Brethren bits: Correction, jobs, personnel, more.

• Correction: "The Brethren Encyclopedia, Vol. 4" was co-edited by Donald F. Durnbaugh and Dale V. Ulrich, in a correction to the Newsline Extra of Dec. 13. Carl Bowman served as a contributing editor.
  
  
• Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) seeks a director of office operations, to fill a fulltime salaried position in Elgin, Ill. The director of office operations will direct the General Office Services Department; develop and maintain a centralized database of denominational membership; coordinate the president’s office; oversee board meetings, agendas, minutes, and provide assistance to board members; administer human resources services; and manage BBT’s offices with regard to occupancy, furnishings, and decor. Responsibilities include office equipment, supplies, and mail management; telephone system, receptionist, and hospitality; board member candidate profiles and communication; preparation of board agendas and minutes; personnel position announcements, candidate interviews, job descriptions, and other human resources duties; general clerical support in the president’s office; among others. Qualifications include a post secondary-level education, at least five years of experience in office operations leadership or human resources management, knowledge of the Church of the Brethren and denominational polity, organization, and structure. Membership in the Church of the Brethren is preferred but not required. Salary is comparable with Church Benefits Association agencies of comparable size and scope of services. A letter of application and a resume with three references should be sent by Jan. 15, 2007, via confidential communication to Wilfred E. Nolen, President, Brethren Benefit Trust, 1505 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
  
  
• Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) seeks a marketing and promotions assistant to fill an interim fulltime hourly position in Elgin, Ill. Responsibilities include establishing and maintaining a congregational representative network and assisting with creation and implementation of other promotional and marketing initiatives; assisting with development of a denominational database; securing BBT representatives in congregations; producing a monthly communication for congregational representatives; supporting representatives so that they can better represent BBT in congregations; helping coordinate regional meetings or a meal event at Annual Conference for representatives; occasional travel such as to Annual Conference and events for the representative network; and possibly securing church directories and organizing and inputting data to build a denominational contact list. Qualifications include at least an undergraduate degree preferably in communications, English, marketing, or a related field; experience or expertise in customer service, database management, and writing; membership in the Church of the Brethren with active participation in a Brethren congregation. Salary is competitive with Church Benefits Association agencies of comparable size and scope of services. To apply send a letter of interest, resume with salary range expectations, and contact information for three references to Susan Brandenbusch, Brethren Benefit Trust, 1505 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; or e-mail to sbrandenbusch_bbt@brethren.org.
  
  
• The Annual Conference Office is seeking a temporary fulltime registration coordinator to work at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., from March 1 through May 31, 2007. Responsibilities include tasks related to the registration process of Annual Conference, running reports, processing payments, serving as initial contact person for registration, and other clerical functions. Required skills and knowledge include strong word processing skills, effective and pleasant communication style, experience with software applications such as Word and Excel, demonstrated quality customer service skills. Required experience and education includes two to three years in a general office setting, a variety of work situations where direct contact with customers was required, a minimum of a high school diploma. Send a cover letter and resume to the Office of Human Resources, P.O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776; 410-635-8780; ehall_gb@brethren.org. Application deadline is Jan. 19, 2007.
  
  
• Applicants are sought for the 2007 Youth Peace Travel Team, which is jointly sponsored by On Earth Peace, the Outdoor Ministries Association, Brethren Volunteer Service, the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, and the Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Church of the Brethren General Board. It is "not just another summer job" according to a personal testimony from 2006 team member Margaret Bortner of Palmyra (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, included in an announcement from On Earth Peace: "Fifteen states, seven church camps, Annual Conference, National Youth Conference, hundreds of new friends, lots of free ice cream, an afternoon in Hollywood: this was my summer job. Youth Peace Travel Team presented opportunities that I otherwise may not have had." The four-member team spends the summer together visiting Church of the Brethren camps to promote peace. "If you care passionately for peace and justice and are interested in leaving your comfort zone next summer, please consider applying.... It will stretch you spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically--and you will love it," said Bortner. Applications are due Feb. 4, 2007. For more information visit www.brethren.org/genbd/witness/YPTT.htm or contact Phil Jones at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 202-546-3202, pjones_gb@brethren.org; or Susanna Farahat at On Earth Peace, 410-635-8706, sfarahat_oepa@brethren.org.
  
  
• A promotional DVD for the 2007 workcamps offered by the Church of the Brethren General Board is now available. The DVD includes general information about workcamps and the expansion of the workcamp program, as well as 2007 calendar information. The DVD is a useful tool for sharing the workcamp philosophy, as it features interviews with the coordinators and past workcamp participants. Registration for 2007 workcamps begins Jan. 3, 2007, online at www.brethren.org. To request a DVD, write to cobworkcamps_gb@brethren.org or call Amy Rhodes at 800-323-8039 ext. 281.
  
  
• A Faith Expedition to Vietnam will be sponsored by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office on Dec. 31, 2006-Jan. 13, 2007. Registration was filled early for the two-week trip led by Dennis Metzger, who was a Brethren Volunteer Service worker in Vietnam from 1969-74, and his wife Van. Participants will travel to Hanoi, Saigon, Long An province, and make visits to Church World Service projects among ethnic minorities and to the Mennonite Church in Gia Dinh, among other activities. The expedition also will visit the area of Di Linh, where Brethren martyr Ted Studebaker lived and worked during the war. Other upcoming Faith Expeditions include a trip to Mexico in the spring of 2007, led by Tom Benevento, and a fall 2007 trip to Guatemala.
  
  
• The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra is leasing office space at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., as of November. Orchestra staff including director Kathy Mathews and three colleagues are occupying office space formerly used by Illinois and Wisconsin District Office, which is now housed at York Center Church of the Brethren in Lombard, Ill.
  
  
• Ruth Stokes has received the "Everyday Hero Award" from the state of Pennsylvania. The 81-year-old member of Ambler (Pa.) Church of the Brethren was presented the award in October for her many accomplishments in community service. Over the years she has played exhibition baseball in Yankee Stadium as part of what is believed to be the first women’s baseball league in the east, in existence from 1947-55; opened a sporting goods store with her husband Harry; became one of the first SCUBA instructors in the area; played golf for 50 years; and more recently founded the Share and Care Community at Walnut Meadows retirement community in Harleysville. She still teaches water aerobics at the Indian Valley YMCA, according to the "Souderton Independent" newspaper. Stokes wrote her memoir, "Ruthie Brethren Girl," in 1997.
  
  
• A new book about Sam Hornish Jr., an Indy Racing League driver and Church of the Brethren member from Ohio, is available from the "Bryan Times" of Williams County, Ohio. In May, Hornish won the 90th Indianapolis 500, driving with Marlboro Team Penske. The book, "A Passion for Victory," highlights his career with more than 200 full-color photos. The Hornish family participated in the project, supplying photos as well as historical data. The jacket was written by "The Voice of the Indy Racing League," Mike King. The limited edition hard-bound book, 136 pages, is available for $29.95 from the newspaper offices in Bryan, Ohio, during regular office hours. For more information about the newspaper go to www.bryantimes.com.

Source: 12/20/2006 Newsline