- Annual Conference executive director Lerry Fogle will relocate to Frederick, Md., with the approval of the Annual Conference Council. Fogle, who previously served on the pastoral staff at the Frederick congregation, plans to "creatively use current technology" to perform his duties while maintaining his primary residence with his family. The change comes after a trial period of 15 months in which Fogle's primary residence was in Elgin, Ill. The Annual Conference office, address, and operation will remain at 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
- James L. Keeler of Timberville, Va., retired president and CEO of WLR Foods Inc., has been elected by the Bridgewater (Va.) College board of trustees as its new chair. Keeler succeeds W. Wallace Hatcher, who recently ended 18 years of service as chairman of the board. Keeler is a 1957 Bridgewater graduate. Among those newly elected to serve five-year terms on the board, Brenda Rinehart of Rutherfordton, N.C., was called to represent the Southeastern District of the Church of the Brethren.
- The Church of the Brethren General Board's Disaster Child Care program will benefit from a new grant received by the American Red Cross. A total of $16,000 was allotted for the child-care efforts. It will cover toys and supplies for teams working with children in the field, and training for caregivers. General Board Emergency Response director Roy Winter said his office and the Red Cross would work cooperatively to plan how the money would be used.
- Feb. 1 marks the annual Souper Bowl of Caring, when youth groups raise money to relieve world hunger and participate in community service activities. Church of the Brethren groups can send their proceeds to the General Board's Global Food Crisis Fund. Details on the program are at www.souperbowl.org.
- Several dedicated Emergency Response/Service Ministries volunteers have transformed an empty donated trailer into a mobile shower and laundry facility for use at project sites. The trailer is complete with two showers, a stackable washer and dryer, and a sink. Following a naming contest by e-mail, a name was chosen for the unit: "Rolling Waters."
- The biennial District Disaster Coordinators seminar will be held at the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center April 20-22, 2004. Registrations are due Feb. 29. Ideas for session topics or issues of concern are welcomed. Contact Jane Yount at Emergency Response/Service Ministries, Brethren Service Center, PO Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776-0188; 410-635-8710.
- The Atlantic Southeast District is holding an event called "Lost in Florida: Finding Our Heart Again," Jan. 31 at St. Petersburg (Fla.) First Church of the Brethren. It is billed as "a day for rekindling our passions" in Jesus Christ and "sharpening our skills."
- Leaders and staff of the Brethren Village, Lancaster, Pa., will participate in Age Wave workshops Jan. 28-29, led by Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) staff Scott Douglas and Ralph McFadden. The workshops explore the impact faith communities will experience as more baby boomers reach retirement age. Created by the Older Adult Ministry of ABC, the workshops will explain how and why caregiving needs will increase significantly in congregations. An interactive component of the workshops explores the denomination's opportunity to help older adults envision meaning during this time in their lives. For information on hosting Age Wave workshops in congregations or districts, contact Scott Douglas at 800-323-8039.
- The Church of North India (CNI) is seeking communication with former India missionaries. CNI's new general secretary, the Rev. Enos Das Pradhan, is creating a mailing list for former missionaries who would like to receive updates on the work of the church. Former mission staff who wish to be on the CNI mailing list are invited to send their contact information to CNI Bhawan, Post Box No. 311, 16 Pandit Pant Marg, New Delhi-110 001, India; e-mail cnisynod@nda.vsnl.net.in.
- Christians around the world will mark Jan. 18-25 as the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The World Council of Churches and the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity coordinate the annual unity week. The 2004 theme, "My peace I give to you," was suggested by an ecumenical group in Aleppo, in northern Syria. Local churches are asked to host prayer services and dialogues during the week.
- The biennial young adult ministry gathering, "Come to the Feast," is scheduled to occur May 26-31 in Tampa, Fla. It will be the fourth time such a gathering, sponsored by the Ecumenical Young Adult Ministry Team of the National Council of Churches, has been held. More than 300 participants are expected. Details are available at www.cometothefeast.org.
- The National Council of Churches (NCC) is sending a delegation of U.S. church leaders to Cuba Jan. 22-28, led by NCC general secretary Bob Edgar. The delegation has requested a meeting with Cuba's President Fidel Castro, hoping to discuss church concerns and issues of U.S.-Cuban relations, including the harsh sentences imposed on 75 dissidents by Cuba's courts in the spring of 2003. The delegation will also consult with Cuban churches and help consecrate a new Greek Orthodox cathedral in Havana.
- The Annual Conference Denominational Name Study Committee notes that it is still receiving response forms online through the first week of February. Earlier technical issues with the committee's web page have been resolved, and the form can be accessed on the Annual Conference website, at www.brethren.org/ac.
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