wfn.org | Correction: The Journey Now! 1999 General Assembly plans

["Curt Miller"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

developing
Date: October 16, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Curt Miller
Email: CMiller@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

CORRECTION

Please replace paragraph seven of news release 98a-62 The Journey 
Now! 1999 General Assembly plans developing with the following.

	Saturday's focus on justice will include the celebration of the 
ministry of the Rev. Feliberto Pereira. He is executive director of 
Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries, which provides relief and 
advocacy services to refugees, immigrants and other persons in need. 
Pereira, pastor of Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer, Los Fresnos, Texas, is 
especially sensitive to the needs of refugees. A native of Cuba, he 
was persecuted severely for his faith in early post-revolutionary 
Cuba.  

                                                        # # # 

{A complete corrected version follows:}

98a-62

	A renowned veteran of the civil rights struggle and former U.S. 
Ambassador to the United Nations will address "The Journey Now!", the 
1999 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 
Oct. 8-12, 1999.

	The Rev. Andrew J. Young, Jr., an ordained minister of the United 
Church of Christ, will preach during the Cincinnati assembly's 
closing worship service on a day devoted to the theme "Unity in 
Community." Young also served in the U.S. House of Representatives 
and as mayor of Atlanta, Ga. 

	The Disciples General Assembly is devoted to strengthening 
congregations for mission and ministry.  This assembly's central 
theme, "The Journey Now!" draws on the rich text of the fourth 
chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians.  The church, Paul says, is 
made up of a marvelous assortment of people with a magnificent array 
of talents given "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for 
building up the body of Christ." 

	The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) returns to Cincinnati 150 
years after its first assembly in the same city.  The 1849 convention 
gathered on a site now occupied by the Cincinnati public library.  
Events of "The Journey Now!" will include a parade from that location 
to the Cincinnati Convention Center, site of the 1999 gathering. 

	Assembly organizers hope more than 8,000 Disciples will come 
together for the Cincinnati assembly.  One needn't be a voting 
representative to benefit from attending.  The gathering will feature 
"MissionFest ‘99," the display and demonstration of congregations' 
outreach ministry successes.  A wide variety of interest groups and 
forums will add to the ideas and inspiration attendees can take back 
to their home congregations.  

	Each day of the assembly will concentrate on a facet of 
strengthening congregational life. Opening night, focusing on the 
church's roots, will feature the preaching of the Rev. Michael Mooty, 
moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He is 
expected to reflect on the church's journey since its founding in 
1832, through its first convention in 1849, through all the 
triumphant and turbulent years leading to this final assembly of the 
20th century.  

	Saturday's focus on justice will include the celebration of the 
ministry of the Rev. Feliberto Pereira. He leads the Good Samaritan 
Ministry, supported by the Southwest region and Iglesia Cristiana 
Ebenezer,  Los Fresnos Texas. It helps many needy persons, providing 
legal and human services assistance to Central American and Cuban 
political refugees and other immigrants. It operates an orphanage and 
a Bible institute in Mexico and distributes to the needy rice and 
beans from the Southwest region's Coastal Plains and High Plains 
areas. 

	Also on Saturday, a planned outdoor contemporary music concert will 
raise donations to the Disciples Volunteers in Mission project in 
Cincinnati during the assembly.

	Sunday's focus on leadership will include assembly action on the 
re-election of General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm. The 
assembly will take the decisive vote on the renewal of Hamm's call 
for a second six-year term. A special recognition of leadership from 
all expressions of  the church will follow the re-election process. 

	The Rev. Michael Slaughter opens Monday, Oct. 11, a day devoted to 
the sub-theme "Evangelism." The United Methodist minister from Tipp 
City, Ohio, is pastor of Ginghamsburg Church which has grown from 90 
in worship to more than 2,700. He's a widely acclaimed evangelism 
expert and author of the popular book Spiritual Entrepreneur.  

	Former associate regional pastor of Ohio and current pastor of 
Cleveland's Bethany Christian Church, the Rev. Robin Hedgeman, will 
preach at Monday's evening worship.  Bethany is a growing 
congregation sharply focused on community mission and evangelism.  

	The General Assembly business sessions, fundamental to the Disciples 
biennial gathering, will be designed as business items are submitted 
in 1999.  

	Disciples can support the 1999 General Assembly, even if they can't 
be there in person.  Anyone who registers as a non-attending 
supporter will receive, upon request, the assembly business docket 
and the post-assembly newspaper.  Non-attending supporters are asked 
to read and discuss the assembly business, pray for those in 
attendance and are encouraged to participate with a gift of $25.00 or 
more. 

	Registration information can be obtained by calling the General 
Assembly Office at 371-635-3113, 205.  Information is also posted on 
the World Wide Web at: http://www.disciples.org/GA99/index.htm.

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