Brethren bits: Remembrance, personnel, Brethren books, and more.

• Connie S. Andes, 66, a former executive staff member for the Church of the Brethren, died on March 2 at the Kansas City (Mo.) Hospice House. She served the Church of the Brethren General Board from July 1984 through August 1988 as an associate general secretary and executive of the General Services Commission, with responsibility for a number of key church programs including Brethren Press and communications, stewardship education and enlistment, data processing, and the Brethren Historical Library and Archives. During her tenure with the denomination, she was a member of the National Council of Churches (NCC) Governing Board, served on the Church Leaders Panel charged with integrating Church World Service into the NCC structure, and was a member-at-large of the NCC Executive Committee. Before joining the General Board staff, she was director of admissions, alumni director, and associate director of development at McPherson (Kan.) College, beginning in 1979. Her volunteer work for the church included service on the Annual Conference Worship Committee, the Womaen’s Caucus Steering Committee, the Western Plains Women’s Task Force, and the planning and program committee of Illinois and Wisconsin District, as well as involvement with the Global Women’s Project and writing for "Messenger" and the "Brethren Encyclopedia." She also worked in higher education, and taught high school English for two years. She was born on Nov. 1, 1942, on a farm near Mound City, Mo., to Leroy and Doris (Mann) Andes. She held a bachelor’s degree from McPherson College, a master’s degree in history from Wichita State University, and a doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She was married to Leroy C. Weddle from 1963-1982. She is survived by her daughter Dana Andes and son Tedd Weddle and wife Melanie Larsen. The family held a private gathering at the family farm for the scattering of the ashes. Condolences may be shared with the family care of Dana Andes, 1631 Emerson #323, Denver, CO 80218.
  
  
• Matt and Betsy Kuecker begin April 1 as managers of Camp Pine Lake in Eldora, Iowa, an outdoor ministry center of Northern Plains District. The Kueckers are graduates of Central College in Pella, Iowa. Betsy Kuecker holds a degree in communication studies and has worked as a Special Events director in Colorado Springs, as coordinator of Admissions at Central College, and as marketing project coordinator for a company in Omaha, Neb. Matt Kuecker holds a degree in economics and has been employed as property claims field adjuster with American Family Insurance. He also has experience in house construction. They are members of Prairie City (Iowa) Church of the Brethren.
  
  
• Shelly Wagner is returning to the position of director of the New Windsor Conference Center, located at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. She also will serve as director of Marketing. She returns to the position on March 19, after spending six months providing leadership development for regional sales staff. She brings 12 years of experience in domestic and international marketing in the for-profit arena, having worked previously for a commercial tires and accessory parts company called I.M.I. She is a member of the Church of the Brethren and will be commuting from Waynesboro, Pa.
  
  
• Wolfgang Spreen, program assistant for Buildings and Grounds at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., has completed his service with the Church of the Brethren as of March 9. The position has been eliminated as part of a re-evaluation of the needs of the center. Spreen began employment at the Brethren Service Center on July 14, 2003, as program assistant for the executive director, and providing assistance to the general secretary. Later he became the program assistant for the Buildings and Grounds department. His many and varied tasks have included mail sorting and delivery, providing tours for guests, telephone reception, and supporting information services on the center campus. Any services or functions previously handled by Spreen should be channeled through Ed Palsgrove, director of Buildings and Grounds for the Brethren Service Center.
  
  
• Joan McGrath, human resources coordinator at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., completes her service with the Church of the Brethren on March 26. She has served in the position for two years, since March 6, 2007. Previously she was the owner of Footsteps to Health in Westminster, Md., and also has worked as human resources administrator for ROI Technologies in Baltimore and as manager of Corporate Services for an organization in Bethesda. She is a University of Maryland graduate with a bachelor of science degree in Technology and Management. Any services or functions previously handled by McGrath should be channeled through Karin Krog, director of Human Resources for the Church of the Brethren.
  
  
• Amy Adkins, program assistant at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, will complete her service with the Church of the Brethren when her current service agreement ends. Her last day in the office will be March 14. She has served in the temporary, part-time position since Sept. 15, 2008. Previously, she worked in the Brethren Witness/Washington Office for three separate periods of time: as program assistant from July-Dec. 2005, and May-Nov. 2006; and as a Brethren Volunteer Service worker and legislative associate from Aug. 2003-Feb. 2005. She is from Middlebury, Ind., and is a graduate of Manchester College.
  
  
• Carol Wise, executive director of the Brethren Mennonite Council for GLBT Interests (BMC) has announced a 10-week sabbatical beginning March 15. She has served as executive for BMC for over five years. Her sabbatical plans include study and reading on the development and growth of social movements, work on worship resources for welcoming communities, and relaxing. During her sabbatical Ralph McFadden, vice-president of the BMC board, will fill in for her and spend time at the BMC office in Minneapolis, Minn., for several days every other week from March 16-May 31. He also will be available for consultation, speaking engagements, or conversation. Contact Ralph McFadden at rmcfadden@bmclgbt.org or at the BMC office at 612-343-2060 or at home at 847-622-1677.
  
  
• Brethren Press publisher Wendy McFadden has announced that the annual Church of the Brethren Lenten devotional book has sold out this year. The last copy went 10 days before Ash Wednesday, after the press sold 1,452 more than last year for a total of 5,579 copies. The strong sales are attributable to a significant gift for marketing the series, given by an individual donor who was impressed with the devotional series and wanted to expand its usage. "As part of this new push, we have begun a program to take standing orders for future seasons," McFadden said. Already, Brethren Press has received more than 2,400 orders for next Advent devotional. To be placed on the standing order list to receive the annual Advent and Lenten devotionals, call Brethren Press at 800-441-3712.
  
  
• A hardbound book of the minutes of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, for the years 2005-08, is now available through Brethren Press. The book includes minutes from the Conferences held in Peoria, Ill., in 2005; Des Moines, Iowa, in 2006; Cleveland, Ohio, in 2007; and Richmond, Va., in 2008. Recent previous hardbound editions have contained five years of minutes. This new volume, containing only four years, is approximately the same size as the 2000-04 volume. Go to www.brethrenpress.com or call 800-441-3712. Brethren Press also has hardbound volumes--individually and as a set--of Annual Conference minutes dating all the way back to 1945, with the exception of 1965-69.
  
  
• Children’s Disaster Services is offering a Level I Workshop at Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren in Fort Wayne, Ind., on April 3-4. The ministry also seeks sponsors for more training workshops for volunteers, especially in disaster-prone regions along the Gulf and West Coast. Children’s Disaster Services is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren. Volunteers are trained to provide a calm, safe, and reassuring present in the midst of the chaos that follows disasters by setting up and operating child care centers in disaster locations. The workshop trains participants to understand and respond to children who have experienced a disaster, helping them recognize and understand fear and other emotions children experience and how child-led play and various art mediums can start the healing process. Participants will sleep on cots and eat simple meals to experience similar living conditions to those typically provided for survivors of disasters. A $45 registration fee is required. Once training is completed, participants may become certified Children’s Disaster Services volunteers by providing two personal references and a criminal and sexual offender background check. To attend the workshop in Fort Wayne, contact local coordinator Donna Belknap at 260-483-7244. To host a Level I Workshop, contact Children’s Disaster Services at 800-451-4407, ext. 5.
  
  
• Sixteen prospective students attended a recent Campus Visit Day at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind. Driving and flying from Pennsylvania, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana, they attended classes and worship, ate with faculty and students, toured the campus, and enjoyed live music by Bethany student Seth Hendricks. According to a release from the seminary, more than 20 students are beginning classes this spring, a larger group than last year's spring start. For more information contact Elizabeth Keller, director of Admissions, at kelleel@bethanyseminary.edu.
  
  
• A Junior High Workcamp at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., will be held on July 13-17. The center houses Brethren Disaster Ministries, SERVV, and other programs that have a world-wide impact, assisting and empowering those in need. "Come serve at New Windsor and make a difference," said an invitation from the Church of the Brethren’s Workcamp Ministry. "Have fun with other Brethren junior high youth, and find your place in the larger fabric of God’s creation." Go to www.brethrenworkcamps.org to register online, or call 800-323-8039 for more information.
  
  
• Northern Plains District and Illinois and Wisconsin District have combined efforts to provide a "Matthew 18 Training for Trainers Workshop" at First Church of the Brethren in Peoria, Ill., on March 20-21. Rick Polhamus of the Ministry of Reconciliation (MoR) of On Earth Peace will lead the workshop. MoR is providing the training free of charge. Contact Kevin Kessler, Illinois and Wisconsin district executive minister, at kevink.iwdcob@sbcglobal.net or 309-649-6008.
  
  
• The Middle Pennsylvania District Shalom Team and the Church of the Brethren’s Congregational Life Team are sponsoring a "Creating Healthy Congregations" workshop on March 20-21 at Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon, Pa. Leadership is provided by Carl Bowman, Church of the Brethren sociologist, who will report the findings of the largest ever survey of Church of the Brethren members. Stan Dueck, Congregational Life Team staff, will speak on "Who We Are and How We Do Things." Five different workshop also will be available to attendees. To download a brochure visit www.midpacob.org or call 814-643-0601.
  
  
• Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., has announced a record-setting $11.67 million in four-year academic scholarships, fueled by a record number of academically strong applicants. The scholarships range from $64,000 to $50,000, awarded to 202 high school students, according to a release. In addition, last fall the college enrolled its largest class in more than 25 years. Visit www.manchester.edu for more about Manchester College.
  
  
• The Bridgewater (Va.) College Concert Choir will present three concerts in Virlina District this spring: March 20 at 7 p.m. at Williamson Road Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va.; March 22 at 10:30 a.m. at Cloverdale (Va.) Church of the Brethren; and April 19 at 11 a.m. at West Richmond (Va.) Church of the Brethren. The Concert Choir includes 46 singers from all classes and specializes in masterworks for chorus. A free-will offering will be received at each concert to support the choir.
  
  
• Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village again has received high scores in the annual Maryland Nursing Facility Family Survey, according to a release from the retirement community near Boonsboro, Md. The survey contained 25 questions about five areas of a resident’s life and care: staff and administration, care provided to residents, food and meals, autonomy and resident rights, and physical aspects of the nursing home. Eighty-six surveys were issued to families or primary caregivers of Fahrney-Keedy residents. By the end of January 2009, respondents familiar with Fahrney-Keedy had returned 68 surveys for a response rate of 80 percent. Fahrney-Keedy’s scores were equal to or higher than the highest average score among all groupings in the survey. Two questions were included regarding the total experience and level of care provided by each nursing home. On a 1-to-10 scale, with 10 the best possible rating, respondents gave Fahrney-Keedy a 9.4 compared to an 8.2 rating statewide. "We are extremely pleased with the results," said Bob Lytle, administrator at Fahrney-Keedy.
  
  
• Peter Becker Community in Harleysville, Pa., is holding its 26th Annual Flower Show on the theme, "Oceans of Blooms," on March 12-14. Residents, volunteers, and staff of the retirement community share their talents, work, and enthusiasm at the annual show. Supporting the event are local businesses as display partners, donors, and sponsors. This year offers a collection of seaside scenes including a tall ship emerging from the fog, an animated lighthouse, an eco-friendly coral reef, a secret beach getaway, a sandcastle competition, and a Victorian cottage. This year's winners will be chosen by a People's Choice Competition. Also offered are a spring plant sale, thrift shop, bake sale, and other events. The show is open on March 12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for Senior Appreciation Day; on March 13 from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; and on March 14 from 9 a.m.-4 p..m. The suggested donation is $5 per person, free for children. Visit www.peterbeckercommunity.com for more information or call 215-256-9501.
  
  
• Camp Ithiel Venture Fun(d) Day is March 14. Proceeds from the event at the camp in Gotha, Fla., go to the Church Development Council of Atlantic Southeast District. The day will feature a Silent Auction of items offered by congregations, a Pie Auction, a food booth, games and contests including a "Pastors Crawl," and a fishing tournament for children. A praise band from the churches in Puerto Rico will play, as well as the praise team from Clay County Church of the Brethren. This year, the event is being opened to surrounding community as "an opportunity to demonstrate our faith and love to what we hope will be many more people," said an announcement in the district newsletter.
  
  
• Citing the economic recession, the Juniata College board of trustees has reduced its scheduled increase for tuition, room and board, and fees to just 3.9 percent, the lowest increase in nine years. The Brethren-related college is located in Huntingdon, Pa. Juniata also has initiated four new programs designed to lessen the economic impact of the recession for students: increased work-study opportunities by creating 30 new campus employment positions and more funds for higher wages in the Juniata Associates program; set-aside funding to adjust financial aid awards if a family's primary wage earner loses a job or the family experiences a catastrophic financial change; an increase of about 8 percent in the financial aid budget; and trustee approval for the use of up to $2 million of endowment principal for short-term, low-interest loans to families of students whose current loans are no longer available due to changes in real estate values or related issues. The college also started new food plans designed to lower costs to students.
  
  
• Emmert Bittinger gave a lecture Feb. 26 at the Young Center at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College titled "Crisis of Conscience: The Shenandoah Anabaptists During the Civil War," linking the Civil War to the experiences of Anabaptists during that time in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Bittinger also donated his collection of rare books to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. He is a retired professor of sociology at Bridgewater (Va.) College and an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. His recent publications include "Unionists and the Civil War Experience in the Shenandoah Valley," published by the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center and the Valley Research Associates.
  
  
• McPherson (Kan.) College hosted a 3rd annual Math Competition Day on Feb. 18 for 400 visiting students from 16 Kansas high schools. Participating 9th through 12th graders competed in an individual test and team competition. Each school also created a unique mathematical team name. All participants received a t-shirt designed with the slogan "keeping it real…no imaginary numbers." Visit www.mcpherson.edu for more.
  
  
• The Association of Anabaptist Risk Management (AARM) is changing its name to "Resource Partners-Risk Management Solutions." The organization offers risk management products and services that promote human and financial stewardship with peace church organizations. The Peace Church Risk Retention Group serving longterm care providers associated with the Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, and Quaker denominations is one of six programs of Resource Partners. Other programs include a Peace Church Property and Auto Program for health and human service organizations; Administration for the Mutual Aid Sharing Plan, a self-insured health benefits program for mission and service agencies; corporate headquarters services for the Friends Mutual Health Group; and a Resource Partners Insurance Broker for nonprofit Anabaptist and Quaker organizations.
  
  
• The Springs of Living Water initiative led by Church of the Brethren minister David Young, is one of the sponsors of the 2009 Renovare International Conference on the theme, "The Jesus Way: Recovering the Lost Content of Discipleship," June 21-24 in San Antonio, Texas. Main presenters include Eugene Peterson, Max Lucado, Emilie Griffin, Richard J. Foster, and a number of other well-known speakers. The early registration deadline and fee of $129 has been extended to April 1. Visit www.renovare.org/journey_events_2009ic.htm or contact davidyoung@churchrenewalservant.org.
  
  
• Sylvia Utz celebrated her 110th birthday on March 9 at the Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio, according to a report in the "Dayton Daily News." She told the newspaper that her earliest memory is of her church, Pitsburg Church of the Brethren in Arcanum, Ohio, picnicking on the grounds of the Brethren Retirement Community when she was only 6 or 7 years old. The newspaper report said that only 1 in 5 million people lives to age 110. Go to http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/03/09/ddn030909centenarianinside.html for the full article.

Source: 3/11/2009 Newsline

Polzin serves as interim district executive for Michigan District.

The board of Michigan District has announced that Nathan (Nate) Polzin has been called to serve as interim district executive. The half-time position began March 7. Polzin has been called to serve as interim until the District Board and District Conference have named a committee to review and evaluate the district mission and structure and bring recommendations to the 2010 District Conference for ratification. The district office will be relocating to the Saginaw-Bay City area.

Polzin is a church planter, and start-up and continuing half-time pastor of The Church in Drive in Saginaw, Mich. He has served on the ministry commission of the District Board and as Michigan District’s Annual Conference standing committee delegate. He currently serves on the board of trustees of Bethany Theological Seminary representing the clergy. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a bachelor of science degree in Political Science, and of Bethany Theological Seminary with a master of divinity degree.

Source: 3/11/2009 Newsline

On Earth Peace co-sponsors Intergenerational Workcamp.

On Earth Peace is co-sponsoring an Intergenerational Workcamp in partnership with the Church of the Brethren’s Workcamp Ministry. The Intergenerational Workcamp will take place Aug. 2-9 at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.

"This workcamp is a time for different generations to gather together and share their perspective--all while working side-by-side in faith," said an announcement. "Participants of all ages will come together to serve, share, and learn how we continue the peace witness of the church, as members of a global community." The workcamp will be held at the Brethren Service Center, where participants will work in service projects that have local, national, and global impacts, including SERRV and the Church of the Brethren’s distribution center for material relief following disasters.

Cost is $285. Go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=grow_youth_ministry_workcamps_registration for online registration. Financial assistance is available through On Earth Peace, contact mrhoades@onearthpeace.org or 717-867-1902. Contact Bekah Houff, assistant workcamp coordinator for the Church of the Brethren, at rhouff_gb@brethren.org or 800-323-8039.

Source: 3/11/2009 Newsline

'Brethren Life & Thought' offers new study resource.

The current issue of "Brethren Life & Thought" (Summer 2008, Vol. 53, No. 3) should have arrived in subscriber mailboxes recently. With this issue, the journal is introducing a new study resource. "Brethren Life & Thought" is a quarterly journal published in the interest of the Church of the Brethren by the Brethren Journal Association.

Study questions for each article in the current issue are available on the "Brethren Life & Thought" website, go to www.bethanyseminary.edu/blt. The current issue features two articles interpreting the theological concept of atonement, one by Thomas Finger, visiting professor of theology at Bethany Theological Seminary, the second by Kate Eisenbise, graduate student at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. Finger’s article, "Atonement, Ethics, Society, and Violence" defines atonement as "at-one-ment" or reconciliation with God. Eisenbise offers a friendly critique of Mennonite scholar J. Denny Weaver’s "narrative Christus Victor" model of atonement. Both provide for thoughtful discussion at this time of Lent.

The Brethren Journal Association and "Brethren Life & Thought" remain committed to providing an open forum for ideas and discussion related to the faith, history, and practices of the Church of the Brethren. For information about subscriptions or how to purchase single issues, go to www.bethanyseminary.edu/blt or contact blt@bethanyseminary.edu.

-- Karen Garrett is a student at Bethany Theological Seminary.

Source: 3/11/2009 Newsline

Dominican Brethren celebrate 18th Annual Conference.

"Without faith, it is impossible to please God!" (Hebrews 11:6). With this challenging theme, moderator José Juan Méndez opened and guided the18th Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic. The conference was held at a Nazarene Church campground in Los Alcarrizos in Santo Domingo, Feb. 20-22.

Two new congregations were received into the denomination and prayer was held for five new preaching points. The 74 delegates also approved a new constitution for the church, elected leaders for the national board and other positions, approved the 2009 budget, and dealt with some challenging issues of discipline.

Jay Wittmeyer, executive director of Global Mission Partnerships for the Church of the Brethren, presented plaques to national leaders recognizing their excellent work during the past year and led the delegates in a closing service of bread and cup communion.

Pastor Jorge Rivera, associate district executive for Puerto Rico, in Atlantic Southeast District, presented a moving tribute following a time of silence in honor of the late Guillermo Encarnación for his many years of service in the DR, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Also representing the Puerto Rican Brethren was Severo Romero. The Church of the Brethren in Haiti was represented by pastor Ives Jean and Altenor Gesusand, a church deacon.

Nancy Heishman, director of the Church of the Brethren’s theological education program in the DR, led morning Bible studies on the theme of faith, utilizing the talent of some of her students as co-teachers.

Irvin Heishman, co-coordinator of the DR mission for the Church of the Brethren, commented, "It’s a joy to see the Dominican church emerging from several difficult years with such vitality and health."

To view a photo album from the Asamblea, go to http://www.brethren.org/site/PhotoAlbumUser?AlbumID=7127&view=UserAlbum

Source: 3/12/2009 Newsline Special

Arroyo Salado Church construction project begins in the DR.

For over a year, Arroyo Salado Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic has been holding worship services in the open air "ruins" of its old building. The government condemned and tore down half of the old church building to make way for improvements to the highway that runs in front of the building. The remains of the old building formed a rough "band shell" that the congregation has been using for outdoor worship in good weather.

Pastor Cristian Aquino Encarnacion expressed excitement that the construction of the new church and parsonage is now finally underway. The work is scheduled to be completed within 90 days. The project is being supervised by a local contractor with the work being carried out by laborers and a number of volunteers from the Arroyo Salado Church. Church members are cooking meals for the workers over an open fire at the work site. The construction cost of RD $2,000,000 pesos (about US $58,000) will be paid in full with funds given by the government to compensate the national church for the loss of its old building.

The national leadership of the Church of the Brethren in the DR now requires that title for land be obtained before construction is authorized. This explains why it took over a year to find land suitable for the reconstruction of the Arroyo Salado Church. In addition, there was a high demand for every available lot, because many other homes and businesses in Arroyo Salado were also forced to relocate due to the road project. However, once land was found, the process of obtaining clear title for it took several additional months to complete.

This emphasis on getting clear title to the land represents a change in policy for the Dominican Brethren. As a result, work teams from the Church of the Brethren in the United States wanting to come to the DR to help with building projects may find that projects need to be delayed until clear title to land is obtained. This is a much lengthier bureaucratic process than the relatively quick title transfer common in the US, however new Dominican laws have reduced the process of title transfer to two to three months if no complications are found.

The change in policy by the Dominican church has been made because the church has run into some difficulties with church buildings built on land without title. In the DR, it is possible to purchase land with a simple notarized hand-written sales contract. While these contracts are common and recognized as legal, the practice is nonetheless risky since former owners or their heirs may still have some legal claim to the property. In addition, these hand-written contracts are notoriously riddled with errors, adding to the legal vulnerability of the current owner.

-- Irvin Heishman is co-coordinator of the Church of the Brethren mission in the Dominican Republic.

Source: 3/12/2009 Newsline Special

Brethren disaster project in Haiti is close to completing five homes.

A series of reports from the new Church of the Brethren disaster relief project in Haiti are showing swift progress, with five homes already nearing completion. The project was initiated earlier this year by Brethren Disaster Ministries and the Church of the Brethren Haiti Mission following the destruction caused by last Fall’s hurricanes.

Jeff Boshart, who is serving as Haiti Disaster Response Mission Coordinator, has provided the progress reports. He is working in Haiti with Klebert Exceus of Orlando, Fla., who serves as Haitian consultant for the project. The project is funded by a grant of $100,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund.

The five homes close to completion are in the Fond Cheval area, a mountainous region near the town of Mirebalais. The area was heavily affected by the storms, and also is served by one of the Church of the Brethren preaching points as well as a Brethren-related school.

The five homes are "nearly finished except for one final outer coating," Boshart said. Fifteen more homes are to be worked on in Fond Cheval. In addition, a "house-by-house selection process" is being carried out to identify families to be served in the Mont Boulage area, where Boshart and Exceus received a list of 34 families affected by storm damage, have made 28 home visits, and have selected 21 houses for work. The project is budgeting $2,000 for each house.

"The personal stories of these families are all too familiar in Haiti," Boshart reported. "A family of six children can only afford to send the first three to school. A widow who had one whole side of her home collapse has moved away and hopes to come back if her children will help her rebuild. Young couples with no education and several children who have little hope for ever moving beyond subsistence living.... In general these families have one or two beds, some sleeping mats, a few cups and bowls and silverware, three or four chairs, and a few bags of clothing."

The project is working close to a school started by a Brethren preaching point in Fond Cheval, Boshart reported. "School fees at the small school started by the Brethren preaching point are only about $13 for the year but there are still families that can't afford to send their kids," he said.

With the unemployment rate at around 60 percent, many Haitians are desperate for work. The families being served in Fond Cheval are taking part in the building work, Boshart said. Recipients of homes carry water from a distance to mix the cement, and also help transport sand and other building materials. Also, some laborers will be paid for their work.

When the home repairs get started in Mont Boulage, villagers who are not being served will be paid in food and cement to do the heavy work. They will be responsible for their own home improvements. As the hurricane response progresses, Brethren Disaster Ministries will endeavor to bring in small groups of US Brethren to work with local Haitians once volunteer housing, safety, and transportation are definite.

In another aspect of the project, Boshart has met with a doctor and pharmacist connected with IMA World Health to talk about cooperative work to provide medicines and support to a hospital and clinic near an area flooded in last year’s storms. Boshart and Exceus also met with Church of the Brethren members in Gonaives and others in need of rebuilt homes in that area, as well as with an ecumenical pastor’s group that may work with the Brethren through a micro-loan program. They visited people who are living in homemade tents in Gonaives following the storms and flooding.

The pastors in Gonaives "shared that things are slow to return to normal," Boshart reported. "Some people are starting to move back into their homes.... Typhoid and malaria continue to be present in high levels.... UN food and water deliveries have ended.... Those who haven't left the city to live with families or move back into flooded out homes are living under homemade tents made out of bed sheets and tarps and what pieces of plastic they can find. We went to visit these tents and it is really tragic."

"It will be quite a challenge," Boshart said of the Church of the Brethren project in Haiti, "but the Haitian people are no strangers to hard work and sacrifice and seem to be eager to get going."

Source: 3/12/2009 Newsline Special

Storms compound misery in Haiti.

Brother Klebert Exceus paints a grim picture of life in Haiti: "The local people are saying that anything God can do for them is ‘too good.’... Many think it would be better to die than to live because what they are doing is not truly living."

He described the situation further:

• At a school with 200 children and three teachers, the students spend five hours a day in class with no food or water.
  
  
• A person who sells things in the local market earns about $25 each year.
  
  
• Since the hurricanes, 10 percent of the population in the target area has been forced to beg for a living.
  
  
• Families eat once a day, and depend on what they grow in their gardens.
  
  
• Children sleep on dirt floors on mats made from banana leaves.
  
  
• A typical small house has two rooms for a family (average size seven members).
  
  
• Women walk three kilometers to fetch a bucket of water, which they carry on their heads.

Exceus, a Haitian consultant, and Jeff Boshart, Haiti Disaster Response Mission Coordinator, are doing much of the legwork and planning related to the hurricane response on behalf of Brethren Disaster Ministries.

The Brethren Disaster Ministries hurricane response includes micro-loans of $200 per person to purchase livestock. When these loans are being repaid, the recipients will provide an offspring of the animal with the money so that other people can be helped.

At the Esperance Clinic in Gonaíves, doctors are preparing a proposal of needs. They lack medicine and they do not have a laboratory. Normally, the clinic receives 75-100 sick people each day at a fee of approximately $3. Since the hurricanes, the clinic is receiving 300 patients per day without charging.

Brother Klebert, accompanied by an engineer and two Brethren pastors, selected 20 homes to repair in the village of Fond Cheval, in the Mirebalais area. This will be a model plan that will serve as a guide for other similar interventions. He reported that the local government official had tried unsuccessfully to obtain help for the village from other sources, but "he believes God intervened, as the Church of the Brethren sought him out," he said.

"I’m praying that God will bless the Church of the Brethren which is helping the poor," declared Brother Klebert. "The people in Fond Cheval say God’s visible hands are supporting them."

The work of Brethren Disaster Ministries is made possible by the generosity of individuals and churches who support the Emergency Disaster Fund. Our prayer is that, through our combined efforts, more and more vulnerable people in helpless situations will be touched by heavenly grace as our vision and stewardship grow.

-- Roy Winter is executive director of Brethren Disaster Ministries. This article originally appeared in the "Bridges" newsletter.

Source: 3/12/2009 Newsline Special

Brethren staff express concern about Darfur, southern Sudan.

Following the issue of an international arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, Church of the Brethren staff related to mission and disaster relief have expressed concern for the situation in Darfur and in southern Sudan. The International Criminal Court announced the warrant for the arrest of the Sudanese president on March 4 on war crime charges over the conflict in the Darfur region.

Some aid agencies have been expelled from Sudan or have had their licenses revoked, reported Roy Winter, executive director of Brethren Disaster Ministries. "There is much concern about an expanded humanitarian crisis" in Darfur, he said. However, he added that the work the Church of the Brethren is supporting in Darfur through ACT International is continuing at the moment.

Upon the announcement of the warrant, Sudan revoked the licenses of 10 of the largest aid agencies providing humanitarian services in Sudan, "thereby putting at extreme risk millions of refugees and internally displaced Darfurians," according to information from the Sudan Advocacy Action Coalition, provided by Brad Bohrer, director of the Church of the Brethren mission in Sudan. The coalition said that according to the United Nations, the affected groups include Action Contre la Faim (a famine relief group), Care International, CHF International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, both the French and Dutch branches of Medecins sans Frontieres (or Doctors Without Borders), Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam Great Britain, Solidarite, PATCO, and Save the Children Fund of both the United Kingdom and the US.

"Larger aid organizations have to register with the Khartoum government to function in Sudan, but the Church of the Brethren does not since we are partnering with a Sudanese organization, so we are not affected directly at this time," Bohrer said. The Brethren mission has begun a partnership with Reconcile International in southern Sudan, where a first short-term Brethren mission worker--computer consultant Bibek Sahu--has been working.

Bohrer relayed a number of prayer requests from Reconcile, including request for prayer that the reaction across Sudan to the arrest warrant for President Al-Bashir would be peaceful. "Please keep the people in Darfur in your prayers," said a communication from Reconcile staff. "They are going through tremendous suffering now that the government withdrew most of the international aid agencies from the area in response to the arrest warrant."

Reconcile has successfully opened its Reconcile Peace Institute (RPI) with 30 students coming from areas of high inter-ethnic conflict, many having been traumatized themselves. Additional prayer requests from the organization have to do with RPI students and their personal situations. "Pray for us as we help them to experience the healing needed so they can serve as agents of peace as they return to their communities," said the Reconcile staff letter.

"While the Darfur situation is not directly affecting the program of Reconcile, violence from the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group continues to affect the people in and around Yei," Bohrer said. "Recent attacks by this group have forced many people out of the villages around Yei and to seek shelter in the city. Some participants in the Reconcile program have lost family members to this violence and to the kidnappings."

Reconcile staff reported that students in the RPI program have been affected by the recent violence, one having had a brother killed on Jan. 1 by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and another having lost his father, who was killed, and his mother, who was abducted, in an LRA attack last week. This past weekend the LRA attacked the village of Luthaya, at the outskirts of Yei, killing five people and abducting two. "Hundreds of people...were sleeping in the town square," reported Reconcile staff. "Pray that the reign of terror being carried out by the LRA may cease."

Bohrer also announced the creation of a new Reconcile website through the work of Brethren mission worker Bibek Sahu. "Part of our work with Reconcile was to create a new website for them. The old one had become unworkable. I'm excited to announce that the site is up and working," Bohrer said. Go to www.reconcile-int.org to view the new website.

Source: 3/12/2009 Newsline Special

Mission and Ministry Board to address budget parameter.

Finances will top the agenda at the March 14-16 meeting of the Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board. The denominational board will meet at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.

On the board’s agenda are an overview of the financial situation of the Church of the Brethren, and an expected decision to revise the denomination’s budget parameter for 2009. Also under review will be the 2009 budget for Annual Conference, a revision of the denomination’s by-laws, an update of the Ministerial Leadership Paper, a proposal to establish a new Children’s Ministry area within the Caring Ministries of the Church of the Brethren, and a number of reports.

Following the close of the board meeting at noon on March 16, the Church of the Brethren Leadership Team and the Annual Conference officers will hold meetings through the morning of March 17.

Source: 3/12/2009 Newsline Special

Bits and Pieces.

New at www.brethren.org are pictorial histories of the two main Church of the Brethren denominational facilities: the General Offices in Elgin, Ill. (shown here), which celebrates its 50th anniversary on April 8, and the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., which also celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. Go to http://www.brethren.org/site/PhotoAlbumUser?AlbumID=6059&view=UserAlbum and http://www.brethren.org/site/PhotoAlbumUser?AlbumID=7005&view=UserAlbum to view the histories, shown through old and new photographs of the two facilities.

A photo album from the 18th Asamblea or Annual Conference of Iglesia de los Hermanos (Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic) is available online. Click here to view the photographs taken by Jay Wittmeyer, executive director of the Church of the Brethren's Global Mission Partnerships.

Church of the Brethren treasurer Judy Keyser addressed the denomination's Mission and Ministry Board meeting last October. The denomination has recorded a loss of $638,770 for 2008 (in pre-audit figures). Click here for the photo album from the last Mission and Ministry Board meeting.
© Church of the Brethren/Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford

The Church of the Brethren has a new disaster response project in Haiti following a series of hurricanes that hit the island last fall. Brethren leaders involved in the project are among the group shown above, including Ludovic St. Fleur (back row, right), mission coordinator in Haiti; and Jeff Boshart (front row, left), coordinator for the disaster project. Click here for more about Brethren Disaster Ministries. Click here for more on the Brethren in Haiti.
© Church of the Brethren/courtesy Jeff Boshart

Source: 3/12/2009 Newsline Special

Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Colleen M. Algeo, Jeanne Davies, Lerry Fogle, Jeri S. Kornegay, Karin L. Krog, Beth Merrill, Cletus Miller, Glen Sargent, Anne Marie Swinehart, John Wall, Gretchen Wolfram contributed to this report

NEWS

• Annual Conference ballot for 2009 is announced.
  
• Matching grant program provides $206,000 to local food banks.
  
• Brethren funds give grants for disaster, hunger response in US and Africa.
  
• Church of the Brethren faith expedition visits Chiapas, Mexico.
  
• BVS seeks partner churches to provide community living opportunities.
  
• Brethren bits: Correction, remembrance, Annual Conference, more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• National Older Adult Conference to meet on ‘Legacies of Wisdom.’

RESOURCES

• Brethren Press sells three curricula for summer, VBS.

FEATURE

• Brethren leaders release statement on New York Post cartoon.

PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Michael Schneider named as new president of McPherson College.
  
• Nancy Knepper ends her term as coordinator of District Ministry.
  
• Janis Pyle ends her term as coordinator of Mission Connections.
  
• Brethren bits: More personnel announcements.

Annual Conference ballot for 2009 is announced.

The ballot has been announced for the 2009 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, to be held June 26-30 in San Diego, Calif. The Nominating Committee of Standing Committee--a committee of the representatives of Church of the Brethren districts--developed a slate of candidates, and Standing Committee then voted to create the ballot that will be presented. Nominees are listed by position:

Annual Conference Moderator-Elect: Robert Earl Alley of Harrisonburg, Va.; Rhonda Pittman Gingrich of Minneapolis, Minn.

Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee: Connie R. Burkholder of Great Bend, Kan.; Victoria Jean (Sayers) Smith of Elizabethtown, Pa.

Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee: Emma Jean Franklin Woodard of Roanoke, Va.; Tim Button-Harrison of Ames, Iowa.

Committee on Interchurch Relations: Jim Hardenbrook of Edinburg, Va.; Carolyn Schrock of Mountain Grove, Mo.

Bethany Theological Seminary Trustee, representing the Church of the Brethren colleges: Katy Gray Brown of North Manchester, Ind.; David Witkovsky of Huntingdon, Pa.

Brethren Benefit Trust Board: Carol Hess of Lancaster, Pa.; John Waggoner of Herndon, Va.

On Earth Peace Board: Robert C. Johansen of Granger, Ind.; David R. Miller of Dayton, Va.

Source: 2/25/2009 Newsline

Matching grant program provides $206,000 to local food banks.

The Church of the Brethren’s "Domestic Hunger Matching Grant" program has now provided a total of $206,000 to food banks and local hunger relief organizations across the country. That total includes amounts raised by the 217 congregations that have taken part so far, and matching grants given by two Church of the Brethren funds--the Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) and the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF)--in partnership with the denomination’s Stewardship department.

Earlier this month the two funds requested second allocations for the program after the original grant amount had been completely disbursed. As of Feb 23, the $87,500 designated by the funds was fully expended. The amount raised by the 217 congregations averaged $545; the matching grants averaged $403. Together, congregational gifts and matching grants have provided $206,000 to local hunger relief.

Currently, at least 16 more congregations are awaiting matching grants. "Because of two donor gifts of $20,000 each, designated for US families entrenched in poverty or hungry, we hope to be able to fulfill the remaining grant requests," said Ken Neher, director of the Stewardship department.

"Thanks are beginning to roll in from food banks," reported Howard Royer, manager of the Global Food Crisis Fund, "Johnstown, Pa.; Tonasket, Wash.; Hopewell, Pa.; Polo, Ill.; Lancaster, Pa.; Rocky Mount, Va.; Petersburg, Va.; and Baltimore, Md. thus far."

The cutoff date for the program is March 15. Go to www.brethren.org/site/DocServer/Domestic_Hunger_cong_ap_January_2009.pdf?docID=1001 for more information.

Source: 2/25/2009 Newsline

Brethren funds give grants for disaster, hunger response in US and Africa.

Grants have gone out from two Church of the Brethren funds--the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) and the Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF)--to respond to disaster and hunger domestically within the US as well as in Kenya, Liberia, and Darfur, Sudan.

International grants include: $40,000 from the EDF to support a Church World Service (CWS) appeal for continuing humanitarian needs in the Darfur region of Sudan; $30,000 from the EDF for a CWS appeal following a declaration of famine from the government of Kenya, where an estimated 10 million people are affected; and a GFCF grant of $5,000 to assist Church Aid Inc., in a program of seed distribution and skill training in Liberia.

Domestic grants include: $35,000 from the EDF for an ongoing Brethren Disaster Ministries project in Johnson County, Ind., following heavy rains and flooding last year; an EDF allocation of $10,000 for the Brethren Disaster Ministries program in Rushford, Minn., repairing and rebuilding homes of flood survivors; an EDF allocation of $5,000 supporting a CWS appeal after a destructive spring storm season across the US in 2008; and a grant of $5,000 from the EDF to assist people who are ineligible for federal funding following major flooding in Hawaii, aiding work by the Hawaii State VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster).

Source: 2/25/2009 Newsline

Church of the Brethren faith expedition visits Chiapas, Mexico.

Church of the Brethren members returned in early February from a 10-day Faith Expedition to the region of Chiapas, Mexico, sponsored by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office in partnership with Equal Exchange and Witness for Peace.

The delegation spent several days in the town of San Cristobal exploring the history of Mexico and the effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement on this southern neighbor of the United States. In addition, issues of militarism and immigration were addressed in regards to policy decisions made by both Mexico and the United States.

The group met with organizations representing governmental and nongovernmental structures in regards to development and humanitarian support of the Mexican people. Concerned emphasis was given to the indigenous communities who remain persecuted and impoverished, most often due to governmental suppression. A sobering highlight of the trip was a visit to the nonviolent community of Acteal, that only 11 years earlier had been tragically attacked by paramilitary, leaving 45 dead.

This expedition also provided an opportunity for delegates to visit an indigenous community that produces coffee sold through a regional cooperative. The cooperative markets the coffee as organic, fair-trade coffee to Equal Exchange, as well as other fair-trade companies in the US and Europe. Members of the group were able to see the entire production cycle of the coffee that ends up in their cups each morning. The average producer of this coffee works in difficult conditions to earn less than $3 per day.

The 18 delegates completed their trip with a day of developing strategies that will enable them to clearly articulate their experiences, work toward strengthening free-trade policies, develop fair trade partnerships, and directly advocate on behalf of the people of Mexico.

For more information on this, or other Faith Expeditions, contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at washington_office_gb@brethren.org or 800-785-3246.

-- Phil Jones is director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office.

Source: 2/25/2009 Newsline

BVS seeks partner churches to provide community living opportunities.

In a new endeavor for Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS), the organization will be working to develop community living opportunities for its volunteers, in partnership with interested congregations.

BVS will be seeking Church of the Brethren congregations that can host a community house to accommodate groups of four to six volunteers who will work at project sites in the area. Volunteers will commit to being active in the life of the congregation. Housing could be in an unused parsonage or other suitable housing arrangement.

The new emphasis is part of an ongoing partnership that BVS has established with the Volunteers Exploring Vocation program through the Fund for Theological Education (FTE) and a grant from the Lilly Foundation. Through the new emphasis on community living within the context of a local church community, BVS is seeking to broaden the vocations program it is already doing through FTE. The vocations program invites volunteers to explore their call to ministry.

BVS has named a volunteer staff member to lead the emphasis. Dana Cassell began Feb. 1 as volunteer staff for Vocation and Community Living. She will work with Jim Lehman of Elgin, Ill., who is the facilitator of the vocations program for BVS. She is a member of First Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., and a graduate of the College of William and Mary. She holds a master of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology and recently completed 15 months as a BVS volunteer in the Church of the Brethren’s Ministry Office.

Congregations interested in hosting a Brethren Volunteer Service community site may contact Dana Cassell at dcassell_gb@brethren.org or 800-323-8039, ext 317.

-- Dan McFadden is the director of Brethren Volunteer Service.

Source: 2/25/2009 Newsline

Brethren bits: Correction, remembrance, Annual Conference, more.

• Correction: The location given for Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in the Newsline Extra of Feb. 11 was incorrect. AMBS is located in Elkhart, Ind.
  
  
• Kenneth E. McDowell, 93, of Hanover, Pa., died on Feb. 13. He was a former executive of the World Ministries Commission of the Church of the Brethren General Board, a former mission worker in India, and also had been an interim general secretary for the Church of the Brethren, among other denominational appointments. McDowell retired in 1980 after having given 27 years of service to the church. He began working for the General Board in 1953 when he served four years as secretary, treasurer, and field secretary of the India mission. On his return from India he worked for nine years as assistant treasurer in the Finance Commission of the General Board. In 1966 he was appointed director of material aid services in the Brethren Service Commission, with responsibility for a network of Church World Service (CWS) collection and processing centers operated by the Church of the Brethren on behalf of CWS, as well as oversight of SERRV and processing and shipping of supplies for Interchurch Medical Assistance. After a reorganization of the board’s programs in 1968, community development consultant and director of disaster response were added to his job responsibilities. From Oct. 1977 through Dec. 1979 he headed the General Board’s World Ministries Commission, then worked as a consultant on special projects. In retirement, he served as interim executive for World Ministries from the end of 1984 through the first months of 1985, and as interim general secretary for some months in 1986. During his tenure with the General Board, he highlighted ecumenical work with organizations such as CWS and the National Council of Churches, and is credited with continuing development of the Brethren Service Center. He also helped develop the Lafiya rural health program in Nigeria and the Church of the Brethren Disaster Network. Born on June 21, 1915, in Johnstown, Pa., he was the son of Harry R. Sr. and Mary Jane Howard McDowell. He was married to Edythe Elizabeth Bowman McDowell, his wife of 67 years, on Aug. 14, 1941. He held degrees from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., and Bethany Theological Seminary. He was an ordained minister and early in his career pastored Blue Ridge (Va.) Church of the Brethren. While attending seminary, he served as business manager of CROP, Chicago. Previous employment included accounting for Rice and Rice, CPAs, in Altoona, Pa., and a term as office manager for Insurance Premium Finance Co. in Huntingdon, Pa. He is survived by his wife, Edythe, daughter Susan E. Leader, sons and daughters-in-law Robert Neil and Ruth McDowell, David Bowman and Linda McDowell, Kenneth Michael and Suzanne Matchett McDowell, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial gifts are received to Church World Service and Heifer International. Online condolences may be made to the family at http://www.hartzlerfuneralhome.com/.
  
  
• Delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in San Diego on June 26-30 are requested to download the Information Packet giving details about the event from the Annual Conference website. "In an effort to save time and money this year, we are offering the Information Packet online at http://www.cobannualconference.org/sandiego/infopacket.html," said an announcement from the Annual Conference Office. The same Information Packet on CD was sent to each Church of the Brethren congregation in mid-February and should be available to delegates as well. "In the event that you do not have Internet access, or have trouble accessing the links, please contact our office and we will send you the packet," said the announcement. Contact Dana Weaver at dweaver_ac@brethren.org or 800-688-5186.
  
  
• Lerry Fogle, conference executive director for the Church of the Brethren, has been nominated to serve on the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA) board of Directors for a two-year term. He has been a member of the organization for seven years. RCMA, a multifaith, nonprofit, international association composed exclusively of religious meeting professionals, was established in 1972 and represents over 1,000 diverse religious organizations. The Church of the Brethren was one of the early members. Fogle is based at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., and is a member of Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren.
  
  
• Some guidelines for participation in the 2010 National Youth Conference (NYC) have been released by the Church of the Brethren’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry. The guidelines are intended to help churches and youth groups prepare for the conference that will take place on July 17-22, 2010, at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. The guidelines are: all youth who have completed ninth grade through one year of college (at the time of NYC) are eligible to attend, and participants and churches that wish to request an exception to these age guidelines are asked to consult with the NYC staff; all youth must be accompanied by an adult advisor; congregations must send at least one advisor for every seven youth; churches that are sending female youth are requested to send a female advisor, churches that are sending male youth are requested to send a male advisor; all adult advisors must be a minimum of 22 years of age; children of participants, advisors, and staff are not permitted at NYC. Contact 2010nyc@brethren.org for more information or questions about NYC 2010.
  
  
• The Critical Response Childcare team has completed its response to the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in which 50 people were killed near Buffalo, N.Y. The Critical Response Childcare Team is a part of the Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) ministry of the Church of the Brethren. The team closed out its work on Feb. 21. It included eight trained CDS volunteers. Seven of the eight live locally in the Buffalo area, including team leaders Barb and Don Weaver. "All gave up personal commitments to work with children" of families affected by the disaster, reported CDS director Judy Bezon. The work of the Weavers included developing a relationship with the local Red Cross, which facilitated communication, Bezon added. The childcare was provided in a hotel suite close to where the families of crash victims gathered. "Some days there were children throughout the day, others days there were up to 16 children all at once for over three hours," Bezon said. The Critical Response Childcare Team also stayed on to care for children during memorial services and calling hours, as requested by the parents.
  
  
• Recent work of the Church of the Brethren’s Material Resources program has included a shipment of relief supplies to Iraqi refugees, and supplies bound for Zimbabwe. The program processes, warehouses, and ships relief supplies on behalf of a number of ecumenical partners, working out of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The shipment of relief supplies for Iraqi refugees living in Syria was made on behalf of Church World Service and International Orthodox Christian Charities, and included one 40-foot container of hygiene kits and toothpaste. Ten pallets of health and medical supplies, blankets, and children's items were shipped to Zimbabwe on behalf of Global Assistance.
  
  
• Registration is now open for Regional Deacon Trainings sponsored by the Caring Ministries of the Church of the Brethren. Two events are offered this spring for deacons and other congregational caregivers. The first will be held at Pinecrest Community in Mt. Morris, Ill., on May 2, followed by a similar session at the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home in Palmyra, Pa., on May 16. The trainings will include workshops and other presentations on topics of deacon spirituality, the art of listening, offering support in times of grief and loss, and what it means to be called as a deacon. Go to www.brethren.org/deacontraining for online registration or download a paper registration form from the website. For more information contact Donna Hillcoat, Director of Deacon Ministry, at dhillcoat_abc@brethren.org or 800-323-8039.
  
  
• Youth Roundtable, one of the Church of the Brethren’s regional youth conferences, will be held at Bridgewater (Va.) College on March 20-22. Cost is $40. Cindy Laprade Lattimer will be the guest speaker, with entertainment by Mutual Kumquat. The theme will be "You Are a Knight in the Kingdom of God!" from Ephesians 6:10-11. E-mail interyouthcab@yahoo.com for details.
  
  
• The New Windsor Conference Center has entered into a partnership with The Arc of Carroll County, Md., for a work force training program providing education, training, and work experience to individuals with developmental disabilities. The conference center is located at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The goal of the new program is to provide participants with skills and training enabling them to obtain paid employment. The program began on Feb. 2, with classroom training conducted in the Blue Ridge Building by Arc staff, and hands-on training provided by the housekeeping staff at the New Windsor Conference Center.
  
  
• Nokesville (Va.) Church of the Brethren has hosted its 51st Community Sewing Day, according to a report on InsideNoVa.com. "For the past 51 years, Community Sewing Day at the Nokesville Church of the Brethren has been a place to meet new friends and spend time together while doing a project to help others," the northern Virginia news site reported. This year’s Community Sewing Day brought together about 30 women from various churches and civic groups to make lap robes for wheelchair patients.
  
  
• Walnut Church of the Brethren has been sponsoring the Argos (Ind.) Swap Shop for two years, in a unique venture that helps clothe the needy, according to a report by WNDU-TV of South Bend. "People can bring in their donations and swap them for other items in the store," the report said. "The store also believes that if you can't donate, don't worry. They want to help out those in need during tough times."
  
  
• A "Letters From Dad" program at Donnels Creek Church of the Brethren in Springfield, Ohio, hopes to help men express their love, and make it more likely for wives and children to know what is on the minds and hearts of husbands and fathers, according to an article in the Springfield "News-Sun." The program is part of the church’s 200th anniversary celebration.
  
  
• Pastor Robert Dunlap of Winter Park (Fla.) Church of the Brethren will be part of a crusade March 3-6 at Angola Prison, the largest prison farm in the country, located in Louisiana. The crusade will help train 157 inmate preachers to be pastors and ministers to over 5,000 inmates, according to the Atlantic Southeast District newsletter. "Please keep this ministry in your prayers," the district asked.
  
  
• The Puerto Rico Region of Atlantic Southeast District held a pastor’s and leader’s retreat on Nov. 21, 2008, with 30 people present. Ana Mildred Diaz spoke on "Pastors and the Burnout Syndrome" and Luis Filipa spoke on the theme, "Abundant Life." The Church of the Brethren’s Congregational Life Ministries donated $1,700 to the event, and the district’s Middlekauf Bequest Funds gave $750, according to the district newsletter.
  
  
• The Palms Estates of Highlands County in Lorida, Fla., and the Palms of Sebring, Fla.--two Church of the Brethren retirement communities in Atlantic Southeast District--are celebrating their 50th anniversary. The effort was started as the Lorida Retirement Homes in 1958, created by the congregations of Lorida, Sunnyland, and Sebring. The district (then the District of Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico) in 1959 took action to support the effort. The Sebring property was purchased in 1961. Lester Kesselring, Palms historian, is providing articles about the history of the communities in the district newsletter.
  
  
• McPherson (Kan.) College has been honored by the Corporation for National and Community Service with a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. "McPherson College is pleased to be recognized for the service rendered by students, with the support of many faculty and staff, during the past year," said president Ron Hovis. "Service opportunities are integrated into our curriculum and co-curricular activities. We believe that service is an important part of developing whole persons." During the 2007-08 academic year, McPherson students gave 7,490 hours of service in the local community, according to a release from the college. Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement.
  
  
• The National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program has begun offering weekly e-mail messages for the season of Lent, according to an announcement from assistant director Jordan Blevins, who is a member of the Church of the Brethren. "This year, we invite you to include as part of your Lenten practices to consider your impact upon God's Creation--and what steps you can take in your own life to bring yourself back into relationship with it," Blevins said. Each Sunday, the program will send an e-mail message to subscribers including the lectionary text, a reflection, study questions, and suggestions for daily actions. Go to www.nccecojustice.org//lent.html or contact info@nccecojustice.org for more information.

Source: 2/25/2009 Newsline

National Older Adult Conference to meet on ‘Legacies of Wisdom.’

"Legacies of Wisdom: Weaving Old and New" is the theme of the 10th National Older Adult Conference (NOAC), to be held Sept. 7-11 at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center in North Carolina. Sponsored by the Caring Ministries of the Church of the Brethren, this tenth NOAC will celebrate the legacy born out of the wisdom, foresight, and creativity of the planners of the first NOAC, held in 1992.

Adults age 50 and older are invited to attend. Speakers, preachers, workshops, and entertainers will explore the legacies of the faith that we yearn to pass on to future generations, reclaiming the treasures of the past while creating new possibilities of hope for families, the church, and the world. There also will be opportunities for Bible study, recreation, creative expression, fellowship, and service.

A "Hike for Haiti" around Lake Junaluska will raise funds to assist with leadership development in Haiti, and school and hygiene kits will be assembled to give impoverished children and struggling families needed resources for learning, health, and wellness.

Preachers include Christopher Bowman, pastor of Oakton (Va.) Church of the Brethren; Cynthia Hale, senior pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Ga.; and Dennis Webb, pastor of Naperville (Ill.) Church of the Brethren. Other main speakers are Rachael Freed, founder of Life-Legacies, who will speak about "Harvesting the Wisdom of Your Life: Creating your own Spiritual-Ethical Will"; David Waas presenting a keynote address on the theme, "And the Earth Moved"; and Judson University professor Michael McKeever speaking on "Wisdom on the Road" exploring the journey motif in the Gospel of Luke. Throughout the week, Robert Neff will lead the morning Bible study. Entertainment includes concerts by acclaimed Quaker singer/songwriter Carrie Newcomer and Brethren musicians Andy and Terry Murray.

Members of the 2009 NOAC planning committee are Deanna Brown, Barb and Lester Kesselring, Joyce Nolen, and Glenn and Linda Timmons. Kim Ebersole is the coordinator.

Registration brochures will be mailed to past NOAC attendees, congregations, districts, and retirement communities in early March. Information about NOAC is available at www.brethren.org/NOAC or by calling the Caring Ministries office at 800-323-8039. Online registration is available for credit card users.

-- Kim Ebersole is director of Family and Older Adult Ministries for the Church of the Brethren.

Source: 2/25/2009 Newsline

Brethren Press sells three curricula for summer, Vacation Bible School.

Brethren Press is offering three curricula for summer Christian education programs and Vacation Bible School (VBS) this year. To order the items listed below, call Brethren Press at 800-441-3712. Shipping and handling charges will be added to the listed price.

"Catch the Spirit! Join God’s Work in the World" is a VBS curriculum based on stories from Acts. The VBS program will bring children face to face with the power of the Holy Spirit, as they learn how to get involved, speak up, and join God's work around the world. Fun worship, interactive dramas, lively songs, an emphasis on active Bible learning, and 10 easy-to-plan activity centers are designed to inspire children ages 4 through grade 8 to live together as Jesus' followers, and to share the good news of Jesus with others. The complete box contains everything needed for planning and preparation as a 5-day or 12-week program, including two copies of all leaders’ guides, and one copy of every classroom, promotional, and student resource. All items are also priced separately. Churches may buy the complete box for $129.99.

"Discovery Canyon: Explore the Wonders of the Word!" is a VBS curriculum published by Augsburg Fortress based on Bible stories from Exodus, 1 Samuel, Matthew, and Luke, on the themes of "Rejoice, Pray, Ask, Tell, and Seek." Each day children will explore the Word, make Bible connections, and collect critter friends. Order the starter kit for $69.99, additional items may be ordered separately.

"Breakthrough" is the Outdoor Ministry Resource for 2009, from New Earth Christian Resources for the Outdoors. It offers six easy-to-use Daily Discovery sections for each age group, for use by camps and other organizations. Scriptures come from the ministry of Jesus and the stories of the people he met, from Mark and Luke. Contact Brethren Press for price information.

Source: 2/25/2009 Newsline

Brethren leaders release statement on New York Post cartoon.

A statement responding to a cartoon published by the New York Post on Feb. 18 has been issued by three key Church of the Brethren leaders: Annual Conference moderator David Shumate, Mission and Ministry Board chair Edwin H. Edmonds, and Church of the Brethren general secretary Stanley J. Noffsinger. The statement follows in full:

"A statement from Church of the Brethren leadership responding to a cartoon published by the New York Post on Feb. 18, 2009:

"The Church of the Brethren leadership expresses grave concern about a cartoon published by the New York Post on Feb. 18, portraying the image of a dead chimpanzee, shot by police, alongside a reference to the federal government’s economic stimulus bill.

"Our concerns center on the cartoon’s use of old racist symbolism equating those of African descent with monkeys, and the way it connects that racist symbolism to President Obama, our nation’s first African-American president.

"We are concerned about the effect of this cartoon personally for people of African descent, and its effect on our society as a whole during a time in which many hope that America is moving beyond its racist past. Our deepest concern, however, is that the cartoon might be interpreted to encourage violence against President Obama and other African-American people.

"Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corporation, which owns the New York Post, has apologized personally for the publication of the cartoon and we are grateful for that. However, the apology does not detract from our concerns about the destructive effects of the cartoon.

"We call on members of the Church of the Brethren to hold President Obama and his family and the whole African-American community in prayer, and we call our church to a new awareness of how frightening expressions of violent racism are for people in minority groups in our country. We are painfully aware of an increase in hate crime, and of the various threats that have been made against President Obama since he was elected.

"We suggest that members of our church and people of good faith across the United States seek positive responses to the harm that may have been done by the cartoon. If we act together with faith, we may seize this difficult experience in our life as a nation and convert it into an opportunity to do outreach and relationship building with people of every ethnicity, and make it into an opening to talk with the children in our families and Sunday school classrooms about how God loves all people equally.

"The scriptures continue to encourage us as we walk together toward the Kingdom of God, where we will be among ‘a great multitude...from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb’ (Revelation 7:9).

"In the name of Christ, our hope and our peace."

Source: 2/25/2009 Newsline

Michael Schneider named as new president of McPherson College.

Michael Schneider has been chosen by the McPherson (Kan.) College Board of Trustees as the 14th president of the college. He currently is vice president of Advancement and Admissions for McPherson.

Craig Little, chair of the board of McPherson College, expressed appreciation to the search committee, consultant Tom Scheye, the campus community, alumni, and members of the Church of the Brethren for their efforts on behalf of the selection process. "Nearly 50 applications were sorted down to four finalists and making the final decision was not an easy one. I have great belief in the collective wisdom of the trustees and the search committee and think we made a great choice."

Schneider holds a master of business administration from the University of Denver and a bachelor of science in communication from McPherson. He has worked for the college for the past seven years, starting as director of career services, then vice president of advancement, and adding the vice president of admissions role in 2007. In his current role, he is responsible for student enrollment, fundraising and annual giving, alumni relations, marketing, and career services. Through his leadership, the 2008 incoming class exceeded 500--the highest number in 30 years. In addition, the "myMC" campaign, which was completed in July 2008, raised $9 million--more than a million dollars over the original goal. The total number of donors to the college has increased by 20 percent during Schneider’s time with McPherson.

Schneider also serves as board member and general partner in two outside companies: KESK, Inc., a small company that invests in start-up businesses in the energy sector; and Sunflower Wind, LLC., a privately-held wind turbine manufacturing company. He is an active member of the McPherson Community Education Foundation Board of Directors and is heavily involved in leadership committees at First United Methodist Church of McPherson.

-- Jana Wingert is director of Marketing and Communications at McPherson College.

Source: 2/26/2009 Newsline Extra

Nancy Knepper ends her term as coordinator of District Ministry.

Nancy F. Knepper, coordinator of District Ministry for the Church of the Brethren’s Ministry Office, has completed her term of service with the denomination. The position of coordinator of District Ministry has been eliminated as part of a re-evaluation of the needs of the Ministry Office.

She has served as coordinator of District Ministry since Oct. 1997. She started working for the Church of the Brethren General Board in Feb. 1989 as director of Outdoor Ministries in a half-time position through 1997. She also served briefly as interim coordinator of the General Board’s ministry team. Previously she was administrator and manager of Camp Ithiel in Gotha, Fla., and administered Atlantic Southeast District’s outdoor ministries program. She is a graduate of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., and holds a master’s degree from Shippensburg (Pa.) State College. She is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren.

Any services or functions previously handled by Knepper should be channeled through Mary Jo Flory-Steury, executive director of the Ministry Office.

Source: 2/26/2009 Newsline Extra

Janis Pyle ends her term as coordinator of Mission Connections.

Janis Pyle, coordinator of Mission Connections for Global Mission Partnerships, has completed her term of service with the Church of the Brethren. The coordinator position has been eliminated as part of a re-evaluation of the needs of Global Mission Partnerships.

Pyle has served as coordinator of Mission Connections since Nov. 2001. During her tenure she helped strengthen the connections of church members with the denomination’s global mission efforts; produced communications on behalf of the mission program; gave presentations for congregations and other groups; and helped organize missions events at Annual Conference. In previous employment she was a writer/editor for newspapers, corporations, and nonprofits. Her volunteer work has included service on the Northern Plains District planning committee and community projects related to homelessness and immigration issues. She holds a degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has studied at the graduate level at Iowa State University.

Any services or functions previously handled by Pyle should be channeled through Jay Wittmeyer, executive director of Global Mission Partnerships.

Source: 2/26/2009 Newsline Extra

Brethren bits: More personnel announcements.

• Lois Grove has been named district minister of Leadership Development for Northern Plains District. The new position was created by the district board with "awareness of the need for a dedicated effort to identify, call out, train, and nurture leadership in our district," from an announcement in the district newsletter. Responsibilities will include communicating with individuals and churches for the purpose of identifying gifts of leadership and offering opportunities for training, identifying needs and opportunities for professional growth for ministers, and ongoing development of ministers’ spiritual awareness and growth.
  
  
• Elizabeth Mullich began Feb. 16 as secretary for Brethren Disaster Ministries, at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. She most recently has been the primary caregiver for her mother. Previously she was an executive secretary at Fairhaven in Sykesville, Md. She also has worked for the Columbus (Ind.) Philharmonic Orchestra in several administrative roles.
  
  
• Sharon Norris began Feb. 23 as office assistant for the Church of the Brethren’s Material Resources program located at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. She most recently worked for a small beverage distributor in an administrative role. She also has worked for Random House in customer service.
  
  
• John and Mary Mueller have been named to a new role as project consultants for Brethren Disaster Ministries, on a contract basis. They formerly worked as regional project directors. Their new position was created to assist Brethren Disaster Ministries in achieving a number of goals identified through a recent survey, including teaching construction skills to volunteers, increasing the number of homes rebuilt, and maintaining leadership teams. The Muellers will support the work of Brethren Disaster Ministries project leaders and volunteers by providing construction expertise, project estimation, consultation, spiritual support, household and transitional management, and teaching construction skills.
  
  
• The 2009 Youth Peace Travel Team has been announced: Chelsea Goss of Mechanicsville, Va.; Jessica Flory-Steury of Kettering, Ohio; Marianne Houff of Bethel, Pa.; and Bethany Funkhouser of Strasburg, Va. The team will represent the Church of the Brethren as it travels to camps across the denomination throughout the summer. The Youth Peace Travel Team is sponsored by the Church of the Brethren’s Outdoor Ministries, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Brethren Volunteer Service, On Earth Peace, and Brethren Witness/Washington Office. The program is designed to share with Brethren youth the message of peace and justice that has been a core faith tradition of the church throughout its 300-year history. The team also will attend and lead sessions at the National Junior High Conference, Annual Conference, and a workcamp at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
  
  
• Matt Witkovsky has begun a Brethren Volunteer Service assignment at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office. He is a graduate of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College and was a member of the Church of the Brethren’s Youth Peace Travel Team in 2006. His work will focus on issues of eco-justice, the Middle East, and the death penalty, and he will assist with the Christian Citizenship Seminar.
  
  
• Several Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village employees received awards at this year’s Staff Recognition Dinner. Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village is a Church of the Brethren retirement community near Boonsboro, Md. Receiving Service Excellence awards were Karen Gish, assistant director of the Dietary Department, who is in her 36th year at Fahrney-Keedy; and Gail Hammond, who works in the Housekeeping Department and who is in her second year at the community. Besides these honors, many on the staff received recognition for years of service including Barbara Weber, Social Services director, and Janet Filler, Nursing Department, for 40 years; Ginger Lowery, Environmental Services, for 35 years; Martha Wolfe, Human Resources, for 20 years; Donna Clark and Kathy Cosens, both of Nursing, for 15 years; Deborah Martz, Environmental Services, and Mary Moore, Nursing, for 10 years; Kelly Keyfauver, Rose Wenger, Pamela Burger, Carrie Davis, Ronda McGilton, and Carla Spataro, all in Nursing, for 5 years; and Marvin Ickes, Dietary, for 5 years.
  
  
• The World Council of Churches (WCC) seeks young adult stewards for an upcoming Central Committee meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on Aug. 19-Sept. 4. English-speaking young adults aged 18-30 from WCC member churches are eligible to apply. The Church of the Brethren is a member church of the WCC. The Stewards Program includes a week-long Ecumenical Learning Program prior to the meeting, assisting with staffing during the meeting, and an ecumenical project to be done when the stewards return home. The WCC will be responsible for lodging and meal expenses during the time of the program. Travel costs to and from Geneva are paid by the stewards or their church. The deadline for applications is March 31. Go to http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/documents/p1/info_stewards_2009.pdf to download a brochure about the program. Go to http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/documents/p1/applic_form_stewards_2009.pdf to download an application form.

Source: 2/26/2009 Newsline Extra

Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Judy Bezon, Kathleen Campanella, Lerry Fogle, Donna Hillcoat, Tom Hurst, Phil Jones, Jon Kobel, Karin L. Krog, Emily Laprade, Glen Sargent, Dana Weaver, Jana Wingert, and Loretta Wolf contributed to this report.

NEWS

• Church of the Brethren faces challenging financial situation.
  
• Matching grant program for domestic hunger raises $117,000.
  
• Haiti hurricane response is underway.
  
• Christian leaders target poverty.
  
• Brethren Bits: Correction, remembrance, personnel, and much more.

PERSONNEL

• Marvin Greener to direct Buildings and Grounds at General Offices.
  
• On Earth Peace announces staffing shifts.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2009

• Annual Conference Information Packet available online, registration begins Feb. 21.
  
• Public policy leader on hunger to speak at Annual Conference.
  
• Song and Story Fest to be held at Camp Peaceful Pines.
  
• Cook-Huffman to lead Ministers’ Association event.
  
• Annual Conference bits and pieces.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Skilled workers to construct 2009 Nigeria workcamp projects.
  
• Bethany Seminary offers Spring Chapel Preaching Series.
  
• Bethany holds Presidential Forum in March.
  
• Brethren Disaster Ministries takes part in ecumenical ‘blitz build.’
  
• Dominican Brethren to hold annual assembly.
  
• Young Adult Conference to be held over Memorial Day weekend.
  
• ‘We Are Able’ workcamp seeks participants.
  
• Armenia-Georgia study tour sponsored by the Brethren and Heifer.
  
• Other upcoming events.

CHILDREN'S DISASTER SERVICES MINISTRY

• Critical Response Childcare Team Aids Families at Plane Crash Site

Church of the Brethren faces challenging financial situation.

The Church of the Brethren is facing a challenging financial situation at the start of 2009, according to the church’s finance staff. The denomination has recorded a total net loss of $638,770 for the year 2008 (in pre-audit figures).

A cluster of factors have brought about the situation, including loss of investment value, higher costs for fuel and utilities that have increased travel budgets and mission expenses, the exchange rate for the US dollar, and a decrease in donations from individuals and congregations.

The loss in value of the denomination’s investments is one contributing factor. As of the close of 2008, the Church of the Brethren had unrealized market losses of about 35 percent of the value of its total investments, coming to a little more than $4,863,900 (in pre-audit figures). This loss of investment value will continue to affect the church’s budget in coming years, staff reported.

However, a financial strategy to level the amount of investment income the denomination actually takes in each year has helped protect the church from what might have been a more severe loss of income in 2008. The denomination currently takes the average of the past five years of investment balances in any given year.

Expenses budgeted for 2008 have proved to be realistic, but a budgeting practice for anticipating giving may have been overly optimistic. For several years, a practice for calculating what to expect in annual giving from congregations has linked expectations to a high water mark set some years ago.

Although giving from congregations and individuals has declined, the decline has not been as sharp as it might have been given the gloomy state of the economy. The rate of giving may show a continuing commitment to denominational work, even as members and congregations face their own financial difficulties. The total in giving from congregations and individuals came to $3,611,460 in 2008, representing a decrease in giving of $150,560 or only 4 percent of the actual donations received in the previous year (in pre-audit figures).

Factors posing financial challenges also include the sharp rise in gas and fuel costs experienced last year, which in turn affected the costs of utilities as well as food, travel, and other expenses. The low value of the US dollar has made international mission work more expensive, in countries where costs of goods and services have increased for mission staff and sister churches.

In another financial note, the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center at the Brethren Service Center experienced a loss of $201,040 in 2008 (in pre-audit figures). The loss came from the conference center’s self-funded budget and did not affect the core ministries of the denomination. The loss is attributed to many groups canceling bookings as the national economy fell.

The denomination’s loss for 2008 has been able to be absorbed by net assets that had been built up over the last five years. General secretary Stan Noffsinger has called on staff to seek new ways to cut expenses and to trim spending from their programs in 2009. "We want the best thinking that you all can give to face this situation," he told staff at a recent meeting. Plans for capital improvements at the denomination’s main facilities in Elgin, Ill., and New Windsor, Md., are being revisited as well, among other measures.

"Our big concern now is that giving is behind already for 2009," said treasurer Judy Keyser. "It’s not just the 4 percent of last year. If the shortfall of giving continues at the current rate, it’s something like 13 percent. We’re carefully considering what the impact will be on both the 2009 budget and further years. Adjustments to the 2009 budget are expected at the March board meeting."

Executive staff will bring options for action to the Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board at its next meeting on March 14-16, to be held at the Brethren Service Center.

Source: 02/11/2009 Newsline

Matching grant program for domestic hunger raises $117,000.

Two Church of the Brethren funds are requesting second allocations for the "Domestic Hunger Matching Grant" program following a report that the original grant amount of $50,000 has been completely disbursed--and applications from congregations are still coming in.

The money allocated for matching grants has been fully expended to the first 121 congregations that applied. These congregations themselves have contributed $67,000 to local food programs across the country. With the matching grants it means the denomination and the 121 churches have raised $117,000 for food assistance in local communities during the first five weeks of this year.

The "Domestic Hunger Matching Grant" program encourages Church of the Brethren congregations to make a special effort this winter to support the needs of food pantries and soup kitchens through matching grants of up to $500 for a gift to one local hunger program. It is sponsored jointly by the Global Food Crisis Fund and the Emergency Disaster Fund, in partnership with the denomination’s Stewardship department.

Staff originally projected a goal of involving 100 congregations. As of today, 121 congregations have taken part, and 22 more are on a waiting list for matching grants.

Additional allocations of $25,000 from the Global Food Crisis Fund and $12,500 from the Emergency Disaster Fund are being requested to continue the program as long as funds are available. If the new allocations are approved by the denomination’s Mission and Ministry Board, the two funds will give a total of $87,500 for matching grants with congregations.

To qualify, a congregation must raise new funds for the food crisis, fill out and return an application form, and enclose a copy of the check it writes to the food bank or soup kitchen. Matching checks will be issued in the charity’s name and mailed to the requesting congregation for forwarding to the local organization.

Go to www.brethren.org/site/DocServer/Domestic_Hunger_cong_ap_January_2009.pdf?docID=1001 for the application form. For more information contact Justin Barrett in the Global Mission Partnerships office at 800-323-8039 ext. 230.

Source: 02/11/2009 Newsline

Haiti hurricane response is underway.

A comprehensive Brethren response to the hurricanes that swept over Haiti last fall is underway. Through a grant of $100,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF), Brethren Disaster Ministries is developing new initiatives that promise to help relieve suffering and improve the lives of many Haitians.

"Prior to the storms, Haiti already was the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Since the hurricanes, 10 percent of the population in the impacted area has been forced to beg for a living," said Brethren Disaster Ministries coordinator Jane Yount in a report.

Aspects of the multi-faceted response include:

• Micro-loans in the amount of $200 for purchasing livestock or starting a small business. Disbursement of funds is targeted to begin in the next month.
  
  
• Home repair and rebuilding beginning in the Mirebalais area north of Port au Prince. Materials will be purchased starting in mid-February. Twenty homes have been selected for repair in the village of Fon Cheval, in a model plan that will serve as a guide for projects in other villages. Brethren Disaster Ministries hopes to create opportunities for volunteer groups from the US to take part.
  
  
• School-based feeding programs in the Gonaives area. The process of sending meals to schools is underway. Klebert Exceus, a Haitian consultant, is working with Brethren Disaster Ministries on this effort. He has shared that "Christians in these areas are praying that God will bless and support these projects."
  
  
• Medical material aid following assessments of a Haitian hospital and clinic. A shipment of medical supplies from IMA World Health is anticipated in late winter.
  
  
• Capacity building and leadership support, with $3,000 being provided to two Haitian Brethren church leaders who are assisting with the response.
  
  
• Canned meat provided by Mid-Atlantic District and Southern Pennsylvania District. The canning project will be completed in April.

Leaders of the project include Jeff Boshart, a former mission worker in Haiti who has been named Haiti Disaster Response coordinator; Klebert Exceus, who is serving as a Haitian consultant; and Roy Winter, executive director of Brethren Disaster Ministries. Ludovic St. Fleur, pastor of Eglise des Freres Haitiens in Miami, is the Haiti Mission coordinator, working with the Church of the Brethren’s Haiti Advisory Committee. There are now five active Church of the Brethren congregations in Haiti, and 10 more preaching points.

"Part of what we are doing in Haiti is to try and respond in a different way," Winter said. "Many organizations around the world have tried lots of approaches to help Haiti develop only to have progress nullified in a matter of years. So we are trying very hard to facilitate local leadership and encourage local churches working together."

Gonaíves is the most heavily devastated area in Haiti, with many of the damaged or destroyed homes in flood plains or mudslide areas, Winter reported. There is an active Brethren preaching point in the area. "We are partnering with and bringing local Brethren into a pastors group called Service Et De Liaison Des Eglises Evangeliques Gonaiviennes," Winter said. "The result is that in the short run working this way may slow some of the disaster response, but in the long run we are building capacity for Haitians to respond to their own needs."

To support the Haiti Hurricane Response, donations may be sent to the Emergency Disaster Fund, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.

Source: 02/11/2009 Newsline

Christian leaders target poverty.

Calling poverty a "moral scandal," leaders from the full spectrum of Christian churches in the country met Jan. 13-16 in Baltimore to dig deeper into the issue and then take their message to Washington.

The participants in Christian Churches Together reaffirmed their conviction that service to the poor and work for justice are "at the center of Christian life and witness." They were building on a statement developed by consensus at a previous gathering, but recognized a new sense of urgency because of the economic collapse.

"In every way the context has changed since we last met," noted David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, and one of several people who addressed the group. He reported that the number of poor people has increased alarmingly during the very years that the country was experiencing unprecedented economic growth, and that now many more people are at risk. Any stimulus package must target the poor, he said. "There is no better investment than the nutrition, health, and education of all our people."

Setting a course to end poverty "will be a powerful global witness to the power of Jesus Christ," said Beckmann. "In the midst of economic contraction, the biggest risk is spiritual contraction."

At a meeting with President Barack Obama’s transition team for domestic policy, CCT leaders expressed their support for his pledge to cut poverty. They urged that any stimulus package care not only for Main Street and Wall Street, but also for those who have no street address.

To achieve its goal of cutting poverty in half within 10 years, CCT is promoting four objectives: strengthening families, strengthening communities, "making work work," and improving education. These will require the joint efforts of churches, government, business, communities, and families, they said.

"There are four million more in poverty than eight years ago," observed Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, general secretary of the Reformed Church in America, at a press conference. "The churches have come together as never before. Poverty is a moral failure, a scandal--not just a political issue, but a moral and spiritual one.... We are compelled to work with each other, and with government, to see that it’s overcome."

"The whole gospel demands that we speak to the poor," said James Leggett, presiding bishop of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. "We believe God is working in this moment of time."

CCT is the broadest Christian association in the country. Its participant church bodies are evangelical, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, historic black, and Protestant. The organization also includes several national Christian organizations, among them Evangelicals for Social Action, Sojourners, Bread for the World, World Vision, and the American Bible Society.

The Church of the Brethren was represented at the meeting by Annual Conference moderator David Shumate and Brethren Press publisher Wendy McFadden, who serves on CCT’s steering committee.

At the CCT annual meeting, participants also spent three sessions discussing evangelism, which will be the focus of next year’s meeting in Seattle.

-- Wendy McFadden is executive director of Brethren Press.

Source: 02/11/2009 Newsline