Brethren bits: Remembrance, job opening, and much more.

• Thurl Metzger, a former executive director of Heifer International, passed away July 26 at the age of 90, at his home in Little Rock, Ark. Earlier this spring, Heifer had announced plans to dedicate a new Thurl Metzger Education Center on Aug. 4 at Heifer Ranch near Perryville, Ark. (see "Brethren leader Thurl Metzger to be honored by Heifer International" in the Newsline of June 21). Metzger served Heifer International for some 30 years as executive director, director of International Programs, and senior consultant, beginning in 1953; the Church of the Brethren started Heifer Project in 1944. As a Church of the Brethren leader previous to his service to Heifer, Metzger directed the Polish farm-youth exchange program of the Church of the Brethren Service Commission. Earlier he also worked as a farmer and a high school history teacher in Indiana. Metzger was the author of "The Road to Development," a book about the complexity of carrying out Heifer's vision. The two-story building at the Heifer Ranch that will be named in his honor will serve as an education facility, and also will house memorabilia from Heifer archives and the Metzgers’ personal collections.
  
  
• Bridgewater (Va.) College seeks a manager of technical services and network administrator to oversee technical aspects of information technology at the college. Primary responsibilities include managing the college network; managing campus systems/applications; serving as IT security officer; developing and maintaining custom scripting in support of system administration and dynamic web content; coordinating technical projects and staff; supervising network engineering and desktop computing support staff. Qualifications include skills in customer service, oral and written communication, and organization; bachelor’s degree in a related field with an advanced degree preferred; ten years of experience in network administration, IT security, desktop computing, and management in technical environments; mastery of Windows, Solaris, Linux administration; teamwork skills and experience in a collaborative environment; extensive troubleshooting experience. Experience working in higher education is highly desired. Review of resumes will continue until the position is filled. For the complete announcement go to www.bridgewater.edu/campus_info/jobs/itc_network2006.html. For more information contact Terry Houff, Chief Information Officer and Director of IT Center, at thouff@bridgewater.edu. A completed application will include cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least three letters of references, to be sent to Vikki Price, Director of Human Resources, 402 E. College St., Bridgewater, VA 22812; or sent by e-mail (preferred) to vprice@bridgewater.edu. Bridgewater is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
  
  
• Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board, has completed his move to Elgin, Ill., following a decision by the General Board for all executive-level staff to work from the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin. He previously divided his work between the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., and the offices in Elgin. Contact him at Church of the Brethren General Board, General Secretary’s Office, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 or 847-742-5100 ext. 201.
  
  
• The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) inadvertently included incorrect information regarding airport shuttle service in its confirmation letters to participants at National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) this fall. Correct information follows: Airport shuttle service is available from the Asheville airport to Lake Junaluska through First Class Transportation. To receive the conference discount call 828-452-2907 and tell Leslie that you are attending NOAC. Cost is $60 round-trip or $55 one way. Cash or check is preferred, credit card transactions will be surcharged $5. Those who have already made reservations through the number previously given will not receive a negotiated discount--individuals have been quoted rates ranging from $70 to $90. It is possible to cancel and schedule with First Class Transportation instead. Correct information for the airport shuttle service is posted at www.brethren-caregivers.org and postcards with the information will be sent to those already registered for NOAC. For further information call ABC at 800-323-8039.
  
  
• The Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., hosted a junior high workcamp in mid-July. Workcampers volunteered in Service Ministries, SERRV International, and the Service Center’s buildings and grounds department. They also provided service to employees based in New Windsor by doing a free car wash. Monica Rice, Kim Stuckey Hissong, and the other adult leaders planned a diverse and fun learning opportunity. All of the agencies housed at the center appreciated the work of the young volunteers, reported Kathleen Campanella, director of public relations and hospitality. The New Windsor Conference Center provided ice cream for the workcampers after dinner on the last evening as a way to say thank you.
  
  
• Chiques Church of the Brethren in Manheim, Pa., celebrates its 150th anniversary in August. The history of the congregation began as Brethren in the Mastersonville area of Pennsylvania originally worshiped in homes as part of the White Oak congregation. In 1856, the first meetinghouse was erected on the site of the current church building. Twelve years later, Chiques became an independent congregation. In 1902 it spawned three daughter churches: East Fairview, Elizabethtown, and West Green Tree. The celebration will include two special services, a historical display, and a series of Sunday school lessons on church history. On Sunday, Aug. 13, worship at 10:15 a.m. will be in a style familiar to the congregation more than 100 years ago: Don Fitzkee and Becker Ginder will preach the "long" and "short" sermons, respectively; singing will be a cappella; and men and women are asked to sit on opposite sides of the sanctuary. A "150th Anniversary Celebration of Music" will be held at 7 p.m. that evening. For more information contact Fitzkee at 664-2252 or don@cobys.net.
  
  
• Iowa River Church of the Brethren in Marshalltown, Iowa, celebrated 150 years on July 9 with a special worship service and meal. The church is celebrating the anniversary "because we are a group of people who love each other even in spite of everyone not being the same," church member Jerry Waterman told the "Times-Republican" newspaper of central Iowa. "We all have a universal understanding that Christ needs to be first in our lives and we are celebrating that opportunity."
  
  
• Root River Church of the Brethren near Greenleafton, Minn., held its 150th anniversary on July 8-9 to honor a century and a half of spreading peace and serving those in need, reported the "Chatfield News-Record" newspaper. The church expected about 150 people for the event, which included a youth concert by a local Christian rock band "RE:BORN" and a historical display, sale of anniversary plates, neighborhood tours, open mic sharing, and worship.
  
  
• Dranesville Church of the Brethren in Herndon, Va., along with Herndon Friends Meeting and Northern Virginia Mennonite Church, are instituting a Peacemaker Award for outstanding peacemaking and community building efforts by a Herndon High School student, according to an article in the "Fairfax County Times." This June the award went to Harrison Miller, a senior at the high school.
  
  
• A $500 Skippack Peace Award from Skippack Church of the Brethren in Collegeville, Pa., was given to Allison Gold, a recent Perkiomen Valley High School graduate, according to the "Valley Item" newspaper. "The award is for somebody who had waged peace through random acts of kindness throughout the high school years, and Allison filled those criteria," Skippack pastor Larry O’Neill told the paper. "The money for the award is raised when parishioners drop change and bills into a plastic bear named ‘Skippy’ located at the rear of the church," the article said.
  
  
• Michigan District holds its district conference on Aug. 10-13 in Hastings, Mich. Moderator Mary Gault will preside.
  
  
• Brethren Village Retirement Community in Lancaster, Pa., holds its 48th Annual Pork Barbecue and Auction on Aug. 5. The day begins at 9 a.m. with a sale of baked goods along with an antique engine exhibit, and continues with a vintage and antique car display, morning devotional service and men’s choir at 10:30 a.m., and an 11 a.m. book signing by Rachel Brown, author of "Adoration Quilts." A pork barbecue meal will be served from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The main auction begins at 12:30 p.m., with registration at 11:30 a.m. Main auction items include hand-made quilts and baby quilts, afghans, and wall hangings; antique items including quilts; wooden crafts, carvings, and furniture; children’s toys; gift baskets and fruit baskets; vacation property timeshares; and various gift certificates for dining and entertainment. A children’s auction at 2 p.m. features games and toys, Boyd’s bears, and radio controlled cars. Proceeds benefit the Brethren Village Good Samaritan Fund providing assistance to residents who find themselves unable to pay the full cost of their care, and to the resident-run Brethren Village Auxiliary.
  
  
• Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., is sending two Brethren faculty to Europe next year to do research as Fulbright Scholars. Gregory W. Clark, associate professor of Physics, will work at Cardiff University in Wales on nano-science research involving conducting polymer (plastic) molecules. Steven S. Naragon, associate professor of Philosophy, will translate student notes from 18th century philosopher Kant's metaphysics lectures, in Marburg, Germany. Both attend Manchester Church of the Brethren. Recent Manchester graduate Wendy Matheny, raised in First Church of the Brethren in Peoria, Ill., also received a Fulbright scholarship to research politics at the European Union and NATO in Belgium. Matheny has been studying Capitol Hill politics as an intern for US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton since her graduation from Manchester last year. Hers is Manchester College's 19th Fulbright in 11 years, the college said in a release. For more go to www.manchester.edu.
  
  
• Peggy Redman, director of Teacher Education at the University of La Verne (Calif.), has been honored with the university’s first endowed chair in Education, the Anthony La Fetra Endowed Chair for Excellence in Teaching and Service. The university is related to the Church of the Brethren. "Redman’s office in ULV’s College of Education is the birthplace of teachers," said an article in the university’s "Voice" magazine. Her program received commendation in a recent report by the Institute for Education Reform, the article added, in which the results of a survey of first-year teachers who graduated from private universities in California and their supervisors "revealed that ULV-trained teachers were far better prepared to enter live teaching than their counterparts." In the survey, La Verne graduates and supervisors responded an average of 12 percent more favorably than graduates of nine other private universities, the article said.
  
  
• The Midwest Peacemakers 2006 conference will be at the Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio, on Aug. 19 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The theme will be "Nonviolence Is Christ-Like, Difficult, Powerful, Profound, and Surprising." Presenters include Cliff Kindy of Christian Peacemaker Teams speaking on "Iraq Through the Eyes of a Christian Peacemaker"; Pete Dull on ministry with prisoners and ex-prisoners in the Dayton area; and John Ellison on "What Conscientious Objectors Have Been Doing with Their Lives." Ellison has been touring the country interviewing people "who early on refused to bear arms and since have helped the poor, bound up wounds, preached salvation, encouraged kindness, visited prisoners, and told the story of nonviolence through painting, words, and music," according to a release. The event includes a carry-in dinner, a panel discussion, and worship. A free-will offering will be taken. For more information contact 614-794-2745 or cfcooley@wmconnect.com.
  
  
• On June 18 the CrossRoads Welcome Center in Harrisonburg, Va., was officially opened to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The center is dedicated to Brethren and Mennonite history and heritage. James Miller represented Shenandoah District of the Church of the Brethren, and Steve Carpenter represented the Virginia Conference of Mennonite Church USA. Following a welcome by board president Robert Alley, Program Committee chair Norwood Shank gave thanks to the Myers family--and to God--for bringing the organization to this point in its journey. The Daniel Myers family donated the Burkholder-Myers House and paid to have it moved to its new location. Shank expressed a "heartfelt thank you" to all who contributed to the effort. CrossRoads also is publicizing a reunion for all conscientious objectors who served in Civilian Public Service during World War II, on Aug. 17, 1-7 p.m., with speakers Harold Lehman and Ted Grimsrud. The event will be at Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va. For more go to www.vbmhc.org.
  
  
• The National Council of Churches (NCC) is calling for ecumenical films through its Faith and Order Commission, which will hold its first-ever Oikumene Film Festival next year on July 19-23, 2007, in Oberlin, Ohio. The festival celebrates the commission’s 50th anniversary. Filmmakers are invited to submit original short films that serve the unity of Christ’s church. Six winning entries will be chosen for screening during the conference. Entries, including the film and completed entry form, are due by Feb. 16, 2007. For more visit www.ncccusa.org/faithandorder/oberlin2007/oikumene.html.

Source: 8/2/2006 Newsline
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Bethany Seminary offers a workshop about online teaching.

Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., is offering an online workshop to help participants become more effective teachers and learners in a technological society. The workshop is for those who may serve as online adjunct faculty in Bethany’s graduate program, as well as others who wish to immerse themselves in questions regarding online learning whether as instructors or students.

"Introduction to Online Teaching: A Six-Week Workshop for Bethany Seminary Instructors and Others" will be offered Oct. 23-Dec. 8. The six-week workshop is designed to equip participants with the awareness and skills needed to successfully facilitate online learning as a course instructor. Successful completion of the workshop will satisfy the online experience component required to teach Bethany and Brethren Academy online coursework. Instructors are Enten Eller, director of Distributed Education and Electronic Communication at Bethany, and Susan Jeffers, online faculty at Bethany.

Participants will learn to identify the unique challenges presented by online learning; incorporate teaching methods that can address the challenges and facilitate deep learning in an online environment; design an online lesson that incorporates some of those methods; and use Bethany's "Moodle" course management software to present that lesson.

Assignments may be completed throughout each week according to participants’ own schedules. There will be one required text, "Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace: Effective Strategies for the Online Classroom" (Jossey-Bass, 1999), by Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt, and additional readings. Participants are to prepare a syllabus of a course that they wish to present online, with which they will work throughout the workshop. Participation in course work, including online discussions and some writing, is required.

A full syllabus will be available four weeks prior to the workshop. Cost is $495, with scholarship funds available to qualified people. Continuing education units are available on request. For more information contact Eller at Connections@BethanySeminary.edu or 800-287-8822.

Source: 8/2/2006 Newsline
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New conscientious objector packets are available.

The Brethren Witness/Washington Office has introduced new conscientious objection material for youth and congregations. Resources included in previous conscientious objection packets have been updated and converted to electronic files and are available on a CD in the new packet.

Resources include materials on political advocacy and peace, biblical guidance for peacemaking, information on the potential for a draft, and steps on how youth can register as a conscientious objector to war. Other materials on the CD include "The Peace Book" produced by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, counter-recruitment efforts against military recruitment, and volunteer opportunities.

Also included is an eight-section DVD with a study guide on issues of civil disobedience, the history of conscientious objectors and the military draft. A mock draft board is presented by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office.

The resources are provided to assist districts, congregations and youth leaders to young people think through issues of conscience. The CD and DVD are designed to help facilitate conversation, reflection, and action among youth, parents, congregations, and communities.

The new conscientious objector packets are available by contacting 800-785-3246 or Washington_office_gb@brethren.org. A suggested donation of $10 per packet will help cover costs. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board.

Source: 8/2/2006 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. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. J. Allen Brubaker, Kathleen Campanella, William Eberly, Don Fitzkee, Todd Flory, Phil Jones, Jeri Kornegay, Joan Lowry, and Helen Stonesifer contributed to this report.

Newsline Special Report

BRETHREN COLLEGE PROFESSOR ARRESTED IN STING INVESTIGATION

Late afternoon on July 20, Elizabethtown (Pa.) College officials were informed that David Eller, an ordained minister and director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietest Studies and chair of the Religious Studies Department, was arrested and charged with attempted unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a computer.

The Pennsylvania attorney general announced July 21 that Eller was arrested by agents of the Child Predator Unit as part of an ongoing undercover Internet "sting" investigation. Eller was arrested after allegedly making contact over the Internet with several undercover agents, and after allegedly arranging to meet an undercover officer who assumed the online identity of a young girl.

Because of the seriousness of these charges, Elizabethtown president Theodore E. Long has placed Eller on administrative leave. The college is cooperating fully with the authorities.

Elizabethtown is requesting prayer for this difficult situation. "Please join me in praying for the Eller family in this very difficult time," said Allen Hansell, director of church relations for Elizabethtown.

"The Young Center has appreciated your support and asks your patience as future steps are determined for ensuring its longterm vitality," he said.

"Members of the Church of the Brethren will certainly want to keep Elizabethtown College and the Eller family at the center of our prayers in the coming weeks," said Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren General Board. "May God's grace and peace be evident in our every word and deed in this time of sadness."

Don Kraybill has been named to serve as interim director of the Young Center. Kraybill is a senior fellow at the college and has a long history of distinguished service to both the college and the Young Center.

A statement from the college said that over the next few weeks, Kraybill will lead an effort to assess the impact of this unfortunate situation and plan a course of action that will allow the Young Center to continue with its work.

Preview of National Youth Conference

• Thousands will 'Come and See' at National Youth Conference 2006.
  
• Dominican Republic youth get first taste of US culture on way to NYC.
  
• NYC nuggets.

Thousands will 'Come and See' at National Youth Conference 2006.

The National Youth Conference (NYC) of the Church of the Brethren will be held on the campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., July 22-27. NYC will draw more than 3,600 teenage youth and adult advisors from the across the US and Puerto Rico, and a group from the Dominican Republic.

"Come and See" is the theme of the conference, which takes place every four years. Activities include morning and evening worship celebrations each day, concerts, workshops, mountain hikes, and service projects, among a host of other opportunities.

Presenters for worship celebrations include:

Jim Wallis, of the Sojourners Community in Washington, D.C., known nationally for his work to promote a Christian approach to current political issues and author of the best seller, "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It," speaking on Monday evening, July 24. The service will be followed by a "Talk Back" session with Wallis.

Craig Kielburger, an internationally recognized advocate for children's rights and founder of Free the Children, speaking Sunday evening, July 23.

The Mennonite comedy duo Ted and Lee, performing Sunday morning, July 23.

Three Church of the Brethren youth--Allen Bowers, Jamie Frye, and Chrissy Sollenberger--who will speak for worship on Monday morning, July 24, as winners of a youth speech contest.

Other Brethren preachers include Jeff Carter, pastor of Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren, speaking Saturday evening, July 22; Beth Gunzel, consultant for a microloan community development program in the Dominican Republic working with the Global Mission Partnerships of the Church of the Brethren General Board, speaking Tuesday evening, July 25; Andy Murray, founder of the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., and a popular Brethren singer and songwriter, speaking Wednesday morning, July 26; Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, associate professor of preaching and worship at Bethany Theological Seminary, speaking Wednesday evening, July 26; and David Radcliff, director of the New Community Project, a Church of the Brethren related nonprofit organization, speaking Thursday morning, July 27. Tuesday morning worship on July 25 will be on the theme "Church of the Brethren Connections," led by General Board staff and others.

Among musicians featured at the conference are Superchic[k], in concert the evening of Sunday, July 23; and Christian musician Ken Medema, featured in evening worship on Monday, July 24, and in a late-evening concert Tuesday, July 25.

Another main event will be "REGNUH: Turning Hunger Around," a 5K walk/run fundraiser to "undo" hunger (try spelling the name of the event backward) through the Global Food Crisis Fund. The fund is a ministry of the General Board. REGNUH will take place on a course around the CSU campus on Sunday afternoon, July 23.

The conference is planned and carried out by the National Youth Cabinet and a team of three young adult coordinators--Cindy Laprade, Beth Rhodes, and Emily Tyler--along with denominational staff and many volunteers from across the church.

Source: 7/21/2006 Newsline Special: Preview of National Youth Conference
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Dominican Republic youth get first taste of US culture on way to NYC.

By Janis Pyle

A group of six youth from the Dominican Republic have "stepped out on faith" in their efforts to attend National Youth Conference. "It is a group of exceptional leaders who all have generous and kind spirits," said Beth Gunzel, one of the group's hosts and translators. She is consultant for a microloan community development program in the DR, working with the General Board's Global Mission Partnerships.

"I was immediately impressed to see how well they worked together and the thought-provoking questions they had," Gunzel said of the Dominican group. "The group maintained a positive attitude as they practiced songs and dramas, while facing the possibility of not being able to travel." A strict US immigration policy has made it very difficult for the youth to obtain travel visas, Gunzel said.

The six youth from Iglesia de los Hermanos-DR (Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic) arrived July 15 to visit the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., and the Chicago-area congregations before attending National Youth Conference in Colorado. Gunzel is assisted in translation and hosting by Tim Heishman, son of DR mission coordinators Irv and Nancy Heishman.

Participants and their churches and villages are: Guildalba Feliz Guzman, Pena de Horeb, Bastida; Elizabeth Feliz Marmolejos, La Hermosa, La Caya; Maria Virgen Suero De Leon, Ebenezer, Bonao; Vildor Archange, Nueva Uncion, Mendoza; Benjamin Lamu Bueno, Rey de Reyes, Sabana Torsa (San Luis); and Pedro Sanchez Ledesma, pastor at Mone de los Olivos, Magueyal.

Guzman explained just how new this experience is for her. In one weekend, she has experienced for the first time computers, e-mail, air travel, and hamburgers. At a Sunday morning worship service at York Center Church of the Brethren in Lombard, Ill., Guzman found herself enjoying the piano music, even without the clapping or drums she is accustomed to. "Although our worship styles differ, we serve the same God," she said.

The group's schedule included a potluck at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin; a trip to Camp Emmaus and Pinecrest Community in Mount Morris, Ill.; worship with Christ Connections congregation in Oswego, Ill.; and sightseeing in downtown Chicago.

The Dominican group will be highlighted at NYC on Tuesday, July 25. During morning worship, Archange will share about the microloans program from his perspective as a board member and a local representative in his community. The group will perform the closing song for evening worship the same day.

--Janis Pyle is coordinator of mission connections for the Global Mission Partnerships of the Church of the Brethren General Board.

Source: 7/21/2006 Newsline Special: Preview of National Youth Conference
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NYC nuggets.

• The winner of the NYC Theme Song Contest is Seth Hendricks. His song, "Come and See," will debut during the opening worship celebration Saturday evening, July 22. Hendricks lives in Richmond, Ind., with his spouse, Laina, and has just finished his first semester at Bethany Theological Seminary.
  
  
• The closest Church of the Brethren congregation to NYC--Northern Colorado Church of the Brethren--is located in the small town of Windsor, just a few miles east of Fort Collins. The church is pastored by John Carlson.
  
  
• Buses full of youth from Atlantic Northeast District and Shenandoah District visited the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., en-route to NYC. For several days, the office building was filled with youth taking tours and enjoying meals in the cafeteria and courtyard. Yet more busloads of youth on their way to Colorado from other areas are being hosted for overnight stops by Brethren congregations across the midwest and plains states.
  
  
• Many youth groups going to NYC have been tithing to the Global Food Crisis Fund, and raising sponsorships for the REGNUH 5K walk/run at NYC on Sunday afternoon, July 23. The fund is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board and makes grants for hunger relief efforts around the world.

Source: 7/21/2006 Newsline Special: Preview of National Youth Conference
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Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260.

NEWS

• Nigeria love offering yields $20,000 to rebuild and heal.
  
• Emergency Disaster Fund issues more than $470,000 in grants.
  
• Northern Plains holds first District Conference of the season.
  
• Brethren bits: Job opening, honors, and much more.

PERSONNEL

• Leiter resigns as director of Information Services for General Board.
  
• Donna McKee Rhodes to direct Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Missions class is offered at Bethany Seminary.
  
• Nigeria workcamp planned for early 2007.

FEATURES

• Caring for body and soul in the Dominican Republic.
  
• Brethren minister among group pardoned for sedition convictions.

Nigeria love offering yields $20,000 to rebuild and heal.

The sum of $20,000 has been sent to Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) as a "love offering" from the Church of the Brethren in the US following the destruction of several EYN churches in interreligious violence.

On Feb. 18 five EYN churches were among many Christian churches in Maiduguri that were burned down or damaged during riots over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Several EYN members were seriously injured in the rioting.

EYN general secretary YY Balami sent a reply acknowledging the gift "with thanks your love for us," the letter said. "This singular act has again reminded us that we are together, that what affects EYN also affects the Church of the Brethren. Kindly extend our appreciation and greetings to the churches and individuals who assisted financially and those who prayed for EYN."

The $20,000 equals about 2.6 million Nigerian Naira. The money will aid the affected congregations and support continuing EYN efforts toward peace and reconciliation.

The love offering was initiated by the Church of the Brethren General Board at its March meeting. The church at large has been invited to join in the offering and the response has been significant. Donations toward the love offering continue to be received. Make checks payable to the Church of the Brethren General Board with "Nigeria Love Offering" in the memo line, mail to 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.

Source: 7/19/2006 Newsline
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Emergency Disaster Fund issues more than $470,000 in grants.

Recent grants from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) total $471,400 for disaster relief work around the world. The fund is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board.

A grant of $350,000 for longterm recovery work in southern Asia following the Dec. 2004 tsunami was announced at the General Board meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 1. The grant is an additional allocation for relief work related to the tsunami, which is being coordinated by Church World Service (CWS) and ACT International. Previous allocations to this project total $320,000.

An additional allocation of $60,000 continues support of longterm relief work by CWS in Sudan. The funds will help provide assistance to more than 400,000 people still living in temporary camps. Two previous allocations to this project total $110,000.

An allocation of $50,000 responds to an appeal from CWS following an earthquake in Indonesia on the island of Java. The funds will help to immediately provide food, potable water, shelter, sanitation, and health and medical services, as well as disaster preparedness and advocacy. Additional grant requests for this project are expected in the future.

The sum of $5,000 has been given for a CWS appeal after summer storms caused flooding and damage in many states along the east coast. The money will help assist communities organize for recovery work, address unmet needs, and care for the most vulnerable impacted by the flooding.

A grant of $4,000 will provide emergency food to help prevent crisis and famine relief following drought and crop failures in Tanzania, in response to a CWS appeal.

An allocation of $2,400 continues support for emergency response work after landslides and floods affected a village in Guatemala. Previous grants totaling $20,800 have provided emergency food, helped rebuild a bridge, and aided in the transport coffee beans to market. The new grant will be used to purchase a three-month supply of corn. The distribution and work is being handled and directed in Guatemala by staff of the General Board's Global Mission Partnerships: Brethren Volunteer Service worker Rebecca Allen and Latin America specialist Tom Benevento.

In other disaster relief news, Brethren Disaster Response is continuing two projects to repair and rebuild homes following hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.

A project in Lucedale, Miss., opened in mid-January, repairing and rebuilding homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 29, 2005. Since the project opened, nearly 200 volunteers have built four new homes and repaired and cleaned up more than 30 others, according to coordinator Jane Yount. "The official death toll has climbed to 1,836, making Katrina the deadliest hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane. Katrina is also the costliest hurricane in US history, with $75 billion in damages," Yount reported. "An estimated 350,000 homes were destroyed and many thousands more damaged."

Brethren Disaster Response also is continuing a rebuilding project in Pensacola, Fla., following damage caused by Hurricane Ivan in Sept. 2004, then by Hurricane Dennis in July 2005. Some 75,000 homes were affected. "Our presence is still very much needed there," Yount said.

In addition to the two ongoing projects, the program is working to develop two new repair and rebuilding project sites, and is continuing to consider the feasibility of operating a modular home project in the area affected by Hurricane Katrina, with a modular home assembly site in southern Virginia still under consideration as well. "Our goal for Gulf Coast recovery is to build one new house a week and repair three," Yount said.

To meet the need for additional leadership, the program is announcing three positions for longterm project directors who can work for five or more months over the period of a year. A monthly stipend of $1,000 per individual or $1,500 per couple is offered.

Two trainings will be offered this fall for 30 new disaster project directors and disaster project assistants. The trainings will be hands-on events at the Florida and Mississippi project sites: Oct 1-14 in Pensacola, Fla., and Oct. 22-Nov. 4 in Lucedale, Miss. Brethren Disaster Response also hopes to recruit Brethren Volunteer Service workers to serve for one year as disaster project assistants, site hosts, or household managers.

The additional projects will require more vehicles and heavy equipment as well, including heavy duty trucks, passenger vans, passenger cars, and a small front loader or backhoe. Donations of this equipment is being sought.

Yount added a call to prayer in her most recent update on Brethren Disaster Response. "Faced with dismal hurricane predictions for this season," she said, "let us pray for God's mercy and protection for vulnerable populations both within and outside our borders."

Source: 7/19/2006 Newsline
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Northern Plains holds first District Conference of the season.

Northern Plains District held its District Conference on July 1 in Des Moines, Iowa. Business, fellowship, and worship centered around the theme "Together: We're Living Our Love for Jesus," made up the three-hour meeting prior to the 2006 Annual Conference.

The meeting began with fellowship time, which continued through a luncheon while district commission reports were presented. After the meal, the 76 delegates were seated and moderator Diane Mason called the meeting to order.

Among the business was discussion and adoption of multiple revisions to the district's Constitution and Bylaws. Another conversation concerned scheduling the 2008 District Conference amongst the other celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the Brethren movement that year. In balloting, delegates called Lois Grove as moderator-elect. A deficit budget was passed with delegates reminded to carry this news to their congregations.

A silent auction of the table centerpieces, candles embossed with the conference theme and logo, raised $906 for the district funds.

The conference closed with the installation of newly-elected leaders, followed by a communion service that served as a call to remember to "live love for Jesus" as participants departed.

Next year the Northern Plains District will meet Aug. 3-4 at South Waterloo (Iowa) Church of the Brethren under the leadership of moderator Jerry Waterman.

Source: 7/19/2006 Newsline
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Brethren bits: Job opening, honors, and much more.

• The Church of the Brethren General Board seeks a director of Information Services to fill a fulltime position located in Elgin, Ill. Responsibilities include developing, maintaining, and implementing a technology system to support General Board programs; providing management responsibility for day-to-day operations; maintaining and developing appropriate hardware and software systems; budget development, monitoring, and reporting in information services arena; providing for accurate and efficient support of use of computers to meet user needs. Qualifications include knowledge and experience in planning and implementing an information system; knowledge and experience in budget development and management; strong technical skills in programming and systems analysis; progressive administrative and leadership skills. Education and experience required includes a minimum of a bachelor's degree in information sciences or related field; a minimum of five years of significant information services experience, including systems analysis and design, and programming involving networks. A position description and application form are available on request. Application deadline is Aug. 12. Qualified candidates are invited to complete the application form, submit a resume and letter of application, and request three references to send letters of recommendation to the Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694; 800-323-8039 ext. 258; kkrog_gb@brethren.org.
  
  
• Chris Douglas, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Church of the Brethren General Board, was among five alumni honored at Alumni Days at Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind. Other were former college faculty Allen C. Deeter, William R. Eberly, and Arthur L. Gilbert, and college trustee Melvin L. Holmes. Deeter is professor emeritus of Religion and Philosophy and is known for his leadership in expanding Brethren Colleges Abroad; Eberly is professor emeritus of Biology and author of "The History of the Natural Sciences at Manchester College"; Gilbert is professor emeritus of accounting, who led expansion of the accounting department and the master's of accountancy degree; Holmes is a retired senior buyer at AM General Corporation in South Bend, Ind., and a community leader in intercultural relations. For more go to www.manchester.edu.
  
  
• Matt Guynn, coordinator of peace witness for On Earth Peace, had poems published in a new book, "Becoming Fire: Spiritual Writing from Rising Generations," published by Andover Newton Theological School. The book is an anthology of spiritual writing from Generations X and Y and their mentors, and includes essays, fiction, poems, and sermons. It sells for $12.95, with proceeds benefitting the Faith Youth Institute. For more go to www.ants.edu/about/publications/index.htm.
  
  
• Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) holds its summer orientation July 30-Aug. 18 at the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center. This will be the 270th BVS unit, and will be made up of 21 volunteers from across the US and Germany. Half of the group is Church of the Brethren, with the others coming from varied faith backgrounds. A weekend immersion trip to Baltimore is planned with volunteer opportunities at area soup kitchens and outreach centers, as well as at Jonah House. Volunteers also will have a chance to work at the Brethren Service Center for a day, and at several service sites in Carroll County. A BVS potluck is open to all those who are interested on Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Union Bridge Church of the Brethren. "Please feel free to come and welcome the new BVS volunteers and share your own experiences," said Becky Snavely of the BVS office. "Don Vermilyea will also be present to share experiences from his Walk Across America. As always your prayer support is welcome and needed," she added. "Please pray for the unit, and the people they will touch during their year of service through BVS." For more information call 800-323-8039 ext. 423.
  
  
• Disaster Child Care (DCC) volunteers have visited five FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in Pennsylvania to research the need for child care following the worst flooding to hit the Susquehanna River valley and its tributaries since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Over 200,000 residents were evacuated due to rising flood waters, reported DCC coordinator Helen Stonesifer. The widespread flooding affected numerous rivers, lakes, and communities from upstate New York to North Carolina. Also being researched is the need for child care services in California, where homes have been burned in a large wildfire east of Los Angeles.
  
  
• Community Church of Waterford, a Church of the Brethren congregation in Goshen, Ind., held its Grand Opening Celebration on May 7 with over 400 people in attendance.
  
  
• Jonathan Emmons will present a Benefit Organ Recital at Antioch Church of the Brethren in Rocky Mount, Va., on July 29 at 4 p.m. Emmons was organist for the 2004 Annual Conference in Charleston, W.Va. Donations will support the World Hunger Auction, a cooperative venture of 10 congregations in Virlina District. The auction itself is planned for Aug. 12, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the Antioch church. For more go to www.worldhungerauction.org.
  
  
• Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has a small team of peacemakers at Bear Butte, S.D., from July 3-Aug. 15 to nonviolently resist continued development and encroachment on land that Native American tribes consider sacred. An Intertribal Coalition of 30 tribes requested CPT's assistance as they oppose a new development including a biker bar and concert venue called the "Sturgis County Line" on 600 acres at the base of Bear Butte. Every year, thousands of Native people travel to pray at the butte. The final week of the encampment will coincide with the 66th annual Sturgis motorcycle rally that brings 500,000 bikers to the area.
  
  
• A Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) women's delegation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is planned for Oct. 18-Nov. 2. Rape has been a weapon of war among militias in the Congo. Delegates will meet with Congolese women and human rights organizations to witness the effects of the war and to learn about western countries' roles in the conflict. Delegates raise $3,100 to cover costs; financial assistance may be available. Application deadline is July 31. For more information go to www.cpt.org and click on "Delegations."
  
  
• The National Council of Churches (NCC), Church World Service (CWS), and the World Council of Churches (WCC) issued a joint statement July 14 urging nonviolent solutions to the violence in Israel, Lebanon, and Palestine. "Is there ever to be an end to violence in the land we call holy? What has violence solved these last 60 years? What has violence solved these past weeks?" the statement asked. The NCC, WCC, and CWS called for an immediate cessation of attacks on all sides and urged the US government and other nations to recognize the success of former peace initiatives, and with the assistance of the United Nations to seek nonviolent solutions for all parties involved. They also urged their member Christian denominations to "pray for all those who have suffered and died as a result of this violence, and their families and communities, and to engage in humanitarian and advocacy actions for peace." For the full statement go to www.councilofchurches.org.
  
  
• Brethren elder John Kline's historic Civil War-era home and farmland will be for put up for sale within the next six months by its Mennonite owners, according to Paul Roth, pastor of Linville Creek Church of the Brethren in Broadway, Va. Roth seeks people within the Brethren bodies who can help plan for purchase of the property and a design for its use. The owners wish to give the Brethren first right of refusal on the property, Roth said. Local developers are eager to buy the 10-acre property and place townhouses on it, he added. "It is important that we act quickly." Contact Roth at 540-896-5001.

Source: 7/19/2006 Newsline
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Leiter resigns as director of Information Services for General Board.

Ed Leiter has submitted his resignation as director of Information Services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, working at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. His resignation will be effective no later than Dec. 31.

He has worked for the General Board for 25 years, since 1988. He worked at the service center from 1984-87 as a programmer, and then from 1988-2004 as lead programmer and analyst. He assumed his current role in June 2004.

Leiter is a graduate of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Computer Science. Following college he served in Brethren Volunteer Service. He is a member of Union Bridge (Md.) Church of the Brethren.

Source: 7/19/2006 Newsline
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Donna McKee Rhodes to direct Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center.

The Susquehanna Valley Ministry has announced the appointment of Donna McKee Rhodes to the position of executive director beginning Aug. 1. She has served for the past five years as dean of Certificate and Continuing Education Programs at the center, which is a ministry education partnership of Bethany Theological Seminary and five districts in the northeast.

Rhodes is a graduate of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., with a bachelor's degree in education. She received her Training in Ministry certificate through the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership in 1996 and is currently enrolled as an occasional student at Bethany Seminary. Rhodes also has completed a three-year training program in spiritual direction through Oasis Ministries. She is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren.

Rhodes and her family live in Huntingdon, Pa., and are members of Stone Church of the Brethren. She will work out of her home and from the center's central office on the campus of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College.

Source: 7/19/2006 Newsline
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Missions class is offered at Bethany Seminary.

A course titled, "Brethren Mission: With a Bible and a Shovel," will be offered at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., on three weekends this fall: Sept. 8-9, Oct. 6-7, and Nov. 3-4. The course is available to students in the master of divinity track, or for Training in Ministry credit.

The course introduces the historical, biblical, and theological foundation of Brethren mission from its earliest roots, and will challenge participants to formulate a vision for the future of Brethren mission. Bradley Bohrer, newly named director for the Sudan mission initiative of the General Board, will teach the class assisted by Merv Keeney, executive director of the board's Global Mission Partnerships.

To register contact Deb Gropp, Academic Services, at 800-287-8822 ext. 1821.

Source: 7/19/2006 Newsline
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Nigeria workcamp planned for early 2007.

Projected dates for the 2007 workcamp in Nigeria are Jan. 13-Feb. 11. Since 1985 an annual workcamp has been held in Nigeria sponsored by Global Mission Partnerships of the Church of the Brethren General Board, in order to provide an opportunity for relationship building and mutual encouragement.

Work will again focus on building the Comprehensive Secondary School of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Plans include a visit to congregations in Maiduguri, where violence in February led to the destruction of five church buildings of EYN. Participants will be present with members of the affected congregations and see progress made with the support of a love offering given by the US church.

David Whitten, coordinator of Nigeria mission for the General Board, will lead the workcamp. Projected cost is $2,200. See www.brethren.org/genbd/global_mission/workcamp/index.html for more information. Applications are due Oct. 2 and are available from Mary Munson at 800-323-8039.

Source: 7/19/2006 Newsline
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Caring for body and soul in the Dominican Republic.

By Irvin and Nancy Heishman

The germ of an idea began to grow when Paul Mundey heard pastor Anastacia Bueno Beltre preach at the 2005 Annual Conference. Beltre is pastor of San Luis Iglesia de los Hermanos (Church of the Brethren) in the Dominican Republic. Mundey heard in her sermon the excitement of her dynamic and resilient faith, and wondered how the church he pastors in Frederick, Md., could become involved in the mission in the DR.

Frederick Church of the Brethren had previously sent members on mission trips to Latin America but had not connected with Brethren mission projects. Through a series of communications, we considered plans together for how a group of Frederick members could visit the DR and become familiar with the Brethren mission.

In March 2006 a group of five people from Frederick, led by pastor Bill Van Buskirk and medical doctor Julian Choe, visited the DR for nine days. The experience was a rich blessing for the church in the DR and was personally transforming for the group from Frederick.

The group traveled first to Fondo Negro, a small congregation in the southwest DR. Church members gave them a tour of the community including the beautiful Yaque River, where many go to swim and bathe. The group also stayed overnight in the homes of congregation members, a "stretch" for Americans given that not all homes in the DR have indoor plumbing or other comforts. The Frederick group offered children's activities, sharing simple crafts like a "salvation bracelet." This activity facilitated a clear sharing of the gospel message and yielded delightful interaction with the children.

The group then headed back to the area of the DR's capital to spend several days with the San Jose congregation. In contrast to Fondo Negro's semi-arid rural location, the San Jose church is located in the middle of a desperately poor community surrounded by abandoned sugar cane fields. This type of community is called a "batey," which means a community where Haitian immigrant workers are housed for the sugar cane industry. In San Jose the sugar industry has been abandoned, so residents eke out a living with limited, low-paying seasonal work in a near-by palm oil plantation.

Frederick members felt called to respond not only to physical needs but also spiritual needs. In planning their trip they designed a combination of activities to reach out to the whole person. As Van Buskirk put it, "The first day was physical saving. The next day was soul saving." Although several group members had participated in mission trips before, they were shaken by the desperate poverty in San Jose. Under the direction of Dr. Choe, the group was prepared for medical outreach. They had brought 100 pounds of medicine, focusing mostly on treating dysentery and parasitic conditions and offering much-needed vitamins.

While this treatment was effective in the short-term, the group realized that these problems will continue to plague this community and others like it. Parasites can be treated, for example, but if people are drinking contaminated water, they will soon have parasites again. For this reason, the Frederick church is interested in forming a longer-term relationship with the mission in the DR, specifically in the area of health. "We don't just want to do a hit and run," said Van Buskirk in an article in the "Frederick (Md.) News Post."

Dominican church leaders are considering the possibility of developing a preventative health ministry in cooperation with the General Board and congregations like Frederick. Let's dare to pray boldly that God will open the way for this ministry to become a reality in 2007.

--Irvin and Nancy Heishman are mission coordinators for the Church of the Brethren General Board in the Dominican Republic.

Source: 7/19/2006 Newsline
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Brethren minister among group pardoned for sedition convictions.

A Church of the Brethren minister is among 78 people granted pardons for sedition convictions in Montana during World War I, the fruit of a Sedition Pardons Project at the University of Montana. The project was directed by Clemens P. Work, professor of media law and director of Graduate Studies at the School of Journalism.

Sedition charges were filed against the late Church of the Brethren elder and minister John Silas (J.S.) Geiser on July 2, 1918, stemming from statements he made on Sunday, May 5, 1918, opposing the war. The statements were most probably made as part of a sermon.

The charges against Geiser were "extremely unusual," said Work. Geiser was "the only one of these cases of a minister being convicted...for what he said during a sermon."

At the time, Geiser served the Grandview congregation near Froid, Mont. He was charged under a law passed by the Montana legislature in 1918, that "criminalized all sorts of negative speech," according to Work. In all, 79 people in Montana (one pardoned in 1921) were convicted for criticizing the government during wartime.

Geiser was reported to the authorities for making the following statement: "All war is wrong. It is all wrong to buy liberty bonds or thrift stamps. We should remain firm; and I urge you not to buy or purchase any liberty bonds or thrift stamps.... I believe it is wrong to kill one's fellow man. One who buys Liberty Bonds and Thrift Stamps to furnish ammunition for the killing of people is as bad as it would be to kill one's self. I believe that one who buys Liberty Bonds and Thrift Stamps to aid and support the war is as bad as those who hire gunmen in the city of New York to kill their fellow man."

"It sounds like he was proclaiming the Brethren peace stance, doesn't it?" commented Ralph Clark, a current member of the congregation who is interested in church history. Clark has carried out research about Geiser on behalf of the pardons project.

Geiser moved to Froid in 1915 from Maryland, where he had started a mission that later developed into Baltimore First Church of the Brethren, according to an obituary in the Church of the Brethren magazine "The Gospel Messenger" of April 27, 1935. Geiser also worked as a dentist to support his family while he served at Grandview. The congregation he served is now the Big Sky American Baptist/Brethren Church with joint Brethren and Baptist affiliation. In 1927, illness forced Geiser's return to the lower altitudes of the east coast, where he died in 1934.

The obituary makes no mention of Geiser's sedition conviction. But according to Clark's research, church minutes reveal more. In a congregational meeting on May 14, 1918, Geiser retracted part of his statement saying he had misunderstood Annual Meeting rulings on the purchase of war bonds. Clark said Geiser may have been referring to an Annual Meeting minute from the Civil War era allowing the purchase of government bonds.

The congregation voted to continue Geiser in his office and to help him seek legal assistance for the sedition charge. Then, in June 1918, Geiser handed in his resignation to the church after having declared bankruptcy. The district elders made a ruling in July 1918 undoing Geiser's ordination, Clark said. In Sept. 1920, however, he was reinstated to full ministry. Annual Meeting frowned on declaring bankruptcy and that was probably the factor that led to the ruling undoing Geiser's ordination, Clark said.

Geiser did not do jail time for his conviction but was fined $200. "As far as I can determine they (the Geiser family) continued to live in their house and three church members signed for the $5,000 bail bond and one member paid the $200 fine," Clark said.

Of the 79 people convicted of sedition in Montana, 41 went to prison and the others were fined, Work said. The range of prison sentence was 1 to 20 years, the range actually served was 7 months to 3 years. Fines ranged from $200 to $5,000. "My position is that they shouldn't have served a day in prison," Work added. The sedition law was passed in an atmosphere of hysteria, because of fear of disruption of the war effort by labor radicals. "People were just hysterical at the time about the war and apprehending spies and enemies of the war effort," Work said.

Those convicted of sedition were for the most part "ordinary people who said critical or derogatory things about the government," Work said. Most of the comments for which people were charged were made privately or were off-handed outbursts of anger or made under the influence of alcohol. In all cases, somebody listening took offense and turned the person in, Work said. Many times the person was not charged for what they said, but for who they were. For example, some of those convicted were German immigrants, Work said. "Or the person who reported them used the law as permission for revenge or payback, or exercising a grudge. We don't know how many fell into that category."

The pardons project grew out of research for Work's 2005 book, "Darkest Before Dawn: Sedition and Free Speech in the American West." The project obtained an executive pardon from Governor Schweitzer of Montana with the help of professor Jeffrey T. Renz, of the University of Montana's School of Law, and a large group of others including law and journalism students, historians, and genealogists. On May 3, more than 40 relatives of those convicted of sedition were present when the governor issued the pardon.

As for Geiser, his obituary hints that he did not let the experience affect his love for ministry or the northwest. "He loved the great northwest, but above all he loved his church and the souls of men. He wanted to see our church established in this pioneer country," the obituary said.

For more information about the Sedition Pardons Project go to www.seditionproject.net.

Source: 7/19/2006 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. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Merv Keeney, Jon Kobel, Karin Krog, Diane Mason, Ken Neher, Becky Snavely, Helen Stonesifer, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.

NEWS FROM THE 2006 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

• 'Doing Church Business,' Iraq war, divestment head Annual Conference business agenda.
  
• Conference chooses James Beckwith as moderator for 2008.
  
• Answers are received to questions about sexuality and ministry.

PERSONNEL

• Julie Garber is selected as editor of 'Brethren Life and Thought.'
  
• Bethany Seminary announces search for new president.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Training event at National Older Adult Conference is open to all pastors.

For daily coverage of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, go to www.brethren.org/AC2006/index.html.

'Doing Church Business,' Iraq war, divestment head Annual Conference business agenda.

A very full business agenda faced the delegate body at the 2006 Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 1-5. The business sessions were chaired by moderator Ronald D. Beachley, executive minister of Western Pennsylvania District. Moderator-elect Belita Mitchell assisted.

Doing Church Business:

The report of the study committee on Doing Church Business was referred to the Program Feasibility Study Committee of Annual Conference. The paper's recommendations have potential to make significant changes in the format of the Conference and the way delegates address business.

"There is a clear need for significant change in order to enhance and model a discerning Christian community and the reign of God," the paper said.

"We recognize the complexity of this undertaking," said committee member Matt Guynn, who asked delegates to recognize the capacity for creativity in doing Conference business. The committee's presentation of the paper highlighted several of its key recommendations and explained some of the thinking behind them.

Many who spoke to the paper affirmed its intent, but concerns were raised about implementation and cost. Delegates in 2007 will address the paper in light of the feasibility study, and will take up the paper at the point at which the motion to refer was made.

In a moment of confusion on the Conference floor, a re-count of a vote on the motion to refer had to be taken because the count of a previous vote--in which the motion was declared to have failed--was greater than the total number of delegates. However, a re-count by paper ballot approved the motion to refer.

Resolution on an End to the War in Iraq:

A resolution from the General Board calling for an end to the war in Iraq was adopted by the Annual Conference. It petitions for the troops to be brought home from Iraq, and calls on the global community to implement a nonviolent plan to bring peace and security there.

"As disciples of Christ and members of one of the three historic peace churches, we cannot ignore the death, destruction, and violence in the war in Iraq," it says.

At the microphones to support the resolution were family members of soldiers either currently in Iraq or returned from Iraq.

"Let them come home. We want our children back home," pleaded a mother, from Atlantic Northeast District.

A Navy veteran of the first Iraq war echoed the sentiment. "I say it's time to bring our men and women home."

A sizeable minority voted against the resolution. Some people said that bringing the news of the decision home to their congregations would be an unwelcome task.

"I realized I will take some heat. Brother moderator, you will too," said William Waugh, Standing Committee member from Western Pennsylvania, who presented the recommendation to adopt the paper.

Standing Committee's recommendation included a hope that all Brethren agencies and congregations will publicize the resolution.

Resolution on Divestment:

The Conference expressed appreciation for "Resolution: Divestment from Companies Selling Products Used as Weapons in Israel and Palestine," and thanked Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) for its efforts to dialogue with the Caterpillar Corporation.

The delegates urged "Brethren agencies and individuals and other people of faith to review their own investments and refrain from investing in businesses that profit from war and violence, and to give faithful witness to Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace in financial matters as in all other matters."

The resolution asked BBT in particular to divest from the Caterpillar Corporation "and any other company that sells products that are used routinely as weapons of destruction or death in Israel and Palestine."

Since the resolution was made, the stocks at issue have been sold by BBT's fund managers simply as a financial decision. BBT no longer owns stock in Caterpillar.

BBT's initial approach to the issue was not to divest but to use the shares that it held to speak to Caterpillar, BBT president Wil Nolen told the Conference. Referring to Caterpillar's D9 bulldozers made to military specifications, Nolen told the body that "our approach was to directly inquire of Caterpillar how this...conforms with their own Worldwide Code of Conduct."

In other business:

• The delegate body welcomed and adopted a resolution on "Commitment of Accessibility and Inclusion" from the Association of Brethren Caregives. Although a 1994 Annual Conference resolution urged Church of the Brethren congregations and institutions to become accessible to the disabled, many congregations have not yet done so. The resolution urges "each congregation, agency, institution, facility and gathering" in the denomination to recommit to becoming fully accessible and including every person in its ministry. The resolution states that the barriers are not only architectural, but also "attitudes that reflect a lack of sensitivity or understanding, which deny persons with disabilities the right to a life of dignity and respect." Several people spoke at the microphones, sharing their stories of disability and how their churches have embraced them persons or how they have been challenged in their efforts to participate in the church.
  
  
• Delegates approved the concerns of a query on "Call to Stewardship Education" and referred it to the General Board.
  
  
• The General Board's resolution on "A Call to Reduce Global Poverty and Hunger," was adopted by the Conference without discussion. It calls on Brethren to pursue the Millennium Development Goals developed by the United Nations in 2000, including universal primary education, reduction of child mortality, improvement in maternal health, care for the environment, combating infectious diseases, and empowerment of women. The resolution closes, "Through prayer, study, and concrete action, let us resolve to act so that those who know extreme poverty and hunger might enter more fully into the abundance of God's love."
  
  
• The direction of revisions of the Articles of Organization of Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) were affirmed. Among other things, the revisions allow BBT to provide more services to Brethren Medical Plan participants and add language to acknowledge BBT's recently taking on oversight of the Church of the Brethren Credit Union. The revisions also balance representation on the BBT board from different constituent groups. Proposed language to allow BBT to solicit donations and seek grants and other funding was withdrawn by the BBT board before Standing Committee recommended the revisions to Annual Conference. Standing Committee had expressed unease with the sentence's introduction of a new ability for BBT to seek funding sources beyond fees, perceiving that to open the agency to possible conflicts of interest and privacy violations as BBT may have access to donor lists of other Brethren agencies that use its services.
  
  
• The Conference approved a 4.2 percent cost of living increase for 2007 for the minimum pastoral salary table, at the recommendation of the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee.
  
  
• Reports were received from the five Annual Conference agencies: Association of Brethren Caregivers, the Brethren Benefit Trust, Bethany Theological Seminary, the General Board, and On Earth Peace; delegates also received a report of the denomination's activities in ministry to the poor, following up on a previous Annual Conference action; an interim report from the Review and Evaluation Committee; an interim report from the 300th Anniversary Committee. One-year extensions for the Brethren Medical Plan Study Committee and the Intercultural Study Committee were approved after the body received interim reports from the two committees. Other reports included the Brethren representatives to the National Council of Churches and World Council of Churches, and the Committee on Interchurch Relations.
  
  
• The delegates welcomed six new fellowships: Christ Connections Community Fellowship of Oswego, Ill.; Faithful Servants Fellowship of Frederick, Md.; Family Faith Fellowship of Enid, Okla.; Journeys Way Ministries Fellowship of Fairhope, Pa.; Naples (Fla.) Haitian Fellowship; and Ramey Flats Fellowship of Clintwood, Va.
  
  
• Delegates also got a taste of "Together: Conversations on Being the Church," a study process being carried out across the denomination this year. Business sessions included four half-hour segments for small group conversation using the Together study guide available from Brethren Press. Together conversations will continue in regional and district gatherings.
  
  
• The Program and Arrangements Commitee announced that the 2011 Conference will be held in Grand Rapids, Mich. The dates will be July 2-6, 2011.

Source: 7/05/2006 Newsline
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Conference chooses James Beckwith as moderator for 2008.

Topping election results from the 2006 Annual Conference was the choice of James M. Beckwith, pastor of Annville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, as moderator-elect. Beckwith will serve as moderator of the 2008 Annual Conference that will include a celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Brethren movement.

Other election results include:

Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee: Scott L. Duffey of Westminster, Md.

Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee: Philip Hershey of Quarryville, Pa.

Committee on Interchurch Relations: Rene Quintanilla of Fresno, Calif.

Association of Brethren Caregivers: Vernne Wetzel Greiner of Mechanicsburg, Pa.;Dave Fouts of Maysville, W.Va. Nominees to the ABC board were affirmed: William Cave of Palmyra, Pa.; Gayle Hunter Sheller of Hillsboro, Ore.; Tamela Kiser of Dayton, Va.; John Kinsel of Beavercreek, Ohio.

Bethany Theological Seminary, representing colleges: Jonathan Frye of McPherson, Kan.; representing laity: Rex M. Miller of Milford, Ind.

Brethren Benefit Trust: Eunice Culp of Goshen, Ind. A nominee for the board of Brethren Benefit Trust was affirmed: Harry S. Rhodes of Roanoke (Va.) Central Church of the Brethren.

General Board, at large: Hector E. Perez-Borges of Bayamon, P.R. District nominees to the General Board were confirmed: David Bollinger, Atlantic Southeast District; Barbra S. Davis, Missouri and Arkansas District; and Kenneth Geisewite, Southern Pennsylvania District.

On Earth Peace: Madalyn Metzger of Bristol, Ind. Nominees for the board of On Earth Peace were affirmed: Verdena Lee of Living Peace Church of the Brethren, Columbus, Ohio; and Phil Miller of Ivester Church of the Brethren, Grundy Center, Iowa.

In a reorganization meeting, the General Board chose a new executive committee: The Church of the Brethren General Board reorganized at a meeting this evening in Des Moines.

The Executive Committee for 2006-07 will be: Jeff Neuman Lee, chair; Tim Harvey, vice chair; Vickie Samland; Angie L. Yoder; Dale Minnich; Ken Wenger; and Belita Mitchell as the 2007 Annual Conference moderator after July 5.

The board of Brethren Benefit Trust also chose 2006-07 officers: Harry Rhodes, chair; Jan Bratton, vice chair; Wilfred E. Nolen, secretary; Darryl Deardorff, treasurer. The BBT board's Budget and Audit Review committee includes Steve Mason, Carol Ann Jackson Greenwood, Brenda Reish, Dave Gerber. The Investment Committee includes Jan Bratton, Harry Rhodes, Gail Habecker, Eric Kabler. The Nominating Committee includes Ken Holderread, Donna Forbes Steiner, John Braun. The Succession Committee includes Harry Rhodes, Jan Bratton, Gail Habecker.

Source: 7/05/2006 Newsline
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Answers are received to questions about sexuality and ministry.

The Annual Conference Council reported answers to questions raised by Michigan District's 2003 query, "Clarification of Confusion." That query followed the previous year's Conference action declaring it "inappropriate" to license or ordain individuals "engaging in homosexual practice."

The answers note that the 2002 action was a policy decision that was based on polity, which "requires that ordination be reserved for those who will support the actions of Annual Conference." The council said the action did not change the 1983 Statement on Human Sexuality, and that present polity for licensing and ordination is sufficient.

This year's answers follow an initial response from the council in 2003, that "no one known to be engaging in homosexual practices will be licensed or ordained in the Church of the Brethren."

After receiving a report of the answers in pre-Conference meetings, the Standing Committee of district delegates requested copies and directed that the response be distributed also to the delegate body. Jim Hardenbrook as chair of the Annual Conference Council read the answers to the delegate body. The item was received as a report, without time given for discussion or questions.

The concerns of the query had been referred to the council by Annual Conference in 2003. The first response from the council in 2003 added that, "specific structural and theological issues will be answered later." Since then, Hardenbrook said, the council's response also has included visits of council members to Michigan District, other meetings with district leaders, work on the issues in other settings including by staff of the General Board's Ministry Office and the Council of District Executives, and a listening session at the 2004 Annual Conference.

The Standing Committee discussion ranged over a variety of issues including whether the letter should be shared at all with the Annual Conference delegates. "The query came from Michigan, but Michigan isn't the only district that holds these concerns," said John Willoughby, Michigan representative to Standing Committee. "I'm confused by the fact that we'd handle this one differently, other than the fact that we just want this to go away," he said later in the discussion. "I think that the Annual Conference as a whole needs to hear the answer."

Annual Conference did not request a report back from the council when it referred the query in 2003, according to Annual Conference secretary Fred Swartz. Many Standing Committee delegates expressed the understanding that the council's answers close the issue.

Other issues raised in the Standing Committee discussion included the unusual nature of the response to this query, that it is the first query to be referred for an answer to the Annual Conference Council, whether the council's answer is subject to approval by Annual Conference, whether the answer should be treated as an unfinished item of business, whether Standing Committee should give a verbal report to the Conference delegates or include the letter as a written document in the delegate packets, and whether Standing Committee would include the Michigan District response in its report.

Some spoke of the newness of the Annual Conference Council itself, which as Hardenbrook told the Standing Committee, has only been in existence for five years. The role of the council is still being clarified, said 2006 Annual Conference moderator Ronald Beachley. "This is new territory," Beachley said, adding that the council was not sure how to report on its action. As the first query to be referred to the council, "the answer to this query has been different from the beginning," said Hardenbrook.

Source: 7/05/2006 Newsline
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Julie Garber is selected as editor of 'Brethren Life and Thought.'

Julie Lynne Garber of North Manchester, Ind., received a unanimous vote of affirmation as the new editor of "Brethren Life and Thought," at the Brethren Journal Association meeting at Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 3.

Garber is currently director of Plowshares at Manchester College and also has served the college as associate dean for Academic Affairs 2002-06 and assistant to the academic dean 1987-2000. In other service to the church, she was editor of books and curriculum for Brethren Press 1990-2002, working as staff of the Church of the Brethren General Board.

She holds a bachelor's degree from Manchester College, a master of theology degree from Bethany Theological Seminary, and a master's degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School.

With Plowshares Garber has administered a multi-million dollar grant to strengthen peace studies. As Brethren Press editor she was instrumental in producing several key curriculum series, as well as editing seminal volumes such as "Fruit of the Vine," by the late Donald F. Durnbaugh, and "A Cup of Cold Water: The Story of Brethren Service," by J. Kenneth Kreider.

"Brethren Life and Thought" is an academic journal jointly published by Bethany Theological Seminary and the Brethren Journal Association in the interests of the Church of the Brethren. Garber's appointment was recommended by the Journal Association Advisory Board.

Source: 7/05/2006 Newsline
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Bethany Seminary announces search for new president.

The Board of Trustees of Bethany Theological Seminary and its Presidential Search Committee invite inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of president, succeeding Eugene F. Roop.

Roop is retiring after 15 years of leadership at the seminary located in Richmond, Ind. The new president will assume office in July 2007.

The seminary seeks a president who carries knowledge of theological education, a passion for teaching and research, and a deep love for the church, bringing a directed vision for Bethany's future. He or she should possess a Ph.D., D.Min., or other earned terminal degree, and strong skills in administration, communication, cooperative leadership, and fundraising, as well as the ability to engage others in effective planning and implementation of priorities.

Founded in 1905, Bethany is a graduate school and academy that seeks to prepare people for Christian ministry, and to educate those called as Christian leaders and scholars. Bethany's educational program bears witness to the beliefs, heritage, and practices of the Church of the Brethren in the context of the whole Christian tradition. Set in partnership with Earlham School of Religion and the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center, Bethany embodies ecumenical cooperation in the Anabaptist tradition and innovation in programming, curriculum design, and economic stewardship. Bethany is fully accredited by the American Association of Theological Schools in the US and Canada and by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Bethany Theological Seminary is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Review of applications will begin this summer and will continue until an appointment is made. Interested individuals should provide a letter outlining their interest in and qualification for the position, a curriculum vita, and the names and contact information for five references.

Applications and nominations may be submitted electronically or by mail to Dr. Carol A. Scheppard, Chairperson, Presidential Search Committee, Bethany Theological Seminary, 615 National Rd. W., Richmond, Indiana 47374-4019; presidentialsearch@bethanyseminary.edu.

For more information about Bethany Theological Seminary, visit www.bethanyseminary.edu.

Source: 7/05/2006 Newsline
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Training event at National Older Adult Conference is open to all pastors.

Pastors are encouraged to attend the Older Adult Ministry Training Event to be held during the National Older Adult Conference (NOAC), Sept. 4-8 at Lake Junaluska Assembly in North Carolina. Both events are sponsored by the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC).

Clergy will receive continuing education credit (10 contact hours or 1 continuing education unit) for attending the training event. Pastors also may want to bring interested people from their congregations to the training event, which is open to anyone who would like to attend, regardless of whether the attendee is an "older adult" or not, ABC said.

This year's training event features Richard Gentzler, a Methodist pioneer and "guru" of older adult ministry. The training event also will feature four workshops to help congregations relate and minister to older adults: "Spiritual Challenges and Blessings of Aging," "Liturgies of Healing Transformations: Marking Life Transitions in Community," "Advance Directives," and "Support Groups for Older Adults."

Registration costs $180 per person, which also enables the participant to attend any portion of NOAC. To register for the training event, and for information about transportation, lodging, and meals, see the NOAC brochure or request one from the ABC office by calling 800-323-8039.

Source: 7/05/2006 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. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Mary Dulabaum, Wendy McFadden, Frank Ramirez, and Frances Townsend contributed to this report. Newsline appears every other Wednesday, with the next regularly scheduled Newsline set for July 19; other special issues may be sent as needed.

Newsline Special: 2006 Annual Conference Preview

NEWS

• Annual Conference to address a full business agenda.
  
• La Conferencia Anual tendrá una agenda llena.
  
• Historic photo opportunity for attendees of the church’s 250th anniversary.

FEATURE

• Will there be a Church of the Brethren in Sudan?

From July 1-5, daily news and photographs will be posted from the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa; go to www.brethren.org/ac.

Annual Conference to address a full business agenda.

The 220th recorded Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren will be held July 1-5 in Des Moines, Iowa. Delegates will be kept busy by a full business agenda. Moderator Ronald D. Beachley, executive minister for Western Pennsylvania District, will preside over the business sessions.

The Conference theme, “Together: Exercise Daily in God,” from 1 Timothy 4:6-8, will be complemented by half-hour sessions during business on July 3 and 4 to engage in the denomination-wide study emphasis, “Together: Conversations on Being the Church.”

Other major items of business are:

“Call to Stewardship Education,” from Mid-Atlantic District, requesting “additional guidance, resources, and instruction for deepening our understanding of the stewardship of time, talent, and financial resources.”

Revisions to the Articles of Organization of Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT).

“Resolution: Divestment from Companies Selling Products Used as Weapons in Israel and Palestine,” from Fremont (Calif.) Fellowship in Christ and Pacific Southwest District, asking BBT to “divest itself from ownership of Caterpillar Corporation and any other company that sells products that are used routinely as weapons of destruction or death in Israel and Palestine.” The query cites scripture and Brethren tradition in asking for exploration of reinvesting funds in companies “doing business that enhances the quality of life for both Israelis and Palestinians,” and consideration of divestment because, “Caterpillar Corporation...sells to Israel bulldozers that are used to destroy Palestinian homes, farms, ancient olive groves, roads, and water and sewer pipes and that have killed several persons.... These Caterpillar D9 bulldozers are made according to military specifications and are sold to Israel under the US Foreign Military Sales Program.”

“A Call to Reduce Global Poverty and Hunger,” from the Church of the Brethren General Board, calling the denomination to help reduce global poverty and hunger by recommitting to the teachings of Jesus, revisiting the 2000 Annual Conference statement on “Caring for the Poor,” and pursuing the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.

“Commitment of Accessibility and Inclusion Resolution,” from the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) and its Disabilities Ministries, urging “each congregation, agency, institution, facility, and gathering of the Church of the Brethren to make a new commitment to enable all people to participate fully in all ministries....” The query asks the church to examine barriers that prevent people with disabilities from full participation and to commit that “all existing and future denominational office sites be modified or designed to follow the guidelines” of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Doing Church Business,” a report of a study committee elected in 2004, including numerous recommendations focused on preparation and training for Conference leaders and delegates and format of the Conference. “There is a clear need for significant change in order to enhance and model a discerning Christian community and the reign of God,” it says. Specific recommendations include training for delegates and moderators; congregational discernment about Conference business; “process counselors” and a Process Committee; small-group discernment during Conference; consideration of summaries of major dissenting opinions; holding Love Feast at Conference; and expanding the length of Conference. Committee members are Dave Shetler, Joe Detrick, Matt Guynn, Verdena Lee, and Dale Posthumus.

Also on the agenda: interim reports from the Brethren Medical Plan Study Committee, Intercultural Study Committee, 300th Anniversary Committee, and Review and Evaluation Study Committee; elections; and reports from denominational agencies and committees. (For full business documents go to www.brethren.org/ac/desmoines/2006business.html.)

At its pre-Conference meeting on July 1, the General Board has a full agenda as well, including a first report from a Brethren Service Center Ministry Options Exploration Committee regarding the center in New Windsor, Md.; a “Contingency Plan for a Military Draft”; revisions to its vision, mission, and core values statements; long-range planning; and finances.

For more go to www.brethren.org/ac. Daily news reports and photographs will be posted from the Conference in Des Moines from July 1-5, on the news pages at www.brethren.org/ac.

Source: 06/23/2006 Newsline
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La Conferencia Anual tendrá una agenda llena.

La 220th Conferencia Anual de la Iglesia de los Hermanos tendrá lugar del 1 al 5 de Julio en Des Moines, Iowa. Los delegados estarán ocupados con una agenda de negocios bastante llena. El Moderador, Ronald D. Beachley, ministro executivo del Distrito del Oeste de Pennsylvania, presidirá las sesiones de negocios.

El 3 y 4 de Julio, el tema de la Conferencia, “Juntos: Ejercitándonos Diariamente con Dios.” de Timoteo 4:6-8, será complementado por sesiones de media hora durante las sesiones de negocios para envolver a toda la denominación en el énfasis de estudio titulado “Juntos, Conversaciones de como ser la Iglesia.”

Otros temas importantes de negocios:

“Llamados a hacer Buen Uso de la Educación” del Distrito de Medio-Atlántico, pidiendo “Guía adicional, recursos e instrucciones para mejor entender el buen uso de tiempo, talento, y recursos financieros.”

Revisión de los Articulos de Organización del Grupo Fideicomiso de Beneficios de los Hermanos (GFBH).

“Resolución: Sacar Inversiones Existentes en Compaias que Vendan Productos que Sean Usados como Armas en Israel y Palestina,” de los Fremont (Calif) Hermandad en Cristo, y Distrito Suroeste del Pacífico, quienes han pedido al GFBH que saque todas sus inversions en la Corporación Caterpillar, y cualquier otra compaia que venda productos usados rutinariamente como armas de destrucción y muerte en Israel y Palestina.” Esta resolución cita las escrituras y la tradición de los Hermanos al pedir se explore reinvertír esas inversions en compaias “que hagan negocios que ayuden a mejorar la calidad de vida tanto de los Israelitas como los Palestinos,” y que consideren sacar su inversión de la “Corporación Caterpillar” ya que ésta vende “bulldozers” a Israel, los cuales son usados para destruír casas, granjas, plantíos antiguos de olivos, carreteras, y pipas que acarrean agua y drenaje Palestinos, y que han matado a varias personas. Estas maquinas “Caterpillars D9 bulldozers” están hechas de acuerdo a especificaciones militares y son vendidas a Israel bajo el Programa Militar de Venta Foranea de los Estados Unidos.

“Un llamado a Reducir la Pobreza y el Hambre Global,” de la Junta General de la Iglesia de los Hermanos, está llamando a la denominación a que ayude a reducir la pobreza y el hambre global, haciendo un nuevo cometido a las enseanzas de Jesús, al considerar nuevamente la declaración de la Conferencia Anual de 2000 que habla de “Cuidar de los Pobres”, e insistir en las metas de Desarrollo del Milenio de las Naciones Unidas.

“Resolución al Cometido de Accesibilidad e Inclusión,” de los Hermanos Proveedores de Cuidado, y sus Ministerios de Desabilidades, urge a “cada congregación, agencia, institución, oficina, y grupos de reunión de la Iglesia de los Hermanos a hacer un nuevo compromiso para ayudar que toda la gente participe plenamente en todos los ministerios. Esta resolución pide a la iglesia que examine las barreras que previene que la gente con desabilidades participe plenamente, y que se comprometan a que “todas oficinas y sitios de la denominación, existentes y del futuro, sean modificadas o designadas a seguir las pautas del Acto sobre Americanos con Desabilidades.”

“Tratando los Negocios de la Iglesia,” es el reporte de un estudio del comité elegido en 2004 el cual incluyó muchas recomendaciones enfocadas en la preparación y entrenamiento de líderes y delegados de la Conferencia, y en el formato de la Conferencia. Este reporte dice que “hay una necesidad clara de un cambio significante para poder mejorar y modelar una comunidad cristiana con discernimiento y el reino de Dios.” Las recomendaciones específicas incluyen entrenamiento de delegados y moderadores; discernimiento congregacional de los asuntos de la Conferencia; “Consejeros procesadores” y un Comité Procesador; un grupo pequeo de discernimiento durante la Conferencia; consideración de sumarios de opinions desidentes importantes; tener Fiestas de Partición del Pan durante la Conferencia; y alargar la Conferencia. Los miembros del comité son Dave Shetler, Joe Detrick, Matt Guynn, Verdena Lee, y Dale Posthumus.

También en la agenda: reportes interinos del Estudio del Comité del Plan Médico de los Hermanos, del Comité de Estudio Intercultural, del Comité del 300th Aniversario, y del Comité de Revisión y Evaluación de Estudio; elecciones; y reportes de agencies y comités de la denominación. (Para ver los documentos completos de estos asuntos vaya a www.brethren.org/ac/desmoines/2006business.html.)

Durante la Junta de pre-Conferencia de Julio 1, la Junta General también tiene una agenda bastante grande, incluyendo un primer reporte del Comité del Centro de Servicio de los Hermanos en New Windsor que Explora Opciones para el Centro de New Windsor, Md.; un “Plan de Contingencia en caso de un Reclutamiento Militar”; revisions de las declaraciones de su visión, misión y valores centrales; planes a largo plazo; y finanzas.

Para ver más, vaya a www.brethren.org/ac. Reportes de noticias diarias y fotografías de la Conferencia en Des Moines de Julio 1-5 podrán verse en las páginas de www.brethren.org/ac.

Source: 06/23/2006 Newsline
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Historic photo opportunity for attendees of the church’s 250th anniversary.

Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, July 1-5 will include an opportunity for a historic group photo.

Participants at this year’s Conference who also were at the Church of the Brethren’s 250th anniversary celebration in Des Moines in 1958 are asked to gather for a photograph. The photo session is planned for Sunday, July 2, at 11:45 a.m. following the Annual Conference worship service.

Please gather at the message boards in the Third Street Lobby of Hy Vee Hall to be part of the photograph.

Source: 06/23/2006 Newsline
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Will there be a Church of the Brethren in Sudan?

The following reflection is by Jim Hardenbrook, interim director of the Sudan initiative of the Church of the Brethren General Board. He is speaking at the International Welcome Dinner at Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, July 1, at 5 p.m.. He also will be available at Conference to schedule times for speaking to congregations or districts; find him at the Global Mission Partnerships booth in the Exhibit Hall.

“During a conversation in Khartoum last June, Sudan's Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid, told me of a saying used in his village: 'Don't let this harvest pass.' He was raised in the Darfur region of Sudan. His village subsisted through farming small plots of land. When it was time to harvest they could not allow disagreement to delay bringing in the crops. The harvest was too important. Lives depended on cooperation and hard work.

“Over the past 25 years the Church of the Brethren has, through thoughtful and ethical ecumenical work, planted 'good seed' in war-ravaged south Sudan. Those seeds took root. Now that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan in the north, and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement in the south, has been signed and is now being implemented there is a harvest ripening.

“The churches of south Sudan and the government are interested in designing a way for the Church of the Brethren to begin a holistic outreach there. The Church of the Brethren General Board voted in Oct. 2005 to move in this direction, calling for what has been named a Sudan initiative. Faltering steps have been taken but they do not match the magnitude of the harvest. Philosophical and personal differences have slowed us down.

“But the initiative continues to generate enthusiastic interest throughout the denomination. It seems as though this truly is a call from God.

“When Jesus saw a crowd of people that could only be described as 'harassed and helpless, as sheep without a shepherd,' he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful...' (Matthew 9:36-37). The people of south Sudan are harassed but certainly not helpless. They have withstood war and deprivation for years. Now they are willing to partner with us to plant churches, revive educational and medical services, extend commercial opportunities, rebuild systems of law and security, and work together at person-to-person peacemaking.

“The present needs are to design a strategy to meet the opportunities, recruit and equip workers, identify partners from other Christian agencies who will work with us, raise money, and--as Jesus said–'Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.'

“Some say we have forgotten what it means to be mission minded but I don't think so. The evidence shows otherwise. The Church of the Brethren is facing an unparalleled opportunity in south Sudan. An amazing harvest is lying before us. We must respond.

“If you need more information, would like to visit about the Sudan initiative, or would like to schedule a presentation at your church, please contact me at pastor.jim@nampacob.org.

“As my friend in Khartoum said, 'Don't let this harvest pass.'”

Source: 06/23/2006 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. Spanish translation by Maria-Elena Rangel.