wfn.org | CoB Newsline- Youth conferences, Earth Day Sunday

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      April 17, 1997
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline           April 17, 1997

This is Newsline for the week of April 17. In the news today:

1) Three Regional Youth Conferences will be held during the next two
weekends.
2) Ken Holderread, Illinois/Wisconsin District executive, plans to visit
denominational 
        partners in Africa this month.
3) Climate Change is the focus of Earth Day Sunday, to be held this weekend.
4) Brethren Benefit Trust prepares for its Board meetings this weekend, and
welcomes a 
         new Board member.
5) Mark Sloan, Bethany Theological Seminary registrar, announces his
resignation.
6) Bethany Theological Seminary seeks a registrar/coordinator of Academic
Services.
7) The Andrew Center will host two workshops events this Saturday.
8) Is your congregation responding creatively to the recent Global Food
Crisis Appeal for
         North Korea? If so, the General Board’s Interpretation Office wants
to know.
9) The April Messenger will be arriving in homes this week.

1) Three Regional Youth Conferences will be held during the next two weeks at
Church of the Brethren-affiliated colleges. RYCs, which began in the 1950s,
are intended for Church of the Brethren senior high youth to visit
Brethren-affiliated colleges and to meet with other Brethren youth from
surrounding districts, as well as to "nurture the faith of our youth, expose
them to Brethren values and beliefs and provide a context for developing a
deeper sense of belonging to the Church," said Chris Douglas, director of the
General Board’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry. McPherson (Kan.) College will
host its RYC, Friday through Sunday, for youth from Northern, Western and
Southern Plains districts, as well as Missouri/Arkansas District. Lee
Krahenbuhl and Debbie Eisenbise, pastors of Skyridge Church of the Brethren,
Kalamazoo, Mich., will serve as leaders. Bridgewater (Va.) College also will
host its Roundtable (RYC) this weekend for youth from Atlantic Southeast,
Southeastern, Virlina, West Marva, Shenandoah and Mid-Atlantic districts.
David Radcliff, director of the General Board’s Denominational Peace Witness,
will serve as keynote speaker. He will focus on "Embracing the Future with
Hope." Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., will host its RYC, April
25-27, for youth from Illinois/Wisconsin, Michigan, Northern Indiana,
South/Central Indiana, Northern Ohio, and Southern Ohio districts. Krahenbuhl
also is scheduled to participate at Manchester's RYC.

2) During May, Kenneth Holderread, Illinois/Wisconsin District executive, is
scheduled to visit mission personnel and denominational partners in Africa.
Holderread, who will be visiting as part of his sabbatical next month, will
be in Kenya for one week and Sudan for two. His trip is sponsored by the
General Board's Africa and the Middle East Office. Holderread and his wife
Elsie -- who currently serves as General Services Commission's administrative
assistant -- served in Sudan from 1984-87, administering the Theological
Education by Extension Program. He also has served as representative for
Africa and the Middle East from 1988 to 1990.

"With his prior background in Sudan, Holderread brings valuable perspective
for our African partners and can help this office rethink the Sudan mission
during this transition time," said Mervin Keeney, representative for Africa
and the Middle East. "We also anticipate that this experience will provide
perspective and personal renewal for Holderread's continuing ministry with
the district."

3) Climate change will be the focus of this year's Earth Day, which will be
observed this Sunday. A worship and education packet was sent to each
congregation in February for use during this Sunday's service. Included in
the packet are a worship service litany, an action bulletin, a worship guide
insert and the five-session study guide, "It's God's World: Christians, the
Environment and Climate Change." 

"The church, as the people of God, is called to live in harmony with all
creation and to be environmentally responsible in caring for creation as
God's gift," writes Shantilal Bhagat, director of Eco-Justice Concerns, in
the packet's cover letter to congregations. "Our covenantal relationship to
care for the creation requires us to be aware of present and impending
threats to our environment and to take action to preserve the integrity of
creation. Informed church members who respect and care deeply about God's
creation, and who can rise above narrower interests, have a role to play in
shaping our government's policies."

4) Options for future directions of the Brethren Medical Plan, strategies for
adding international equities as investment choices and expanding Brethren
Foundation services to charitable organizations not connected with the Church
of the Brethren are issues that Brethren Benefit Trust's Board will address
during its meetings this weekend at its offices in Elgin, Ill. The Board also
will discuss expanding financial services to the church, such as providing
investment services for members, offering financial planning seminars,
offering consulting and training in financial management, and increasing
leadership in planned giving for church agencies.

This weekend the BBT Board also will welcome its newest member—Richard Poque.
He is executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Investment
Company Institute, Washington, D.C., the national trade association for
public mutual funds and general clearing house for the mutual fund industry.
Pogue, a Church of the Brethren member, is involved with University Park
Church of the Brethren, Hyattsville, Md., and Celebration Fellowship House
Church, Washington, D.C. "Pogue brings expertise in investments and benefits
as well as a spirit of service to the church and the world," said Wil Nolen,
president of Brethren Benefit Trust.

5) Mark Sloan, Bethany Theological Seminary's registrar, has resigned
effective July 18. Sloan has served as Bethany’s registrar and as coordinator
of Academic Services for Bethany and Earlham School of Religion since 1994.
Sloan plans to attend University of North Park and North Park Theological
Seminary, Chicago, in the fall.

6) Bethany Theological Seminary and Earlham School of Religion, Richmond,
Ind., are searching for a registrar/coordinator of Academic Services to
jointly serve both institutions. The coordinator updates student academic
records, schedules classes, prepares enrollment reports, evaluates graduate
applications and interprets catalogs. Candidates should hold a Bachelor's
degree, have seminary and registrar office experience, and knowledge of
academic catalog and various federal and state regulations that affect
institutions. For more information, call 765-983-1485 or write to
MilleJo@Earlham.Edu. 

7) Two events sponsored by The Andrew Center are scheduled for this Saturday.
"Unlocking Church Doors: Ten Keys to Positive Change" will be held by Lititz
(Pa.) Church of the Brethren with Paul Mundey, pastor of Frederick (Md.)
Church of the Brethren and former director of The Andrew Center, leading the
workshop. "Hospitality and the Vital Church" will be hosted by Clarence
Center-Akron (NY) Mennonite Church and will be led by Fred Bernhard, pastor
of Oakland Church of the Brethren, Gettysburg, Ohio, and co-author of
"Widening the Welcome of Your Church: Biblical Hospitality and the Vital
Congregation." For more information on these or other Andrew Center-sponsored
events, call 800 774-3360 or write CoB.Evang.parti@Ecunet.Org.

8) Howard Royer, Interpretation director for the General Board, is interested
in learning of congregations responding assertively and creatively to the
current Global Food Crisis Fund appeal for North Korea. Particular interest
at this time is in gathering video coverage of events as they happen. Contact
Royer at HRoyer.parti@Ecunet.Org.

9) The April 1997 issue of Messenger magazine will be arriving in homes this
week. April’s cover story focuses on North Korea and the work of the Church
of the Brethren in that country, which is being ravaged by a severe food
shortage. This issue also features several pages of coverage of the General
Board's March meetings and its latest decisions regarding its new design.
Glenn Timmons, current Parish Ministries Commission executive and director of
Congregational Life Ministries in the General Board’s new design, focuses on
"a shared vision for a shared ministry" in an interpretative piece on the
General Board's new design. A special report on Brethren efforts to help
Chinese detainees obtain their release from the York County (Pa.) Prison and
a Bible study on Mark 16:8 also are featured. To subscribe to Messenger, call
800 323-8039, ext. 247; or write CoBNews@AOL.Com.

Newsline is archived with an index at http://www.tgx.com/cob/news.htm and at
www.wfn.org.

This message can be heard by calling 410 635-8738. To receive Newsline by
e-mail or fax, call 800 323-8039, ext. 257, or write CoBNews@AOL.Com.