wfn.org | CoB Newsline- General Board coverage

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      March 13, 1997
Contact:  Paula Wilding
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline         March 13, 1997  

This is Newsline for the week of March 13. In the news today:   

1) The Church of the Brethren General Board releases the names of 
      staff whose employment will be terminated due to the Board
      downsizing and adopting a new design. 
2) The Emergency Disaster Fund allocates $25,000 to two projects.
3) The first JOYA team will perform three concerts this month in  
      Maryland. 
4) Brethren/Mennonite Council names Jim Sauder its executive 
      director.   

1) The interim leadership team of the Church of the Brethren
General Board today released a list of the employees whose
employment will terminate when the Board's new design goes into
effect in July. The following people will be terminated from
their positions on July 18 unless otherwise noted.  

Shantilal Bhagat, director of Eco-Justice Concerns/Rural Small
Churches, has held this position since 1987. He has worked for
the General Board since 1968.  

Karen Carlson, support staff for The Andrew Center, has held this
position since 1991. Her employment will conclude Dec. 31.  

Rose Collins, support staff for the Office of Interpretation, has
served the General Board since 1995.  

Martha Cupp, part-time support staff for Messenger subscriptions,
has served in this position since 1995. Previously, Cupp worked
for Messenger from 1989 to 1993. Her last day has yet to be
determined.  

Janice Eller, interim co-director of Ministry, has served the
General Board in this position since 1994.  

Guillermo Encarnacion, director of Hispanic Ministry, has served
in this capacity since 1994. Encarnacion will continue his
General Board work with the Dominican Republic.  

Barbara Faga, support staff for The Andrew Center, has served in
this position since 1988. She began her employment with the
General Board in 1986. Her employment will conclude on Dec. 31.  

Sheri Fecher, support staff for Yearbook, has served the General
Board part-time since 1996 and will complete her job on June 15. 

June Gibble, director of Congregational Nurture and Worship, has
served the General Board in this position since 1988. She
previously served the Board from 1977-1984.  

Jean Hendricks, director of Ministry Training, has served in this
position since 1991.  

Robert Kettering, director of Church Development, has served in
this position since 1994. Kettering currently also serves as
interim director of The Andrew Center, a position he has filled
since last September. Employment in that position will end on
Dec. 31.  

James Kinsey, co-director of Ministry, has served the General
Board in this capacity since 1994. He continues to serve as
executive for Michigan District.   

Dale Minnich, associate general secretary and General Services
Commission executive, has served in this position since 1988. He
has served the General Board since 1979.  

Marge Moeller, support staff for Customer Service, has served the
General Board since 1987 and in this position since 1996.  

Jan Morse, manager of Customer Service, has served in this
position since 1991. She has served the General Board since 1984.

Karen Norstrom, support staff for Human Resources, has served in
this position since 1995.  

Barbara Ober, administrative assistant and director of Mission
Interpretation for World Ministries Commission, has held that
position since 1985.  

Nina Roher, support staff in accounts receivable for Finance, has
served the General Board since 1994.  

Roberta Rosser, support staff for Congregational Nurture and
Worship, has served in this position since 1986.  

Linda Swanson, support staff for Messenger Promotion, has served
in this position since 1994. Previously, she served the General
Board from 1977 to 1992.  

Kermon Thomasson, editor of Messenger, has held this position
since 1977. He has served the General Board since 1974.  

Paula Wilding, editorial assistant for News Services, has held
this position since 1993.   

2) Last week, the Emergency Disaster Fund allocated $25,000 to
two projects. A grant of $20,000 was made to assist the Church of
the Brethren rebuilding project of Butler Chapel African
Methodist Episcopal Church, Orangeburg, S.C. A grant of $5,000
will help with food relief for malnourished people in Kenya due
to severe drought.   

3) The four young adults that composed the first JOYA (Journey of
Young Adults) team in 1994 will reunite this month for three
concerts in Maryland. The team -- which includes Barb Saylor,
LuAnne Harley, Brian Kruschwitz and Shawn Kirchner -- will
perform March 28 at Easton Church of the Brethren. On March 29,
the group will perform at Hagerstown Church of the Brethren and
Westminster Church of the Brethren. The freewill offerings
collected during each concert will help support the placement of
young adults in conflict resolution and mediation teams at Camp
Mardela, Denton, Md, and at Shepherd's Spring Outdoor Ministries
Center, Sharpsburg, Md. During 1994, the team toured through 15
Church of the Brethren districts for over 50 concerts, and
appeared in the General Board Live Report at the Annual
Conference in Wichita, Kan. For more information, contact On
Earth Peace Assembly at 410 635-8705 or at
On.Earth.Peace.Assembly.parti@Ecunet.Org.   

4) The Brethren/Mennonite Council for Gay and Lesbian Concerns
Board of Directors named Jim Sauder its first executive director
during its February meeting. In the new position, Sauder -- who
has served as BMC coordinator for eight years -- "will be given
increased authority in terms of daily decision-making and
direction setting for the Board, as well as empowerment to
initiate and carry out programming for BMC," said Kim Hill Smith,
BMC board president. According to Smith, the coordinator position
became the executive direction position due to increased work and
interest in BMC. "I look forward to the additional
responsibilities placed with the executive director, while
knowing that only with the support of the board and other
volunteers will the work be accomplished," Sauder said.  

Also in February, BMC changed the status of the Supportive
Congregations Network Steering Committee from a working committee
to a standing committee. The change was made when the committees
"realized we had a common vision and similar goals in relation to
our denominations," Smith said. SCN board members are now
considered full board members at BMC and will receive voting
privileges. For more information on BMC or SCN, call 612 722-6906
or write BMCouncil@AOL.Com.   

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