- The positions of dishwasher and Conference Center secretary at the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center have been eliminated as of March 22, and the services of David Zaruba and Connie Bohn ended on the same date. The elimination of these positions occurred due to the significant budget shortfalls at the Conference Center over the past several years and the budget reduction measures put in place to remedy the situation. Both Zaruba and Bohn will receive a three-month severance package for regular salary and benefits as well as outplacement services. Zaruba was hired as dishwasher in Dining Services on May 8, 2003, and Bohn has served in the Conference Center secretary position since June 2, 1999.
- Bethany Theological Seminary seeks a full-time director of communications. Bethany is the graduate school and academy of the Church of the Brethren, located in Richmond, Ind., offering MDiv and MA programs with local and distance tracks. The director will have education and experience in communications to strengthen, expand, and manage the image and awareness of the seminary; develop and execute communications plans, strategies, and tactics; serve diverse stakeholder groups, both internal and external; work collaboratively with director of electronic communications; share the vision of an inquiring thoughtful Christian faith. Candidates should have strong organizational abilities, interpersonal skills, excellent writing and oral communication, knowledge of electronic technology and software for design and production of communication pieces, and an eye and imagination tuned to newsworthy developments in the Bethany community to be sent as timely printed and electronic news releases. Bachelor’s degree with experience and knowledge of the Church of the Brethren preferred. Letters of application, resumes, samples of work or portfolio should be sent to: Director of Communications Search, Bethany Theological Seminary, 615 National Road West, Richmond, IN 47374; or communications.search@bethanyseminary.edu. Application deadline is May 1 or until the position is filled.
- Doris Abdullah, Church of the Brethren representative to the United Nations, will bring opening remarks at the International Day for the Elimination of Racism program at the UN tomorrow, March 24. She is co-chair of the Subcommittee for the Elimination of Racism of the NGO Committee on Human Rights. The focus will be the International Year for People of African Descent in 2011, which "aims to advance the integration of people of African descent into all political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of society and to promote a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture." The program will consist of panel presentations, a poetry performance, and audience interaction. Speakers include Howard Dodson of the New York Public Library Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, along with representatives of the missions to the UN from Colombia, Ghana, and Jamaica, and James Jackson of the University of Michigan. Performing will be Anis Mojgani, two-time National Poetry Slam Champion and Winner of the International World Cup Poetry Slam. The event is 3-6 p.m. on the 10th floor of the Church Center in New York.
- A new Spanish language certificate-level ministry training program, Seminario Biblico Anabautista Hispano-de la Iglesia de los Hermanos (SeBAH-CoB), is available through the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. This program is a partnership between the Brethren Academy and the Mennonite Education Agency (MEA)-Hispanic Pastoral and Leadership Education office. Twenty students from Atlantic Northeast District attended an orientation weekend Jan. 20-23 at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Seven students from Pacific Southwest District will participate after attending orientation March 6-12. Rafael Barahona, associate director of MEA and director of SeBAH, was the orientation instructor. Both districts are providing significant spiritual, academic, and financial support for their students in this ministry training program. For information contact the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership at academy@bethanyseminary.edu or 800-287-8822 ext. 1824.
- Photographs of Brethren "extending the table" are sought for a presentation during the closing worship service of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. The service is Wednesday, July 6, in Grand Rapids, Mich., on the theme, "Jesus Extends the Table to Us." Photographs will be displayed on large screens during an act of commissioning for the congregation. The worship planning team asks for help from Brethren photographers in acquiring photos of ways in which congregations extend hospitality and welcome to others, because Jesus welcomed us. Images may be from celebrations of Love Feast, but also may show ways congregations greet people as they arrive for worship, reach out into the community, and engage in service ministries. Photographers are requested to contribute only their own original works, and to have the permission of people pictured in any photos that are submitted. Send photographs as jpg attachments to an e-mail to Rhonda Pittman Gingrich at rpgingrich@yahoo.com, along with credit information and written permission for their use by the Annual Conference.
- Bethany Theological Seminary is offering "Sabbath space" on its campus in Richmond, Ind., on March 27-28. An announcement said: "At this moment in our national and denominational life, and taking Jesus seriously, Bethany Seminary is opening a Sabbath space for all people beginning on Sunday, March 27, at 5 p.m. with a simple fellowship meal and closing on Monday, March 28, by 3 p.m. The purpose of our gathering is to remember together that God is our creator, that we belong to God, and that we find our freedom and our joy in reconciliation with God and one another." The event will include worship, opportunities for prayer in small groups, and space for individual meditation. There is no charge, but those who plan to attend are requested to register. A registration form is at www.bethanyseminary.edu/news/sabbathspace.
- Churches interested in becoming sites to provide food to hungry children through the federal Summer Food Service program are invited to the USDA’s "Summer Food Service Program Webinar for Faith-Based Organizations" on March 29 from 3-4 p.m. (eastern time). Each summer, 22.3 million students are at risk of going hungry when the school year ends. For many children, school meals are the only complete and nutritious meals they eat, and in the summer they go without. The Summer Food Service Program helps fill the gap for low-income children. It is federally funded and administered by states that reimburse organizations for meals served to children during the summer. Participants in the webinar will need access to a phone line and a computer with Internet access. To participate, complete the registration form at http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/17fb9g48fe7. More information is at www.summerfood.usda.gov.
- Lakeland Song and Story Fest takes place June 26-July 2 at Camp Brethren Heights near Rodney, Mich. This is the 15th summer in a row for the annual intergenerational family camp co-sponsored by On Earth Peace. Ken Kline Smeltzer serves as director. This year’s theme is "Between the Waters." The camp features Brethren storytellers, musicians, and workshop leaders. Registration is $250 for adults, $200 for teenagers, $120 for children ages 4-12, children 3 and under welcome at no charge. Maximum fee per family is $750. Daily fees also are available. Registrations after June will be charged a late fee. Register online at www.onearthpeace.org/programs/special/song-story-fest/registration.html. For more information go to www.onearthpeace.org/programs/special/song-story-fest/index.html or contact bksmeltz@comcast.net.
- Washington City Church of the Brethren in Washington, D.C., is part of a new rainbarrel project to prevent pollution in the Anacostia River from stormwater runoff from buildings in Washington, D.C. A 650 gallon rainwater cistern will collect rain water from the church roof, thanks to a grant from the District Department of the Environment. The project is a community partnership bringing together Capitol Hill houses of worship and neighborhood groups for stormwater education, cistern installation, and garden care. Partner organizations are Anacostia Riverkeeper and Groundwork Anacostia, which employs local youth to help install the cisterns.
- "Is Pacifism a Core Christian Value?" is the theme for a March 26 event of Mid-Atlantic District Peace and Justice Committee, at University Park Church of the Brethren in Hyattsville, Md. Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren, is keynote speaker. Panel members include Jordan Blevins, ecumenical peace advocate for the Church of the Brethren and National Council of Churches; Marie Benner-Rhodes, coordinator for peace education, On Earth Peace; and Jeff Scott, JD, of Westminster Church of the Brethren. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees are to prepare by reading "Christian Understanding of War in an Age of Terror(ism)," available at www.ncccusa.org/witnesses2010 (scroll down to "Visioning Conversations" and click "Full Text of the Five Vision Papers", then select the above paper). Register by contacting Terri Meushaw at aamad@brethren.org or 410-635-8790.
- The Shenandoah District Office in Weyers Cave, Va., is serving as a kit depot for Church World Service (CWS) through April 21. Health kits, school kits, baby layette kits, and clean-up buckets are being accepted. Drop off completed kits at the lower level of the office from 9 a.m. to noon, Mondays through Thursdays. All kits must be boxed in order to be loaded onto the truck for delivery to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Boxes and tape are provided. Plastic buckets are available for a $2 donation. Kits will be loaded onto the truck on April 25.
- Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village has received high scores in Maryland’s survey of residents’ families, according to a release from the Brethren retirement community near Boonsboro. For 2010, the survey contacted 16,765 persons representing residents at 224 homes. "This is the fourth year of the survey, and the Boonsboro facility has received some of the state’s highest ratings every time," the release said. For example, of Fahrney-Keedy’s responding parties in 2010, 98 percent said they would recommend the nursing home to others, compared with a 90 percent average statewide. For overall care received, Fahrney-Keedy respondents rated the home at 9.3 on a 10-point scale. Statewide in this category, homes received an average rating of 8.4.
- The Ann and Steve Morgan Auditorium Dedication Week at the University of La Verne, Calif., will feature journalist Mark Pinsky speaking on "Faith, Media and Pop Culture," March 31 at 7:30 p.m. A release from the university noted that Pinsky has authored books on faith and entertainment including "The Gospel According to Disney," "The Gospel According to the Simpsons," and "A Jew Among the Evangelicals: A Guide for the Perplexed." The event is free, seating is limited. Visit http://markpinskyevent.eventbrite.com or call 909-593-3511 ext. 4589.
- The Young Center at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College holds its Durnbaugh Lectures on April 7-8 with Dale Stoffer, academic dean of Ashland Theological Seminary. The lectures commemorate the scholarship of Donald and Hedda Durnbaugh. Stoffer will present "The Pilgrim and the Printer: The First Two Bibles in Colonial America" at 7:30 p.m. on April 7 in the Susquehanna Room of Myer Hall. The lecture follows the annual Young Center banquet. A reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner at 6 p.m. Stoffer also will present a seminar, "From Berleburg to Germantown: Radical Pietist Readings from the Bible," at 10 a.m. April 8 at the Young Center. A lunch is available after the seminar. Lecture and seminar are free. Cost for the banquet is $18. Cost for the luncheon is $10. Reservations required by March 24, call 717-361-1470.
- A new book from Elizabethtown (Pa.) College professor Michael G. Long marks the first publication of early letters of Thurgood Marshall. "Marshalling Justice: The Early Civil Rights Letters of Thurgood Marshall" was published by Amistad/HarperCollins in February. Long is associate professor of religious studies and peace and conflict studies. "I undertook this study partly to supplement our image of Thurgood Marshall as the first African American justice on the Supreme Court," Long said in a press release. From 1967-1991, Marshall was the most important and influential civil rights leader in the US before the emergence of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1955. Almost 20 years prior to the Montgomery bus boycott, Marshall began work as an attorney for the NAACP and played a critical role in the growth of the civil rights movement.
- The Global Women’s Project Steering Committee met on March 3-5 in Richmond, Ind. Founded in 1978, the project is a Brethren-related group with the purpose to "educate about wealth, power and oppression, encouraging one another to live more simply and be mindful of our luxuries and join in empowerment with women around the world, sharing resources with women’s initiatives." The committee reaffirmed and released funds to partner projects in Rwanda, Wabash, Ind., Uganda, and Sudan, and planned for education and outreach in the coming year. They had the opportunity to speak at a Peace Forum at Bethany Theological Seminary and Earlham School of Religion, and provided leadership for a chapel service. Sister Stella Sabina, from a partner project in Uganda, spoke about the oppressive tribal traditions in her homeland and her efforts to educate and support women and girls there. The group also met with Roland Kreager, general secretary of Right Sharing of World Resources, a Quaker organization. On the committee are Kim Hill Smith of Minneapolis, Minn.; Anna Lisa Gross of Richmond, Ind.; Carrie Eikler of Morgantown, W.Va.; and Nan Erbaugh of W. Alexandria, Ohio.
- Ruby Sheldon, a pilot and active member of Papago Buttes Church of the Brethren in Scottsdale, Ariz., was celebrated in a newsletter from Pacific Southwest District. "At age 92, Ruby is only 70 years older than the younger pilots in last June's 34th annual Air Race Classic," the newsletter said. She and about 100 other female pilots flew 2,000 miles in four days. She has often been among the top 10 finishers of the race, taking first place in 1995.
- The unusual blog "Who are the churches in your neighborhood" comments on a recent visit to an unidentified Church of the Brethren congregation, during week 12 of a year-long project to worship with the 50 closest churches to the author’s home. The post titled "Who’s in Charge Here Anyway?" celebrates the way each person "acted as if this church was their home." Find it at http://neighborhoodchurches.blogspot.com/2011/03/week-12-church-of-brethren.html.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Brethren bits: Personnel, job opening, Year for People of African Descent, more.
Credits
Newsline is produced by the news services of the Church of the Brethren. Contact editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at cobnews@brethren.org. Contributors include Lowell Flory, Elizabeth Harvey, Julie Hostetter, Karin Krog, Terrell Lewis, Glen Sargent, Kim Hill Smith, and Julia Wheeler.
Newsline is produced by the news services of the Church of the Brethren. Contact editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at cobnews@brethren.org. Contributors include Lowell Flory, Elizabeth Harvey, Julie Hostetter, Karin Krog, Terrell Lewis, Glen Sargent, Kim Hill Smith, and Julia Wheeler.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Newsline Extra: Update on Japan relief effort
Church provides grant for disaster relief in Japan; Brethren Disaster Ministries, BVS receive reports from partner organizations
An initial grant of $25,000 from the Church of the Brethren's Emergency Disaster Fund is being given in support of disaster relief work in Japan following the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the island nation a week ago today. The grant will support work by Church World Service (CWS) and local partner organizations.
"This is a very unusual situation," reported Brethren Disaster Ministries executive director Roy Winter, who has been in meetings with CWS and ecumenical partners about the situation in Japan.
"Usually CWS and Brethren Disaster Ministries do not respond to an international disaster in such a developed country," he said, "but the complexity and extent of this disaster simply demands we respond when the need is so great. The Japanese government is clearly leading the response effort, but our help is needed to meet the extensive need of so many who have lost so much."
On March 11, a powerful and devastating earthquake in Japan resulted in a tsunami and a complex disaster. "The extensive destruction of quake and water is now laced with evacuations and fear as radiation leaks from nuclear power plants," said Winter's grant request. "In many ways the disaster is still unfolding, with over 11,000 deaths and more expected. A half million people are displaced and the need for relief supplies increases as supplies in the area are depleted."
The Japanese government has described the destruction and crisis as the "worst since World War II." In an appeal from CWS, the agency reported that the "reported death toll and missing combined as of March 16 stands at 11,521 people with fear of thousands more unaccounted for. More than 460,000 people are now staying in evacuation sites, where the number of people arriving exceeds the capacity of space, food, water, and toilets." In addition, explosions continue at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, CWS said. As of March 16, a 20 kilometer radius was considered a "need to evacuate" zone.
The initial grant from the Brethren fund will provide emergency relief supplies at evacuation sites where basic needs of food, water, sanitation, electricity, and fuel are not being met. CWS is coordinating the response by working with partners such as the Japan Platform and the National Council of Churches in Japan. A relationship with the Japan Platform was developed during the response to the Indonesia tsunami in 2005.
Also, Gift of the Heart Hygiene Kits are being sent to Japan from warehouses in region. "These warehouses will be resupplied from the Brethren Service Center" in New Windsor, Md., Winter reported. He highlighted this as a key part of the response for the Brethren.
Go to www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kits_hygiene for information about how to collect and donate hygiene kits, which provide disaster survivors with simple but essential self-care items such as soap, towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, and more.
Go to www.brethren.org/Japandisaster for online giving to the Emergency Disaster Fund to support the relief effort, or send to Emergency Disaster Fund, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
Brethren Volunteer Service project sites report from Japan
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) currently has two volunteers serving in Japan. Ron and Barb Siney from southern Ohio are directors at the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima, which is in an area less affected by the disaster. They will complete their two-year term in mid-May, reported BVS director Dan McFadden, who is scheduled to speak with the Sineys by telephone today.
The Asian Rural Institute is a BVS site in the north of the country, some 80 miles from the damaged nuclear plants. The institute "did experience structural damage to some of their buildings," said McFadden, who clarified that "we do not have a BVSer there yet" because the institute just this year became a project site for BVS.
The institute also is a grant recipient from the church's Global Food Crisis Fund, which earlier this year designated $3,000 for its work. GFCF manager Howard Royer today said that the grant is on its way.
A March 14 e-mail from the institute to the BVS office included the following prayer concerns:
"How can you pray for us:
Reports from CWS and other ecumenical partners
The initial CWS appeal for the Japan emergency, issued on March 16, totals $2,590,450. CWS said that the two most immediate needs for affected families are rescue for those who are trapped and mobilization of relief goods to evacuation sites. Rescue interventions are primarily being carried out by the Self-Defense Force of Japan and other specialized agencies, including the Japan Rescue Association. The Japanese government has requested international assistance in response to this massive disaster.
The need for relief supplies is increasing, CWS reported, particularly in areas where the some 460,000 displaced people are now living. These sites are reporting a lack of food, water, electricity, health and hygiene kits, as well as blankets and stoves, which are critical given the current cold and freezing temperatures.
The CWS response centers on emergency relief support to at least 5,000 families, about 25,000 individuals, now living at 100 evacuation sites in the northeastern area of Japan--the prefectures of Miyagi, Fukushima, Iwate, Ibaragi and Tochigi. Assistance will include immediate required food items and non-food items through a partnership with the Japan Platform, known by the acronym JPF. CWS is focusing on evacuation sites where basic needs of food, water, sanitation, electricity, and fuel are not being met. These sites are presently being prioritized and identified by JPF.
The CWS response will include ready-to-eat food, distribution of sanitation kits including napkins and soap, and will address water needs including perhaps prepared green tea. Blankets, accessed from sources from within the region, are being prioritized to help protect people from the cold, which is becoming an increasingly dire problem as fuel and gas supplies are running out. In order to maintain radio contact at evacuation sites, batteries will be supplied to support victims receiving vital news on nuclear and radiation related developments, information collection and communications. Gas and fuel supplies will also be provided to evacuation sites.
The CWS Asia Pacific head of emergencies is stationed in Tokyo this week to coordinate the response along with a CWS team on the ground in Japan. CWS also is coordinating with Japanese organizations that have been involved in previous international ACT Alliance disaster responses including the National Council of Churches in Japan, the United Church of Christ in Japan, and Asia Volunteer Center.
In a CWS conference call today, Winter learned that ecumenical partners and other Christian denominations are monitoring their mission personnel in Japan, who in some cases are planning to evacuate or are moving to safer areas of the country. In some cases, clergy and church members are still unaccounted for, at least one denomination reported. Some church groups are still assessing their role in the disaster response, others have launched appeals for funding.
CWS has provided the following link to a World Health Organization (WHO) website of FAQs about Japan nuclear concerns: www.who.int/hac/crises/jpn/faqs/en/index5.html.
The Mennonite community has provided a page of worship resources for people of faith who are concerned about the Japan crisis, find it at www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/files/CALL_TO_PRAYER_FOR_JAPAN.pdf. The Mennonite World Conference is making plans to walk and work alongside Japanese Anabaptists in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami. An intercontinental teleconference on March 16 brought together representatives from Mennonite, Mennonite Brethren, and Brethren in Christ churches and agencies, including Mennonite Central Committee.
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.
Church provides grant for disaster relief in Japan; Brethren Disaster Ministries, BVS receive reports from partner organizations
An initial grant of $25,000 from the Church of the Brethren's Emergency Disaster Fund is being given in support of disaster relief work in Japan following the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the island nation a week ago today. The grant will support work by Church World Service (CWS) and local partner organizations.
"This is a very unusual situation," reported Brethren Disaster Ministries executive director Roy Winter, who has been in meetings with CWS and ecumenical partners about the situation in Japan.
"Usually CWS and Brethren Disaster Ministries do not respond to an international disaster in such a developed country," he said, "but the complexity and extent of this disaster simply demands we respond when the need is so great. The Japanese government is clearly leading the response effort, but our help is needed to meet the extensive need of so many who have lost so much."
On March 11, a powerful and devastating earthquake in Japan resulted in a tsunami and a complex disaster. "The extensive destruction of quake and water is now laced with evacuations and fear as radiation leaks from nuclear power plants," said Winter's grant request. "In many ways the disaster is still unfolding, with over 11,000 deaths and more expected. A half million people are displaced and the need for relief supplies increases as supplies in the area are depleted."
The Japanese government has described the destruction and crisis as the "worst since World War II." In an appeal from CWS, the agency reported that the "reported death toll and missing combined as of March 16 stands at 11,521 people with fear of thousands more unaccounted for. More than 460,000 people are now staying in evacuation sites, where the number of people arriving exceeds the capacity of space, food, water, and toilets." In addition, explosions continue at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, CWS said. As of March 16, a 20 kilometer radius was considered a "need to evacuate" zone.
The initial grant from the Brethren fund will provide emergency relief supplies at evacuation sites where basic needs of food, water, sanitation, electricity, and fuel are not being met. CWS is coordinating the response by working with partners such as the Japan Platform and the National Council of Churches in Japan. A relationship with the Japan Platform was developed during the response to the Indonesia tsunami in 2005.
Also, Gift of the Heart Hygiene Kits are being sent to Japan from warehouses in region. "These warehouses will be resupplied from the Brethren Service Center" in New Windsor, Md., Winter reported. He highlighted this as a key part of the response for the Brethren.
Go to www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kits_hygiene for information about how to collect and donate hygiene kits, which provide disaster survivors with simple but essential self-care items such as soap, towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, and more.
Go to www.brethren.org/Japandisaster for online giving to the Emergency Disaster Fund to support the relief effort, or send to Emergency Disaster Fund, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
Brethren Volunteer Service project sites report from Japan
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) currently has two volunteers serving in Japan. Ron and Barb Siney from southern Ohio are directors at the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima, which is in an area less affected by the disaster. They will complete their two-year term in mid-May, reported BVS director Dan McFadden, who is scheduled to speak with the Sineys by telephone today.
The Asian Rural Institute is a BVS site in the north of the country, some 80 miles from the damaged nuclear plants. The institute "did experience structural damage to some of their buildings," said McFadden, who clarified that "we do not have a BVSer there yet" because the institute just this year became a project site for BVS.
The institute also is a grant recipient from the church's Global Food Crisis Fund, which earlier this year designated $3,000 for its work. GFCF manager Howard Royer today said that the grant is on its way.
A March 14 e-mail from the institute to the BVS office included the following prayer concerns:
"How can you pray for us:
- Pray for the continued safety of our community and others in Japan as tremors continue.
- Pray that God would bring control to this powerplant situation and protect us and others in Japan.
- Pray that God would give us wisdom as to the future. We have to decide soon about accepting new students as well as clean up the campus.
- Pray that God will use us to help in this community for the furthering of His Kingdom.
- Pray for the various rescue teams that are working around the clock to rescue people, especially in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures.
- Pray that this situation would lead to the Salvation of many in Japan and that people would have a chance to think of what is life really for.... May the Love of Christ be with you and us and may we continue to praise God for all of his supply."
Reports from CWS and other ecumenical partners
The initial CWS appeal for the Japan emergency, issued on March 16, totals $2,590,450. CWS said that the two most immediate needs for affected families are rescue for those who are trapped and mobilization of relief goods to evacuation sites. Rescue interventions are primarily being carried out by the Self-Defense Force of Japan and other specialized agencies, including the Japan Rescue Association. The Japanese government has requested international assistance in response to this massive disaster.
The need for relief supplies is increasing, CWS reported, particularly in areas where the some 460,000 displaced people are now living. These sites are reporting a lack of food, water, electricity, health and hygiene kits, as well as blankets and stoves, which are critical given the current cold and freezing temperatures.
The CWS response centers on emergency relief support to at least 5,000 families, about 25,000 individuals, now living at 100 evacuation sites in the northeastern area of Japan--the prefectures of Miyagi, Fukushima, Iwate, Ibaragi and Tochigi. Assistance will include immediate required food items and non-food items through a partnership with the Japan Platform, known by the acronym JPF. CWS is focusing on evacuation sites where basic needs of food, water, sanitation, electricity, and fuel are not being met. These sites are presently being prioritized and identified by JPF.
The CWS response will include ready-to-eat food, distribution of sanitation kits including napkins and soap, and will address water needs including perhaps prepared green tea. Blankets, accessed from sources from within the region, are being prioritized to help protect people from the cold, which is becoming an increasingly dire problem as fuel and gas supplies are running out. In order to maintain radio contact at evacuation sites, batteries will be supplied to support victims receiving vital news on nuclear and radiation related developments, information collection and communications. Gas and fuel supplies will also be provided to evacuation sites.
The CWS Asia Pacific head of emergencies is stationed in Tokyo this week to coordinate the response along with a CWS team on the ground in Japan. CWS also is coordinating with Japanese organizations that have been involved in previous international ACT Alliance disaster responses including the National Council of Churches in Japan, the United Church of Christ in Japan, and Asia Volunteer Center.
In a CWS conference call today, Winter learned that ecumenical partners and other Christian denominations are monitoring their mission personnel in Japan, who in some cases are planning to evacuate or are moving to safer areas of the country. In some cases, clergy and church members are still unaccounted for, at least one denomination reported. Some church groups are still assessing their role in the disaster response, others have launched appeals for funding.
CWS has provided the following link to a World Health Organization (WHO) website of FAQs about Japan nuclear concerns: www.who.int/hac/crises/jpn/faqs/en/index5.html.
The Mennonite community has provided a page of worship resources for people of faith who are concerned about the Japan crisis, find it at www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/files/CALL_TO_PRAYER_FOR_JAPAN.pdf. The Mennonite World Conference is making plans to walk and work alongside Japanese Anabaptists in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami. An intercontinental teleconference on March 16 brought together representatives from Mennonite, Mennonite Brethren, and Brethren in Christ churches and agencies, including Mennonite Central Committee.
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.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Church board issues call to prayer for Japan and all affected by earthquake and tsunami.
The Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board this afternoon issued the following call to prayer for the people of Japan and all those affected by Friday’s earthquake and tsunami. The Mission and Ministry Board currently is holding its spring meeting at the denomination's General Offices in Elgin, Ill.:
A Call to Prayer for Japan, March 12, 2011
As we meet, the Mission and Ministry Board calls the whole church to pause and remember the Japanese people in prayer, and all who have been affected. They are living through the horrific tragedy of an earthquake, then tsunami, and the resulting technological disasters that compound the loss of so many lives and so many homes.
Merciful Lord, in their hour of anguish, hear and answer the cries of the Japanese people. Hear our prayers as our tears exclaim our compassion for all people who suffer. May your love, grace, and compassion bring a sense of comfort for those who mourn. Be with the many who work to bring relief, food, water, and shelter to those in need. And gracious God especially touch those mourning the loss of loved ones.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.... The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (Psalm 46:1-3, 11).
The Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board this afternoon issued the following call to prayer for the people of Japan and all those affected by Friday’s earthquake and tsunami. The Mission and Ministry Board currently is holding its spring meeting at the denomination's General Offices in Elgin, Ill.:A Call to Prayer for Japan, March 12, 2011
As we meet, the Mission and Ministry Board calls the whole church to pause and remember the Japanese people in prayer, and all who have been affected. They are living through the horrific tragedy of an earthquake, then tsunami, and the resulting technological disasters that compound the loss of so many lives and so many homes.
Merciful Lord, in their hour of anguish, hear and answer the cries of the Japanese people. Hear our prayers as our tears exclaim our compassion for all people who suffer. May your love, grace, and compassion bring a sense of comfort for those who mourn. Be with the many who work to bring relief, food, water, and shelter to those in need. And gracious God especially touch those mourning the loss of loved ones.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.... The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (Psalm 46:1-3, 11).
Brethren Disaster Ministries begins planning to support CWS relief efforts in Japan.
Brethren Disaster Ministries has begun planning to support Church World Service (CWS) and its partners in relief efforts in Japan. The powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan overnight Friday also may have affected areas in the Pacific Rim where CWS has programs, and the organization is monitoring effects of the tsunami in Hawaii and other Western state coastal areas in the United States.
In Japan, Church World Service is prepared to support efforts of partners there, including the National Christian Council of Japan and the United Church of Christ of Japan, both of which are planning relief efforts. CWS is considering other partnerships in Japan as well, and may be involved in the issue of disaster risk reduction.
Roy Winter, executive director of Brethren Disaster Ministries, also said that the program will be planning to support the Voluntary Organizations of Japan providing disaster assistance. This group received training and guidance from the US based National VOAD organizations, including Brethren Disaster Ministries.
"Japan is obviously a country of substantive resources and a construction industry that is renowned and the country has been on the cutting edge of building earthquake-resistant housing," said Donna Derr, director of CWS’s development and humanitarian programs. "As such, this bodes well for them being able to manage a pretty effective recovery over time themselves. However, with devastation of this magnitude, we stand ready to assist as a determination is made of where international assistance can be most helpful."
Brethren may support this relief effort through gifts to the Emergency Disaster Fund. Give online at www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=give_emergency_disaster_fund or send donations to Emergency Disaster Fund, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
Brethren Disaster Ministries has begun planning to support Church World Service (CWS) and its partners in relief efforts in Japan. The powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan overnight Friday also may have affected areas in the Pacific Rim where CWS has programs, and the organization is monitoring effects of the tsunami in Hawaii and other Western state coastal areas in the United States.
In Japan, Church World Service is prepared to support efforts of partners there, including the National Christian Council of Japan and the United Church of Christ of Japan, both of which are planning relief efforts. CWS is considering other partnerships in Japan as well, and may be involved in the issue of disaster risk reduction.
Roy Winter, executive director of Brethren Disaster Ministries, also said that the program will be planning to support the Voluntary Organizations of Japan providing disaster assistance. This group received training and guidance from the US based National VOAD organizations, including Brethren Disaster Ministries.
"Japan is obviously a country of substantive resources and a construction industry that is renowned and the country has been on the cutting edge of building earthquake-resistant housing," said Donna Derr, director of CWS’s development and humanitarian programs. "As such, this bodes well for them being able to manage a pretty effective recovery over time themselves. However, with devastation of this magnitude, we stand ready to assist as a determination is made of where international assistance can be most helpful."
Brethren may support this relief effort through gifts to the Emergency Disaster Fund. Give online at www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=give_emergency_disaster_fund or send donations to Emergency Disaster Fund, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
NEWS
- Church of the Brethren posts financial results for 2010.
- Leadership Team meets, rejoices over deficit reduction.
- Increased security and compliance efforts at BBT protect church members.
- Brethren volunteer hosts meeting for Agent Orange delegation to Vietnam.
- Manchester College group sets new Four Square world record.
Church of the Brethren posts financial results for 2010.
Building an annual budget for the denomination in the midst of economic challenges requires both careful analysis and faith that gifts and other income will offset expenses. When planning for 2010, it was important for the Church of the Brethren staff to be realistic about the impact the economy would have, but to count on faithful donors as well.
The 2010 budget for the Church of the Brethren’s Core Ministries, the fund whose many ministries are funded primarily by donations, included a planned deficit of $380,930 to be covered by net assets. Staff planned for this deficit spending to allow for stability during an uncertain economic climate. However, the 2010 deficit has been smaller than expected--$327,750, according to pre-audit results.
Overall income for Core Ministries was short of budget in 2010. Individual giving had the largest shortfall at $221,200 under budget. Income from investments fell somewhat below budget by $44,290, despite improvement in investment performance. However, congregational giving exceeded budget and totaled $2,602,590. This is a generous amount, given that congregations also struggle with finances.
Gifts to the Emergency Disaster Fund reached $2,082,210--more than $1 million higher than 2009--because of giving directed to the earthquake that hit Haiti in January 2010. The Global Food Crisis Fund received $182,290, about $100,000 less than the year before.
Five self-funding ministries of the denomination receive income from the sale of goods and services: the Annual Conference fund, Brethren Press, Material Resources, "Messenger" magazine, and the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center.
Brethren Press ended the year ahead of budget, with income over expense of $4,250; a continuing challenge is overcoming its accumulated deficit.
The Material Resources program that warehouses and ships relief materials from the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., ended the year with a net loss of $24,690.
The New Windsor Conference Center was especially affected by the economy. A 30 percent shortfall in budgeted income resulted in a loss of $244,500, doubling prior years’ accumulated deficits. Options for the conference center are being reviewed because sales are substantially lower and accumulated deficits have reached an unsustainable level.
"Messenger" finished the year with a positive $34,560, largely because of transition in staffing.
The Annual Conference fund was able to significantly reduce a deficit that had developed from the 2009 Conference held in San Diego, Calif. The Conference Office received 9 percent more income than budgeted, saved on expenses, and received a large special gift to end the year with income over expense of $254,570. While the Conference Office made progress financially in 2010, it faces several upcoming Annual Conference sites where attendance likely will be smaller, making it difficult to cover expenses.
The above amounts were provided prior to completion of the 2010 audit. Complete financial information will be made available in the Church of the Brethren, Inc., audit report, to be published in June.
-- Judy E. Keyser is associate general secretary of operations and treasurer for the Church of the Brethren.
Building an annual budget for the denomination in the midst of economic challenges requires both careful analysis and faith that gifts and other income will offset expenses. When planning for 2010, it was important for the Church of the Brethren staff to be realistic about the impact the economy would have, but to count on faithful donors as well.
The 2010 budget for the Church of the Brethren’s Core Ministries, the fund whose many ministries are funded primarily by donations, included a planned deficit of $380,930 to be covered by net assets. Staff planned for this deficit spending to allow for stability during an uncertain economic climate. However, the 2010 deficit has been smaller than expected--$327,750, according to pre-audit results.
Overall income for Core Ministries was short of budget in 2010. Individual giving had the largest shortfall at $221,200 under budget. Income from investments fell somewhat below budget by $44,290, despite improvement in investment performance. However, congregational giving exceeded budget and totaled $2,602,590. This is a generous amount, given that congregations also struggle with finances.
Gifts to the Emergency Disaster Fund reached $2,082,210--more than $1 million higher than 2009--because of giving directed to the earthquake that hit Haiti in January 2010. The Global Food Crisis Fund received $182,290, about $100,000 less than the year before.
Five self-funding ministries of the denomination receive income from the sale of goods and services: the Annual Conference fund, Brethren Press, Material Resources, "Messenger" magazine, and the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center.
Brethren Press ended the year ahead of budget, with income over expense of $4,250; a continuing challenge is overcoming its accumulated deficit.
The Material Resources program that warehouses and ships relief materials from the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., ended the year with a net loss of $24,690.
The New Windsor Conference Center was especially affected by the economy. A 30 percent shortfall in budgeted income resulted in a loss of $244,500, doubling prior years’ accumulated deficits. Options for the conference center are being reviewed because sales are substantially lower and accumulated deficits have reached an unsustainable level.
"Messenger" finished the year with a positive $34,560, largely because of transition in staffing.
The Annual Conference fund was able to significantly reduce a deficit that had developed from the 2009 Conference held in San Diego, Calif. The Conference Office received 9 percent more income than budgeted, saved on expenses, and received a large special gift to end the year with income over expense of $254,570. While the Conference Office made progress financially in 2010, it faces several upcoming Annual Conference sites where attendance likely will be smaller, making it difficult to cover expenses.
The above amounts were provided prior to completion of the 2010 audit. Complete financial information will be made available in the Church of the Brethren, Inc., audit report, to be published in June.
-- Judy E. Keyser is associate general secretary of operations and treasurer for the Church of the Brethren.
Leadership Team meets, rejoices over deficit reduction.
Rejoicing over a significant reduction in the Annual Conference Fund deficit was a highlight of the January meeting of the Church of the Brethren Leadership Team. The meeting involved general secretary Stan Noffsinger and the three Annual Conference officers: moderator Robert Alley, moderator-elect Tim Harvey, and secretary Fred Swartz. It was held Jan. 26-27 in conjunction with meetings of the Inter-Agency Forum and the Council of District Executives. All of the groups met in Cocoa Beach, Fla.
A gift from Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, plus good attendance at the 2010 Annual Conference, has considerably lowered the Annual Conference deficit that stood at $251,360 at the end of Dec. 2009. Additionally, an all-out effort to reduce Conference expenses has cut the deficit nearly 75 percent, according to a report given the Leadership Team by the general secretary. In order to keep the deficit-cutting trend, Noffsinger warned, there will need to be registrations of 3,500 or more at the next two Annual Conferences.
Another factor related to the future of Annual Conference is the anticipated report of a Leadership Team-appointed committee that is studying factors that can "revitalize" the Conference. Chairing that committee is former moderator Shawn Flory Replogle. Other members are Kevin Kessler, Becky Ball-Miller, Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, Wally Landes, and Chris Douglas. The committee has begun its study and hopes to report to the Leadership Team sometime within the year.
The Leadership Team also worked on an assignment given to it by the 2010 Annual Conference to create a process by which Standing Committee can hear appeals of decisions made by the Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee. In addition to creating that process, the Leadership Team was asked to review the process established by Standing Committee in 2000 for responding to appeals of district actions. The Leadership Team has a report on both assignments for the 2011 Standing Committee.
In other actions, the Leadership Team:
-- Fred W. Swartz is secretary of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.
Rejoicing over a significant reduction in the Annual Conference Fund deficit was a highlight of the January meeting of the Church of the Brethren Leadership Team. The meeting involved general secretary Stan Noffsinger and the three Annual Conference officers: moderator Robert Alley, moderator-elect Tim Harvey, and secretary Fred Swartz. It was held Jan. 26-27 in conjunction with meetings of the Inter-Agency Forum and the Council of District Executives. All of the groups met in Cocoa Beach, Fla.
A gift from Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, plus good attendance at the 2010 Annual Conference, has considerably lowered the Annual Conference deficit that stood at $251,360 at the end of Dec. 2009. Additionally, an all-out effort to reduce Conference expenses has cut the deficit nearly 75 percent, according to a report given the Leadership Team by the general secretary. In order to keep the deficit-cutting trend, Noffsinger warned, there will need to be registrations of 3,500 or more at the next two Annual Conferences.
Another factor related to the future of Annual Conference is the anticipated report of a Leadership Team-appointed committee that is studying factors that can "revitalize" the Conference. Chairing that committee is former moderator Shawn Flory Replogle. Other members are Kevin Kessler, Becky Ball-Miller, Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, Wally Landes, and Chris Douglas. The committee has begun its study and hopes to report to the Leadership Team sometime within the year.
The Leadership Team also worked on an assignment given to it by the 2010 Annual Conference to create a process by which Standing Committee can hear appeals of decisions made by the Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee. In addition to creating that process, the Leadership Team was asked to review the process established by Standing Committee in 2000 for responding to appeals of district actions. The Leadership Team has a report on both assignments for the 2011 Standing Committee.
In other actions, the Leadership Team:
- Updated the position descriptions for Annual Conference officers.
- Celebrated the good reception the newly-completed "Moderator’s Manual" has received.
- Noted the progress of the denominational Vision Committee and the Congregational Ethics Committee.
- Acted to continue reports at Annual Conference of Church of the Brethren peacemaking activity, changing for 2011 the former "Living Peace Church Reports" to "Peacemaking and the Church of the Brethren." The business session segment this year will consist of three reports of ecumenical involvement by the denomination, and a report of a congregational peacemaking activity.
- Worded a recommendation to Standing Committee and the Mission and Ministry Board for establishing a committee to evaluate the involvement of the Church of the Brethren in ecumenical activity and how responsibility for that role is structured. The recommendation also includes a concern expressed by the Committee on Interchurch Relations as to what that committee’s purpose and role should be.
-- Fred W. Swartz is secretary of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.
Increased security and compliance efforts at BBT protect church members.
What does it mean for a non-profit organization like Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) to be compliant in this day of increased regulations, including more recent laws like HIPAA and HITECH that protect personal health information, and the Pension Protection Act of 2006? We’re finding out.
Last fall, BBT hired a consulting company that specializes in helping organizations assess compliance needs and risks. BBT has numerous compliance mandates that are regulated by state and federal laws. All BBT staff met with representatives from the consulting firm over a two-day period as they learned about the data managed through the Brethren Pension Plan, the Brethren Foundation, Brethren Insurance Services, and as staff of the Church of the Brethren Credit Union.
Senior BBT staff members have since met with the lead consultant for a few more meetings to assess threats and possible outcomes. This is leading the organization to create a number of policies and procedures intended to make BBT fully compliant with applicable laws and with top standards of business.
One example is the need to ensure that confidential information is not left unattended on computer screens, fax machines, printers, or in file cabinets that are accessible to staff from other departments or others beyond the BBT staff. BBT’s office space was configured within the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., at a time when privacy regulations were not as stringent. Now that these regulations are so much more strict and directive, BBT must assess how best to meet the guidelines of today.
The BBT staff have identified risks and are in the process of writing drafts of new policies and procedures, and anticipate the need to make changes in how data is handled, and changes to the accessibility of office space. In truth, changes have already begun--confidential e-mail is encrypted, as is data on laptops and memory sticks; faxes are becoming segregated by department; perimeter doors are locked; and video cameras are set up in key areas.
With compliance issues permeating the work, BBT is at the point of needing a coordinator of compliance initiatives. Thus, in late January the creation of a new position was announced--a chief operating and compliance officer.
Why the combination of a compliance position with that of a chief operating officer portfolio? Over the past two-and-a-half years, BBT has worked hard to improve customer service and product offerings and to strengthen relationships, while also responding to an economic crisis and the subsequent recovery. All of these tasks were more short-term and reactive. It is now time to move our planning from the immediate to the future. Strategic planning and thinking, a review of policies and procedures, and an evaluation of all of BBT’s positions are in order.
As part of strengthening and growing BBT’s ministries, we are engaged in several other special activities. The search for a permanent chief financial officer will soon begin. A mid-level manager position in the finance department has been filled, and a help desk/programmer for the Information Technology department is being sought. The Brethren Pension Plan Task Force also met on Feb. 25 in Mechanicsburg, Pa., to consider ways to strengthen the plan for decades to come. The online portal for Brethren Foundation continues its beta testing prior to being launched for all Foundation clients.
Among these new and special initiatives, the BBT staff continues to support members, clients, and the entire Church of the Brethren denomination. Thank you for the opportunity for us to continue to be in your service.
-- Nevin Dulabaum is president of Brethren Benefit Trust.
What does it mean for a non-profit organization like Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) to be compliant in this day of increased regulations, including more recent laws like HIPAA and HITECH that protect personal health information, and the Pension Protection Act of 2006? We’re finding out.
Last fall, BBT hired a consulting company that specializes in helping organizations assess compliance needs and risks. BBT has numerous compliance mandates that are regulated by state and federal laws. All BBT staff met with representatives from the consulting firm over a two-day period as they learned about the data managed through the Brethren Pension Plan, the Brethren Foundation, Brethren Insurance Services, and as staff of the Church of the Brethren Credit Union.
Senior BBT staff members have since met with the lead consultant for a few more meetings to assess threats and possible outcomes. This is leading the organization to create a number of policies and procedures intended to make BBT fully compliant with applicable laws and with top standards of business.
One example is the need to ensure that confidential information is not left unattended on computer screens, fax machines, printers, or in file cabinets that are accessible to staff from other departments or others beyond the BBT staff. BBT’s office space was configured within the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., at a time when privacy regulations were not as stringent. Now that these regulations are so much more strict and directive, BBT must assess how best to meet the guidelines of today.
The BBT staff have identified risks and are in the process of writing drafts of new policies and procedures, and anticipate the need to make changes in how data is handled, and changes to the accessibility of office space. In truth, changes have already begun--confidential e-mail is encrypted, as is data on laptops and memory sticks; faxes are becoming segregated by department; perimeter doors are locked; and video cameras are set up in key areas.
With compliance issues permeating the work, BBT is at the point of needing a coordinator of compliance initiatives. Thus, in late January the creation of a new position was announced--a chief operating and compliance officer.
Why the combination of a compliance position with that of a chief operating officer portfolio? Over the past two-and-a-half years, BBT has worked hard to improve customer service and product offerings and to strengthen relationships, while also responding to an economic crisis and the subsequent recovery. All of these tasks were more short-term and reactive. It is now time to move our planning from the immediate to the future. Strategic planning and thinking, a review of policies and procedures, and an evaluation of all of BBT’s positions are in order.
As part of strengthening and growing BBT’s ministries, we are engaged in several other special activities. The search for a permanent chief financial officer will soon begin. A mid-level manager position in the finance department has been filled, and a help desk/programmer for the Information Technology department is being sought. The Brethren Pension Plan Task Force also met on Feb. 25 in Mechanicsburg, Pa., to consider ways to strengthen the plan for decades to come. The online portal for Brethren Foundation continues its beta testing prior to being launched for all Foundation clients.
Among these new and special initiatives, the BBT staff continues to support members, clients, and the entire Church of the Brethren denomination. Thank you for the opportunity for us to continue to be in your service.
-- Nevin Dulabaum is president of Brethren Benefit Trust.
Brethren volunteer hosts meeting for Agent Orange delegation to Vietnam.
Grace Mishler, a Church of the Brethren member working in Vietnam, recently helped organize and hosted a meeting between local disabilities activists and members of a delegation that is visiting the country to explore the continuing effects of Agent Orange/dioxin. The toxic blend of herbicides known as Agent Orange was used as a defoliant by the US military during the Vietnam War.
Mishler teaches in the Department of Social Work at the National Vietnam University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, training others to compassionately mainstream the physically disabled. Her work as a program volunteer is supported, in part, by the church’s Global Mission Partnerships.
The delegation group is sponsored by the Ford Foundation and includes Charles Bailey, director of the Ford Foundation Special Initiative on Agent Orange/Dioxin; Susan Berresford, former president of the Ford Foundation; David Devlin-Foltz, vice president of Policy Programs at the Aspen Institute; Gay Dillingham, co-founder and former president and chair of Earthstone International, LLC; Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause; James Forbes Jr., president of Healing of the Nations and former senior pastor of Riverside Church in New York City; C. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance; Connie Morella, former Republican member of the US House of Representatives from Maryland; David Morrissey, executive director of the United States International Council on Disabilities; Suzanne Petroni, vice president for Global Health at the Public Health Institute in Washington, D.C.; Pat Schroeder, former Democratic member of the House of Representatives from Colorado and member of the National Governing Board of Common Cause; Karen A. Tramontano, chief executive officer at Blue Star Strategies.
The delegation's goals, according to a blog posted by Common Cause leader Edgar, are "to see and understand the Agent Orange/dioxin challenges in Vietnam. To explore the issues, contradictions, and questions that arise and find ways that they can best be answered. To grasp the extent of the problem by seeing the military bases where Agent Orange was stored and to talk face-to-face with some of the affected people and their families. To understand what is being done about remediation and to help the affected people, we will meet with NGO leaders and Vietnamese and American officials."
Monday’s blog reported on the meeting set up by Mishler: "After breakfast this morning, David Morrissey invited Charles Bailey, Susan Berresford, David Devlin-Foltz, Le Mai, and myself to travel with him to meet 15 of his friends in the ‘differently abled’ community here in Ho Chi Minh City. We traveled by taxi to a beautiful restaurant located on the waterfront. Led by Grace Mishler, Social Work Practice Advisor from the Vietnam National University, who is partially blind, we were warmly welcomed to the meeting. We listened for over two hours to speaker after speaker highlight their work training and assisting persons with a variety of physical and emotional conditions. WOW!"
Yesterday, Edgar focused his blog on children affected by Agent Orange: "It doesn’t take long to remember why we’re here when we visit with the children of Vietnam. Their struggles are matched only by their infectious joy, and it becomes even more obvious that we must do what we can to help increase that joy and lessen the struggles." (Find the blog and photos at www.commonblog.com/2011/03/08/children-of-vietnam.)
Mishler continues to be in contact with delegation members as their trip moves on to other venues. "Today, they are visiting Da Nang airport that is barren with agent orange spray," she reported in an e-mail this morning. "(The) delegation will be wearing special throw away shoes. I asked David Morrissey...to be sure his walking cane has shoes too. He did not think of it. This is at-risk for all, but speaks well of their commitment." For more about Mishler’s work go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Vietnam.
Grace Mishler, a Church of the Brethren member working in Vietnam, recently helped organize and hosted a meeting between local disabilities activists and members of a delegation that is visiting the country to explore the continuing effects of Agent Orange/dioxin. The toxic blend of herbicides known as Agent Orange was used as a defoliant by the US military during the Vietnam War.
Mishler teaches in the Department of Social Work at the National Vietnam University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, training others to compassionately mainstream the physically disabled. Her work as a program volunteer is supported, in part, by the church’s Global Mission Partnerships.
The delegation group is sponsored by the Ford Foundation and includes Charles Bailey, director of the Ford Foundation Special Initiative on Agent Orange/Dioxin; Susan Berresford, former president of the Ford Foundation; David Devlin-Foltz, vice president of Policy Programs at the Aspen Institute; Gay Dillingham, co-founder and former president and chair of Earthstone International, LLC; Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause; James Forbes Jr., president of Healing of the Nations and former senior pastor of Riverside Church in New York City; C. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance; Connie Morella, former Republican member of the US House of Representatives from Maryland; David Morrissey, executive director of the United States International Council on Disabilities; Suzanne Petroni, vice president for Global Health at the Public Health Institute in Washington, D.C.; Pat Schroeder, former Democratic member of the House of Representatives from Colorado and member of the National Governing Board of Common Cause; Karen A. Tramontano, chief executive officer at Blue Star Strategies.
The delegation's goals, according to a blog posted by Common Cause leader Edgar, are "to see and understand the Agent Orange/dioxin challenges in Vietnam. To explore the issues, contradictions, and questions that arise and find ways that they can best be answered. To grasp the extent of the problem by seeing the military bases where Agent Orange was stored and to talk face-to-face with some of the affected people and their families. To understand what is being done about remediation and to help the affected people, we will meet with NGO leaders and Vietnamese and American officials."
Monday’s blog reported on the meeting set up by Mishler: "After breakfast this morning, David Morrissey invited Charles Bailey, Susan Berresford, David Devlin-Foltz, Le Mai, and myself to travel with him to meet 15 of his friends in the ‘differently abled’ community here in Ho Chi Minh City. We traveled by taxi to a beautiful restaurant located on the waterfront. Led by Grace Mishler, Social Work Practice Advisor from the Vietnam National University, who is partially blind, we were warmly welcomed to the meeting. We listened for over two hours to speaker after speaker highlight their work training and assisting persons with a variety of physical and emotional conditions. WOW!"
Yesterday, Edgar focused his blog on children affected by Agent Orange: "It doesn’t take long to remember why we’re here when we visit with the children of Vietnam. Their struggles are matched only by their infectious joy, and it becomes even more obvious that we must do what we can to help increase that joy and lessen the struggles." (Find the blog and photos at www.commonblog.com/2011/03/08/children-of-vietnam.)
Mishler continues to be in contact with delegation members as their trip moves on to other venues. "Today, they are visiting Da Nang airport that is barren with agent orange spray," she reported in an e-mail this morning. "(The) delegation will be wearing special throw away shoes. I asked David Morrissey...to be sure his walking cane has shoes too. He did not think of it. This is at-risk for all, but speaks well of their commitment." For more about Mishler’s work go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Vietnam.
Manchester College group sets new Four Square world record.
A persistent, and bone-weary team of Manchester College students appears to have set a new world record in the schoolyard game of Four Square. Fifteen students bounced the ball for 30 hours, unofficially besting the Guinness World Record TM by a full hour in the Feb. 25-26 effort. They topped the record shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern time on Feb. 26, in the College Union.
At times, the challenge was almost overwhelming, said first-year student Todd Eastis, who chaired the challenge. "It was toughest trying to get through the night and make it to sunrise Saturday. But I never heard anybody say they wanted to quit." The sociology major was back at class Monday morning, admitting it took 12 hours of sleep to rejuvenate.
The challenge, led by the campus faith group Simply Brethren, also raised $1,000 for Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, Ind. Each fall since 1925, Manchester College students, faculty, and staff members have spent a day at the camp doing service, playing softball, canoeing...and playing Four Square. Camp Mack lost its main building, Becker Lodge, to fire last summer.
"Thank you, we look at you as inspiration as we look at the task ahead of us," said Camp Mack executive director Rex Miller, of reconstruction at the camp. Construction on the new John Kline Welcome Center, which will partially replace Becker Lodge, is under way. It is expected to be ready by the end of May.
Official observers and timers from the community (they could not be associated with the college) provided continuous, around-the-clock support, as did many college employees and students.
The record the students claim is unofficial. Now the students will gather and send in witness statements and log books, photographs, media coverage and other proofs of their feat. Validation typically takes six to eight weeks, they've been told. They hope to unseat holders of the 29-hour record, Buenos Aires International Christian Academy in Argentina.
The 15 players included Katelyn Carothers from Glendale, Ariz.; Todd Eastis from Warsaw, Ind.; Kay Guyer from Woodbury, Pa.; Lucas Kauffman from Goshen, Ind.; Laban Wenger from Petersburg, Pa.; Sarah Leininger from Timberville, Va.; Julia Largent from Muncie, Ind.; Miranda DeHart from Clayton, Ohio; Andrew Miller from Elgin, Ill.; Matt Hammond from Dayton, Ohio; Jesse Steffen from Goshen, Ind.; Hunter Snapp from Flora, Ind.; Turner Ritchie from Richmond, Ind.; Laura Lichauer from Wakarusa, Ind.; and Marie Stump from Garrett, Ind.
-- Jeri Kornegay and Walt Wiltschek of the Manchester College staff provided this release.
A persistent, and bone-weary team of Manchester College students appears to have set a new world record in the schoolyard game of Four Square. Fifteen students bounced the ball for 30 hours, unofficially besting the Guinness World Record TM by a full hour in the Feb. 25-26 effort. They topped the record shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern time on Feb. 26, in the College Union.
At times, the challenge was almost overwhelming, said first-year student Todd Eastis, who chaired the challenge. "It was toughest trying to get through the night and make it to sunrise Saturday. But I never heard anybody say they wanted to quit." The sociology major was back at class Monday morning, admitting it took 12 hours of sleep to rejuvenate.
The challenge, led by the campus faith group Simply Brethren, also raised $1,000 for Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, Ind. Each fall since 1925, Manchester College students, faculty, and staff members have spent a day at the camp doing service, playing softball, canoeing...and playing Four Square. Camp Mack lost its main building, Becker Lodge, to fire last summer.
"Thank you, we look at you as inspiration as we look at the task ahead of us," said Camp Mack executive director Rex Miller, of reconstruction at the camp. Construction on the new John Kline Welcome Center, which will partially replace Becker Lodge, is under way. It is expected to be ready by the end of May.
Official observers and timers from the community (they could not be associated with the college) provided continuous, around-the-clock support, as did many college employees and students.
The record the students claim is unofficial. Now the students will gather and send in witness statements and log books, photographs, media coverage and other proofs of their feat. Validation typically takes six to eight weeks, they've been told. They hope to unseat holders of the 29-hour record, Buenos Aires International Christian Academy in Argentina.
The 15 players included Katelyn Carothers from Glendale, Ariz.; Todd Eastis from Warsaw, Ind.; Kay Guyer from Woodbury, Pa.; Lucas Kauffman from Goshen, Ind.; Laban Wenger from Petersburg, Pa.; Sarah Leininger from Timberville, Va.; Julia Largent from Muncie, Ind.; Miranda DeHart from Clayton, Ohio; Andrew Miller from Elgin, Ill.; Matt Hammond from Dayton, Ohio; Jesse Steffen from Goshen, Ind.; Hunter Snapp from Flora, Ind.; Turner Ritchie from Richmond, Ind.; Laura Lichauer from Wakarusa, Ind.; and Marie Stump from Garrett, Ind.
-- Jeri Kornegay and Walt Wiltschek of the Manchester College staff provided this release.
Daniel to retire as district executive of Idaho District.
Sue Daniel has announced plans to retire as district executive minister of Idaho District effective Dec. 31. Her ministry there began in Jan. 2006 when she started as administrative executive for the district.
In addition to administrative, executive, and clerical responsibilities in the district, she has been active with the Council of District Executives, having served on the "District Purpose Committee," and currently is representative to the Ministry Advisory Council. She holds a degree in Sociology from the University of La Verne, Calif. She first retired in 2004 from the state of Oregon, having worked 13 years as a caseworker with Children's Services Division and 24 years as a distance education center director for Eastern Oregon University. She has been active in the Church of the Brethren her entire life and has assumed various roles at the local, district, and most recently denominational levels.
Sue Daniel has announced plans to retire as district executive minister of Idaho District effective Dec. 31. Her ministry there began in Jan. 2006 when she started as administrative executive for the district.
In addition to administrative, executive, and clerical responsibilities in the district, she has been active with the Council of District Executives, having served on the "District Purpose Committee," and currently is representative to the Ministry Advisory Council. She holds a degree in Sociology from the University of La Verne, Calif. She first retired in 2004 from the state of Oregon, having worked 13 years as a caseworker with Children's Services Division and 24 years as a distance education center director for Eastern Oregon University. She has been active in the Church of the Brethren her entire life and has assumed various roles at the local, district, and most recently denominational levels.
Pinecrest Community selects Ferol Labash as new CEO.
Pinecrest Community, a Church of the Brethren-affiliated retirement community in Mount Morris, Ill., has announced Ferol J. Labash as chief executive officer effective April 16, following the retirement of Carol Davis.
Currently the director of Development for Pinecrest, Labash has been employed there for nearly four years. She holds a bachelor of science in Accounting with a minor in Business Management from Purdue University, Krannert School of Management. She recently passed the Illinois Nursing Home Administrator Supplemental Exam and will take the National examination this month. In previous positions she has worked in commercial lending as an analyst. In June 2007 she joined Pinecrest as annual giving manager, prior to being promoted to director of Development. She and her family live in Mount Morris and are active at Crossroads Community Church in Polo, Ill.
Pinecrest will hold an Open House from 2-4 p.m. on April 14 for Carol A. Davis, CEO, who will retire on April 15. "Please join us in wishing her the very best," said an open invitation. "Carol has been with Pinecrest for seven years and will be greatly missed."
Pinecrest Community, a Church of the Brethren-affiliated retirement community in Mount Morris, Ill., has announced Ferol J. Labash as chief executive officer effective April 16, following the retirement of Carol Davis.
Currently the director of Development for Pinecrest, Labash has been employed there for nearly four years. She holds a bachelor of science in Accounting with a minor in Business Management from Purdue University, Krannert School of Management. She recently passed the Illinois Nursing Home Administrator Supplemental Exam and will take the National examination this month. In previous positions she has worked in commercial lending as an analyst. In June 2007 she joined Pinecrest as annual giving manager, prior to being promoted to director of Development. She and her family live in Mount Morris and are active at Crossroads Community Church in Polo, Ill.
Pinecrest will hold an Open House from 2-4 p.m. on April 14 for Carol A. Davis, CEO, who will retire on April 15. "Please join us in wishing her the very best," said an open invitation. "Carol has been with Pinecrest for seven years and will be greatly missed."
Wagoner named chaplain for University of La Verne.
Zandra Wagoner has been named chaplain for the University of La Verne (ULV), a Church of the Brethren-related school in La Verne, Calif. She is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren and holds a Ph.D. in religious studies. Wagoner will be transitioning out of her current role as assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and will begin her new responsibilities in April.
In previous work for ULV, she has served in both the Dean’s and Provost’s Office. As chaplain she will function as interfaith religious leader for the university, and will guide a new vision for a comprehensive interfaith office of religious and spiritual life, furthering the university’s commitment to diversity, the development of global citizens, and the education of whole persons.
Zandra Wagoner has been named chaplain for the University of La Verne (ULV), a Church of the Brethren-related school in La Verne, Calif. She is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren and holds a Ph.D. in religious studies. Wagoner will be transitioning out of her current role as assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and will begin her new responsibilities in April.
In previous work for ULV, she has served in both the Dean’s and Provost’s Office. As chaplain she will function as interfaith religious leader for the university, and will guide a new vision for a comprehensive interfaith office of religious and spiritual life, furthering the university’s commitment to diversity, the development of global citizens, and the education of whole persons.
BVS Unit 292 completes orientation and begins service.
The volunteers who completed orientation in Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 292 have begun work at their new projects. Following are the volunteers’ names, congregations or home towns, and BVS placements:
Rebekah Blazer of Garden Prairie, Ill., to Hadley Day Care Center in Hutchinson, Kan.; Markus Hayrapetyan of Syke, Germany, to Abode Services in Fremont, Calif.; Julie Henninger of Mt. Holly Springs, Pa., to the Family Abuse Center in Waco, Texas; Nico Holz of Hamburg, Germany, to the Center on Conscience and War in Washington, D.C.; Jonas Kremer of Koblenz, Germany, to Su Casa Catholic Worker in Chicago, Ill.; Samantha Lyon-Hill of Sylvania, Ohio, to the Abrasevic Youth Cultural Center in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Jessi Marsiglio of Imperial Heights Church of the Brethren in Los Angeles, Calif., to Meeting Ground in Elkton, Md.; Sue Myers of York, Pa., to CooperRiis in Mill Spring, N.C.; Joe Pitocco of Long Beach, Calif., to L'Arche Kilkenny in Kilmoganny, County Kilkenny, Ireland; Susan Pracht of Johnston, R.I., to Gould Farm and then Church and Peace in Schoffengrund-Laufdord, Germany; Kevin Siedsma of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to San Antonio (Texas) Catholic Worker House; Rachel Sprague of Hartville Church of the Brethren in Alliance, Ohio, to Camp Courageous in Monticello, Iowa; Hilary Teply of Lancaster, Pa., to Abode Services in Fremont, Calif. (For more about BVS see www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BVS.)
The volunteers who completed orientation in Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 292 have begun work at their new projects. Following are the volunteers’ names, congregations or home towns, and BVS placements:Rebekah Blazer of Garden Prairie, Ill., to Hadley Day Care Center in Hutchinson, Kan.; Markus Hayrapetyan of Syke, Germany, to Abode Services in Fremont, Calif.; Julie Henninger of Mt. Holly Springs, Pa., to the Family Abuse Center in Waco, Texas; Nico Holz of Hamburg, Germany, to the Center on Conscience and War in Washington, D.C.; Jonas Kremer of Koblenz, Germany, to Su Casa Catholic Worker in Chicago, Ill.; Samantha Lyon-Hill of Sylvania, Ohio, to the Abrasevic Youth Cultural Center in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Jessi Marsiglio of Imperial Heights Church of the Brethren in Los Angeles, Calif., to Meeting Ground in Elkton, Md.; Sue Myers of York, Pa., to CooperRiis in Mill Spring, N.C.; Joe Pitocco of Long Beach, Calif., to L'Arche Kilkenny in Kilmoganny, County Kilkenny, Ireland; Susan Pracht of Johnston, R.I., to Gould Farm and then Church and Peace in Schoffengrund-Laufdord, Germany; Kevin Siedsma of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to San Antonio (Texas) Catholic Worker House; Rachel Sprague of Hartville Church of the Brethren in Alliance, Ohio, to Camp Courageous in Monticello, Iowa; Hilary Teply of Lancaster, Pa., to Abode Services in Fremont, Calif. (For more about BVS see www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BVS.)
Decade to Overcome Violence to culminate in Jamaica in May.
Jamaica--a proud and independent Caribbean nation struggling with a high level of violence and criminality--is the location of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) facilitated by the World Council of Churches (WCC) from May 17-25. The event is the "harvest festival" of the Decade to Overcome Violence, which since 2001 has been coordinating and strengthening peace work among WCC member churches.
The convocation, prepared in cooperation with the National Council of Churches of Jamaica, will take place near the capital Kingston and will be the largest peace gathering in WCC history with an expected participation of about 1,000 people from around the world (by invitation).
The theological basis of the peace convocation is an ecumenical call for a just peace--a milestone in the developing of an ecumenical theology of peace. The theme will be "Glory to God and Peace on Earth." The just peace which the call envisages is seen "as a collective and dynamic yet grounded process of freeing human beings from fear and want, of overcoming enmity, discrimination and oppression, and of establishing conditions for just relationships that privilege the experience of the most vulnerable and respect the integrity of creation."
In Bible study, worship, workshops, seminars, and plenary sessions, participants will deal with four thematic areas: Peace in Community, Peace with the Earth, Peace in the Economy, and Peace Between Nations.
For the churches of the Caribbean the convocation is a high watermark event according to Gary Harriott, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Jamaica. "This year is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Council of Church of Jamaica," he said. "It is a real privilege for us to be able to celebrate this anniversary together with the worldwide ecumenical community." A cultural high point will be the Concert for Peace, to which musicians have been invited to bring their own message of peace. The concert will take place in Kingston, and will be broadcast by radio throughout the island.
A course for seminarians is being offered at the IEPC. Theological students can register to participate in this program by April 1, in cooperation with the United Theological College of the West Indies and the Boston University School of Theology. The aim of the course, for which credits can be obtained by students from their own schools, is to strengthen ecumenical education through theological reflection and students’ own experiences.
On Sunday, May 22, Christians in all parts of the world are invited to relate worship in their own churches to the peace convocation. Hymns, Bible texts, and prayers--for example a "peace prayer" written by the Caribbean churches--can be included in worship services. The hope is that there will be a worldwide wave of praise and prayer for peace, radiating out from Jamaica.
-- Annegreth Strümpfel is a theologian and scholar working on a doctoral thesis about the history of the WCC in the 1960s-70s. More information about the IEPC is at www.overcomingviolence.org. Ideas to celebrate World Sunday for Peace are at www.overcomingviolence.org/sunday. Information on the IEPC course for seminarians is at www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=e5033399ef1a0b09e424 and www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=70af6faaef472ac39348.
Jamaica--a proud and independent Caribbean nation struggling with a high level of violence and criminality--is the location of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) facilitated by the World Council of Churches (WCC) from May 17-25. The event is the "harvest festival" of the Decade to Overcome Violence, which since 2001 has been coordinating and strengthening peace work among WCC member churches.
The convocation, prepared in cooperation with the National Council of Churches of Jamaica, will take place near the capital Kingston and will be the largest peace gathering in WCC history with an expected participation of about 1,000 people from around the world (by invitation).
The theological basis of the peace convocation is an ecumenical call for a just peace--a milestone in the developing of an ecumenical theology of peace. The theme will be "Glory to God and Peace on Earth." The just peace which the call envisages is seen "as a collective and dynamic yet grounded process of freeing human beings from fear and want, of overcoming enmity, discrimination and oppression, and of establishing conditions for just relationships that privilege the experience of the most vulnerable and respect the integrity of creation."
In Bible study, worship, workshops, seminars, and plenary sessions, participants will deal with four thematic areas: Peace in Community, Peace with the Earth, Peace in the Economy, and Peace Between Nations.
For the churches of the Caribbean the convocation is a high watermark event according to Gary Harriott, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Jamaica. "This year is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Council of Church of Jamaica," he said. "It is a real privilege for us to be able to celebrate this anniversary together with the worldwide ecumenical community." A cultural high point will be the Concert for Peace, to which musicians have been invited to bring their own message of peace. The concert will take place in Kingston, and will be broadcast by radio throughout the island.
A course for seminarians is being offered at the IEPC. Theological students can register to participate in this program by April 1, in cooperation with the United Theological College of the West Indies and the Boston University School of Theology. The aim of the course, for which credits can be obtained by students from their own schools, is to strengthen ecumenical education through theological reflection and students’ own experiences.
On Sunday, May 22, Christians in all parts of the world are invited to relate worship in their own churches to the peace convocation. Hymns, Bible texts, and prayers--for example a "peace prayer" written by the Caribbean churches--can be included in worship services. The hope is that there will be a worldwide wave of praise and prayer for peace, radiating out from Jamaica.
-- Annegreth Strümpfel is a theologian and scholar working on a doctoral thesis about the history of the WCC in the 1960s-70s. More information about the IEPC is at www.overcomingviolence.org. Ideas to celebrate World Sunday for Peace are at www.overcomingviolence.org/sunday. Information on the IEPC course for seminarians is at www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=e5033399ef1a0b09e424 and www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=70af6faaef472ac39348.
Brethren bits: Personnel, job opening, registration deadlines, more.
- Jeremy McAvoy on March 7 began a term of service with the Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) office in Elgin, Ill. He will work as a volunteer for recruitment alongside Katherine Boeger, recently hired as coordinator of recruitment and service advocate for BVS and Global Mission Partnerships. Previously he served one year with Brethren Disaster Ministries in Indiana. He is a member of Live Oak (Calif.) Church of the Brethren.
- The New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center is expressing gratitude to volunteer hosts Dick and Erma Foust of New Lebanon, Ohio, who served in the Old Main building in January and February. The center also welcomed Tom and Maryellen Foley from Cape Porpoise, Maine, as volunteer hosts in Zigler Hall for March and April.
- Pinecrest Community, a Church of the Brethren-affiliated continuing care retirement community in Mount Morris, Ill., is seeking a director of development to plan, develop, and maintain a comprehensive fundraising program through grants, bequests, trusts, and donations to enhance Pinecrest’s mission. The director coordinates and leads the efforts of the Capital Fundraising Campaign and supervises the Annual Giving Manager. Demonstrated success in activities to coordinate, attract, and close major gift funding support including face-to-face solicitation of gifts is sought. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge of marketing strategies and techniques, knowledge of long-range planning processes, interpersonal skills, and be an organized and professional representative of Pinecrest. Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of four years of experience including knowledge of annual giving, capital campaign, foundation/corporate solicitations, and deferred giving. Submit application to Victoria Marshall, Pinecrest Community, 414 South Wesley Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054.
- March 19 is the deadline to register for the Church of the Brethren’s annual Intercultural Consultation and Celebration on April 28-30 in Mills River, N.C. Register at www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=intercultural_consultation.
- "Re:Thinking Church" (Acts 2:1-4) is the theme for the Young Adult Conference on May 28-30 at Camp Inspiration Hills near Burbank, Ohio. The event is for young adults ages 18-35. Cost is $95 prior to April 22, $120 thereafter. Register online at www.brethren.org/yac.
- A letter to members of Congress raising concerns about the federal budget has been signed by Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger along with Christian leaders from a wide range of denominations and ecumenical organizations. The letter opened: "Our witness as faith leaders is grounded in love for God and neighbor and all Creation. Accordingly, we are compelled to speak out against the proposed deep cuts in FY2011 discretionary domestic and poverty-focused foreign aid spending. Jesus challenged people to define themselves by the measure of their love for one another, with particular concern for those struggling in poverty and marginalized by society. His Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) transforms and broadens our definition of the neighbor and lifts up a model of relationship with our neighbors that should define and sustain our community, national, and international life." The 16 signers included top leaders of some of the largest denominations in the country including the United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Episcopal Church, American Baptist Churches USA, Presbyterian Church USA, and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Find the letter at www.ncccusa.org/news/110301budget.html.
- "The national initiative, Let’s Move!, is focused on solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation. As parents, as Christ-followers, as human beings, we cannot ignore the reports that for the first time in two centuries, the current generation of children in America may have shorter life expectancies than their parents." These are the opening words in a letter signed by general secretary Stan Noffsinger encouraging Church of the Brethren congregations to take up this challenge locally. A Toolkit for Faith-based and Neighborhood Organizations offers lots of ideas ( www.hhs.gov/fbci/Tools%20&%20Resources/Pubs/lets_move_toolkit.pdf ). Over the next few months denominational staff will be holding up the "Let’s Move!" imperative with challenges specific to the Brethren identity of "peacefully, simply, together," continuing the healing work of Jesus in support of children. Find the general secretary’s letter at www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=office_general_secretary.
- Churches have the opportunity to become sites providing food to hungry children this summer through the federal Summer Food Service program, recommended to Brethren by Jay Wittmeyer, executive director of Global Mission Partnerships. "When school is finished, the 20 million children who receive free or reduced-price lunch during the school year through USDA’s National School Lunch Program will be in trouble," said an announcement from Max Finberg, director of the USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. "We want to make sure that no child in the US goes to bed hungry, whether school is in session or out." Churches can help by being a site or sponsor in the program. Go to www.summerfood.usda.gov.
- On Earth Peace has announced four new peace retreats for youth programming: "Agape Community Peace Retreat" invites youth to consider Jesus' call to agape love of enemy and neighbor alike. "Meeting Place Peace Retreat" teaches strategies for healthy communication and alternatives to violence. "Enemy Love Peace Retreat" encourages youth to follow Jesus' call to "love our enemies" and will consider what scripture and tradition have to say about violence and war; alternatives to military service through conscientious objection are introduced. "Who Is My Neighbor Peace Retreat" for middle school youth engages the parable of the Good Samaritan. Contact Chelsea Goss, peace retreat coordinator, at peaceretreats@onearthpeace.org.
- Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren is having a Peace Forum on March 20 led by Jordan Blevins and Greg Laszakovits. Blevins will speak at the two traditional worship services, at 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., on the topic, "Who Are We Called to Be?" (Acts 2:43-47) and he will lead a Thoughtful Life adult Sunday school class at 9:15 a.m. Laszakovits will speak at the two contemporary worship services at 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. on the topic, "The Gospel of Peace Is Dead" (Matthew 5:38-45). The senior high youth will serve lunch, after which the speakers will make presentations and respond to questions. Church member Jay Weaver has written hymn text for the occasion to the tune of St. Thomas, titled, "My Peace I Give to You." In other news from Lancaster Church, after the Outreach Ministry Team challenged the congregation to give $6,500 to help Brethren Disaster Ministries build a house in Haiti, over $22,000 has been received. "Enough to build more than three houses," said a note from moderator Allen Hansell. "Our drive remains open until March 13. We are so excited about the congregation's response."
- The San Diego (Calif.) Friends Center, in which San Diego First Church of the Brethren is a partner, is holding its Opening Celebration on March 11-13. San Diego First Church and its partners--the Peace Resource Center, American Friends Border Project, and the San Diego Friends--are sponsoring the center.
- The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center connected with Bethany Seminary is offering "Alternative Stories in the Bible" with instructor Robert Neff on March 29 at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., or Sept. 20 at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Cost is $50 with an additional $10 charge for continuing education units. For more details or to register contact Amy Milligan at 717-361-1450 or svmc@etown.edu. Registration deadline is March 14.
- Cliff Kindy, an organic farmer and member of Christian Peacemaker Teams, is the speaker for Regional Youth Conference at McPherson (Kan.) College on March 11-13 on the theme "New Order Breaking In" (Mark 1). Brian Kruschwitz will lead songs, stories, and activities. Youth in middle school and high school may attend. The registration form is at www.wpcob.org or contact Tom Hurst, director of Campus Ministries, 620-242-0503 or hurstt@mcpherson.edu.
- "I Believe I Can Fly" (1 Timothy 4:12) is the theme of the Southeastern Youth Roundtable on March 18-20 at Bridgewater (Va.) College. David Radcliff of New Community Project will be guest speaker. The event is planned and sponsored by the Interdistrict Youth Cabinet. Cost: $50.
- Employees at Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village, a Church of the Brethren retirement community near Boonsboro, Md., have been recognized for their service. Eight received Service Excellence Awards, and 19 were honored for their years worked. Those honored for their service were Pam Burger, Deb Manahan, Tammy Payne, Mary Moore, Beth Phebus, Airey Smith, and Pam Miley, all in nursing; and Nick Hill, IT. Employees were recognized for length of time at Fahrney-Keedy in multiples of five years: Recipients with five years were Tina Saunders, LPN, Grace Irungu, LPN, Nadine Christie, GNA, Sue Scalia, GNA, Angel Burris, GNA, Stacy Petersheim, GNA, Pam Miley, GNA, Brittany Smith, GNA, Ann Thomas, GNA; Angie Howard, transportation; Nick Hill, director of IT; Gary Heishman, maintenance, and Wayne Stouffer, CFO. At 10 years was Sandy Morgan, CMA; 15 years, Susie Lewis, dietary; 20 years, Wanda McIntyre, CMA; 30 years, Denise Painter, laundry; and at 45, Ruth Moss, GNA-CMA.
- Brethren Revival Fellowship (BRF) is on track to publish the last of the 18 volumes of its Brethren New Testament Commentary series this month. "The Gospel of Mark" by Ray Hileman, pastor of First Church of the Brethren in Miami, Fla., will be the final volume in the series (280 pages, $18). The entire 18-volume set, covering all 27 books of the New Testament, will be available for $243.90 (includes shipping and discount). For more information, go to www.brfwitness.org/?page_id=268&category=1.
- A New Community Project Learning Tour returned from Southern Sudan on Feb. 18 after visits in the communities of Nimule and Narus. The delegation was led by director David Radcliff and included 10 Church of the Brethren members. Hosting the group were the Girlchild Education and Development Association, and the Sudan Council of Churches. "We found the people buoyed by the results of the January referendum for southern independence," reported Radcliff. "For the common people, however, many of the same challenges remain amid the euphoria--the need for clean water, fire wood, education, and adequate food production in the face of a changing climate." For more go to www.newcommunityproject.org.
- Jan West Schrock, a former director of Brethren Volunteer Service and a daughter of Heifer Project founder Dan West, is one of those leading a course on "Cultivating Peace: Heifer International’s Work as a Peacemaker" on April 28-May 1 at the Heifer Learning Center in Los Altos Hills, Calif. "I believe members of the Church of the Brethren would love learning how Heifer wages peace at the grassroots by bringing communities together...climbing out of poverty and making plans to avoid civil strife in the future," Schrock said. The $225 fee includes all programming, double occupancy lodging, and meals. Register at www.heifer.org/heiferu.
- Pilju Kim Joo of Agglobe Services International, a ministry partner with the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF), has been named one of "150 Women Who Shake the World" by "Newsweek" and the "Daily Beast." The two create a list of extraordinary women every year. Dr. Joo is chair of the Ryongyon Joint Venture that oversees a farming and agricultural development enterprise in N. Korea that receives GFCF grants. Find the list of 150 women at www.thedailybeast.com/interactive/women-in-the-world/150-women-who-shake-the-world/?cid=hp:mainpromo2. Find a photo album featuring Joo’s work in N. Korea at www.brethren.org/site/PhotoAlbumUser?view=UserAlbum&AlbumID=8999.
Devotion and study resources are available for Lent
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice...? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry...?" (Isaiah 58:6a, 7a).
Brethren organizations and ecumenical partners are making a wide variety of resources available for study and reflection in this season of Lent:
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice...? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry...?" (Isaiah 58:6a, 7a).
Brethren organizations and ecumenical partners are making a wide variety of resources available for study and reflection in this season of Lent:
- "The Cost of Following Jesus: Devotions for Ash Wednesday Through Easter" by J.D. Glick is the annual Lenten devotional from Brethren Press ($2.50 plus shipping and handling, call 800-441-3712). The paperback booklet is suitable for individuals and for congregations to provide for their members. It includes a daily scripture verse, meditation, and prayer for the season of Lent through Easter. The Brethren Press devotional series is published twice a year in anticipation of the Advent and Lenten seasons.
- A new Lenten Spiritual Disciplines folder has been posted by Springs of Living Water, an initiative in church renewal that is active in several districts of the Church of the Brethren. Find the resource at www.churchrenewalservant.org/docs/5a-lenten-disciplines.pdf. Titled "Forty Days of Living the Good News: An Invitation to God's Grace and Resurrection Hope," the folder follows the lectionary readings and topics used for the Brethren Press bulletin series for Lent and Easter. Along with suggested Sunday texts and messages there are daily scriptures leading up to the next Sunday, for personal devotions. An insert gives options for next incremental steps in spiritual growth. Also on the Springs website are Bible study questions for each of the daily texts written by Vincent Cable, pastor of Uniontown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. These questions can be used by individuals and groups. For more information contact Joan and David Young at davidyoung@churchrenewalservant.org.
- The Global Women's Project is offering Lenten Calendars as a way to have a daily time of spiritual centering throughout the season. "This is also an important way for us to share our wealth with our sisters and brothers around the world who are working for empowerment and sustainability," said an announcement. Order a calendar or receive it as a daily e-mail by contacting info@globalwomensproject.org. Go to www.globalwomensproject.org to download the daily donation log that accompanies each day's meditation.
- The National Council of Churches is offering two study and reflection resources for this Lent season: A study guide, "Journey to Lent, Journey to Learn: A Reflection on Public Education in God's World Today," is offered by the Committee on Public Education and Literacy for personal devotion or as the basis for group study; go to www.ncccusa.org/2011lentenguidepubed.pdf. The Eco-Justice office is inviting reflection on the many biblical teachings that call Christians to be good stewards of God's creation and to seek justice for all, through weekly Lenten reflections posted on a blog at http://ecojustice.wordpress.com.
- Bread for the World, a Christian organization doing advocacy to end hunger at home and abroad, is providing daily devotions on its website www.bread.org. The organization also is calling for fasting and prayer for hungry and poor people during the current federal budget process. An invitation from Bread’s president David Beckmann said that he and others are beginning this special emphasis on fasting and prayer today, Ash Wednesday. His announcement also included a Prayer for Congress: "O God, we ask you to guide and bless our senators and representatives in Congress. Give them courage and wisdom to provide for the needs of all people--especially those who struggle to feed themselves and their families. Amen."
- Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), of which the Church of the Brethren is a member group, will journey through the Gospel of Matthew considering some of its passages on peace. CMEP is a coalition of churches to promote a just, lasting, and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The CMEP Lenten study guide offers scripture, reflections, action suggestions, and prayer focused on being peacemakers with the people of the Holy Land. Find it at www.cmep.org/sites/default/files/2011LentFinal.pdf.
- "Water and Just Peace" is the theme of reflections provided by the Ecumenical Water Network and the World Council of Churches. Each Monday starting on March 7, the weekly reflections explore the connection between access to water, struggles over this precious resource, and building just peace. Biblical reflections are posted week by week at www.oikoumene.org/7-weeks-for-water along with complementary links and ideas for activities for individuals and congregations. Worship materials for World Water Day on March 22 and for Maundy Thursday are also available. The importance of access to water was recently affirmed by the Central Committee of the WCC, which issued a statement in February calling for the implementation of the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right.
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. Greg Dewey, Mary Jo Flory-Steury, Allen Hansell, Philip E. Jenks, Donna Kline, Don Knieriem, Victoria Marshall, Ralph McFadden, Craig Alan Myers, David Radcliff, and Julia Wheeler contributed to this report.
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. Greg Dewey, Mary Jo Flory-Steury, Allen Hansell, Philip E. Jenks, Donna Kline, Don Knieriem, Victoria Marshall, Ralph McFadden, Craig Alan Myers, David Radcliff, and Julia Wheeler contributed to this report.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
NEWS
- Global Food Crisis Fund hosts gathering for Foods Resource Bank.
- Advocacy office urges federal budget to care for those in poverty.
- Religious and humanitarian groups speak out on the federal budget.
- Brethren Disaster Ministries reports on completed and new projects.
- Florida peace churches prioritize six areas of service.
Global Food Crisis Fund hosts gathering for Foods Resource Bank.
Growing project leaders gathered at a meeting of the Foods Resource Bank hosted by the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) on Feb. 15. The meeting brought together some 35 farmers and representatives of churches involved in growing projects in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Foods Resource Bank growing projects in US communities supply funds for food security and agricultural development and education programs carried out around the world. Brethren congregations participate in the Foods Resource Bank through the sponsorship of the GFCF.
The Feb. 15 gathering at the Church of the Brethren General Offices was one of seven simultaneous winter gatherings conducted by Foods Resource Bank board members across the country. Other regional meetings were held in Akron, Pa.; Archbold, Ohio; St. Louis, Mo.; Decatur, Ill.; Kansas City, Kan.; and San Antonio, Texas.
Foods Resource Bank members Gary Cook of Bread for the World and Brian Backe of Catholic Relief Services joined GFCF manager Howard Royer in planning and hosting the Elgin observance. The keynote presentation was by Roger Thurow, co-author of "Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty" and a former journalist at the "Wall Street Journal."
Thurow’s interest in food and agriculture began when he was on a trip to Kenya with a group of farmers from Ohio, and first saw African farmers through the eyes of American farmers, he told the gathering. The experience led to his current writing project, a book on the smallholder African farmer. Thurow is spending time with a group of subsistence farmers in Kenya, finding out what their day-to-day life is like as they try to raise crops to feed and support their families.
"What is it like not to be able to grow enough food to feed your family?" he asked. Most of the farmers he is following for the book are women, because women make up the majority of smallholder farmers in Africa. Thurow’s next trip to Kenya is this planting season, when he will wait with the farmers for the rains to come.
The challenges these farmers face are many: small plots of land, averaging less than an acre to one or two acres each; little use of hybrid seed; little education about how to plant and care for a crop; lack of good storage facilities; lack of access to markets; difficulties with transportation and infrastructure; and vulnerability to weather and drought.
"Outrage and inspire" was the "mantra" for his first book "Enough," written with co-author Scott Kilman: "Outrage that we have brought hunger with us into the 21st century. Hunger is one of the great problems of the world that can be conquered.... It can be the singular achievement of our age," he insisted. "So, enough is enough!"
"Captivate and motivate" is the mantra for his book on the African farmer. This is because the problems of Africa may potentially affect the food situation in the whole world, Thurow said. Experts have said that by the year 2050 the world must double its food production in order to prevent mass hunger. "Where will this quantum leap come from?" Thurow asked. "Africa is the place where this kind of improvement can still happen."
International support for agricultural development in Africa is crucial, to move the continent from subsistence to sustainability, he said. He added a plea for the US government to maintain its budget for development work in Africa through US AID and development aid. "We have the technology, so what we need is this political will."
Quoting from Kenyan farmers who have chosen a name meaning "We have decided" for their group, Thurow congratulated the Foods Resource Bank for being among those who have decided to fight hunger. "What I have decided is I have to go and man the front ramparts of the hunger fight with all of you," he said in closing. "In the 21st century, nobody, particularly the small farmers of Africa, should be dying of hunger."
Following his presentation, Thurow fielded questions about other issues, ranging from what the price of food should be in our world economic system, to crop diversification. Many people stayed on after the meeting ended to talk further with Thurow and to buy copies of "Enough," which is available through Brethren Press (call 800-441-3712).
For more about the Global Food Crisis Fund go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=go_give_food_crisis. For more about the Foods Resource Bank go to www.foodsresourcebank.org.
Growing project leaders gathered at a meeting of the Foods Resource Bank hosted by the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) on Feb. 15. The meeting brought together some 35 farmers and representatives of churches involved in growing projects in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Foods Resource Bank growing projects in US communities supply funds for food security and agricultural development and education programs carried out around the world. Brethren congregations participate in the Foods Resource Bank through the sponsorship of the GFCF.
The Feb. 15 gathering at the Church of the Brethren General Offices was one of seven simultaneous winter gatherings conducted by Foods Resource Bank board members across the country. Other regional meetings were held in Akron, Pa.; Archbold, Ohio; St. Louis, Mo.; Decatur, Ill.; Kansas City, Kan.; and San Antonio, Texas.
Foods Resource Bank members Gary Cook of Bread for the World and Brian Backe of Catholic Relief Services joined GFCF manager Howard Royer in planning and hosting the Elgin observance. The keynote presentation was by Roger Thurow, co-author of "Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty" and a former journalist at the "Wall Street Journal."
Thurow’s interest in food and agriculture began when he was on a trip to Kenya with a group of farmers from Ohio, and first saw African farmers through the eyes of American farmers, he told the gathering. The experience led to his current writing project, a book on the smallholder African farmer. Thurow is spending time with a group of subsistence farmers in Kenya, finding out what their day-to-day life is like as they try to raise crops to feed and support their families.
"What is it like not to be able to grow enough food to feed your family?" he asked. Most of the farmers he is following for the book are women, because women make up the majority of smallholder farmers in Africa. Thurow’s next trip to Kenya is this planting season, when he will wait with the farmers for the rains to come.
The challenges these farmers face are many: small plots of land, averaging less than an acre to one or two acres each; little use of hybrid seed; little education about how to plant and care for a crop; lack of good storage facilities; lack of access to markets; difficulties with transportation and infrastructure; and vulnerability to weather and drought.
"Outrage and inspire" was the "mantra" for his first book "Enough," written with co-author Scott Kilman: "Outrage that we have brought hunger with us into the 21st century. Hunger is one of the great problems of the world that can be conquered.... It can be the singular achievement of our age," he insisted. "So, enough is enough!"
"Captivate and motivate" is the mantra for his book on the African farmer. This is because the problems of Africa may potentially affect the food situation in the whole world, Thurow said. Experts have said that by the year 2050 the world must double its food production in order to prevent mass hunger. "Where will this quantum leap come from?" Thurow asked. "Africa is the place where this kind of improvement can still happen."
International support for agricultural development in Africa is crucial, to move the continent from subsistence to sustainability, he said. He added a plea for the US government to maintain its budget for development work in Africa through US AID and development aid. "We have the technology, so what we need is this political will."
Quoting from Kenyan farmers who have chosen a name meaning "We have decided" for their group, Thurow congratulated the Foods Resource Bank for being among those who have decided to fight hunger. "What I have decided is I have to go and man the front ramparts of the hunger fight with all of you," he said in closing. "In the 21st century, nobody, particularly the small farmers of Africa, should be dying of hunger."
Following his presentation, Thurow fielded questions about other issues, ranging from what the price of food should be in our world economic system, to crop diversification. Many people stayed on after the meeting ended to talk further with Thurow and to buy copies of "Enough," which is available through Brethren Press (call 800-441-3712).
For more about the Global Food Crisis Fund go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=go_give_food_crisis. For more about the Foods Resource Bank go to www.foodsresourcebank.org.
Advocacy office urges federal budget to care for those in poverty.
This week’s Action Alert from the Church of the Brethren’s office for advocacy and peace witness ministries called on the federal government to adopt a budget that reflects care for those in poverty and in need.
"These past few weeks in Washington, D.C., and around the country, the conversation has been about numbers and not about people," the alert said, in part. "...But there is something vital missing from the conversation--and it is a voice with which the Church of the Brethren has always spoken. In a word--mutuality.... The concept that we are to live in such a way that we are partners with one another and with the entirety of Creation is a concept which Brethren have embraced for, well, more than 300 years."
The alert invited Brethren to take action on the federal budget. "Tell Congress and President Obama that as a person of faith, you will not stand by while they seek to control spending on the backs of those living in poverty in the United States and around the world," the alert said.
Criticizing the budget proposals from both President Obama and Congress, the alert said: "The spending cuts currently being debated are the ones we can afford the least--they are the ones that provide those living in poverty with an opportunity to have some place to live, something to eat, educational opportunities, and the chance to turn their lives around. They are the foreign aid programs that build wells, schools, and infrastructure, building relationships with countries through diplomacy rather than bombs. They are the programs that we, as people of faith, want in a budget that claims to speak for our values."
A link provided by the office goes to a webpage at https://secure2.convio.net/cob/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=121 where visitors may send a letter calling for a "budget of mutuality," citing Genesis 4:9 in which Cain asks God, "Am I my brother’s keeper?"
Also cited in the alert were church policy statements: the 2000 Annual Conference statement "Caring for the Poor" ( www.cobannualconference.org/ac_statements/2000Poor.html ), the 2006 Conference statement "A Call to Reduce Global Poverty and Hunger" ( www.cobannualconference.org/ac_statements/2006GlobalPovertyHunger.pdf ), and the 1970 Conference "Statement on War" ( www.cobannualconference.org/ac_statements/70War.htm#IX ).
Find the Action Alert at http://cob.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=9861.0&dlv_id=0. Sign up to receive alerts at www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=signup2. For more information about the church’s witness ministries go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=witness_action_alerts or contact Jordan Blevins, advocacy officer, at jblevins@brethren.org or 202-481-6943.
This week’s Action Alert from the Church of the Brethren’s office for advocacy and peace witness ministries called on the federal government to adopt a budget that reflects care for those in poverty and in need.
"These past few weeks in Washington, D.C., and around the country, the conversation has been about numbers and not about people," the alert said, in part. "...But there is something vital missing from the conversation--and it is a voice with which the Church of the Brethren has always spoken. In a word--mutuality.... The concept that we are to live in such a way that we are partners with one another and with the entirety of Creation is a concept which Brethren have embraced for, well, more than 300 years."
The alert invited Brethren to take action on the federal budget. "Tell Congress and President Obama that as a person of faith, you will not stand by while they seek to control spending on the backs of those living in poverty in the United States and around the world," the alert said.
Criticizing the budget proposals from both President Obama and Congress, the alert said: "The spending cuts currently being debated are the ones we can afford the least--they are the ones that provide those living in poverty with an opportunity to have some place to live, something to eat, educational opportunities, and the chance to turn their lives around. They are the foreign aid programs that build wells, schools, and infrastructure, building relationships with countries through diplomacy rather than bombs. They are the programs that we, as people of faith, want in a budget that claims to speak for our values."
A link provided by the office goes to a webpage at https://secure2.convio.net/cob/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=121 where visitors may send a letter calling for a "budget of mutuality," citing Genesis 4:9 in which Cain asks God, "Am I my brother’s keeper?"
Also cited in the alert were church policy statements: the 2000 Annual Conference statement "Caring for the Poor" ( www.cobannualconference.org/ac_statements/2000Poor.html ), the 2006 Conference statement "A Call to Reduce Global Poverty and Hunger" ( www.cobannualconference.org/ac_statements/2006GlobalPovertyHunger.pdf ), and the 1970 Conference "Statement on War" ( www.cobannualconference.org/ac_statements/70War.htm#IX ).
Find the Action Alert at http://cob.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=9861.0&dlv_id=0. Sign up to receive alerts at www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=signup2. For more information about the church’s witness ministries go to www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=witness_action_alerts or contact Jordan Blevins, advocacy officer, at jblevins@brethren.org or 202-481-6943.
Religious and humanitarian groups speak out on the federal budget.
The Church of the Brethren is an "endorsing communion" for a campaign organized by the Sojourners community in Washington, D.C., called "What Would Jesus Cut?"--a play on words on the Christian slogan WWJD (What Would Jesus Do). The campaign is placing an advertisement in Monday’s issue of "Politico."
Following is the full text of the advertisement:
"What Would Jesus Cut? Our faith tells us that that the moral test of a society is how it treats the poor. As a country, we face difficult choices, but whether or not we defend vulnerable people should not be one of them. Please defend: International aid that directly and literally save lives from pandemic diseases; critical child health and family nutrition programs--at home and abroad; proven work and income supports that lift families out of poverty; support for education, especially in low income communities. Vaccines, bed nets and food aid save the lives of thousands of children across the world every day. School lunches and early childhood education, tax credits that reward work and stabilize families--are sound investments that a just nation must protect, not abandon. The deficit is indeed a moral issue, and we must not bankrupt our nation nor leave a world of debt for our children. But how we reduce the deficit is also a moral issue. Our budget should not be balanced on the backs of poor and vulnerable people. Budgets are moral documents. We ask our legislators to consider ‘What Would Jesus Cut?’"
In an e-mail to endorsing communions, Sojourners leader Jim Wallis wrote: "If just one of the proposed cuts is passed--$450 million in contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis--approximately 10.4 million bed nets that help prevent malaria will not reach people who need them; 6 million treatments for malaria will not be given; 3.7 million people will not be tested for HIV; and 372,000 tests and treatments for tuberculosis will not be administered. In addition, the proposed budget cuts $544 million in international food aid grants. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), a program that helps provide food to hungry mothers and their children, faces a $758 million cut.... Simultaneously our military and defense budget, which sends our young adults off to kill and be killed, would receive an $8 billion increase." For more go to www.sojourners.com.
In related news, Church World Service (CWS) and partner groups also are taking action on the proposed federal budget. CWS is among a large group of humanitarian organizations urging lawmakers to spare humanitarian spending from budget cuts.
A release from CWS said the organization is attempting to halt "US budget cuts that could be devastating to disaster victims, displaced people and refugees throughout the world."
In a Feb. 22 letter to House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority leader Eric Cantor, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, CWS and leaders of the nation's foremost faith-based and humanitarian agencies made the case that cuts outlined in the House of Representatives bill H.R. 1 would severely hinder the capacity of the United States to mount effective humanitarian response efforts around the world.
The coalition’s letter posed the scenario that, "in the next major global humanitarian crisis--the next Haiti, tsunami, or Darfur--the United States might simply fail to show up," the release said. The letter states, "The bill cuts global disaster aid by 67 percent, global refugee assistance by 45 percent and global food relief by 41 percent relative to FY10 enacted levels." The letter's signers urged House leaders to fully fund the programs at 2010 levels.
Signers included heads of ADRA International, American Jewish World Service, American Refugee Committee, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, CHF International, ChildFund International, Food for the Hungry, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, International Medical Corps, International Relief and Development, International Relief Teams, International Rescue Committee, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Life for Relief & Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Refugees International, Relief International, Resolve, Save the Children, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Women’s Refugee Commission, World Food Program - USA, World Hope International, and World Vision. (The letter is at www.churchworldservice.org/fy11budget.)
The Church of the Brethren is an "endorsing communion" for a campaign organized by the Sojourners community in Washington, D.C., called "What Would Jesus Cut?"--a play on words on the Christian slogan WWJD (What Would Jesus Do). The campaign is placing an advertisement in Monday’s issue of "Politico."
Following is the full text of the advertisement:
"What Would Jesus Cut? Our faith tells us that that the moral test of a society is how it treats the poor. As a country, we face difficult choices, but whether or not we defend vulnerable people should not be one of them. Please defend: International aid that directly and literally save lives from pandemic diseases; critical child health and family nutrition programs--at home and abroad; proven work and income supports that lift families out of poverty; support for education, especially in low income communities. Vaccines, bed nets and food aid save the lives of thousands of children across the world every day. School lunches and early childhood education, tax credits that reward work and stabilize families--are sound investments that a just nation must protect, not abandon. The deficit is indeed a moral issue, and we must not bankrupt our nation nor leave a world of debt for our children. But how we reduce the deficit is also a moral issue. Our budget should not be balanced on the backs of poor and vulnerable people. Budgets are moral documents. We ask our legislators to consider ‘What Would Jesus Cut?’"
In an e-mail to endorsing communions, Sojourners leader Jim Wallis wrote: "If just one of the proposed cuts is passed--$450 million in contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis--approximately 10.4 million bed nets that help prevent malaria will not reach people who need them; 6 million treatments for malaria will not be given; 3.7 million people will not be tested for HIV; and 372,000 tests and treatments for tuberculosis will not be administered. In addition, the proposed budget cuts $544 million in international food aid grants. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), a program that helps provide food to hungry mothers and their children, faces a $758 million cut.... Simultaneously our military and defense budget, which sends our young adults off to kill and be killed, would receive an $8 billion increase." For more go to www.sojourners.com.
In related news, Church World Service (CWS) and partner groups also are taking action on the proposed federal budget. CWS is among a large group of humanitarian organizations urging lawmakers to spare humanitarian spending from budget cuts.
A release from CWS said the organization is attempting to halt "US budget cuts that could be devastating to disaster victims, displaced people and refugees throughout the world."
In a Feb. 22 letter to House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority leader Eric Cantor, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, CWS and leaders of the nation's foremost faith-based and humanitarian agencies made the case that cuts outlined in the House of Representatives bill H.R. 1 would severely hinder the capacity of the United States to mount effective humanitarian response efforts around the world.
The coalition’s letter posed the scenario that, "in the next major global humanitarian crisis--the next Haiti, tsunami, or Darfur--the United States might simply fail to show up," the release said. The letter states, "The bill cuts global disaster aid by 67 percent, global refugee assistance by 45 percent and global food relief by 41 percent relative to FY10 enacted levels." The letter's signers urged House leaders to fully fund the programs at 2010 levels.
Signers included heads of ADRA International, American Jewish World Service, American Refugee Committee, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, CHF International, ChildFund International, Food for the Hungry, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, International Medical Corps, International Relief and Development, International Relief Teams, International Rescue Committee, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Life for Relief & Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Refugees International, Relief International, Resolve, Save the Children, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Women’s Refugee Commission, World Food Program - USA, World Hope International, and World Vision. (The letter is at www.churchworldservice.org/fy11budget.)
Brethren Disaster Ministries reports on completed and new projects.
"The cycle of disaster recovery continues as projects are completed and new ones open," said this week’s report from Brethren Disaster Ministries. The report from coordinator Jane Yount announced that a rebuilding project in Winamac, Ind., has now been completed, and gave a first report from a new project site in Tennessee.
The final home rebuild at the Winamac project was completed by the end of January, except for a powered lift for a member of the homeowner’s family. The project repaired and rebuilt homes affected by flooding.
The local recovery group, DANI, has almost raised the $10,000 needed for the cost of the lift, Yount reported. "We were particularly amazed and heartened to learn that Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren adult Sunday school classes raised $650 toward the lift," she added. "Thank you to any of you who donated and/or raised funds for this need."
The new project site that was started in Ashland, Tenn., on Jan. 30 this year is in response to flood damage. Three days of heavy rain in May 2010 dropped as much as 20 inches of water on Tennessee, causing severe flooding from Nashville to Memphis and completely submerging many homes. In this area, 578 households are in need of assistance, including 41 homes destroyed and 76 in need of major repair.
"Project leader Jerry Moore reports that the work (in Tennessee) is going really well," Yount wrote. Brethren Disaster Ministries volunteers in Tennessee are doing repair work and some new construction. Major repair work includes insulation, drywall, laminate flooring, painting, trim work, siding, and decks.
A third Brethren Disaster Ministries project site continues in Chalmette, La., following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This project carried out in cooperation with the local organization St. Bernard Project, is expected to close in June this year.
For information about Brethren Disaster Ministries and how to volunteer with the program, go to www.BrethrenDisasterMinistries.org or contact a district disaster coordinator.
"The cycle of disaster recovery continues as projects are completed and new ones open," said this week’s report from Brethren Disaster Ministries. The report from coordinator Jane Yount announced that a rebuilding project in Winamac, Ind., has now been completed, and gave a first report from a new project site in Tennessee.
The final home rebuild at the Winamac project was completed by the end of January, except for a powered lift for a member of the homeowner’s family. The project repaired and rebuilt homes affected by flooding.
The local recovery group, DANI, has almost raised the $10,000 needed for the cost of the lift, Yount reported. "We were particularly amazed and heartened to learn that Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren adult Sunday school classes raised $650 toward the lift," she added. "Thank you to any of you who donated and/or raised funds for this need."
The new project site that was started in Ashland, Tenn., on Jan. 30 this year is in response to flood damage. Three days of heavy rain in May 2010 dropped as much as 20 inches of water on Tennessee, causing severe flooding from Nashville to Memphis and completely submerging many homes. In this area, 578 households are in need of assistance, including 41 homes destroyed and 76 in need of major repair.
"Project leader Jerry Moore reports that the work (in Tennessee) is going really well," Yount wrote. Brethren Disaster Ministries volunteers in Tennessee are doing repair work and some new construction. Major repair work includes insulation, drywall, laminate flooring, painting, trim work, siding, and decks.
A third Brethren Disaster Ministries project site continues in Chalmette, La., following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This project carried out in cooperation with the local organization St. Bernard Project, is expected to close in June this year.
For information about Brethren Disaster Ministries and how to volunteer with the program, go to www.BrethrenDisasterMinistries.org or contact a district disaster coordinator.
Florida peace churches prioritize six areas of service.
About 60 participants from the three Historic Peace Churches in Florida (Mennonite, Friends/Quakers, Church of the Brethren), including 15 peace people from other groups, gathered on Jan. 29 at Ashton Christian Fellowship (Mennonite) in Sarasota. This was a second such meeting in 13 months.
Bob Gross, executive director of On Earth Peace, facilitated the first consultation in January 2010, guiding the group in prioritizing six areas of concern and mission. By this year, six subgroup chairs had been selected by a coordinating committee, allowing attendees to choose areas of service to join as active participants (listed here in order of priority): 1. Witnessing to lawmakers, 2. Peace education in schools, 3. Kids as peacemakers, 4. Praying for peace, 5. Building relationships with Muslims, and 6. Community outreach for peace.
Each subgroup chair gave a short presentation describing the particular area of concern and mission. By mid-afternoon, participants had an opportunity to attend the subgroup of their choice for further planning. This was followed by each group highlighting for everyone present some of the key projects they will be attempting in the months ahead. An e-mail network has been developed to keep attendees informed of progress and encourage their involvement.
The day began with a keynote presentation "From Conflict to Community" by Cecilia Yocum, a Quaker and a licensed psychologist. She shared from her 28 years of experience working in Rwanda, Burundi, and Colombia with Friends Peace Teams, as well as facilitating the Alternatives to Violence Project in prisons in Florida. She involved several from the audience in demonstrating applications of each topic.
Four literature tables filled with materials from several peace groups added to the day’s value. Included was information about miniature desk-top Peace Poles (eight inches high, including a square base for greater stability), which are available from the Church of the Brethren Action for Peace Team in Florida, for a $10 donation. Contact PhilLersch@verizon.net for information.
-- Phil Lersch facilitates the Coordinating Committee of the Historic Peace Churches in Florida.
About 60 participants from the three Historic Peace Churches in Florida (Mennonite, Friends/Quakers, Church of the Brethren), including 15 peace people from other groups, gathered on Jan. 29 at Ashton Christian Fellowship (Mennonite) in Sarasota. This was a second such meeting in 13 months.
Bob Gross, executive director of On Earth Peace, facilitated the first consultation in January 2010, guiding the group in prioritizing six areas of concern and mission. By this year, six subgroup chairs had been selected by a coordinating committee, allowing attendees to choose areas of service to join as active participants (listed here in order of priority): 1. Witnessing to lawmakers, 2. Peace education in schools, 3. Kids as peacemakers, 4. Praying for peace, 5. Building relationships with Muslims, and 6. Community outreach for peace.
Each subgroup chair gave a short presentation describing the particular area of concern and mission. By mid-afternoon, participants had an opportunity to attend the subgroup of their choice for further planning. This was followed by each group highlighting for everyone present some of the key projects they will be attempting in the months ahead. An e-mail network has been developed to keep attendees informed of progress and encourage their involvement.
The day began with a keynote presentation "From Conflict to Community" by Cecilia Yocum, a Quaker and a licensed psychologist. She shared from her 28 years of experience working in Rwanda, Burundi, and Colombia with Friends Peace Teams, as well as facilitating the Alternatives to Violence Project in prisons in Florida. She involved several from the audience in demonstrating applications of each topic.
Four literature tables filled with materials from several peace groups added to the day’s value. Included was information about miniature desk-top Peace Poles (eight inches high, including a square base for greater stability), which are available from the Church of the Brethren Action for Peace Team in Florida, for a $10 donation. Contact PhilLersch@verizon.net for information.
-- Phil Lersch facilitates the Coordinating Committee of the Historic Peace Churches in Florida.
Detrick to retire from leadership of Southern Pennsylvania District.
Joe A. Detrick has announced his retirement as district executive minister of Southern Pennsylvania District, effective Sept. 30. He began in the position on Oct. 1, 1998.
He was ordained in 1977 at Oakland Mills Uniting Church (now Columbia, United Christian in Mid-Atlantic District), and holds degrees from Manchester College and Bethany Theological Seminary. His ministry experience has included pastorates at congregations in Shenandoah, South Central Indiana, and Southern Pennsylvania Districts. He also served two years in Brethren Volunteer Service in 1966-68, and then from 1984-88 was orientation coordinator for BVS.
In retirement Detrick will continue to live in Seven Valleys, Pa., where he plans to relax and cultivate relationships with family and friends, pursue much-neglected hobbies, and consider where God is leading for the next chapter of life.
Joe A. Detrick has announced his retirement as district executive minister of Southern Pennsylvania District, effective Sept. 30. He began in the position on Oct. 1, 1998.
He was ordained in 1977 at Oakland Mills Uniting Church (now Columbia, United Christian in Mid-Atlantic District), and holds degrees from Manchester College and Bethany Theological Seminary. His ministry experience has included pastorates at congregations in Shenandoah, South Central Indiana, and Southern Pennsylvania Districts. He also served two years in Brethren Volunteer Service in 1966-68, and then from 1984-88 was orientation coordinator for BVS.
In retirement Detrick will continue to live in Seven Valleys, Pa., where he plans to relax and cultivate relationships with family and friends, pursue much-neglected hobbies, and consider where God is leading for the next chapter of life.
Shetler resigns from Bethany, named to lead stewardship center.
Marcia Shetler has resigned as director of communications and public relations at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., as of Feb. 25 She has been named executive director of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center effective March 15.
With origins in the 1920s as the United Stewardship Council of the Christian Church in the United States and Canada, as an independent nonprofit organization the Ecumenical Stewardship Center is affiliated with over 20 sponsoring organizations and denominations including the Church of the Brethren. The center’s mission is to connect, inspire, and equip Christian steward leaders to transform church communities, and accomplishes this mission through creating educational and inspirational resources, providing networking opportunities, and sponsoring events such as the North American Conference on Christian Philanthropy.
Shetler has served Bethany since 1996 and has focused on the areas of development, marketing, events, communication, and public relations.
Marcia Shetler has resigned as director of communications and public relations at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., as of Feb. 25 She has been named executive director of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center effective March 15.
With origins in the 1920s as the United Stewardship Council of the Christian Church in the United States and Canada, as an independent nonprofit organization the Ecumenical Stewardship Center is affiliated with over 20 sponsoring organizations and denominations including the Church of the Brethren. The center’s mission is to connect, inspire, and equip Christian steward leaders to transform church communities, and accomplishes this mission through creating educational and inspirational resources, providing networking opportunities, and sponsoring events such as the North American Conference on Christian Philanthropy.
Shetler has served Bethany since 1996 and has focused on the areas of development, marketing, events, communication, and public relations.
Catanescu to begin as accounting manager for BBT.
Ovidiu Catanescu has accepted the position of accounting manager for Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT), beginning Feb. 28.
Catanescu brings over 20 years of general accounting and finance experience to the position. Most recently he has worked as an accountant for Jordan and Associates, Ltd. Inc., in Arlington Heights, Ill., as well as a mortgage sales consultant for JP Morgan Chase in Downers Grove, Ill. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Romania.
He and his family migrated to the United States in the mid 1980s. They reside in Hoffman Estates, Ill., and belong to St. Hubert Catholic Church in Schaumburg, Ill.
Ovidiu Catanescu has accepted the position of accounting manager for Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT), beginning Feb. 28.
Catanescu brings over 20 years of general accounting and finance experience to the position. Most recently he has worked as an accountant for Jordan and Associates, Ltd. Inc., in Arlington Heights, Ill., as well as a mortgage sales consultant for JP Morgan Chase in Downers Grove, Ill. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Romania.
He and his family migrated to the United States in the mid 1980s. They reside in Hoffman Estates, Ill., and belong to St. Hubert Catholic Church in Schaumburg, Ill.
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