- Violence in Darfur, Sudan, gains Brethren, international attention.
- Brethren respond by the hundreds to tornado in Pennsylvania.
- Standing Committee takes on extra business at Annual Conference meetings.
- BBT equity funds outperform industry benchmarks.
- "Covering Kids and Families" promoted by ABC.
- Brethren Academy issues call for pastor candidates for church leadership program.
- Brethren bits: Personnel, Brazil trip, and more.
Friday, July 30, 2004
NEWS
Violence in Darfur, Sudan, gains Brethren, international attention.
The Church of the Brethren has responded to genocide in the Darfur region of western Sudan with grants to aid victims of the violence. A total of $75,000 has been given in two grants from the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office has issued an action alert on the tragedy.
The violence "is being carried out by nomadic tribes that were armed by the Sudanese government," said Roy Winter, director of Emergency Response, in the grant request. "More than one million people have fled their homes to escape the looting, house burning, destruction of crops and animals, killings, and rape." Another 175,000 refugees have fled to neighboring Chad. An estimated 30,000 to 148,000 people have been killed, according to the action alert, which quoted the US AID prediction that 350,000 more face death from disease and malnutrition. With roots as far back as the 1980s, the violence pitted Arabic nomads against black African farmers and villagers and was linked to Sudan's decades‑long civil war between the Arabic and Muslim government in the north and Christian and animist rebels in the south.
Brethren funds will assist Church World Service in reaching a goal of $1,750,000 for food, medicine, water, sanitation, agricultural input and tools, and counseling for 500,000 of the most vulnerable in Darfur. Winter warned that gaining access to those in need has been difficult and some areas remain inaccessible. Only half of the 100 refugee camps in Sudan were receiving aid as of mid‑July. Aid workers reported continuing violence and atrocities despite visits by United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan and US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Religious and humanitarian organizations have focused attention on Darfur, hoping to persuade the Sudan government to halt the violence. "The needs in Darfur and Chad are immense under any circumstances, but with the recalcitrance of the Sudanese government, the situation is of untenable and tragic proportions," said Dan Tyler, East Africa director for Church World Service.
The Brethren Witness/Washington Office has joined with organizations advocating for the violence to be designated "genocide" by the United Nations, a word that carries specific meaning under international law and requires international intervention. The US Congress already has designated the Darfur violence genocide. For information on an upcoming UN resolution on Darfur, and how to advocate for the victims of the violence with the US ambassador to the UN, call the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at 800‑785‑3246 or e‑mail washington_office_gb@brethren.org.
The Church of the Brethren has worked for decades in Sudan, with the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC) in the south and the Sudan Council of Churches in the north. General Board staff have served with both councils doing relief and development work, theological education, and administration. The church also supported a project translating the Bible into a Sudanese language. Haruun Ruun, executive secretary of the NSCC, was a guest at Annual Conference this year.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
The Church of the Brethren has responded to genocide in the Darfur region of western Sudan with grants to aid victims of the violence. A total of $75,000 has been given in two grants from the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office has issued an action alert on the tragedy.
The violence "is being carried out by nomadic tribes that were armed by the Sudanese government," said Roy Winter, director of Emergency Response, in the grant request. "More than one million people have fled their homes to escape the looting, house burning, destruction of crops and animals, killings, and rape." Another 175,000 refugees have fled to neighboring Chad. An estimated 30,000 to 148,000 people have been killed, according to the action alert, which quoted the US AID prediction that 350,000 more face death from disease and malnutrition. With roots as far back as the 1980s, the violence pitted Arabic nomads against black African farmers and villagers and was linked to Sudan's decades‑long civil war between the Arabic and Muslim government in the north and Christian and animist rebels in the south.
Brethren funds will assist Church World Service in reaching a goal of $1,750,000 for food, medicine, water, sanitation, agricultural input and tools, and counseling for 500,000 of the most vulnerable in Darfur. Winter warned that gaining access to those in need has been difficult and some areas remain inaccessible. Only half of the 100 refugee camps in Sudan were receiving aid as of mid‑July. Aid workers reported continuing violence and atrocities despite visits by United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan and US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Religious and humanitarian organizations have focused attention on Darfur, hoping to persuade the Sudan government to halt the violence. "The needs in Darfur and Chad are immense under any circumstances, but with the recalcitrance of the Sudanese government, the situation is of untenable and tragic proportions," said Dan Tyler, East Africa director for Church World Service.
The Brethren Witness/Washington Office has joined with organizations advocating for the violence to be designated "genocide" by the United Nations, a word that carries specific meaning under international law and requires international intervention. The US Congress already has designated the Darfur violence genocide. For information on an upcoming UN resolution on Darfur, and how to advocate for the victims of the violence with the US ambassador to the UN, call the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at 800‑785‑3246 or e‑mail washington_office_gb@brethren.org.
The Church of the Brethren has worked for decades in Sudan, with the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC) in the south and the Sudan Council of Churches in the north. General Board staff have served with both councils doing relief and development work, theological education, and administration. The church also supported a project translating the Bible into a Sudanese language. Haruun Ruun, executive secretary of the NSCC, was a guest at Annual Conference this year.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
Brethren respond by the hundreds to tornado in Pennsylvania.
A tornado in central Pennsylvania prompted hundreds of Brethren volunteers to help clean up debris in the week following the July 14 storm. The F3 twister that hit Campbelltown and South Londonderry Township destroyed 32 homes and damaged dozens more, according to staff of the General Board's Emergency Response program.
The estimate of hundreds of volunteers came from Atlantic Northeast District disaster coordinator Tom Cope, who kept a record of at least 405 Brethren who did clean up. Southern Pennsylvania District disaster coordinator Leonard Stoner and district volunteers also lent support to the work, and Emergency Response director Roy Winter and assistant Diane Gosnell were among those in Pennsylvania following the tornado. In addition, a number of Brethren helped out at the Campbelltown fire hall.
Cope "discovered that there were more volunteers who responded to Campbelltown than we knew, literally unsung heroes when we don't know their names," said Gosnell. Winter told the story of a family in the Big Swatara, Hanoverdale Church of the Brethren who suffered the total loss of their house, and whose congregation was there within hours to give support. "We extend a thank you to everybody who went to a neighbor's house to help," Winter said. He asked anyone who is still in need of help following the July 14 tornado to contact his office at 800‑451‑4407.
In other news from the Emergency Response office, another tornado recovery project is planned in Hallam, Neb. The small town was nearly obliterated by an F‑4 tornado on May 22, and of the town's 170 homes only seven are repairable and the rest must be rebuilt. The General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund has allocated $15,000 for a long‑term rebuilding project to begin in early September. "We hope to get as many homes as we can framed up and dried in before winter sets in," reported Jane Yount, the General Board's disaster response coordinator. Emergency Response is looking for volunteers skilled in framing to staff the project.
Three flood recovery projects continue as well, in Poquoson, Va., following Hurricane Isabel; in Greenbrier County, W.Va., scheduled to be completed Aug. 28; and in Skagit and Snohomish Counties, Wash. To volunteer for Emergency Response projects, contact a district disaster coordinator or the Emergency Response office at 800‑451‑4407.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
A tornado in central Pennsylvania prompted hundreds of Brethren volunteers to help clean up debris in the week following the July 14 storm. The F3 twister that hit Campbelltown and South Londonderry Township destroyed 32 homes and damaged dozens more, according to staff of the General Board's Emergency Response program.
The estimate of hundreds of volunteers came from Atlantic Northeast District disaster coordinator Tom Cope, who kept a record of at least 405 Brethren who did clean up. Southern Pennsylvania District disaster coordinator Leonard Stoner and district volunteers also lent support to the work, and Emergency Response director Roy Winter and assistant Diane Gosnell were among those in Pennsylvania following the tornado. In addition, a number of Brethren helped out at the Campbelltown fire hall.
Cope "discovered that there were more volunteers who responded to Campbelltown than we knew, literally unsung heroes when we don't know their names," said Gosnell. Winter told the story of a family in the Big Swatara, Hanoverdale Church of the Brethren who suffered the total loss of their house, and whose congregation was there within hours to give support. "We extend a thank you to everybody who went to a neighbor's house to help," Winter said. He asked anyone who is still in need of help following the July 14 tornado to contact his office at 800‑451‑4407.
In other news from the Emergency Response office, another tornado recovery project is planned in Hallam, Neb. The small town was nearly obliterated by an F‑4 tornado on May 22, and of the town's 170 homes only seven are repairable and the rest must be rebuilt. The General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund has allocated $15,000 for a long‑term rebuilding project to begin in early September. "We hope to get as many homes as we can framed up and dried in before winter sets in," reported Jane Yount, the General Board's disaster response coordinator. Emergency Response is looking for volunteers skilled in framing to staff the project.
Three flood recovery projects continue as well, in Poquoson, Va., following Hurricane Isabel; in Greenbrier County, W.Va., scheduled to be completed Aug. 28; and in Skagit and Snohomish Counties, Wash. To volunteer for Emergency Response projects, contact a district disaster coordinator or the Emergency Response office at 800‑451‑4407.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
Standing Committee takes on extra business at Annual Conference meetings.
At its meetings at Annual Conference, alongside the usual agenda items such as reports from districts, sharing counsel with the moderator, and making recommendations on new business coming to the Conference delegates, the Standing Committee of district delegates considered two items added from the floor: discussions of hurts in the denomination, and how to receive concerns that come in ways other than through established channels.
After hearing an explanation of the rules that Conference officers follow in accepting new business for Standing Committee to consider, the group adopted a motion made by James Myer of Atlantic Northeast District to "encourage its officers to relax their rigid rules of not sharing anything they have received." The motion encouraged the use of meeting time to share concerns heard by the officers and to allow the committee to decide if there are items of business to consider.
A second action later in the Conference week created an Envisioning Committee to coordinate and plan a time during Standing Committee business specifically for envisioning, in consultation with Conference officers. The content of the envisioning time will be gathered with input from Standing Committee members, who will be responsible to conduct a session at their district conference or other venue to listen to concerns, ideas, and dreams for the church. Elected to the new committee were Kathryn Ludwick, Nathan Polzin, David Rittenhouse, and David Wysong.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
At its meetings at Annual Conference, alongside the usual agenda items such as reports from districts, sharing counsel with the moderator, and making recommendations on new business coming to the Conference delegates, the Standing Committee of district delegates considered two items added from the floor: discussions of hurts in the denomination, and how to receive concerns that come in ways other than through established channels.
After hearing an explanation of the rules that Conference officers follow in accepting new business for Standing Committee to consider, the group adopted a motion made by James Myer of Atlantic Northeast District to "encourage its officers to relax their rigid rules of not sharing anything they have received." The motion encouraged the use of meeting time to share concerns heard by the officers and to allow the committee to decide if there are items of business to consider.
A second action later in the Conference week created an Envisioning Committee to coordinate and plan a time during Standing Committee business specifically for envisioning, in consultation with Conference officers. The content of the envisioning time will be gathered with input from Standing Committee members, who will be responsible to conduct a session at their district conference or other venue to listen to concerns, ideas, and dreams for the church. Elected to the new committee were Kathryn Ludwick, Nathan Polzin, David Rittenhouse, and David Wysong.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
BBT equity funds outperform industry benchmarks.
For the first half of 2004, equity (stock) funds managed by Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) significantly outperformed their comparable industry benchmarks, according to a release from the agency. "During a challenging period for investment managers, BBT achieved this performance relative to broad market indexes while pursuing its socially responsible investment goals," the release stated.
In the Brethren Pension Plan, the Common Stock Fund gained 6 percent while the Standard and Poor's 500 Index advanced 3.4 percent. The Balanced Fund returned 3.5 percent while a comparable blended index returned 2 percent. The Bond Fund matched the performance of the Lehman Brothers Government/Credit Index, with both falling .2 percent.
In the Brethren Foundation, the Domestic Stock Fund picked up 5.8 percent compared with the Standard and Poor's 500 Index 3.4 percent. The Small Cap Fund gained 10.9 percent while the Russell 2000 Index managed a 6.8 percent return. The International Stock Fund beat the Morgan Stanley Europe/Australia/Far East Index, 4.8 percent compared to 4.6. The Balanced Fund gained 3.5 percent. The Bond Fund, with a .2 percent gain, outperformed the Lehman Brothers Government/Credit Index, which lost .2 percent.
BBT reported that the Common Stock Fund and the Domestic Stock Fund benefitted from strong performance in the "value sector"‑‑stocks that investors believe are trading for less than their true market value. "The value portion of each fund gained almost 14 percent over the six‑month period, resulting in the overall strong performance for each fund," the release said.
BBT investments exclude securities of companies generating more than ten percent of their revenues from gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or prime defense contracts. Pension Plan members and Foundation investors can direct a portion of their accounts into the Community Development Investment Fund, which supports loans to community organizations. "These results for Brethren Benefit Trust investments continue to prove that investors need not give up market returns to invest in a manner consistent with their social values," said Wil Nolen, BBT president.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
For the first half of 2004, equity (stock) funds managed by Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) significantly outperformed their comparable industry benchmarks, according to a release from the agency. "During a challenging period for investment managers, BBT achieved this performance relative to broad market indexes while pursuing its socially responsible investment goals," the release stated.
In the Brethren Pension Plan, the Common Stock Fund gained 6 percent while the Standard and Poor's 500 Index advanced 3.4 percent. The Balanced Fund returned 3.5 percent while a comparable blended index returned 2 percent. The Bond Fund matched the performance of the Lehman Brothers Government/Credit Index, with both falling .2 percent.
In the Brethren Foundation, the Domestic Stock Fund picked up 5.8 percent compared with the Standard and Poor's 500 Index 3.4 percent. The Small Cap Fund gained 10.9 percent while the Russell 2000 Index managed a 6.8 percent return. The International Stock Fund beat the Morgan Stanley Europe/Australia/Far East Index, 4.8 percent compared to 4.6. The Balanced Fund gained 3.5 percent. The Bond Fund, with a .2 percent gain, outperformed the Lehman Brothers Government/Credit Index, which lost .2 percent.
BBT reported that the Common Stock Fund and the Domestic Stock Fund benefitted from strong performance in the "value sector"‑‑stocks that investors believe are trading for less than their true market value. "The value portion of each fund gained almost 14 percent over the six‑month period, resulting in the overall strong performance for each fund," the release said.
BBT investments exclude securities of companies generating more than ten percent of their revenues from gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or prime defense contracts. Pension Plan members and Foundation investors can direct a portion of their accounts into the Community Development Investment Fund, which supports loans to community organizations. "These results for Brethren Benefit Trust investments continue to prove that investors need not give up market returns to invest in a manner consistent with their social values," said Wil Nolen, BBT president.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
"Covering Kids and Families" promoted by ABC.
The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) is drawing Brethren attention to a national initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to increase the number of children and adults who benefit from federal and state health care coverage programs. ABC has added its name to the list of organizations working with the initiative, called "Covering Kids and Families." Previously this year, ABC joined the foundation's Cover the Uninsured Week.
The initiative works with others such as health professionals, social service organizations, and faith‑based organizations to inform families about low‑cost or free health care coverage that the foundation said is available in every state. Covering Kids and Families also works to simplify enrollment procedures and to coordinate coverage programs so that enrollees may move from one type of insurance program to another without losing coverage.
The foundation reported that of the nearly 44 million Americans without health care coverage, 8.5 million are children. "Many parents whose children qualify for coverage through SCHIP or Medicaid believe their children are not eligible," according to information from the foundation. Every August, the foundation launches a back‑to‑school campaign to encourage families whose children are uninsured to enroll in SCHIP or Medicaid. Families may call 877‑KIDS‑NOW to find out if they are eligible.
Congregations may order an action kit and other free materials online at www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org/communications/bts/kit. For more information contact ABC at 800‑323‑8039, or Covering Kids and Families at 202‑338‑7227 or visit www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) is drawing Brethren attention to a national initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to increase the number of children and adults who benefit from federal and state health care coverage programs. ABC has added its name to the list of organizations working with the initiative, called "Covering Kids and Families." Previously this year, ABC joined the foundation's Cover the Uninsured Week.
The initiative works with others such as health professionals, social service organizations, and faith‑based organizations to inform families about low‑cost or free health care coverage that the foundation said is available in every state. Covering Kids and Families also works to simplify enrollment procedures and to coordinate coverage programs so that enrollees may move from one type of insurance program to another without losing coverage.
The foundation reported that of the nearly 44 million Americans without health care coverage, 8.5 million are children. "Many parents whose children qualify for coverage through SCHIP or Medicaid believe their children are not eligible," according to information from the foundation. Every August, the foundation launches a back‑to‑school campaign to encourage families whose children are uninsured to enroll in SCHIP or Medicaid. Families may call 877‑KIDS‑NOW to find out if they are eligible.
Congregations may order an action kit and other free materials online at www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org/communications/bts/kit. For more information contact ABC at 800‑323‑8039, or Covering Kids and Families at 202‑338‑7227 or visit www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
Brethren Academy issues call for pastor candidates for church leadership program.
Sustaining Pastoral Excellence, the newest of the Brethren Academy's offerings for continuing education for pastors, is now receiving applications for the 2005 Advanced Foundations of Church Leadership cohort group.
Six to fifteen participants will enter and progress through the two‑year program together. The group will meet quarterly for eight four‑day sessions. "Advanced Foundations is an excellent opportunity to deepen one's spiritual grounding, to broaden the understanding of leadership models and skills, and to reflect on ministry issues in a safe learning environment," said coordinators Glenn and Linda Timmons in a release about the openings.
The Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program is designed to encourage and promote excellence in ministry. Two program tracks are available: Advanced Foundations of Church Leadership, following a structured format and curriculum; and Vital Pastor, exploring a self‑selected topic of shared interest and pastoral concern with a peer group. Sustaining Pastoral Excellence is funded by a five‑year, $2 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to Bethany Theological Seminary through the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, a joint ministry of Bethany and the General Board. For application information contact the Brethren Academy at 800‑287‑8822 or e‑mail pastoralexcellence@bethanyseminary.edu.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
Sustaining Pastoral Excellence, the newest of the Brethren Academy's offerings for continuing education for pastors, is now receiving applications for the 2005 Advanced Foundations of Church Leadership cohort group.
Six to fifteen participants will enter and progress through the two‑year program together. The group will meet quarterly for eight four‑day sessions. "Advanced Foundations is an excellent opportunity to deepen one's spiritual grounding, to broaden the understanding of leadership models and skills, and to reflect on ministry issues in a safe learning environment," said coordinators Glenn and Linda Timmons in a release about the openings.
The Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program is designed to encourage and promote excellence in ministry. Two program tracks are available: Advanced Foundations of Church Leadership, following a structured format and curriculum; and Vital Pastor, exploring a self‑selected topic of shared interest and pastoral concern with a peer group. Sustaining Pastoral Excellence is funded by a five‑year, $2 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to Bethany Theological Seminary through the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, a joint ministry of Bethany and the General Board. For application information contact the Brethren Academy at 800‑287‑8822 or e‑mail pastoralexcellence@bethanyseminary.edu.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
Brethren bits: Personnel, Brazil trip, and more.
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- Beth Rhodes and Cindy Laprade have been selected as two of the three National Youth Conference coordinators for 2006. A third position is still available and applicants are being sought. Rhodes is a graduate of Georgetown University and a member of Central Church of the Brethren, Roanoke, Va. Laprade is a graduate of Mary Washington College and a member of Antioch Church of the Brethren, Rocky Mount, Va. For the past year, Rhodes and Laprade have served as workcamp coordinators for the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office of the General Board, through Brethren Volunteer Service.
- Bill Bennett began July 19 as accounts payable and payroll specialist for the General Board, working at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. A native of Elgin, he coincidentally lives in the J.H. Moore house, which was built by the former "Messenger" editor in the late 1890s. Bennett, who has worked in accounting for his entire professional career, attends the Vineyard congregation in Elgin.
- Elizabeth Waas Smith started July 26 as assistant to the director of Brethren Volunteer Service, a volunteer position at the General Offices in Elgin. She is a member of Shalom Community Church of the Brethren in Ann Arbor, Mich., and is in her second year of BVS. Previously she served at Camp Myrtlewood, a Church of the Brethren camp in Myrtle Point, Ore.
- The Youth and Young Adult Office of the General Board seeks applicants for a coordinator position for National Youth Conference in 2006. The position is a 15‑month Brethren Volunteer Service placement for a college graduate, beginning the end of May 2005 through August 2006. For an application form or more information, please contact Chris Douglas, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, by e‑mail at cdouglas_gb@brethren.org. Applications are due no later than Sept. 30.
- Hillcrest Homes seeks a vice president of Health Services. Hillcrest is a 400‑resident Church of the Brethren retirement facility in La Verne, Calif. The position includes assisted living, Alzheimers, skilled nursing, and residential living areas. Hillcrest's master plan includes significant and positive changes for Health Services. Candidates must have excellent communication skills, leadership abilities, and collaborative abilities. NHA required, RCFE preferred. Resumes will be accepted until Sept. 17. Contact Ralph McFadden, e‑mail rmcfadden_abc@brethren.org or fax 847‑742‑5160.
- A study trip to Brazil, "Worship in the Church's Life: A Cross Cultural Learning Opportunity," will depart Sept. 12. Participants will spend nine days in Brazil experiencing worship, studying liturgy alongside Brazilian pastors, learning about Brazilian history and culture, and visiting historical sites‑‑and beaches, the brochure for the event notes. The trip is sponsored by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, the General Board's Global Mission Partnerships office, and Igreja da Irmandade (the Church of the Brethren in Brazil). Participants may take the course for credit. Deadline for registrations is Aug. 9. Cost is $1,600 with a $1,000 deposit due Aug. 9. A passport is required. For a registration form contact the Brethren Academy at 765‑983‑1824 or e‑mail academy@bethanyseminary.edu.
- The General Board's Emergency Response program seeks new disaster project directors for a training that will take place at the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center Nov. 7‑9. "Qualified candidates for this important calling will first of all be committed servant leaders, and also have excellent interpersonal skills and some construction or handyman skills," said an announcement about the event. Contact Jane Yount at 800‑451‑4407 or e‑mail jyount_gb@brethren.org.
- The next Church of the Brethren Cross Cultural Consultation and Celebration will be held in Richmond, Ind., April 21‑24, 2005. Events will be held at Bethany Theological Seminary and Richmond Church of the Brethren. Speakers and preachers will include Bethany's academic dean Steve Reid, and Fumitaka Matsuoka, a former dean at the school. For more information contact Duane Grady, the General Board's Congregational Life Team coordinator for Areas 2 and 4, at 800‑505‑1596 or e‑mail dgrady_gb@brethren.org.
- The "season" of the church year for district conferences has begun, with Missouri‑Arkansas and Oregon‑Washington already having held their annual meetings: Missouri‑Arkansas met July 23‑25 at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., and Oregon‑Washington met July 23‑25 at Camp Myrtlewood in Oregon, with Carol Mason Page as moderator. This weekend, three districts hold conferences: Southeastern on July 30‑Aug. 1 at Mars Hill (N.C.) College, with Tim Coulthard as moderator; Southern Plains on July 29‑31 at Nocona, Texas, with Joan Lowry as moderator; and Western Plains on July 30‑Aug. 1 at McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren, with Irven Stern as moderator. The Western Plains conference on the theme, "Called to Be and Make Disciples," includes a workshop on "Basic Elements of Estate Planning."
- Western Regional Youth Conference takes place Aug. 4‑8 at the University of San Francisco on the theme, "Living in God's Hands Together," John 8:12. Speakers include Annual Conference moderator Jim Hardenbrook. The Jubilee Troupe, a Brethren‑related performance art group, will help lead worship. Brethren youth from five states are expected to attend. For more information see the Pacific Southwest District website www.pswdcob.org/youth.
- A one‑day workshop Oct. 8 on "Authentic Preaching" featuring renowned preaching authority Fred Craddock, Bandy Distinguished Professor of Preaching and New Testament Emeritus at Candler School of Theology, is sponsored by the Continuing Education Committee of Mid‑Atlantic District. The theme of the pre‑district conference event is "Overhearing the Gospel," with a theme verse of Matthew 7:29. The event will be held at Easton (Md.) Church of the Brethren and is open to all licensed and ordained clergy. Brethren clergy may earn .4 continuing education units. Cost is $35, $50 after Sept. 8. For more information or for a registration brochure, contact Mid‑Atlantic District at 410‑635‑8790.
- A 14‑person learning tour recently completed a July 10‑20 visit to Honduras. The group lived and worked in the poor village of Los Ranchos, assisting the community in the construction of a water tank. While there, the group met with women from the community, local teachers, subsistence farmers, and with Noemi de Espinoza, director of the host organization the Christian Commission for Development. Participants came from nine Church of the Brethren districts. The delegation was sponsored by the New Community Project, a Brethren‑related nonprofit organization, and led by director David Radcliff. For information about up‑coming learning tours go to www.newcommunityproject.org/learning_tours.htm.
- "Hunger No More: Faces Behind the Facts," to be broadcast nationwide on ABC beginning Oct. 24 as part of the network's "Vision and Values" series, features interviews with major figures in the fight to end hunger including National Council of Churches (NCC) general secretary Bob Edgar and Bread for the World CEO David Beckman. The interviews were conducted by an NCC film crew at a 30th anniversary celebration of Bread for the World. The documentary is one of eight prepared for ABC through the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission. Also featured in the documentary are George McGovern, Elizabeth Dole, ethicist Jeffrey Sachs, and John McCullough, CEO of Church World Service. For more information contact Pat Pattillo at 212‑870‑2048 or e‑mail wpattillo@ncccusa.org.
- The World Council of Churches' plenary commission on Faith and Order is meeting in Malaysia July 28‑Aug. 6, the commission's first meeting in a Muslim‑majority country. The commission promotes Christian unity by studying questions that have given rise to church division. Among issues to be considered at this meeting are the nature of the human person from a Christian point of view and consequences when it comes to issues like community identity, human sexuality, disabilities, and bio‑ethics; relations between ethnic and national identities and the search for the unity of the church; churches' mutual recognition of baptism; different understandings of the nature and mission of the church; and the way texts, symbols, and practices of different churches may be interpreted, communicated, and received. Commissioners also will discuss the Decade to Overcome Violence and interreligious dialogue. The theme of the meeting is "Receive one another, as Christ has received you, for the glory of God" (Rom. 15:7).
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Brethren young adults prepare for mission service.
Three young adults‑‑Matthew Haren, of Brook Park (Ohio) Community Church of the Brethren; Paul Liepelt, recently ordained by Cedar Grove Church of the Brethren, New Paris, Ohio; and Beth Gunzel, of York Center Church of the Brethren, Lombard, Ill.‑‑have been preparing for mission service with the Global Mission Partnerships office of the General Board, through an ecumenical cross‑cultural orientation in Chicago, July 11‑23. The training focused on topics such as missiology, globalization, intercultural dynamics, security, and self‑care.
Haren, a Manchester College graduate, left July 28 for a teaching assignment in history and government at Hillcrest School in Jos, Nigeria. Liepelt, a May graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary, is heading to Nigeria in a few weeks to teach at Kulp Bible College. Gunzel, a recent graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with a masters degree in international community development, will leave in September for the Dominican Republic where she will take up the role of consultant for the community development work begun by Jeff and Peggy Boshart as they conclude their service later this year.
"These capable young adults are exciting additions to the mission team," said Merv Keeney, executive director for Global Mission Partnerships. "It is a delight to see some of our finest young adults responding to God's call to mission service."
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
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Three young adults‑‑Matthew Haren, of Brook Park (Ohio) Community Church of the Brethren; Paul Liepelt, recently ordained by Cedar Grove Church of the Brethren, New Paris, Ohio; and Beth Gunzel, of York Center Church of the Brethren, Lombard, Ill.‑‑have been preparing for mission service with the Global Mission Partnerships office of the General Board, through an ecumenical cross‑cultural orientation in Chicago, July 11‑23. The training focused on topics such as missiology, globalization, intercultural dynamics, security, and self‑care.
Haren, a Manchester College graduate, left July 28 for a teaching assignment in history and government at Hillcrest School in Jos, Nigeria. Liepelt, a May graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary, is heading to Nigeria in a few weeks to teach at Kulp Bible College. Gunzel, a recent graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with a masters degree in international community development, will leave in September for the Dominican Republic where she will take up the role of consultant for the community development work begun by Jeff and Peggy Boshart as they conclude their service later this year.
"These capable young adults are exciting additions to the mission team," said Merv Keeney, executive director for Global Mission Partnerships. "It is a delight to see some of our finest young adults responding to God's call to mission service."
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
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Nominations are being accepted for the National Youth Cabinet.
National Youth Cabinet nominations are now being accepted for the 2005‑2006 cabinet, which will plan National Youth Conference in 2006.
High school youth entering their junior and senior years are eligible. Nominations must come from district youth advisors or district executives by Sept. 30. Nominees must have involvement and leadership at the district level as well as in their congregations.
"If you know of a youth you believe is exceptionally competent and has very strong leadership skills, please contact your district youth advisor or district executive to request they consider nominating that person," said Chris Douglas, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Nomination forms are being sent to district executives and youth advisors this week.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
National Youth Cabinet nominations are now being accepted for the 2005‑2006 cabinet, which will plan National Youth Conference in 2006.
High school youth entering their junior and senior years are eligible. Nominations must come from district youth advisors or district executives by Sept. 30. Nominees must have involvement and leadership at the district level as well as in their congregations.
"If you know of a youth you believe is exceptionally competent and has very strong leadership skills, please contact your district youth advisor or district executive to request they consider nominating that person," said Chris Douglas, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Nomination forms are being sent to district executives and youth advisors this week.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
Marble Furnace Church of the Brethren remembered.
"Shall we gather at the river?" This familiar question was sung by about 100 people gathered on the bank of Brush Creek in Adams County, Ohio, Sunday afternoon July 25. Shaded from the summer sun by an enormous blue and red tent, they had come to remember Marble Furnace Church of the Brethren and to dedicate the granite monument that would continue to mark its location and celebrate its 125 years of service and ministry.
The congregation had been closed by action of the Southern Ohio District Conference in October 2003 after economic change had ravaged the community and aging and death had taken their toll on the congregation. Dean Bailey, lone surviving member of the church, was determined to see that the congregation would be remembered in a respectful and lasting way. He donated artifacts of historical value from the church to the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio. With the remaining funds of the congregation and the income from the sale of articles of value from the church house, he arranged for the demolition of the building. He then ordered a granite monument, bearing a picture and brief history of the church, to be installed on the site as a permanent memorial.
The service of dedication for the monument included good gospel singing, remembrances by former members and friends of the church, and words of inspiration by Mark Flory Steury, district minister of Southern Ohio. It also included the transfer of the deed for the church property to the township trustees who maintain the adjoining cemetery.
The words on the monument invited those present‑‑and future generations‑‑to reflect not only on the past, but on the present and the future as well, for part of the message it bears is, "...The Brethren have a strong fundamental belief in God as taught by the Holy Bible.... It is hoped that as people pay their respects to their departed friends and family members at the adjacent cemetery, perhaps they will stop and reflect on their own salvation and belief in God." Without a sound, that memorial monument answers the question raised by the old hymn with a resounding "Yes." "We'll gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God."
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
"Shall we gather at the river?" This familiar question was sung by about 100 people gathered on the bank of Brush Creek in Adams County, Ohio, Sunday afternoon July 25. Shaded from the summer sun by an enormous blue and red tent, they had come to remember Marble Furnace Church of the Brethren and to dedicate the granite monument that would continue to mark its location and celebrate its 125 years of service and ministry.
The congregation had been closed by action of the Southern Ohio District Conference in October 2003 after economic change had ravaged the community and aging and death had taken their toll on the congregation. Dean Bailey, lone surviving member of the church, was determined to see that the congregation would be remembered in a respectful and lasting way. He donated artifacts of historical value from the church to the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio. With the remaining funds of the congregation and the income from the sale of articles of value from the church house, he arranged for the demolition of the building. He then ordered a granite monument, bearing a picture and brief history of the church, to be installed on the site as a permanent memorial.
The service of dedication for the monument included good gospel singing, remembrances by former members and friends of the church, and words of inspiration by Mark Flory Steury, district minister of Southern Ohio. It also included the transfer of the deed for the church property to the township trustees who maintain the adjoining cemetery.
The words on the monument invited those present‑‑and future generations‑‑to reflect not only on the past, but on the present and the future as well, for part of the message it bears is, "...The Brethren have a strong fundamental belief in God as taught by the Holy Bible.... It is hoped that as people pay their respects to their departed friends and family members at the adjacent cemetery, perhaps they will stop and reflect on their own salvation and belief in God." Without a sound, that memorial monument answers the question raised by the old hymn with a resounding "Yes." "We'll gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God."
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
Credits
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Chris Douglas, Merv Keeney, Ralph McFadden, David Radcliff, Mary Sue Rosenberger, Fred Swartz, Will Thomas, Glenn and Linda Timmons, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.
Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Chris Douglas, Merv Keeney, Ralph McFadden, David Radcliff, Mary Sue Rosenberger, Fred Swartz, Will Thomas, Glenn and Linda Timmons, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.
Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.
Source: Newsline 7/30/2004
Top
Friday, July 16, 2004
NEWS
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Annual Conference meets in Charleston, W.Va., shows commitment to difficult issues.
- Conference worship services focus on loving God and neighbor.
- A host of activities keep Conference-goers busy.
- General Board sets budget parameters, passes resolution on Iraq.
- Funds aid Sudanese, Hondurans, Church World Service, and provide flood relief.
- Brethren bits: Disaster relief, BVS, and much more.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Annual Conference meets in Charleston, W.Va., shows commitment to difficult issues.
Annual Conference showed persistence and a commitment to deal with difficult and divisive issues in its deliberations in Charleston, W.Va., July 3-7. Through days of meetings, moderator Chris Bowman, a pastor at Martinsburg (Pa.) Memorial Church of the Brethren, guided an engaged and lively delegate body through a maze of issues, motions, and amendments with intelligence and clarity. Ronald Beachley, executive minister for Western Pennsylvania District, was chosen as moderator-elect, to lead the 2006 Conference in Des Moines.
Total attendance of 4,038--including 920 congregational and district delegates--easily topped last year's gathering of 2,844 in Boise and came close to the Baltimore registration figure of 5,029 in 2001. It was announced that San Diego, Calif., will be the Conference site in 2009. Next year's Conference will take place in Peoria, Ill., July 2-6.
Extensive discussion and an extremely close vote on a substitute motion revealed deep division in the delegate body over the report on "Congregational Disagreements with Annual Conference Decisions." Similar discussion with regard to other business items--particularly the denominational name, doing church business, and multi-ethnic church and cross cultural ministries--gave a sense that the delegate body also was deeply divided over how open to diversity and differing opinions the church ought to be.
There were indications that Annual Conference leadership may be moving to invite more open conversations, in pre-Conference meetings of the Standing Committee of district delegates. The committee talked about hurts and brokenness in the denomination and sought ways to hear concerns that do not come through established channels.
The report from the committee on "Congregational Disagreements with Annual Conference Decisions" was adopted with an amendment deleting the committee's suggestion that in extreme cases of disagreement, district conferences not seat congregations. The Conference also adopted reports on "The Functions and Qualifications of the Local Church Moderator," and on "Denominational Name." That committee reported overwhelming support for the name Church of the Brethren but called for attention to processes for dealing with controversial issues in the denomination.
A study committee was elected to answer the queries on "Becoming a Multi-Ethnic Church" and "The Need for Cross Cultural Ministries," which had been joined together as one business item. The Conference turned down Standing Committee recommendations that the issues be referred to the districts and Congregational Life Teams, on the urging of representatives of a multi-ethnic group that gathered in ad hoc fashion the evening before the business item came to the floor. The action did include some of the other Standing Committee recommendations, that cross-cultural ministries become an increased priority in the denomination and that a progress report be made each year for five years with reassessment in 2010 by Annual Conference.
The Conference first elected six members of a seven-member, ethnically diverse study committee, which also will include an ex-officio representative of the American Baptist Churches, to answer the concerns of the two queries. When it was announced in the final business session on July 7 that no African-Americans were elected to the committee, delegates reopened the business agenda and overwhelmingly passed a motion that the study committee choose an eighth member from the African-American nominees on the original ballot. Conference officers also heard counsel that the representative of the American Baptist Churches be African-American. The elected study committee members are Darla Kay Bowman Deardorff, Ruben Deoleo, Nadine L. Monn, Neemita Pandya, Gilbert Romero, and Asha Solanky.
Another five-member study committee was elected to answer a query on "Doing Church Business," to report in 2005. Committee members are Joe Detrick, Matt Guynn, Verdena Lee, Dale Posthumus, and David Shetler.
The General Board's resolution on Iraq was adopted with hardly any discussion. The resolution called on members and congregations to be "a constant witness to Christ as a living peace church of today against all war and the violence of its nature." The resolution also called on the US administration and Congress to take responsibility for their involvement in the war.
In other business, a 3.1 percent cash salary increase for pastors was approved, the delegates received a "Ministries and Mission" report from the five Conference agencies, and two new fellowships were welcomed: Koinonia Fellowship in Charlottesville, Va., and Sunrise Church in Harrisonburg, Va.
In elections for denominational offices, Joan Lawrence Daggett was elected to the Annual Conference Council; Joanna Wave Willoughby to the Program and Arrangements Committee; James O. Eikenberry to the Committee on Interchurch Relations; Herman Kauffman to the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee; Diane Harden to the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) board; David B. Eller as trustee for Bethany Theological Seminary; John A. Braun to the Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) board; Michael Benner as at-large member of the General Board; and Robbie Miller to the On Earth Peace board.
The Conference also affirmed appointments to the boards of Conference agencies: for ABC, Eddie H. Edmonds, John Katonah, and John Wenger; for Bethany, Jerry A. Davis, John D. Miller Jr., and Charles Boyer, who was elected by the alumni; for the General Board, district appointees Ken Wenger, Mid-Atlantic, Dale Minnich, Western Plains, and Susan Kinsel Fitze, Southern Ohio; and for On Earth Peace, David Jehnsen and Bev Weaver.
For more detailed information about Annual Conference 2004 in Charleston, W.Va., see the Annual Conference pages at www.brethren.org.
Annual Conference showed persistence and a commitment to deal with difficult and divisive issues in its deliberations in Charleston, W.Va., July 3-7. Through days of meetings, moderator Chris Bowman, a pastor at Martinsburg (Pa.) Memorial Church of the Brethren, guided an engaged and lively delegate body through a maze of issues, motions, and amendments with intelligence and clarity. Ronald Beachley, executive minister for Western Pennsylvania District, was chosen as moderator-elect, to lead the 2006 Conference in Des Moines.
Total attendance of 4,038--including 920 congregational and district delegates--easily topped last year's gathering of 2,844 in Boise and came close to the Baltimore registration figure of 5,029 in 2001. It was announced that San Diego, Calif., will be the Conference site in 2009. Next year's Conference will take place in Peoria, Ill., July 2-6.
Extensive discussion and an extremely close vote on a substitute motion revealed deep division in the delegate body over the report on "Congregational Disagreements with Annual Conference Decisions." Similar discussion with regard to other business items--particularly the denominational name, doing church business, and multi-ethnic church and cross cultural ministries--gave a sense that the delegate body also was deeply divided over how open to diversity and differing opinions the church ought to be.
There were indications that Annual Conference leadership may be moving to invite more open conversations, in pre-Conference meetings of the Standing Committee of district delegates. The committee talked about hurts and brokenness in the denomination and sought ways to hear concerns that do not come through established channels.
The report from the committee on "Congregational Disagreements with Annual Conference Decisions" was adopted with an amendment deleting the committee's suggestion that in extreme cases of disagreement, district conferences not seat congregations. The Conference also adopted reports on "The Functions and Qualifications of the Local Church Moderator," and on "Denominational Name." That committee reported overwhelming support for the name Church of the Brethren but called for attention to processes for dealing with controversial issues in the denomination.
A study committee was elected to answer the queries on "Becoming a Multi-Ethnic Church" and "The Need for Cross Cultural Ministries," which had been joined together as one business item. The Conference turned down Standing Committee recommendations that the issues be referred to the districts and Congregational Life Teams, on the urging of representatives of a multi-ethnic group that gathered in ad hoc fashion the evening before the business item came to the floor. The action did include some of the other Standing Committee recommendations, that cross-cultural ministries become an increased priority in the denomination and that a progress report be made each year for five years with reassessment in 2010 by Annual Conference.
The Conference first elected six members of a seven-member, ethnically diverse study committee, which also will include an ex-officio representative of the American Baptist Churches, to answer the concerns of the two queries. When it was announced in the final business session on July 7 that no African-Americans were elected to the committee, delegates reopened the business agenda and overwhelmingly passed a motion that the study committee choose an eighth member from the African-American nominees on the original ballot. Conference officers also heard counsel that the representative of the American Baptist Churches be African-American. The elected study committee members are Darla Kay Bowman Deardorff, Ruben Deoleo, Nadine L. Monn, Neemita Pandya, Gilbert Romero, and Asha Solanky.
Another five-member study committee was elected to answer a query on "Doing Church Business," to report in 2005. Committee members are Joe Detrick, Matt Guynn, Verdena Lee, Dale Posthumus, and David Shetler.
The General Board's resolution on Iraq was adopted with hardly any discussion. The resolution called on members and congregations to be "a constant witness to Christ as a living peace church of today against all war and the violence of its nature." The resolution also called on the US administration and Congress to take responsibility for their involvement in the war.
In other business, a 3.1 percent cash salary increase for pastors was approved, the delegates received a "Ministries and Mission" report from the five Conference agencies, and two new fellowships were welcomed: Koinonia Fellowship in Charlottesville, Va., and Sunrise Church in Harrisonburg, Va.
In elections for denominational offices, Joan Lawrence Daggett was elected to the Annual Conference Council; Joanna Wave Willoughby to the Program and Arrangements Committee; James O. Eikenberry to the Committee on Interchurch Relations; Herman Kauffman to the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee; Diane Harden to the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) board; David B. Eller as trustee for Bethany Theological Seminary; John A. Braun to the Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) board; Michael Benner as at-large member of the General Board; and Robbie Miller to the On Earth Peace board.
The Conference also affirmed appointments to the boards of Conference agencies: for ABC, Eddie H. Edmonds, John Katonah, and John Wenger; for Bethany, Jerry A. Davis, John D. Miller Jr., and Charles Boyer, who was elected by the alumni; for the General Board, district appointees Ken Wenger, Mid-Atlantic, Dale Minnich, Western Plains, and Susan Kinsel Fitze, Southern Ohio; and for On Earth Peace, David Jehnsen and Bev Weaver.
For more detailed information about Annual Conference 2004 in Charleston, W.Va., see the Annual Conference pages at www.brethren.org.
Conference worship services focus on loving God and neighbor.
Daily worship services focused on the Annual Conference theme of "Loving God and Neighbor" and provided a strong foundation on which to build numerous days of worshipful work.
Moderator Chris Bowman's sermon on Saturday evening set the tone for the week. He encouraged Brethren to "turn our efforts and our energies back to the basics--loving God and loving neighbor, living lives for the glory of God and our neighbor's good. That is something worth our passion, something worth our protection, something worth our lives in the body of Christ."
On Sunday morning, Dena Pence Frantz, professor of Theological Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary, asked a question from scripture, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5b) She said, "The living God is known among us as we live our everyday lives in fullness and delight in God's presence and in active love for others."
Worship on Monday evening was well-seasoned with laughter, soulful music, drama, and heartfelt reflection on the question, "Who is my neighbor?" James Washington, pastor of Faith Center Fellowship, Whitehouse, Texas, spoke on "Living Lovingly Together." He underscored the importance of loving all of our neighbors, equal to all humanity, as opposed to only loving those with whom relationship is easy.
Worship pulled Brethren together on Tuesday evening around the love feast. Tim Button-Harrison, pastor of Ivester Church of the Brethren in Grundy Center, Iowa, posed the question of how Brethren are doing with loving one another beyond the local congregation, symbolized by sharing love feast together. He challenged his listeners, saying, "Like never before, today we are called to go extraordinary distances, to overcome great divides, to practice Jesus' command that we love one another."
In a fitting conclusion to Conference, the closing worship Wednesday morning sent participants out to continue the work of Jesus. Preacher Andrew Murray, Juniata College professor and Brethren musical legend, reminded listeners that "the Kingdom is not destination, it is a journey." Murray said, "There is no way to the Kingdom; the Kingdom is the way." He then asked listeners, as the denominational tag-line says, to "Continue the work of Jesus...peacefully, simply, together."
For many Conference-goers, the music in worship was a spiritual experience. From the "souped up" Bluegrass version of "Brethren We Have Met to Worship," to the heartfelt solos of Larry Brumfield, to the a capella group The Guys, music bathed the gathered body in a sense of God's presence.
Daily worship services focused on the Annual Conference theme of "Loving God and Neighbor" and provided a strong foundation on which to build numerous days of worshipful work.
Moderator Chris Bowman's sermon on Saturday evening set the tone for the week. He encouraged Brethren to "turn our efforts and our energies back to the basics--loving God and loving neighbor, living lives for the glory of God and our neighbor's good. That is something worth our passion, something worth our protection, something worth our lives in the body of Christ."
On Sunday morning, Dena Pence Frantz, professor of Theological Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary, asked a question from scripture, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5b) She said, "The living God is known among us as we live our everyday lives in fullness and delight in God's presence and in active love for others."
Worship on Monday evening was well-seasoned with laughter, soulful music, drama, and heartfelt reflection on the question, "Who is my neighbor?" James Washington, pastor of Faith Center Fellowship, Whitehouse, Texas, spoke on "Living Lovingly Together." He underscored the importance of loving all of our neighbors, equal to all humanity, as opposed to only loving those with whom relationship is easy.
Worship pulled Brethren together on Tuesday evening around the love feast. Tim Button-Harrison, pastor of Ivester Church of the Brethren in Grundy Center, Iowa, posed the question of how Brethren are doing with loving one another beyond the local congregation, symbolized by sharing love feast together. He challenged his listeners, saying, "Like never before, today we are called to go extraordinary distances, to overcome great divides, to practice Jesus' command that we love one another."
In a fitting conclusion to Conference, the closing worship Wednesday morning sent participants out to continue the work of Jesus. Preacher Andrew Murray, Juniata College professor and Brethren musical legend, reminded listeners that "the Kingdom is not destination, it is a journey." Murray said, "There is no way to the Kingdom; the Kingdom is the way." He then asked listeners, as the denominational tag-line says, to "Continue the work of Jesus...peacefully, simply, together."
For many Conference-goers, the music in worship was a spiritual experience. From the "souped up" Bluegrass version of "Brethren We Have Met to Worship," to the heartfelt solos of Larry Brumfield, to the a capella group The Guys, music bathed the gathered body in a sense of God's presence.
A host of activities keep Conference-goers busy.
A fourth of July rally following the visit of President Bush to Charleston, an exhibit of boots related to the Iraq war, as well as the usual host of insight sessions, meal events, Bible and theological studies, support groups, and age-group activities, all kept Conference-goers busy in Charleston this year.
Marching behind a banner proclaiming, "Church of the Brethren: A Living Peace Church," hundreds of Conference attendees participated in a rally to protest the policies of President Bush, who spoke in Charleston earlier in the day on July 4.
The action also involved the West Virginia Patriots for Peace and the Sierra Club. The group assembled at the US Courthouse in Charleston, where a "wall" was stretched across the steps bearing the names of more than 800 US military personnel who have been killed in Iraq since the invasion.
Among the many protesters were 18-month-old Michael Bidgood Enders--with his dad, Greg--and Dale Brown, who has led and participated in many peace demonstrations over the decades. The action was coordinated by the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office.
An exhibit of combat boots bearing the names and home states of the US military killed in Iraq was set up outside the Charleston Civic Center on July 6-7, including an overnight candlelight vigil. The 10,000 plus Iraqi civilian casualties were also symbolically represented.
Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board, was visibly moved as he addressed a press conference at the display. Noting the action just taken by Annual Conference to adopt a General Board resolution on Iraq calling the church to accountability, he called upon the church to be ready to embrace all who will be victims of this war: Iraqis, returned military personnel, families of the lost and wounded.
The American Friends Service Committee traveling display received sponsorship by the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office, On Earth Peace, Christian Peacemaker Teams, and West Virginia Patriots for Peace.
Enthusiasm for prayer and praise, study and discussion, also abounded in Charleston. An urban prayer walk blessed the streets of the city; the Brethren Revival Fellowship held its prayer and fasting session; Bible studies and theological studies were offered; and the many insight sessions gave opportunities to learn about current issues for the church and its members. Young adults were even escorted from the Civic Center at midnight one evening, having been discovered in the prayer room still praising God when the building was supposed to have been closed for the night.
Conference attendees also took advantage of service opportunities at the meeting. Some 2,500 Gift of the Heart kits and Clinic Boxes were brought to the Conference and collected by the General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries program. Brethren also donated 164 pints of blood in the annual blood drive. Three quilts and three wall hangings raised $20,400 in the 30th annual quilt auction sponsored by Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren.
The annual Brethren Benefit Trust Fitness Challenge 5K saw a record turnout with around 160 participants, as opposed to the usual 90. For the first time, the largest group registered were women walkers age 40-59. First place runners were Courtland Howard and Deb Morris Crouse. First place walkers were Bev Anspaugh and Don Shankster.
A fourth of July rally following the visit of President Bush to Charleston, an exhibit of boots related to the Iraq war, as well as the usual host of insight sessions, meal events, Bible and theological studies, support groups, and age-group activities, all kept Conference-goers busy in Charleston this year.
Marching behind a banner proclaiming, "Church of the Brethren: A Living Peace Church," hundreds of Conference attendees participated in a rally to protest the policies of President Bush, who spoke in Charleston earlier in the day on July 4.
The action also involved the West Virginia Patriots for Peace and the Sierra Club. The group assembled at the US Courthouse in Charleston, where a "wall" was stretched across the steps bearing the names of more than 800 US military personnel who have been killed in Iraq since the invasion.
Among the many protesters were 18-month-old Michael Bidgood Enders--with his dad, Greg--and Dale Brown, who has led and participated in many peace demonstrations over the decades. The action was coordinated by the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office.
An exhibit of combat boots bearing the names and home states of the US military killed in Iraq was set up outside the Charleston Civic Center on July 6-7, including an overnight candlelight vigil. The 10,000 plus Iraqi civilian casualties were also symbolically represented.
Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board, was visibly moved as he addressed a press conference at the display. Noting the action just taken by Annual Conference to adopt a General Board resolution on Iraq calling the church to accountability, he called upon the church to be ready to embrace all who will be victims of this war: Iraqis, returned military personnel, families of the lost and wounded.
The American Friends Service Committee traveling display received sponsorship by the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office, On Earth Peace, Christian Peacemaker Teams, and West Virginia Patriots for Peace.
Enthusiasm for prayer and praise, study and discussion, also abounded in Charleston. An urban prayer walk blessed the streets of the city; the Brethren Revival Fellowship held its prayer and fasting session; Bible studies and theological studies were offered; and the many insight sessions gave opportunities to learn about current issues for the church and its members. Young adults were even escorted from the Civic Center at midnight one evening, having been discovered in the prayer room still praising God when the building was supposed to have been closed for the night.
Conference attendees also took advantage of service opportunities at the meeting. Some 2,500 Gift of the Heart kits and Clinic Boxes were brought to the Conference and collected by the General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries program. Brethren also donated 164 pints of blood in the annual blood drive. Three quilts and three wall hangings raised $20,400 in the 30th annual quilt auction sponsored by Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren.
The annual Brethren Benefit Trust Fitness Challenge 5K saw a record turnout with around 160 participants, as opposed to the usual 90. For the first time, the largest group registered were women walkers age 40-59. First place runners were Courtland Howard and Deb Morris Crouse. First place walkers were Bev Anspaugh and Don Shankster.
General Board sets budget parameters, passes resolution on Iraq.
At its pre-Annual Conference meeting the General Board set budget parameters for 2005 that necessitate a budget reduction, and asked for a proposed resolution on Iraq to be rewritten and brought back later in the Conference week. The Iraq resolution was then passed by the board in a later meeting, and passed by the delegate body on Tuesday July 6. The board also affirmed a document describing a new Property Stewardship Committee and dedicated its Conference exhibit with prayer.
The board set a 2005 budget parameter of $5,426,000, which represents a $199,000 budget reduction for next year. "The Planning Team recommended a budget that included a much greater financial challenge," said Stan Noffsinger, general secretary, "but the board chose a more moderate plan to spread out the deficit over a number of years." The board also reviewed its policies on endowment, quasi-endowment, and investment income. "The board endorsed a philosophy that will help those resources provide support to the ongoing ministries of the General Board well into the future," Noffsinger said.
A resolution on Iraq brought by Brethren Witness/Washington Office director Phil Jones was sent back for revision with help from a small group of board members. The board set a special meeting on July 5 to consider the rewritten resolution, when it adopted the paper as a General Board resolution and passed it on to the Annual Conference delegates for their consideration.
A document describing a Stewardship of Property Committee was accepted by the board. The committee will offer recommendations regarding use of board properties in Elgin, Ill., and New Windsor, Md. The document calls for nominations of committee members to be submitted to the Office of the General Secretary by August 30. Membership of the committee will be announced at the board's October meeting. The committee is expected to report preliminary findings in Oct. 2005 and bring a recommendation in March 2006.
In addition, the board heard reports on an information systems audit, a cross cultural consultation in Puerto Rico, the new Gather 'Round curriculum, a polity manual update, and citations to staff and retiring board members.
At a reorganization meeting during the Conference, members of the General Board selected Donna Shumate as chair, Glenn Mitchell as vice chair, and David Sollenberger, Doug Price, J.D. Glick, and Jeff Neuman-Lee as executive committee members.
At its pre-Annual Conference meeting the General Board set budget parameters for 2005 that necessitate a budget reduction, and asked for a proposed resolution on Iraq to be rewritten and brought back later in the Conference week. The Iraq resolution was then passed by the board in a later meeting, and passed by the delegate body on Tuesday July 6. The board also affirmed a document describing a new Property Stewardship Committee and dedicated its Conference exhibit with prayer.
The board set a 2005 budget parameter of $5,426,000, which represents a $199,000 budget reduction for next year. "The Planning Team recommended a budget that included a much greater financial challenge," said Stan Noffsinger, general secretary, "but the board chose a more moderate plan to spread out the deficit over a number of years." The board also reviewed its policies on endowment, quasi-endowment, and investment income. "The board endorsed a philosophy that will help those resources provide support to the ongoing ministries of the General Board well into the future," Noffsinger said.
A resolution on Iraq brought by Brethren Witness/Washington Office director Phil Jones was sent back for revision with help from a small group of board members. The board set a special meeting on July 5 to consider the rewritten resolution, when it adopted the paper as a General Board resolution and passed it on to the Annual Conference delegates for their consideration.
A document describing a Stewardship of Property Committee was accepted by the board. The committee will offer recommendations regarding use of board properties in Elgin, Ill., and New Windsor, Md. The document calls for nominations of committee members to be submitted to the Office of the General Secretary by August 30. Membership of the committee will be announced at the board's October meeting. The committee is expected to report preliminary findings in Oct. 2005 and bring a recommendation in March 2006.
In addition, the board heard reports on an information systems audit, a cross cultural consultation in Puerto Rico, the new Gather 'Round curriculum, a polity manual update, and citations to staff and retiring board members.
At a reorganization meeting during the Conference, members of the General Board selected Donna Shumate as chair, Glenn Mitchell as vice chair, and David Sollenberger, Doug Price, J.D. Glick, and Jeff Neuman-Lee as executive committee members.
Funds aid Sudanese, Hondurans, Church World Service, and provide flood relief.
Grants from the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) and Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) have been given to aid victims of civil war in Sudan, economic development in Honduras, and the Church World Service Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison Program, and to provide disaster relief following flooding in Washington State and the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
An EDF allocation of $60,000 supports a Church World Service (CWS) appeal for the violence-ravaged Darfur region of Western Sudan. The funds will assist in providing food, medicine, water and sanitation, agriculture materials, and counseling to approximately 500,000 persons over the next 18 months.
The sum of $22,000 from the EDF undergirds the work of the Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison Program of CWS, as it continues to facilitate faith-based responses to disasters.
The Washington state Faith-Based Disaster Recovery Network received an EDF grant of $7,500 for its work in the wake of extensive damage caused by flooding and storms in 15 counties. Church of the Brethren Oregon/Washington District Disaster Response and other volunteers have been helping with the rebuilding of homes. The funds will provide financial support for the recovery to continue.
In the Dominican Republic and Haiti, an EDF allocation of $4,000 supports a CWS appeal for flood relief. The funds will be used to ship medical supplies, Gift of the Heart Kits, and blankets from the Brethren Service Center to the island nations. Additional appeals for long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts are expected. Another EDF grant of $7,000 will go to the Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic, where church construction over an unforeseen sink hole has caused considerable damage and rendered a section of the building unsafe for use. The funds will assist in repair and reconstruction before additional damage occurs.
An allocation of $15,000 has been made from the GFCF to support economic development work of the Christian Commission for Development (CCD) in Honduras. The funds will support an effort to establish an agency for the promotion of micro-loan development countrywide, with the goal of raising the economic well-being of families primarily in subsistence areas.
Grants from the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) and Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) have been given to aid victims of civil war in Sudan, economic development in Honduras, and the Church World Service Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison Program, and to provide disaster relief following flooding in Washington State and the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
An EDF allocation of $60,000 supports a Church World Service (CWS) appeal for the violence-ravaged Darfur region of Western Sudan. The funds will assist in providing food, medicine, water and sanitation, agriculture materials, and counseling to approximately 500,000 persons over the next 18 months.
The sum of $22,000 from the EDF undergirds the work of the Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison Program of CWS, as it continues to facilitate faith-based responses to disasters.
The Washington state Faith-Based Disaster Recovery Network received an EDF grant of $7,500 for its work in the wake of extensive damage caused by flooding and storms in 15 counties. Church of the Brethren Oregon/Washington District Disaster Response and other volunteers have been helping with the rebuilding of homes. The funds will provide financial support for the recovery to continue.
In the Dominican Republic and Haiti, an EDF allocation of $4,000 supports a CWS appeal for flood relief. The funds will be used to ship medical supplies, Gift of the Heart Kits, and blankets from the Brethren Service Center to the island nations. Additional appeals for long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts are expected. Another EDF grant of $7,000 will go to the Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic, where church construction over an unforeseen sink hole has caused considerable damage and rendered a section of the building unsafe for use. The funds will assist in repair and reconstruction before additional damage occurs.
An allocation of $15,000 has been made from the GFCF to support economic development work of the Christian Commission for Development (CCD) in Honduras. The funds will support an effort to establish an agency for the promotion of micro-loan development countrywide, with the goal of raising the economic well-being of families primarily in subsistence areas.
Brethren bits: Disaster relief, BVS, and much more.
- Church of the Brethren disaster coordinators visited sites in central Pennsylvania after an F3 tornado tore apart homes and brought down trees and power lines the afternoon of July 14, according to Emergency Response staff Helen Stonesifer. Campbelltown, in Lebanon County, received the worst storm damage with 24 injuries reported and up to 50 houses damaged. A number of homes in South Londonderry Township, in the Country Squire Estates, were leveled and others were ripped open. Jean Myers, Disaster Child Care Region III coordinator, and Tom Cope, Atlantic Northeast District disaster coordinator, visited sites July 15 to offer child care and clean up assistance. The Emergency Response office reported that 60 Brethren volunteers from the surrounding area were out doing clean up today July 16, and are planning on returning daily for the next several days.
- The summer Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) orientation unit 260 will run from July 25 through Aug. 13, with 25 volunteers planning to attend. The orientation will be held at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The BVS office reminds anyone who might be interested that the unit will host a potluck at Union Bridge (Md.) Church of the Brethren on Saturday, July 31, beginning at 6 p.m., for any past BVS volunteers, Civilian Public Service workers, sea-going cowboys, and anyone who feels connected to BVS.
- At its Annual Conference luncheon, the Committee on Interchurch Relations gave an Ecumenical Citation to Kira Marriner, a member of Live Oak (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, for her work in peacemaking.
- The Association of Brethren Caregivers gave its first "Open Roof" award at Annual Conference. The award was presented to Lansing (Mich.) Church of the Brethren for its progress in accessibility to those with disabilities.
- The Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren (AACB) is beginning a project to record the history of AACB quilts and quilting, as part of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Church of the Brethren in 2008. The group, which this year celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Annual Conference quilt auction, will collect photographs and interesting articles about Conference quilts made between 1973 and 2006. The group seeks facts about the quilts such as the purchaser(s), families or churches who have owned the quilts, places where the quilts have been displayed, and interesting anecdotes connected to the quilts. The group also would like to hear from quilters at Annual Conference who can give information about the number of years they have worked on quilts there, and from those who first learned to quilt at Annual Conference who may be willing to share their stories. "What has this experience of quilting at Annual Conference meant to you?" asked AACB coordinator Joyce Parker in a release about the project. "The AACB is grateful for the heritage of quilting at Annual Conference--creating and finishing pieced quilts." Send stories and information to AACB Coordinator Joyce Parker, 1293 Laurel Dr., W. Salem, OH 44387, 419-945-2327, e-mail djparker@bright.net. People who want to be involved in the history project are invited to contact Parker as well.
- John Waggoner, the mutual fund columnist for "USA Today" and a member of Dranesville Church of the Brethren, Herndon, Va., joined a panel discussion at an Annual Conference insight session on personal investing. The session was presented by Brethren Benefit Trust and attended by about 50 Conference-goers. Other panelists were Gail Habecker, investment professional with PMG Advisors; Don Fecher, director of the Brethren Pension Plan; and convener Will Thomas, BBT's director of Socially Responsible Investing. The discussion focused on "Now what should I do? Investment challenges with your personal finances." A videotape of the session, complete with an overview on equities by Waggoner, an overview on bond markets by Habecker, and a discussion of how investment assets should be allocated along with questions and answers, will be available on DVD or VHS in mid-September. Contact Lauryn Estes at BBT, 847-622-3374, to reserve a copy.
- Jonathan P. Emmons, who served as organist for Annual Conference this year, has received a partial scholarship to attend the Organ Academy International Summer School at Mount Royal College Conservatory in Calgary, Canada. The Bridgewater (Va.) College senior music major is one of 18 young organists from around the world to be accepted into the program, which will run from July 26 to Aug. 3. Under the direction of Simon Preston, former organist and choirmaster at Christ Church in Oxford, England, and London's Westminster Abbey, the program offers intensive, short-term organ instruction in both small group and individual sessions taught by a distinguished faculty. Emmons is the son of Timothy and Alice Emmons of Rocky Mount, Va.
- Blood donors at Annual Conference in Charleston learned about a new "Church of the Brethren Walk-In Campaign" to enlarge the ranks of those registered with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Wendy Jeansonne, of San Carlos, Calif., shared information about the program with Conference-goers. According to Jeansonne, bone marrow donations may help treat 70 different types of blood diseases and disorders, and those who register with the NMDP could be called for a donation as far into the future as 40 years. Some 30,000 people a year seek unrelated donors for a life-saving match, she said. Those interested in having tissue typing done may make an appointment at the nearest NMDP donor center and mention the Brethren campaign, which will cover fees. Donors must be healthy and between the ages of 18 and 60. The campaign ends on Aug. 31. For more information about the campaign, contact Joanne Malone, Virginia Blood Services, 800-989-4438 ext. 4162. For more information about the NMDP call 800-MARROW-2 or see www.marrow.org.
- The Ecumenical Stewardship Center has announced a 2004 Leadership Seminar in St. Pete Beach, Fla., on the theme "Faith and Money: Breaking the Silence," Nov. 30-Dec. 3. This annual event draws clergy, denominational staff, educators, organizational leaders, and entrepreneurs with a passion for faithful stewardship ministry. Presenters will be Nelson Kraybill, president of the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary; Rosemary Williams, director of Women's Perspective; Steven Tomlinson, dramatist; and Greg Rickel, event chaplain. Cost is $395. An early bird savings of $40 off the registration cost is available through Oct. 4. A special group discount of $80 savings is offered for 20 or more registrants. For more information, see www.stewardshipresources.org, email stewardshipcenter@ameritech.net, or call 800-835-5671.
- Eleven youth from Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren in Fort Wayne, Ind., formed the nucleus of a June 18-28 learning tour to Honduras coordinated by the New Community Project, a Brethren-related nonprofit organization. The group, along with pastor Melissa Bennett, youth advisor Shawn Sollenberger, construction guide Jim Dodd of Midland, Va., and New Community Project director David Radcliff, refurbished a badly deteriorated health clinic in the community of San Juan Bosco. The group also visited with teachers, nurses, and a women's group; attended a soccer match in a neighboring village; and ended the trip with a visit to the Copan Ruins.
- A call for true inspirational stories of peacemaking has been issued by Linda Williams, a member of First Church of the Brethren, San Diego, Calif., and co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Peace Lover's Soul." Chicken Soup for the Soul Ent. Inc. is considering publishing a two-book set in order to "get twice the number of dynamite stories of peace, harmony, compassion, and forgiveness out to the general public," Williams said. Among those who already have submitted stories are Nobel Peace Prize laureates Desmond Tutu and Oscar Arias. Those interested in the project may submit stories, poems, songs, quotes, or cartoons; help select stories; and give input on cover art and title. Guidelines for submissions and sample stories are at http://chickensoup.peacestories.info/. Authors of stories chosen for inclusion in the book will receive $200 and have a 50 word bio published in the book. E-mail story submissions to Submissions@PeaceLoversSoul.com. To help select stories, contact Williams at Submissions@PeaceLoversSoul.com. To help select cover art and title, go to www.chickensoup.com, click on "Join Our Test Center" under "Share with Us," and submit name and e-mail address.
- Brethren interested in organizing a Brethren in Business association are invited to attend a meeting to be held in conjunction with the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) "Business as a Calling" 2004 convention in Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 4-7. The theme of the meeting will be "Risky Business." Cost to Brethren will be $295. Movement to launch the fledgling association has been stimulated by the former organization of Brethren in business, the Brethren Business Network, and is being given leadership by John Braun, a pastor and an associate with Good News Associates in Seattle, Wash. An informal meeting with those interested in the new association was held at Annual Conference. To contact Braun call 206-368-2654 or 206-920-5671. For more information about MEDA visit www.businessasacalling.org or call 800-665-7026, or to register online visit www.meda.org.
Anti-racism team will lead youth peace retreat.
The weekend of Sept. 24-26, On Earth Peace will host a Senior High Youth Peace Retreat at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. "Red and Yellow, Black and White: Learning about Racism," will help youth develop skills to identify and dismantle the sin of racism in their lives. The weekend will include time for worship, discussions, and recreation. All high-school aged youth are invited to attend.
The Church of the Brethren Anti Racism Team members will provide leadership for the weekend. The team has been trained and called by the denomination for this ministry, and has previously led training events for the General Board and district conferences. "While it's critical for everyone to be a part of this kind of training, it is especially important for youth," said Torin Eikler, a member of the team. "They seem to see the struggles and pain that institutional racism causes within the church, in their schools, and in the world more easily, as they look at things with a fresh set of eyes." The team also will lead the On Earth Peace board, meeting in New Windsor at the same time, in an all-day training.
"This retreat is a great way for youth and their advisors to engage in the same questions that were raised this summer about our church fulfilling the scriptures, like in Galatians 3:28," said Kim Stuckey, coordinator of Peacemaker Formation. The retreat will begin 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, and end at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26. Cost is $50 including housing and meals. To register or for information about scholarships contact Kim Stuckey at On Earth Peace, 410-635-8706 or e-mail kstuckey_oepa@brethren.org. More information and a complete schedule are available on the "Upcoming Events" page of the On Earth Peace website www.brethren.org/oepa/events.html.
The weekend of Sept. 24-26, On Earth Peace will host a Senior High Youth Peace Retreat at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. "Red and Yellow, Black and White: Learning about Racism," will help youth develop skills to identify and dismantle the sin of racism in their lives. The weekend will include time for worship, discussions, and recreation. All high-school aged youth are invited to attend.
The Church of the Brethren Anti Racism Team members will provide leadership for the weekend. The team has been trained and called by the denomination for this ministry, and has previously led training events for the General Board and district conferences. "While it's critical for everyone to be a part of this kind of training, it is especially important for youth," said Torin Eikler, a member of the team. "They seem to see the struggles and pain that institutional racism causes within the church, in their schools, and in the world more easily, as they look at things with a fresh set of eyes." The team also will lead the On Earth Peace board, meeting in New Windsor at the same time, in an all-day training.
"This retreat is a great way for youth and their advisors to engage in the same questions that were raised this summer about our church fulfilling the scriptures, like in Galatians 3:28," said Kim Stuckey, coordinator of Peacemaker Formation. The retreat will begin 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, and end at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26. Cost is $50 including housing and meals. To register or for information about scholarships contact Kim Stuckey at On Earth Peace, 410-635-8706 or e-mail kstuckey_oepa@brethren.org. More information and a complete schedule are available on the "Upcoming Events" page of the On Earth Peace website www.brethren.org/oepa/events.html.
Credits
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Members of the 2004 Annual Conference news team, a ministry of the General Board, contributed to this report: Kathleen Campanella, Jill Kline, Frank Ramirez, Frances Townsend, Sarah Leatherman Young, and Becky Ullom. Mary Kay Heatwole and Kim Stuckey also contributed.
Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Members of the 2004 Annual Conference news team, a ministry of the General Board, contributed to this report: Kathleen Campanella, Jill Kline, Frank Ramirez, Frances Townsend, Sarah Leatherman Young, and Becky Ullom. Mary Kay Heatwole and Kim Stuckey also contributed.
Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.
Friday, July 02, 2004
NEWS
- National Young Adult Conference meets in Colorado.
- Church of the Brethren joins the Foods Resource Bank.
- Alerts call attention to President Bush's visit to Charleston, Sudan, legislation.
- Bethany Seminary chosen for 2004 Lexington Seminar.
- Dixon congregation promotes Brethren water.
- Anti-war sign vandalized at Skyridge Church of the Brethren.
- Brethren bits: correction, Annual Conference, and much more.
NOTE: Daily coverage of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference will begin tomorrow, Saturday, July 3, at www.brethren.org. Reports from business sessions and other events in Charleston, W.Va., will be posted July 3-7. A summary of Conference activities will be included in the July 16 issue of Newsline.
TAKE THE NEWSLINE ON-LINE SURVEY! Newsline readers and subscribers are invited to help improve the Newsline service by filling out a short, 12-question survey. The survey can be found at www.brethren.org, click on "News," or go to www.brethren.org/genbd/newsline/surveyWindow.html. If you cannot access the survey on-line, please request a survey form by mail from Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at cobnews@aol.com.
National Young Adult Conference meets in Colorado.
More than 250 Brethren in the 18 to 35 age range converged on Winter Park, Colo., June 14 to 18 for a powerful and energetic week in the Rocky Mountains.
Worship formed the heart of this National Young Adult Conference (NYAC), with daily morning and evening services. Tony Campolo, the General Board's general secretary Stan Noffsinger, Belita Mitchell, Angie Lahman Yoder, and Susan Boyer all spoke. Other services used only video, drama, music, and other creative outlets to share the message.
NYAC also included daily discussion-oriented workshop options (called "padares," after an African term for a "marketplace of ideas"), sharing in small community groups, late-night open mic coffeehouse sessions, and abundant free time for recreation and fellowship.
"NYAC was a great experience for meeting new people, reacquainting with old friends, for spiritual growth and renewal, and wonderful worship services," participant Sonja LeCount of Elgin, Ill., said.
Young adults generously participated in an offering of shoes, in donations at the coffeehouse ($604), and in cash offerings for On Earth Peace ($847) and the General Board ($3,468). Some also took part in a service project to clear beetle-infested wood, helping to protect healthy trees.
The General Board's Youth/Young Adult Ministry Office has long sponsored an annual Young Adult Conference, but previous events are smaller and held only over a weekend, typically at a Brethren camp.
This was the first time for a young adult conference of this length and scope. Another smaller event is planned for May 27-29, 2005, at Woodland Altars in Ohio.
More than 250 Brethren in the 18 to 35 age range converged on Winter Park, Colo., June 14 to 18 for a powerful and energetic week in the Rocky Mountains.
Worship formed the heart of this National Young Adult Conference (NYAC), with daily morning and evening services. Tony Campolo, the General Board's general secretary Stan Noffsinger, Belita Mitchell, Angie Lahman Yoder, and Susan Boyer all spoke. Other services used only video, drama, music, and other creative outlets to share the message.
NYAC also included daily discussion-oriented workshop options (called "padares," after an African term for a "marketplace of ideas"), sharing in small community groups, late-night open mic coffeehouse sessions, and abundant free time for recreation and fellowship.
"NYAC was a great experience for meeting new people, reacquainting with old friends, for spiritual growth and renewal, and wonderful worship services," participant Sonja LeCount of Elgin, Ill., said.
Young adults generously participated in an offering of shoes, in donations at the coffeehouse ($604), and in cash offerings for On Earth Peace ($847) and the General Board ($3,468). Some also took part in a service project to clear beetle-infested wood, helping to protect healthy trees.
The General Board's Youth/Young Adult Ministry Office has long sponsored an annual Young Adult Conference, but previous events are smaller and held only over a weekend, typically at a Brethren camp.
This was the first time for a young adult conference of this length and scope. Another smaller event is planned for May 27-29, 2005, at Woodland Altars in Ohio.
Church of the Brethren joins the Foods Resource Bank.
In June the Church of the Brethren, through the General Board's Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF), joined the Foods Resource Bank (FRB), a faith-based partnership that engages congregations, land owners, farmers, and agribusiness in community Growing Projects. The Church of the Brethren is the organization's 16th member agency, joining others such as Church World Service, Lutheran World Relief, and Mennonite Central Committee.
GFCF manager Howard Royer explained how Growing Projects work: "Land is donated or rented for a year; farmers contribute time and equipment to plant, tend, and harvest the crop; and the yield is sold with the proceeds benefitting specific hunger programs abroad." The FRB coalition multiplies the donations of the projects, doubling the return through grants from sources such as the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and US AID. This year FRB members have 5,500 acres in 164 growing projects. In 2003, proceeds for hunger totaled $976,000.
Ivester Church of the Brethren, Grundy Center, Iowa, may be the first Church of the Brethren congregation to participate in the Foods Resource Bank, according to Royer. Ivester is partnering with the local Presbyterian church in a Growing Project that this year, with the Brethren co-sponsorship, is cultivating 154 acres. The crop is corn, some of which already has been pre-sold at $3 a bushel.
Royer is seeking other Church of the Brethren congregations and individuals who may be interested in exploring a Growing Project for their community. "My hope is for the Church of the Brethren to gear up with a half dozen growing projects in 2005," he wrote in a letter introducing the concept to district executives. A flier about the Foods Resource Bank will be supplied to congregations and districts this summer and a short video describing FRB is available from the GFCF office.
"The unique feature of FRB's Growing Project model is that it allows all participants to give a gift, many times a non-cash gift, and often one that only they can give, to allow people they may never meet to know the dignity and pride of feeding themselves and their families with extra to share, barter, or sell," according to FRB executive director Norm Braksik.
For more information contact Howard Royer at 800-323-8039 ext. 264 or see the FRB website www.foodsresourcebank.org.
In June the Church of the Brethren, through the General Board's Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF), joined the Foods Resource Bank (FRB), a faith-based partnership that engages congregations, land owners, farmers, and agribusiness in community Growing Projects. The Church of the Brethren is the organization's 16th member agency, joining others such as Church World Service, Lutheran World Relief, and Mennonite Central Committee.
GFCF manager Howard Royer explained how Growing Projects work: "Land is donated or rented for a year; farmers contribute time and equipment to plant, tend, and harvest the crop; and the yield is sold with the proceeds benefitting specific hunger programs abroad." The FRB coalition multiplies the donations of the projects, doubling the return through grants from sources such as the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and US AID. This year FRB members have 5,500 acres in 164 growing projects. In 2003, proceeds for hunger totaled $976,000.
Ivester Church of the Brethren, Grundy Center, Iowa, may be the first Church of the Brethren congregation to participate in the Foods Resource Bank, according to Royer. Ivester is partnering with the local Presbyterian church in a Growing Project that this year, with the Brethren co-sponsorship, is cultivating 154 acres. The crop is corn, some of which already has been pre-sold at $3 a bushel.
Royer is seeking other Church of the Brethren congregations and individuals who may be interested in exploring a Growing Project for their community. "My hope is for the Church of the Brethren to gear up with a half dozen growing projects in 2005," he wrote in a letter introducing the concept to district executives. A flier about the Foods Resource Bank will be supplied to congregations and districts this summer and a short video describing FRB is available from the GFCF office.
"The unique feature of FRB's Growing Project model is that it allows all participants to give a gift, many times a non-cash gift, and often one that only they can give, to allow people they may never meet to know the dignity and pride of feeding themselves and their families with extra to share, barter, or sell," according to FRB executive director Norm Braksik.
For more information contact Howard Royer at 800-323-8039 ext. 264 or see the FRB website www.foodsresourcebank.org.
Alerts call attention to President Bush's visit to Charleston, Sudan, legislation.
In its most recent action alert, the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office is inviting Brethren attending Annual Conference to join in a march against the war on terror as President Bush plans to visit the city on July 4. In other alerts, the office has called attention to Sudan, new nuclear weapons, and selective service legislation in Pennsylvania.
President George W. Bush will speak at 4th of July celebrations in downtown Charleston, W.Va., at the same time Brethren gather in the city for Conference. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office is coordinating efforts with local peace groups to make possible an opportunity for Brethren to express opposition to the "war on terror," a release from the office said. Conference-goers may stop by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office booth for details.
What may be a final round of peace talks between Sudan's government and southern rebels began June 27, the office reported, with the goal of a permanent ceasefire. An action alert encouraged Brethren to "remain watchful and prayerful for a true presence of peace for our friends of this central African nation.... Only the details of a comprehensive cease fire and how to implement the agreements for the south remain to be sorted out," the report said. Final negotiations were to begin June 22. The civil war between the mainly Arab and Muslim government in the north and the mainly black African and Christian rebel groups in the south has claimed at least 1.5 million lives. Violence continues in western Sudan, in the Darfur region, where militias linked to the government are carrying out what may be an attempt at genocide of the black African population. New Sudan Council of Churches leader Haruun Ruun will be at Annual Conference this week to speak on continuing challenges to peace in Sudan.
The office also issued an alert calling for support of an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would cut funds for new nuclear weapons, popularly called "mini nukes" or "bunker busters." The Kennedy-Feinstein Amendment would have eliminated funding for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP), the first of a new generation of nuclear weapons made possible by a new administration policy to reinforce the importance of nuclear weapons and lower the threshold for their use, the office reported. The defense authorization bill has passed the House and Senate, providing full funding for the RNEP, the office reported. "The energy and water appropriations bill passed the House on Friday and provides no money for the RNEP. The last step is the Senate energy and water appropriations bill, which will be marked up sometime in July. We hope to again cut the RNEP funds in the Senate subcommittee," said director Phil Jones.
Pending legislation in Pennsylvania would link automatic selective service, or draft, registration to driver's license applications. In an Action Alert, the Brethren Witness/Washington Office reported on an important development in the House version of the bill, a check box on driver's license forms allowing applicants to signify that they do not consent to register for selective service. The Washington Office urges Pennsylvania Brethren to contact House and committee leaders to keep the check box in the bill. "We have definitely had an impact on this bill," Jones said.
To receive Action Alerts or the office newsletter, send contact information including name and address or e-mail address to the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 337 N. Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003; 202-546-3202 or 800-785-3246; or e-mail washington_office_gb@brethren.org.
In its most recent action alert, the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office is inviting Brethren attending Annual Conference to join in a march against the war on terror as President Bush plans to visit the city on July 4. In other alerts, the office has called attention to Sudan, new nuclear weapons, and selective service legislation in Pennsylvania.
President George W. Bush will speak at 4th of July celebrations in downtown Charleston, W.Va., at the same time Brethren gather in the city for Conference. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office is coordinating efforts with local peace groups to make possible an opportunity for Brethren to express opposition to the "war on terror," a release from the office said. Conference-goers may stop by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office booth for details.
What may be a final round of peace talks between Sudan's government and southern rebels began June 27, the office reported, with the goal of a permanent ceasefire. An action alert encouraged Brethren to "remain watchful and prayerful for a true presence of peace for our friends of this central African nation.... Only the details of a comprehensive cease fire and how to implement the agreements for the south remain to be sorted out," the report said. Final negotiations were to begin June 22. The civil war between the mainly Arab and Muslim government in the north and the mainly black African and Christian rebel groups in the south has claimed at least 1.5 million lives. Violence continues in western Sudan, in the Darfur region, where militias linked to the government are carrying out what may be an attempt at genocide of the black African population. New Sudan Council of Churches leader Haruun Ruun will be at Annual Conference this week to speak on continuing challenges to peace in Sudan.
The office also issued an alert calling for support of an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would cut funds for new nuclear weapons, popularly called "mini nukes" or "bunker busters." The Kennedy-Feinstein Amendment would have eliminated funding for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP), the first of a new generation of nuclear weapons made possible by a new administration policy to reinforce the importance of nuclear weapons and lower the threshold for their use, the office reported. The defense authorization bill has passed the House and Senate, providing full funding for the RNEP, the office reported. "The energy and water appropriations bill passed the House on Friday and provides no money for the RNEP. The last step is the Senate energy and water appropriations bill, which will be marked up sometime in July. We hope to again cut the RNEP funds in the Senate subcommittee," said director Phil Jones.
Pending legislation in Pennsylvania would link automatic selective service, or draft, registration to driver's license applications. In an Action Alert, the Brethren Witness/Washington Office reported on an important development in the House version of the bill, a check box on driver's license forms allowing applicants to signify that they do not consent to register for selective service. The Washington Office urges Pennsylvania Brethren to contact House and committee leaders to keep the check box in the bill. "We have definitely had an impact on this bill," Jones said.
To receive Action Alerts or the office newsletter, send contact information including name and address or e-mail address to the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 337 N. Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003; 202-546-3202 or 800-785-3246; or e-mail washington_office_gb@brethren.org.
Bethany Seminary chosen for 2004 Lexington Seminar.
Bethany Theological Seminary, the Church of the Brethren graduate school for theological education in Richmond, Ind., has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2004 Lexington Seminar, a project that supports the faculty, president, and dean of the seminary working together on an issue critical for the institution. Participating seminaries also collaborate with the other four schools chosen in that year.
The seminar is sponsored by Lexington Theological Seminary and supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc. Criteria for selection include demonstrated academic integrity and excellence, faculty and administration committed to working together to improve teaching and learning for the ministries of the church, and stability needed to implement a project that will affect the way the institution carries out its mission, according to a release from the seminary.
"This comes at a particularly apt time for Bethany," noted president Eugene F. Roop. "Together with the board, Bethany's faculty and administration are at work identifying several specific strategic initiatives that have priority in the next few years, and preparing a self study for accreditation review in 2006. The Lexington Seminar will provide an important venue in our efforts to more effectively bring together the teachings of professors, the learning of students, and the mission of the seminary."
Bethany Theological Seminary, the Church of the Brethren graduate school for theological education in Richmond, Ind., has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2004 Lexington Seminar, a project that supports the faculty, president, and dean of the seminary working together on an issue critical for the institution. Participating seminaries also collaborate with the other four schools chosen in that year.
The seminar is sponsored by Lexington Theological Seminary and supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc. Criteria for selection include demonstrated academic integrity and excellence, faculty and administration committed to working together to improve teaching and learning for the ministries of the church, and stability needed to implement a project that will affect the way the institution carries out its mission, according to a release from the seminary.
"This comes at a particularly apt time for Bethany," noted president Eugene F. Roop. "Together with the board, Bethany's faculty and administration are at work identifying several specific strategic initiatives that have priority in the next few years, and preparing a self study for accreditation review in 2006. The Lexington Seminar will provide an important venue in our efforts to more effectively bring together the teachings of professors, the learning of students, and the mission of the seminary."
Dixon congregation promotes Brethren water.
"Our thoughts were, we need to get out into the public and tell people who we are," said Guy Ball, one of the people behind a project to use "Brethren water" as a promotional tool for Church of the Brethren congregations. The project was begun by the Witness Commission of the Dixon (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, which has invested seed funds to have bottled water produced with a Church of the Brethren label.
The labels on the 16.9-fluid-ounce bottles of water that the Dixon church has produced read, "Church of the Brethren, Continuing the work of Jesus, Peacefully, Simply, Together," and feature the denominational logo and the scripture text John 4:13-14.
Ball, a handyman and Dixon's deacon chair and custodian, got the idea when he saw bottled water with a lumber company's name on the label. He found out that his church could have bottles produced for 50 cents each, from a supplier who would personalize the label. It seemed like a wonderful fund raiser and a unique opportunity to promote the church, as well as the denomination.
Since then the Dixon congregation, which is hosting the Illinois/Wisconsin District Conference this year, has presented the idea to the conference planning committee and has approached other congregations that may be interested in using the water for their own fundraising and promotional projects, Ball said. Congregations can have bottles personalized with their names and other information. Ball also has thought of using the water for disaster relief. "Wouldn't it have been wonderful to have had cases to give away following tornados" that recently struck a town in Illinois, he commented.
To make sure the water would be of good quality, Ball personally visited the bottling plant and met with quality control staff. "The water speaks for itself," he said of the purified deep-well water that fills the Brethren bottles. "It's very good water." For more information e-mail Guy Ball at ball602@myfam.com.
Source: Newsline 7/02/2004
"Our thoughts were, we need to get out into the public and tell people who we are," said Guy Ball, one of the people behind a project to use "Brethren water" as a promotional tool for Church of the Brethren congregations. The project was begun by the Witness Commission of the Dixon (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, which has invested seed funds to have bottled water produced with a Church of the Brethren label.
The labels on the 16.9-fluid-ounce bottles of water that the Dixon church has produced read, "Church of the Brethren, Continuing the work of Jesus, Peacefully, Simply, Together," and feature the denominational logo and the scripture text John 4:13-14.
Ball, a handyman and Dixon's deacon chair and custodian, got the idea when he saw bottled water with a lumber company's name on the label. He found out that his church could have bottles produced for 50 cents each, from a supplier who would personalize the label. It seemed like a wonderful fund raiser and a unique opportunity to promote the church, as well as the denomination.
Since then the Dixon congregation, which is hosting the Illinois/Wisconsin District Conference this year, has presented the idea to the conference planning committee and has approached other congregations that may be interested in using the water for their own fundraising and promotional projects, Ball said. Congregations can have bottles personalized with their names and other information. Ball also has thought of using the water for disaster relief. "Wouldn't it have been wonderful to have had cases to give away following tornados" that recently struck a town in Illinois, he commented.
To make sure the water would be of good quality, Ball personally visited the bottling plant and met with quality control staff. "The water speaks for itself," he said of the purified deep-well water that fills the Brethren bottles. "It's very good water." For more information e-mail Guy Ball at ball602@myfam.com.
Source: Newsline 7/02/2004
Anti-war sign vandalized at Skyridge Church of the Brethren.
An anti-war sign hosted by Skyridge Church of the Brethren in Kalamazoo, Mich., during Holy Week was pulled down and damaged in repeated acts of vandalism. The large 31- by 15-foot sign was posted on the church lawn, along a busy four-lane road, at the request of a local peace group. The sign read in huge letters, "Iraq how many deaths?" and was framed with silhouettes representing men, women, and children--military and civilian—who have died in the Iraq war.
Outreach Committee co-chairperson Ineke Way, a member of the group Kalamazoo Non-Violent Opponents to War (KNOW), was instrumental in bringing the sign to the church. After worship on Palm Sunday, pastor Debbie Eisenbise led the congregation and KNOW participants in prayer dedicating the sign.
The posting of the sign was an eye opener for the community and congregation, Eisenbise said. Many people stopped by to see it up close and to place flowers on it in memory of those who have died. One woman asked for a picture to send to her father, a Vietnam veteran. Others wrote letters and made phone calls of appreciation to the church. Some made crank calls the church received one from a man self-identified as "Osama Bin Laden." Other people requested a discussion of the church's peace position, which Eisenbise explained as the Brethren understanding of Jesus Christ's message that "all war is sin."
One night, vandals pulled the leg off of one of the plywood figures on the sign. "This only helped the sign to be more representative of the many amputees who are victims of war," Eisenbise said. Another evening, someone drove a truck onto the lawn and used ropes to pull down the whole sign, which resulted in increased media attention. A radio station had a two-hour call-in program on "What do you think of the sign at Skyridge Church of the Brethren?"
The sign was taken down from the church lawn before Easter sunrise. Recently KNOW and Pax Christi posted it at a retreat center run by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Kalamazoo.
"The whole experience for the Skyridge Church was a powerful reminder of what it means to witness to our faith, and how Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brings redemption and reconciliation for all," Eisenbise said. A letter of appreciation to the church from KNOW echoed the sentiment, "We believe that we have scattered seeds in places and in ways we can't even imagine."
Source: Newsline 7/02/2004
An anti-war sign hosted by Skyridge Church of the Brethren in Kalamazoo, Mich., during Holy Week was pulled down and damaged in repeated acts of vandalism. The large 31- by 15-foot sign was posted on the church lawn, along a busy four-lane road, at the request of a local peace group. The sign read in huge letters, "Iraq how many deaths?" and was framed with silhouettes representing men, women, and children--military and civilian—who have died in the Iraq war.
Outreach Committee co-chairperson Ineke Way, a member of the group Kalamazoo Non-Violent Opponents to War (KNOW), was instrumental in bringing the sign to the church. After worship on Palm Sunday, pastor Debbie Eisenbise led the congregation and KNOW participants in prayer dedicating the sign.
The posting of the sign was an eye opener for the community and congregation, Eisenbise said. Many people stopped by to see it up close and to place flowers on it in memory of those who have died. One woman asked for a picture to send to her father, a Vietnam veteran. Others wrote letters and made phone calls of appreciation to the church. Some made crank calls the church received one from a man self-identified as "Osama Bin Laden." Other people requested a discussion of the church's peace position, which Eisenbise explained as the Brethren understanding of Jesus Christ's message that "all war is sin."
One night, vandals pulled the leg off of one of the plywood figures on the sign. "This only helped the sign to be more representative of the many amputees who are victims of war," Eisenbise said. Another evening, someone drove a truck onto the lawn and used ropes to pull down the whole sign, which resulted in increased media attention. A radio station had a two-hour call-in program on "What do you think of the sign at Skyridge Church of the Brethren?"
The sign was taken down from the church lawn before Easter sunrise. Recently KNOW and Pax Christi posted it at a retreat center run by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Kalamazoo.
"The whole experience for the Skyridge Church was a powerful reminder of what it means to witness to our faith, and how Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brings redemption and reconciliation for all," Eisenbise said. A letter of appreciation to the church from KNOW echoed the sentiment, "We believe that we have scattered seeds in places and in ways we can't even imagine."
Source: Newsline 7/02/2004
Brethren bits: correction, Annual Conference, and much more.
- In a correction to Newsline June 18, Tex Sample is the featured speaker at the Association of Brethren Caregivers' "A Seminar on Effective Ministry for, by, and with Older Adults."
- The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference begins tomorrow evening July 3 in Charleston, W.Va., with dinner programs and opening worship. Gatherings preceding Annual Conference this year include meetings of those planning and leading the Conference--Annual Conference officers, Program and Arrangements Committee, and Annual Conference coordinators--as well as Standing Committee meetings of district delegates June 30-July 3, the Ministers' Association Conference July 2-3, the Council of District Executives July 1-3, General Board meetings July 2-3, and the Fellowship of Brethren Genealogists the afternoon of July 3.
- Middle Pennsylvania District seeks a district minister to fill a full-time position beginning Jan. 1, 2005. The district is looking for a visionary leader who has experience and training in the area of congregational ministry. The preferred candidate will be an innovative person who is knowledgeable and supportive of denominational polity and skillful at adapting procedures to meet the unique needs of the district. The candidate will have an ability to work with diverse biblical and theological perspectives, and a passion for evangelism and leadership development. Qualifications include an M.Div. or related masters degree, ordination, and a minimum of seven years of pastoral or related experience. Apply by sending a letter of interest and resume via email to DistrictMinistries_gb@Brethren.org. Applicants are requested to contact three or four people to provide letters of reference. Upon receipt of resume, the candidate will be sent a Candidate Profile that must be completed and returned before the application is considered complete. The application deadline is Aug. 31.
- Join seasoned Sudan workers Phil and Louise Baldwin Rieman in a Sudan Workcamp Jan. 9-22, 2005. The workcamp is a tangible effort to rebuild in one community of this war-torn nation, and bring hope to its people. The General Board's Global Mission Partnerships office is sponsoring the event with longtime partner, the New Sudan Council of Churches. Estimated cost is $2,200. For more information contact the Riemans at plbrieman@mw.net, or call 317-546-9675.
- Disaster Child Care projects in Cortland, Neb., and Chapmansville, Lenore, and Delbarton, W.Va., have closed. In Nebraska, six child care volunteers made contact with 34 children after an F-4 tornado with 207-260 mile-per-hour winds touched down in Hallam, in Lancaster County near Lincoln, on May 22. The storms destroyed 158 homes and caused significant damage to more than 150 others in several counties. In West Virginia, nine child care volunteers served 42 children after four inches of rain in the southern section of the state. Four counties--Mingo, Raleigh, Wyoming, and Logan--repeatedly have had major flood damage and mud slides due to heavy rains. Emergency management officials estimate some 300 homes sustained major damage.
- The FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) website has featured an article about the General Board's Disaster Child Care program, complete with photos from the recent child care project in West Virginia. "Well-deserved recognition for our unsung heroes!" commented Liz Monahan-Gibson of FEMA. "The Disaster Child Care program is very fortunate to have such dedicated and supportive child care volunteers and partner agencies in our network." The article, written by FEMA public information officer Rose Marie Armstrong, explained how the program offers activities that provide emotional comfort to children affected by disasters, and makes it possible for parents to complete the application process for federal aid. The photos feature child care workers Pearl Cormany, Esther Bittinger, and Patricia A. Black. Find the article and photos at www.FEMA.gov.
- The General Board's Emergency Response program welcomed district executives Joe Detrick of Southern Pennsylvania, Stephen Abe of West Marva, and Marie Willoughby of Michigan as disaster response volunteers the week of May 31 at the Poquoson, Va., project. District executives combined skills with local Virginia volunteers, a group from Bedford, Pa., and Roy Winter, executive director of Emergency Response/Service Ministries. Maurice Curry and Ken Imhoff provided leadership as work continued on two homes that had been raised five to six feet to avoid future floods. "Thank you district executives and all volunteers for making time to help," said Winter.
- Pacific Southwest District is sponsoring a disaster response project near Julian, Calif., east of San Diego, Aug. 1-14. The wildfire clean-up project is in cooperation with Mennonite Disaster Service. The work includes clearing burned trees and cutting, stacking, and chipping wood. Volunteers must be able-bodied. Hard hats, masks to filter dust, earplugs, goggles, and chain saws are provided. District disaster coordinator Milton H. Ewert is seeking congregations and individuals who would be interested in volunteering for the project. Contact him at 209-523-9490 or e-mail mjemod@juno.com.
- "God, Democracy, and US Power: Believers Church Perspectives" is the title of a Sept. 23-25 conference hosted by Bridgewater (Va.) College and Eastern Mennonite University, with assistance from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the General Board, Mennonite Central Committee, and Baptist Joint Committee. This is the 15th in a series of Believers Church Conferences. Presenters representing Church of the Brethren perspectives include 2005 Annual Conference moderator Jim Hardenbrook on "Second Order of Business: Prayer by the Chaplain"; Bridgewater professor of Religion Carol Scheppard on "Yahweh's People: Covenant and Exile"; Brethren historian Donald Durnbaugh on "The Church of the Brethren Office in Washington, D.C.: Advocacy or Listening Post?"; New Community Project director David Radcliff on "There Goes the Neighborhood: Christian Engagement with a Suddenly Near World"; and Bethany Theological Seminary professor Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, who will preach. National Council of Churches general secretary Robert W. Edgar will speak at the conference banquet. For more information and to register go to www.emu.edu/churchandpolitics.
- Bentley Peters has resigned as senior vice president of MII Management Group and Mutual Aid eXchange (MAX) effective Dec. 31. His work for the insurance and management organizations, which are related to the Church of the Brethren, included envisioning, development, and implementation of MAX since 1993. He plans to return to consulting in the Chicago area.
- Church of the Brethren environmental and peace advocate David Radcliff was a featured speaker at "H2oly Water," a training event for clergy and lay leaders in the Baltimore-Washington area, sponsored by the National Council of Churches. The June 25-28 event was one in a series based on a theological framework for understanding the importance of preserving water resources. Radcliff also spoke for the March event in the series, held in Arizona. He is director of the New Community Project, a Brethren-related nonprofit organization.
Edward Leiter to direct Information Services for the General Board.
Edward Leiter began June 28 in the position of director of Information Services for the General Board. Current director Perry Hudkins will conclude her service on July 16.
Leiter has worked at the board's New Windsor (Md.) Service Center from 1984-87 as a programmer, and since 1988 as lead programmer/analyst. He is a graduate of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Computer Science. Following college he served in Brethren Volunteer Service. He is a member of Union Bridge (Md.) Church of the Brethren.
Edward Leiter began June 28 in the position of director of Information Services for the General Board. Current director Perry Hudkins will conclude her service on July 16.
Leiter has worked at the board's New Windsor (Md.) Service Center from 1984-87 as a programmer, and since 1988 as lead programmer/analyst. He is a graduate of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Computer Science. Following college he served in Brethren Volunteer Service. He is a member of Union Bridge (Md.) Church of the Brethren.
Allen Kahler to lead South/Central Indiana District.
Allen Kahler has been called as district minister of South/Central Indiana District beginning Sept. 1. He and his family will move to North Manchester, Ind., in early August.
Kahler has served as pastor of Marion (Ind.) Church of the Brethren since 1995. Previously he pastored Muncie (Ind.) Church of the Brethren 1993-95, and South Whitley (Ind.) Church of the Brethren 1990-93. He also has served in volunteer positions in the district including on the Discipleship and Reconciliation Committee and as district moderator in 2003. He holds degrees from Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., and Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Ind.
Allen Kahler has been called as district minister of South/Central Indiana District beginning Sept. 1. He and his family will move to North Manchester, Ind., in early August.
Kahler has served as pastor of Marion (Ind.) Church of the Brethren since 1995. Previously he pastored Muncie (Ind.) Church of the Brethren 1993-95, and South Whitley (Ind.) Church of the Brethren 1990-93. He also has served in volunteer positions in the district including on the Discipleship and Reconciliation Committee and as district moderator in 2003. He holds degrees from Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., and Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Ind.
ABC resource highlights issue of uncompensated care.
"The Burden of Uncompensated Care in Brethren Retirement Centers and the Church" is the title of a new report in booklet form, from the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC). The Fellowship of Brethren Homes, a network of 23 Brethren-related retirement centers, is a ministry of ABC.
Currently Brethren homes accrue a total of $14 million in uncompensated care expenses annually, and the financial burden will only increase as future care needs for older adults increase, according to the report by ABC's Uncompensated Care Committee of Brian Black, Connie Burk Davis, Don Fecher, Tim Hissong, and Wally Landes. The report defines uncompensated care as "non-reimbursed care provided to residents...whose daily living costs are not covered by normal revenue" including residents' own assets, family ability or willingness to pay, private-pay insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Uncompensated care "appears to be an insurmountable challenge" for the Brethren homes, the report says, in part because "the Church of the Brethren homes see it as their mission to care for persons even if they do not have the funds," the report said. A 2003 survey of the Brethren homes found that uncompensated care cost one facility nearly $4 million annually, or about 13 percent of its operating budget, and that several homes make annual appeals and set up "Good Samaritan" style funds to help pay for the expense. Even so, the 18 homes that responded to the survey raised only $740,342 against an expense of $14,393,615 in 2002. "That means that church support for uncompensated care amounts to 5.1 percent of the actual loss," the report said.
The report challenges individuals to take responsibility for planning for their own long-term care needs, giving several suggestions in areas such as long-term care insurance and stewardship of personal assets. The report also challenges the denomination to educate church members about the problem and to work with Brethren homes to provide care, giving suggestions for action by congregations, districts, and the homes.
The booklet will be distributed widely in the denomination—with copies to go to delegates at Annual Conference, to congregations in the Source mailing, and to district ministers and may be used by retirement centers as information for boards, prospective residents, and major donors. ABC suggests that congregations use the booklet as an educational and study piece.
For a copy of the booklet, contact Ralph McFadden at the ABC office, 800-323-8039 ext. 305 or e-mail rmcfadden_abc@brethren.org.
"The Burden of Uncompensated Care in Brethren Retirement Centers and the Church" is the title of a new report in booklet form, from the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC). The Fellowship of Brethren Homes, a network of 23 Brethren-related retirement centers, is a ministry of ABC.
Currently Brethren homes accrue a total of $14 million in uncompensated care expenses annually, and the financial burden will only increase as future care needs for older adults increase, according to the report by ABC's Uncompensated Care Committee of Brian Black, Connie Burk Davis, Don Fecher, Tim Hissong, and Wally Landes. The report defines uncompensated care as "non-reimbursed care provided to residents...whose daily living costs are not covered by normal revenue" including residents' own assets, family ability or willingness to pay, private-pay insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Uncompensated care "appears to be an insurmountable challenge" for the Brethren homes, the report says, in part because "the Church of the Brethren homes see it as their mission to care for persons even if they do not have the funds," the report said. A 2003 survey of the Brethren homes found that uncompensated care cost one facility nearly $4 million annually, or about 13 percent of its operating budget, and that several homes make annual appeals and set up "Good Samaritan" style funds to help pay for the expense. Even so, the 18 homes that responded to the survey raised only $740,342 against an expense of $14,393,615 in 2002. "That means that church support for uncompensated care amounts to 5.1 percent of the actual loss," the report said.
The report challenges individuals to take responsibility for planning for their own long-term care needs, giving several suggestions in areas such as long-term care insurance and stewardship of personal assets. The report also challenges the denomination to educate church members about the problem and to work with Brethren homes to provide care, giving suggestions for action by congregations, districts, and the homes.
The booklet will be distributed widely in the denomination—with copies to go to delegates at Annual Conference, to congregations in the Source mailing, and to district ministers and may be used by retirement centers as information for boards, prospective residents, and major donors. ABC suggests that congregations use the booklet as an educational and study piece.
For a copy of the booklet, contact Ralph McFadden at the ABC office, 800-323-8039 ext. 305 or e-mail rmcfadden_abc@brethren.org.
Mission coordinator learns from Dominican church leader's disappointment and faith.
(Author Irvin Heishman and his wife, Nancy, are Dominican Republic mission coordinators for the General Board.)
Sister Anastasia Buena is the daughter of Haitian immigrants who moved to the Dominican Republic to work in the sugar cane industry. Earning less than a dollar a day cutting sugar cane was a vast improvement over what her family ever could have hoped for in Haiti. Still, a daily struggle to survive, hunger, and shortages have been part and parcel of her life.
Somehow, within these profound limitations, she has flourished. As a dedicated Christian woman, she has a dignity reflecting her inner knowledge that she is a child of God. She has become a respected leader of Iglesia de Los Hermanos (Church of the Brethren) in the Dominican Republic, where she and her husband co-pastor of one of the largest and fastest growing congregations. The theological education program of the Church of the Brethren has allowed her to sharpen her leadership skills. She leads with gentleness and grace, but when she stands up to sing or pray, a sudden joyful power breaks forth from her that leaves no doubt about the source of her strength. This past year she was elected moderator of Iglesia de Los Hermanos, becoming the first person of Haitian ancestry to hold this position.
Moderators of the Dominican church are given the dream of a lifetime, to travel to the United States to share with American Brethren at Annual Conference. Sister Anastasia was thrilled about this possibility. But she comes from a different world. The US consulate was closed on the day she had an appointment for her visa interview. This scheduling error meant that the next day, employees at the consulate rushed through interviews for hundreds of people who mistakenly had been scheduled the day before. As she entered the consulate, I prayed that God would part the waters for her, as he did for the ancient Hebrews, and that Annual Conference would have the blessing of hearing from this great leader in its Dominican mission.
Maybe it was her dark skin, clearly Haitian. Maybe it was that she was obviously poor, and thus was considered likely to stay in the US for economic reasons. Maybe it had something to do with the war in Iraq. Possibly she was considered a security risk. Filled with a host of suspicions and pressures, the consulate employee barely looked at her, dashed through her interview, and chose not to read any of her carefully prepared documents including a letter of invitation from the General Board and documentation of why she would return home following her visit. Without giving her a fair chance, he denied her visa. A great opportunity for good suddenly vanished.
In moments like this, Sister Anastasia has a great advantage over me. She doesn't expect life to be fair. She has learned to flourish in Christ within the strict limitations and blows of injustice. Not that the disappointment doesn't hurt, of course. On the other hand, I do expect life to be fair, so I could barely stomach the way she was treated by my government. I fought in my mind against the notion that life can be so unfair for some, while I have every liberty and opportunity I could ever want. I have not figured out the strange ways of God who does not part the waters for some and yet enables them to flourish, "Hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Cor. 4:8-9).
In the Dominican Republic, as I experience in this setting the harsh injustices of the world, I yearn to tap more profoundly into that fountain of sustaining faith that doesn't depend on justice or opportunity or fairness to thrive.
(Author Irvin Heishman and his wife, Nancy, are Dominican Republic mission coordinators for the General Board.)
Sister Anastasia Buena is the daughter of Haitian immigrants who moved to the Dominican Republic to work in the sugar cane industry. Earning less than a dollar a day cutting sugar cane was a vast improvement over what her family ever could have hoped for in Haiti. Still, a daily struggle to survive, hunger, and shortages have been part and parcel of her life.
Somehow, within these profound limitations, she has flourished. As a dedicated Christian woman, she has a dignity reflecting her inner knowledge that she is a child of God. She has become a respected leader of Iglesia de Los Hermanos (Church of the Brethren) in the Dominican Republic, where she and her husband co-pastor of one of the largest and fastest growing congregations. The theological education program of the Church of the Brethren has allowed her to sharpen her leadership skills. She leads with gentleness and grace, but when she stands up to sing or pray, a sudden joyful power breaks forth from her that leaves no doubt about the source of her strength. This past year she was elected moderator of Iglesia de Los Hermanos, becoming the first person of Haitian ancestry to hold this position.
Moderators of the Dominican church are given the dream of a lifetime, to travel to the United States to share with American Brethren at Annual Conference. Sister Anastasia was thrilled about this possibility. But she comes from a different world. The US consulate was closed on the day she had an appointment for her visa interview. This scheduling error meant that the next day, employees at the consulate rushed through interviews for hundreds of people who mistakenly had been scheduled the day before. As she entered the consulate, I prayed that God would part the waters for her, as he did for the ancient Hebrews, and that Annual Conference would have the blessing of hearing from this great leader in its Dominican mission.
Maybe it was her dark skin, clearly Haitian. Maybe it was that she was obviously poor, and thus was considered likely to stay in the US for economic reasons. Maybe it had something to do with the war in Iraq. Possibly she was considered a security risk. Filled with a host of suspicions and pressures, the consulate employee barely looked at her, dashed through her interview, and chose not to read any of her carefully prepared documents including a letter of invitation from the General Board and documentation of why she would return home following her visit. Without giving her a fair chance, he denied her visa. A great opportunity for good suddenly vanished.
In moments like this, Sister Anastasia has a great advantage over me. She doesn't expect life to be fair. She has learned to flourish in Christ within the strict limitations and blows of injustice. Not that the disappointment doesn't hurt, of course. On the other hand, I do expect life to be fair, so I could barely stomach the way she was treated by my government. I fought in my mind against the notion that life can be so unfair for some, while I have every liberty and opportunity I could ever want. I have not figured out the strange ways of God who does not part the waters for some and yet enables them to flourish, "Hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Cor. 4:8-9).
In the Dominican Republic, as I experience in this setting the harsh injustices of the world, I yearn to tap more profoundly into that fountain of sustaining faith that doesn't depend on justice or opportunity or fairness to thrive.
Credits
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Debbie Eisenbise, Howard Royer, Helen Stonesifer, Walt Wiltschek, and Roy Winter contributed to this report.
Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Debbie Eisenbise, Howard Royer, Helen Stonesifer, Walt Wiltschek, and Roy Winter contributed to this report.
Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.
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