NEWS

• Annual Conference meets in Charleston, W.Va., shows commitment to difficult issues.
  
• Conference worship services focus on loving God and neighbor.
  
• A host of activities keep Conference-goers busy.
  
• General Board sets budget parameters, passes resolution on Iraq.
  
• Funds aid Sudanese, Hondurans, Church World Service, and provide flood relief.
  
• Brethren bits: Disaster relief, BVS, and much more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Anti-racism team will lead youth peace retreat.

Annual Conference meets in Charleston, W.Va., shows commitment to difficult issues.

Annual Conference showed persistence and a commitment to deal with difficult and divisive issues in its deliberations in Charleston, W.Va., July 3-7. Through days of meetings, moderator Chris Bowman, a pastor at Martinsburg (Pa.) Memorial Church of the Brethren, guided an engaged and lively delegate body through a maze of issues, motions, and amendments with intelligence and clarity. Ronald Beachley, executive minister for Western Pennsylvania District, was chosen as moderator-elect, to lead the 2006 Conference in Des Moines.

Total attendance of 4,038--including 920 congregational and district delegates--easily topped last year's gathering of 2,844 in Boise and came close to the Baltimore registration figure of 5,029 in 2001. It was announced that San Diego, Calif., will be the Conference site in 2009. Next year's Conference will take place in Peoria, Ill., July 2-6.

Extensive discussion and an extremely close vote on a substitute motion revealed deep division in the delegate body over the report on "Congregational Disagreements with Annual Conference Decisions." Similar discussion with regard to other business items--particularly the denominational name, doing church business, and multi-ethnic church and cross cultural ministries--gave a sense that the delegate body also was deeply divided over how open to diversity and differing opinions the church ought to be.

There were indications that Annual Conference leadership may be moving to invite more open conversations, in pre-Conference meetings of the Standing Committee of district delegates. The committee talked about hurts and brokenness in the denomination and sought ways to hear concerns that do not come through established channels.

The report from the committee on "Congregational Disagreements with Annual Conference Decisions" was adopted with an amendment deleting the committee's suggestion that in extreme cases of disagreement, district conferences not seat congregations. The Conference also adopted reports on "The Functions and Qualifications of the Local Church Moderator," and on "Denominational Name." That committee reported overwhelming support for the name Church of the Brethren but called for attention to processes for dealing with controversial issues in the denomination.

A study committee was elected to answer the queries on "Becoming a Multi-Ethnic Church" and "The Need for Cross Cultural Ministries," which had been joined together as one business item. The Conference turned down Standing Committee recommendations that the issues be referred to the districts and Congregational Life Teams, on the urging of representatives of a multi-ethnic group that gathered in ad hoc fashion the evening before the business item came to the floor. The action did include some of the other Standing Committee recommendations, that cross-cultural ministries become an increased priority in the denomination and that a progress report be made each year for five years with reassessment in 2010 by Annual Conference.

The Conference first elected six members of a seven-member, ethnically diverse study committee, which also will include an ex-officio representative of the American Baptist Churches, to answer the concerns of the two queries. When it was announced in the final business session on July 7 that no African-Americans were elected to the committee, delegates reopened the business agenda and overwhelmingly passed a motion that the study committee choose an eighth member from the African-American nominees on the original ballot. Conference officers also heard counsel that the representative of the American Baptist Churches be African-American. The elected study committee members are Darla Kay Bowman Deardorff, Ruben Deoleo, Nadine L. Monn, Neemita Pandya, Gilbert Romero, and Asha Solanky.

Another five-member study committee was elected to answer a query on "Doing Church Business," to report in 2005. Committee members are Joe Detrick, Matt Guynn, Verdena Lee, Dale Posthumus, and David Shetler.

The General Board's resolution on Iraq was adopted with hardly any discussion. The resolution called on members and congregations to be "a constant witness to Christ as a living peace church of today against all war and the violence of its nature." The resolution also called on the US administration and Congress to take responsibility for their involvement in the war.

In other business, a 3.1 percent cash salary increase for pastors was approved, the delegates received a "Ministries and Mission" report from the five Conference agencies, and two new fellowships were welcomed: Koinonia Fellowship in Charlottesville, Va., and Sunrise Church in Harrisonburg, Va.

In elections for denominational offices, Joan Lawrence Daggett was elected to the Annual Conference Council; Joanna Wave Willoughby to the Program and Arrangements Committee; James O. Eikenberry to the Committee on Interchurch Relations; Herman Kauffman to the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee; Diane Harden to the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) board; David B. Eller as trustee for Bethany Theological Seminary; John A. Braun to the Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) board; Michael Benner as at-large member of the General Board; and Robbie Miller to the On Earth Peace board.

The Conference also affirmed appointments to the boards of Conference agencies: for ABC, Eddie H. Edmonds, John Katonah, and John Wenger; for Bethany, Jerry A. Davis, John D. Miller Jr., and Charles Boyer, who was elected by the alumni; for the General Board, district appointees Ken Wenger, Mid-Atlantic, Dale Minnich, Western Plains, and Susan Kinsel Fitze, Southern Ohio; and for On Earth Peace, David Jehnsen and Bev Weaver.

For more detailed information about Annual Conference 2004 in Charleston, W.Va., see the Annual Conference pages at www.brethren.org.

Conference worship services focus on loving God and neighbor.

Daily worship services focused on the Annual Conference theme of "Loving God and Neighbor" and provided a strong foundation on which to build numerous days of worshipful work.

Moderator Chris Bowman's sermon on Saturday evening set the tone for the week. He encouraged Brethren to "turn our efforts and our energies back to the basics--loving God and loving neighbor, living lives for the glory of God and our neighbor's good. That is something worth our passion, something worth our protection, something worth our lives in the body of Christ."

On Sunday morning, Dena Pence Frantz, professor of Theological Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary, asked a question from scripture, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5b) She said, "The living God is known among us as we live our everyday lives in fullness and delight in God's presence and in active love for others."

Worship on Monday evening was well-seasoned with laughter, soulful music, drama, and heartfelt reflection on the question, "Who is my neighbor?" James Washington, pastor of Faith Center Fellowship, Whitehouse, Texas, spoke on "Living Lovingly Together." He underscored the importance of loving all of our neighbors, equal to all humanity, as opposed to only loving those with whom relationship is easy.

Worship pulled Brethren together on Tuesday evening around the love feast. Tim Button-Harrison, pastor of Ivester Church of the Brethren in Grundy Center, Iowa, posed the question of how Brethren are doing with loving one another beyond the local congregation, symbolized by sharing love feast together. He challenged his listeners, saying, "Like never before, today we are called to go extraordinary distances, to overcome great divides, to practice Jesus' command that we love one another."

In a fitting conclusion to Conference, the closing worship Wednesday morning sent participants out to continue the work of Jesus. Preacher Andrew Murray, Juniata College professor and Brethren musical legend, reminded listeners that "the Kingdom is not destination, it is a journey." Murray said, "There is no way to the Kingdom; the Kingdom is the way." He then asked listeners, as the denominational tag-line says, to "Continue the work of Jesus...peacefully, simply, together."

For many Conference-goers, the music in worship was a spiritual experience. From the "souped up" Bluegrass version of "Brethren We Have Met to Worship," to the heartfelt solos of Larry Brumfield, to the a capella group The Guys, music bathed the gathered body in a sense of God's presence.

A host of activities keep Conference-goers busy.

A fourth of July rally following the visit of President Bush to Charleston, an exhibit of boots related to the Iraq war, as well as the usual host of insight sessions, meal events, Bible and theological studies, support groups, and age-group activities, all kept Conference-goers busy in Charleston this year.

Marching behind a banner proclaiming, "Church of the Brethren: A Living Peace Church," hundreds of Conference attendees participated in a rally to protest the policies of President Bush, who spoke in Charleston earlier in the day on July 4.

The action also involved the West Virginia Patriots for Peace and the Sierra Club. The group assembled at the US Courthouse in Charleston, where a "wall" was stretched across the steps bearing the names of more than 800 US military personnel who have been killed in Iraq since the invasion.

Among the many protesters were 18-month-old Michael Bidgood Enders--with his dad, Greg--and Dale Brown, who has led and participated in many peace demonstrations over the decades. The action was coordinated by the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office.

An exhibit of combat boots bearing the names and home states of the US military killed in Iraq was set up outside the Charleston Civic Center on July 6-7, including an overnight candlelight vigil. The 10,000 plus Iraqi civilian casualties were also symbolically represented.

Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board, was visibly moved as he addressed a press conference at the display. Noting the action just taken by Annual Conference to adopt a General Board resolution on Iraq calling the church to accountability, he called upon the church to be ready to embrace all who will be victims of this war: Iraqis, returned military personnel, families of the lost and wounded.

The American Friends Service Committee traveling display received sponsorship by the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office, On Earth Peace, Christian Peacemaker Teams, and West Virginia Patriots for Peace.

Enthusiasm for prayer and praise, study and discussion, also abounded in Charleston. An urban prayer walk blessed the streets of the city; the Brethren Revival Fellowship held its prayer and fasting session; Bible studies and theological studies were offered; and the many insight sessions gave opportunities to learn about current issues for the church and its members. Young adults were even escorted from the Civic Center at midnight one evening, having been discovered in the prayer room still praising God when the building was supposed to have been closed for the night.

Conference attendees also took advantage of service opportunities at the meeting. Some 2,500 Gift of the Heart kits and Clinic Boxes were brought to the Conference and collected by the General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries program. Brethren also donated 164 pints of blood in the annual blood drive. Three quilts and three wall hangings raised $20,400 in the 30th annual quilt auction sponsored by Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren.

The annual Brethren Benefit Trust Fitness Challenge 5K saw a record turnout with around 160 participants, as opposed to the usual 90. For the first time, the largest group registered were women walkers age 40-59. First place runners were Courtland Howard and Deb Morris Crouse. First place walkers were Bev Anspaugh and Don Shankster.

General Board sets budget parameters, passes resolution on Iraq.

At its pre-Annual Conference meeting the General Board set budget parameters for 2005 that necessitate a budget reduction, and asked for a proposed resolution on Iraq to be rewritten and brought back later in the Conference week. The Iraq resolution was then passed by the board in a later meeting, and passed by the delegate body on Tuesday July 6. The board also affirmed a document describing a new Property Stewardship Committee and dedicated its Conference exhibit with prayer.

The board set a 2005 budget parameter of $5,426,000, which represents a $199,000 budget reduction for next year. "The Planning Team recommended a budget that included a much greater financial challenge," said Stan Noffsinger, general secretary, "but the board chose a more moderate plan to spread out the deficit over a number of years." The board also reviewed its policies on endowment, quasi-endowment, and investment income. "The board endorsed a philosophy that will help those resources provide support to the ongoing ministries of the General Board well into the future," Noffsinger said.

A resolution on Iraq brought by Brethren Witness/Washington Office director Phil Jones was sent back for revision with help from a small group of board members. The board set a special meeting on July 5 to consider the rewritten resolution, when it adopted the paper as a General Board resolution and passed it on to the Annual Conference delegates for their consideration.

A document describing a Stewardship of Property Committee was accepted by the board. The committee will offer recommendations regarding use of board properties in Elgin, Ill., and New Windsor, Md. The document calls for nominations of committee members to be submitted to the Office of the General Secretary by August 30. Membership of the committee will be announced at the board's October meeting. The committee is expected to report preliminary findings in Oct. 2005 and bring a recommendation in March 2006.

In addition, the board heard reports on an information systems audit, a cross cultural consultation in Puerto Rico, the new Gather 'Round curriculum, a polity manual update, and citations to staff and retiring board members.

At a reorganization meeting during the Conference, members of the General Board selected Donna Shumate as chair, Glenn Mitchell as vice chair, and David Sollenberger, Doug Price, J.D. Glick, and Jeff Neuman-Lee as executive committee members.

Funds aid Sudanese, Hondurans, Church World Service, and provide flood relief.

Grants from the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) and Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) have been given to aid victims of civil war in Sudan, economic development in Honduras, and the Church World Service Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison Program, and to provide disaster relief following flooding in Washington State and the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

An EDF allocation of $60,000 supports a Church World Service (CWS) appeal for the violence-ravaged Darfur region of Western Sudan. The funds will assist in providing food, medicine, water and sanitation, agriculture materials, and counseling to approximately 500,000 persons over the next 18 months.

The sum of $22,000 from the EDF undergirds the work of the Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison Program of CWS, as it continues to facilitate faith-based responses to disasters.

The Washington state Faith-Based Disaster Recovery Network received an EDF grant of $7,500 for its work in the wake of extensive damage caused by flooding and storms in 15 counties. Church of the Brethren Oregon/Washington District Disaster Response and other volunteers have been helping with the rebuilding of homes. The funds will provide financial support for the recovery to continue.

In the Dominican Republic and Haiti, an EDF allocation of $4,000 supports a CWS appeal for flood relief. The funds will be used to ship medical supplies, Gift of the Heart Kits, and blankets from the Brethren Service Center to the island nations. Additional appeals for long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts are expected. Another EDF grant of $7,000 will go to the Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic, where church construction over an unforeseen sink hole has caused considerable damage and rendered a section of the building unsafe for use. The funds will assist in repair and reconstruction before additional damage occurs.

An allocation of $15,000 has been made from the GFCF to support economic development work of the Christian Commission for Development (CCD) in Honduras. The funds will support an effort to establish an agency for the promotion of micro-loan development countrywide, with the goal of raising the economic well-being of families primarily in subsistence areas.

Brethren bits: Disaster relief, BVS, and much more.

• Church of the Brethren disaster coordinators visited sites in central Pennsylvania after an F3 tornado tore apart homes and brought down trees and power lines the afternoon of July 14, according to Emergency Response staff Helen Stonesifer. Campbelltown, in Lebanon County, received the worst storm damage with 24 injuries reported and up to 50 houses damaged. A number of homes in South Londonderry Township, in the Country Squire Estates, were leveled and others were ripped open. Jean Myers, Disaster Child Care Region III coordinator, and Tom Cope, Atlantic Northeast District disaster coordinator, visited sites July 15 to offer child care and clean up assistance. The Emergency Response office reported that 60 Brethren volunteers from the surrounding area were out doing clean up today July 16, and are planning on returning daily for the next several days.
  
  
• The summer Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) orientation unit 260 will run from July 25 through Aug. 13, with 25 volunteers planning to attend. The orientation will be held at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The BVS office reminds anyone who might be interested that the unit will host a potluck at Union Bridge (Md.) Church of the Brethren on Saturday, July 31, beginning at 6 p.m., for any past BVS volunteers, Civilian Public Service workers, sea-going cowboys, and anyone who feels connected to BVS.
  
  
• At its Annual Conference luncheon, the Committee on Interchurch Relations gave an Ecumenical Citation to Kira Marriner, a member of Live Oak (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, for her work in peacemaking.
  
  
• The Association of Brethren Caregivers gave its first "Open Roof" award at Annual Conference. The award was presented to Lansing (Mich.) Church of the Brethren for its progress in accessibility to those with disabilities.
  
  
• The Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren (AACB) is beginning a project to record the history of AACB quilts and quilting, as part of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Church of the Brethren in 2008. The group, which this year celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Annual Conference quilt auction, will collect photographs and interesting articles about Conference quilts made between 1973 and 2006. The group seeks facts about the quilts such as the purchaser(s), families or churches who have owned the quilts, places where the quilts have been displayed, and interesting anecdotes connected to the quilts. The group also would like to hear from quilters at Annual Conference who can give information about the number of years they have worked on quilts there, and from those who first learned to quilt at Annual Conference who may be willing to share their stories. "What has this experience of quilting at Annual Conference meant to you?" asked AACB coordinator Joyce Parker in a release about the project. "The AACB is grateful for the heritage of quilting at Annual Conference--creating and finishing pieced quilts." Send stories and information to AACB Coordinator Joyce Parker, 1293 Laurel Dr., W. Salem, OH 44387, 419-945-2327, e-mail djparker@bright.net. People who want to be involved in the history project are invited to contact Parker as well.
  
  
• John Waggoner, the mutual fund columnist for "USA Today" and a member of Dranesville Church of the Brethren, Herndon, Va., joined a panel discussion at an Annual Conference insight session on personal investing. The session was presented by Brethren Benefit Trust and attended by about 50 Conference-goers. Other panelists were Gail Habecker, investment professional with PMG Advisors; Don Fecher, director of the Brethren Pension Plan; and convener Will Thomas, BBT's director of Socially Responsible Investing. The discussion focused on "Now what should I do? Investment challenges with your personal finances." A videotape of the session, complete with an overview on equities by Waggoner, an overview on bond markets by Habecker, and a discussion of how investment assets should be allocated along with questions and answers, will be available on DVD or VHS in mid-September. Contact Lauryn Estes at BBT, 847-622-3374, to reserve a copy.
  
  
• Jonathan P. Emmons, who served as organist for Annual Conference this year, has received a partial scholarship to attend the Organ Academy International Summer School at Mount Royal College Conservatory in Calgary, Canada. The Bridgewater (Va.) College senior music major is one of 18 young organists from around the world to be accepted into the program, which will run from July 26 to Aug. 3. Under the direction of Simon Preston, former organist and choirmaster at Christ Church in Oxford, England, and London's Westminster Abbey, the program offers intensive, short-term organ instruction in both small group and individual sessions taught by a distinguished faculty. Emmons is the son of Timothy and Alice Emmons of Rocky Mount, Va.
  
  
• Blood donors at Annual Conference in Charleston learned about a new "Church of the Brethren Walk-In Campaign" to enlarge the ranks of those registered with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Wendy Jeansonne, of San Carlos, Calif., shared information about the program with Conference-goers. According to Jeansonne, bone marrow donations may help treat 70 different types of blood diseases and disorders, and those who register with the NMDP could be called for a donation as far into the future as 40 years. Some 30,000 people a year seek unrelated donors for a life-saving match, she said. Those interested in having tissue typing done may make an appointment at the nearest NMDP donor center and mention the Brethren campaign, which will cover fees. Donors must be healthy and between the ages of 18 and 60. The campaign ends on Aug. 31. For more information about the campaign, contact Joanne Malone, Virginia Blood Services, 800-989-4438 ext. 4162. For more information about the NMDP call 800-MARROW-2 or see www.marrow.org.
  
  
• The Ecumenical Stewardship Center has announced a 2004 Leadership Seminar in St. Pete Beach, Fla., on the theme "Faith and Money: Breaking the Silence," Nov. 30-Dec. 3. This annual event draws clergy, denominational staff, educators, organizational leaders, and entrepreneurs with a passion for faithful stewardship ministry. Presenters will be Nelson Kraybill, president of the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary; Rosemary Williams, director of Women's Perspective; Steven Tomlinson, dramatist; and Greg Rickel, event chaplain. Cost is $395. An early bird savings of $40 off the registration cost is available through Oct. 4. A special group discount of $80 savings is offered for 20 or more registrants. For more information, see www.stewardshipresources.org, email stewardshipcenter@ameritech.net, or call 800-835-5671.
  
  
• Eleven youth from Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren in Fort Wayne, Ind., formed the nucleus of a June 18-28 learning tour to Honduras coordinated by the New Community Project, a Brethren-related nonprofit organization. The group, along with pastor Melissa Bennett, youth advisor Shawn Sollenberger, construction guide Jim Dodd of Midland, Va., and New Community Project director David Radcliff, refurbished a badly deteriorated health clinic in the community of San Juan Bosco. The group also visited with teachers, nurses, and a women's group; attended a soccer match in a neighboring village; and ended the trip with a visit to the Copan Ruins.
  
  
• A call for true inspirational stories of peacemaking has been issued by Linda Williams, a member of First Church of the Brethren, San Diego, Calif., and co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Peace Lover's Soul." Chicken Soup for the Soul Ent. Inc. is considering publishing a two-book set in order to "get twice the number of dynamite stories of peace, harmony, compassion, and forgiveness out to the general public," Williams said. Among those who already have submitted stories are Nobel Peace Prize laureates Desmond Tutu and Oscar Arias. Those interested in the project may submit stories, poems, songs, quotes, or cartoons; help select stories; and give input on cover art and title. Guidelines for submissions and sample stories are at http://chickensoup.peacestories.info/. Authors of stories chosen for inclusion in the book will receive $200 and have a 50 word bio published in the book. E-mail story submissions to Submissions@PeaceLoversSoul.com. To help select stories, contact Williams at Submissions@PeaceLoversSoul.com. To help select cover art and title, go to www.chickensoup.com, click on "Join Our Test Center" under "Share with Us," and submit name and e-mail address.
  
  
• Brethren interested in organizing a Brethren in Business association are invited to attend a meeting to be held in conjunction with the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) "Business as a Calling" 2004 convention in Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 4-7. The theme of the meeting will be "Risky Business." Cost to Brethren will be $295. Movement to launch the fledgling association has been stimulated by the former organization of Brethren in business, the Brethren Business Network, and is being given leadership by John Braun, a pastor and an associate with Good News Associates in Seattle, Wash. An informal meeting with those interested in the new association was held at Annual Conference. To contact Braun call 206-368-2654 or 206-920-5671. For more information about MEDA visit www.businessasacalling.org or call 800-665-7026, or to register online visit www.meda.org.

Top

Anti-racism team will lead youth peace retreat.

The weekend of Sept. 24-26, On Earth Peace will host a Senior High Youth Peace Retreat at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. "Red and Yellow, Black and White: Learning about Racism," will help youth develop skills to identify and dismantle the sin of racism in their lives. The weekend will include time for worship, discussions, and recreation. All high-school aged youth are invited to attend.

The Church of the Brethren Anti Racism Team members will provide leadership for the weekend. The team has been trained and called by the denomination for this ministry, and has previously led training events for the General Board and district conferences. "While it's critical for everyone to be a part of this kind of training, it is especially important for youth," said Torin Eikler, a member of the team. "They seem to see the struggles and pain that institutional racism causes within the church, in their schools, and in the world more easily, as they look at things with a fresh set of eyes." The team also will lead the On Earth Peace board, meeting in New Windsor at the same time, in an all-day training.

"This retreat is a great way for youth and their advisors to engage in the same questions that were raised this summer about our church fulfilling the scriptures, like in Galatians 3:28," said Kim Stuckey, coordinator of Peacemaker Formation. The retreat will begin 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, and end at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26. Cost is $50 including housing and meals. To register or for information about scholarships contact Kim Stuckey at On Earth Peace, 410-635-8706 or e-mail kstuckey_oepa@brethren.org. More information and a complete schedule are available on the "Upcoming Events" page of the On Earth Peace website www.brethren.org/oepa/events.html.

Credits

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Members of the 2004 Annual Conference news team, a ministry of the General Board, contributed to this report: Kathleen Campanella, Jill Kline, Frank Ramirez, Frances Townsend, Sarah Leatherman Young, and Becky Ullom. Mary Kay Heatwole and Kim Stuckey also contributed.

Newsline is a free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available at www.brethren.org and is archived with an index at www.wfn.org. Also see Photo Journal at www.brethren.org/pjournal/index.htm for photo coverage of events. For additional news and features, subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.

NEWS

• National Young Adult Conference meets in Colorado.
  
• Church of the Brethren joins the Foods Resource Bank.
  
• Alerts call attention to President Bush's visit to Charleston, Sudan, legislation.
  
• Bethany Seminary chosen for 2004 Lexington Seminar.
  
• Dixon congregation promotes Brethren water.
  
• Anti-war sign vandalized at Skyridge Church of the Brethren.
  
• Brethren bits: correction, Annual Conference, and much more.

PERSONNEL

• Edward Leiter to direct Information Services for the General Board.
  
• Allen Kahler to lead South/Central Indiana District.

RESOURCES

• ABC resource highlights issue of uncompensated care.

FEATURE

• Mission coordinator learns from Dominican church leader's disappointment and faith.

NOTE: Daily coverage of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference will begin tomorrow, Saturday, July 3, at www.brethren.org. Reports from business sessions and other events in Charleston, W.Va., will be posted July 3-7. A summary of Conference activities will be included in the July 16 issue of Newsline.

TAKE THE NEWSLINE ON-LINE SURVEY! Newsline readers and subscribers are invited to help improve the Newsline service by filling out a short, 12-question survey. The survey can be found at www.brethren.org, click on "News," or go to www.brethren.org/genbd/newsline/surveyWindow.html. If you cannot access the survey on-line, please request a survey form by mail from Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at cobnews@aol.com.

National Young Adult Conference meets in Colorado.

More than 250 Brethren in the 18 to 35 age range converged on Winter Park, Colo., June 14 to 18 for a powerful and energetic week in the Rocky Mountains.

Worship formed the heart of this National Young Adult Conference (NYAC), with daily morning and evening services. Tony Campolo, the General Board's general secretary Stan Noffsinger, Belita Mitchell, Angie Lahman Yoder, and Susan Boyer all spoke. Other services used only video, drama, music, and other creative outlets to share the message.

NYAC also included daily discussion-oriented workshop options (called "padares," after an African term for a "marketplace of ideas"), sharing in small community groups, late-night open mic coffeehouse sessions, and abundant free time for recreation and fellowship.

"NYAC was a great experience for meeting new people, reacquainting with old friends, for spiritual growth and renewal, and wonderful worship services," participant Sonja LeCount of Elgin, Ill., said.

Young adults generously participated in an offering of shoes, in donations at the coffeehouse ($604), and in cash offerings for On Earth Peace ($847) and the General Board ($3,468). Some also took part in a service project to clear beetle-infested wood, helping to protect healthy trees.

The General Board's Youth/Young Adult Ministry Office has long sponsored an annual Young Adult Conference, but previous events are smaller and held only over a weekend, typically at a Brethren camp.

This was the first time for a young adult conference of this length and scope. Another smaller event is planned for May 27-29, 2005, at Woodland Altars in Ohio.

Church of the Brethren joins the Foods Resource Bank.

In June the Church of the Brethren, through the General Board's Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF), joined the Foods Resource Bank (FRB), a faith-based partnership that engages congregations, land owners, farmers, and agribusiness in community Growing Projects. The Church of the Brethren is the organization's 16th member agency, joining others such as Church World Service, Lutheran World Relief, and Mennonite Central Committee.

GFCF manager Howard Royer explained how Growing Projects work: "Land is donated or rented for a year; farmers contribute time and equipment to plant, tend, and harvest the crop; and the yield is sold with the proceeds benefitting specific hunger programs abroad." The FRB coalition multiplies the donations of the projects, doubling the return through grants from sources such as the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and US AID. This year FRB members have 5,500 acres in 164 growing projects. In 2003, proceeds for hunger totaled $976,000.

Ivester Church of the Brethren, Grundy Center, Iowa, may be the first Church of the Brethren congregation to participate in the Foods Resource Bank, according to Royer. Ivester is partnering with the local Presbyterian church in a Growing Project that this year, with the Brethren co-sponsorship, is cultivating 154 acres. The crop is corn, some of which already has been pre-sold at $3 a bushel.

Royer is seeking other Church of the Brethren congregations and individuals who may be interested in exploring a Growing Project for their community. "My hope is for the Church of the Brethren to gear up with a half dozen growing projects in 2005," he wrote in a letter introducing the concept to district executives. A flier about the Foods Resource Bank will be supplied to congregations and districts this summer and a short video describing FRB is available from the GFCF office.

"The unique feature of FRB's Growing Project model is that it allows all participants to give a gift, many times a non-cash gift, and often one that only they can give, to allow people they may never meet to know the dignity and pride of feeding themselves and their families with extra to share, barter, or sell," according to FRB executive director Norm Braksik.

For more information contact Howard Royer at 800-323-8039 ext. 264 or see the FRB website www.foodsresourcebank.org.

Alerts call attention to President Bush's visit to Charleston, Sudan, legislation.

In its most recent action alert, the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office is inviting Brethren attending Annual Conference to join in a march against the war on terror as President Bush plans to visit the city on July 4. In other alerts, the office has called attention to Sudan, new nuclear weapons, and selective service legislation in Pennsylvania.

President George W. Bush will speak at 4th of July celebrations in downtown Charleston, W.Va., at the same time Brethren gather in the city for Conference. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office is coordinating efforts with local peace groups to make possible an opportunity for Brethren to express opposition to the "war on terror," a release from the office said. Conference-goers may stop by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office booth for details.

What may be a final round of peace talks between Sudan's government and southern rebels began June 27, the office reported, with the goal of a permanent ceasefire. An action alert encouraged Brethren to "remain watchful and prayerful for a true presence of peace for our friends of this central African nation.... Only the details of a comprehensive cease fire and how to implement the agreements for the south remain to be sorted out," the report said. Final negotiations were to begin June 22. The civil war between the mainly Arab and Muslim government in the north and the mainly black African and Christian rebel groups in the south has claimed at least 1.5 million lives. Violence continues in western Sudan, in the Darfur region, where militias linked to the government are carrying out what may be an attempt at genocide of the black African population. New Sudan Council of Churches leader Haruun Ruun will be at Annual Conference this week to speak on continuing challenges to peace in Sudan.

The office also issued an alert calling for support of an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would cut funds for new nuclear weapons, popularly called "mini nukes" or "bunker busters." The Kennedy-Feinstein Amendment would have eliminated funding for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP), the first of a new generation of nuclear weapons made possible by a new administration policy to reinforce the importance of nuclear weapons and lower the threshold for their use, the office reported. The defense authorization bill has passed the House and Senate, providing full funding for the RNEP, the office reported. "The energy and water appropriations bill passed the House on Friday and provides no money for the RNEP. The last step is the Senate energy and water appropriations bill, which will be marked up sometime in July. We hope to again cut the RNEP funds in the Senate subcommittee," said director Phil Jones.

Pending legislation in Pennsylvania would link automatic selective service, or draft, registration to driver's license applications. In an Action Alert, the Brethren Witness/Washington Office reported on an important development in the House version of the bill, a check box on driver's license forms allowing applicants to signify that they do not consent to register for selective service. The Washington Office urges Pennsylvania Brethren to contact House and committee leaders to keep the check box in the bill. "We have definitely had an impact on this bill," Jones said.

To receive Action Alerts or the office newsletter, send contact information including name and address or e-mail address to the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 337 N. Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003; 202-546-3202 or 800-785-3246; or e-mail washington_office_gb@brethren.org.

Bethany Seminary chosen for 2004 Lexington Seminar.

Bethany Theological Seminary, the Church of the Brethren graduate school for theological education in Richmond, Ind., has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2004 Lexington Seminar, a project that supports the faculty, president, and dean of the seminary working together on an issue critical for the institution. Participating seminaries also collaborate with the other four schools chosen in that year.

The seminar is sponsored by Lexington Theological Seminary and supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc. Criteria for selection include demonstrated academic integrity and excellence, faculty and administration committed to working together to improve teaching and learning for the ministries of the church, and stability needed to implement a project that will affect the way the institution carries out its mission, according to a release from the seminary.

"This comes at a particularly apt time for Bethany," noted president Eugene F. Roop. "Together with the board, Bethany's faculty and administration are at work identifying several specific strategic initiatives that have priority in the next few years, and preparing a self study for accreditation review in 2006. The Lexington Seminar will provide an important venue in our efforts to more effectively bring together the teachings of professors, the learning of students, and the mission of the seminary."

Dixon congregation promotes Brethren water.

"Our thoughts were, we need to get out into the public and tell people who we are," said Guy Ball, one of the people behind a project to use "Brethren water" as a promotional tool for Church of the Brethren congregations. The project was begun by the Witness Commission of the Dixon (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, which has invested seed funds to have bottled water produced with a Church of the Brethren label.

The labels on the 16.9-fluid-ounce bottles of water that the Dixon church has produced read, "Church of the Brethren, Continuing the work of Jesus, Peacefully, Simply, Together," and feature the denominational logo and the scripture text John 4:13-14.

Ball, a handyman and Dixon's deacon chair and custodian, got the idea when he saw bottled water with a lumber company's name on the label. He found out that his church could have bottles produced for 50 cents each, from a supplier who would personalize the label. It seemed like a wonderful fund raiser and a unique opportunity to promote the church, as well as the denomination.

Since then the Dixon congregation, which is hosting the Illinois/Wisconsin District Conference this year, has presented the idea to the conference planning committee and has approached other congregations that may be interested in using the water for their own fundraising and promotional projects, Ball said. Congregations can have bottles personalized with their names and other information. Ball also has thought of using the water for disaster relief. "Wouldn't it have been wonderful to have had cases to give away following tornados" that recently struck a town in Illinois, he commented.

To make sure the water would be of good quality, Ball personally visited the bottling plant and met with quality control staff. "The water speaks for itself," he said of the purified deep-well water that fills the Brethren bottles. "It's very good water." For more information e-mail Guy Ball at ball602@myfam.com.

Source: Newsline 7/02/2004

Anti-war sign vandalized at Skyridge Church of the Brethren.

An anti-war sign hosted by Skyridge Church of the Brethren in Kalamazoo, Mich., during Holy Week was pulled down and damaged in repeated acts of vandalism. The large 31- by 15-foot sign was posted on the church lawn, along a busy four-lane road, at the request of a local peace group. The sign read in huge letters, "Iraq how many deaths?" and was framed with silhouettes representing men, women, and children--military and civilian—who have died in the Iraq war.

Outreach Committee co-chairperson Ineke Way, a member of the group Kalamazoo Non-Violent Opponents to War (KNOW), was instrumental in bringing the sign to the church. After worship on Palm Sunday, pastor Debbie Eisenbise led the congregation and KNOW participants in prayer dedicating the sign.

The posting of the sign was an eye opener for the community and congregation, Eisenbise said. Many people stopped by to see it up close and to place flowers on it in memory of those who have died. One woman asked for a picture to send to her father, a Vietnam veteran. Others wrote letters and made phone calls of appreciation to the church. Some made crank calls the church received one from a man self-identified as "Osama Bin Laden." Other people requested a discussion of the church's peace position, which Eisenbise explained as the Brethren understanding of Jesus Christ's message that "all war is sin."

One night, vandals pulled the leg off of one of the plywood figures on the sign. "This only helped the sign to be more representative of the many amputees who are victims of war," Eisenbise said. Another evening, someone drove a truck onto the lawn and used ropes to pull down the whole sign, which resulted in increased media attention. A radio station had a two-hour call-in program on "What do you think of the sign at Skyridge Church of the Brethren?"

The sign was taken down from the church lawn before Easter sunrise. Recently KNOW and Pax Christi posted it at a retreat center run by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Kalamazoo.

"The whole experience for the Skyridge Church was a powerful reminder of what it means to witness to our faith, and how Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brings redemption and reconciliation for all," Eisenbise said. A letter of appreciation to the church from KNOW echoed the sentiment, "We believe that we have scattered seeds in places and in ways we can't even imagine."

Source: Newsline 7/02/2004

Brethren bits: correction, Annual Conference, and much more.

• In a correction to Newsline June 18, Tex Sample is the featured speaker at the Association of Brethren Caregivers' "A Seminar on Effective Ministry for, by, and with Older Adults."
  
  
• The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference begins tomorrow evening July 3 in Charleston, W.Va., with dinner programs and opening worship. Gatherings preceding Annual Conference this year include meetings of those planning and leading the Conference--Annual Conference officers, Program and Arrangements Committee, and Annual Conference coordinators--as well as Standing Committee meetings of district delegates June 30-July 3, the Ministers' Association Conference July 2-3, the Council of District Executives July 1-3, General Board meetings July 2-3, and the Fellowship of Brethren Genealogists the afternoon of July 3.
  
  
• Middle Pennsylvania District seeks a district minister to fill a full-time position beginning Jan. 1, 2005. The district is looking for a visionary leader who has experience and training in the area of congregational ministry. The preferred candidate will be an innovative person who is knowledgeable and supportive of denominational polity and skillful at adapting procedures to meet the unique needs of the district. The candidate will have an ability to work with diverse biblical and theological perspectives, and a passion for evangelism and leadership development. Qualifications include an M.Div. or related masters degree, ordination, and a minimum of seven years of pastoral or related experience. Apply by sending a letter of interest and resume via email to DistrictMinistries_gb@Brethren.org. Applicants are requested to contact three or four people to provide letters of reference. Upon receipt of resume, the candidate will be sent a Candidate Profile that must be completed and returned before the application is considered complete. The application deadline is Aug. 31.
  
  
• Join seasoned Sudan workers Phil and Louise Baldwin Rieman in a Sudan Workcamp Jan. 9-22, 2005. The workcamp is a tangible effort to rebuild in one community of this war-torn nation, and bring hope to its people. The General Board's Global Mission Partnerships office is sponsoring the event with longtime partner, the New Sudan Council of Churches. Estimated cost is $2,200. For more information contact the Riemans at plbrieman@mw.net, or call 317-546-9675.
  
  
• Disaster Child Care projects in Cortland, Neb., and Chapmansville, Lenore, and Delbarton, W.Va., have closed. In Nebraska, six child care volunteers made contact with 34 children after an F-4 tornado with 207-260 mile-per-hour winds touched down in Hallam, in Lancaster County near Lincoln, on May 22. The storms destroyed 158 homes and caused significant damage to more than 150 others in several counties. In West Virginia, nine child care volunteers served 42 children after four inches of rain in the southern section of the state. Four counties--Mingo, Raleigh, Wyoming, and Logan--repeatedly have had major flood damage and mud slides due to heavy rains. Emergency management officials estimate some 300 homes sustained major damage.
  
  
• The FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) website has featured an article about the General Board's Disaster Child Care program, complete with photos from the recent child care project in West Virginia. "Well-deserved recognition for our unsung heroes!" commented Liz Monahan-Gibson of FEMA. "The Disaster Child Care program is very fortunate to have such dedicated and supportive child care volunteers and partner agencies in our network." The article, written by FEMA public information officer Rose Marie Armstrong, explained how the program offers activities that provide emotional comfort to children affected by disasters, and makes it possible for parents to complete the application process for federal aid. The photos feature child care workers Pearl Cormany, Esther Bittinger, and Patricia A. Black. Find the article and photos at www.FEMA.gov.
  
  
• The General Board's Emergency Response program welcomed district executives Joe Detrick of Southern Pennsylvania, Stephen Abe of West Marva, and Marie Willoughby of Michigan as disaster response volunteers the week of May 31 at the Poquoson, Va., project. District executives combined skills with local Virginia volunteers, a group from Bedford, Pa., and Roy Winter, executive director of Emergency Response/Service Ministries. Maurice Curry and Ken Imhoff provided leadership as work continued on two homes that had been raised five to six feet to avoid future floods. "Thank you district executives and all volunteers for making time to help," said Winter.
  
  
• Pacific Southwest District is sponsoring a disaster response project near Julian, Calif., east of San Diego, Aug. 1-14. The wildfire clean-up project is in cooperation with Mennonite Disaster Service. The work includes clearing burned trees and cutting, stacking, and chipping wood. Volunteers must be able-bodied. Hard hats, masks to filter dust, earplugs, goggles, and chain saws are provided. District disaster coordinator Milton H. Ewert is seeking congregations and individuals who would be interested in volunteering for the project. Contact him at 209-523-9490 or e-mail mjemod@juno.com.
  
  
• "God, Democracy, and US Power: Believers Church Perspectives" is the title of a Sept. 23-25 conference hosted by Bridgewater (Va.) College and Eastern Mennonite University, with assistance from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the General Board, Mennonite Central Committee, and Baptist Joint Committee. This is the 15th in a series of Believers Church Conferences. Presenters representing Church of the Brethren perspectives include 2005 Annual Conference moderator Jim Hardenbrook on "Second Order of Business: Prayer by the Chaplain"; Bridgewater professor of Religion Carol Scheppard on "Yahweh's People: Covenant and Exile"; Brethren historian Donald Durnbaugh on "The Church of the Brethren Office in Washington, D.C.: Advocacy or Listening Post?"; New Community Project director David Radcliff on "There Goes the Neighborhood: Christian Engagement with a Suddenly Near World"; and Bethany Theological Seminary professor Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, who will preach. National Council of Churches general secretary Robert W. Edgar will speak at the conference banquet. For more information and to register go to www.emu.edu/churchandpolitics.
  
  
• Bentley Peters has resigned as senior vice president of MII Management Group and Mutual Aid eXchange (MAX) effective Dec. 31. His work for the insurance and management organizations, which are related to the Church of the Brethren, included envisioning, development, and implementation of MAX since 1993. He plans to return to consulting in the Chicago area.
  
  
• Church of the Brethren environmental and peace advocate David Radcliff was a featured speaker at "H2oly Water," a training event for clergy and lay leaders in the Baltimore-Washington area, sponsored by the National Council of Churches. The June 25-28 event was one in a series based on a theological framework for understanding the importance of preserving water resources. Radcliff also spoke for the March event in the series, held in Arizona. He is director of the New Community Project, a Brethren-related nonprofit organization.

Edward Leiter to direct Information Services for the General Board.

Edward Leiter began June 28 in the position of director of Information Services for the General Board. Current director Perry Hudkins will conclude her service on July 16.

Leiter has worked at the board's New Windsor (Md.) Service Center from 1984-87 as a programmer, and since 1988 as lead programmer/analyst. He is a graduate of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Computer Science. Following college he served in Brethren Volunteer Service. He is a member of Union Bridge (Md.) Church of the Brethren.