still critical in which case the project will continue.

In Southern Pennsylvania District, Marsh Creek Church of the Brethren in Gettysburg, Pa., responded to a Jan. 2 challenge from pastor Joel Nogle to make and contribute 100 kits. By Jan. 16 the church had donated money and necessary items for 295 Health Kits and delivered them to New Windsor, reported district staff Georgia Markey. The Gettysburg youth also hosted a pancake breakfast to raise a love offering for Medical Kits. In addition, Carlisle (Pa.) Church of the Brethren collected 165 Health Kits; Bermudian Church of the Brethren in East Berlin, Pa., collected 105; Newville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren collected 54; and Shippensburg (Pa.) Church of the Brethren collected 47. Mission Central of Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Church of the Brethren collected 148 kits and Emergency Clean-Up Kit buckets.

McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren also was challenged to provide 100 Health Kits. After two weeks, the congregation had more than doubled that number, collecting 206 kits. The junior high and senior high youth assembled the kits and donated many of the bandages and ziplock bags, and bought more supplies for incomplete kits. An anonymous donor committed to pay the $1 handling fee for each kit, to go to Church World Service to cover shipping costs.

At least two Church of the Brethren districts have contributed corporately to the denominational effort. Some 60 congregations in Virlina District collected donations totaling $62,210.60 as of Feb. 25. In West Marva District the Disaster and Relief Committee sent $5,000 from local emergency disaster funds.

"The North Manchester community and Manchester College collected an amazing amount in just one month for the Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund," reported Jeri S. Kornegay, director of Media and Public Relations for the college. A note from college president Jo Young Switzer said that another round of student donations was held on campus, in addition to that reported in Newsline on Jan. 21. Along with $2,884 from Dexter Axle, a North Manchester company that matched donations from its 220 employees, and gifts from North Manchester neighbors and members of the college community, the effort coordinated by the college came to a total of $9,631. "It's pretty common for the people in the plant to step up and help people when there's a need," noted Dexter Axle plant manager Pat Mulroy. The donations were forwarded to the Church of the Brethren for its support of Church World Service relief work for the tsunami victims.

Please send any further news of Church of the Brethren efforts for tsunami relief to cobnews@aol.com.

Source: 03/02/2005 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 every other Wednesday with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Mary Dulabaum, Mary Kay Heatwole, Mary Lou Garrison, Bob Gross, Wendy McFadden, Janis Pyle, Marcia Shetler, and R. Jan Thompson contributed to this report.

NEWS

• General Board gives a positive financial report for 2004.
  
• Emergency Disaster Fund sends $100,000 for tsunami work.
  
• Committee plans training, communications for TOGETHER.
  
• Mutual Aid Association celebrates 120 years of service.
  
• Stewardship of Property Committee holds first meeting.
  
• First Vital Pastor cohort group receives grant approval.
  
• Brethren bits: Remembrance, personnel, and more.

PERSONNEL

• Kim Stuckey Hissong resigns from On Earth Peace.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Youth and young adults sought for mission conference.
  
• Heartland Song and Story Fest to take place in Indiana.

FEATURE

• The story of a week at a disaster rebuilding project.

General Board gives a positive financial report for 2004.

The past year was a very positive one for the Core Ministries Fund of the General Board, reported treasurer Judy Keyser. The fund provides for most ministries of the board and depends heavily on congregational and individual giving. "This type of outcome certainly relieves a bit of pressure and gives us some reprieve," said Keyser.

A welcome turnaround was an increase in congregational giving over budget and over 2003. Congregational giving had shown a downward trend in recent years. In 2004, gifts from congregations to the fund increased to $3,324,300, and gifts from individuals rose slightly to $654,200. "The General Board appreciates this strong support and trust in its ministries," Keyser said. "The board is also grateful for those individuals who provide generously through their estates. For the first time in several years, bequest income met and exceeded the budgeted amount." Investment returns were also remarkably higher than expected, she said.

"These factors, plus careful management of expenses by staff, resulted in income over expense totaling $414,200. This enabled the board to strengthen the financial foundation for ongoing ministries and to expand selected one-time ministries for 2005, resulting in a final net income of $192,200."

Because of the positive year-end report, the board did not need to use $215,000 set aside to cover projected shortfalls in 2004. The money had been redirected from funds the board designated in past years for other projects.

"The economic realities of the last several years prompted the board to take steps to provide better long-term stability in the Core Ministries Fund," Keyser said. All estate gifts will now go directly into the board's Bequest Quasi-endowment, and income budgeted from bequests will be a percentage of a five-year average of the Bequest Quasi-endowment, she said. "This will even out income from year to year without depleting the Bequest Quasi-endowment. Because investment income has also been volatile over the last several years, similar actions were taken with the Endowment Fund and the Gahagen Fund. During the transition year of 2005, a higher percentage of the Bequest Quasi-endowment will be used in order to have fewer budget reductions."

The board also operates several self-funding ministries that receive income through the sale of goods and services. While "Messenger" magazine finished the year with income over expense of $2,800, the other three self-funding units experienced losses: $47,200 for Brethren Press, $67,500 for the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center, and $68,900 for Service Ministries. Lower net assets in some self-funding ministries is a longterm concern, Keyser said. "Each is developing plans to work at sustaining income," she said.

The board manages three special-purpose funds made possible by gifts from donors. Emergency Disaster Fund grants totaled $474,200 in 2004, Global Food Crisis Fund grants totaled $326,000, and the Emerging Global Mission Fund spent $121,400. Complete audited financial information on these funds will be available in June when the General Board audit report is published.

Despite positive results for 2004 and actions to stabilize income, expenses continue to outpace anticipated income, Keyser said. General Board budgets for 2005 were reduced by $248,210.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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Emergency Disaster Fund sends $100,000 for tsunami work.

A grant of $100,000 from the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) continues Brethren support for Church World Service (CWS) work following the tsunami in south Asia. Other EDF grants have been made for disaster relief in the Caribbean, Sudan, and Nebraska.

Donations to the EDF in 2005 are approaching three-quarters of a million dollars, totaling $678,393. "The response of our members to the efforts of EDF and the needs in southeast Asia has been remarkable," commented Stan Noffsinger, the board's general secretary. "We thank both the many donors who have given so generously, and our staff and the staff of Church World Service for their tireless efforts to care for the needs of people, all of whom are our sisters and brothers in Christ."

A record number of Gift of the Heart kits for disaster relief have been received at the Brethren Service Center warehouses in New Windsor, Md. As of Feb. 7, 81,986 pounds of the kits had been received, sent from every US state but Hawaii, Utah, and Wyoming, reported Jane Bankert of the board's Service Ministries. The program warehouses and ships the kits for CWS.

The $100,000 will start rebuilding efforts following the tsunami, reported Roy Winter, director of Emergency Response. It follows three previous grants, making a total of $180,000 in Brethren funding related to the tsunami. A grant of $19,500 will continue support of a Brethren Disaster Response rebuilding project in Hallam, Neb., a small town devastated by a tornado. EDF also gave $17,500 for shipping canned meat and Gift of the Heart Health Kits and Layette Kits to southern Sudan. The donations to the New Sudan Council of Churches include over 22,000 pounds of chicken canned by Mid-Atlantic and Southern Pennsylvania Districts. An allocation of $10,000 supports CWS work in the Caribbean following the hurricanes of 2004. The funds will be used in Haiti for food assistance, medicine, water and sanitation, and agriculture and livestock recovery. Additional work will include clearing debris, recovery of schools, and income-generating activities.

For more information about Emergency Response/Service Ministries see www.brethren.org. A round-up of Brethren tsunami relief efforts by individuals, congregations, districts, and other organizations is planned for the next Newsline. Send information to News Services, Church of the Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; or e-mail cobnews@aol.com.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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Committee plans training, communications for TOGETHER.

The steering committee of the new Church of the Brethren denominational initiative titled TOGETHER: Conversations on Being the Church, met at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., Jan. 20-21. Content for the various elements of the process was further defined in this sixth meeting of the steering committee, which was chaired by Mark Flory-Steury, district executive of Southern Ohio.

The goal of TOGETHER is a denomination-wide conversation on the state of the church. In addition to representatives of the Council of District Executives, where it originated, representatives from denominational agencies and Annual Conference attended along with Ron and Harriet Finney, who will coordinate regional conversations in 2006.

Resource leaders for a training to be held Feb. 2006 in New Windsor, Md., were nominated, with priority given to a well-known authority in the field of church analysis who also is familiar with the Church of the Brethren. The training will bring together some 140 people, primarily named by the districts, who will be prepared to lead conversations in their geographic areas.

Following the training, TOGETHER will be launched at Annual Conference 2006, principally through the use of a study guide at each business session. Delegates and others in attendance will be encouraged to join in 30 minutes of conversation about the church at each session. This plan, along with some other references to the program at the Conference, has been approved by the Conference Program and Arrangements Committee.

The steering committee also dealt with funding for the program. "One note of rejoicing was the announcement that the General Board will donate one of its special offerings to TOGETHER," Swartz reported. "The amount of these offerings usually ranges from $15,000-$30,000, according to general secretary Stan Noffsinger." The committee also developed a case statement to pursue foundation grants for the program.

A communications plan, submitted by Brethren Press publisher Wendy McFadden, was adopted with immediate priority given to developing a brochure for distribution at the 2005 Conference. Also in the works are advertisements to appear in "Messenger" magazine, a calling card or badge sticker with a "catchy" phrase related to the program, and a website. A logo is being designed by Debbie Noffsinger. Jonathan Shively, director of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, and Matt Guynn, On Earth Peace program coordinator for Peace Witness, are working on a theme song.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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Mutual Aid Association celebrates 120 years of service.

The Mutual Aid Association (MAA) is celebrating 120 years of service to the Church of the Brethren in 2005. "The organization founded by Brethren for Brethren now reaches this historic milestone," MAA said in a release about plans for a celebration at Annual Conference. The organization invites Brethren to join MAA "for its 120th birthday party! We celebrate the spirit of brothers and sisters working together, the idea of the strong protecting the weak, and the commitment that we stand together, so that all may benefit."

MAA was begun in 1885 as the Mutual Aid Society of Northeastern Kansas by church members who "sought an alternative to worldly insurance and wanted to continue the tradition of sharing one another's burdens, typified by the practice known as barn-raising," the release said. "For nearly the first century of its work, MAA operated from the kitchen table of its then-president. The Annual Meeting set simple rates and assessed members accordingly. In the 1970s a functional building was constructed near Abilene, Kan., was eventually remodeled and enlarged, and today serves as the association's home office."

Over the decades, changes at MAA have included opening coverage to small businesses and rental properties as well as to suburban housing, and securing personal liability insurance. As risk coverage amounts increased, MAA cooperated with other small mutuals and purchased insurance for safeguarding its own policies in the event of a catastrophe. MAA also created its own benevolence organization, pledging a company tithe to sustain the MAA Share Fund. The fund is a nonprofit entity making matching grants to insured churches for their ministries with people in unexpected financial need.

"Our service has always been the prevention and sharing of misfortune," according to MAA's Centennial History. Today MAA emphasizes property insurance for homes, farms, and small businesses, and covers seasonal dwellings, personal property for renters, and special collections. It serves individuals in the Church of the Brethren and its historically-related denominations and employees of church colleges, retirement homes, and agencies. Through a specialty company MAA secures coverage for congregations, camps, colleges, districts, and other ministries. For more information see www.maabrethren.com.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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Stewardship of Property Committee holds first meeting.

The Stewardship of Property Committee formed by the General Board gathered at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., Jan. 28-29 for its first meeting. Members are D. Miller Davis of Westminster, Md.; Fletcher Farrar, Springfield, Ill.; Dale Grosbach, Gladstone, Mo.; Wanda Haynes, Seattle, Wash.; Ivan Patterson, Greenville, Ohio; Marianne Pittman, Blacksburg, Va.; Dale Roth, State College, Pa.; and David Sollenberger, Annville, Pa. Staff liaisons are Dave Ingold, director of Buildings and Grounds at the General Offices; Ed Palsgrove, director of Buildings and Grounds at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.; and Stan Noffsinger, general secretary.

The committee discussed the task assigned by the board of "reviewing, evaluating, and offering recommendations to the General Board regarding utilization of the two properties from which the General Board's ministries operate in Elgin, Ill., and New Windsor, Md." An extensive list of questions pertinent to the task was created. Ingold led a tour of the Elgin facility. Roth was called to chair the committee.

The committee's next meeting will be at the Brethren Service Center Feb. 25-26. Additional meetings have been scheduled for June 3-4 and Sept. 8-9.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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First Vital Pastor cohort group receives grant approval.

The first Vital Pastor cohort group of the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership received approval for its grant proposal this week. The group comprises five pastors from South/Central Indiana District: Gale Burkholder, Pleasant View Church of the Brethren, South Whitley, Ind.; Bruce Hostetler, Roann (Ind.) Church of the Brethren; Val Kline, Upper Fall Creek Church of the Brethren, Middletown, Ind.; Dan Riccius, Eel River Community Church of the Brethren, Silver Lake, Ind.; and Bev Weaver, Anderson (Ind.) Church of the Brethren.

The group is exploring the question, "How do we create and sustain a mission heart locally and globally?" For an initial Immersion Retreat, the pastors will meet with Church of the Brethren congregations and pastors in Brazil Feb. 21-March 2. The group will then meet monthly over the next two years.

Sustaining Pastoral Excellence is underwritten by a $2 million grant from Lilly Foundation Inc. The program is for "quality pastors to engage in ongoing learning, maintain healthy boundaries, and develop support systems" and is designed to encourage and promote excellence in ministry. The academy is a program of Bethany Theological Seminary and the General Board. To learn more contact Linda or Glenn Timmons at 800-287-8822 ext. 1810.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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Brethren bits: Remembrance, personnel, and more.

• Don Snider, 89, died Feb. 1 at his home at Timbercrest Church of the Brethren Home in North Manchester, Ind. Interspersed with several pastoral placements in Illinois and Pennsylvania, Snider served as National Youth Director for the Church of the Brethren 1944-51; directed Brethren Service post-World War II relief and rehabilitation work in Kassel, Germany, 1951-54; and directed Brethren Volunteer Service 1961-69. He was a regional secretary in Middle Pennsylvania District 1942-44, interpreting the then-new Brethren Service and serving as recruitment staff for Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., his alma mater. At one time, Snider held the quarter-mile track record at Juniata, time 50 seconds flat. He also held a degree from Bethany Theological Seminary. Snider was a leader in the peace witness of the denomination, was a draft counselor for youth, and was vocal in opposition to the law instituted in 1980 requiring young men to register for Selective Service. He also worked to resettle Vietnamese refugees in the US, and led numerous youth camps. A memorial service was held at Manchester Church of the Brethren on Feb. 12.
  
  
• Brenda Hayward has begun as receptionist at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Her work experience includes 18 years in a variety of capacities at Bank One, as well as other customer service settings. She has an early connection with the General Offices through her father, Henry Barton, who worked in the building as a printing press operator for many years.
  
  
• The Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio, seeks a president/CEO. The community serves 450 residents in independent living, at a satellite campus, and in residential, assisted living, skilled nursing, and dementia care units. The CEO will play a pivotal role in guiding the Brethren Retirement Community through its current five-year strategic planning process. Expectations for candidates include financial and operational management experience, a team style of leadership, community public relations, and effective communication skills. NHA required. Contact Ralph McFadden at 352 Shiloh Ct., Elgin, IL 60120; 847-622-1677; e-mail hikermac@sbcglobal.net; fax 847-742-6103. Resumes and salary histories will be accepted until March 18.
  
  
• Southern Ohio District is searching for a part-time director of Outdoor Ministries. The district seeks applicants committed to leading and implementing Christian ministry in a variety of outdoor settings. Applicants may respond by post, e-mail, or fax by March 15 to Southern Ohio District Church of the Brethren, 1001 Mill Ridge Circle, Union, OH 45322; e-mail mfsteury_ds@brethren.org; fax 937-832-6396. In case of questions, please call 937-832-6399.
  
  
• Volunteers are needed for Annual Conference in Peoria, July 2-6, especially to work with registration. If you plan to attend and can help, please call the Annual Conference office at 800-323-8039 or e-mail annualconference@brethren.org.
  
  
• Information Services staff for the General Board have installed a spam filter on the board's e-mail server. This filter has been effective in reducing spam e-mail arriving in staff e-mail boxes. However, some good e-mail has been blocked. If you have sent an e-mail to General Board staff and have not gotten a timely response, please follow up with a phone call to that staff person. It is possible the e-mail was not received. Information Services continues to work at fine tuning the spam filter for maximum effectiveness.
  
  
• "Messenger" magazine editor Walt Wiltschek is serving as the English-language reporter for the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 15-22. The General Board is offering his time and talents as a service to the international ecumenical organization, which is covering his expenses, said Wendy McFadden, Brethren Press publisher. Jeff Carter, pastor of Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren, is the Church of the Brethren observer at the meetings. On the agenda: making consensus the established method of decision-making; planning for the WCC Ninth Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in Feb. 2006; the peoples and churches of the Pacific region; ethical challenges including human sexuality; and a new configuration of the ecumenical movement.
  
  
• The General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office invites Brethren to the 2005 Ecumenical Advocacy Days March 11-14 in Arlington, Va. "Making All Things New" is the theme. Participants will examine US policy regarding the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America, global economic justice, global security, ecological justice, and US domestic issues. An additional "track" will be offered on "Global Security and Nuclear Weapons Danger" focusing on terrorism, militarism, and nuclear weapons. Registration is $135, not including hotel stay. See www.advocacydays.org or call the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at 800-785-3246.
  
  
• The Brethren Witness/Washington Office will host a drop-in Feb. 22 for the School of Americas (SOA) Watch Legislative Action Days. The event supports legislation to close the US Army's Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly the SOA). See http://home.maryknoll.org or call the office at 800-785-3246.
  
  
• Mary Blocher Smeltzer of La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, was one of more than 200 teachers honored by the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, Feb. 5. The group taught Japanese American students in internment camps during World War II, and were honored for "extraordinary actions (that) touched and transformed a generation of Japanese Americans," reported the "Los Angeles Times." Smeltzer was invited to a dinner at the Century Plaza Hotel in company with many of the teachers, now in their 80s and 90s, who voluntarily joined Japanese Americans in the internment camps. "We thought they needed help, so we helped," she told the Times. She taught at the Manzanar camp in California with her husband Ralph, now deceased. "Inside the camp, when every public indication was that we had no future, you had these teachers saying, `Yes, you do matter,'" said Glenn Kumekawa, a retired Rhode Island professor who was sent to Topaz camp in Utah at age 14. Some 110,000 Japanese Americans were held at 10 camps and an estimated 30,000 children attended school there. Smeltzer and her husband also helped resettle 1,000 Japanese Americans in Chicago and New York through the Church of the Brethren.
  
  
• Bill Puffenberger, a retired Elizabethtown (Pa.) College professor of Religious Studies, is making a collection of Brethren Service Commission Cups in their various shapes, sizes, and wood types for permanent display at the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. For a brief history of the cups, or to donate a cup to the collection, contact Puffenberger at 28 Shybrook Ct., Elizabethtown, PA 17022-9200; 717-367-7021; e-mail puffenwv@etown.edu. Include a brief descriptive note with cup donations. "We want to document the age, locality, wood type, and craftsperson of each donated cup if at all possible," Puffenberger said.
  
  
• "Lenten Fast from Violence" weekly resource guides are available from the US Committee for the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV), a program of the World Council of Churches. The guides for the six weeks of Lent highlight responses of people of faith to overcoming violence with nonviolent means. Weekly themes include violent media and video games, violence in creation, violence against women, militarism, Iraq, and the violence of poverty. Included are biblical reflections, prayers, educational resources, advocacy tools, and samples of nonviolent responses. See the DOV website www.overcomingviolence.org.
  
  
• The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund is offering a sample letter to the IRS that taxpayers concerned for peace may enclose with 2004 returns. The nonprofit campaign advocates for a law allowing conscientious objectors to pay full federal income taxes without funding the military. The letter explains that the sender is not opposed to paying taxes, expresses opposition to war, and supports the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill. It quotes the Ten Commandments, "Thou shalt not kill," and Matthew 5:44, Jesus' command to "Love your enemies." See www.peacetaxfund.org.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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Kim Stuckey Hissong resigns from On Earth Peace.

Kim Stuckey Hissong, program coordinator for Peacemaker Formation at On Earth Peace, has announced her resignation effective Aug. 24. She has worked with On Earth Peace since Oct. 2001. Hissong plans to pursue a master's degree in social work.

In her three and a half years at On Earth Peace, Hissong coordinated and led educational retreats, training events, and volunteer opportunities for youth and young adults seeking to develop faith-based beliefs and skills as peacemakers. She introduced innovative programs and ideas to Peacemaker Formation and demonstrated commitment to the youth of the denomination.

An announcement regarding the position opening will be released in early March. For more information contact On Earth Peace, P.O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776; 410-635-8704; e-mail oepa_oepa@brethren.org; or see www.brethren.org/oepa.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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Youth and young adults sought for mission conference.

A special effort is being made to include youth and young adults in the Mission Alive 2005 event on April 1-3 in Goshen, Ind. Evening reflection times for youth and young adults will be led by Chris Douglas, the General Board's director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. The reflection time on Saturday evening during the conference also will feature time with general secretary Stan Noffsinger and Merv Keeney, executive director of Global Mission Partnerships.

Mission Alive 2005 is planned as a missions challenge for the Church of the Brethren, sponsored by the General Board. Keynote topics include biblical guidance for mission, learnings from mission experience, emerging models of mission, and accepting the call to mission. Other features of the conference include global worship services, workshops, missionary reunions, and ice cream socials.

Planners also hope to draw pastors, board members, Sunday school teachers, prospective missionaries, and mission supporters. This week, all pastors and Witness chairs of Church of the Brethren congregations will receive brochures for the gathering. Each congregation is invited to send a representative and a special offering for new mission, to be received at the Sunday morning service.

Continuing education units are available to attendees (.75 for the entire conference) and can be arranged through the registration process. Registration is $50 before March 15, $60 after. To register online see www.brethren.org. For questions or brochures call Global Mission Partnerships at 800-323-8039 ext. 227.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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Heartland Song and Story Fest to take place in Indiana.

The annual Church of the Brethren family camp Song and Story Fest will take place near North Manchester, Ind., July 6-12, following Annual Conference. The theme is "Heartland Song and Story Fest--Rooted and Grounded in Love."

On Earth Peace is sponsoring the event and its staff will help provide leadership. Other leaders include Jim Lehman, Jonathan Hunter, Kathy Guisewite, Sue Overman, Barb Sayler, Bob Gross, Cliff Kindy, Bill and Jacob Jolliff, Peg Lehman, Lee Krahenbuhl, Joseph Helfrich, Brian Krushwitz, and LuAnne Harley. The camp will be held at Joyfield Farm at the invitation of Cliff and Arlene Kindy and Rachel and Bob Gross. "We'll cook and eat some of their organic produce, camp in their fields, enjoy concerts and gatherings in a large rented tent and their barn, canoe on the Kenapocomoco River, and generally have a great time being together," said Ken Kline Smeltzer, volunteer director.

Registration includes meals and is $90 for adults, with graduated fees for children to a family maximum of $300. Registration will be available in a few weeks at www.brethren.org/oepa.

Source: 2/16/2005 Newsline
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The story of a week at a disaster rebuilding project.
By Dwight Butterbaugh

This fall, I received a letter asking for help at the Disaster Response project at Hallam, Neb., which a tornado hit in May 2004. Disaster Response is a program of the General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries. The town of Hallam had 170 homes, and only seven were repairable.

The Nov. 14-20 dates fit my schedule and my next thought was of my two brothers, Dean and Duane Butterbaugh, members of Dixon (Ill.) Church of the Brethren. Their answers were "yes," so I knew I had the start of a crew.

We three brothers had never worked on a Disaster Response project together, but all had experience in building and each had served before in disaster work. I next recruited three people from my church: Earl Miller, a retired plumber, and Harold and Carla Goeking, who were interested because Hallam was the area where Harold was raised and his aunt lived near there. There were now six people lined up ready to go, and we received our instructions.

Lincoln, Neb., was our destination as we left on Sunday morning Nov. 14. We were to be housed and fed at Lincoln Church of the Brethren. Six of us used the church annex for sleeping, and it worked out very well with its one bathroom and a 12-gallon hot water heater. Our very good meals were in the church basement. Ken and Lou Ella Imhoff were project coordinators for the week, and Lou Ella was responsible for the good meals. The Mount Morris church had collected $90 for us to take the project coordinators out to eat. We decided Lou Ella's meals were so good, we would donate that money to the Emergency Disaster Fund.

There were two crews working that week, and crews had been at the site since September. We were the second crew from Illinois/Wisconsin District. The house the five of us worked on was for a family of five. We hung sheet rock and taped, and did other small jobs. When I used to build houses as my profession, I hired that work done for me! The family was trying for their third house after being burned out once, then having their house leveled by the tornado.

The Goekings said it was the best "vacation" they ever had. Earl Miller has since become interested in working further in disaster relief. I will remember this experience because we brothers--Dean, Duane, and I--shared a week of fellowship and getting to know the family we were building for. We refused mileage money, and our pay was a feeling of a job well done, memories, and safe travel.

--Dwight Butterbaugh is the Disaster Response contact person at Mt. Morris (Ill.) Church of the Brethren.

Source: 2/16/2005 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 every other Wednesday with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Judy Keyser, Janis Pyle, Barb Sayler, Ken Kline Smeltzer, Fred Swartz, and Glenn and Linda Timmons contributed to this report.