Wednesday, September 28, 2005

NEWSUPCOMING EVENTSRESOURCESUpdate on Hurricane Response

NEWSFEATURENOTE TO READERS: For the most recent developments in the Church of the Brethren denominational hurricane relief effort, go to www.brethren.org/genbd/ersm/NewsUpdates.htm. New information will be posted on this website each business day. For stories of hurricane relief efforts of Brethren congregations, districts, colleges, and other organizations, go to www.brethren.org/genbd/ersm/HurricanePosting.htm. This page also will be updated regularly.
Annual Conference Council reviews plans for Annual Conferences.

The Annual Conference Council met Aug. 24-25 in Elgin, Ill. Jim Hardenbrook, past moderator of the Conference, will chair the council for 2005-06, reported secretary Fred Swartz in a summary of the meeting. Hardenbrook was chosen for the task by the members of the council in their annual reorganization meeting last month. The council also named Joan Daggett as vice chair, a position not designated before by the council.

Two new members were welcomed: Jim Myer was elected by Annual Conference to serve in the capacity of a past moderator, succeeding Earl Ziegler whose term expired with the 2005 Conference, and the new moderator-elect Belita Mitchell, who joined the council for the next three years. Myer will serve a four-year term.

The council reviewed the revisions to the Annual Conference Strategic Plan that were suggested by Standing Committee. It was decided that the Annual Conference Council shall be the group responsible for keeping the plan updated and implemented. The council will report annually to Standing Committee on the status of the plan's use and recommend any changes deemed necessary. Standing Committee will give final approval to changes in the Strategic Plan. The plan will be available on the Annual Conference website.

The council is drafting a contingency plan for Annual Conference, not only to deal with events that may interfere with the holding of a Conference, but also provision for handling a disaster that may bring destruction to the Annual Conference offices. The plan is considered to be good stewardship, rather than fear that a disaster may happen, reported secretary Fred Swartz.

Another plan in the making is a marketing plan for Annual Conference. A committee consisting of laypeople, a pastor, a district executive, a member of the Program and Arrangements Committee, and members of the business community is being recruited for the purpose of looking at the image and information about Annual Conference, and why only half of Brethren congregations send delegates.

Other items of business included a review of Annual Conference actions of the past two years and the progress of Conference committees that are currently working. The Council hopes to have an up-to-date draft of the Manual of Organization and Polity available this fall on the Conference website.

The council also is not yet satisfied that the 2003 query to Annual Conference entitled "Clarification of Confusion" has been completely answered. The council asked Hardenbrook to compile a document that chronicles all that the council has done in its attempts to get answers and/or clarification to the questions in the query. The council will review this document in December to see if it is sufficient to take back to the 2006 Annual Conference.

The council expressed appreciation to Lerry Fogle for his effective and efficient management of Annual Conference since coming to that position in 2002. The council's policy calls for a three-year review of the Conference executive director, and plans are underway to effect that review.

The Annual Conference Council acts as the executive committee for Annual Conference and Standing Committee. Council members are Ron Beachley, Belita Mitchell, Joan Daggett, Jim Myer, Jim Hardenbrook, Fred Swartz, and Lerry Fogle.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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On Earth Peace board meets on the theme, 'Seeking.'

The On Earth Peace Board of Directors and staff met Sept. 6-7 at Anderson (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, with the Advancement, Personnel, Finance, and Executive Committees meeting during the day Sept. 6. The devotional theme focused on "Seeking." The board, led by chair Bev Weaver, continued its use of the Formal Consensus process for discussion and decision-making. Members of the Anderson church hosted the board members in their homes and provided meals.

Committee reports included the Advancement Committee's new ideas for donors, such as day sponsorship and finding ways to include younger donors; the Finance Committee's note that contributions from congregations and individuals are above last year; the Personnel Committee sharing of an updated Personnel Policy Manual, and welcoming of new staff member Susanna Farahat; and the Nominating Committee's highlight of the re-election of Debbie Roberts and Ken Edwards to the board, as well as the election at Annual Conference of Sarah Quinter Malone. Nominating Committee also reported an initiative to identify additional roles people could play in the organization to make a clear contribution although not serving on the board itself, such as educational, spiritual, fundraising, and other roles.

Staff reported upcoming events and program initiatives: an increased number of congregations involved in or considering intervention or mediation services; new ideas for projects in the Peacemaker Formation program; co-sponsorship with Christian Peacemaker Teams of a delegation to Israel/Palestine in January; coordination of a nationwide network on countering military recruitment in schools; and the Ministry of Reconciliation workshop "Advanced Reconciliation Skills: The Polarity Principles" Nov. 16-18 at Camp Mack in Indiana. The board and staff also took time to brainstorm ideas for upcoming "Living Peace Church News and Notes."

The staff reported on work with consultant Erika Thorne on becoming an anti-racist organization. Goals emerged including building relationships with non-mainstream congregations and leaders in the church; developing a working relationship with the Cross-Cultural Ministries Team; providing resources that are accessible and useful for all segments of the church; sharing what the staff have learned with the larger church; taking a closer look at racial and economic violence in our communities and incorporating that into the peace witness program; and working to make the Youth Peace Travel Team a more multicultural ministry in both participation and service. The board welcomed Duane Grady, a member of the General Board's Congregational Life Teams and the primary staff liaison to the Cross-Cultural Ministries Team, as a guest.

A morning was spent reviewing responses from a survey conducted at Annual Conference during the On Earth Peace report. Strong themes that emerged were the importance of making a connection to scripture and Christian faith in the work of peacemaking; the call for peace work to be done in the family, community, and church contexts, with domestic violence, church conflict, and communities needs mentioned most often; responses deeming Christianity as supporting and defending American culture, while others seeing Christianity as counter-cultural; a priority for the church to work at reducing violence through immediate and close-to-home, practical applications. "When naming visions for peacemaking within the Church of the Brethren, responses were overwhelming hopeful and positive," a report from the meeting said.

The board also heard that for fiscal year 2005, which ends Sept. 30, income will be sufficient to cover expenses with both income and expense ahead of projections. The board approved a balanced budget of $502,000 for fiscal year 2006.

Other topics of discussion included financial aid for draft non-registrants; Church of the Brethren investments in the Caterpillar Corporation, whose products are being used as military weapons in Israel/Palestine; and a new peace game designed by board member Verdena Lee, entitled "C.O.D.E.," which has been produced and is available for sale. The game helps participants think about their beliefs and whether they are conscientious objectors.

A reorganization of the board called a new executive committee: Bev Weaver, chair; Ken Frantz, vice-chair; Lauree Hersch Meyer, secretary; Doris Abdullah, treasurer; and Verdena Lee and Robbie Miller, at-large members. The board recognized board member Eugene Lichty for his long service, excellent leadership, and faithful witness.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Brethren hold a Cross-Cultural Round Table.

To the question, "Are we here because we are committed to a multicultural church?" came the resounding answer, "Yes!" This emphatic response arose from a group of Church of the Brethren members and leaders convened first on April 24-26, and then in a follow-up session Aug. 30-31, in Richmond, Ind., by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership.

The underlying concern was how to train leaders and assist congregations in being a multicultural church in which biblical life, theological integrity, and spiritual vitality reside, said Sonja Griffith in her report from the meetings. Griffith is pastor of First Central Church of the Brethren in Kansas City.

Participants included many who have been working at cross-cultural issues for years. At the meeting were pastors from non-dominant groups in the Church of the Brethren, a representative from the Annual Conference Intercultural Study Committee, persons on the Cross-Cultural Steering Committee, the Annual Conference moderator and moderator-elect, several district executive ministers, General Board Congregational Life Team and Office of Ministry staff, and Bethany Seminary faculty and administrators.

The multicultural church vision has been a long time in the making, Griffith reported. The group at the round table recounted the history of efforts toward this vision. From separate associations representing the interests of various ethnic groups, to these groups beginning to coalesce under the banner of urban ministry, to the present time when the cross-cultural movement has become a sign of hope, the whole movement has been guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit, she wrote.

The unfolding story includes the pain of unfortunate instances when the church does not welcome or even, wittingly or unwittingly, drives away people whose skin color and language and ways are "different." The story also includes confession, healing, forgiveness, and recently a joy and fellowship expressed in the worship and work of the yearly Cross Cultural Consultations and Celebrations, which have been held from 1999-2005. At the most recent celebration April 20-22, more people attended and worshipped together than ever before.

Round table participants posed a number of questions regarding the needs of the church for training leadership in cross-cultural work. These were on topics including perceptions of pastoral authority; educating for cultural and ethnic differences; developing ongoing self awareness of those differences and how they affect all aspects of church life; educational resources sensitive to language, ethnicity and cross cultural uniquenesses; gifts, skills, and spiritual formation; ongoing nurture for pastors of multicultural churches; networking, partnering, and shared teaching in multicultural churches; and responsibility for leadership formation. Small groups considered responses to these questions.

As the round table re-gathered in August, participants felt that naming barriers to cross-cultural leadership and church life was important in the ongoing discussion of leadership development. A long list emerged. "Some of those barriers are the very nature of 'church' as people might conceive of it, how often and easily `culture trumps theology' in church matters, and what systems in church structure, thought patterns, and relationships keep members focused on comfort, tradition, finance, and status quo without recognizing opportunities and imperatives for change, growth and transformation," Griffith reported.

Participants identified essential gifts, skills, and attitudes needed by leaders in a cross-cultural church. They also identified resources needed to develop leadership equipped for moving the church into a cross-cultural vision and reality. Opportunities for action were highlighted: the potential of the TOGETHER conversations and encouragement of diversity in them; development of practical ideas to share with churches and districts; review of the work done by the round table in Bethany faculty curriculum discussion and in shaping alternative training programs; ongoing relationship building with Brethren Press, the 300th Anniversary Committee, General Board staff, and other church agencies; sharing identified barriers with the Annual Conference study committee; and developing resources and networks for cross-cultural training.

"As the round table began and ended, the group's passion had not subsided and the commitment was even stronger than at the beginning," Griffith said. "The cross-cultural church is coming alive with hope for new life and a new day!"

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Lower Miami celebrates a bicentennial.

Lower Miami Church of the Brethren, pastored by Edward Pugh and associate Nan Erbaugh, is celebrating its bicentennial. Founded in Oct. 1805 by elder Jacob Miller, Lower Miami is the oldest Church of the Brethren west of the Great Miami River and the second oldest in Ohio.

Lower Miami is known in the Southern Ohio District as the "Cradle of Religion," the "Mother Church," and the "Parent Church" because 11 congregations can trace their roots back to her, reported Diana R. Wheaton. The churches rooted in Lower Miami are Beaver Creek, Happy Corner, Salem, Good Shepherd, Trotwood, West Milton, Potsdam, Eversole, Brookville, Mack Memorial, and Prince of Peace. Some Old German Baptist Brethren, Brethren Church, Dunkard Brethren, and Grace Brethren congregations also may trace their historic roots to Lower Miami, according to the compiler of the list, Elizabeth Miller Lane. She is editing a new comprehensive History of the Church of the Brethren in Southern Ohio.

Five celebratory services were held in June to mark the centennial. Sisters and brothers from across the country returned to Lower Miami for the momentous occasion and to renew old friendships. They were treated to uplifting messages delivered by the keynote speakers including Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board; Stephen B. Reid, Bethany Seminary academic dean, who grew up at Lower Miami; Mark Flory Steury, executive minister of Southern Ohio District; and former pastors Kreston Lipscomb and Ron McAdams.

"Lower Miami's faith journey is portrayed by its mission and witness," Wheaton wrote. "Over the years, our small interracial congregation (integration began in the mid-1950s) has reached out to people near and far." The church's ministry in the community, district, and denomination includes commitments to the Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio; the County Home; the Interfaith Hospitality Network serving the homeless; sanctuary for a variety of refugee families; peace-related causes; mission trips; and projects such as CROP Walk, Heifer International, and the Church of the Brethren Cross-Cultural Consultation and Celebration. "Since 1989, we have served as a teaching church for Bethany Seminary students," Wheaton added, to date serving as a placement for four students.

In 2004, two members of Lower Miami, Ralph and Christine Dull, founded the Dayton (Ohio) International Peace Museum: A Space to Make Peace. Lower Miami supports the museum's vision to inspire a culture of peace and an educational opportunity for adults and children to learn how to make peace through outreach and volunteers, Wheaton noted.

"Over the centuries, the distinctive lifestyle of Lower Miami has evolved into a faith community composed of like souls from different walks of life, races, and religious backgrounds," Wheaton said. "Elder Jacob Miller, undoubtedly, would be greatly suprised at this modern-day Church of the Brethren; but he would be pleased with the flowering of the seed that he planted 200 years ago."

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Brethren Revival Fellowship holds General Meeting.

The Brethren Revival Fellowship (BRF) held its General Meeting in Northern Ohio District on Saturday, Sept. 10. Mount Pleasant Church of the Brethren in North Canton, Ohio, was the host congregation. Moderated by Craig Alan Myers, BRF chairman and pastor of Blue River Church of the Brethren in Columbia City, Ind., the theme of the day was "Jesus Christ and the Church of the Brethren."

Approximately 60 brethren and sisters from 20 congregations in eight districts in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Idaho, and Indiana attended the meeting, with the youngest being 16 months old. An offering was received for the work of BRF. Randy Cosner, pastor of Briery Branch Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Va., declared that "this was an exceptional day."

Fred Keener, pastor of the Bristolville congregation, preached on "The Relevance of Jesus to the Church of the Brethren." Jim Hardenbrook, pastor of Nampa (Idaho) Church of the Brethren and past moderator of Annual Conference, preached on "What Would Jesus Say to the Church of the Brethren," "although he slightly altered the focus without losing sight of the subject," said Myers in his report from the meeting. John Ballinger, Northern Ohio District executive minister, brought devotions for the morning session, and the Keener family from the Bristolville (Ohio) Church of the Brethren congregation presented special music. James F. Myer, BRF vice chairman, presented a brief report of the Peoria Annual Conference.

The assembly also had the privilege of hearing Toma Ragnjiya share the devotions for the afternoon session. Ragnjiya was at one time general secretary of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) and is now attending Ashland Seminary in a Doctor of Ministry program.

Charles L. Ilyes, pastor of Midway Church of the Brethren near Lebanon, Pa., and David Wenger, minister on the plural non-salaried ministry team at White Oak Church of the Brethren in Manheim, Pa., received approval as new members of the BRF Committee. Carl L. Brubaker, moderator of the Midway congregation, began another five-year term.

Next year's BRF General Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Brethren Alive 2006 event at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, July 28-30.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Brethren bits: Job opening, mission trip, and more.
  • The National Coalition for a Peace Tax Fund (NCPTF) seeks a fulltime executive director and a fulltime development director. Current executive director Marian Franz is stepping down after a tenure spanning 22 years of service to the Peace Tax Fund Campaign. She will continue as a lobbyist for the Peace Tax Fund on a part-time basis. The NCPTF Board of Directors seeks applicants to fill the positions. Working with a small, dedicated staff, the new "head of organization" will be seasoned and skilled in communication, supervision, coordination, organizational development, and networking. At its spring meetings, the NCPTF Board created a new position of development director. The board seeks a seasoned fundraiser to help expand the base of supporters. The successful candidate will have significant experience in development work with small nonprofit organizations, a commitment to the goals of the Peace Tax Fund Campaign, will be able to work independently, and will be able to spend at least some time in the Washington, D.C., office. Initially this is a four-month interim appointment, with the expectation that secure funding will allow continuation and expansion of the position. For more information see www.peacetaxfund.org or call 888-732-2382.

  • Do you have lots questions about how to effectively live faith in our interconnected world? Global Mission Partnerships of the General Board is encouraging participation in "Developing Hearts that Yearn for Justice: Ecumenical Theological Reflection in a Third World Setting for Clergy and Lay Church Workers," Jan. 23-26, 2006 in Tijuana, Mexico. More information can be found at http://bordermatters.net/DHYJ/DHYJ2_Synodflyer.pdf.

  • The registration deadline has been extended to Nov. 1 for "Nourishing the Soul," the Church of the Brethren clergywomen's retreat being held Nov. 14-17 at Timber-Lee Christian Center in East Troy, Wis. Jan Richardson will be the keynote speaker. Inquiries and registrations should be sent to Margie Paris in the General Board's Ministry Office at 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. She can be reached at 800-323-8039 ext. 207 or mparis_gb@brethren.org. Cost including registration, room, and board is $200. Full-time seminary and TRIM students can attend for $125.

  • Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren is celebrating its 110th anniversary. The church is planning a Homecoming for Oct. 9, featuring Sunday school with former pastors and ministerial leaders; morning worship at 11 a.m. led by Chris Bowman, a former moderator of Annual Conference; a carry-in meal for lunch; and afternoon "stations" for children and adults to learn about the congregation's history including a hymn sing, craft, visual display, and church fashion show. For more information call the church at 703-368-4783 or see www.manassasbrethren.org.

  • Bakersfield (Calif.) Community Church of the Brethren is celebrating "three-quarters of a century serving God" in October. A Memorial Service and Brunch will be held Saturday, Oct. 22, and an Anniversary Celebration with a potluck and afternoon program will be held Sunday, Oct. 23. See www.bccob.org or call 661-323-1011.

  • Six districts in the Church of the Brethren are holding conferences the weekend of Oct. 7-9: Atlantic Northeast, Oct. 7-8, at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, moderated by Larry O'Neill; Atlantic Southeast, Oct. 7-8, at Orlando (Fla.) Community Church, moderator by Kevin King; Mid-Atlantic, Oct. 7-8, at Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren, moderator by John Thompson; Southern Ohio, Oct. 7-8, at Oakland (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, moderated by David Shetler; Pacific Southwest, Oct. 7-9, at Modesto (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, moderated by R. Jan Thompson; and Middle Pennsylvania, Oct. 7-8, at Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon, Pa., moderated by Linda Banaszak.

  • The University of La Verne (ULV), Calif., is holding an Alumni Weekend Homecoming Oct. 14-16. The weekend will start off with an All Alumni Dinner Dance Oct. 14, at the Sheraton Suites Fairplex in Pomona, honoring distinguished alumni and professors including Marlin L. Heckman, Jeannette Vagnozzi, Wayne Butterbaugh, Anthony Granillo, and Robert T. Neher. Dwight Hanawalt will lead the first dance. Another professor to be recognized at a pre-dinner reception is Thomas Harvey. Weekend events include a 5K Community Fun Run/Walk, a Soccer Team Reunion, an Old Town La Verne Harvest Festival, a ULV Fair, a Theater Department Performance Festival and Comedy Improv, and homecoming games: football against Cal Lutheran, men's soccer against Caltech, and women's soccer against Cal State East Bay. Class reunions also will take place. The weekend will close with a ULV Recognition Day and worship service at La Verne Church of the Brethren on Sunday Oct. 16, and a Golden Alumni Reception honoring the classes of 1935, 1945 and 1955, hosted by Brethren Hillcrest Homes. For more information contact Beth Elmore, Alumni Relations director, at 909-593-3511 ext. 4683.

  • Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., is welcoming a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence to campus. Jorge Ivan Bula Escobar of Bogota, Colombia, will share expertise on globalization and human rights and Latin American politics, economy, and development. He holds degrees from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium and the University of Manchester in Great Britain, and has served as a vice-dean of Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogota, where he was academic coordinator of the Ph.D. program in economic sciences. He will teach a course on the consequences and outcomes of globalization on Latin America, and a seminar on the conditions behind Latin American human rights problems. He also is available as a speaker to groups, organizations, schools, and churches. To arrange a speaking engagement, contact associate dean Julie Garber at 260-982-5026 or jlgarber@manchester.edu. The Fulbright Scholar's appointment is partially funded by Plowshares, a collaboration of Indiana's three historic peace church colleges: Manchester, Goshen, and Earlham.

  • "Images: Proclaiming Stewardship--Voice and Vision" is the theme for the Ecumenical Stewardship Center's 2005 Leadership Seminar, scheduled Nov. 29-Dec. 2 in Daytona Beach, Fla. This year the seminar focuses on generosity and will provide opportunities to see and hear from young adult professionals that are practicing stewardship in their daily lives. Each year outstanding artistic performers are part of the schedule, and afternoons are generally free for sabbath time or discussion groups related to stewardship issues. For further information and registration go to www.stewardshipresources.org. Click on "Events," then "Leadership Seminar" for a menu that includes registration, schedule, and local arrangements. To join a new weblog intended to generate dialogue about images of stewardship in preparation for the seminar, go to www.stewardshipresources.org/blog/Login.aspx. User ID is bloggers and password is lstalk.

  • The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) is publicizing a "Not Dead Yet and TASH Disability Rights Rally" at the US Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon. ABC has a Disabilities Ministry. There is a limited amount of funding to support the travel expenses of activists with disabilities. Contact Diane Coleman (ndycoleman@aol.com) to apply for travel funds. The Supreme Court has set Oct. 5 as the date to hear oral arguments in an important case to members of the disability community: the Gonzales v Oregon Case related to the Oregon "Death With Dignity Act." In a friend of the Court brief filed on behalf of Not Dead Yet and other disabilities organizations, disability rights attorney Max Lapertosa wrote that, "If a state overtly excluded people with `terminal' disabilities from suicide prevention laws and programs, it would undoubtedly violate federal civil rights laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.... Yet that is precisely the design and effect of the Oregon assisted-suicide law." For more information see www.notdeadyet.org or www.tash.org.
Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Ministry of Reconciliation holds fall workshop.

The Ministry of Reconciliation of On Earth Peace announces its fall workshop, "Advanced Reconciliation Skills: Applying the Polarity Principles for Reconciliation in Congregations," which will take place Nov. 16-18 at Camp Mack, Milford, Ind.

"Not every conflict is a problem to be solved," reported On Earth Peace staff member Annie Clark. "Some conflicts are natural polarities. Learn the dynamics of polarities, how to recognize the polarity behind a conflict, and techniques for helping congregations manage, value, and use the positive potential in their differences."

The workshop is designed for church leaders, Shalom Team members, mediators, pastors, and anyone with an interest in advanced reconciliation techniques. Leadership will be provided by Mike Crump, Ministry of Reconciliation practitioner, and Bob Gross, co-director of On Earth Peace. Cost is $195 and includes tuition, materials, and accommodations at Camp Mack. One continuing education unit is available for Church of the Brethren ministers through the Brethren Academy. Registration closes Nov. 1. For more information, see www.brethren.org/oepa/events.html or contact Clark at 260-982-8595 or annieclark@mchsi.com.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Sailing to NYC on a sea of chicken soup.

...At least, that's what Linda K. Williams, of First Church of the Brethren in San Diego, Calif., hopes and prays will happen for the youth in the Church of the Brethren.

Williams has spent more than five-and-a-half years "birthing" the new Chicken Soup for the Soul book--"Stories for a Better World"--which includes more than 101 stories of peacemaking. She now wants to get it into the hands of everyone on the planet, she says, especially Brethren youth. The new book is highlighted in the September issue of the Church of the Brethren "Messenger" magazine. Twenty percent of the stories and four of the 11 cartoons came from people with Historic Peace Church connections.

Williams felt compelled to bring stories of peacemaking into the national consciousness via the Chicken Soup for the Soul venue in response to the murder of an elderly relative, and then the Columbine High School shootings. She has already received evidence that peacemaking can be very effectively promoted by touching the hearts of readers. In one example, a friend had been outspoken about the need for retaliation and revenge after the events of 9/11. When Williams needed volunteer readers to help rate stories for the new book, she felt God urging her to ask this friend if she would be interested. After her friend read and rated several batches of the powerful stories, Williams expressed her appreciation. Her friend replied, "No, I need to thank you; by reading these stories, I've seen there are so many ways to deal with violence!"

Williams now has arranged to offer the book at a substantial discount of more than 50 percent off the $12.95 selling price so that churches and youth groups can use it as a fundraiser for National Youth Conference in 2006. Churches and other nonprofit groups may also do other fundraising using the book. An additional option exists of becoming an "Amazon Associate" with a no-effort way to earn four to 10 percent of the book's sales price by simply putting it on an organization's website and encouraging buyers to order the book from the site.

For more information about fundraising opportunities contact Williams at LKW_BetterWorld@yahoo.com or 619-583-8454.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Update on Hurricane Response
Word is received from Church of the Brethren congregations in Rita’s path.

Word has been received from two of the three Church of the Brethren congregations that were in the path of Hurricane Rita, and whose members lived in areas of Louisiana and Texas under mandatory evacuation orders. The Roanoke (La.) Church of the Brethren considers itself “amazingly blessed” to have been in an area with little destruction from the storm, pastor James Balmer told Roy Winter, director of Emergency Response for the General Board. Similarly, the Falfurrias (Texas) Church of the Brethren sent word to district minister Joan Lowry that they are all fine. Hurricane Rita went north of the Falfurrias area.

No district or denominational staff have yet heard from members of Lake Charles (La.) Community Church of the Brethren. The town of Lake Charles is still closed, Winter said, and no access is allowed. “We don’t know anything, which is frustrating,” he said. As far as anyone knows, he said, all of the Brethren in Lake Charles evacuated before the hurricane hit.

Pastor Balmer and his family were able to return to Roanoke, which is 25 miles east of Lake Charles, on Sunday evening. The small town of about 300 people suffered only minor damage, with many large trees down but none having hit homes. But the disaster is enormous if one travels just five miles in any direction from Roanoke, the Balmers reported to an Emergency Response volunteer.

“Roanoke is certainly amidst the destruction, but amazingly most of it missed the homes,” said Winter. “Powerlines, etc., are all down and maybe out for weeks.” Emergency Response/Service Ministries is working on sending generators to help the Roanoke and Lake Charles congregations. “While generators are difficult to come by, the Western Plains District, specifically Wichita First Church of the Brethren and McPherson Church of the Brethren have been able to locate generators that will be shipped to Louisiana later this week,” reported Winter. Emergency Response also is beginning planning for a partnership with the church to look at meeting needs in the area.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Brethren Disaster Response clean-up project expands its work.

A Brethren Disaster Response clean-up project in Citronelle, Ala., in partnership with Southeastern District and Cedar Creek Church of the Brethren, has begun adding home repairs to its clean-up work.

Work has been coming from two sources, reported disaster project director Mike Walker of Glenville, Pa. “The Cedar Creek church has created an active committee which works with us and provides a listing of both members and non-members who need help, and the Mobile VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) is providing the balance of our clients,” he said.

“We are a long way from finished with the debris problems,” Walker said of the project that covers a broad area of service across Mobile County and southern Washington County. “Presently, we are still working in the early stages of recovery, which is basically debris removal, tarps, roof repair, and more extensive repairs due to fallen trees on homes.” For example, in Chatom, a tree fell destroying a bedroom that an elderly woman had just left to be with her husband in the living room. No one was injured, but the house is having extensive repair work done.

The volunteers commuting the greatest distance begin their day by leaving at 5 a.m. in order to be on roofs before the heat of the day turns them into slippery slopes of hot tar and shingles, Walker reported. “We start early, we go strong, we are exhausted. But we are happily doing God’s work,” he said. Full volunteer crews will be needed for many months to successfully complete the work at hand, he added.

For more about Brethren Disaster Response see www.brethrendisasterresponse.org.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Disaster Child Care adds new site and new training opportunities.

Norfolk, Va., has been added to the sites where Disaster Child Care volunteers are caring for children evacuated from the hurricanes. The program also has announced new training opportunities.

Volunteer child-care teams have been working in Lafayette and Shreveport, La.; Kingwood, W.Va.; Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; Denver, Colo.; and Los Angeles and San Bernardino, Calif. Disaster Child Care serves at the request of FEMA and the Red Cross.

The child care team that had begun work at the Cajun Dome in Lafayette before Hurricane Rita hit the Gulf Coast, was evacuated to Shreveport along with the evacuees they were serving. The team then set up child care at the Expo Center in Shreveport. They and the evacuee group were on their way back to Lafayette today, to continue offering child care at the Cajun Dome.

Disaster Child Care has received so many requests to do additional trainings, as a result of Hurricane Katrina, that the program has appointed volunteer coordinator Wilma Ammermann to handle all the requests. Several additional trainings have been scheduled to enlist new volunteers for a response that spans more states than Disaster Child Care has ever served at any one time.

Two additional Level I training workshops have been confirmed: at La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren on Oct. 1-2; and in Norfolk, Neb., on Oct. 22-23. (The training scheduled for Reno, Nev., Oct. 7-8 has been canceled.) A registration fee of $45 is being waived because of the emergency status of these trainings. However, the program will be happy to receive any donations toward training costs. See www.disasterchildcare.org for more information about trainings and registration.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Districts begin reporting collection totals.

Church of the Brethren districts have begun reporting special collections for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. In what must represent just a fraction of the donations that have been received across the denomination over the last month, Southeastern and Virlina Districts combined have contributed more than $100,000. In addition, one of the largest annual fundraisers for Church of the Brethren disaster work—the Brethren Disaster Auction in Lebanon, Pa.—brought in more than $500,000 in one weekend for disaster relief including Hurricane Katrina efforts.

As of Sept. 26 congregations and members in Virlina District have given more than $52,000 to a special offering for Hurricane Katrina relief, collected on Sunday Sept. 18. The District Office is still receiving donations to that offering.

Southeastern District collected a love offering on Sept. 25 totaling almost $35,891, with some churches still sending in offerings. Churches in the district also are purchasing items of need for a small community in Mississippi near Cedar Creek Church of the Brethren in Citronelle, Ala.

On Sept. 23-24, more than 10,000 people attended the 29th annual Brethren Disaster Auction, an event co-sponsored by Atlantic Northeast and Southern Pennsylvania Districts. Auction items have brought in more than $575,000, and organizers expect the total received by year’s end to be over $600,000, said auction co-founder Jay M. Witman. On Saturday, 450 volunteers assembled 30,000 Gift of the Heart Health Kits in just two hours and 25 minutes. In addition to the money and kits collected, a “blitz build” allowed a modular home to be completely constructed in three days. The home will go to an Ohio family as part of the rebuilding work that Brethren Disaster Response is doing around Glencoe, Ohio, following flooding from Hurricane Ivan.

“It was eye-staggering,” Witman said of the health kits assembly line. “There was not a dry eye.” The auction was put on hold at noon on Saturday for a prayer service and hymn sing, he said, as he spoke of the event as the “Lord’s work.” Witman hopes to “pull out all the stops” at next year’s auction, the 30th annual. “I never would have thought 29 years ago we would have had in excess of $10 million to give away to disaster victims. God worked,” he said.

For more stories of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts by Church of the Brethren congregations, districts, colleges, and other organizations, see www.brethren.org/genbd/ersm/HurricanePosting.htm.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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National Council of Churches creates commission on hurricane response.

Keenly aware of the spiraling effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on millions of Americans, the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) Governing Board formed a commission to work for the “just rebuilding of community” on the Gulf Coast, an NCC release reported today. Global Christian leaders also shared their empathy with US Christians in the wake of the hurricanes. Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren General Board, participated in the meeting that took place in New York on Sept. 26-27.

“Africa’s churches express our solidarity and sadness at the Katrina destruction that has visited the people of this country,” said Mvume Dandala, general secretary of the All African Council of Churches, as reported by “The Christian Post” from a press conference held in relation to the meeting. Dandala added that in Africa, “Our own Katrina is HIV/AIDS.” He said that African countries will be watching the US response to Katrina carefully. “We sense that the response to the fate of the poor, who is in majority of African descent, will reflect how this country responds to the challenges of African countries.”

“These our sister and brothers shared their empathy and concern that Christians in the US seize this moment to share with clarity that what we are doing is in response to human need,” said Noffsinger. He added that the Christian response to the disasters comes “out of a desire for a more just world, and quite simply because it is what we understand Jesus to have us do,” he said.

The NCC Governing Board passed unanimously a resolution to call on the US government to create an independent commission similar to the 9/11 Commission to investigate deficiencies in the response of rescue and relief workers following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and in other devastated areas of the Gulf.

NCC president Thomas L. Hoyt Jr., Christian Methodist Episcopal bishop of Louisiana and Mississippi, said he would appoint Church World Service (CWS) representatives and others with special expertise to the NCC commission on Katrina. Church World Service is the humanitarian and relief agency of the communions that are members of the NCC.

Hoyt said he was also mindful of the hidden human tragedy of Katrina, including the alarming number of suicides of rescue workers and “people who lost everything.” The Governing Board received for a second reading a resolution on “Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Support,” which will be passed on to the NCC General Assembly when it meets Nov. 8-10. The resolution on suicide prevention urges member communions to “study and address the issues related to suicide prevention, intervention and support for those who attempt suicide and survivors of suicide loss.”

In other actions, the Governing Board welcomed publication of the NCC's new curriculum, “For the Peace of the World, A Christian Curriculum on International Relations”; heard a report from Eileen W. Lindner, deputy general secretary for Research and Planning, on the preparation of a policy on human biotechnologies, “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made”; and voted to pass on to the General Assembly a resolution to reaffirm provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and a Bill of Media Rights that reaffirms that the public owns the airwaves and has a right to expect local stations will respond effectively to community needs. The board also discussed the withdrawal this summer of the Antiochian Orthodox Church from NCC membership.

The Church of the Brethren is a member denomination of the NCC, which is composed of 35 Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, historic African-American and peace communions representing 45 million Christians in 100,000 local congregations in the US. For more information about the NCC see www.ncccusa.org.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Church World Service requests donations of Clean-Up Buckets.

Church World Service (CWS) has requested the donation of Clean-up Buckets, one of the Gift of the Heart Kits that are warehoused and shipped from the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. These supplies enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood, hurricane, tornado, or other disaster here in the US. Because of the volatility of the contents, Clean-up Buckets are not shipped internationally. The value per bucket is $45.

Bucket contents are: one 5 gallon bucket with resealable lid; five scouring pads; seven sponges, assorted sizes; one scrub brush; eighteen cleaning towels (reusable, like Easy Wipes ®); one 50-78 oz. box dry laundry detergent; one 12 oz. bottle of liquid concentrated household cleaner (like Lysol ®); one 25 oz. bottle liquid disinfectant dish soap (like Dawn ®); fifty clothespins; clothesline, two 50 ft. or one 100 ft.; five dust masks; two pairs latex gloves; one pair work gloves; one 22-27 count box heavy-duty trash bags (33-45 gallon); one 6-14 oz. bottle of insect repellant (drops or lotion, not aerosol). Purchase all liquids in plastic bottles. Send only new, unopened materials. Put all items in the plastic bucket, making sure they are packed securely to avoid damage during shipment, and seal lid with packing tape. Place each bucket in a separate box. Buckets may be taken directly to the warehouse in New Windsor, Md., or shipped prepaid to Church World Service, Brethren Service Center Annex, 601 Main St., New Windsor, MD 21776-0188.

Please add $3 per Clean-Up Bucket for processing and shipping. Do not include these funds in the box but send by check, earmarked for processing/shipping, to Church World Service, 28606 Phillips St., P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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‘How did the ducks get out of the water?’: Stories from Disaster Child Care

Disaster Child Care volunteer Patty Henry, who served in Denver, Colo., caring for children evacuated from Hurricane Katrina, shared the following stories from her daily journal:

“I rock a four year old and sing to her. She listens to ‘Five Green and Speckled Frogs.’ Then I sing ‘Five Little Ducks.’ She interrupts, ‘How did the ducks get out of the water?’ I explain that ducks can swim out, or use their wings to fly out of the water. I begin again to sing ‘Five Little Ducks.’ Again she asks, ‘How did the ducks get out of the water?’ and it dawns on me.... I ask her, ‘Were you in the water?’

“She tells me her story: ‘I fell off the roof in the water! Mommy catched me.’ I asked how her baby brother got off the roof. ‘Mommy catched him too. Then we got in a boat and they took us to a basketball game.’ I wonder if this is the Astro Dome? But we only wonder, we don’t ask. We’re not here to interrogate.

“We have a new family here today. A nine-year-old boy’s pants keep falling down. I tell him ‘You’re sagging!’ He replies, ‘Well... my belt is DROWNING!’

“A child from Louisiana is having a difficult time. Age nine, she frequently sits in a corner with her thumb in her mouth. She fights with her siblings and has frequent melt downs, crying. We hold and rock her, sit beside her, and take walks with her. She is very, very angry, and after three days we are still concerned about her ability to cope safely with all of this.”

Source: 9/28/2005 Newsline
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Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on every other Wednesday with other editions and updates as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. Carol Bowman, Kelly Burk, Annie Clark, Mary Dulabaum, Sonja Griffith, Phillip E. Jenks, Merv Keeney, Jeri S. Kornegay, Craig Alan Myers Barbara Sayler, Helen Stonesifer, Fred Swartz, Becky Ullom, Diana R. Wheaton, Linda Williams, and Roy Winter, and Jane Yount contributed to this report.