Proposals to reduce gun violence: Church representative attends Senate Subcommittee hearing.

Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford

Bryan Hanger is an advocacy assistant in the Peace Witness Ministry of the Church of the Brethren

Last week, I represented the Church of the Brethren by attending a hearing held by the US Senate’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights. The hearing was entitled “Proposals to Reduce Gun Violence: Protecting Our Communities While Respecting the Second Amendment.” The event was presided over by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and it provided an array of incredibly informative testimony regarding the effectiveness of certain gun laws, the human cost of gun violence, and what lessons from the past we can apply to our present problems.

The Church of the Brethren contributed to this discussion by submitting written testimony to the subcommittee to be part of the formal record (read it at  www.brethren.org/news/2013/church-of-the-brethren-testimony-on-gun-control.html ).

The hearing came to order in a unique manner as chairman Durbin asked for everyone in the audience who had been personally affected by gun violence to stand, and it was revealed that survivors of gun violence and relatives of victims had shown up in great number as over half of the room stood up. Many were parents and relatives of gun violence victims from the President’s hometown of Chicago. Others were survivors and relatives of victims of such infamous episodes of gun violence as Newtown, Virginia Tech, and Luby’s massacre.

The first testimony came from Timothy Heaphy, US Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. Using his unique perspective as a United States attorney, he talked at length about the complexity of understanding the gun violence issue. He stated that he and his employer, the Department of Justice, do support an assault weapons ban, but he repeatedly emphasized the need for an all encompassing “360 degree approach,” with specific emphasis on a universal and more comprehensive background check.

He stressed how one of the most deficient aspects of the current background check system is the lack of detailed mental health records available for review. He cited the Virginia Tech massacre as an example of how deficient mental health records can allow someone to pass the background check who should not be able to. Heaphy mentioned that the tragedy at Virginia Tech spurred bipartisan efforts to enact more comprehensive background checks, but lamented the reality that this legislation has not been adequate and the background check process still needs to be drastically improved ( http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=49#NICS ).

Building on this, Senator Al Franken emphasized how Americans must not stigmatize mental illness, but instead should support legislation such as his proposed Mental Health in Schools Act which would work to diagnose and address signs of mental illness at an early age (find it at www.franken.senate.gov/?p=hot_topic&id=2284 ). Expansion of access to mental health care was universally supported by all of the members of the subcommittee, but the gun control measures were not.

Senators, such as Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), expressed their concern that the measures being put forth would do nothing but infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, while doing nothing to stop violent criminals who would acquire illegal weapons anyway. Senator Cruz argued against the efficacy of gun restrictions by pointing out the low rates of violent crime of many cities in his native Texas, where gun restrictions are few, to the skyrocketing crime rates in cities like Detroit, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., where gun laws are extremely strict. Others, such as Senator Hirono (D-HI), offered rebuttals to these critiques by citing examples where gun restrictions led to a drop in violent crime, such as in her home state of Hawaii.

After Heaphy’s testimony and Senate questioning, other speakers offered their perspectives. The two panelists who spoke most powerfully were Suzanna Hupp and Sandra Wortham. Hupp recounted her heart-wrenching story of surviving Luby’s Massacre in 1991. During the telling of the story, she lamented how gun control laws had failed her that day. She spoke of how she had quit carrying a gun in her purse because of new laws prohibiting this, and as a result she was left defenseless against a killer who murdered her mother and father directly in front of her.

Wortham followed Hupp’s testimony by telling of the day her older brother, a Chicago police officer named Thomas E. Wortham IV, was murdered right in front of her parents’ house. Her account was just as devastating as Hupp’s, but illustrated a much different story. The tragedy of Wortham’s brother showed that even a professionally trained and armed man can fall victim to the horrors of gun violence.

The overarching feeling I left with is that the issue of gun violence is much more complicated than we may like to believe. But that must not discourage us from working to make the world a more peaceful place. Laurence H. Tribe, a Harvard Law professor who also spoke at the hearing, expressed our call to action in this way: “If we do nothing until we can do everything, we will all have the blood of innocent human beings on our hands and will besmirch the Constitution in the process.”

Thus, the Church of the Brethren must remember our tradition and act!

“We believe that the Christian church should be a powerful witness against the use of violence to settle disputes. Faithful disciples of the non-violent ways of Jesus have acted as leaven in the society against the violent trends of every age. Out of devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ we cry out against the violence of our times. We encourage our congregations and agencies to work with other Christians to find dramatic and effective ways to witness to the peace and reconciliation offered through Jesus Christ.” -- 1994 Annual Conference Statement on Violence in North America

It was in this spirit of action that the Church of the Brethren submitted a formal testimony to the subcommittee calling for a comprehensive approach to address our nation’s culture of violence. The full statement can be read at www.brethren.org/news/2013/church-of-the-brethren-testimony-on-gun-control.html . Video of the Senate Subcommittee hearing can be seen at www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310946-1 .

-- Bryan Hanger is an advocacy assistant for the Church of the Brethren Peace Witness Ministry.

Source: 2/21/2013 Newsline

‘A trying moment in Nigeria’: An EYN leader tallies deaths and churches lost to violence.

Photo by Glenn Riegel

Mission and service executive Jay Wittmeyer leads prayer for peace in Nigeria during the recent Annual Conference.

The following tally of deaths, burned churches, and loss of property among members of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) provides a stark picture of the suffering of Nigerian Brethren since the extremist Islamist sect Boko Haram began terrorist operations in northern Nigeria around 2009. This is just one church leader’s tally from reports extracted from the EYN media department and the EYN president’s diary. It was provided to the Global Mission and Service office with the caveat that “we may not have the full statistics of the whole destruction caused by the attackers against other denominations and Muslims, but we have tried to keep most records of casualties within the EYN church.” The reports notes that because EYN churches and members are scattered all over the country, the EYN Disaster Relief Committee is working hard to identify communities, congregations, and individuals for proper documentation and assistance--so this listing most probably is incomplete and includes inconsistencies. The church leader added a personal note to Brethren in the US: “We thank you for continued prayers and support, it is keeping us going in such a perilous time.”

About terminology: EYN refers to a local congregation as an LCC, which stands for Local Church Council, and refers to a district as a DCC, which stands for District Church Council. LCB refers to a preaching point called a Local Church Branch. A “compound” is a property on which several different buildings house people who are part of the same family or group.

EYN churches affected by Boko Haram in Borno and Yobe States and Northern Adamawa

DCC Yobe: 10 church members have been killed, 3 LCC were burnt down including LCC Damaturu, LCC Pompomari, LCC Buni Yadi.

DCC Chibok: 10 members including a pastor have been killed, 8 Christian compounds were burnt, 1 motorcycle and a car were burnt.

LCC Kulali was burnt, all Christian compounds were burnt, 2 motorcycles burnt, the pastor’s houses and property were burnt.

DCC Maisandari: Number of people killed in each LCC is as follows:  LCC Bulumkutu 16 people, LCC Dala 17 people, LCC Maduganari 7 people, LCC Tanki 6 people, LCC Polo 7 people, LCC Konduga 8 people. Total 61 people killed. Properties destroyed: beds and cushion chairs, a shop, a shop looted in Tanki, household property burnt in Polo, a church and farm produce burnt in Konduga.

DCC Biu: Number of churches burnt 4: LCC Gamadadi, LCC Tabra, LCC Biu No. 1. One member was killed, while others were hospitalized.

DCC Maiduguri: LCB Gajigana under LCC Maiduguri, together with the pastor’s house, were burnt and all the properties. LCB Kwana Maiwa under LCC Farm Center was burnt. Many shops, a chemist, and houses belonging to Christians were looted, while personal cars of some members were forcefully snatched. Total number of people killed was 32: Ngomari Gona 6, Pompomary 1, Farm Center 8, Jajeri 11, Maiduguri 6.

DCC Kautikari: LCC Blakor was burnt, 2 members were killed, 3 motorcycles belonging to members were burnt, a generator belonging to a member was burnt.

DCC Attagara: LCC Attagara was burnt, 3 members were killed.

DCC Mbulamile, Jan. 10, 2013: The pastor at LCC Sabongari in Damboa was killed. His wife and children were shot and hospitalized. Two other members, a father and a son, were killed. The local church was burnt down.

Total numbers of EYN members killed in Borno and Yobe States and other places 147.
Pastors killed 3.
Total churches burnt 14.
Pastor’s houses burnt 2.
Motorcycles belonging to EYN members destroyed 4.
Houses belonging to EYN members burnt down 8.
Shops and houses looted, many.

Some of the most recent attacks, by date:

On Jan. 12, 2013, the Muslim Jihadists again attacked Kuburvu, a Christian village in Damboa, and burnt many houses and 2 or more people were killed. No proper report (was received) but people were killed.

On Jan. 20, 2013, 2 EYN members were killed in Maiduguri.

On Jan. 31, 2013, shops belonging to Christians in Maiduguri were attacked and 3 people were killed, 1 of them was an EYN member.

On Feb. 1, 2013, LCC Samunaka in Mubi was attacked, the pastor’s office was burnt down. Also, 3 of our members were killed while 1 sustained gun shot wounds.

On Feb. 2, 2013, news was brought that LCC Huwim under DCC Mussa was burnt.

On Feb. 3, 2013, LCC Bita in Gavva West was burnt. The church is between Damboa and Gwoza.

On Feb. 4, 2013, EYN Samunaka in Mubi was attacked, some houses belonging to Christians were burnt, ECWA (a church belonging to another denomination) was burnt, and about 12 persons were killed, 5 of which were EYN members.

Summary:
Number of people killed in eight District Church Councils (DCC): Chibok, Borno State, 10; Yobe, Yobe State, 10; Maisandari, Borno State, 61; Biu, Borno State, 1; Kautikari, Borno State, 2; Maiduguri, Borno State, 47; Attagara, Borno State, 3; Mbulamel, Borno State, 8; Kaduna, Kaduna State, 1; Mubi, Adamawa State, 4. Total 147

Number of Local Church Councils (LCC) burnt: Attagara, Borno State; Damaturu, Yobe State; Pompomari, Borno State; Boni Yadi, Borno State; Kwaple, Borno State; Konduga, Borno State; Gamadadi, Borno State; Tabra, Borno State; Biu No. 1, Borno State; Badarawa, Kaduna State.

Local Church Branches (LCB) burnt: Bayan Tasha, Blakar, Gajigana, Kwanan Maiwa.

Source: 2/21/2013 Newsline

Brethren bits.

• The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI has brought words of respect and appreciation from the World Council of Churches (WCC), of which the Church of the Brethren is a member denomination. A WCC release reported that WCC general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit made a statement “to respect fully the decision of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to resign. With deep respect I have seen how he has carried the responsibility and burdens of his ministry in his advanced age, in a very demanding time for the church.” Tveit added, “I express my appreciation for his love and commitment to the church and to the ecumenical movement. Let us pray that God bless him in this moment and this phase of his life, and that God will guide and bless the Roman Catholic Church in a very important time of transition.” Benedict first announced his decision in a meeting of cardinals at the Vatican on Feb. 11. His deteriorating health was cited as the reason for him to step down from his post as of the end of February.

• Joel and Linetta Ballew have accepted the position of co-administrators at Camp Swatara, a Church of the Brethren camp in Pennsylvania. The announcement came from Shenandoah District, where Joel Ballew has been pastor at Lebanon Church of the Brethren in Mount Sidney, Va., and Linetta Ballew has been program director at Brethren Woods Camp and Retreat Center. The couple will make the move to Camp Swatara at the end of May.

• Brethren Woods Camp and Retreat Center ( www.brethrenwoods.org ) is a year round Christian camp and retreat center owned and operated by the Shenandoah District of the Church of the Brethren, located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Brethren Woods is seeking a program director to plan and implement a vigorous year-round program including summer camp, retreats, outdoor education, the challenge course, and outdoor adventure. Areas of responsibility include the general operation of camp, program initiatives, publicity and promotion, the recruitment, training, supervision and evaluation of personnel, and maintaining relationships with individuals, congregations, and professional associations. Preference will be given to persons who are supportive of Church of the Brethren values and beliefs, have a college degree, experience in a camping/outdoor education related field, and skill or interest in low and high challenge course management. Candidates should also possess measurable administrative, organizational, relational, and communication skills. Brethren Woods offers a compensation package that includes a salary, health insurance, retirement benefits, professional growth, vacation, holidays, and reimbursement for business-related travel. For more information call the camp office at 540-269-2741 or e-mail camp@brethrenwoods.org . The search process will continue until a person has been employed, with the first deadline for consideration being March 15. Apply by sending a resume and two letters of recommendation to: Douglas Phillips, ADE, Brethren Woods, 4896 Armentrout Path, Keezletown, VA 22832; phone and fax 540-269-2741; camp@brethrenwoods.org .

• The Fellowship of Reconciliation, USA (FOR) is seeking a full-time executive director to fill a position carrying the overall strategic and operational responsibility for FOR’s staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. The executive director will have a deep knowledge of the organization’s core programs, operations, and business plans. Interested applicants may check the FOR website for details: www.forusa.org . The Fellowship of Reconciliation was founded in 1914 to promote nonviolence as a means of resolving conflict and achieving justice and peace worldwide. Its intentionally interfaith approach to peace and justice make FOR uniquely positioned to address the world’s problems in the 21st century. FOR serves as the US national office for this movement, and works with more than 10,000 members, 100 local groups, and over a dozen national religious peace fellowships. Location is the FOR headquarters in Nyack, N.Y. Qualifications and experience include a minimum of five years as an executive director of a nonprofit organization with experience in administration, staff supervision, board development and support, strategic planning, program evaluation, finance, and fundraising; proven ability to work with people from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, educational, and religious backgrounds, generations, and sexual orientations in building a highly-motivated and diverse staff team; record of successful fundraising and financial management with nonprofit agencies; record of program experience and program oversight and knowledge of FOR desired. Skills will include excellent oral and written communication skills and computer literacy. The deadline for applications is March 25. Send a cover letter and resume, with three professional references, to Ralph McFadden, Search Consultant, FORsearch@sbcglobal.net . For more information contact Ralph McFadden on his home/office phone at 847-622-1677.

Photo by

Former BVSer Leon Buschina (left) with his supervisor at Project PLASE in Baltimore

• Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is remembering two former volunteers who have passed away recently, one who served in BVS during the Vietnam War era and one who completed his service in 2012.
  
  Leon Buschina, a member of BVS Unit 289, which held orientation in summer 2010, was killed by a train in Berlin in mid-December 2012. The BVS office only recently received confirmation of the news from EIRENE, the German program through which Buschina came to BVS. He had served as a BVSer at Project PLASE in Baltimore, Md., through September last year. At the project, Buschina had started an afternoon music and drumming group at his own initiative. “Please hold the Buschina family in your thoughts and prayers,” requested BVS director Dan McFadden. “We are deeply saddened and sorry for Leon’s passing.”
  
  Jeremy Hardin Mott, 66, the first Vietnam War draft resister to receive the maximum prison sentence of five years, was a BVSer 1966-67 when he served for some months at Bethany Brethren Hospital in Chicago. He died Sept. 2, 2012, in Roanoke, Va. Mott grew up participating in Friends (Quaker) meetings in New Jersey and New York and attended Sandy Spring Friends School in Maryland which also shaped his experience. In 1963 he joined the March on Washington, just before attending Harvard University for two years. When drafted in October 1966 he obtained conscientious objector status and joined BVS, serving three months at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md., and four months at Bethany Brethren Hospital. He burned his draft card at the April 15, 1967, Mobilization Against the War in New York, and helped found the Chicago Area Draft Resisters (CADRE). In his individual witness, he resigned from BVS writing: “Both the joy which comes from acting in accordance with one’s conscience and the agony which comes from facing the risks of such action obscure the real agony of the Vietnam situation…By affirming the value of the lives of people and denying the righteousness of murder and slavery we can at least help keep some vestige of brotherhood a reality among men.” His letter to Selective Service stated “ My job, as a pacifist and as a person opposed to this war in Vietnam, is to resist our warring government, including the Selective Service System, rather than to seek special privileges from it.” In December 1967, he was one of the first in the country to go to trial for resisting the draft and was the first to receive the maximum prison sentence of five years, which was reduced on appeal to four. On his release from prison in 1969, he worked for the Midwest Committee for Draft Counseling, the Chicago office of the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors. There he wrote and published a regular newsletter about draft law, which was sent to 5,000 counselors nationwide who helped young men consider alternatives to the military. In later years, he worked for Amtrak as a dispatcher, and was active in the New York Yearly Meeting. He is remembered by a leading Quaker publication as “a one-man Quaker information center, a constant reader of the Quaker press with contacts in every corner of the Quaker world, and he often provided unique insights. Before he adopted e-mail, several Quaker periodicals would receive letters-to-the-editor from Jeremy in his novel format: a series of post cards. He would start writing on one post card, then continue on with as many as it took for him to express the complete thought.” Survivors include his wife Judith Franks Mott and daughter Mary Hannah Mott.

• Online registration opens March 1 at 9 a.m. (central) for the National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) on Sept. 2-6 in Lake Junaluska, N.C. Registration also is available by paper form that may be sent in by mail. More information and registration forms are at www.brethren.org/noac .

• A new edition of the “Bridge” newsletter for young adults is now online in a new e-pub format. Find the Winter 2013 newsletter on the theme “Soft Voices” at www.brethren.org/yya/resources.html#bridge .

• The CT Project, a grassroots initiative to bring Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) to Connecticut, has succeeded in scheduling CDS training workshops in five areas of the state. Facebook posts at www.facebook.com/TheCTProject announce the following workshops:
  
  a Region 5 workshop on May 3-4 at Friendship Baptist Church in Litchfield, Conn.; a Region 4 workshop on May 31-June 1 at the Groton (Conn.) Senior Center; a Region 2 workshop on Sept. 20-21 hosted by the American Red Cross in New Haven, Conn.; and a Region 1 workshop on March 15-16 in Stratford, Conn. The workshop in Region 3 has already been held, on Jan. 18 in Canton, Conn. Fundraising to make these CDS training workshops possible is happening in part through the sale of CDS “Cause Bracelets” available in adult and child sizes for a $5 donation. The bracelets are available at the Canton Union Savings Bank at 188 Albany Turnpike, see www.unionsavings.com/page.cfm?p=478 .

• “Responding to Gun Violence” is the theme of the March edition of “Brethren Voices,” a community television program produced by Portland (Ore.) Peace Church of the Brethren. Hosted by Brent Carlson, the show features the Church of the Brethren in response to the continuing tragedies of gun violence in the US. The Church of the Brethren has been collaborating with a coalition of 47 religious groups known as Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence. This edition of “Brethren Voices” welcomes five guests commenting on the issue: Pastor Kerby Lauderdale of Portland Peace Church of the Brethren on the tragedies in light of the book of Job; Doug Eller, a life-long hunter, sharing his insight and respect for nature and the hunted; and Brethren Volunteer Service workers Amanda Glover from Virginia and Rebekka Adelberger and Jan Hunsaenger from Germany presenting their thoughts. “According to the volunteers from Germany, life appears much safer without all of the guns,” said a note from producer Ed Groff. To order a copy, contact groffprod1@msn.com . Several of the “Brethren Voices” shows also are available on YouTube, where the show now has over 5,500 views since July. Go to www.Youtube.com/Brethrenvoices .

• A powerful testimony about Brethren-related efforts at peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is now online at www.brethren.org/partners/drc-trip-imaja-itulelo.pdf . "We have to serve God and work in His service as we are human beings created in the image of God,” writes Imaja Itulelo. “Christ died because of our sins. We have to show our love and fellowship and consider the most hopeless people, serving them so that they may praise the Lord and reach their needs. God is our gear; He is protecting and conducting us in what we are doing." The denomination’s Global Mission and Service office is supporting a peace church community in the Congo, and this testimony comes from a small group from this community that recently traveled to Pygmy camps in Northern Kivu Province.

• Some new photo albums displaying Brethren programs at work around the world are available online, with an index page and links at www.brethren.org/album . New photo albums from Global Mission and Service show off the recent workcamp experience in Nigeria and Jillian Foerster’s teaching work in South Sudan, and photos from the 2012 workcamps also are posted.

• Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren in Glen Arm, Md., holds a Lafiya: Peacemaking seminar on April 27 featuring speakers knowledgeable about Nigeria, Rwanda, and the Congo. “For the past five years, Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren has held fabulous women's retreats in the spring in our peaceful and historic valley near Prigel's Creamery and Boordy Vineyards. Normally 50-70 area woman attend,” reports Jean C. Sack, who is working on publicity for the seminar. “In 2013 our focus is African conflict. This year the Brethren, Mennonites, and Quakers in our area are joining others for a April 27 Saturday peacemaking seminar focusing on two very troubled regions of Africa where women and children suffer the most from conflict. Recent news from the Congo/Rwanda about M23 takeover of Eastern towns and the flight of refugees as well as killings of Christians and polio vaccinators (in Nigeria) concerns the world.” The seminar is open to both women and men, and “mature young people” are encouraged to attend. Speakers are Nathan Hosler, director of the Peace Witness Ministry of the Church of the Brethren and a former peace worker with Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), and David Bucura, Central Africa coordinator for the African Great Lakes Initiative and a pastor of the Friends Church in Rwanda. Find out more at www.madcob.com/pdf/lafiya2013.pdf or www.lgvcob.org .

• Several Brethren youth groups participated in the “Souper Bowl Sunday” effort against hunger. The Southern Pennsylvania District newsletter notes that “a number of our congregations participate in Souper Bowl Sunday by collecting soup and donating it to local food pantries. Bermudian and West York have a ‘Soup Kettle’ trophy which they pass back and forth depending which church collects the most soup. However, Free Spring has an ‘Annual Souper Bowl Fellowship Meal’ on that Sunday, with the main course being soup. What a unique way to mix our secular and spiritual interests.” In Fort Wayne, Ind., Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren thanked its members for food bank contributions on "Super Food" Sunday Feb. 3, weighing in at 321 pounds of food. “Your help makes a difference in the quality of life for families in the community,” said the church newsletter.

• Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren held an “All Church Prayer Walk” on Sunday, Feb. 10, after morning worship as part of a sermon series on “Praying Circles Around Life!” The event started with an explanation about what a Prayer Walk is, and included a list of possible locations around town where individuals and groups could choose to go walk or drive and pray for the city. Attendees received a Prayer Card based on their choice of route, and prayer prompts for that specific location. Water and a small snack was provided as well.

• “Cultivating for a Great Harvest,” sponsored by the Church Development and Evangelism Team of Shenandoah District, will begin at 8:30 a.m. on March 2 at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Va. The theme is "Revitalization Boot Camp 101," and leadership will be provided by Fred Bernhard, Jeremy Ashworth, and John Neff.

• Atlantic Southeast District has announced its annual Venture Fun(d) Day, this year to be held on March 9 at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, Fla. The district’s goal for this year is to raise $10,000. Those funds and more will support the Unify Church in the Miami area, the West Palm Beach Haitian church, a new Youth Ministry person, TRIM participants through scholarship funds, theological education for ministry students in Puerto Rico through the new SEBAH program of the Brethren Academy and Bethany Theological Seminary, and the general program of the Atlantic Southeast District and the Puerto Rico Junta. “We have a huge vision to support and need your help,” said an invitation from Joseph Henry, chair of the Church Development Committee. Contact the district office at 321-276-4958 or ASEExecutive@gmail.com .

• Nils Martin, outdoor education and adventure coordinator at Brethren Woods Camp and Retreat Center in Shenandoah District, is recruiting volunteers to help with Outdoor School this spring according to the district newsletter. Outdoor School brings elementary school groups to the camp near Keezletown, Va., where volunteers staff learning stations. Already 15 groups from kindergarten through fifth grade are scheduled. Volunteer help is needed April 12 and 18 and May 1-3, 7, 9-10, 14-17, and 22-24. Contact 540-269-2741 or adventure@brethrenwoods.org .

• McPherson (Kan.) College has held its second annual JumpStart Kansas competition, which awards two grants of $5,000 to Kansas high school students who present the best entrepreneurial ideas in the areas of commercial and social entrepreneurship. The grants come with no stipulation that the students attend McPherson College, said a release. The grand prize winners also are offered a $5,000 annual scholarship to the college. The other eight finalists are offered a $1,000 annual scholarship to McPherson, which is increased to $1,500 annually if they also pursue the Transformative Entrepreneurship Minor. In addition, students can receive $500 for their idea from the college’s micro-grant Horizon Fund if they attend. Kayla Onstott of Kansas City, Kan., won the grand prize in the commercial category for her idea for a Build a Better Bra Boutique where customers would use a computerized system to order a bra to exact specifications. In the social entrepreneurship category, Brandon Mackie of Coffeyville, Kan., won the grand prize for his inspirational game called Highway to Heaven directed toward spiritual discovery within Christianity, healing sadness and depression, and teaching lessons of love.

• A series of John Kline Candlelight Dinners are scheduled for March and April at the historic John Kline homestead in Broadway, Va. The dinners on March 15 and 16 and April 12 and 13 start at 6 p.m. and feature a traditional meal with actors playing the parts of people in 1863 sharing concerns about drought, diphtheria, roaming Confederate scouts, and calling for Kline's medical services. Cost is $40. Groups are welcome. Seating is limited to 32. Call 540-896-5001.

• March 1 is World Day of Prayer, a worldwide movement of Christian women. Over the decades, many women’s groups in Church of the Brethren congregations across the country have taken part in this annual ecumenical event in their local communities. Each year resources are provided by a different country. The host country for 2013, France, has developed resources on the theme, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." For more about the World Day of Prayer go to www.wdp-usa.org . For the 2013 worship resources go to www.wdp-usa.org/2013-france .

• For International Women's Day on March 8 the Global Women’s Project is providing a collection of worship resources to help pastors and congregations celebrate. Find the resources at  http://globalwomensproject.wordpress.com/worship-and-education-resources/worship-resources . Included are litanies, hymn suggestions, and stories to enrich worship services.

• Belita Mitchell, pastor of First Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, Pa., and a former Annual Conference moderator, received a “shout out” from the new board president of Heeding God’s Call, a grassroots initiative against gun violence in America’s cities that started at a Philadelphia meeting of the Historic Peace Churches. In her “state of the organization” message, new board president Katie Day noted Mitchell’s service as chair of the Harrisburg chapter of Heeding God’s Call. She also noted recent accomplishments, including Heeding God’s Call participation in a Summit on Gun Violence at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University where “of the 450 participants, Heeding was the only grassroots, as well as faith-based, group represented and was acknowledged from the podium as such.” Day concluded, “As I write this, over 13,957 people have been shot in the US so far this year, 187 today.... We cannot ever forget these children of God. They are why we do what we do.”  More is at www.heedinggodscall.org .

• Howard Royer, retired from longterm service on the Church of the Brethren staff, and his wife Gene made the news in Elgin, Ill., when they aided a postal carrier in distress. The “Courier News” covered the story under the title, “Police, post office praise elderly couple for helping hurt mail carrier.” The Royers stopped their car to help a woman lying on the sidewalk in severe pain, after she had slipped and fallen on ice. Find the story online at  http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/18361406-418/police-post-office-praise-elderly-couple-for-helping-hurt-mail-carrier.html

Source: 2/21/2013 Newsline

Credits

Newsline is produced by the news services of the Church of the Brethren. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. Contributors to this issue of Newsline include Jeff Boshart, Chris Douglas, Anna Emrick, Ed Groff, Nate Hosler, Julie Hostetter, Dan McFadden, Ralph McFadden, Becky Ullom Naugle, Douglas Phillips, Paul Roth, Donna Rhodes, Jean C. Sack, Callie Surber, Jay Wittmeyer, and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren.

More Nigerian Brethren die in violent attacks, US workcampers return home safely

Photo by Jay Wittmeyer

A symbol of hope for Nigeria: bright flowers spring up in burnt earth. This photo was taken by Global Mission and Service executive director Jay Wittmeyer during his recent trip to Nigeria.

More Nigerian Brethren have died in violent attacks on churches of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). The LCC Samunaka church on the outskirts of the city of Mubi was attacked twice in four days, first on Feb. 1 and again on Feb. 4. At least 15 people were killed in the attacks, including eight members of the congregation, while one member of the church sustained gun shot wounds said an EYN report.

During the attacks, the Samunaka church building and the pastor’s office were burned down, along with some houses belonging to Christians. Two EYN churches in other areas were burned in attacks on the same weekend: LCC Huwim in the Mussa district was burned on Feb. 2, and LCC Bita in the Gavva west district was burned on Feb. 3, the EYN report said.

These most recent attacks on Brethren occur in a month in which northern Nigeria has experienced several well-publicized attacks by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram: the murders of three North Korean doctors and nine nurses who were administering polio vaccine, and an assassination attempt on the Emir of Kano, a prominent Muslim leader.

Two visitors from the US church were in Mubi on the day of the first attack on the Samunaka church, but had returned to the EYN headquarters just a few miles away before the violence occurred. The two were on a “mini workcamp” representing the US church: Jay Wittmeyer, executive director of Global Mission and Service, and Fern Dews of North Canton, Ohio, and East Nimishillen Church of the Brethren. They returned safely to the US on Feb. 7.

The two delivered cards and letters of support to EYN, expressing prayer and encouragement from American Brethren to Nigerian Brethren in the face of the continuing violence. The Church of the Brethren also has transferred to EYN donations amounting to $30,268.25, for a fund that helps care for churches and members affected by violence.

Wittmeyer met with EYN leaders during the workcamp trip, and also with Church of the Brethren mission workers who are seconded to EYN: Carol Smith, who teaches at the EYN secondary school, and Carl and Roxane Hill, working at Kulp Bible College. Both institutions are on the EYN headquarters campus.

In addition to those lost in violent attacks against its churches, EYN has suffered other losses recently. The director of EYN’s Peace Program has died from illness, reports Wittmeyer, and a son of former EYN president Filibus Gwama has died in a car accident. A bus carrying EYN women home from that funeral also had a serious accident, causing injuries among the women but no deaths, Wittmeyer said.

Wittmeyer called Brethren in the US to continued prayer for the Nigerian Brethren.

Source: 2/11/2013 Newsline Special

Newsline: February 7, 2013

NEWS

• Christian Churches Together urges fundamental immigration reform.
• Committee to study ecumenism in the 21st century.
• Health care tax credit can help churches and organizations.
• Nursing scholarships are available through the Church of the Brethren.

PERSONNEL

• Kostlevy to direct Brethren Historical Library and Archives.
• Youth Peace Travel Team named for 2013.

RESOURCES

• Brethren Press offers new resources for the spring and summer.

FEATURES

• Signs of the seasons: Lent.
• Founding pastor’s family reflects on 99 years with Arcadia Church.

BRETHREN BITS

• New staff, Lent resources, preacher’s 96th, BVS in Japan, college presidents re gun control, new peace prize, and much more.

Christian Churches Together urges fundamental immigration reform.

Christian leaders representing the breadth of Christian churches and denominations in the United States issued a strong and urgent call for fundamental immigration reform at an annual meeting of Christian Churches Together (CCT). The statement was released Feb. 1 at the close of the four-day gathering in Austin, Texas.

The Church of the Brethren, which is a member denomination of CCT, was represented by general secretary Stan Noffsinger, Annual Conference moderator Bob Krouse and moderator-elect Nancy Heishman, and Brethren Press publisher Wendy McFadden who serves on the CCT steering committee. During the annual meeting, McFadden was elected president of the “Historic Protestant Family,” one of five “families” of churches that make up CCT.

The entire CCT meeting, planned a year ago, focused on the challenge of immigration reform, hearing from “dreamers,” a variety of immigrants, and experts on immigration issues. Its statement comes as the nation’s political leadership has turned its attention during the past week to this challenge. The CCT leaders said they would engage this debate “as followers of Jesus Christ who commanded us to welcome the stranger.”

“Each day in our congregations and communities, we bear witness to the effects of a system that continues the separation of families and the exploitation, abuse, and deaths of migrants. This suffering must end,” the statement declared in part (see full text below).

The diverse group, representing leadership from Catholic, Evangelical/Pentecostal, Historic Protestant, Orthodox, and Historic Black churches, agreed on these unified principles:

• An earned path to citizenship for the 11 million people in the US without authorization.

• The priority of family reunification in any immigration reform.

• Protecting the integrity of national borders and protecting due process for immigrants and their families.

• Improving refugee protection laws and asylum laws.

• Reviewing international economic policies to address the root causes of unauthorized immigration.

During the course of the CCT gathering, the group heard from immigration advocates from evangelical organizations such as World Relief, immigration policy experts at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, legislative advocates serving major Protestant denominations, and leaders from the Hispanic Christian community, among others.

The statement issued represents the broadest coalition of Christian denominations and groups to address together the urgency of fundamental immigration reform. It will be followed by advocacy to members of Congress from the membership of denominations and groups represented at the Austin meeting.

See www.christianchurchestogether.org for further information.

“Statement on Immigration Reform” by Christian Churches Together in the USA February 1, 2013 Austin, Texas Christian Churches Together in the USA, representing the breadth of Christian churches and denominations in the US, gathered in Austin, Texas, for its annual meeting to focus on the challenge of immigration reform. We heard from “dreamers,” a variety of immigrants, and experts on immigration issues. Through a process of prayer, reflection, and discernment of God’s call, we agreed on a statement that provides principles for just and humane immigration reform. In this hour, as our nation launches a national debate seeking immigration reform, we call upon people of faith, people of good will, elected officials in Congress, and the President of the United States to work together to enact just and humane immigration reform legislation in 2013. As Christian leaders and Christian communities, we engage in this debate as followers of Jesus Christ, who commanded us to “welcome the stranger” (Matthew 25:35), and advised that “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). As Christians we believe that all will be judged, in part, by the way they treat strangers in their midst. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left” (Matthew 25:31, 32a). We acknowledge that members of our own faith communities have been complicit in the establishment and reinforcement of our current system through active political engagement and apathetic inaction. As a moral matter, we cannot tolerate an immigration system that exploits migrants, is inhospitable, and fails to offer immigrants the full protection of the law. While immigration is often viewed as an economic, social, or legal issue, it is ultimately a humanitarian and spiritual issue that directly impacts millions of unauthorized immigrants and the entire fabric of our society. The Bible frequently commands us to treat the immigrant justly. Further, every person is created in the image of God and possesses inestimable value. It is therefore paramount that our national immigration system protects the basic human rights and dignity of all persons. Sadly, our current system fails to meet this test and requires comprehensive reform now. The timing of our statement on immigration is ever more poignant given that our country is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. We are reminded that there are those in our nation whose forebears were brought here involuntarily through the unjust institution of slavery. There are also those who lived here long before others arrived who experienced the denial of their basic human rights. Each day in our congregations and communities, we bear witness to the effects of a system that continues this legacy of separation of families and the exploitation, abuse, and deaths of migrants. This suffering must end. Therefore, in our relentless effort to achieve a more perfect union, we urge our elected officials to enact immigration reform consistent with the following principles and policies: Pathway to citizenship The 11 million individuals now in the US without authorization should be given an opportunity to earn citizenship, if the individual chooses. Many have built equities in our nation and have contributed to the economic and social fabric of this country. Such reforms would ensure that families are not separated and that the undocumented population can fully enjoy the rights and responsibilities of US citizenship. (Leviticus 18:33-34) Family reunification Family reunification should be the cornerstone of our nation’s immigration policy. Immigrant families have helped build this nation economically and socially, and will continue to do so. We support changes to the family-based immigration system, which expedite the reunification of families. Family-based visa categories should not be eliminated or reduced and the current lengthy backlogs should be addressed. (Mark 10:9) Enforcement and due process Enforcement measures should be just and include due process protections for immigrants. We support the right of our nation to defend our borders and to ensure the integrity of the workplace through immigration enforcement. However, for over twenty-five years, our nation has pursued an enforcement-only policy toward immigration, with severe humanitarian consequences. At the same time that our nation has spent billions of dollars on immigration enforcement, the number of undocumented in the nation has more than tripled. Millions have been incarcerated unnecessarily, thousands of families have been separated, and thousands have died attempting to enter the United States. We urge Congress to review our enforcement policies and restore due process protections to immigrants and their families in a way that respects their God-given dignity, including reform of our detention laws. (Exodus 1:1-22) The human dignity and image of God has been further violated as a result of the cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies that leads to racial profiling of people suspected of being in the US without authorization. Immigration laws should be reformed and implemented in a way that does not facilitate racial profiling. Enforceable detention standards and reforms should be established and include the review of partnerships between the federal government and for-profit prison corporations. Refugees and asylum seekers Refugees and asylum seekers should receive special protection as particularly vulnerable migrants because they are fleeing persecution. The United States has a moral obligation to continue to provide protection to ensure refugees and asylum seekers are able to find safety in the United States through the appropriate processes and not at heightened risk of being returned to their persecutors. There should be improvements to the asylum process to ensure asylum seekers are not detained upon arrival and are given a fair opportunity to express a fear of persecution. There should also be more robust support of the refugee resettlement program and adequate resources to help refugees integrate upon their arrival to the United States. We are also mindful of the millions of families and individuals waiting for resettlement, living, raising families, and dying in temporary refugee camps, and the many who perish attempting to reach those camps. (Matthew 2:13-18) Root causes In order to find a long-term solution to the problem of unauthorized immigration, the root causes of such migration should be examined. Persons should be able to find employment in their home countries in order to sustain their families in a place that is free from fear and violence. At a minimum, Congress and the Administration should review our international economic policies to ensure that they do not encourage unauthorized migration and do not eliminate living wage jobs in sending countries. Our country should help to foster job opportunities and respect for human rights in the countries from which many immigrants come. (Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-5) As Christian Churches Together, we recommit ourselves to be promoters and examples of justice, showing hospitality and love for the immigrant; for we know we may be “entertaining angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2). We call for our nation to engage in an immigration debate that is conducted in a civil manner and does not dehumanize immigrants. We will speak out and educate communities about the past and current contributions of immigrants in building and growing this nation. Finally, we will work with our elected officials to ensure that, consistent with the aforementioned policies and principles, the human rights of immigrants are protected in any final legislation.

(This report is adapted from a press release from Christian Churches Together.)

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

Committee to study ecumenism in the 21st century.

A study committee on “The Church of the Brethren and Ecumenism in the 21st Century” has been named. Committee members were named by the denomination’s Leadership Team and Executive Committee of the Mission and Ministry Board, and approved by the full board when it met by telephone conference call in late January.

Last year’s Annual Conference called for the creation of the study committee, tasking the Leadership Team and Mission and Ministry Board to appoint its members. The study committee is to prepare a statement for Annual Conference giving vision and direction to the Church of the Brethren’s participation in the worldwide community of Christian communions.

One impetus for the study is the significant change in the ecumenical landscape in the 21st century. Among the new realities are new ways of being church, shifting relationships between faith groups, the rise of a major new ecumenical organization in Christian Churches Together, and reorganizations and new ways of working at longstanding ecumenical groups including the National Council of Churches, Church World Service, and the World Council of Churches.

The six members of the study committee are Tim Speicher of Atlantic Northeast District, David Shumate of Virlina District, Wanda Haynes of Pacific Northwest District, Liz Bidgood Enders of Atlantic Northeast District, Jenn Hosler of Mid Atlantic District, and Larry Ulrich of Illinois and Wisconsin District. General secretary Stan Noffsinger will will serve as staff support for the committee in his role as the denomination’s ecumenical officer.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

Health care tax credit can help churches and organizations.

Are you familiar with the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit for Small Employers? If your church or organization provides health insurance coverage for one or more full-time or part-time employees through the Brethren Medical Plan or another health insurance plan, it may qualify for this tax credit. Below are some helpful links that will guide you through the application process from the Internal Revenue Service's website, www.IRS.gov:

• IRS guide to the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit for Small Employerswww.irs.gov/uac/Small-Business-Health-Care-Tax-Credit-for-Small-Employers

• Examples of how this tax credit could work for your organizationwww.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/small_business_health_care_tax_credit_scenarios.pdf

• Is your organization eligible?www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/3_simple_steps.pdf

• Form 8941, Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiumswww.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8941.pdf

• Instructions for Form 8941www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8941.pdf

• Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Returnwww.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f990t.pdf

• Instructions for Form 990-Twww.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i990t.pdf

We hope your church or organization will benefit from this credit and be able to use those funds to further the mission of your congregation or organization. If you do reap the benefits of this tax credit, or if you have any questions, please let Brethren Benefit Trust know. Contact Tammy Chudy at 800-746-1505 ext. 372 or tchudy@cobbt.org.

Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) does not provide tax advice to individuals or employers. The information in this notice is provided as part of Brethren Insurance Services' educational efforts. For updated forms, guidance, and instructions, individuals and employers should go to the IRS website at www.IRS.gov or consult with their individual tax or financial advisers.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

Nursing scholarships are available through the Church of the Brethren.

Courtesy of Congregational Life Ministries

Marcia McCartney, previous nursing scholarship recipient

The Church of the Brethren awards a limited number of scholarships each year to individuals enrolled in a nursing program. Candidates for the scholarships must be enrolled in a LPN, RN, or nursing graduate program, and be members of the Church of the Brethren.

Scholarships of up to $2,000 for RN and graduate nurse candidates, and up to $1,000 for LPN candidates will be awarded to a limited number of applicants each year. A preference is given to new applications. Also, a preference will be given to individuals who are in their second year of an associate’s degree or third year of a baccalaureate program. Scholarship recipients are eligible for only one scholarship per degree.

Nominees must be members of the Church of the Brethren. Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by April 1. Candidates awarded scholarships will be notified in July and funds will be sent directly to the appropriate school for the Fall term.

How are these scholarships possible? Scholarships are awarded from the Health Education and Research Endowment, which was established in 1958 to receive gifts raised through a fund drive authorized by the 1949 Annual Conference to reopen the Bethany Hospital School of Nursing formerly on the west side of Chicago. In 1959, Annual Conference authorized that the resources be placed in an endowment fund with the interest to be used primarily to grant loans and scholarships for nursing students in the school of their choice.

For more information and to download application forms go to www.brethren.org/nursingscholarships.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

Kostlevy to direct Brethren Historical Library and Archives.

Photo by courtesy of Bill Kostlevy

William Kostlevy, new director of the Brethren Historical Library and Archives

William (Bill) Kostlevy begins March 1 as director of the Brethren Historical Library and Archives at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. He comes to the BHLA from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., where he has been professor of History since 2005.

In previous work he was archivist at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., from 2004-05. From 1988-2004 he worked at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ken., first as bibliographer in a Wesleyan holiness studies project, and then as archivist and special collections librarian and professor of Church History.

He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Asbury College; a master’s degree in History from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.; a master of Theology from Bethany Theological Seminary; and a master’s degree and doctorate in History from the University of Notre Dame, where he held the William Randolph Hearst Fellowship. He has been a fellow at the Young Center at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, and was a member of the Church of the Brethren Historical Committee 1997-2007.

He is a published author, having contributed numerous articles to the “Brethren Encyclopedia,” “Brethren Life and Thought,” “Methodist History,” “Blackwell’s Dictionary of Evangelical Biography,” “Encyclopedia of New York City,” “Wisconsin Magazine of History,” “Christian History,” “The Encyclopedia of Christianity,” “Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements,” “Evangelical Studies Bulletin,” among other volumes. He also has written, compiled, edited, or co-edited a number of books with a focus on Wesleyan and holiness or Pentecostal movements.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

Youth Peace Travel Team named for 2013.

The Church of the Brethren’s Youth Peace Travel Team for 2013 has been announced: Jacob Crouse, Heather Gentry, and Amanda McLearn-Montz.

Composed of Ministry Summer Service interns between the ages of 19 and 22, the team is sponsored by the church’s Outdoor Ministries Association, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Advocacy and Peace Witness Ministry, and On Earth Peace. The group gives peace programs at a variety of camps and conferences over the summer including the Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren. The first Youth Peace Travel Team was formed in the summer of 1991, and since that year a team has been fielded every summer.

Jacob Crouse, from Warrensburg, Mo., is a member of Warrensburg Church of the Brethren and Missouri and Arkansas District. He is majoring in Music Technology and minoring in Spanish at the University of Central Missouri. “I've had the good fortune of attending many Brethren camps, conferences, and churches,” he writes in a personal bio prepared for the Youth and Young Adult Ministries office. “This summer, I will finally be able to visit some of them again and see new places while meeting many people and sharing with them a message of peace!”

Heather Gentry, from Hinton, Va., is a member of Mount Bethel Church of the Brethren and Shenandoah District and counts Brethren Woods as her “home camp.” She attends Bridgewater (Va.) College where she is studying Family and Consumer Sciences as well as Elementary and ESL Education. She write, “I look forward to seeing new camps, meeting new people, and seeing what God is doing and how we can be a part of it.”

Amanda McLearn-Montz, from Ankeny, Iowa, is a member of Panther Creek Church of the Brethren and Northern Plains District. Currently, she attends Tulane University in New Orleans, where she is majoring in Public Health, minoring in Spanish, and is a pre-med student. “I went to Camp Emmaus as a camper and served on Camp Pine Lake's summer staff last summer,” she write. “I can't wait to come back to camp and share my love of peace and God with teens and kids!”

As the team spends time with junior and senior high youth this summer at camps across the denomination, they will teach about peace, justice, and reconciliation, all core values throughout the Church of the Brethren’s 300-plus year history. Follow the ministry of the 2013 Youth Peace Travel Team by visiting www.brethren.org/youthpeacetravelteam.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

Brethren Press offers new resources for the spring and summer.

Brethren Press is offering a number of new resources for Christian education and curriculum options for congregations to use this spring and summer. Among the new resources: a Vacation Bible School curriculum titled “Breathe It In: God Gives Life”; the “Inside Out” outdoor ministries resource on the theme “All Things New”; a new spring quarter of “A Guide for Biblical Studies”; a summer quarter of Gather ’Round on the theme “God’s Good Creation” suitable for multi-age groups, and a new Covenant Bible Study on 1 John.

All of these resources may be ordered from Brethren Press by calling 800-441-3712 or going to www.brethrenpress.com.

Breathe It In
 “Breathe It In: God Gives Life” (MennoMedia) is the Vacation Bible School curriculum available through Brethren Press.“Breathe It In” invites children up to grade 5 to discover the life-giving breath of God through Bible stories, exploring how God's breath was used to create people and how the wind of the Spirit helped the young church grow. As they participate in worship, music, Bible memory, and creative response activities, children will understand that God is the giver of life. Cost is $134.99 plus shipping and handling for a boxed set that includes two copies of all leaders' guides and one of every classroom, promotional, and student resource. Separately order extra leaders' guides, CDs, posters, and a student book for each child.

All Things New
A new curriculum for Christian camps, building on the success of the “New Earth” outdoor ministry resources, starts this summer. It was developed by the National Council of Churches Committee on Outdoor Ministries. This first installment of “Inside Out: Christian Resources for Outdoor Ministries” focuses on the theme, “All Things New.” The resource has a four-year sequence that zeroes in on clear teaching objectives and a rotation of themes that ensures returning campers will explore the fullness of God, who they are created to be, and what they are called to do. The themes are: Year 1: God, Year 2: Jesus, Year 3: Holy Spirit, Year 4: The Church and Its Mission. Each “Inside Out” DVD contains seven Daily Discovery sections for each age group and a counselor training video on the Bible background, and is designed to be shaped to each camp’s unique setting. Resources are adaptable to camper age levels, camp length and setting, and denominational teaching and traditions. Cost is $375 plus shipping and handling.

Guide for Biblical Studies
“Beyond the Present Time” is the theme for this March-to-May Bible study for adults, written by Frank Ramirez and David Valeta. Units based on Daniel, Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians trace the theme of hope in both the Old and New Testaments. Cost is $4.25, or $7.35 for large print, plus shipping and handling.

God’s Good Creation
The summer quarter of Gather ’Round has an environmental theme and helps children begin to learn to care for Creation as part of their faith. With the theme, “God’s Good Creation,” the quarter is provided for multiage (grades K-5), preschool (ages 3-4, with tips for 2s), and youth (grades 6-12). A Talkabout offers resources to connect with families, and a supporting resource is the 2012-13 Gather ’Round music CD. Lessons cover June 2-Aug. 25. Some samples: “God the Creator” Genesis 1:1-2:3, “Lessons from Birds and Flowers” Mark 6:25-34. The full list of summer themes is at www.gatherround.org. Order from Brethren Press.

Covenant Bible Study
“1 John: The Believing Community” by Larry D. Fourman is the newest Covenant Bible Study volume. The series is designed for use in small group Bible studies and adult Sunday school. Fourman invites participants to a journey of spiritual formation based on 1 John, centered on the concept of the “word of life” in its personal and communal dimensions in the church, and how  relationships with others play a part in our faith. $7.95 plus shipping and handling.

All of the above resources may be ordered from Brethren Press by calling 800-441-3712 or ordering online at www.brethrenpress.com.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

Signs of the seasons: Lent.

This quarter, a Gather 'Round resource pack poster is helping Middler children learn about the seasons of the Christian calendar.

On the first Sunday of Lent, they will read that people use the 40 days of Lent to pray and fast and grow more loving toward others. They will also discover that pretzels have been used during Lent for more than a thousand years because their crossed pieces look like crossed arms--the prayer posture adopted by some early Christians.

Teachers can bring in pretzels for a snack (and there are even good gluten-free versions in stores) or, even better, use the recipe on the teaching aids page to make pretzels themselves.

-- Originally published in the "Roundabout" e-mail newsletter from Gather 'Round, a Bible-based curriculum from Brethren Press and MennoMedia that nurtures children, youth, and families in becoming followers of Jesus: people who know and love God, interpret God's word, belong to God's gathered community, and share God's good news. Order Gather 'Round from Brethren Press, call 800-441-3712.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

Founding pastor’s family reflects on 99 years with Arcadia Church.

Rachael Bail, daughter of the founding pastor, reflects on her family’s century-long relationship to Arcadia (Fla.) Church of the Brethren as they continue to own the original parsonage and other homes surrounding the church. Now living in Washington, D.C., she is a retired journalist who has worked for the St. Petersburg Times, among other newspapers, and a former editor and US Supreme Court correspondent for Voice of America:

Photo by courtesy of Susan Baumel

Rev. S.W. Bail and Gurney Elizabeth Simpson Bail in Arcadia, Fla. Granddaughter Susan Baumel writes, “I think you'll be able to identify the Rev. Samuel Wishert Bail easily since he's wearing the clerical collar. He's on the far left. My grandmother, his wife, Gurney Elizabeth Simpson Bail, who was later ordained as a minister, is next to him with the white dog at her feet (Topsy)." The Bail family do not know the identity of the couple shown at the right in this photo. If you have that information, contact the Bail family at rachbail@yahoo.com.

“My father, S.W. (Samuel Wishert) Bail, wound up buying land in Arcadia, Fla., and nearby because another Brethren preacher advertised the property in the church publication, the ‘Gospel Messenger,’ saying there was a Brethren colony there. However, it turned out that was not the case.

“When my father and mother went to Arcadia in 1914, it was not an easy trip from Washington, Pa., where they were living on the family farm. My father had ordered the Crist Company to build a family home for us and six rental houses on two city blocks. At that time Arcadia was a center of the Florida cattle industry. My father was a dairy farmer and these were beef cattle, complete with ranches that spread 100,000 acres or more.

“In the end, with help from John Roebling, whose father built the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, my father funded the construction of Arcadia Church of the Brethren.

“There was very little drainage in Arcadia at the time. When it rained, there was serious flooding, and the Arcadians used to refer to these houses as being on ‘Bail's lakefront.’ My father invested in a 200-acre citrus grove in Lake Placid with healthcare professionals, Dr. McSwain and pharmacist Jake Wey, while devoting weekends to preaching and converting members.

“Today we are celebrating the centennial of one block of those houses including our family home, which served as the parsonage at the time.

“I grew up in Arcadia, which frequently lives up to its idyllic name, and am hoping that we can finally realize the dream of the Brethren colony that my father thought he bought by filling the houses he built and the Church of the Brethren across the street with parishioners.”

-- Find out more about Arcadia Church of the Brethren at www.arcadiacob.org. Contact the Bail family at rachbail@yahoo.com.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

Brethren bits.

The Inter-Agency Forum, which consists of the Annual Conference Officers, the general secretary and the chair of the Mission and Ministry Board, the executives and board chairs of Brethren Benefit Trust, Bethany Theological Seminary, and On Earth Peace, and two representatives of the Council of District Executives, met Jan. 24-25 to coordinate together the work of the denomination as a whole.

• Matthew (Matt) DeBall begins Feb. 11 as the Church of the Brethren’s program assistant for Donor Relations, a new position located at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill. He is a 2012 graduate of Judson University in Elgin, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication arts with a minor in biblical studies and literature. He has begun his seminary studies at Northern Seminary in Lombard, Ill. He is a member of First Baptist Church in DeKalb, Ill.

• Parker Thompson has begun as director of Camp Pine Lake in Eldora, Iowa, as of Jan. 1. He will continue to be a co-pastor at Ivester Church of the Brethren, where he has served for the past 10 months in pastoral ministry with his wife Katie, according to a Northern Plains District announcement. He holds a master of divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary, and in college studied recreational management, and has worked at various camping, environmental education, and adventure facilities across the country.

• New from Annual Conference moderator Bob Krouse is a prayer guide designed to begin with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13, through the time of the 2013 Conference in Charlotte, N.C., in  early July. The guide invites Brethren into a period of spiritual preparation for the Conference, beginning during the Lenten season with a focus on “The Inward Journey” and continuing in April with a focus on “The Outward Journey” and concluding in the months of May and June with a focus on “The Journey Forward.” Find it at www.brethren.org/ac/documents/2013-prayer-guide.pdf.

• The Church of the Brethren has “made” the list of organizations and celebrities identified by the NRA as “anti-gun.” The list--referred to in the blogosphere as the “NRA enemies list”--is numerous and includes several Christian denominations as well as the YWCA, American Medical Association, American Bar Association, US Conference of Mayors, National Association of Police Organizations, and many many more. Find the list on the website of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action at http://nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?ID=15.

• On Feb. 4 the Church of the Brethren took part in a national call-in day to Congress as part of the ecumenical coalition, Faiths Calling to Prevent Gun Violence. The denomination’s Advocacy and Peace Witness Ministries send an alert about the event that involved 40 religious organizations and was organized by the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism. “We hope that by teaming up with them and other religious organizations, Congress will hear an overwhelming and faithful voice demanding change,” the alert said. The alert noted the Church of the Brethren’s long history of witness against the proliferation of violence and church statements repeatedly calling on the nation to address gun violence. For the full alert, which includes a list of Annual Conference statements and church resolutions having to do with gun violence, and the policy changes suggested by the religious coalition, go to http://cob.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=20801.0&dlv_id=25241 . For more about the Advocacy and Peace Witness Ministries, contact Nathan Hosler, advocacy officer, c/o National Council of Churches, 110 Maryland Ave. NE, Suite 108, Washington, DC 20002; nhosler@brethren.org or 202-481-6943.

• Brethren Press’ 2013 Lenten devotional, “The Practice of Paying Attention” by Dana Cassell, is still available to order in time for the start of Lent. $2.50 per copy, $5.95 for large print, plus shipping and handling. Or buy an e-book version in either e-pub or pdf format for $2. Call 800-441-3712 or purchase online at www.brethrenpress.com.

• Joshua Brockway, director of Spiritual Life and Discipleship, is presenting a paper at a conference at Regent University School of Divinity in early March. The paper, "One Body, Many Parts: Reclaiming the Ecclesial Context of the Spiritual Gifts," is based on the work of the denomination’s Congregational Life Ministries staff on spiritual gifts. Brockway has been working on a spiritual gifts project for the Church of the Brethren, along with Stan Dueck, director of Transforming Practices, and Donna Kline, director of the Deacon Ministry. Find the schedule for the conference at  http://regent.edu/acad/schdiv/renewalstudies/holy_spirit_conference_schedule.cfm.

• Brockway also again this year is offering a calendar for reading the Psalms during Lent. Find it at www.brethren.org/spirituallife. It is one of two Lenten resources offered by Congregational Life Ministries staff, alongside a prayer blog accompanying the Brethren Press Lenten devotional. The Congregational Life prayer blog will be available starting Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13, at http://blog.brethren.org.

Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford

The worship planning team for the 2013 National Junior High Conference met at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., in early February. Shown here are team members (from right) Christopher Montgomery, Bethany Clark, Sarah Kolbe, music coordinator Mandy Garcia, Rachel Witkovsky who is the coordinator of the conference, and Becky Ullom Naugle, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.

• “Dearest friends, registration for attendance at the 57th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Forum is open,” says a note from Doris Abdullah, the Church of the Brethren representative to the UN. “The session runs from March 3-March 15. The theme is: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. Hope to see you.” Speakers at the opening “consultation day” on March 3 include Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkwol Karman of Yemen. Cost is $100 to attend the March 3 events, or $50 for youth participants. Find out more and register at www.ngocsw.org/ngo-csw-forum/ngo-consultation-day .

• On Feb. 24, J. Floyd Wine will celebrate his 96th birthday by preaching at Calvary Church of the Brethren in Winchester, Va. Shenandoah District’s announcement of the milestone notes, “Brother Floyd, licensed in 1940 and ordained in 1942, was in ministry at Calvary from 1950-1968. He has been a significant mentor and role model for many.”

• “Job well done!” comments a note from South Central Indiana District congratulating the youth group at Northview Church of the Brethren in Indianapolis for raising $2,232 to help youth attend workcamps this summer.

• Codorus Church of the Brethren in Dallastown, Pa., assembled 165 Emergency Clean-Up Buckets in memory of Dean Godfrey, on Dec. 1, 2012. The buckets were shipped to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. “Funds were raised throughout the year by special offerings, soup and salad lunches, Sunday school class donations, and silent auctions,” reports the Southern Pennsylvania District newsletter. “A special thank you goes to Zachary Wolgemuth, Bob Eisemann, and to Loganville True Value Hardware store for all their help and cooperation.”

• Eversole Church of the Brethren is hosting a Southern Ohio District event titled “Focus on Finance,” on Feb. 9. The Southern Ohio Shared Ministries Commission is offering workshops designed to help church members get a better handle on family finances including “How to Talk to Adult Kids about Your Finances,” “Help! There's Too Much Month at the End of My Money,” “Missional Budget Planning: Not Your Parent's Stewardship,” “Why Young Adults Leave the Church and What to Do about It.” An announcement noted this is a repeat event, and that “those who attended the January event appreciated the information and fellowship.” Cost is $10. Pre-registration is required. Child care will be available if needed. Go to www.sodcob.org/_forms/view/11744 to register online, payment requires a credit card.

• Mount Pleasant Church of the Brethren in Harrisonburg, Va., is hosting the CrossRoads annual meeting and dinner on Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. For reservations call 540-438-1275.

• The annual World Hunger Auction in Virlina District has already kicked off events for 2013 with a Pancake Breakfast at Antioch Church of the Brethren on Jan. 12. The next event will be a Winter Music Festival at Germantown Brick Church of the Brethren on Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. featuring two gospel music groups, Haw Patch and After Jack. Refreshments will follow the music, plan to arrive early because a large crowd is expected. The main event of the World Hunger Auction is Aug. 10. at Antioch Church. “Great things have happened over the last 29 years because of the participation of many hard working and dedicated people who want to make an impact on hunger in the world,” said a note in the Virlina District “E-Headliner.”

• Other upcoming events in Virlina District include “Pilgrimage XVII” on March 15-17 at Camp Bethel, a spirit-filled experience for adults of all ages. The deadline for registration is Feb. 16, contact 336-765-5263 or haynesmk1986@yahoo.com .

• Shenandoah District has begun a “Mystery Guest” program and reports, “we now have several churches requesting visitations.” If you would enjoy visiting a church in the district, and completing a form about your experience there, contact Sandy Kinsey at the district office, 540-234-8555 or districtoffice@shencob.org . Give your name, phone number, and e-mail address.

• Chaplain Dan Lehigh is thanking all who helped make this cookie season a success for Southern Pennsylvania District’s Truck Stop Ministry. Some 13,366 bags of cookies were supplied for distribution this holiday season. “It went smoothly with all cookies being distributed weekly,” said his note in the district newsletter. “We received many cards, letters, phone calls, and personal greetings from grateful drivers and travelers. Only eternity will reveal how many lives were touched.”

• Feb. 23 is Camp Mack’s “Maple Syrup Get Away Day”--an opportunity for family and friends to get together at the camp for “maple syruping.” “Nothing better than a snowy day with the sun shining and the sap dripping,” reads a Facebook post. The first run of maple syrup at the camp near Milford, Ind., has already begun, the post notes. Feb. 23 will start off with a pancake breakfast over the fire, and real maple syrup. Cost is $10. Register at www.campmack.org .

• Three presidents of Brethren-related schools are among “College Presidents for Gun Safety,” a lengthy list of leaders of colleges, universities, and seminaries urging Congress to take steps on gun violence. Elizabethtown (Pa.) College president Carl J. Strikwerda, Manchester University president Jo Young Switzer, and University of La Verne president Devorah Lieberman have signed the open letter, which does not represent any formal group or organization. The letter reads in part: “As educators and parents, we come together to ask our elected representatives to act collectively on behalf of our children by enacting rational gun safety measures, including:

• Ensuring the safety of our communities by opposing legislation allowing guns on our campuses and in our classrooms

• Ending the gun show loophole, which allows for the purchase of guns from unlicensed sellers without a criminal background check

• Reinstating the ban on military-style semi-automatic assault weapons along with high-capacity ammunition magazines

• Requiring consumer safety standards for all guns, such as safety locks, access prevention laws, and regulations to identify, prevent and correct manufacturing defects.”

Find the letter and list of those signing it at http://collegepresidentsforgunsafety.org.

• Diana Butler Bass, noted author and theologian, will speak on the future of the church for the Anna B. Mow Endowed Lecture at Bridgewater (Va.) College on Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Cole Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public.

• A one-woman play based on the writings of a 23-year-old American who was killed by an Israeli Army bulldozer in 2003 will be presented at Bridgewater College Feb. 21-24 in Cole Hall. “My Name is Rachel Corrie,” recommended for mature audiences, was taken from Corrie’s writings and edited by Alan Richman and Katharine Viner. On March 16, 2003, Corrie was crushed to death in the Gaza strip as she was trying to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home. The play is composed from her journals, letters, and e-mails, creating a portrait of the young woman who left home and school to work as an activist in the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “Since its first performance, the play has raised difficult questions about problems without easy solutions,” said a release. Performances are at 8 p.m. Feb. 21, 22, and 23, and at 3 p.m. on Feb. 23 and 24. A talk-back will follow each performance and Corrie’s parents will take part in the Feb. 22 talk-back. Reservations are required call 540-828-5631 for tickets. Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for seniors and non-Bridgewater students. The production is directed by Scott W. Cole, associate professor of theater. Playing the role of Corrie are Jessie Houff (8 p.m. performances), a senior art major with a minor in theater, and Aislinn H. Mirsch (3 p.m. matinees), a junior international studies major with a minor in cultural studies.

• In a related event at Bridgewater College, the parents of Rachel Corrie will present their daughter’s story and their own work with the people of Palestine and Israel at 4 p.m. on Feb. 22 in the Boitnott Room in the Kline Campus Center. The presentation is sponsored by the Kline-Bowman Endowment for Creative Peacebuilding and is open to the public at no charge.

• An annual “Meal for CROP” was held at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., on Feb. 5 in the college dining facility. Sponsored by the campus ministry office, students sacrificed the evening meal so those meals could be sold to the general public. The money raised was donated to CROP, an organization of Church World Service. The Huntingdon Forum of Churches also sponsored the meal, said a release. Over 20 years, the Huntingdon community has raised more than $50,000 for hunger through this event, with each year 75 percent of funds going to CROP and 25 percent donated to the Huntingdon Area Food Bank.

• Juniata College also announces a new Environmental Geology Program of Emphasis (POE), approved for the incoming freshman class of next year. Students currently enrolled can now earn bachelor’s degrees in the new degree program. “A POE is an individualized program, similar to a ‘major’ ...which can combine any area of study that interests students,” a release explained. “The Program of Emphasis allows students to take classes, work on projects, and pursue internships in two or even three study areas.” The new program differs from the core geology degree by emphasizing physical environmental science and requiring students to take a full year of introductory environmental science courses; students will take upper-level courses focusing on applied geosciences; and students will take courses from a Societal Impacts track in which they study how humans interact with the Earth. The new focus allows Juniata’s geology faculty to include a group of courses that are centered on geology and societal concerns including Death and Destruction by Nature, Oceanography, Energy Minerals and Society, Soil Science and Global Climate Change. For more go to www.juniata.edu .

• Elizabethtown (Pa.) College’s S. Dale High Center for Family Business is holding a seminar on "Energy Efficiency" Feb. 21 from 8-10:30 a.m. in Room 110 of the James B. Hoover Center for Business. Topics will include right and wrong ways to evaluate the financial viability of saving energy. The workshop will feature Mike Mumper of High Energy Solutions and Frank Richards of Richards Energy Group. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Call 717-361-1275 or e-mail fbc@etown.edu to register.

• Elizabethtown (Pa.) College is holding Judy S. and Paul W. Ware Colloquium on Peacemaking and Global Citizenship this month. Events are free and open to the public. On Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Koon’s Activity Venue in Brossman Commons is a seminar on "Mass Shootings in America: Moving Beyond Newtown" with James Alan Fox, the Lipman Family Professor of Criminology, Law and Public Policy, at Northeastern University. On Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Susquehann Room of Myer Hall is a panel discussion on Afghanistan with the CEO of Aid Afghanistan, and women's rights activist Hassina Sherjan; Matt Southworth, legislative associate on foreign policy with the Friends Committee on National Legislation; Steve Simon from the International Institute for Strategic Studies-US; Joyce Davis, president of the Harrisburg World Affairs Council; moderated by Jonathan Rudy, Global Peacemaking Scholar-in-Residence who recently returned from Afghanistan where he worked with peace building and development issues under OXFAM. Visit www.etown.edu for more information.

• Manchester University’s campus ministry reports that the Simply Brethren student group has been active this school year, with an average of 20 students attending any given gathering. “Our fall schedule included a love feast service, visits by Tracy Primozich of Bethany Theological Seminary and Becky Ullom of the denominational Youth/Young Adult Ministry office, a visit to the nearby Kindy-Gross farm, a retreat at Camp Mack, a Christmas party and, of course, ice cream!” said a recent newsletter. The report from campus minister Walt Wiltschek added that the ROBOT (Radically Obedient Brethren Outreach Team) is preparing for its third year of providing worship leadership with stops planned in Northern Indiana District and South Central Indiana District from late February to early May. For more about Simply Brethren go to www.manchester.edu/osd/activity/organizations/SimplyBrethren.shtml .

• The February "Brethren Voices" comes all the way from Japan, where host Brent Carlson interviews Rachel Buller, a Brethren Volunteer Service worker at the Asian Rural Institute in Nasushiobara. Producer Ed Groff notes that BVS is currently training its 300th unit of volunteers since 1948. The Asian Rural Institute teaches sustainable organic farming to the grassroots leaders of marginalized countries, who come from many different countries for a 9-month training. “At the heart of the program is the concept of ‘Foodlife’--a term designed to recognize and value the Interdependence between life and the food that sustains all of life,” Groff writes. In March, “Brethren Voices” will focus on gun violence and actions recommended by the Church of the Brethren together with the coalition Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence. More information about "Brethren Voices," a television show produced by Portland (Ore.) Peace Church of the Brethren, is available from Ed Groff at Groffprod1@msn.com .

• This Saturday morning, the Springs of Living Water Academy for Church Renewal launches its new course “Foundations for Church Renewal.” Five interactive two-hour telephone conference calls will be spread over a 12-week period, guided by a syllabus with formal learning objectives. Pastors who take part will have members of their congregations “walk alongside” through readings and opportunities to give invaluable input. On a daily basis, participants will utilize a spiritual disciplines folder on the 12 classic disciplines from Richard Foster’s “Celebration of Discipline,” mimicking something congregations do when they take part in the Springs Initiative. The main text will be David Young’s “Springs of Living Water, Christ-Centered Church Renewal,” which focuses on John 4 and the story of the woman at the well to teach a comprehensive, spiritually centered, servant-led path of church renewal. Pastors who take the course are expected to write a seminal paper and will receive continuing education credit. For more information contact David Young at davidyoung@churchrenewalservant.org .

• A “Fact Not Fiction” campaign has been created by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) to help people of faith to “question the fictional account of history as seen in the movie ‘Zero Dark Thirty,’ and to advocate for the public release of the facts of US-sponsored torture.” Fact Not Fiction aims to educate about the facts of torture, and advocate for release to the public of the Senate Committee on Intelligence Torture Report. NRCAT also is offering an alternate film particularly for viewing between now and the end of June, which is Torture Awareness Month: the 20-minute “Ending US-Sponsored Torture Forever.” Congregations are encouraged to show the short film particularly on the weekend of Feb. 22-24 to coincide with the Academy Awards. For more go to www.nrcat.org/factnotfiction.

• A “Peace First Prize” for youth peacemakers has been announced by the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and by Peace First, a new national nonprofit “that teaches peacemaking skills to young people and empowers them to become engaged leaders in their communities,” according to a release. Youth winners of the prize will be age 8-22 and will receive a $50,000 fellowship over two years to further their peacemaking work. Said Peace First co-founder and president Eric D. Dawson, “The Peace First Prize signals a new era of peacemaking--one where young people are finally recognized for their important contributions and solutions to injustices they see around them on a daily basis.” Peace First partner organizations include 4-H, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Girl Scouts, Teach for America, the American Association of School Administrators, and American Federation of Teachers, among others. Prize Fellows will be chosen and announced in September. For more information visit www.peacefirst.org .

• “Into the Next Chamber: A Journey Worth Considering” is a new book by a Brethren author, Ralph G. McFadden of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill. His second, the book includes 38 essays or reflections on the theme of “moving into the next chamber of life” based on the image of the Nautilus sea creature who repeatedly creates a new chamber in its shell and moves into the new and larger space as it grows. The book includes blank pages for readers to journal in response to essays. McFadden writes in a note to Newsline the book may be of most interest to “progressive thinkers” who want to reflect seriously on their own motivations and opportunities. Contact hikermac@sbcglobal.net.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

Credits

Newsline is produced by the news services of the Church of the Brethren. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. Contributors to this issue of Newsline include Paz Artaza-Regan, Jim Beckwith, Joshua Brockway, James Deaton, Ed Groff, Mary Kay Heatwole, Jon Kobel, Nancy Miner, Amy J. Mountain, Becky Ullom Naugle, John Wall, Rachel Witkovsky, and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren.