Bethany Seminary announces results of essay contest

By Jenny Williams

The three top essays of the 2014 Bethany Peace Essay Contest have been announced by Bethany Theological Seminary. Out of 32 entries submitted, the following placed first, second, and third, respectively, and received prizes of $2,000, $1,000, and $500: Anita Hooley Yoder, senior MDiv student at Bethany Seminary, Richmond, Ind.: “I’ve Read Too Much Poetry for That: Poetry, Personal Transformation, and Peace”; Charles Northrop, PhD student at Cambridge University, England, resident of Richmond, Ind.: “Hard Rock Pacifism”; Gabriella Stocksdale, student at Larkin High School, Elgin, Ill.: “Colors of Peace.”

Open to students enrolled in high school, college, and graduate-level degree programs, the contest was advertised nationwide through denominational and ecumenical venues and received a national, ecumenical response. Writers were asked to reflect on how personal and local peacemaking efforts can address universal concerns. They could choose to explore this theme in one of the following areas, relating to personal experience: art, music, or poetry; the just peace movement; protest or change movements; social media; or interfaith efforts.

Anna Groff, interim editor for the “Mennonite” magazine and a judge for the contest, was pleased with the scope and quality of the entries. “Overall, I was impressed with the thoughtfulness and critical thinking apparent in the essays. These students are digging deeper than a surface understanding of peace and what it means to work for peace. It was an honor to serve as a judge.” Her fellow judges were Lonnie Valentine, professor of peace and justice studies at Earlham School of Religion; Randy Miller, editor of the Church of the Brethren “Messenger” magazine; and Scott Holland, director of the Baker Peace Studies Program and professor of theology and culture at Bethany.

The contest is underwritten by the Jennie Calhoun Baker Endowment at Bethany, funded by philanthropist, teacher, and scholar John C. Baker in honor of his mother and her vision for peacemaking. His goal was to encourage constructive communication about peacebuilding throughout all segments of society, says Holland. “We share this vision of God's shalom and Christ's peace at Bethany Seminary, not only in peace studies classes but across the curriculum. The generosity of the Baker endowment for the peace essay contest allows us to extend our educational work beyond the classroom to conversations that are truly ecumenical, international, and public. The many excellent essays composed for the contest remind us that fine writing, like thoughtful preaching, is indeed the work of ministry.”

Bekah Houff, coordinator of outreach programs at Bethany, facilitated the work of the planning committee and helped administer the contest. “The entire process ran smoothly and was quite enjoyable. The judges each brought their own unique strengths to the process and worked diligently, putting in many hours reviewing the essays. I was so pleased and honored to work with them.”

According to Houff, a variety of denominations were represented, including at least 20 entries from the Historic Peace Churches: Church of the Brethren, Quaker, and Mennonite. Bridgewater, Juniata, and Manchester Colleges (Church of the Brethren) were represented along with Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion (Quaker) and Eastern Mennonite University. Among the others were Harvard and Duke Divinity Schools, UCLA, Truman State University, Clark University, and four high schools.

The winning essays will appear in the denominational publications “Messenger,” “Brethren Life and Thought,” “The Mennonite,” and “Quaker Life.” Planning is set to begin for the 2015 contest.

-- Jenny Williams is director of Communications and Alumni/ae Relations for Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind. Find a story from the Elgin “Courier-News” about Gabriella Stocksdale as the first high schooler to place in the top three, titled "Elgin student places third in national peace essay contest," at http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/schools/25957028-418/elgin-student-places-third-in-national-peace-essay-contest.html.

Source: 3/4/2014 Newsline

Applications are due soon for nursing scholarships

The Church of the Brethren awards a limited number of scholarships each year to individuals enrolled in a nursing program. Candidates for the scholarships must be enrolled in an LPN, RN, or nursing graduate program and must be members of the Church of the Brethren.

The scholarships are awarded from the Health Education and Research Endowment, which was established in 1958 to receive gifts raised through a fund drive authorized by the 1949 Annual Conference to reopen the Bethany Hospital School of Nursing. In 1959, Annual Conference authorized that the resources be placed in an endowment fund with the interest to be used primarily to grant loans and scholarships for nursing students in the school of their choice.

Scholarships of up to $2,000 for RN and graduate nurse candidates and up to $1,000 for LPN candidates will be awarded to a limited number of applicants. Preference is given to new applications, and to individuals who are in their second year of an associate’s degree or third year of a baccalaureate program. Scholarship recipients are eligible for only one scholarship per degree.

Nominees must be members of the Church of the Brethren. Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by April 1. Candidates awarded scholarships will be notified in July and funds will be sent directly to the appropriate school for the fall term.

For more information and the application form go to www.brethren.org/congregationallife/nursingscholarships.html. For questions contact Randi Rowan at the Congregational Life Ministries office, 800-323-8039 ext. 303 or congregationallife@brethren.org.

Source: 3/4/2014 Newsline

Workbook on physical loss and disability is published in Vietnam

By Nguyen Vu Cat Tien

On Sept. 3, 2013, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) Faculty of Social Work received boxes containing the first 1,000 copies of the Vietnamese translation of “Coping with Physical Loss and Disability Workbook,” written by Rick Ritter, M.S.W., who has been part of Lincolnshire Church of the Brethren in Indiana. The book was published by Youth Publisher, Ho Chi Minh City.

Photo courtesy of Grace Mishler

Grace Mishler, production coordinator, and Bui Thi Thanh Tuyen, 

co-editor, pose with a copy of the new translation in Vietnamese

This workbook is for people with losses to reflect on themselves and find the resources from outside, as well as inner strength, to motivate them and move toward self-recovery. The 1,000 copies are funded by VNAH-Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped, an organization that has been a great supporter for a long time, with projects related to people with disabilities, the university, and professor Grace Mishler. Each played a very crucial role for all of this to happen.

The 1,000 copies are an encouraging outcome of a two-year journey from the day that professor Truong Van Anh, a linguistic teacher at Sai Gon University and also a person with disability, read the book first in English, fell in love with it, and volunteered to translate it into Vietnamese. He said it was a valuable book and would be a helpful resource for people with disabilities in Vietnam. He volunteered to translate the book without receiving any payment as his “little contribution to people with disabilities in Vietnam.”

Beside the main role of professor Anh in translating, we also had professional help in editing the translation, first from a member of VNAH, and then the dean of the USSH Faculty of Social Work and head of the Social Work Department, who helped to edit, proofread, and contextualize a more perfected translation. The great support of the faculty of Social Work and the dean is the reason why we could get these books published in such a relatively short time.

We were then entrusted by the faculty with the assignment to organize and plan a book launch. We were referred to students at the School Youth Union to help us. Together we came up with the idea of organizing a prior book launch focusing only on students’ evaluation of the book as a means of piloting this published book through a student-driven small project. The project was initially funded by the Church of the Brethren Global Mission and Service office, with a grant of $90.

Social Work Student Youth Union leaders recommended that we organize a display activity, like a booth, at three different universities--the HCMC University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Open University, and University of Labor and Social Affairs. The aim of this “Activity Booth” is to promote the book more widely among students, offer them a chance to read it, and collect direct feedback from students’ perspectives. The booth would make a colorful display of the book, with tables and chairs for students to sit down and read. Students would receive a small questionnaire to give feedback after reading.

We also plan to invite guests such as leaders of groups of people with disabilities to come and talk with students. We think this would be a great experience for social work students to not only get access to helpful material but also to get to know more about people with disabilities and prepare for their upcoming field work activities. Outcomes of this activity, which includes feedback from students, will be presented at the book launch to show their perspectives.
 
We are planning for the book launch to be held publicly in April. Hopefully by that time, author Rick Ritter will be able to join us at the book launch, and carry out trauma trainings here in Vietnam. There are so many things that need to be planned for this special event, but we believe that with the support from the Faculty of Social Work and a group of dynamic and creative students, we will be able to carry out a good launch.

Looking back at the whole process until now, we are excited to see that the path for this book is becoming clearer and wider every day. It is getting a bigger scope that we didn’t expect. One of the biggest encouragements so far is that the book is gradually gaining more and more recognition. Copies already have been distributed to six different places across the country, from small provinces to big cities, and from north to south. More and more people are interested in it, and they are willing to pass it on to more people in need. They consider it easy to read and helpful to people with losses.

The headmaster of Nhat Hong School for the blind in southern Vietnam is willing to put the book into Braille so that blind students can get access to it. One of the non-governmental organizations in HCMC-LIN center considers this book as “a wonderful resource” and already has added it to their library and held a small meeting to come up with a list of organizations that “might be able to make use of the book by ways of their beneficiaries or clients.”

We are just so curious to know what students will think about the book through the display activity, and can’t wait to see how much further this process can go, as well as how the practice of this book can be carried out in reality here in Vietnam. This book could be one of the pioneer efforts in applying the definition of a workbook and group work into Vietnamese society where these concepts are still not common or applied widely. Introducing this book, applying it, reviewing and adjusting it, will be a long process, but at least this is a start. And we cannot be more thrilled to be a part of it!

--Nguyen Vu Cat Tien is assistant and translator for Grace Mishler, who receives support for her work on disabilities in Vietnam from the Church of the Brethren Global Mission and Service. Mishler serves at the university as faculty of Social Work Project Developer. She and Betty Kelsey and Richard Fuller helped review this article for publication.

Source: 3/4/2014 Newsline

The building of a shared society: The work of one BVS project site in Northern Ireland

East Belfast Mission, one of the project sites in Northern Ireland where Brethren Volunteer Service workers are placed, was in the news early this year when a peacebuilding event it hosted was met with violent protests. Here, BVS volunteer Megan Miller explains the groundbreaking work of the mission, which is related to the Methodist Church. Its extensive social service center is located in a traditionally Protestant area of East Belfast near the shipyards made famous for building the Titanic. As Miller reports in this interview conducted over Skype, EBM’s combination of practical social work, community development, support for local life and culture, collaborative efforts with others, and strategic and grassroots peacebuilding, makes for an amazing story:

Photo courtesy of East Belfast Mission

A scene from 2012’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, around 

which the East Belfast Mission organized a project for 

local children and families.

Megan Miller: East Belfast Mission and the Methodist Church has had a presence on the Newtownards Road, which is a predominantly Protestant, Unionist, Loyalist part of Belfast, since the 1800s. Throughout its history it has been involved in community outreach work and in meeting the practical needs of people in the area.

A main area of work at the moment is employability, one-to-one mentoring with people who are out of work and need help looking at their resumes, job skills, interview skills. We do group work around the areas of life skills and self esteem.

Then there’s the homeless hostel. That came out of a need that was being met even before we had a site designated for housing. At this time we have a 26-bed homeless hostel onsite. As well as actually housing people we have two tenancy housing workers who work with people who have recently moved out of a hostel or people who are at risk of becoming homeless. They each have a caseload of 20 clients. In the hostel there is a lot of emphasis on life skills, not just housing people but giving them the tools they need to be able to live independently.

Compass is the department that Hannah Button-Harrison, another BVS volunteer, and I both work in. Compass does community development work. We really have looked to work with local people as much as possible and equip them to run programs on their own. The ethos of good community development work is trying to work yourselves out of a job! Empowering people, and not only giving them services but also giving them tools to address the issues that they personally are facing and they feel their community is facing.

A small community counseling service has come out of working with people who are affected by the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland, people who have either been involved directly or who lost family members, or who even just on a community level are feeling the effects of the legacy of conflict.

As well we have a women’s group, a men’s group, and do work with older people in the area who are risk of being increasingly isolated by offering structured activities where they can be with people, they can get out, and try new things.

All of these programs started from a community development sort of ethos, but have evolved to include some element of cross community work and reconciliation. For example, the work with the seniors: in December we did a Tea Dance with seniors who are coming from the Protestant Loyalist area as well as a nearby Catholic neighborhood. And just from those social activities, seniors from both communities have expressed interest in doing more focused reconciliation work. We’ll be doing a residential retreat with them, where they can tell their own stories and share their own feelings, talk about their own heritage and about the conflict and about where their communities stand today.

The women’s group has been meeting on a cross community basis for over three years now. At the start they did a lot of dialogue, they did residential retreats, they did work separately examining their perceptions of other communities. But now they’re so well integrated they don’t like to call themselves a cross community group. They just call themselves a women’s group.

Newsline: So this is bringing Protestants and Catholics together?

Miller: Yes, and some of the men we work with have expressed interest in exploring that. Not to be stereotypical, but I think men traditionally in Northern Ireland are more hardened and more reticent to talk about issues around the conflict, and their experiences. But just in the past year or so the men have been thinking that’s something they would like to do. In the months ahead we hope to work with a Catholic/Nationalist group, first doing some separate work, talking about their experiences and their stories, and then eventually meeting.

The Irish language work also is a huge piece of reconciliation work. Since the conflict, the Irish language has been associated with the Catholic community. A lot of Protestants and Unionists and most politicians would have really disassociated from the language. A woman named Linda, who was part of our women’s group and who is herself from a Protestant, Loyalist background, became really interested in the language and ended up doing some research. She looked at census data from the early 1900s, finding that many people in this part of Belfast were bilingual and many of them would have spoken Irish. She went from being a teacher who was studying Irish on the side, to a fulltime staff member who does Irish language development work in East Belfast. She does presentations talking about the history of Protestants and the Irish language.

We have 10 Irish classes running each week. That’s grown from one class when I started at EBM two years ago. That includes an Irish language singing class that Hannah has been involved with using her musical talent. A few people bring their instruments and then everyone just learns Irish language songs and sings. It’s been one of the most amazing things.

There are people in class who even just a couple of years ago would have said, “No way am I ever learning Irish.” Who really had a disdain for it, who felt it had no relevance to their culture, their background. Now it’s just natural because of their shared interest in a native language and learning part of their own heritage. This really is something people from both sides of the community can relate to and have an interest in.

Someone from the Orange Order came out with a statement saying that Protestants who learn the Irish language were playing into the Republican agenda. They were basically being very negative about that sort of work and about Protestants learning Irish. But as a result, the classes that we run here have actually gotten a lot of very good publicity. The broader Orange Order has come out with a statement saying that it’s the right of every person if they want to learn Irish.

There are so many things happening. From time to time we organize a community service day particularly for older people and people who aren’t mobile and able to do things themselves. Every year we do a food hamper project. We give out vouchers to local businesses, which generates income for the smaller shops. And then we work with other food banks year round to link people in with those sorts of practical services.

Newsline: That’s a lot!

Miller: Yes, there’s a lot that goes on at EBM. And there’s the whole Skainos Center project. Gary Mason, who’s the minister here, and some of his colleagues had a vision of building an urban village that would allow the church to expand its social work and involve partnerships with other local organizations. It took time, but it’s funded by the European Union, by the International Fund for Ireland, and some other Northern Irish government bodies. In 2010 they started building and then the building opened in the fall of 2012. Skainos not only houses all that work I just described, but also a number of community organizations such as Age Northern Ireland, onsite apartments, the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health, and others. It’s really massive.

Newsline: In the context of all that work, explain the background to the protest?

Miller: Peacebuilding has been a major work for EBM. Since Gary Mason’s been at the mission, which has been over 10 years, he has done a lot of strategic peacebuilding. He has good relationships with different former combatants on the Loyalist side, with Republicans, and has done a lot of work at bringing those two groups together for dialogue. When the UVF, a Loyalist paramilitary organization, decommissioned their weapons they actually made that announcement from our building. That would have been in the early 2000s.

The event that was protested was organized by a group of Belfast clergy, it was part of the Four Corners Festival which included events throughout the city with the idea of all the four corners of Belfast bringing people together.

The two speakers, Jo Berry and Patrick Magee, have been doing reconciliation theme talks together for 14 years. The decision was made that this community had come along enough, and that Skainos would be a secure venue, for someone like Pat Magee.

Jo Berry is from England. In 1984 her father was killed in the Brighton bombing which was a high profile part of the IRA’s campaign. Patrick McGee was one of the bombers convicted in that case. Jo and Pat ended up wanting to meet and talk and hear where each other were coming from. From there they have gone on for 14 years to tell their stories together. Pat would talk about how at the time he was involved in the IRA it was very easy to see a faceless enemy in the British people. After meeting Jo, it’s been much harder for him because now he sees people. He sees individuals, he sees people he respects and gets along with. And he knows that he’s caused pain for people, not for a faceless enemy.

That’s still a very pertinent message that really resonates with Northern Irish society today. Even though it’s post conflict there are still a lot of wounds and a lot of issues around forgiveness, around dealing with the past, and inquiries into the past violence.

I don’t think any of us were expecting the backlash. We arrived that Thursday morning to see some sectarian graffiti painted on the windows of the Skainos Center. Obviously the directors of Skainos and EBM had to make some tough decisions about whether to go ahead with an event even though there was potential for protests or for violence. Especially at that late hour they decided to go ahead, because they knew that the story was one that needed to be heard and for local people who were going to be in attendance it was going to be valuable, potentially a source for healing.

It’s the notion that you don’t let dissenters stop you from doing good work and doing what needs done. In the days since, we’ve had some conversation as staff about how if people aren’t angry or challenged by what we’re doing, then we’re probably doing something wrong. I feel very proud to be part of that sort of heritage. Of being willing to put your head above the parapet and do things that are challenging and that are difficult.

-- Megan Miller is one of two Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) workers at the East Belfast Mission, along with Hannah Button-Harrison. Currently there are seven BVS project sites in Northern Ireland. For more information about serving in BVS go to www.brethren.org/bvs or contact the BVS office at 800-323-8039 to request a BVS Project Book. Find a BBC report on the Jan. 30 protest at www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-25957468.

Source: 3/4/2014 Newsline

Brethren bits

Photo courtesy of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren

Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill., 

has been sending groups of volunteers to help out at 

Northern Illinois Food Bank. Said a Facebook post 

from this week's volunteer effort, "3,144 pounds of 

pepperoni and salami feeding our hungry neighbors. 

Thanks to all of our volunteers."

• A former staff member of the Church of the Brethren Northern Ohio District has admitted to embezzling about $400,000 from the district. The embezzlement took place over a period of five years, according to a report in the Ashland (Ohio) Times-Gazette newspaper, published Feb. 26. Kristen M. Bair, who has been administrative staff for the district, entered a guilty plea in Common Pleas Court. She was charged with aggravated theft, which is a third-degree felony.

• The Church of the Brethren is seeking a director for Brethren Disaster Ministries. The full-time salaried position is part of the Global Mission and Service team and reports directly to the associate executive director of Global Mission and Service. Major responsibilities include informing and engaging Church of the Brethren constituents in Brethren Disaster Ministries activities, maintaining ecumenical and interagency relationships to facilitate response to human need in the United States, coordinating with staff to employ strategy and operations to facilitate the church’s mission, providing sound financial budget management, and initiating grants from the Emergency Disaster Fund for domestic response activities. Required skills and knowledge include strong interpersonal skills; ability to articulate, support, and operate out of the vision, mission, and core values of the Church of the Brethren; ability to uphold and support the basic beliefs and practices of the Church of the Brethren as determined by Annual Conference; knowledge of International Building Code and ability to act within a multicultural and multigenerational team environment. Training or experience with making effective presentations and providing adult education, especially in conducting skill training workshops; managing staff and volunteers; and in-house construction and repair is required. A bachelor’s degree is required with a preference for an advanced degree. An associate degree or experience in relevant fields will be considered. This position is based at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Applications are being received and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Request the application packet by contacting the Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 ext. 367; humanresources@brethren.org . The Church of the Brethren is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• The Church of the Brethren seeks a temporary part-time warehouse assistant to work directly with the director of Material Resources at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Applications will be received and reviewed beginning immediately until the position is filled. Request the application packet and complete job description from the Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 ext. 367; humanresources@brethren.org .

• The Church of the Brethren Global Mission and Service is publicizing a service opportunity in North Korea. The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) seeks MS-plus teachers for the more than 500 undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of plant/animal biological sciences, agronomic sciences, and biotechnology/genetic engineering for the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The university also has schools of Public Health, Electrical Engineering and Computer, and Management and Finance. Spousal appointments are supported. Appointments could be short-term or for multiple semesters, which run from September to December, March to June, and July. Classes are all held in English. Furnished on-campus apartments and cafeteria meals are provided. Global Mission and Service will cover visas, transportation costs, health insurance, and some personal costs. Downtown grocery shopping and some touring services are provided. For more information, contact Dr. Robert Shank, Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, at drarroz903@gmail.com . The program is now screening for the fall semester.

• Camp Galilee in Terra Alta, W.Va., operated by West Marva District, seeks a camp manager. The camp would consider someone as an interim manager for this year's season. The camp provides opportunities in an outdoor setting for persons of all ages to grow in discipleship and relationship with Jesus Christ. In addition to week long camps for various age groups, the camp is also used by groups outside of the Church of the Brethren. The property is completely drug, alcohol, and tobacco free. Christian ethical standards are expected from all who utilize the camp property. The manager must be a Christian who has a good testimony of active relationship with Jesus Christ and is living a life that reflects Christian values and the values and beliefs of the West Marva District Church of the Brethren. Additional requirement include a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. The manager should be proficient in basic computer skills, including office software, and the Internet, and is required to have knowledge of some maintenance, office, and kitchen equipment, should have a valid driving license, and reliable transportation. Duties and responsibilities include to direct operation of camp activities of staff including caretaker, inspect camp facilities prior to campers’ arrival and departure, coordinate maintenance duties, register as well as inform campers about camp accommodations regulations, employ and supervise staff to operate dining facilities, maintain required records and make reports, and is responsible for collecting camp fees, among other duties. The manager works independently within established policies and procedures under the general direction of camp trustees.  The camp is unable to provide the manager with a competitive compensation package, but a stipend will be offered as an expression of gratitude for the person who responds to God’s call for this opportunity. An apartment accessible from the Dining Hall is available for the manager. For more information and an application packet, contact West Marva District Church of the Brethren, 384 Dennett Rd., Oakland MD 21550; wmarva@verizon.net ; 301-334-9270.

• The Palms Estate of Lorida, Fla., has a position open for a manager or managers for the 55-plus Christian community. Computer skills are needed and knowledge of Quick Book is useful. Send resumes to Palms Estates, P.O. Box 603, Lorida, FL 33857.

• Early registration for the church planting conference, "Plant Generously, Reap Bountifully--Toward an Intercultural Future," ends in mid-March. Register early for savings of $80 for first time attendees ($149) and $50 for others ($179). On March 18 all fees go up to $229. The conference is May 15-18 in Richmond, Ind. For more information and to register, go to www.brethren.org/churchplanting/events.html.

• Shine, the new curriculum from Brethren Press and MennoMedia that starts this fall, is offering two training opportunities in upcoming months. The first, held jointly with MennoMedia, is a full-day event on Saturday, March 29, at the Westin Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. Cost is $10 per congregation. To attend, contact Dorothy Hartman at DorothyH@MennoMedia.org or 540-908-2438. The second is an insight session on Thursday evening, July 3, at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio. For those who find online training to be more convenient, short videos will be posted on the Shine website within several months. “We’re pretty excited about Shine, and we hope you are too,” said an announcement from Jeff Lennard of the Brethren Press staff. “Teaching children is a ministry of the whole church, and it’s a privilege to be part of that effort. In a time when many church publishing houses have had to abandon Sunday school curriculum, it’s gratifying that our congregations are still supporting the creation of well-thought-out resources from a Brethren and Mennonite perspective.” Lennard reports that advance copies of fall materials will be available by the end of March so that congregations have plenty of time to review them, starter kits will be available soon, and free sample sessions already can be found at www.shinecurriculum.com.

• The Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness reminds congregations via a Facebook post that "participating in the March 13-16 National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend is as easy as incorporating a prayer or a hymn into your service." Join more than 1,000 participating congregations by pledging your participation at http://marchsabbath.org . Heeding God’s Call also is offering resources for the Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath. “As winter snows begin to melt, Christians and Jews head into the holy seasons of Lent and Passover--an especially important time to reflect on violence and to renew our commitments to ending so much preventable death caused by guns,” said an announcement from Heeding God’s Call. “For Christians this falls on the second week of Lent.” Professor Karyn Wiseman, who is on the faculty of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia where she teaches homiletics, has shared a sample sermon at http://gallery.mailchimp.com/78ec0d0fe719817883b01c35b/files/Wiseman_preaching_resource.pdf . Rabbi Linda Holtzman who teaches at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and is rabbi of Tikkun Olam Chavurah in Philadelphia, has provided preaching ideas at http://gallery.mailchimp.com/78ec0d0fe719817883b01c35b/files/Holzman_Purim_gun_control_preaching_ideas.pdf . Heeding God’s Call chair Katie Day also requests copies of sermons preached on gun violence prevention, contact her at info@heedinggodscall.org .

• The denomination’s Office of Public Witness also has joined with 39 other national organizations to support peace and diplomacy with Iran, including the National Council of Churches, J Street, Jewish Voice For Peace, Presbyterian Church (USA), and others. A letter from the group of organizations reads, in part: “The negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 are an essential opportunity for the United States and its negotiating partners to secure an agreement that prevents an Iranian nuclear weapon and averts a war.” Find the letter at www.niacouncil.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10527&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=-1.

• Monitor Church of the Brethren near McPherson, Kan., is holding a Bethany Weekend on March 8-9. This event is part of the Education for a Shared Ministry (EFSM) training program offered through the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. The Brethren Academy is a partnership of the Church of the Brethren and Bethany Seminary. Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm, professor of Preaching and Worship at Bethany Theological Seminary, will teach two sessions on scripture interpretation on the morning of March 8, with afternoon sessions devoted to the role of scripture and prayer in worship. Lunch will be provided. Ottoni-Wilhelm will preaching on Sunday morning for services starting at 10 a.m., followed by a potluck meal. To attend, contact joshualeck@hotmail.com or 620-755-5096. An RSVP would be helpful for food preparations.

• Goshen (Ind.) City Church of the Brethren has helped the Interfaith Hospitality Network host two families, each with four children, for a stay from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2. “The children wanted to say ‘thank you’ to our church,” reports the church newsletter. “Thus, the children initiated and created the long banner that they hung in our Fellowship Hall.” The banner included a pocket with individually made bookmarks designed for church members to take as a reminder of their thanks.

• Sugar Grove Church of the Brethren is ready to put its addition under roof, says the Shenandoah District newsletter. The church will be having volunteer days March 27, 28, and 29, starting at 9 a.m.  Lunch will be provided. “We hope you can come and help us add bathrooms to our facility so we can serve God better,” said the district newsletter. Let the organizers know if you are coming so that they can plan for food, contact 540-459-2493 or danorjan@shentel.net .

• Gettysburg (Pa.) Church of the Brethren is hosting a choir from McPherson (Kan.) College in concert on Monday night March 17, at 7 p.m. The McPherson College Singers are a mixed group of 20 young men and women who will be touring the Mid-Atlantic region, said an announcement. “This is a free evening of music. There will be a donation basket but no free-will offering will be lifted.”

• The Virlina District Peace Affairs Committee will hold a "Prayers for Nigeria" service at Daleville (Va.) Church of the Brethren on Sunday, March 9, from 3-4 p.m. “Our Christian sisters and brothers in Nigeria are being threatened by Muslim extremists,” said the announcement of the event. “Many have been killed and much property has been destroyed. We are joining to pray for peace in Nigeria, for the safety for Christians there, and to mourn the loss of life and property. If you can't come to Daleville, we invite you to set aside this hour on March 9 and pray for the country of Nigeria and our Christian sisters and brothers there.”

• Shenandoah District is once again hosting a Kit Depot at the office in Weyers Cave, Va., to receive Church World Service (CWS) kits, including school kits, hygiene kits, baby care kits, and emergency clean-up buckets. The depot will be open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday from April 7 through May 15.

• The Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center (CrossRoads) on Saturday, March 22, holds its annual benefit auction at 9 a.m. at Bowman Auctions in Harrisonburg, Va. In addition to bidding on the varied auction items, attendees will enjoy baked goods, breakfast, and lunch. To donate items for the auction, contact CrossRoads at 540-438-1275. Items should be delivered to the center by March 19.

• Dates have been set for the annual meat canning in Mid-Atlantic District. Meat canning will be held for one week, from April 21-24, with labeling scheduled for April 25. All of the canned chicken is sent to local or international food banks, to help neighbors in need.

• “Did you miss our conversation with Paul Young, author of The Shack, last year?” asks an e-mail from the Children’s Aid Society, a ministry of the Southern Pennsylvania District of the Church of the Brethren. “Did you miss Michael Pritchard's hilarious routine at our annual dinner in October? Now you have the chance to see them both! Videos of both these events are on our website and will be available for you to watch until the end of March.” Visit the video page at www.cassd.org (click on “Resources”). The Children's Aid Society is committed to helping at-risk children and their families build stronger, healthier lives through compassionate and professional services.

• A group of Bridgewater (Va.) College students and two staff will travel to Florida over spring break to volunteer as construction workers with Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge Spring Break 2014, said a release from the college. The students, accompanied by Stacie Horrell, assistant director of student activities, and David Nicholas, student accounts coordinator, leave for Delray Beach, Fla., on March 8. For the Spring Break Challenge, the group will work in partnership with the South Palm Beach County Habitat for Humanity. To raise money for the trip, the group held a chili cook-off and a Spirit Night fundraiser at New York Flying Pizza in Bridgewater. The campus chapter, established in 1995, is one of nearly 700 campus chapters worldwide, and is affiliated with Central Valley Habitat for Humanity in Bridgewater. This is the 22nd year that Bridgewater students have used spring break to work on various Habitat projects.

• “Grace Abounds” is the title of the Lenten/Easter disciplines folder from Springs of Living Water, an initiative for church renewal in which several Church of the Brethren districts and congregations are participating. Following the Brethren bulletin series, a Sunday text is included along with texts for daily reading and meditation, an interpretation of the theme, prayer guide, and insert for discerning next steps in spiritual growth. Vince Cable, pastor of Uniontown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, writes Bible study questions for individual and group use. Recently leaders of the initiative learned that the Springs Disciplines folder will be used in the Fayette County Prison south of Pittsburgh, Pa., coordinated through the Uniontown Church. Find the folder and Bible study questions on the Springs website at www.churchrenewalservant.org or contact David Young at 717-615-4515.

• The Death Row Support Project, a ministry connected with the Church of the Brethren and led by Rachel Gross of North Manchester, Ind., is sharing some good news. The project reached a goal of writing letters to 1,600 prisoners. The number of prisoners on death row currently stands at close to 3,100. Find out more at www.brethren.org/drsp and at the projects’ Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Death-Row-Support-Project/416742298367457 .

• In response to a request from its partners, over the past six months New Community Project has raised $33,500 to construct a girls' boarding school in Nimule, South Sudan. “Surpassing the initial goal of $10,000, the additional funds will come in handy: demand has exceeded expectation and the school has been expanded to house 400 girls,” said a release from director David Radcliff. “According to NCP colleague Agnes Amileto of the Girlchild Education and Development Association, the school is needed to allow girls to focus on their studies (they are worked so hard at home that there is little time for homework), to keep girls from unplanned pregnancies (a frequent occurrence in mixed-gender schools), and to allow better access for disabled girls and girls coming from a distance.” In spite of the current insecurity in South Sudan, the foundation of the school has been poured and the school is planning to open in late spring. A New Community Project Learning Tour originally set for February, has been postponed until later this year or early 2015. For more information go to www.newcommunityproject.org .

• The Open Table Cooperative of progressive Brethren, and Living Stream Church of the Brethren, an online fellowship based in Portland, Ore., are inviting church members to a “Living, Open Lent Journey.” Participants will share daily photos of nature and receive devotional reflections each Sunday by e-mail, during the six weeks leading up to Easter on April 20. The group will collect and share pictures and reflections from people across the country, as a way of finding signs of resurrection in daily life. During this time, Living Stream will hold “eco-spiritual worship” on Sunday evenings, said the announcement. See www.opentablecoop.org/living-open-lenten-journey .

• “The World Council of Churches is deeply concerned by the current dangerous developments in Ukraine,” said Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, in a release on Monday, March 3. “The situation puts many innocent lives in grave jeopardy. And like a bitter wind from the Cold War, it risks further undermining the international community’s capacity to act now or in the future on the many urgent issues that will require a collective and principled response,” he said, in part. “Out of concern for the lives and security of all people who are or might in the future be affected by the continuing failure to resolve this situation peacefully, I call urgently on all parties to refrain from violence, to commit to dialogue and diplomacy, and to avoid escalation by rash words or actions.”

• Starting on Monday, March 3, the Ecumenical Water Network of the World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting Christians to join in Seven Weeks for Water, a “pilgrimage towards water justice.” An online compilation of reflections shared every week during Lent raises awareness about universal access to water and sanitation. Since 2008, the campaign has attempted to create awareness on water issues around World Water Day on 22 March, which falls during the season of Lent on many churches’ calendars, according to a release. The theme for this year’s campaign is inspired by a call from the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea, “to join us in pilgrimage. May the churches be communities of healing and compassion, and may we seed the Good News so that justice will grow and God’s deep peace rest on the world.” Biblical reflections are posted every week on www.oikoumene.org/7-weeks-for-water along with complementary links and ideas for activities.

Source: 3/4/2014 Newsline

Credits

Newsline is produced by the news services of the Church of the Brethren. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. Contributors to this issue of Newsline include Jan Fischer Bachman, Marie Benner-Rhoades, Deborah Brehm, Katie Day, Kendal W. Elmore, Rachel Gross, Mary Kay Heatwole, Julie Hostetter, Jeff Lennard, Becky Motley, David Radcliff, Robert Shank, Jonathan Shively, Nguyen Vu Cat Tien, Jenny Williams, David Young, and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren.

Newsline: February 25, 2014

NEWS

• Brethren Disaster Ministries makes assessment visit to the Philippines
• On Earth Peace celebrates 40 years with conversations between ‘spirited peacemakers’
• Bethany Seminary hosts speakers on peace and justice
• Building peace in Washington at the Ecumenical Advocacy Days
• National Council of Churches plans Christian Unity Gathering

RESOURCES

• ‘Guide for Biblical Studies’ studies Jesus' fulfillment of scripture

FEATURES

• Tita Grace’s tiled floor: One family’s story of Typhoon Haiyan
• 'I trust there will be cactus blooms': Indiana leader reflects on court decision affecting church property

BRETHREN BITS

• Manchester announces next College of Pharmacy dean, Camp Bethel and CPT seek staff, call for CWS School Kits, WCC general secretary visits Iran, churches involved in anti-torture event, congregations host Bethany professors, and much more.

Brethren Disaster Ministries makes assessment visit to the Philippines

Photo by Peter Barlow

Brethren Disaster Ministries 

leader Roy Winter visits with 

Philippines villagers at a Heifer 

International project site

A visit to the Philippines from Jan. 18-28 to evaluate the current state of the response to Typhoon Haiyan was made by Roy Winter, associate executive director of Global Mission and Service and Brethren Disaster Ministries--part of the Church of the Brethren response following the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan last November. Brethren Disaster Ministries is using the information gained to identify local partners and how the Brethren may best contribute to ecumenical relief and recovery efforts.

Accompanied by Church of the Brethren member Peter Barlow, who has volunteered for the Peace Corps in one of the hardest-hit areas, Winter visited with partners of Church World Service (CWS) and ACT International, communities where Heifer International is at work, and local Filipino organizations.

The two visited the island of Leyte and the city of Tacloban, which has received much of the world’s attention following the typhoon, met with government officials, and visited communities where Heifer is doing longterm sustainability work around Ormoc city. They also met with several village community groups, who received them warmly. At some places the two Brethren spoke with meetings of hundreds of people. “They mostly seemed really glad to see people who were there to help,” Winter said.

The storm made landfall on Nov. 8, 2013, and affected some 12 million people, displaced nearly a million more, and killed more than 6,200. “For many coastal fishermen, coconut farmers and rice farmers, the wind and storm surge not only took their home, it stole their livelihood possibly for years to come,” Winter reported.

He said that some areas they visited were hit by 40- to 50-foot tidal surges. In Tacloban, some two months later, the city was still struggling to regain basic infrastructure such as electricity, buildings were destroyed and roofs blown off. “It was a shock to see so many palm trees down,” Winter said, noting that is unusual given the resilient nature of the tropical trees that survive many storms. However, so many palms were blown down by this storm, the strongest typhoon in recorded history, that people are using their wood for rebuilding.

The hardest part of the trip was listening to the stories of death and loss, Winter said. They met parents who lost children, families in which many loved ones died, and communities that have been decimated. One man who survived by clinging to a tree, told how his wife was swept out of his grasp and lost to the storm.

Winter views the typhoon recovery in the Philippines as an opportunity for Brethren Disaster Ministries to help a country work at sustaining itself. He plans to focus the Brethren resources on rebuilding livelihoods for at least the next couple of years, with some support given to permanent construction work by partner organizations in the Philippines. So far at least $200,000 in donations have been received for Typhoon Haiyan recovery, with some significant responses from congregations and districts.

Read Winter’s personal report from the trip is at www.brethren.org/bdm/updates/tindog-tacloban-stand-up.html . A story from Peter Barlow’s experience of returning to the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan is at www.brethren.org/news/2014/tita-graces-tiled-floor.html . Give to the Typhoon Haiyan appeal online at www.brethren.org/typhoonaid . Donations may be mailed to Emergency Disaster Fund, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.

Source: 2/25/2014 Newsline

On Earth Peace celebrates 40 years with conversations between ‘spirited peacemakers’

mage courtesy of On Earth Peace

On Earth Peace celebrates 40 years
with an emphasis on conversation
among peacemakers

By Marie Benner-Rhoades

"Your young people will see visions and your elders will dream dreams" (Acts 2:17).

Visions and Dreams of Building Peace: On Earth Peace Celebrates 40 Years. Through the 40-year history of On Earth Peace, its ministry of peacemaking has been the result of the dreams and visions of faithful Christians of all ages. In this anniversary year we are drawing on the Acts 2:17 passage above and building on those years of practical dreaming with the theme, “Visions and Dreams of Building Peace.”

One of the highlights of this 40th year will be a number of planned conversations between spirited peacemakers of all generations: elders, youth, and all ages between.  

Please join us! Arrange to sit down with someone who shares your commitment to nonviolent living and who differs from you in age, ethnicity, gender, theology, or some other significant way. We can provide further guidelines and a list of questions you could ask each other as you talk. Record your conversation in video, audio, photo, or text, and send it to us. We look forward to sharing brief segments of these conversations through our website and social media.

-- Marie Benner-Rhoades first published this announcement in the On Earth Peace e-newsletter “Peacebuilder.” Contact her at mrhoades@onearthpeace.org.

Source: 2/25/2014 Newsline

Bethany Seminary hosts speakers on peace and justice

By Jenny Williams

Two women known for their work toward peace, justice, and human rights spoke during the month of February at Bethany Seminary's Peace Forum, a weekly lunch gathering that highlights issues of peace and social justice through a variety of speakers and program formats.

Photo by CPT

Peggy Gish serving with Christian 

Peacemaker Teams

Peggy Gish has been involved with peace and justice work for 45 years, including work in Iraq with Christian Peacemaker Teams since October 2002. Her recently released second book, “Walking Through Fire,” documents the Iraqi people's efforts toward justice and reconciliation while caught in political and religious hostilities. Having asked the group, "What if we put the same efforts into peacemaking as we do toward war?" Peggy shared stories of daily life for Iraqis, of her relationships with the people, and of her own kidnapping ordeal. She also spoke about the role of peacemakers as they interact with and listen to those considered "the enemy" and witness the truth behind stories presented in the news. Gish, who gave her presentation on Feb. 6, is a member of the Church of the Brethren and lives near Athens, Ohio.

Beena Sebastion, founder and chairperson of Cultural Academy for Peace in Kochi, India, spoke Feb. 20 on how peace is linked to equality between men and women. In addition to providing shelter and programs for women experiencing gender violence, the Cultural Academy offers a multitude of educational resources, including health classes, environmental awareness, an interfaith study center, and training on issues of masculinity for men--who also experience gender violence. Sebastion noted that the need for this work in India is heightened by tensions from religious, political, and social class differences. The Cultural Academy has collaborated with the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Women's Peacemakers Program organized by women from Asian countries.

Peace Forum is webcast every Thursday at 12 noon (eastern time). Go to www.bethanyseminary.edu/webcasts to see the presentations live or to view recordings.

-- Jenny Williams is director of Communications and Alumni/ae Relations for Bethany Theological Seminary.

Source: 2/25/2014 Newsline

Building peace in Washington at the Ecumenical Advocacy Days

From March 21-24 hundreds of Christians will gather in Washington, D.C., to build peace together. The 12th annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference entitled "Jesus Weeps: Resisting Violence, Building Peace" will explore the violence that saturates our world and seek to find ways to build peace in all areas of society.

Ecumenical gatherings like EAD help us to unite with other Christians and give us an opportunity to meet with and encourage one another to work for good, as we are called to do in Hebrews 10:24-25. EAD is a great opportunity to use our unique Brethren voice to share visions of peace and reconciliation with Christians from different denominations, and also to learn from the experiences of Christians from around the world.

Through prayer, worship, workshops, and advocacy, participants will seek a vision for how our beliefs can take root in the social and political realities of our world. Participants will take these messages of peace and hope to Capitol Hill to call for change in public policy and together lift up a vision of a more just and peaceful world.

EAD brings speakers from around the world to address issues such as gun violence, domestic violence, worker justice, global hunger, climate change, and foreign policy issues such as Israel/Palestine, Syria, and Iran. But this is only a glimpse of the many issues that will be covered at the plenaries, worship services and workshops. For a full list of topics and workshops, and to register, go to http://advocacydays.org/2014-resisting-violence-building-peace.

If you have any questions about Ecumenical Advocacy Days, please contact Nathan Hosler, coordinator of the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness, at nhosler@brethren.org or 717-333-1649. Sign up for Action Alerts from the Office of Public Witness at www.brethren.org/advocacy/actionalerts.html.

Source: 2/25/2014 Newsline

National Council of Churches plans Christian Unity Gathering

The National Council of Churches (NCC) is planning a Christian Unity Gathering for May 18-20, at the Hilton hotel at Washington Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C.

The NCC has gone through sweeping changes over the last two years. After a time of reflection and reorganization, the NCC is poised to convene people of faith in exploring the widening revelation of God's love and challenge to deepen Christian commitment to work with people who are marginalized and disenfranchised from opportunities God desires everyone to enjoy.

The first major event of this new era in the NCC is an inaugural Christian Unity Gathering. At this gathering the primary focus will be on the scourge of mass incarceration and what the ecumenical community is already doing and can do together to combat a justice system that warehouses and disposes disproportionate numbers of people of color.

A roster of presenters and resource people will lead the conversations and time together. In addition, new NCC general secretary/president Jim Winkler will offer his vision for NCC during a service of celebration.

Presenters and resource people include

• Iva Carruthers, general secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

• Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund

• A. Roy Medley, general secretary of the American Baptist Churches-USA and chair of the NCC Governing Board

• Harold Dean Trulear, national director of Healing Communities and associate professor at Howard University School of Divinity

• Jim Wallis, president and editor in chief of Sojourners

Visit www.nationalcouncilofchurches.us/events/CUG2014.php for the full roster of speakers and presenters in addition to those listed above, and for information on the schedule and registration.

(This article is from a National Council of Churches release.)

Source: 2/25/2014 Newsline

‘Guide for Biblical Studies’ studies Jesus' fulfillment of scripture

Author Estella Horning has written the Spring quarter of “A Guide for Biblical Studies,” the Brethren Press curriculum for adults. The theme for the quarter is “Jesus’ Fulfillment of Scripture.”

Lessons for the spring explore connections between Jesus and the Hebrew Scriptures: the reign of David and the lordship of Christ, the prophetic use of scriptures related to Jesus' crucifixion, and the ways Jesus used the Hebrew Scriptures in his own ministry and teachings.

Written from a Church of the Brethren perspective, “A Guide for Biblical Studies” is issued quarterly and contains daily NRSV scriptures, lessons, and questions for both individual preparation and classroom use. The curriculum follows the International Sunday School Lessons/Uniform Series.

Price is $4.25 or $7.35 large print, plus shipping and handling. Purchase one copy per student, per quarter either online at www.brethrenpress.com or by calling the Brethren Press order line 800-441-3712.

Source: 2/25/2014 Newsline

Tita Grace’s tiled floor: One family’s story of Typhoon Haiyan

Photo by Roy Winter

Peter Barlow visited the Philippines 

with Brethren Disaster Ministries 

leader Roy Winter. A former 

Peace Corps volunteer, he revisited 

areas of the country where he had 

worked before Typhoon Haiyan 

devastated the land and the lives of 

families he had known and loved.

By Peter Barlow

Grace Anne stood on a colorful tiled foundation, the only indication that a house once stood where a few broken cinderblocks with jagged rebar were emanating. My memories of standing within these walls, sleeping, eating with this wonderful family, came from a time when they hosted me just a few years ago.

"Ha! We are rico na!" Grace Anne's mother, Tita Grace, had said to me one day, as she proudly showed me her newly tiled floor, designed off of pictures she had seen in a re-gifted “Good Housekeeping” magazine. She stood with a large smile, pointing at the fragments of tile and drying grout in between. Without funds to buy proper tile, she had found a pallet of broken shards in town, so the floor was a colorful mix of blues, reds, greens, and all mixes in between.  In many ways, it looked better than if she had just gotten a standard set of tile, all alike, with similar patterns and shapes.

When we first drove through the little village of Cabuynan, Tanauan, Leyte on Jan. 22, I recognized only the big Copra Mill where sweating bodies had milled coconut oil, all of the huge containers overturned and leaking sludge. Everything else was a burned, spoiled palette of the town and houses that had once been.

We drove by the house the first time, since I was looking for the sturdy little home that I had known. But then we lurched the creaking jeepney to a stop and turned around, slowly creeping along the National Highway. Finally, we saw a bright tiled floor out in the open, and chain-link remnants of the fence that once guarded the hacienda. Roy and I exited the jeep and walked across the road carrying a few new folding chairs and provisional clothes as Grace Anne stood in a light drizzle in front of her makeshift home of donated plywood, paper-thin roofing, and a soiled UNICEF tent.

Her smile was huge, and as she talked, Grace Anne's pride shone through a strong composure. Only when asked of her experience during Typhoon Haiyan's fierce winds and surge did the corners of her beautiful big eyes puddle with anguish.

Grace Anne, her cousin Roussini, her mother and father, and her grandmother were all at her house when they began to hear the first rains hit the metal roof of their home during the evening of Nov. 8, 2013. Within an hour, winds were deafening, and their coastal community knew that this storm was unlike the others they had known.

The first salty Pacific wave shattered a thin wall of cinderblocks and mortar, and tore away the thin metal roof. At about five o'clock, Grace Anne held onto Roussini as they were carried on a wave, white and ferocious, some 50 feet high over to the steep mountain that flanks their little town. The other family members were unable to stay with them, and were forced in other directions. Grace Anne pointed to the places where she and Roussini clung for about three hours as wave after wave of storm surge wiped away homes and lives and the futures of so many. A boulder outcrop jutting out from the mountain where they found shelter at last stands as memorial to their horrible experience.

As they told their story, we stood under a tarp in the small cooking area listening intently, incredulously, to their memories of that night. Finally I asked about her mother, the woman I had known as Tita Grace. Before Grace Anne could answer, we heard a motor slow outside, and Terry, Grace Anne’s father came around the corner, much leaner than I remembered, with a large smile on his face, and outstretched arms.

Rain subsided and we walked on the colorful tile floor in the hot Philippine sun as Terry recounted his experience during the storm. Despite some new scars on his upper arms and a tighter gait to protect some broken ribs, he was the same Terry as always. His voice was tired though, and one could only imagine the pain that he had experienced in the couple of months since the storm.

That night, as waves had swept them toward the same steep slope where Grace Anne and Roussini were clinging for their lives, Terry and Grace held onto each other, grasping for tree tops as the torrent tossed them around. Finally, Terry said they lost their grasp on each other and he clung to a tall coconut tree as floating debris battered his arms and back. A giant white swell carried Tita Grace away into the darkness.

The day after the typhoon, light drizzle fell as Grace Anne, Roussini, and Terry were reunited. Their home was gone, and all that remained were some pieces of rubble and bright tile, washed by ferocious winds and rain. They would find Tita Grace’s torn body a half mile away amongst fallen mahogany branches and a bramble of balukawi vines, and eventually discover Tita Grace’s mother, a cousin, Terry’s mother and father, and many friends who had been lost to the typhoon as well.

For one family to feel this kind of pain is devastating, but unfortunately, it is similar to tens of thousands of stories of families in this jovial, welcoming corner of the world.

Grace Anne told me of her struggle to stay afloat, and her reliance on leaves and wood in those three hours. Neither she nor Roussini could swim, adding to their panic. She stretched her arms wide to show me the size of the snakes and lizards that floated in the white froth with her, and, when I asked her how, despite the waters and odds against them, she had managed to remain alive, Roussini and she clutched one another again, as I imagine they had that evening. Grace Anne shook her head, motioning to the sky.

-- Peter Barlow is a member of Montezuma Church of the Brethren and a former Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines. He accompanied Brethren Disaster Ministries leader Roy Winter on a trip to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan, to help evaluate how best the Church of the Brethren can support the relief and recovery effort.

Source: 2/25/2014 Newsline

'I trust there will be cactus blooms': Indiana leader reflects on court decision affecting church property

A court has ruled against South Central Indiana District in a property suit concerning Roann Church of the Brethren. The ruling on property and assets was in favor of a group wishing to leave the Church of the Brethren. Here is a prayerful reflection on this moment in the life of the district, from district executive minister Beth Sollenberger:

When Tim and I moved to Ohio I left a fun position as the associate pastor of the Sebring congregation behind. Tim was called to serve the West Charleston church and I was trying to find some joy being a lousy homemaker while I looked for a pastorate within driving distance. Things did not happen on my time. I was bored and desperate and sad and discouraged.

On a winter day, surrounded by cold snow and a living room taken over by dusty clutter, I happened to glance at an abandoned cactus plant relegated to the lamp stand in the corner. We had originally been faithful keepers of the plant--watering sparingly but on schedule, turning occasionally so a new side would receive the sunlight, storing in the dark as suggested...and always we had waxy green stems to enjoy, never a bloom.

On a dark December day, after being told NO one more time, I huddled into the couch corner and discovered one bright pink bloom brightly attached to the cactus stem.

It is difficult to know what to say when, during this winter that will not quit, the judge has ruled against the district and for those who have chosen to leave the Church of the Brethren. And yet, I trust that there will be cactus blooms, reminders that God is over all and in control and guiding our lives. God knows us from before we came into being and ever after. God loves us through despair and gives us purpose and peace.

Thank you Almighty God for all those who have gone before us, planting the Church of the Brethren congregations that make up our district. Thank you God for all those who worship and serve you. Thank you God for the churches of our denomination with whom we share the joys of faith and the disappointments of living. Thank you for cactus blooms and signs of your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

-- Beth Sollenberger is executive minister of South Central Indiana District of the Church of the Brethren.

Source: 2/25/2014 Newsline

Brethren bits

Manchester University

Raylene Rospond will
serve as dean of
Manchester University's
College of Pharmacy

• Raylene Rospond will become the next vice president and dean of the College of Pharmacy for Manchester University, according to a university release. Currently deputy provost of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, she will assume the Manchester post on June 30. Rospond succeeds Dave McFadden as dean, who assumes the presidency of the university on July 1. At Drake, Rospond served as associate professor, associate dean, and chair of pharmacy practice before becoming dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Services in 2003. She became deputy provost in June 2013. She led strategic plans that gained re-accreditation of the pharmacy program, new laboratories, and enhanced physical facilities. During her leadership, Drake doubled the endowment and scholarships and transformed the curriculum for the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The four-year, professional Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program at Manchester University is in the process of enrolling its third class on its new campus in north Fort Wayne, Ind.

• Camp Bethel near Fincastle, Va., seeks a facilities manager to fill a fulltime salaried position beginning immediately. The camp seeks a motivated, dependable, caring worker with good interpersonal, organizational, and leadership skills. The facilities manager ensures that facilities and site enhance the experience of guests and campers by overseeing all housekeeping and maintenance. The preferred candidate will have experience or proven ability in repair and renewal of facilities including construction, carpentry, electrical wiring and control, plumbing of water and sewage, vehicle and camp/farm equipment maintenance. Starting benefits package includes salary of $29,000, optional family medical insurance plan, a pension plan, professional growth funds, and optional on-site family/individual housing. Camp Bethel is a tobacco-free workplace. An application, a detailed position description, and more information will be made available at www.CampBethelVirginia.org or send a letter of interest and an updated résumé to Barry LeNoir at CampBethelOffice@gmail.com .

• Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is looking to fill two new positions: communications and engagement director and program director. CPT is seeking a communications and engagement director to coordinate, develop, and implement a new overall CPT communications strategy to share CPT’s story in a way that honors the voices of CPT’s partners, undoes oppression, and furthers CPT’s mission, vision, and values. Find the full job description and requirements at www.cpt.org/openings/ced . CPT is seeking a program director to oversee current projects and support the organization’s Peacemaker and Reserve Corps with attention to team and partner needs, direction, budget, sustainability, personnel processes, and health. Find the full job description and requirements at www.cpt.org/openings/pd . For all openings at CPT go to http://cpt.org/openings . Christian Peacemaker Teams, which was founded with support from the peace churches including the Church of the Brethren, has the mission of building partnerships to transform violence and oppression, with the vision of a world of communities that together embrace the diversity of the human family and live justly and peaceably with all creation. CPT is committed to work and relationships that honor and reflect the presence of faith and spirituality; strengthen grassroots initiatives; transform structures of domination and oppression; embody creative nonviolence and liberating love.

• Brethren Disaster Ministries is asking Brethren to help Church World Service replenish its supply of CWS School Kits. “Church World Service is down to its last few cartons of CWS School Kits, and those have all been spoken for,” said an announcement. “Our warehouses need replenishing so that we can meet pending requests and future needs.” CWS School Kits give basic tools for learning to children in impoverished schools, refugee camps, and other difficult settings including the aftermath of floods, tornados, and other disasters. Last year, 57,730 CWS School Kits were provided for children in need in the US and around the world. International recipients included Syrian school children forced to flee their homes by the civil war. Many of the kits are warehoused and shipped from the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. For information to assemble kits go to www.cwsglobal.org/get-involved/kits/school-kits.html .

• World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit has visited Iran, underlining “the important role of faith leaders, religious communities, and governments to work together for the cause of justice and peace,” according to a WCC release. Tveit was in Iran from Feb. 15-20 where he met with representatives of WCC member churches and participated in the seventh round of dialogue between the WCC and the Centre for Inter-religious Dialogue, held in Tehran. He also met with Ali Jannati, minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of the Islamic Republic of Iran, where Abouzar Ebrahimi, president of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, was also present. In his discussion with the minister, the WCC general secretary stressed the significant role Iran could play for peace and stability in the Middle East region, including Syria. “The cultural history of Iran as well as its strategic location in the Middle East makes it one of the important actors in ensuring a peaceful coexistence between the different religions, denominations, ethnic groups, and countries,” said Tveit. The WCC delegation in addition met with the leading religious figure Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli. In meeting with him, Tveit stressed the responsibility of leaders of faith in promoting justice and peace to build a world free of nuclear weapons. Find the full WCC release at www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/wcc-general-secretary-conveys-message-of-201cjustice-and-peace201d-in-iran .

• Today an event in Washington, D.C., organized by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and the ACLU preceded a Congressional hearing on solitary confinement, “Reassessing Solitary Confinement II: The Human Rights, Fiscal and Public Safety Consequences.” National faith leaders, survivors of solitary confinement and their families, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, and human rights activists joined together to spotlight the continuing national human rights crisis faced by tens of thousands of adults and children held in conditions of long-term isolation in prisons, jails, and detention centers at the federal, state and local level, said a release. “The United States now holds far more prisoners in solitary confinement than any other democratic nation,” said Ron Stief, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture’s executive director. “An estimated 80,000 incarcerated adults and youth are held in solitary confinement in US prisons, jails, and detention centers. They are held in isolation for 23 to 24 hours a day in small cells with no natural light and no meaningful contact with staff or other prisoners for weeks, years, even decades. This violates basic religious values of community, restorative justice, compassion, and healing. The faith-based members of NRCAT are united in opposing treatment that violates our values as people of faith.” For more go to www.nrcat.org .

• Newville Church of the Brethren is hosting Southern Pennsylvania District’s Truck Stop Ministry Spring Banquet on April 5. For ticket information call 717-385-7932.

• Monitor Church of the Brethren near McPherson, Kan., is holding a Bethany Weekend on March 8-9. Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm, professor of Preaching and Worship at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., will teach two sessions on scripture interpretation on the morning of March 8, with afternoon sessions devoted to the role of scripture and prayer in worship. Lunch will be provided. Ottoni-Wilhelm will preaching on Sunday morning for services starting at 10 a.m., followed by a potluck meal. To attend, contact joshualeck@hotmail.com or 620-755-5096. An RSVP would be helpful for food preparations.

• Staunton (Va.) Church of the Brethren is hosting a Spiritual Renewal Weekend March 7-9, featuring Tara Hornbacker, professor of Ministry Formation at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind. The focus will be an exploration of evangelism in the Sermon on the Mount. The weekend opens Friday evening with worship including special music and drama, and on Saturday a dessert social begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by worship at 7:30 p.m. with special music by Mill Creek Church of the Brethren’s Praise Team. Sunday worship begins at 11 a.m., preceded during the 10 a.m. Sunday school hour by a drama workshop for youth and young adults led by Hornbacker. For more go to http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1110837621104-240/StauntonHornbacker.pdf .

• The 2014 Shenandoah District Disaster Ministries Auction will be held May 16-17 at the Rockingham County (Va.) Fairgrounds.

• David Radcliff of the New Community Project will be giving presentations at churches and retirement communities in Western Plains District: Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m. Mont Ida Church of the Brethren; March 1, 10 a.m. Wichita (Kan.) First Church of the Brethren; March 1, 3 p.m. The Cedars in McPherson, Kan.; March 2, 10 a.m. leading worship at McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren; March 5, evening presentation at Rochester Church of the Brethren, Topeka, Kan. He also plans several other presentations at McPherson College, Tabor College, Washburn University, and Barstow School, said a district announcement. For more information contact 785-448-4436 or cafemojo@hotmail.com .

• Virlina District’s Pilgrimage XVIII will be held March 14-16 at Camp Bethel near Fincastle, Va. The pilgrimage retreat is a spirit-filled experience for adults of all ages who, no matter where they are in their spiritual walk, want to take another step to draw closer to God, said the district newsletter. For information or brochures contact 336-765-5263 or haynesmk1986@yahoo.com.

• The Church of the Brethren Regional Youth Conference hosted by McPherson (Kan.) College is March 28-30 on the theme “Called by God: Preparing for the Journey Together.” Guest speakers and musicians will be Jacob and Jerry Crouse. Online registration and schedule can be found at www.mcpherson.edu/ryc . Registration deadline is March 24.

• Youth Roundtable, a regional youth conference hosted by Bridgewater (Va.) College, will be March 21-23. The event includes workshops, small groups, songs, open mic night, and worship. The speaker will be Eric Landram, a Bridgewater College alumnus and member of Staunton (Va.) Church of the Brethren who is now attending Bethany Theological Seminary. Go to http://iycroundtable.wix.com/iycbc for updates and to register online. Cost is approximately $50.

• South Central Indiana District Conference will be held Saturday, Sept. 13, at Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren on the theme, "Released by Grace" (Isaiah 55:1-3). The district moderator is Kay Gaier.

• “Donations + Reimer Memorial = New Tractor!” said an announcement from Camp Bethel, a Church of the Brethren outdoor ministry center near Fincastle, Va. The camp reports that 64 supporters enjoyed a meal and holiday program by the Jones Family at Camp Bethel's Christmas TOGETHER Banquet on Dec. 6, raising $5,760. “When our dear friend, mentor and supporter Judy Mills Reimer passed way on November 13, we were honored for Camp Bethel to be included in her memorial,” said the announcement. George Reimer, Judy Mills Reimer’s husband, and son Troy (son) Reimer requested that any memorial gifts go toward a new tractor, and donated the remaining $8,600 balance for the tractor. More about the camp is at www.CampBethelVirginia.org .

• Spring Candlelight Dinners at the John Kline Homestead in Broadway, Va., will be held at 6 p.m. March 14 and 15 and April 25 and 26. The site is the historic home of Civil War era Brethren elder and peace martyr John Kline. The dinner guests will experience a family’s struggle as the Civil War impacted Shenandoah Valley homes and farms in the early months of 1864, around a family-style meal in the John Kline house. For reservations, call 540-896-5001 or e-mail proth@eagles.bridgewater.edu . Cost is $40 per plate; groups are welcome. Seating is limited to 32.

Fahrney-Keedy

Employee recognition at Fahrney-Keedy, 
a Church of the Brethren retirement 

community in Maryland

• Twenty associates were honored for service excellence and for years worked during the annual Employee Recognition Dinner of Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village, a Church of the Brethren retirement community near Boonsboro, Md. Associates nominated their co-workers for the service excellence awards, which went to six individuals: in nursing, Lisa Younker, LPN, Raykia Harvey-Thorne and Tamara Bowie, GNAs; in assisted living, Amanda Myers and Katie Lee; in accounting, Debbie Slifer. Length-of-service awards were given to associates having worked for multiples of five years. At five years: Janet Cole, RN, assisted living; Evan Bowers, LPN, and Kathy Kennedy, nursing; Ginny Lapole and Nancy Hoch, environmental services; and Tina Morgan, human resources. At 10 years: Pam Burger and Carla Spataro, LPN, nursing; and Kelly Keyfauver, RN, director of Nursing. At 15 years: Debbie Martz, environmental services, and Mary Moore, nursing. At 20 years, Kathy Cosens, CMA, nursing. At 25 years, Martha Wolfe, human resources. At 40 years, Ginger Lowery, environmental services.

• The Global Women’s Project is providing some special resources to help Brethren begin the season of Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and celebrate International Women's Day on March 8. “This year, think about using the excellent International Women's Day resources from the GWP website to create a women-centered worship on Sunday, March 2, and pass out the new GWP Lenten Calendar,” said an invitation. “Lift up women around the world, celebrate the season of Lent, and share stories and prayers with your faith community.” To receive free copies of the Global Women’s Project Lenten Calendar, send an e-mail to info@globalwomensproject.org with the number of copies requested. Or ask to receive a page of the calendar by e-mail each day. Find the International Women’s Day resources online at http://globalwomensproject.wordpress.com/worship-resources .

• The Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center (CrossRoads) in Harrisonburg, Va., is inviting entries to a highlight of its Open House on Saturday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Gingerbread Village, composed of entries in the gingerbread house contest. “You are encouraged to enter your creation and be eligible for prizes, including gift certificates from local businesses,” said the announcement. The contest entry fee is $5; admission to the open house is $3 per person. Go to www.vbmhc.org or phone 540-438-1275 for contest information.

• Juniata College students, sponsored by the Juniata College Campus Ministry, held an annual "Meal for CROP" on Feb. 18 in the Baker Refectory. Each year, Juniata's Christian Ministry Board asks students to sacrifice their evening meal so those meals can be sold to the general public and the money raised is donated to CROP, a hunger relief program of Church World Service. The Huntingdon Forum of Churches also sponsors the meal, noted a release from the college. Each year, 75 percent of the funds go to CROP and the remaining 25 percent is donated to the Huntingdon Area Food Bank to fight hunger at the local level. “Over the past 20 years, members of the Huntingdon community have helped to raise more than $50,000 for hunger relief,” the release said.

• Elizabethtown (Pa.) College was recognized for creativity in marketing and communications at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II Conference held Feb. 9-11 in Baltimore, Md. Representatives from the college's Office of Marketing and Communications accepted awards in creativity, multimedia communications, web, and illustration, said a release from the college. Mid-Atlantic District II, which includes Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and West Virginia, is the largest of eight CASE districts. Awards earned by the college in the four-year colleges and universities category included Gold for Creativity on a Shoe String for the "Tag You're It" Campaign, a grassroots social media promotion to engage Homecoming attendees; Bronze in Best Practices in Communications for the "Share Your Moment" Campaign--an integrated communications effort for accepted students; Bronze in Web Site: Student Recruitment for redevelopment of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies website, etowndegrees.com.

Source: 2/25/2014 Newsline