Portland Brethren begin offering programs for community cable.

Ed Groff of Portland (Ore.) Peace Church of the Brethren since July 2005 has been producing a monthly half-hour community television program "to get the word out about the Church of the Brethren and who we are and what we are all about." Now he is beginning exploration of a video project to provide other local communities with a Church of the Brethren program each month.

Rachael Waas Shull has been the host of the Peace Church program, and is often joined by her husband Nate Shull. Since its beginnings, the program--which is broadcast three times each month in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., on channels 11 and 21--has dealt with various subjects including alternative Christmas giving, peace and justice, and Heifer International. The programs are produced using volunteer time given by Groff and members and friends of Peace Church.

Groff and others from Peace Church who are involved in the project want to offer such programs to other Brethren congregations that arrange programming with cable television in their communities. Brethren congregations or individuals from across the country would be provided a half-hour program each month, focused on the Church of the Brethren and its values.

Congregations or individuals may contact Groff or Peace Church to share their interest in participating, and to receive information about details such as how to arrange time with a local-access community cable television station, what kinds of contracts or fees may be required, and how delivery of the programs will be carried out. Groff anticipates the cost for a congregation to participate will be $100 for the year.

The project plans to begin offering video programs March 1, with the first in the series mailed in mid-February. The first three months of programs include "Food and Clothing, Cattle and Love: Brethren Service in Europe after World War II," an On Earth Peace video by David Sollenberger, provided with permission from On Earth Peace. Another program focuses on countering military recruitment, using video resources of the American Friends Service Committee and On Earth Peace. Ten volunteers from the Pacific northwest are making a trip to Mississippi to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief, through Brethren Disaster Response; a third program will show the efforts of the Church of the Brethren as it continues to serve Katrina survivors.

Contact Ed Groff at Groffprod1@msn.com or 360-256-8550. Contact Portland Peace Church of the Brethren at peacecob@3dwave.com or 503-254-6380.

Source: 1/3/2007 Newsline