Christian Citizenship Seminar will focus on modern-day slavery.
On April 25-30, 2009, high school age youth and advisors in the Church of the Brethren will gather in New York City and Washington, D.C., for the 2009 Christian Citizenship Seminar. The focus for the seminar will be modern-day slavery. The event is sponsored by the Church of the Brethren's Youth and Young Adult Ministry and the Brethren Witness/Washington Office.
"Most of us think of slavery as an institution that does not exist anymore, but many experts estimate that there are approximately 27 million human beings who are currently being held in slavery around the world," said an announcement of the event. "What would Jesus do? What does God call us to do in light of these persons forced to perform domestic and agricultural work as well as to become prostitutes or soldiers against their will? We will examine the current status of slavery today and what our Christian faith invites us to do for ‘the least of these.’"
Brochures are now available from the Church of the Brethren's Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office, call 800-323-8039.
Source: 8/13/2008 Newsline
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Ministry of Reconciliation announces its Fall workshop schedule.
The Ministry of Reconciliation of On Earth Peace is announcing three regional workshops to take place this fall.
"Exploring Consensus Decision-making" will take place at Richmond (Ind.) Church of the Brethren on Oct. 4, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The workshop will explore the underlying principles of decision by consensus, the process itself, and participate in a mock meeting where a decision is made using consensus. Cost to participants is $60 per person or $100 for groups of three or more. Leadership is provided by Charletta Erb of Chicago, Ill., and Wanda Joseph of Brethren, Mich.
"Keeping a Cool Head in a Hot Meeting" will be presented at Camp Mack in Milford, Ind.. on Nov. 13-14 by Celia Cook-Huffman, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College. Participants will learn the best way to structure meetings with an eye to efficiency, openness, and clarity, and will learn basic guidelines to use when anxiety levels are high, and how to lead difficult discussions. Cost is $155 for overnight lodgers and $120 for commuters.
"Keeping a Christian Attitude, Skills for Holding Difficult Conversations" will be held at Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Nov. 15. The workshop is co-sponsored by the Service and Outreach Ministry Team of Mid-Atlantic District. Participants will learn to prepare well for difficult conversations, create the space for honest sharing when emotions run high, and utilize conversation to build trust and understanding. Cost to participants is $20.
For more information, click on "Upcoming Events" at www.onearthpeace.org or contact Leslie Frye, Ministry of Reconciliation coordinator, at 410-635-8704.
Source: 8/13/2008 Newsline
The Ministry of Reconciliation of On Earth Peace is announcing three regional workshops to take place this fall.
"Exploring Consensus Decision-making" will take place at Richmond (Ind.) Church of the Brethren on Oct. 4, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The workshop will explore the underlying principles of decision by consensus, the process itself, and participate in a mock meeting where a decision is made using consensus. Cost to participants is $60 per person or $100 for groups of three or more. Leadership is provided by Charletta Erb of Chicago, Ill., and Wanda Joseph of Brethren, Mich.
"Keeping a Cool Head in a Hot Meeting" will be presented at Camp Mack in Milford, Ind.. on Nov. 13-14 by Celia Cook-Huffman, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College. Participants will learn the best way to structure meetings with an eye to efficiency, openness, and clarity, and will learn basic guidelines to use when anxiety levels are high, and how to lead difficult discussions. Cost is $155 for overnight lodgers and $120 for commuters.
"Keeping a Christian Attitude, Skills for Holding Difficult Conversations" will be held at Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Nov. 15. The workshop is co-sponsored by the Service and Outreach Ministry Team of Mid-Atlantic District. Participants will learn to prepare well for difficult conversations, create the space for honest sharing when emotions run high, and utilize conversation to build trust and understanding. Cost to participants is $20.
For more information, click on "Upcoming Events" at www.onearthpeace.org or contact Leslie Frye, Ministry of Reconciliation coordinator, at 410-635-8704.
Source: 8/13/2008 Newsline
Credits
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Annie Clark, Chris Douglas, Ed Groff, Bob Gross, Jon Kobel, Karin Krog, Frank Ramirez, John Wall, Christy Waltersdorff, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Annie Clark, Chris Douglas, Ed Groff, Bob Gross, Jon Kobel, Karin Krog, Frank Ramirez, John Wall, Christy Waltersdorff, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
BRETHREN FROM AROUND THE WORLD CELEBRATE THEIR ROOTS IN SCHWARZENAU
Close to 1,000 people gathered in Schwarzenau, Germany, on Aug. 3 for the second day of international celebrations of the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren movement. The observance has been held in the village on the banks of the Eder River, where the first group of eight Brethren, led by Alexander Mack Sr., were baptized in 1708.
Schwarzenau, “that small town at the edge of the wood...has attained a reputation” for tolerance and the free exercise of religion, said the keynote speaker for the day in his address at an afternoon Anniversary Program in Schwarzenau’s Riding Hall.
Keynote speaker Marcus Meier is a research fellow at the Institute for European History in Mainz, and a German academic authority on the early history of the Brethren. His presentation went on to outline in great detail the influence of Pietism and Anabaptism on the early Brethren.
The village of Schwarzenau is firmly anchored in the memory of Brethren around the world, Meier said. The baptisms in Schwarzenau are “the primal seal for the today many-branched Brethren movement.... Here a group of eight people first counted the cost,” he said, quoting a phrase from a hymn by Alexander Mack.
A unique Sunday morning service celebrating the 300th Anniversary began the day. Preaching for worship were Fredric G. Miller Jr., pastor of Mount Olive Brethren Church in Pineville, Va., and James Beckwith, the 2008 moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference and pastor of Annville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.
Prayers, litanies, and scriptures were read by representatives of five of the six major Brethren bodies: the Church of the Brethren, the Brethren Church, the Old German Baptist Brethren Church, the Dunkard Brethren Church, and the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (the representative from the sixth major body, the Conservative Grace Brethren Churches International, was unable to be present).
The McPherson (Kan.) College Choir sang two anthems. The first was one of the pieces of music commissioned by the Church of the Brethren’s 300th Anniversary Committee: “Speak, O Lord,” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend, arranged by John Ferguson (see www.churchofthebrethrenanniversary.org/pdfs/song_anthem_order.pdf for more information).
Speaking on Matthew 3:13-17, Miller gave a message titled, “The Beautiful Rewards of Immersion.” He spoke of the first Brethren baptisms as “the echo of the splash of Jesus being dunked in the water of the Jordan.”
Dropping a 300-year-old German coin, made in 1708, into a small glass bowl set on the podium, he asked the congregation to listen for the echoes of its fall. “Hear the echo of a church that was formed here 300 years ago. I believe God is well pleased when he sees the results of the work of the Brethren,” he said. “We are 300 years young and still feel the passion for mission.”
He complimented the Church of the Brethren for its work in founding Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), which has grown to be the largest Brethren denomination in the world. He also lifted up the success of the Brethren Church, which has only some 120 congregations in the United States, he said, but has planted 2,000 churches around the world.
Miller encouraged Brethren today to have “hearts immersed in love, and hands immersed in service,” and emphasized that the story of Jesus Christ is only discovered through immersion in the word of God. He added that the Brethren heritage also calls for an immersion in prayer. “There will be no Brethren church without fervent prayer,” he said.
He closed with a call for Brethren to continue to listen for and hear the echoes of their heritage. “The next time you swing a hammer or attend an anointing service, I pray that you might hear an echo of the early church and the early Brethren,” Miller said. “And the next time you attend a baptism...hear the Father say, This is my church which I love, with the Brethren I am well pleased.”
Beckwith preached a sermon titled, “Shaped by the Love Feast,” on the text John 13:1-17 and 34-35. The Schwarzenau Brethren “washed one another’s feet simply because Jesus said so,” Beckwith said, as he began his comments about the lasting influence of the Love Feast on Brethren practice and community. The witness of the Love Feast has been “that Brethren take Jesus seriously and seek to follow him closely.”
The Love Feast “makes us appreciate the gritty needs of the world,” with its requirement for self examination, and the act of footwashing that makes so many people uncomfortable. “It still expresses faithfully the love and care of belonging in God’s family,” he said.
Beckwith characterized the Brethren practice of Love Feast as not just a personal or congregational preparation for partaking in the service of Communion, but as a way for the church to prepare to engage in service to the world as an act of communion with God. “Three hundred years of Love Feasts have shaped us to express mutual care and understanding,” he said. “The Love Feast has been the spiritual antidote to the violence of the world.”
“It is serious business to declare a loving fellowship, to declare ourselves Brethren,” Beckwith said. “It is a foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God.”
The afternoon’s program acknowledged the debt that the Brethren owe to Schwarzenau, its people, and its leaders over the centuries. Greetings were brought by many dignitaries including Bernhart, Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, who is considered the patron of the celebration. Prince Bernhart offered the use of his grounds and facilities for the Anniversary meeting area, including his residence, the Manor House in Schwarzenau.
On behalf of the Encyclopedia Board, Dale Stoffer thanked the Prince for continuing the hospitality shown by his forebear, Count Henrich Albrecht, who offered the first eight Brethren refuge in Schwarzenau.
The mayor of the town of Bad Berleburg and the village mayor of Schwarzenau also brought greetings, as did ecumenical guests representing districts of the Protestant Church, and Oliver Lehnsdorf, pastor of the church in Schwarzenau--the Protestant St. Luke Parish in the valleys of the Eder and the Elshoff.
Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren, introduced the five leaders of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) who were present; and Dave Guiles, executive director of the Grace Brethren International Missions, introduced more than 20 delegates from several different countries who were gathering in Schwarzenau to begin a six-day planning meeting for future mission endeavors. Organizers reported that as many as 18 nations were represented at the celebration today.
The Encyclopedia Board gave a number of gifts of appreciation to the community of Schwarzenau, and also received a number of gifts from the village and the visiting dignitaries. The board also gave gifts specifically to the Schwarzenau Celebration Committee, and the Heimatverein Schwarzenau, a heritage association that is responsible for and maintains the Alexander Mack Museum. Among the gifts, a stack of newly published books about the Brethren were presented for the museum’s collection, including a number from Brethren Press, and a peace pole was presented to the community.
“The people of Schwarzenau have been tireless” in their preparations for the Anniversary, said Dale Ulrich, a member of the board of the Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc., which planned and organized the international celebration along with a Schwarzenau Celebration Committee of local residents. Ulrich has served as primary coordinator for the logistics of the event.
The village of Schwarzenau has a population of only 800 people, Ulrich said, and at least 260 of them helped with the difficult task of converting the Riding Hall temporarily from a horseback riding arena into a meeting place with seating for 1,000 people. The conversion included the laying of a wood plank floor, and installation of a stage, sound system, and lighting equipment. Schwarzenau’s volunteer fire department stood by throughout the weekend, and helped control bus and car traffic. A local catering company served the meals in a large tent between the Riding Hall and the river.
Villagers also offered an outdoor cafe selling cold drinks and homemade baked goods, made warm waffles for the Brethren on Sunday morning, and sold commemorative bottles of Eder River water, that came complete with certificates of authenticity.
The Schwarzenau Celebration Committee was co-coordinated by Bernd Julius and Otto Marburger, and also included members Bodo Huster, Peter Kanstein, and Karin Zacharais. Johannes Haese served as liaison between the Schwarzenau Celebration Committee and the board of the Brethren Encyclopedia.
The Brethren Encyclopedia board is made up of members representing the six major Brethren bodies. Its president is Robert Lehigh; vice president Dale Stoffer coordinated the afternoon Anniversary Program; secretary Dale Ulrich served as a main coordinator for the Schwarzenau events; Terry White is treasurer; and Michael M. Miller and Jeff Bach are members of the board. Consultants to the board for the Schwarzenau events were Ken Kreider and Ted Rondeau.
A short gathering for worship at the river closed the day’s events. People gathered on both sides of the Eder River and on the bridge over the river, to participate in the short time of hymns and prayers led by a group of Old German Baptist Brethren. A brief meditation was brought by Michael Miller, a member of the Encyclopedia Board representing the Old German Baptist Brethren.
“So we come to the banks of this quiet river to say goodbye,” Miller said. The earth has listened to so much pain and suffering, he commented, but the earth also has heard the 24 splashes as the first eight Brethren were lifted from the waters of baptism. He closed with a blessing for the place, the people of Schwarzenau, and their children and descendants. Coming close to tears, he said, “May God bless you here in Schwarzenau.”
To the Brethren, Miller offered this blessing: “May we go with the same joy, peace, and hope that those eight people had 300 years ago.... Our prayer is that 300 years from now, we will all stand together again in the Kingdom of God.”
Worship ended with the singing of the Doxology, the Lord’s Prayer, and a hymn.
After the dismissal, many people still stood for some time along the banks of the river and on the bridge, in what became a moment of appreciation for the solemnity of the occasion. Some took the opportunity to dip their feet or hands in the river.
A comment made by Meier during the afternoon program was affirmed: For the Brethren, “the act of baptism...laid the cornerstone.”
Source: 08/03/2008 Newsline Special from Schwarzenau, Germany
Close to 1,000 people gathered in Schwarzenau, Germany, on Aug. 3 for the second day of international celebrations of the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren movement. The observance has been held in the village on the banks of the Eder River, where the first group of eight Brethren, led by Alexander Mack Sr., were baptized in 1708.
Schwarzenau, “that small town at the edge of the wood...has attained a reputation” for tolerance and the free exercise of religion, said the keynote speaker for the day in his address at an afternoon Anniversary Program in Schwarzenau’s Riding Hall.
Keynote speaker Marcus Meier is a research fellow at the Institute for European History in Mainz, and a German academic authority on the early history of the Brethren. His presentation went on to outline in great detail the influence of Pietism and Anabaptism on the early Brethren.
The village of Schwarzenau is firmly anchored in the memory of Brethren around the world, Meier said. The baptisms in Schwarzenau are “the primal seal for the today many-branched Brethren movement.... Here a group of eight people first counted the cost,” he said, quoting a phrase from a hymn by Alexander Mack.
A unique Sunday morning service celebrating the 300th Anniversary began the day. Preaching for worship were Fredric G. Miller Jr., pastor of Mount Olive Brethren Church in Pineville, Va., and James Beckwith, the 2008 moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference and pastor of Annville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.
Prayers, litanies, and scriptures were read by representatives of five of the six major Brethren bodies: the Church of the Brethren, the Brethren Church, the Old German Baptist Brethren Church, the Dunkard Brethren Church, and the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (the representative from the sixth major body, the Conservative Grace Brethren Churches International, was unable to be present).
The McPherson (Kan.) College Choir sang two anthems. The first was one of the pieces of music commissioned by the Church of the Brethren’s 300th Anniversary Committee: “Speak, O Lord,” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend, arranged by John Ferguson (see www.churchofthebrethrenanniversary.org/pdfs/song_anthem_order.pdf for more information).
Speaking on Matthew 3:13-17, Miller gave a message titled, “The Beautiful Rewards of Immersion.” He spoke of the first Brethren baptisms as “the echo of the splash of Jesus being dunked in the water of the Jordan.”
Dropping a 300-year-old German coin, made in 1708, into a small glass bowl set on the podium, he asked the congregation to listen for the echoes of its fall. “Hear the echo of a church that was formed here 300 years ago. I believe God is well pleased when he sees the results of the work of the Brethren,” he said. “We are 300 years young and still feel the passion for mission.”
He complimented the Church of the Brethren for its work in founding Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), which has grown to be the largest Brethren denomination in the world. He also lifted up the success of the Brethren Church, which has only some 120 congregations in the United States, he said, but has planted 2,000 churches around the world.
Miller encouraged Brethren today to have “hearts immersed in love, and hands immersed in service,” and emphasized that the story of Jesus Christ is only discovered through immersion in the word of God. He added that the Brethren heritage also calls for an immersion in prayer. “There will be no Brethren church without fervent prayer,” he said.
He closed with a call for Brethren to continue to listen for and hear the echoes of their heritage. “The next time you swing a hammer or attend an anointing service, I pray that you might hear an echo of the early church and the early Brethren,” Miller said. “And the next time you attend a baptism...hear the Father say, This is my church which I love, with the Brethren I am well pleased.”
Beckwith preached a sermon titled, “Shaped by the Love Feast,” on the text John 13:1-17 and 34-35. The Schwarzenau Brethren “washed one another’s feet simply because Jesus said so,” Beckwith said, as he began his comments about the lasting influence of the Love Feast on Brethren practice and community. The witness of the Love Feast has been “that Brethren take Jesus seriously and seek to follow him closely.”
The Love Feast “makes us appreciate the gritty needs of the world,” with its requirement for self examination, and the act of footwashing that makes so many people uncomfortable. “It still expresses faithfully the love and care of belonging in God’s family,” he said.
Beckwith characterized the Brethren practice of Love Feast as not just a personal or congregational preparation for partaking in the service of Communion, but as a way for the church to prepare to engage in service to the world as an act of communion with God. “Three hundred years of Love Feasts have shaped us to express mutual care and understanding,” he said. “The Love Feast has been the spiritual antidote to the violence of the world.”
“It is serious business to declare a loving fellowship, to declare ourselves Brethren,” Beckwith said. “It is a foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God.”
The afternoon’s program acknowledged the debt that the Brethren owe to Schwarzenau, its people, and its leaders over the centuries. Greetings were brought by many dignitaries including Bernhart, Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, who is considered the patron of the celebration. Prince Bernhart offered the use of his grounds and facilities for the Anniversary meeting area, including his residence, the Manor House in Schwarzenau.
On behalf of the Encyclopedia Board, Dale Stoffer thanked the Prince for continuing the hospitality shown by his forebear, Count Henrich Albrecht, who offered the first eight Brethren refuge in Schwarzenau.
The mayor of the town of Bad Berleburg and the village mayor of Schwarzenau also brought greetings, as did ecumenical guests representing districts of the Protestant Church, and Oliver Lehnsdorf, pastor of the church in Schwarzenau--the Protestant St. Luke Parish in the valleys of the Eder and the Elshoff.
Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren, introduced the five leaders of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) who were present; and Dave Guiles, executive director of the Grace Brethren International Missions, introduced more than 20 delegates from several different countries who were gathering in Schwarzenau to begin a six-day planning meeting for future mission endeavors. Organizers reported that as many as 18 nations were represented at the celebration today.
The Encyclopedia Board gave a number of gifts of appreciation to the community of Schwarzenau, and also received a number of gifts from the village and the visiting dignitaries. The board also gave gifts specifically to the Schwarzenau Celebration Committee, and the Heimatverein Schwarzenau, a heritage association that is responsible for and maintains the Alexander Mack Museum. Among the gifts, a stack of newly published books about the Brethren were presented for the museum’s collection, including a number from Brethren Press, and a peace pole was presented to the community.
“The people of Schwarzenau have been tireless” in their preparations for the Anniversary, said Dale Ulrich, a member of the board of the Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc., which planned and organized the international celebration along with a Schwarzenau Celebration Committee of local residents. Ulrich has served as primary coordinator for the logistics of the event.
The village of Schwarzenau has a population of only 800 people, Ulrich said, and at least 260 of them helped with the difficult task of converting the Riding Hall temporarily from a horseback riding arena into a meeting place with seating for 1,000 people. The conversion included the laying of a wood plank floor, and installation of a stage, sound system, and lighting equipment. Schwarzenau’s volunteer fire department stood by throughout the weekend, and helped control bus and car traffic. A local catering company served the meals in a large tent between the Riding Hall and the river.
Villagers also offered an outdoor cafe selling cold drinks and homemade baked goods, made warm waffles for the Brethren on Sunday morning, and sold commemorative bottles of Eder River water, that came complete with certificates of authenticity.
The Schwarzenau Celebration Committee was co-coordinated by Bernd Julius and Otto Marburger, and also included members Bodo Huster, Peter Kanstein, and Karin Zacharais. Johannes Haese served as liaison between the Schwarzenau Celebration Committee and the board of the Brethren Encyclopedia.
The Brethren Encyclopedia board is made up of members representing the six major Brethren bodies. Its president is Robert Lehigh; vice president Dale Stoffer coordinated the afternoon Anniversary Program; secretary Dale Ulrich served as a main coordinator for the Schwarzenau events; Terry White is treasurer; and Michael M. Miller and Jeff Bach are members of the board. Consultants to the board for the Schwarzenau events were Ken Kreider and Ted Rondeau.
A short gathering for worship at the river closed the day’s events. People gathered on both sides of the Eder River and on the bridge over the river, to participate in the short time of hymns and prayers led by a group of Old German Baptist Brethren. A brief meditation was brought by Michael Miller, a member of the Encyclopedia Board representing the Old German Baptist Brethren.
“So we come to the banks of this quiet river to say goodbye,” Miller said. The earth has listened to so much pain and suffering, he commented, but the earth also has heard the 24 splashes as the first eight Brethren were lifted from the waters of baptism. He closed with a blessing for the place, the people of Schwarzenau, and their children and descendants. Coming close to tears, he said, “May God bless you here in Schwarzenau.”
To the Brethren, Miller offered this blessing: “May we go with the same joy, peace, and hope that those eight people had 300 years ago.... Our prayer is that 300 years from now, we will all stand together again in the Kingdom of God.”
Worship ended with the singing of the Doxology, the Lord’s Prayer, and a hymn.
After the dismissal, many people still stood for some time along the banks of the river and on the bridge, in what became a moment of appreciation for the solemnity of the occasion. Some took the opportunity to dip their feet or hands in the river.
A comment made by Meier during the afternoon program was affirmed: For the Brethren, “the act of baptism...laid the cornerstone.”
Source: 08/03/2008 Newsline Special from Schwarzenau, Germany
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN YOUTH ARE BAPTIZED IN THE EDER
Two Church of the Brethren youth were baptized in the Eder River in Schwarzenau in the late afternoon, following the closing worship service of the 300th Anniversary weekend. Lauren Knepp and John Michael Knepp--who are sister and brother--were part of a tour group from the United States led by Dana Statler of Lancaster, Pa., and were traveling with their family.
Through their baptisms, the two have become members of a Church of the Brethren congregation in Everett, Pa.
“They wanted to be baptized,” Statler said, adding that their families gave agreement to the ceremony prior to the trip. Statler, who is associate pastor of Brethren Village in Lititz, Pa., decided to perform the service after receiving permission from the pastor of the Everett church, and after contacting the planning committees for the Schwarzenau events.
Otto Marburger, a co-coordinator of the Schwarzenau Celebration Committee, lent his pasture along the river as the place for the baptism. Marburger even got up early this morning to mow and trim a tree in order to prepare the site.
“From my perspective as a pastor, to baptize someone in the Eder River is an honor,” Statler said.
He added, however, “The important thing is the decision, not the place. It’s not just a show in Schwarzenau, it’s a decision.”
Following the baptism of the two youth, two more men entered the water to experience re-baptism in the waters of the Eder. Standing knee deep in the water for prayer, each man then baptized the other.
An invitation to the baptisms had been issued during the afternoon Anniversary Program, and they were witnessed by a small crowd gathered on each side of the river, many with cameras in hand. As the baptismal candidates rose from the river water, after prayer, the Brethren responded with applause.
Source: 08/03/2008 Newsline Special from Schwarzenau, Germany
Two Church of the Brethren youth were baptized in the Eder River in Schwarzenau in the late afternoon, following the closing worship service of the 300th Anniversary weekend. Lauren Knepp and John Michael Knepp--who are sister and brother--were part of a tour group from the United States led by Dana Statler of Lancaster, Pa., and were traveling with their family.
Through their baptisms, the two have become members of a Church of the Brethren congregation in Everett, Pa.
“They wanted to be baptized,” Statler said, adding that their families gave agreement to the ceremony prior to the trip. Statler, who is associate pastor of Brethren Village in Lititz, Pa., decided to perform the service after receiving permission from the pastor of the Everett church, and after contacting the planning committees for the Schwarzenau events.
Otto Marburger, a co-coordinator of the Schwarzenau Celebration Committee, lent his pasture along the river as the place for the baptism. Marburger even got up early this morning to mow and trim a tree in order to prepare the site.
“From my perspective as a pastor, to baptize someone in the Eder River is an honor,” Statler said.
He added, however, “The important thing is the decision, not the place. It’s not just a show in Schwarzenau, it’s a decision.”
Following the baptism of the two youth, two more men entered the water to experience re-baptism in the waters of the Eder. Standing knee deep in the water for prayer, each man then baptized the other.
An invitation to the baptisms had been issued during the afternoon Anniversary Program, and they were witnessed by a small crowd gathered on each side of the river, many with cameras in hand. As the baptismal candidates rose from the river water, after prayer, the Brethren responded with applause.
Source: 08/03/2008 Newsline Special from Schwarzenau, Germany
Credits
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, 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 General Board, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
CELEBRATION OF THE 300th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BRETHREN BEGINS IN GERMANY
“Welcome home. Welcome to Schwarzenau!”
The words were spoken by Bodo Huster, mayor of Schwarzenau village and a council member for the larger region, welcoming more than 600 guests to the place where the Brethren movement was founded 300 years ago.
Huster made the remarks at the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the friendship between the Brethren and the community of Schwarzenau. “We are proud of the fact that this small community is the parent of your large community,” he said. “This plaque is a wonderful sign of friendship. It’s very durable, but I think the friendship of the Brethren and Schwarzenau will be of longer term.”
The unveiling of the plaque was a highlight of the first day of the international celebration of the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren movement and the 2008 Brethren World Assembly. The first group of eight Brethren were baptized in the Eder River in Schwarzenau, in 1708.
Aug. 2 was the first day of a two-day celebration planned and sponsored by the board of the Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc., along with the Heritage Club of Schwarzenau and a Schwarzenau Committee. Dale Stoffer of the Brethren Church is serving as chair for the coordinating groups from the board of the Brethren Encyclopedia, with Dale Ulrich as main coordinator for the logistics of events in Schwarzenau. Also on the board are Robert Lehigh, Terry White, Michael Miller, Fred Benedict, and Ronald Lutz.
Those visiting Schwarzenau today represented most of the Brethren denominations descended from the first eight who were baptized. Numerous tour buses--as many as 14, according to the organizers--arrived loaded with tour groups mostly from the United States. A group of five leaders representing Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) are attending. Also participating are residents of Schwarzenau and a number of people from other parts of Germany.
Events began with opportunities to look around the village and visit the places of special interest for Brethren, including the Alexander Mack Museum featuring displays and historic items related to the first eight Brethren as well as their faith descendants. The small three-room museum is in the Huttental (valley of the huts) area on a hillside above Schwarzenau. The Huttental is the area where the first Brethren lived, when they were welcomed as refugees in the early 1700s by Count Henrich Albrecht, the ruler of the area.
The huts were over time built up into houses, and one of those houses now serves as the Alexander Mack Museum. The museum was opened in 1992, with support from the late Donald Durnbaugh. It is managed by the Heimatverein Schwarzenau, a local community club, and continues to receive financial support from Brethren, according to the Encyclopedia Board.
Outside the museum during the day today, “A. Mack” played by Larry Glick, a Church of the Brethren member from Virginia, introduced tour groups to the life of Alexander Mack Sr. and the story of the first Brethren baptisms.
Visitors could also see the former Alexander Mack Schule (school), which was built by the Church of the Brethren in support of the community of Schwarzenau and as a memorial to Alexander Mack Sr. It opened in 1956, but because of a school consolidation the building is no longer in use.
A small open-air Historical Craftsman Market on the grounds of Schwarzenau’s Manor House gave displays about how the area’s unique slate roof and wall tiles are made, offered demonstrations of woodworking and how to make yarn from wool. A bake sale offered home-made goodies and cold drinks.
Pictorial lectures on the early Brethren were given by Nevin Dulabaum, who has been recently named as the incoming president of Brethren Benefit Trust. A hymn sing titled “Singing for Understanding Between the Nations” led by Karl-Heinz Wenzel took place at the Manor House. Meals were served under a large tent behind the Riding Hall.
The plaque unveiling took place in the late afternoon. It commemorates the hospitality and tolerance that Schwarzenau and its leaders have shown to the Brethren over the centuries, from the time when the first Brethren found shelter there after suffering persecution elsewhere in Germany, to the present day when the faith descendants of those first Brethren continue to be welcomed.
The ceremony began with the singing of “Blessed Be the Tie that Binds.” In comments translated in German and English, members of the Brethren Encyclopedia Board and the two local planning committees spoke of the friendship between the people of Schwarzenau and the Brethren.
The plaque is set in a wall below the Manor House, along the banks of the Eder.
The day closed with an evening concert in the Riding Hall, temporarily converted from a horse-riding arena to a meeting hall for the weekend’s festivities. Four choirs performed: the McPherson (Kan.) College Choir, the Frauenchor (women’s choir) Schwarzenau, the Gemischte Chor (mixed men’s and women’s voices) Schwarzenau, and Cantamus, an ensemble from the nearby town of Bad Berleberg.
The McPherson choir’s first song expressed a sentiment many Brethren in the audience might have named as their own: “Therefore shall ye drink with joy from the wells of salvation.”
The appreciative audience gave the choir a standing ovation, and then stood again to applaud when all four choirs joined together for the final song of the night.
The events in Schwarzenau will continue on Sunday, Aug. 3, with morning worship, an afternoon program, and a concluding gathering at the river.
Credits
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260.
Source: Newsline Special From Schwarzenau, Germany
“Welcome home. Welcome to Schwarzenau!”
The words were spoken by Bodo Huster, mayor of Schwarzenau village and a council member for the larger region, welcoming more than 600 guests to the place where the Brethren movement was founded 300 years ago.
Huster made the remarks at the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the friendship between the Brethren and the community of Schwarzenau. “We are proud of the fact that this small community is the parent of your large community,” he said. “This plaque is a wonderful sign of friendship. It’s very durable, but I think the friendship of the Brethren and Schwarzenau will be of longer term.”
The unveiling of the plaque was a highlight of the first day of the international celebration of the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren movement and the 2008 Brethren World Assembly. The first group of eight Brethren were baptized in the Eder River in Schwarzenau, in 1708.
Aug. 2 was the first day of a two-day celebration planned and sponsored by the board of the Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc., along with the Heritage Club of Schwarzenau and a Schwarzenau Committee. Dale Stoffer of the Brethren Church is serving as chair for the coordinating groups from the board of the Brethren Encyclopedia, with Dale Ulrich as main coordinator for the logistics of events in Schwarzenau. Also on the board are Robert Lehigh, Terry White, Michael Miller, Fred Benedict, and Ronald Lutz.
Those visiting Schwarzenau today represented most of the Brethren denominations descended from the first eight who were baptized. Numerous tour buses--as many as 14, according to the organizers--arrived loaded with tour groups mostly from the United States. A group of five leaders representing Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) are attending. Also participating are residents of Schwarzenau and a number of people from other parts of Germany.
Events began with opportunities to look around the village and visit the places of special interest for Brethren, including the Alexander Mack Museum featuring displays and historic items related to the first eight Brethren as well as their faith descendants. The small three-room museum is in the Huttental (valley of the huts) area on a hillside above Schwarzenau. The Huttental is the area where the first Brethren lived, when they were welcomed as refugees in the early 1700s by Count Henrich Albrecht, the ruler of the area.
The huts were over time built up into houses, and one of those houses now serves as the Alexander Mack Museum. The museum was opened in 1992, with support from the late Donald Durnbaugh. It is managed by the Heimatverein Schwarzenau, a local community club, and continues to receive financial support from Brethren, according to the Encyclopedia Board.
Outside the museum during the day today, “A. Mack” played by Larry Glick, a Church of the Brethren member from Virginia, introduced tour groups to the life of Alexander Mack Sr. and the story of the first Brethren baptisms.
Visitors could also see the former Alexander Mack Schule (school), which was built by the Church of the Brethren in support of the community of Schwarzenau and as a memorial to Alexander Mack Sr. It opened in 1956, but because of a school consolidation the building is no longer in use.
A small open-air Historical Craftsman Market on the grounds of Schwarzenau’s Manor House gave displays about how the area’s unique slate roof and wall tiles are made, offered demonstrations of woodworking and how to make yarn from wool. A bake sale offered home-made goodies and cold drinks.
Pictorial lectures on the early Brethren were given by Nevin Dulabaum, who has been recently named as the incoming president of Brethren Benefit Trust. A hymn sing titled “Singing for Understanding Between the Nations” led by Karl-Heinz Wenzel took place at the Manor House. Meals were served under a large tent behind the Riding Hall.
The plaque unveiling took place in the late afternoon. It commemorates the hospitality and tolerance that Schwarzenau and its leaders have shown to the Brethren over the centuries, from the time when the first Brethren found shelter there after suffering persecution elsewhere in Germany, to the present day when the faith descendants of those first Brethren continue to be welcomed.
The ceremony began with the singing of “Blessed Be the Tie that Binds.” In comments translated in German and English, members of the Brethren Encyclopedia Board and the two local planning committees spoke of the friendship between the people of Schwarzenau and the Brethren.
The plaque is set in a wall below the Manor House, along the banks of the Eder.
The day closed with an evening concert in the Riding Hall, temporarily converted from a horse-riding arena to a meeting hall for the weekend’s festivities. Four choirs performed: the McPherson (Kan.) College Choir, the Frauenchor (women’s choir) Schwarzenau, the Gemischte Chor (mixed men’s and women’s voices) Schwarzenau, and Cantamus, an ensemble from the nearby town of Bad Berleberg.
The McPherson choir’s first song expressed a sentiment many Brethren in the audience might have named as their own: “Therefore shall ye drink with joy from the wells of salvation.”
The appreciative audience gave the choir a standing ovation, and then stood again to applaud when all four choirs joined together for the final song of the night.
The events in Schwarzenau will continue on Sunday, Aug. 3, with morning worship, an afternoon program, and a concluding gathering at the river.
Credits
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260.
Source: Newsline Special From Schwarzenau, Germany
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
NEWS
- 300th Anniversary celebration takes place this week in Germany.
- Wal-Mart grants for $100,000 go to two Brethren colleges.
- Brethren bits: Corrections, remembrance, job openings, and more.
300th Anniversary celebration takes place this week in Germany.
Hundreds of Brethren from around the world and representing Brethren bodies in 18 nations are expected to gather at the site of the first Brethren baptisms in Schwarzenau, Germany, on Aug. 2-3. A weekend of special events is planned as the 2008 Brethren World Assembly and the international 300th Anniversary Celebration of the Brethren movement, sponsored by the board of Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc.
Sunday Aug. 3 also is the day set aside for a denomination-wide celebration of the 300th Anniversary in the Church of the Brethren. Congregations across the country are invited to hold a special time of remembrance and celebration during worship this Sunday.
The schedule for events in Schwarzenau includes:
For more information about the Aug. 2-3 events in Schwarzenau, contact US coordinator Dale V. Ulrich at daulrich@comcast.net or 540-828-6548. For more information about the Peace Fest in Marburg, contact Myrna Frantz at myrnajef@heartofiowa.net or 641-475-3463.
Source: 7/30/2008 Newsline
Hundreds of Brethren from around the world and representing Brethren bodies in 18 nations are expected to gather at the site of the first Brethren baptisms in Schwarzenau, Germany, on Aug. 2-3. A weekend of special events is planned as the 2008 Brethren World Assembly and the international 300th Anniversary Celebration of the Brethren movement, sponsored by the board of Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc.
Sunday Aug. 3 also is the day set aside for a denomination-wide celebration of the 300th Anniversary in the Church of the Brethren. Congregations across the country are invited to hold a special time of remembrance and celebration during worship this Sunday.
The schedule for events in Schwarzenau includes:
- On Saturday, Aug. 2, opportunities for visits to the Alexander Mack Museum and the former Alexander Mack Schule (school) in Schwarzenau, and other places of interest; a Historical Craftsman Market offering an introduction to life at the time of the Schwarzenau Brethren in the early 1700s; pictorial lectures on the early Brethren offered by Brethren Benefit Trust staff Nevin Dulabaum at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; a hymn sing titled "Singing for Understanding Between the Nations" led by Karl-Heinz Wenzel at 3:30 p.m.; the unveiling of a plaque at the Eder River at 4:45 p.m.; a photo of participants in the Brethren Pension Plan at the river at 5:10 p.m. (approximately); and an evening concert by the McPherson (Kan.) College Choir, the Mannerchor Eintracht of Schwarzenau, the Frauenchor of Schwarzenau, and the Kammerchor Cantamus of Bad Berleberg at 7 p.m. Lunch and dinner will be served outdoors under a large tent, for a fee, with registration 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Gasthof Feige on Alexander Mack Strasse.
- On Sunday, Aug. 3, worship at 10 a.m. in the Riding Hall with preachers Fredric G. Miller Jr. of Mount Olive (Va.) Brethren Church, and James Beckwith, 2008 moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference; lunch served outdoors under the tent, for a fee; the Anniversary Program 2 p.m. in Riding Hall with keynote speaker Marcus Meier, a German academic authority on the early history of the Brethren and other Anabaptists and Pietists, and author of a new book to be published this year titled "The Origin of the Schwarzenau Brethren"; and a concluding gathering at the river at 4:30 p.m.
For more information about the Aug. 2-3 events in Schwarzenau, contact US coordinator Dale V. Ulrich at daulrich@comcast.net or 540-828-6548. For more information about the Peace Fest in Marburg, contact Myrna Frantz at myrnajef@heartofiowa.net or 641-475-3463.
Source: 7/30/2008 Newsline
Wal-Mart grants for $100,000 go to two Brethren colleges.
Two Church of the Brethren colleges--Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., and Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa.--each received $100,000 Wal-Mart College Success Award grants. Wal-Mart College Success Awards are administered by the Council of Independent Colleges and made possible by a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation.
In a press release, Manchester announced that it is the only Indiana college to receive the grant, and that only 20 grants were awarded nationwide. The grants are part of a nationwide initiative to increase the number of first-generation college graduates.
Manchester "already is deeply committed to the program," the release said, adding that 25 percent of Manchester graduates are the first in their families to receive a college degree. "Our first goal, and one that Wal-Mart shares and has generously funded, is to increase the number of first-generation students choosing college," said David F. McFadden, executive vice president of Manchester. "A second is to increase the number who graduate from college. First-generation students and the state of Indiana both will benefit when we meet these goals."
With the two-year grant, Manchester plans to build on its already successful recruiting and retention programs. The release said the college will identify and match potential first-generation candidates at area high schools to Manchester College students and mentors. Students will attend overnight workshops to learn how to prepare and apply for college, and what to expect. The college also will work with high school guidance counselors.
Manchester already supports its first-year students through a Success Center that brings together faculty, counselors, health services, mentoring, tutoring, writing help, and study tables for all students, the release said, "strugglers as well as honor students."
Similarly, Juniata was the only higher education institution in Pennsylvania to receive the award, said a Juniata release. "We take seriously our responsibility to deliver a superb education to every student regardless of family background or income," said Thomas R. Kepple, Juniata president. "For example, nearly 40 percent of our graduates have been the first in their families to complete a college education. I'm proud to be part of a group of hard-working and creative colleges recognized for their commitment to first-generation and lower-income college students. I'm especially thankful for the commitment Wal-Mart has made to help us continue this important work."
Juniata will use the award over the next two years to increase financial aid to allow first-generation students to attend the college's Inbound Retreats program, a weeklong pre-orientation program for incoming freshmen designed to help students become accustomed to campus life and meet students with similar interests. Students demonstrating financial need will receive free admission to the program as Next Generation Scholars. They also will receive small grants to cover any lost wages they would have earned during that week if they were employed over the summer. In addition, the grant includes awards to first-generation students to cover textbook and laboratory expenses during their first semester at Juniata.
Nationwide, at all colleges and universities, only 24 percent of first-generation students succeed in earning a bachelor's degree compared with 68 percent of students whose parents received a bachelor's degree, the Juniata release said.
Find out more about Manchester College at www.manchester.edu and go to www.juniata.edu for more about Juniata College.
--This report is taken from press releases from Jeri S. Kornegay at Manchester College and John Wall at Juniata College.
Source: 7/30/2008 Newsline
Two Church of the Brethren colleges--Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., and Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa.--each received $100,000 Wal-Mart College Success Award grants. Wal-Mart College Success Awards are administered by the Council of Independent Colleges and made possible by a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation.
In a press release, Manchester announced that it is the only Indiana college to receive the grant, and that only 20 grants were awarded nationwide. The grants are part of a nationwide initiative to increase the number of first-generation college graduates.
Manchester "already is deeply committed to the program," the release said, adding that 25 percent of Manchester graduates are the first in their families to receive a college degree. "Our first goal, and one that Wal-Mart shares and has generously funded, is to increase the number of first-generation students choosing college," said David F. McFadden, executive vice president of Manchester. "A second is to increase the number who graduate from college. First-generation students and the state of Indiana both will benefit when we meet these goals."
With the two-year grant, Manchester plans to build on its already successful recruiting and retention programs. The release said the college will identify and match potential first-generation candidates at area high schools to Manchester College students and mentors. Students will attend overnight workshops to learn how to prepare and apply for college, and what to expect. The college also will work with high school guidance counselors.
Manchester already supports its first-year students through a Success Center that brings together faculty, counselors, health services, mentoring, tutoring, writing help, and study tables for all students, the release said, "strugglers as well as honor students."
Similarly, Juniata was the only higher education institution in Pennsylvania to receive the award, said a Juniata release. "We take seriously our responsibility to deliver a superb education to every student regardless of family background or income," said Thomas R. Kepple, Juniata president. "For example, nearly 40 percent of our graduates have been the first in their families to complete a college education. I'm proud to be part of a group of hard-working and creative colleges recognized for their commitment to first-generation and lower-income college students. I'm especially thankful for the commitment Wal-Mart has made to help us continue this important work."
Juniata will use the award over the next two years to increase financial aid to allow first-generation students to attend the college's Inbound Retreats program, a weeklong pre-orientation program for incoming freshmen designed to help students become accustomed to campus life and meet students with similar interests. Students demonstrating financial need will receive free admission to the program as Next Generation Scholars. They also will receive small grants to cover any lost wages they would have earned during that week if they were employed over the summer. In addition, the grant includes awards to first-generation students to cover textbook and laboratory expenses during their first semester at Juniata.
Nationwide, at all colleges and universities, only 24 percent of first-generation students succeed in earning a bachelor's degree compared with 68 percent of students whose parents received a bachelor's degree, the Juniata release said.
Find out more about Manchester College at www.manchester.edu and go to www.juniata.edu for more about Juniata College.
--This report is taken from press releases from Jeri S. Kornegay at Manchester College and John Wall at Juniata College.
Source: 7/30/2008 Newsline
Brethren bits: Corrections, remembrance, job openings, and more.
- Corrections: In the July 16 Newsline, the name of Ramona Pence was inadvertently omitted from the General Board executive committee for the period through Aug. 31. Also, the first names of two Bethany Seminary Board members, Frances S. Beam and Phillip C. Stone, Jr., were misspelled. In another omission from a July 2 report on Churches Supporting Churches, the program offering congregations partnership opportunities with churches in New Orleans, the contribution of First Central Church of the Brethren in Kansas City was not mentioned: First Central has been holding regular collections for Churches Supporting Churches.
- Andrew Herbert Holderreed, 93, of Castleford, Idaho, passed away at his home on July 15. He was a longterm Church of the Brethren mission worker in China and India. He was born in Cushing, Okla., to Louis and Margret (Maggie) Holderreed on Dec. 21, 1914. He graduated from high school in 1932 in Oakville, Wash., and in 1939 graduated from Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., with two majors. That same year he entered Bethany Theological Seminary in Chicago, where he met and married Louise Virginia Garber in 1941. In 1945, the family studied Chinese at the University of California, Berkeley, and pastored Oakland Church of the Brethren. In Seattle, Wash., Holderreed was a wartime visitation worker in urban housing projects for the Seattle Council of Churches. The family arrived in China in March 1947, with two children and a third expected. The Church of the Brethren mission in northern China was closed in 1947 due to the Civil War, so the Holderreeds were assigned to a Methodist hospital where he served as assistant pastor and construction manager for staff housing. In April 1949, the US Consul ordered the family and others to leave as the Red Army was approaching. They arrived home in San Francisco by air evacuation. The Holderreeds were reassigned to India from 1951-67. Holderreed held a variety of positions in India including assignment to the Palghar Mission Station where he led a Boarding School for students and several village schools; to United Theological Seminary in Poona where he taught English as a second language and Indian church history while also serving as treasurer; to Intermission Business Office in Bombay as Brethren Mission Trustee and Treasurer; and to the mission property in Bulsar and the mission at Ahwa, Dangs. In 1967, the Holderreeds returned to the US and he became pastor of Larchmont Church of the Brethren in Tacoma, Wash., for 15 years, and also spent 12 years as a volunteer police chaplain for the city of Tacoma. He retired to Castleford in 1982 but continued to fill interim pastorates, became active with the Castleford Men's Club, and propagated fruit trees and taught grafting. He was a member of Community Church of the Brethren in Twin Falls, Idaho. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Louise; son Bruce (Rena) Holderreed, a member of the Church of the Brethren General Board; daughters Mary (Francis) Early and Margie (Ken) Ullom; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held at Community Church of the Brethren in Twin Falls on July 24. Memorial contributions may be given to the Church of the Brethren General Board Missions or to Community Church of the Brethren.
- The Church of the Brethren seeks a director of Deacon Ministry to serve in a half-time position reportable to the executive director of Caring Ministries at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The person will serve as primary staff for the Denominational Deacon Ministry; coordinate, plan, and implement deacon training in congregations, districts, and at conferences; and provide general support for the Caring Ministries of the Church of the Brethren. Required skills and knowledge include commitment to the Church of the Brethren vision, mission, and core values, and dedication to denominational and ecumenical objectives; understanding and appreciation for Brethren heritage, theology, and polity; communication skills; professional quality public speaking and comfort in leading small groups; dynamic writing style; ability to communicate a caring attitude; ability to keep confidentiality; people skills including ability to work well in a team; administrative and management skills and a spirit of flexibility and adaptability; a positive approach to life with particular enthusiasm for deacon ministry; and willingness to travel frequently, often on weekends. A minimum of three to five years of experience teaching, leadership training, problem solving, and/or resource development or marketing is required. Specific work with deacon issues or experience as a local deacon is preferred. Education requirement is a bachelor’s degree. Apply by requesting an application packet and then completing the application form, submitting a resume and letter of application, and requesting three references to send letters of recommendation to the Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694; 800-323-8039 ext. 258; kkrog_gb@brethren.org.
- The World Council of Churches (WCC) United Nations Liaison Office seeks a candidate to fill an administrative position in its office in New York, N.Y. The position joins a team in support of ongoing global collaboration to express concerns and address questions of power and structural injustice through ecumenical international advocacy. The position will require attendance, monitoring, and reporting on meetings at the UN; assisting with organizing ecumenical meetings, including the WCC’s annual United Nations Advocacy Week; organizing delegations of church leaders and representatives to attend meetings at the UN. The office seeks a candidate with intellectual curiosity, communication skills, interpersonal effectiveness, relevant experience, and a commitment to the ecumenical movement, to work in a small office of two people with additional interns and seconded staff. Key qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and a minimum two years of experience or the equivalent, ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities and deliver high quality work within established timelines, ability to work with a team with a professional and service-oriented approach and demeanor, knowledge of computer applications including MS Office, and good judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with regard to ongoing work. The ability to work in more than one of the WCC’s working languages is a strong asset, as is knowledge of the UN, the ecumenical movement, and website content management systems. The search process closes Aug. 10. The office seeks a candidate to begin work on Sept. 2, however this date can be flexible. The WCC is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. Apply by sending a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and at least three recommendations to cab@wcc-coe.org.
- The WCC also has announced its Internship Program for 2009. The WCC will welcome five young people (aged 18-30 years) to serve as interns in its offices in Geneva, Switzerland, from February 2009 to January 2010. Interns will be assigned to one of the WCC working areas, will carry out tasks in cooperation with program staff and under individualized supervision, and will plan an ecumenical project to implement in their home context when they return in February 2010. Applicants must send, along with their application, background information about their church or Christian youth network that will help them in implementing their proposed ecumenical project. The deadline for applications is Sept. 15. Go to www.oikoumene.org/?id=3187 for more information. Go to www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/2008pdfs/WCC_Internship_Programme_application_2009.pdf to download the application form. Go to www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/2008pdfs/Sending_Group_application_form_WCC_internships_2009.pdf to download the form to be filled in by the local church group supporting the application.
- Brethren Disaster Ministries has issued an urgent appeal for volunteers to work at the rebuilding site in Rushford, Minn., from Aug. 10-16; and at the Chalmette, La., rebuilding site from Sept. 7-13. At the Rushford flood recovery project, the ministry has committed to doing six complete house rebuilds, with the goal of working on three or four houses at once. Full work crews of 15 people are needed to reach this goal. In Chalmette, volunteers are doing major repair work including insulation, drywall, laminate flooring, roofing, painting, and trim work, with the goal of effecting basic repairs to allow people to get back into their homes. To volunteer, contact a district disaster coordinator or Brethren Disaster Ministries at 800-451-4407.
- July 31 is the deadline for the collection of Emergency Clean-up Buckets in Indiana. Until that date the collection point is Church World Service, 28606 Phillips St., Elkhart, IN 46515; 800-297-1516; open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. After July 31, clean-up buckets may be shipped to the Brethren Service Center Annex, 601 Main St., New Windsor, MD 21776. Church World Service (CWS) is calling for Emergency Clean-up Buckets to respond to the flooding in the Midwest. The buckets are kits that may be assembled by congregations, other groups, and individuals, and donated to the disaster effort. Go to www.churchworldservice.org/kits/cleanup-kits.html for information about how to assemble kits.
- Virginia Public Radio aired a report about the Church of the Brethren’s peace witness during the Annual Conference in Richmond, Va., when a reporter accompanied Enten Eller and other Brethren members to the peace rally sponsored by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office. Eller was originally contacted by reporter Joe Staniunas for an interview following up on his draft resistance of the 1980s. He was the first person to be convicted of failing to register and began a two-year sentence of unpaid work 25 years ago in Roanoke, Va., in June 1983. However, the reporter ended up accompanying Eller to the peace rally and interviewing others who offered comments on the church’s peace witness, including Bob Gross and Matt Guynn from On Earth Peace, and Cliff Kindy, a longterm volunteer with Christian Peacemaker Teams. Go to www.wvtf.org/news_and_notes/ and click on the report of July 17 to hear the radio clip.
- An online course titled "From Jesus to Reformation" taught by Josh Brockway from Sept. 2-Oct. 28 is being offered by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. Training in Ministry (TRIM) students will receive one academy level/CEQ unit of Bible-Theology Credit for the course. Pastors and other ordained ministers receive two continuing education units. For more information contact Marilyn Lerch at lerchma@bethanyseminary.edu or 814-623-6095.
- Northern Plains District has announced that on July 15, Panora (Iowa) Church of the Brethren with support from the district, reached a settlement with former church leaders and members who voted last fall to leave the Church of the Brethren. The district announced in its e-mail newsletter that according to the settlement, the departing leaders and their group will return church property, accounts, and records to the Brethren. "Since December, the Brethren have met for worship at the Panora Christian Church on Sunday evenings with neighboring Brethren from Panther Creek, Dallas Center, Beaver, Peace (Council Bluffs), Stover (Des Moines), and Ankeny helping them with preaching, accompaniment, presence, and prayers," the newsletter reported. "This Sunday, July 27 at 5 p.m., the Brethren will resume worship services in their own church facility." Sunday morning services will resume on Aug. 3.
- The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy--which includes among its 21 faith group members the Church of the Brethren’ s Virlina District--is celebrating the opening of its new "green" facility in Richmond, Va. Virlina District supported the new headquarters building with a grant of $1,000. The Virginia Interfaith Center hopes the 3,600-square-foot brick building located in the Shockoe Bottom area will become the first in Richmond to achieve commercial interior certification under the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
- Bridgewater (Va.) College presented three Merlin E. and Dorothy Faw Garber Awards for Christian Service during Annual Conference in Richmond, Va. Receiving the awards at the alumni luncheon on July 13 were Daniel Rudy, a 2008 graduate from Mount Airy, Md.; and Claire Gilbert Ulrich, a 1978 alumna, and Dale V. Ulrich, provost and professor of physics, emeritus, both from Bridgewater, Va.
- A nation-wide day of action took place in Canada related to deportation proceedings for Robin Long, the first American war resister to be deported by the Canadian government, according to a release from Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). CPT members led 150 participants in a July 10 vigil in Winnipeg, at the People's Summit of the Mennonite Churches of Canada and the US, and in Toronto members of CPT participated in a human chain of solidarity between the Federal Court building and the US Consulate. CPT originated as an initiative of the historic peace churches--the Church of the Brethren, Mennonites, and Quakers. Long had been in the US Army for two years before fleeing to Canada in 2005, when his unit was ordered to Iraq. CPT reported that Long explained his unwillingness to go to Iraq in part by saying, "I would be wrong to be a tool of destruction." However, he was deported to the US on July 15. As of July 22, the Mennonite Church USA reported that he is being held in a county jail in Colorado Springs, Colo. In response to the event, the Peace Advocate of the Mennonite Church is creating a list of people willing to pray for or write to soldiers who are examining the conflict between their conscience and commitment to the military. Contact Susan Mark Landis, Peace Advocate, Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership, at SusanML@MennoniteUSA.org or 330-683-6844.
- The Louisville Institute has announced its 15th annual competition for sabbatical grants for pastoral leaders. Applicants must be regularly employed in a recognized religious leadership position, may be ordained or lay, and may or may not have a formal theological degree. Eligible positions include pastors and other parish ministers, chaplains, faith-based community agency leaders, and church judicatory officials. Awardees will ordinarily have been in their current place of ministry at least five years, plan on staying in their current place for at least a year beyond their sabbatical, and are at least five years away from retirement. Awards are made for either eight- or 12-week sabbaticals. Applications are due by Sept. 15. Award announcements will be made by Dec. 15, and sabbaticals must be taken between March 1, 2009, and Aug. 31, 2010. Go to www.louisville-institute.org for details.
Lerry Fogle to retire as executive director of Annual Conference.
Lerry W. Fogle has announced his retirement as executive director of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, effective Dec. 5, 2009. At that time, he will have served in the position for more than seven years, since October 2002.
Fogle initially worked out of offices at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., and more recently at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Prior to his service to Annual Conference, he was associate pastor of the 1,100-member Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren beginning in 1995, where he coordinating the caring ministry of the congregation. Prior to his call to the Frederick congregation, Fogle was employed by GEICO Corporation as application program manager. There he oversaw programs that required administrative, organizational, and negotiation skills.
He is a graduate of Hood College with a bachelor of arts in management, and also graduated from the Training in Ministry (TRIM) program, and holds an MBA in church business administration. His retirement plans center around more time for family, ministry for the Lord, volunteer work in his community, and enjoying God's Creation.
Annual Conference past-moderator James Beckwith announced initial plans for a search process for the new conference executive, who is to be available for training at the 2009 Annual Conference in San Diego, Calif., prior to an official October 2009 start date.
Source: 7/30/2008 Newsline
Lerry W. Fogle has announced his retirement as executive director of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, effective Dec. 5, 2009. At that time, he will have served in the position for more than seven years, since October 2002.
Fogle initially worked out of offices at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., and more recently at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Prior to his service to Annual Conference, he was associate pastor of the 1,100-member Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren beginning in 1995, where he coordinating the caring ministry of the congregation. Prior to his call to the Frederick congregation, Fogle was employed by GEICO Corporation as application program manager. There he oversaw programs that required administrative, organizational, and negotiation skills.
He is a graduate of Hood College with a bachelor of arts in management, and also graduated from the Training in Ministry (TRIM) program, and holds an MBA in church business administration. His retirement plans center around more time for family, ministry for the Lord, volunteer work in his community, and enjoying God's Creation.
Annual Conference past-moderator James Beckwith announced initial plans for a search process for the new conference executive, who is to be available for training at the 2009 Annual Conference in San Diego, Calif., prior to an official October 2009 start date.
Source: 7/30/2008 Newsline
Brethren Benefit Trust calls Nevin Dulabaum as president.
Nevin Dulabaum has been called as president of Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT), beginning Sept. 7. He also will serve as president of the Brethren Foundation. He will succeed Wil Nolen, who is retiring after 20 years as BBT’s president and 25 years as the Brethren Pension Plan’s trustee.
Dulabaum currently is BBT’s director of Communications and Information Services. He has performed wide-ranging service for the Church of the Brethren over the years. In 1994 he joined the General Board staff as director of News Services and managing editor of "Messenger," expanding the scope and readership of Newsline and launching Brethren.org.
He joined BBT in September 1999 as manager of marketing and promotions. In 2000 his responsibilities expanded to include communications and information services. He has served on the senior Management Team since November 2000. In August 2006, he was called as BBT’s interim director of Socially Responsible Investing and served 16 months in this role.
His work for BBT has included representing the agency through client visits and at denominational events. He co-wrote the Brethren Pension Plan handbook, helped spearhead the production of video and print materials to articulate challenges experienced by the Brethren Medical Plan, and participated in establishing steps designed to ensure the longterm viability of the Brethren Pension Plan. He and his staff also helped coordinate and train Brethren Medical Plan District Advocates, and established BBT’s congregational contact network and a Speakers Bureau. More recently, he joined BBT’s new Ethos Committee. As interim director of Socially Responsible Investing, he spearheaded a decision to not invest in companies that make a significant portion of revenue from pornography, and assisted in a call to action that helped lead the Securities and Exchange Commission to refuse to limit the voice of minority shareholders of publicly traded corporations. He has served on the Church of the Brethren Credit Union board and played a key role in developing BBT’s administrative relationship with the credit union.
"The Board unanimously approved the Search Committee’s nomination of Nevin Dulabaum to serve as president after a thorough application and interview process," said Harry Rhodes, BBT board chair. "We are confident that Nevin will continue the leadership Wil Nolen gave BBT in providing financial security and in promoting financial wellness and education for our denomination’s employees and members, while positioning the organization to serve the church amidst the challenges of a very competitive business marketplace."
Dulabaum is a graduate of Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., and a member of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill.
Source: 7/30/2008 Newsline
Nevin Dulabaum has been called as president of Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT), beginning Sept. 7. He also will serve as president of the Brethren Foundation. He will succeed Wil Nolen, who is retiring after 20 years as BBT’s president and 25 years as the Brethren Pension Plan’s trustee.
Dulabaum currently is BBT’s director of Communications and Information Services. He has performed wide-ranging service for the Church of the Brethren over the years. In 1994 he joined the General Board staff as director of News Services and managing editor of "Messenger," expanding the scope and readership of Newsline and launching Brethren.org.
He joined BBT in September 1999 as manager of marketing and promotions. In 2000 his responsibilities expanded to include communications and information services. He has served on the senior Management Team since November 2000. In August 2006, he was called as BBT’s interim director of Socially Responsible Investing and served 16 months in this role.
His work for BBT has included representing the agency through client visits and at denominational events. He co-wrote the Brethren Pension Plan handbook, helped spearhead the production of video and print materials to articulate challenges experienced by the Brethren Medical Plan, and participated in establishing steps designed to ensure the longterm viability of the Brethren Pension Plan. He and his staff also helped coordinate and train Brethren Medical Plan District Advocates, and established BBT’s congregational contact network and a Speakers Bureau. More recently, he joined BBT’s new Ethos Committee. As interim director of Socially Responsible Investing, he spearheaded a decision to not invest in companies that make a significant portion of revenue from pornography, and assisted in a call to action that helped lead the Securities and Exchange Commission to refuse to limit the voice of minority shareholders of publicly traded corporations. He has served on the Church of the Brethren Credit Union board and played a key role in developing BBT’s administrative relationship with the credit union.
"The Board unanimously approved the Search Committee’s nomination of Nevin Dulabaum to serve as president after a thorough application and interview process," said Harry Rhodes, BBT board chair. "We are confident that Nevin will continue the leadership Wil Nolen gave BBT in providing financial security and in promoting financial wellness and education for our denomination’s employees and members, while positioning the organization to serve the church amidst the challenges of a very competitive business marketplace."
Dulabaum is a graduate of Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., and a member of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill.
Source: 7/30/2008 Newsline
Reid and Keyser appointed to associate general secretary positions.
Two new staff leadership roles have been announced by the Church of the Brethren: Judy Keyser has been appointed associate general secretary of Operations, and Kathy Reid has been appointed associate general secretary of Ministry and Program. The associate general secretaries will provide leadership and direction in the day-to-day work of the ministry of Church of the Brethren, beginning Sept. 1.
Keyser currently is chief financial officer/treasurer and executive director of Centralized Services for the General Board. She began her work with the board as director of Financial Operations, then became controller and corporate controller. In 1997 she was named treasurer and director of Centralized Resources. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Elmhurst (Ill.) College, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Last year, she completed a second master’s degree in Education Counseling at Northern Illinois University.
Reid has served as executive director of the Association of Brethren Caregivers since 2004. Previously, she was executive director of the Texas Homeless Network, a statewide agency based in Austin. During her seven years with the Texas Homeless Network, she helped the organization grow from a staff of one and a budget of $42,000 to a staff of 15 and a budget of $300,000. She is an ordained minister in both the Church of the Brethren and the Mennonite Church USA. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind.; a master’s of Education from Georgia State University in Atlanta; and a master’s of Divinity from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif.
Source: 7/30/2008 Newsline
Two new staff leadership roles have been announced by the Church of the Brethren: Judy Keyser has been appointed associate general secretary of Operations, and Kathy Reid has been appointed associate general secretary of Ministry and Program. The associate general secretaries will provide leadership and direction in the day-to-day work of the ministry of Church of the Brethren, beginning Sept. 1.
Keyser currently is chief financial officer/treasurer and executive director of Centralized Services for the General Board. She began her work with the board as director of Financial Operations, then became controller and corporate controller. In 1997 she was named treasurer and director of Centralized Resources. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Elmhurst (Ill.) College, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Last year, she completed a second master’s degree in Education Counseling at Northern Illinois University.
Reid has served as executive director of the Association of Brethren Caregivers since 2004. Previously, she was executive director of the Texas Homeless Network, a statewide agency based in Austin. During her seven years with the Texas Homeless Network, she helped the organization grow from a staff of one and a budget of $42,000 to a staff of 15 and a budget of $300,000. She is an ordained minister in both the Church of the Brethren and the Mennonite Church USA. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind.; a master’s of Education from Georgia State University in Atlanta; and a master’s of Divinity from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif.
Source: 7/30/2008 Newsline
300th Anniversary bits and pieces.
- "Lines, Places, and Heritage: Essays Commemorating the 300th Anniversary of the Church of the Brethren," was released this month by the Brethren Higher Education Association, representing the six Church of the Brethren colleges--Bridgewater (Va.) College, Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., McPherson (Kan.) College, Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., and the University of La Verne (Calif.)--and Bethany Theological Seminary. The new book contains feature articles by Brethren scholars in education, history, political science, sociology, and theology, as gifts of scholarship to the denomination. A total of 14 scholars contributed. It is co-edited by Stephen L. Longenecker, professor of history at Bridgewater, who also contributed an essay to the book; and by Jeff Bach, associate professor of religious studies at Elizabethtown and director of the Young Center for the Study of Anabaptist and Pietist Groups. The foreword is written by Bridgewater College president Phillip C. Stone. "Lines, Places, and Heritage" is available from Brethren Press for $22.95 plus shipping and handling, call 800-441-3712.
- On Aug. 10, the churches of West Marva District plan to celebrate the 300th Anniversary with an afternoon of free activities, music, and fellowship at Camp Galilee, in Terra Alta, W.Va., from 2-6:30 p.m. Musical entertainment will include traditional hymns from the past 300 years, performed at various intervals between 2-5 p.m. by the Gortner Union Church, Ed and Lynn Remley, the Reeds, the Moon Family, the Oak Park Praise Team, and the Stoner Family. A variety of skits and monologues, a heritage fashion show, a history jeopardy game, power point presentations, and videos also will illustrate various aspects of Church of the Brethren heritage and history. A Communion bread-making demonstration and a history of the Love Feast is scheduled at 3 p.m. and will run concurrently with other activities. The celebration will end with a vesper service and Communion at 5:30-6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon, free of charge.
- Stonerstown Church of the Brethren in Saxton, Pa. has been observing the denomination's 300th anniversary and also celebrating 105 years as a congregation and 90 years of worship in its present sanctuary. The congregation hosted a special service with a musical program provided by "The Choraleers" from the Salemville German Seventh Day Baptist Church--the one remaining active congregation from a group that separated from the Brethren under the leadership of Conrad Beissel in 1728 and founded the Ephrata Cloister, according to a report from Stonerstown pastor Harold Bowser. The Salemville congregation still has an active ministry of worship, study, fellowship, and outreach, Bowser said. At the same service, Robert Neff delivered the message titled, "A Story of Wind and Fire." Following worship, the two congregations had fellowship and the noon meal together.
- Virlina District’s 300th Anniversary Committee gave away 300 Brethren heritage coloring books during the 2008 Annual Conference. Twelve drawings by Dana Belle Kinzie, a member of Cloverdale Church of the Brethren, were included in the coloring book.
Credits
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Patrick N. Getlein, Bob Gross, Mary K. Heatwole, Jon Kobel, Karin Krog, Linda Sanders, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Patrick N. Getlein, Bob Gross, Mary K. Heatwole, Jon Kobel, Karin Krog, Linda Sanders, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
NEWS
- Brethren meet in Virginia for historic 300th Anniversary Conference.
- The 222nd recorded Annual Conference at a glance.
- Plan of merger for agencies is approved, forbearance paper adopted.
- Conference elects Shawn Flory Replogle as moderator-elect.
- Boards reorganize in light of plan of merger.
- Standing Committee adopts statement of confession, commitment.
- General Board affirms transition plans, sets 2009 budget parameters.
- International Brethren attend Annual Conference.
- Brethren bits: Job openings, youth peace team, district news, more.
Brethren meet in Virginia for historic 300th Anniversary Conference.
It has been 125 years since the Brethren worshiped together like this at Annual Meeting. The last time this took place was at a field in Indiana in the late 1800s, after which the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church experienced a split.
On July 13, these two Brethren denominations held Sunday morning worship together at the 300th Anniversary Conference in Richmond, Va. The Conference sang on this historic morning, "Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord, our God!"
The Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church both stem from the Brethren movement that began in 1708 in the village of Schwarzenau, Germany, where the eight founders of the movement were baptized in the Eder River. At the Anniversary Conference, water was poured into a fountain worship center from the Eder River, from Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia where the first Brethren baptisms in America took place, and from the districts of the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church.
The whole of Sunday was given to anniversary events. After worship, the John Kline Riders greeted worshipers on the plaza outside the coliseum--the group remembers the life of Civil War-era Brethren leader and peacemaker John Kline.
That afternoon, participants had their choice of workshops under the theme "An Experience of Brethren Faith Journeys." An evening celebration of mission featured music and stories from the international mission work of the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church.
In addition, a Service Blitz and a food drive marked 300 years of Brethren faithfulness by sharing a witness of service and caring with the Richmond community.
Anniversary committees from the two denominations worked jointly on the celebration. The Church of the Brethren's 300th Anniversary Committee has been planning for this Conference for eight years.
The 300th Anniversary Committee included Jeff Bach (chair), Dean Garrett, Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, Leslie Lake, Lorele Yager, and Annual Conference executive director Lerry Fogle. The late Donald Durnbaugh also was a member of the committee.
Source: 7/16/2008
It has been 125 years since the Brethren worshiped together like this at Annual Meeting. The last time this took place was at a field in Indiana in the late 1800s, after which the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church experienced a split.
On July 13, these two Brethren denominations held Sunday morning worship together at the 300th Anniversary Conference in Richmond, Va. The Conference sang on this historic morning, "Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord, our God!"
The Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church both stem from the Brethren movement that began in 1708 in the village of Schwarzenau, Germany, where the eight founders of the movement were baptized in the Eder River. At the Anniversary Conference, water was poured into a fountain worship center from the Eder River, from Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia where the first Brethren baptisms in America took place, and from the districts of the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church.
The whole of Sunday was given to anniversary events. After worship, the John Kline Riders greeted worshipers on the plaza outside the coliseum--the group remembers the life of Civil War-era Brethren leader and peacemaker John Kline.
That afternoon, participants had their choice of workshops under the theme "An Experience of Brethren Faith Journeys." An evening celebration of mission featured music and stories from the international mission work of the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren Church.
In addition, a Service Blitz and a food drive marked 300 years of Brethren faithfulness by sharing a witness of service and caring with the Richmond community.
Anniversary committees from the two denominations worked jointly on the celebration. The Church of the Brethren's 300th Anniversary Committee has been planning for this Conference for eight years.
The 300th Anniversary Committee included Jeff Bach (chair), Dean Garrett, Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, Leslie Lake, Lorele Yager, and Annual Conference executive director Lerry Fogle. The late Donald Durnbaugh also was a member of the committee.
Source: 7/16/2008
The 222nd recorded Annual Conference at a glance.
Location: Richmond, Va., at the Richmond Coliseum and the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Leadership: Moderator James Beckwith, assisted by moderator-elect David Shumate and Annual Conference secretary Fred Swartz.
Attendance: A total of 6,184 people registered, including 864 delegates.
Blood Drive: Collected 247 units, from 275 presenters. In a special note, 38 of the 44 presenters on the first day were first- time blood donors.
Food Drive: Sponsored by the 300th Anniversary Committee, the drive received donations of 3,655 pounds of food and $613. Donations go to the Central Virginia Food Bank.
Service Blitz: Brethren gave 925 hours of service to the community of Richmond. Volunteers worked at the Food Bank, assisted with the Blood Drive, processed school and hygiene kits for disaster relief, and assisted with clean-up projects in three neighborhoods.
Quilt Auction: Sponsored by the Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren, the auction raised $19,200 for hunger.
Brethren Benefit Trust 5K Fitness Challenge: Ben Bear took first place overall for a male runner, with a time of 19:10. Melani Hom came in first place overall for a female runner, with a time of 20:29. Don Shankster was the winning walker, with a time of 31:24. Bev Anspaugh took first place overall for a female walker, with a time of 34:08.
Source: 7/16/2008
Location: Richmond, Va., at the Richmond Coliseum and the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Leadership: Moderator James Beckwith, assisted by moderator-elect David Shumate and Annual Conference secretary Fred Swartz.
Attendance: A total of 6,184 people registered, including 864 delegates.
Blood Drive: Collected 247 units, from 275 presenters. In a special note, 38 of the 44 presenters on the first day were first- time blood donors.
Food Drive: Sponsored by the 300th Anniversary Committee, the drive received donations of 3,655 pounds of food and $613. Donations go to the Central Virginia Food Bank.
Service Blitz: Brethren gave 925 hours of service to the community of Richmond. Volunteers worked at the Food Bank, assisted with the Blood Drive, processed school and hygiene kits for disaster relief, and assisted with clean-up projects in three neighborhoods.
Quilt Auction: Sponsored by the Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren, the auction raised $19,200 for hunger.
Brethren Benefit Trust 5K Fitness Challenge: Ben Bear took first place overall for a male runner, with a time of 19:10. Melani Hom came in first place overall for a female runner, with a time of 20:29. Don Shankster was the winning walker, with a time of 31:24. Bev Anspaugh took first place overall for a female walker, with a time of 34:08.
Source: 7/16/2008
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