Assembly speakers will focus on 'Peace Beyond Our Fears.'

Speakers for the next Caring Ministries Assembly will focus on the theme, "Peace Beyond Our Fears." The assembly, sponsored by the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC), will be held Aug. 11-13 at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren.

"Fear has become a more prominent part of daily life," ABC said in a release about the event. "Brethren deacons, pastors, chaplains, and caregivers are invited to explore how people of faith respond to threats and fears that are ever present in this world.... Through worship, keynote presentations, workshops, and intentional times of silence, planners hope that participants will explore the character of fear and invite God to reshape it."

Keynote speakers Robert Wicks, Louise Baldwin Rieman, Carol Yoder, and Andrew Murray will take different approaches to explore transforming fear with faith. Wicks, professor of pastoral care at Loyola College in Maryland, works with clergy and first responders on prevention of secondary stress and the integration of spirituality and psychology. Rieman co-pastors Northview Church of the Brethren in Indianapolis with her husband, Phil, and has served as a missionary in Africa. Yoder directs STAR, a justice and peace-building program at Eastern Mennonite University, and has worked with relief workers in the Middle East and Africa as well as with victims of war and torture. Murray founded Juniata College's Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies and has served as a college chaplain and a pastor. Bible studies will be led by Stephen Reid, academic dean and professor of Old Testament at Bethany Theological Seminary.

The assembly will feature more than 25 workshops with special tracks for chaplains and deacons. A post-assembly EFSM/TRIM academy-level course will be offered (information will be included in the registration booklet or call Marilyn Lerch at 540-961-0354).

Registration is $100. Hotels are available for housing. Meals will be available for purchase at the Bridgewater Retirement Community, adjacent to the Bridgewater church. Registration materials will be mailed in May to each congregation's deacon contact, pastors, chaplains, and past assembly participants. Posters announcing theme and speakers have been sent to congregations in a Source mailing. Information will be posted at www.brethren.org/abc/ as it becomes available.

Source: 4/13/2005 Newsline
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