wfn.org | Newsline- Weekly Church of the Brethren news

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      February 20, 1997
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline                                            Aug. 7, 1997

News 
1) Three Brethren are selected to the General Board's Executive
        Director Search Committee. 
2) SERRV International supplies 37,000 crosses that are given to
        Lutheran youth. 
3) Four workcamps taking place this week and next conclude this
        year's General Board Youth and Young Adult Ministries
        workcamps. 
4) Bethany Theological Seminary and the General Board announce
        the new co-directors of the Brethren Academy for
        Ministerial Leadership. 
5) The General Board announces open searches for coordinators of
        two Congregational Life Teams coordinators. 
6) The 24th Annual Brethren Bible Institute was "a rewarding and
        relaxing week." 
7) After 35 years, the Miami First Church of the Brethren moves
        to a new facility. 
8) Fifteen students and three churches will participate in
        EFSM/TRIM Orientation this week at the Brethren
        Conference Center, New Windsor, Md. 
9) Caring Ministries 2000, a conference for people working in a
        variety of caring minstries, will be held Monday through
        Friday at Manchester College. 
10) The five participants who comprise Brethren Volunteer Service
        Unit 226 begin orientation. 
11) The August/September issue of Messenger magazine, complete
        with Annual Conference coverage, is in the mail.  
12) The September Source resource packet is in the mail to
        Brethren congregations. 
13) A festschrift for Brethren historian Don Durnbaugh, is
        scheduled for Oct. 2-4. 
14) Argentine Methodist Bishop Federico Paguar receives the NCC's
        second annual human rights award.    

1) Three nonmembers of the Church of the Brethren General Board
have been called to serve on the Board's Executive Director
Search Committee. Howard Royer of Elgin, Ill.; Herman Kaufman of
Napanee, Ind., and Eunice Culp of Goshen, Ind., will serve on the
committee, representing General Board staff, district staff, and
laity, respectively. They join four Board members who were
elected to the committee in July -- Mary Jo Flory-Steury of
Kettering, Ohio, Wayne Judd of Elizabethtown, Pa., Gilbert Romero
of Montebello, Calif., and Christy Waltersdorff of Lombard, Ill. 

Royer serves as the General Board's staff for Interpretation.
Kaufman serves as executive of Northern Indiana District. Culp
serves as vice president of Human Resources for Mennonite Mutual
Aid Association in Goshen. She currently also serves as Northern
Indiana District board chair, and has held several other
district-level leadership positions.  

Flory-Steury, who will serve as convener until the committee
organizes itself, plans to call the first meeting Sept. 3-4 at
the General Offices in Elgin, Ill.  

"I feel it is a strong group," said Flory-Steury. "We're going to
focus our work carefully and be as responsive to concerns of the
denomination as we can. We want to keep everyone informed as much
as possible."   

2) Thirty-seven thousand youth gathered in New Orleans'
Superdome, July 23-27, for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
America's Youth Gathering. Throughout the conference, worship
services focused on Jesus' walk through Holy week. At one
particular service, which centered on Maundy Thursday, each
participant was given a cross, a cross purchased from SERRV
International, the Church of the Brethren self-help handcrafts
ministry. These crosses came from the Shepherd's Fields in
Jerusalem.  

^From the Superdome stage, Sheila Buttner Law, SERRV's coordinator
of Public Relations, explained the importance of the crosses.
Then, during the Passing of the Peace, each participant placed a
cross on a friend. Buttner Law said thousands of youth could be
seen wearing those crosses throughout the remainder of the
conference. Buttner Law also led special workshops during which
she explained how people can "become involved in the SERRV
program and dramatically affect the lives of thousands in the
developing world."   

3) Four workcamps being held this week and next conclude this
year's workcamp schedule, organized by the General Board's Youth
and Young Adult Ministries.  Twenty-three senior high students
and advisers on Monday began a seven-day workcamp in Orlando,
Fla. There they are working on various environmental projects,
including lake restoration, the removal of exotic plants to make
room for native growth, stream clean-up and building nests for
birds.  

Directing the workcamp is Nancy Knepper of Gotha, Fla. Liz
Bidgood of Elgin, Ill., is serving as coordinator; Joe Godfrey of
York, Pa., is the assistant coordinator. Serving as advisers are
Patricia Gong  of State College, Pa., Gladys Ulmer of Lancaster,
Pa., and Becki Whittaker of Lancaster, Pa.  

Fourteen junior high students and advisers on Wednesday began a
five-day workcamp in Richmond, Va. There participants are working
with the Capitol Area Agency for Agingpainting and doing small
repairs and yardwork for elderly people in the area.   

Michael Carroll of Roanoke, Va., is serving as workcamp director.
Other leaders include Greg Enders of Elgin, Ill., coordinator;
Kim Stuckey of Hummelstown, Pa., assistant coordinator; and Bruce
Morckel of Akron, Ohio, adviser.  

Thirteen senior high students and advisers will leave Sunday for
a seven-day workcamp in Perryville, Ark. While there,
participants will work on various projects including making
bricks, organic gardening, shoveling manure and painting fences.
Participants also will spend an evening in Heifer Project Ranch's
Global Village.  

Phil Rieman of Wabash, Ind., will serve as director. Serving as
coordinator and assistant coordinator will be Bidgood and
Stuckey, respectively.  

Sixteen senior high students and advisers will kick off this
year's final workcamp on Monday when they depart for a seven-day
workcamp in Washington, D.C. While there, participants will work
in soup kitchens and possibly do repair work on houses.   

Twyla Rowe of Lititz, Pa., will serve as director. Enders and
Godfrey will serve as coordinator and assistant coordinator,
respectively.   

4) Harriet and Ron Finney have been appointed co-coordinators of
the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, beginning this
fall. This announcement was made jointly on Tuesday by Bethany
Theological Seminary and the General Board.  

The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership will expand the
scope of the existing Bethany Academy for Ministry Training,
which focuses primarily on leadership development. The Academy
for Ministry Training will also include the Education for a
Shared Ministry (EFSM) and Training in Ministry (TRIM) programs,
and other continuing education for people in ministry. Although
the Finneys' work will be based at the seminary's Richmond, Ind.,
campus, they will also work closely with the General Board's
Congregational Life Teams, which currently are being created.  

Harriet will assume her new responsibilities Sept. 1. Ron will
assume his new responsibilities once he concludes serving as
interim director of District Ministries for the General Board.
Both will continue to serve as co-executives of South/Central
Indiana District.  

In addition to serving with Ron as co-director of Family
Ministries for the General Board from 1993 to 1997, Harriet has
served as associate pastor and pastor of Plymouth (Ind.) Church
of the Brethren (1980-1993), and as program coordinator for
Northern Colorado Church of the Brethren, Windsor, Colo. She also
has held a variety of positions in public education.  

Ron previously served as associate executive of Northern Indiana
District (1983-1993), as program coordinator of the Occupational
Development Center in Rochester, Ind. (1980-1983), and as a
public school teacher in Indiana and Colorado.  

Harriet earned her Master's of Divinity degree from Bethany in
1987. She also earned a Master's from Ball State University,
Muncie, Ind., in 1970. Her undergraduate degree was earned at
Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., in 1963. Ron earned
his Master's degree in School Administration from Colorado State
University in 1973. He, too, earned his undergraduate degree in
1963 at Manchester College.   

5) Coordinators are being sought for the General Board's Area 4
and Area 5 Congregational Life Teams. These coordinators will
supervise their respective Congregational Life Teams and will
seek feedback from constituents. They will assist in the
development of a covenantal partnership with districts and
district staffs in the areas of employment and joint projects,
will provide leadership in team development, self/peer assessment
and evaluation of work completed. They will also work with budget
development and management.  

Five years experience in congregational life, program
development, mentoring/supervising, team development and
supervision is required. A Master's degree in a related field is
preferred.  

The Area 4 position, which covers Missouri/Arkansas, Northern
Plains, Southern Plains and Western Plains districts, is
full-time. The Area 5 position, which covers Idaho,
Oregon/Washington and Pacific Southwest districts, is part-time.
To apply, send a cover letter, resume and 3-4 letters of
recommendation by Oct. 1 to Elsie Holderread, Office of Human
Resources, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin IL 60120.   

6) The 24th Annual Brethren Bible Institute, sponsored by
Brethren Revival Fellowship and held last week at Elizabethtown
(Pa.) College, was attended by 120 people. Those in attendence
ranged from 16 to 88 years old, representing 27 churches in seven
states. Nine courses of study were offered throughout of week,
from which students selected three.  

"Chapel periods, group devotions, class lectures and discussions,
recreation, food and fellowship all combined to make it a
rewarding and relaxing week," said Harold Martin, BRF leader.   

7) After 35 years of worshiping in the same facilty, the First
Miami (Fla.) Church of the Brethren has sold its building and has
begun holding its services in a building owned by the Biscayne
Gardens Civic Association.  

According to longtime member Wayne Sutton -- who announced this
development Sunday on CoB-L, the Church of the Brethren list
server that serves as an electronic Brethren "community"  -- the
multi-ethnic congregation had increasing difficulty existing in a
community that had changed from being multiethnic to mostly
African-American. Sutton said the church couldn't overcome the
stigma of being considered a "white church."   

What was even harder to overcome, said Sutton, was the crime
committed in and around the facility. In the mid-1980s, Bill
Bosler, the church's pastor, was murdered. And over the past
decade the church has repeatedly been robbed and vandalized. Even
a refrigerator was stolen.  

"After much soul searching we have decided to move on," wrote
Sutton. "We tried hard to make it in that neighborhood, but it
became clear that for us to thrive as an integrated church, we
needed to be in an integrated neighborhood."  

The congregation has sold its facility to a mission congregation
affiliated with the Southern Baptists. "With the proceeds from
the sale, we hope to fund a paid ministry and begin anew in a
more fertile (for us) setting," Sutton wrote.   

8) Fifteen students and three churches will participate in this
year's Education for a Shared Ministry (EFSM) and Training in
Ministry (TRIM) orientation, Saturday through Thursday, at the
Brethren Conference Center, New Windsor, Md.  

The 15 TRIM students -- nine men and six women -- represent 10
districts, according to Jean Hendricks, who will conclude her
service as the General Board's director of Ministry Training
later this month. The members of this group vary in age and
educational and vocational background. Two of the three churches
entering TRIM are from Northern Indiana District; the other is
from Shenandoah District.  

During orientation, participants will attend Bible study and
worship sessions. They also will attend sessions on pastoral and
congregational ethics, Biblical interpretation, time management,
and using personality skills effectively. They also will learn
how to "do" the respective EFSM or TRIM programs, such as
handling paperflow, learning their program's expectations,
constructing learning contracts, and communicating with people in
their home areas.   

"Typically, orientation week becomes a time when students make
lasting friendships among their peers in ministry education,"
Hendricks said.  Leaders for this, EFSM's 20th year and TRIM's
10th, include David Longenecker, Rick Gardner, Mary Jessup, Scott
Duffy, Howard Miller, Roger Forry, Alice Martin-Adkins and Pam
Leinauer.   

9) Two significant events for people who work in caring
ministries are scheduled for this upcoming week at Manchester
College.   

The main event, Caring Ministries 2000, is scheduled from Monday
evening through Friday noon. According to its brochure, this
Brethren conference is for "anyone believing that Christians have
a ministry in caring for people in a hurting world," such as
deacons, pastors, chaplains, caregivers, people with special
needs, peacemakers and reconcilers, Christian educators and
teachers, Lafiya congregations, family counselors, social
workers, health care providers, staff and board members of
retirement communities, and district and national staff."  

The nearly 500 people who are expected to attend this first-ever
conference, which is sponsored by Association of Brethren
Caregivers, will receive leadership from Bernie Siegel, retired
surgeon and author; Helen Prejean, author of "Dead Man Walking"
and advocate for death row prisoners and victims' families; Marie
Fortune, executive director of the Center for the Prevention of
Sexual and Domestic Violence; Rodney Page, deputy general
secretary of the National Council of Churches; and Fred
Shaw/Neeake, storyteller, member of Shawnee United Remnant Band
and United Methodist minister.  

Other leaders include Tom Mullen, professor of Creative Writing
and Preaching at Earlham School of Religion; Dave Hilton,
consultant on international and congregationally based health
care; Nancy Faus, retired Bethany Theological Seminary professor;
and S. Wesley Ariarajah, deputy general secretary of the World
Council of Churches.  

Intermixed with presentations from the aforementioned leaders and
numerous workshops will be Bible studies, singing and worship
services.  

The other significant event, also sponsored by ABC, is "The Art
and Act of Healing," a pre-Caring Ministries seminar led by
Bernie and Bobbie Siegel, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday. 
 
During this seminar, Bernie Siegel will explore "the roles of
hope, love, spirituality and unconscious beliefs in the healing
process." According to the seminar's brochure, Siegel will
"discuss the importance of resolving conflict and the need for
unconditional love in one's life so that all energy can be
directed toward healing and the realization of an authentic self.
 
"Participants in the seminar will discuss their dreams, draw and
interpret the symbolic and hidden aspects of conflict and illness
in their lives. They will learn to use imagery, meditation and
autohypnotic techniques to facilitate the healing process." 
According to Jay Gibble, ABC executive director, about 250 people
have registered for this event.  

For more information on either event, contact ABC at 800 323-8039
or at CoB.ABC.parti@Ecunet.Org.   

10) The 226th Brethren Volunteer Service unit will begin
orientation Saturday at the home of Jim Myer in Manheim, Pa. This
unit, consisting of five trainees, is sponsored by Brethren
Revival Fellowship, of which Myer is a leader. The unit will
conclude its training in Roxbury, Pa., on Aug. 18.   

This unit's participants include Sharon Bruckhart of Manheim,
Pa.; David Coble Jr. of Hershey, Pa.; Brian Long of Greencastle,
Pa.; Kimberly Paylor of Chambersburg, Pa.; and Jennifer Schildt
of East Berlin, Pennsylvania. These volunteers will serve at
either at the Lewiston Area Mission School or the Good Shepherd
Food Bank in Lewiston, Maine.  

11) Annual Conference 1997 is the major feature in this month's
Messenger magazine, which is due in homes within the week. Other
features include a pictoral account of the recent John Kline
bicentenniel celebration in Broadway, Va., and a Bible study by
Chalmer Faw. Monthly features "In Touch," "Close to Home," and
"News" spotlight Brethren members, congregations and
organizations in the news.   

To subscribe to Messenger, call 800 323-8039, ext. 247.   

12)  The September Source resource packet is in the mail to each
Church of the Brethren congregation. Sixteen items are in this
packet, including:         
* a resource guide to the Oct. 5 World Mission Offering.        
* the 1998 lectionary list for sermon planning.         
* the 1996 Annual Conference "Ethics for Congregations"
         statement, complete with a four-session study guide.     
* a copy of the General Board's resolution calling for the
         closing of the School of the Americas.         
* a Covenant Bible Series brochure, which offers three new
         titles--"Esther," "When God Calls" and "The Prophecy of
         Amos and Hosea."         
* The Andrew Center's "Action Guide & Catelog," which lists its
         services, seminars, networking opportunities and other
         evangelism and congregational vitality resources.        
* a National Youth Conference 1998 information brochure.        
* a brochure describing the winter conference sponsored by the
         Ecumenical Center for Stewardship Studies.         
* a brochure pertaining to the Brethren Foundation's fund
         performance.         
* a brochure for this year's Young Adult Conference.         
* a brochure on an international young adult conference on
         missions and evangelism, which will be held late this
         year in Atlanta.         
* a flier describing a youth ministry workshop, to be held Nov. 8
         in Maryland.         
* a listing of Brethren Benefit Trust job openings.         
* a flier listing two books of poetry by Ernestine Hoff Emrick of
         La Verne, Calif.         
* "Seminarian," from Bethany Theological Seminary.         
* and the 1997 Brethren Press Resource Catelog.  

Subscriptions to Source, which is produced 10 times each year,
are $3. For more information, contact Howard Royer, General Board
staff for Interpretation, at 800 323-8039.   

13) The Forum for Religious Studies at Bridgewater (Va.) College
will present "To Serve the Present Age: Historians and the Modern
Church," a conference scheduled for Oct. 2-4. This event, a
festschrift for Brethren historian Don Durnbaugh, will feature
presentations and discussions on Brethren beginnings, American
developments and tensions, historiography, and the personal gifts
of Durnbaugh as a historian, scholar, educator and churchman.
Presenters currently scheduled include Jeff Bach, Fred Bernhard,
Dale Brown, Bob Clous, David Eller, William Koslevy, Frank
Littel, Don Miller, Judy Mills Reimer, Jimmy Ross, Hans
Schneider, Dennis Slabaugh, Dale Stoffer, Phillip Stone, Murray
Wagner and possibly John Howard Yoder.   

Cost is $25 (plus $12.50 for a Friday evening banquet).
Registration deadline is Sept. 1. For more information, call
Robbie Miller at 540 828-5383.    

14) Argentine Methodist Bishop Federico Pagura on Friday received
the National Council of Churches' second annual human rights
award "for his untiring efforts in defense of human rights
throughout Latin America and the Caribbean." The award has been
newly named in honor of Mauricio Lopez, also of Argentina, on the
20th anniversary of Lopez' disappearance and murder. It was
presented at a Buenos Aires, Argentina, ceremony attended by
friends of both men.  

Having received his education in Argentina and the United States,
Pagura served as pastor in Argentina and Uruguay before being
named bishop of Costa Rica and Panama. In 1977 he was name bishop
of the Methodist Church of Argentina, where he served three
consecutive terms. He also served as president of Latin American
Council of Churches (CLAI) during its first 17 years of
existence. "In these and other leadership positions," reads an
NCC release, "he has been a pastor to people who have suffered
from war and injustice and has encouraged U.S. churches to
advocate for causes of the oppressed in his region. He provided
leadership to the four church councils involved in peace talks in
Guatamala.    

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