wfn.org | Newsline - Items 1-21

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      Feb. 5, 1999
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline                                     Feb. 5, 1999
News
1) The 1999 Annual Conference Standing Committee ballot is
     released.
2) The 1999 Annual Conference logo was designed by Jan Gilbert
     Hurst.
3) The Elizabethtown College women’s basketball team is about to
     set a mark that has never been equalled in all of U.S. women’s
     collegiate basketball.
4) Thirty-five Brethren are in Chicago this week for an ecumenical
     “journey of faith.”
5) Two Nigerian “sisters” scheduled to tour the Brethren heartland
     for six weeks are denied visas. 
6) Twenty-nine Shenandoah District pastors attend a professional
     growth workshop.
7) Three Church of the Brethren men join Christian Peacemaker
     Teams’ Reserve Corps.
8) Manny Diaz is installed as campus pastor at McPherson (Kan.)
     College.
9) Brethren Volunteer Service’s Older Adult Advisory Committee
     discusses how to better meet the needs of older volunteers.
10) Many brochures sent nationwide about an upcoming Church of the
     Brethren women’s conference are delivered damaged.
11) Various Brethren colleges offer an eclectic fare of classes
     during their interterms.
12) www.brethren.org is back online.
13) An introductory web page to BBT’s new Internet service is now
     online.
14) Remembered — Howard Sollenberger   

Resources
15) The March Source resource packet has been sent to Church of the
     Brethren congregations.
16) 1999 Vacation Bible School curriculum is now available from
     Brethren Press.
17) “All God’s People” is a new 14-minute video about how
     congregations are reaching out to people with disabilities.
18) Three new books have been released over the past two months by
     the Alban Institute.

Coming events
19) Five seminars on “Hospitality and the Vital Church” are being
     presented in January, February, and March by Fred Bernhard on
     behalf of New Life Ministries.
20) A two-day Anabaptist Evangelism Council meeting is scheduled
     for Feb. 20-21.
21) Brethren Revival Fellowship will sponsor a one-day training
     seminar, March 27, near Shady Grove, Pa.

Seeking
22) The Illinois/Wisconsin District has extended its search for a
     full-time executive.
23) The Palms Estates, Lorida, Flor., seeks an executive director.
24) The National Council of Churches is seeking a director of
     Ministries in Christian Education.

Features
25) The General Board’s treasurer gives a joyous 1998 financial
     report.
26) Dale Minnich and 13 others from McPherson College spend January
     working on disaster response projects in the Dominican
     Republic.
27) A feature on Yvonne Kauffman, the Elizabethtown College women’s
     basketball coach.

1) The 1999 Annual Conference Standing Committee ballot has been
released, which includes candidates for 13 positions. Standing
Committee delegates will convene prior to Annual Conference and
will reduce the number of nominees by half. The remaining nominees
will be forwarded on to the Annual Conference delegates.

Moderator-elect (two-year term) — Phill Carlos Archbold, 62,
Brooklyn, N.Y.; Roger Forry, 62, Somerset, Pa.; Karen Peterson
Miller, 53, Hagerstown, Md.; Steven Petcher, 40, Citronelle, Ala.

Annual Conference Program & Arrangements Committee (three-year
term) — Marla Bieber Abe, 45, Akron, Ohio; Debbie Eisenbise, 38,
Kalamazoo, Mich.; David Steele, 35, Martinsburg, Pa.; Myrna Long
Wheeler, 59, San Dimas, Calif.

General Board, at-large (five-year term) — Charles Eldredge, 42,
Lewistown, Pa.; Rhonda Jane Rich, 35, Englewood, Ohio; Ricky
Thomas, 37, Mount Airy, N.C.; Roy Unruh, 67, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

General Board, Northern Indiana (five-year term) — Jill Bosler
Best, 38, Syracuse, Ind.; Donald Jordan, 62, Fort Wayne, Ind.;
Craig Alan Myers, 34, Columbia City, Ind.; David Wysong, 38, Fort
Wayne, Ind.

General Board, Michigan (five-year term) — Donald Flint, 66,
Sterling Heights, Mich.; Mary Gault, 55, Battle Creek, Mich.;
Daniel McRoberts, 58, Caledonia, Mich.; Lori Waas Smith, 44,
Pinckney, Mich.

General Board, West Marva (five-year term) — J. Melvin Fike, 40,
Moorefield, W.Va.; Hugh Friend, 61, Friendsville, Md.; Sue Overman,
53, Morgantown, W.Va.; Winoma Marguerite Spurgeon, 68, Vienna,
W.Va.

On Earth Peace Assembly (five-year term) — Judy Dotterer, 37,
Woodsboro, Md.; Tom Leard Longenecker, 33, Pasadena, Calif.; Laurie
Miller, 46, Harrisonburg, Va.; Ronald Stoner, 61, Hanover, Pa.

Association of Brethren Caregivers (three-year term) — Phil Flory
(incumbent), 48, Bridgewater, Va.; Margaret Yoder Fultz
(incumbent), 44, Lemoyne, Pa.; Heidi Loomis (incumbent), 35,
Boalsburg, Pa.; Mary Jane Myer, 67, Cochranville, Pa.; Lona Beabes
Norris, 63, Huntingdon, Pa.; Janet Sell, 53, Woodbury, Pa.; Donna
Stanford, 59, Waterford, Calif.; Paul Ullom-Minnich (incumbent),
32, Moundridge, Kan.

Brethren Benefit Trust (four-year term) — Donald Anderson, 48,
Middlebury, Ind.; Karen Orpurt Crim, 48, Dayton, Ohio; Raymond
Donadio Jr. (incumbent), 43, Greenville, Ohio; Harry Rhodes, 47,
Roanoke, Va.

Bethany Theological Seminary elector, representing the colleges
(five-year term) — Sally Jane Conner, 36, Bridgewater, Va.; Joan
Engle, 48, Alexandria, Pa.; Gene Fahs (incumbent), 66, North
Manchester, Ind.; Susan Taylor, 49, McPherson, Kan.

Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee, district
executives (five-year term) — Ronald Beachly (incumbent), 58,
Davidsville, Pa.; Carol Bowers, 56, Seattle, Wash.; Joe Detrick,
53, Seven Valleys, Pa.; Craig Smith, 50, Elizabethtown, Pa.

Committee on Interchurch Relations (three-year term) — Mary
Abraham, 43, Lenexa, Kan.; Douglas Archer, 52, New Paris, Ind.;
Barbara Cuffie, 56, Baltimore, Md.; Belita Mitchell, 53, Rancho
Palos Verdes, Calif.

National Council of Churches (four-year term) — Gene Bucher, 62,
East Petersburg, Pa.; E.D. Hendricks, 21, Eudora, Kan.; Ruthann
Johansen, 56, Granger, Ind.; David Miller, 39, Richmond, Va.;
Ronald Petry, 65, North Manchester, Ind.; Valentina Satvedi, 34,
Vista, Calif.

2) The logo for the 1999 Annual Conference has been unveiled.
Created by Jan Gilbert Hurst of Westminster, Md., it consists of a
a staff that cuts through the five words of the Conference theme,
“Let the Servant Church Arise!” which are stacked up on four lines
and lean slightly to the right. 

This logo will be posted under “Picture This” at www.brethren.org
on Monday.

3) The Elizabethtown (Pa.) College women’s basketball team is on
the cusp of making its mark in the record books on all division
levels as it prepares to win its 800th game. 

No other women’s team in any NCAA Divisions has more total team
victories than the E-town Blue Jays, although Division I powerhouse
Tennessee is expected to pass that mark next season. Nevertheless,
with E-town’s 81-65 Wednesday night victory over Widener
University, the team posted its 798th all-time victory, raising the
likelihood that the record could fall sometime next week.

During coach Yvonne (Yonnie) Kauffman’s 29-year tenure, her teams
have won 521 games, including two national titles and two
second-place finishes. Kauffman said many factors must blend
together in order to win a national title, but this year’s team is
one that could be a strong contender. With a 17-1 record, including
a 15-game winning streak, the 14th-ranked Blue Jays have maintained
their health and focus.

“They are as focused as any team we’ve had,” Kauffman said.

The Blue Jays travel to the University of Scranton on Saturday, to
Lebanon Valley College on Tuesday, and play at home on Thursday
against Western Maryland College. They then have three more games
to conclude their regular season. If the Blue Jays make it to the
finals, they’ll be playing March 19-20 at Western Connecticut State
University in Danbury.

To follow the Blue Jay’s progress, call the E-town sports line at
717 361-1136. A photo of Kauffman will be posted under “Picture
This” at www.brethren.org on Monday.

In addition to the E-town women’s basketball team, other Church of
the Brethren college teams have concluded their seasons nationally
ranked over the past decade —

Elizabethtown
     * NCAA national champions — men’s soccer (1989).
     * NCAA national semifinal appearances — women’s soccer
          (1997).
     * NCAA tournament appearances — men’s soccer (9), women’s
          basketball (5), men’s basketball (1), women’s soccer (2),
          field hockey (1), and baseball (3). 
Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pa.
     * From 1992-1998, the Juniata women’s volleyball team finished
          its season ranked first (three times), second (three
          times), or third (one time). These teams completed the
          NCAA Division III tournament ranked second (three times),
          third (one time), fourth (one time), and fifth (two
          times).
     * Rankings for men’s volleyball only started in 1996, and
          since then Juniata’s team has placed in the top three
          nationally each year — second in 1996, third in 1997,
          and first in 1998.
University of La Verne (Calif.)
     * 1998 — Men’s volleyball, finished second behind Juniata.
     * 1995 — Baseball, national champions.
     * 1993 — Softball, participated in the national finals.

4) An ecumenical “journey in faith” for church educators, pastors,
teachers, and others is underway in Chicago. It opened Wednesday
evening and will conclude Saturday.

The theme of the event is “http://FaithOdyssey.edu: God’s People
Transformed for the 21st Century.” This Ecumenical Church Educators
event is sponsored by the Church of the Brethren and 12 other
religious organizations. Donna Forbes Steiner, associate executive
of the Church of the Brethren’s Atlantic Northeast District, and
June Gibble, the General Board’s former director of Congregational
Nurture who now serves as part-time field staff for Association of
Brethren Caregivers, have served on this event’s planning
committee. 

About 2,150 people are registered, including 35 Brethren. 

5) What had been scheduled as a six-week tour through the Church of
the Brethren heartland by two women from Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a
Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) has been cancelled
due to the U.S. government’s refusal to grant them visas.

“It is a dreadful disappointment that they won’t be able to come
and be a part of the Ecumenical Church Educators event and to
relate to congregations, colleges, and agencies throughout the east
and midwest,” said Donna Forbes Steiner, associate executive of
Atlantic Northeast District. “We had them scheduled doing a lot of
wonderful things.”

Rebeca Samuel Dali and Lydia Peter Mshelia had been scheduled to
arrive in the United States last weekend. They had been scheduled
to join Steiner at “Faith Odyssey,” a Christian educators event
underway in Chicago. During their six-week visit, Dali and Mshelia
were also scheduled to visit Bethany Theological Seminary in
Richmond, Ind.; McPherson (Kan.) College; and a number of
congregations and districts.

The trip was Steiner’s idea, who thought of the possibility during
her trip through the EYN heartland last winter in celebration of
the Brethren movement’s 75th anniversary in Nigeria.

6) Twenty-nine Church of the Brethren Shenandoah District pastors
on Jan. 12 attended a six-hour workshop titled “Brethren, We Have
Met to Worship.” Participants worshiped together, explored issues,
shared insights and examples of what had worked for them, created
worship components based on lectionary readings, and examined
resources available. Julie Hostetter, coordinator of the General
Board’s Area 3 Congregational Life Team, served as planner and
facilitator.

7) Three Church of the Brethren members on Jan. 20 joined Christian
Peacemaker Teams’ Reserve Corps following three-and-a-half weeks of
intensive training. Rusty Dinkins-Curling of Arcanum, Ohio; Matthew
Guynn of Richmond, Ind.; and Rick Polhamus of Fletcher, Ohio; were
accepted as CPT Reservists, committing to three-year terms.

CPT Reserve Corps members work two weeks to two months each year at
a CPT project site, where they join with full-time CPT workers to
reduce violence in situations where violent confrontation is
imminent. CPT has three on-going projects — in Richmond, Va.; in
Hebron, the West Bank; and in Chiapas, Mexico. Regional groups are
also active in Indiana, Ontario, and Colorado.

CPT currently consists of 11 full-time members and 72 Reserve Corps
members. CPT is an independent initiative of Church of the
Brethren, Mennonite, and Friends members.

8) Manny Diaz was installed Wednesday as McPherson (Kan.) College’s
campus minister during the college’s weekly chapel service.
Assisting with the installation was Richard Hanley, executive of
the Church of the Brethren Western Plains District. Until Jan. 31,
Diaz had been serving part-time as an Area 4 Congregational Life
Team member for the Church of the Brethren General Board and as
part-time executive of Southern Plains District.

Diaz said he looks forward to his new challenge and hopes that he
will be able to model how both the academic and the spiritual
worlds can blend on the McPherson College campus. “I would like to
minister to those who attend, work, and teach at the college, and
bring a Brethren witness to the college,” Diaz said.

9) The Older Adult Advisory Council for Brethren Volunteer Service
met Jan. 7 with BVS staff to discuss how BVS can better meet the
needs of older adult volunteers. This meeting came just two months
before BVS’ first orientation unit in about two decades geared
entirely for older volunteers, which is scheduled for March 4-14 at
the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.

The volunteer service ministry already has adapted its new older
adult emphasis from that of regular BVS orientation units, which
typically include volunteers in their late teens and twenties.
Instead of three weeks, the older adults will train for 10 days.
Their assignments will last not one or more years, but from six
months to two years. Instead of starting their assignment
immediately following orientation, the older adults will have some
scheduling flexibility in reporting to their projects.

The committee consists of Alice and Larry Petry of Lakemore, Ohio;
LaVon Grubb of Elizabethtown, Pa.; Joanne Nesler of Elgin, Ill.;
and Ted Tecza of Elgin, Ill.

“The group was energized and the BVS staff is excited about the
possibilities about the new programming for older adults,” said Dan
McFadden, BVS director. “People’s enthusiasm for this program has
been very good. Now we’re waiting for the applications to come in.”

10) Many of the brochures sent nationwide about the Church of the
Brethren “Women in Ministry Retreat,” scheduled for April 12-15,
were delivered severely damaged. Additional brochures have been
sent to all district offices for those who need one prior to the
March 1 registration deadline. For more information, contact: Erin
Matteson at rlmatteson@aol.com or at 630 690-6892.

11) While the start of the new year is often thought of as being
the time in which people return to work following the Christmas and
New Year’s holidays, it is a time to do something a little
different for many students of Church of the Brethren colleges.
Most of the Church of the Brethren higher education institutions
have a winter interterm, during which students take one course for
about three weeks — some which can be unusual or exotic.

Bridgewater (Va.) College’s interterm will be Feb. 8-26. Offered
this term will be —
     * Tropical Ecology in Costa Rica, where students will spend
          three weeks traveling to Costa Rican field locations
          where leatherback turtles nest. 
     * Elements of Play Production, where a play is cast, staged,
          and rehearsed, and then performed for elementary students
          during the term’s last week.
     * Contemporary Australia, where students will examine the
          political, economical, cultural, educational, and
          environmental influences that shape modern Australia.  
     * Music and Culture in Western Europe, in Western Europe.
     * History of the Church of the Brethren, taught by president
          Phillip Stone.
     * The Lands of the Bible, a tour of Israel led by chaplain
          Robbie Miller.

McPherson (Kan.) College held its interterm in January. Courses
offered included —
     * Tropical Biology in Belize.
     * Introduction to Fine Arts in New York City.
     * Spanish for Travelers in the Dominican Republic.
     * Intercultural Education or Philosophy/Religion in Greece and
          Italy.
     * “Women in America: A Historical Overview” was taught by Jean
          Lichty Hendricks, McPherson’s Church Relations director.
          
The January interterm at Manchester College, North Manchester,
Ind., included —
     * The college’s traveling children’s theater group performing
          in three states. 
     * Twelve students helping to staff a medical clinic in
          Mulukuku, Nicaragua.
     * Two students serving as interns at NASA’s Lewis Research
          Center in Cleveland.
     * More than 20 education majors gaining teaching experiences
          in schools.
     * A small group of students exploring Indian culture and
          politics in India.
     * More than 20 students are exploring Europe.
     * Three students visiting indigenous communities and refugee
          camps in Chiapas, Mexico.
     * A small group of students studying Andean cultures.
     * Eight students studying contemporary politics and visiting
          Washington, D.C.

“Manchester College faculty use January session classes to enrich
students in a wide range of ways,” said Jo Young Switzer, vice
president and academic dean, using words applicable to the other
colleges as well. “Our students who enroll in classes that travel
to other countries come back with much richer understandings of the
issues they’ve studied than if they had just read about them in
books or watched videotapes. Students who have internships often
find that those internships turn into full-time jobs after
graduation.”

12) After about 10 days of being offline, www.brethren.org this
week went back online at its new home on a Brethren Benefit Trust
server in the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill.
This interruption, expected to last only one day, was caused by
Internic, the governmental agency that controls the domain names on
the World Wide Web. Because of a reported backlog of requests that
needed to be processed, Internic took much longer than anticipated
to make the software change that now directs www.brethren.org
requests to the proper server. The web site had been housed on a
server in Chicago.

People either writing to or expecting e-mail from Brethren
denominational staff whose e-mail addresses end in brethren.org
also experienced a down period between Wednesday and Thursday, a
time when the e-mail server was switched from Chicago to Elgin.
However, both of these tasks are completed and further
interruptions are not anticipated.

13) An introductory web page for clearviewnet.com, the newly
announced Internet service that will begin operating on March 15 by
Brethren Benefit Trust’s new Emountain Communications division, is
now online at www.emountain.net.

With local phone access nationwide, clearviewnet.com will offered
unlimited but filtered Internet access for $19.95/month. Its
filters will screen out topics deemed undesirable for children.
“ClearViewNet’s filtering guidelines will be established and
monitored by an advisory committee from the Church of the
Brethren,” said Michael Addison, project director. “We feel this is
a powerful way to witness our faith.” 

For more information, write to clearviewnet_bbt@brethren.org or
call 800 250-5757.

14) Howard Sollenberger, 81, a Church of the Brethren member who
served with the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Institute
for 29 years as a Chinese languages and cultural specialist, died
Jan. 19 in McLean, Va., after suffering a stroke. Sollenberger grew
up in China, where his parents served as missionaries. A Manchester
College graduate, Sollenberger was employed by the Brethren Service
Committee as director of Northern China in 1938-1940. After the
United States entered World War II, Sollenberger was drafted and
entered Civilian Public Service. According to the Washington Post,
he joined the institute in 1947. In 1963 he was the recipient of a
State Department Superior Honor Award for “innovative leadership”
and “unflagging dedication,” calling his contribution to Foreign
Service training “unparalleled in American diplomatic history.”
Sollenberger served as the institute’s director from 1971 until his
retirement in 1975.

15) The March 1999 Source resource packet has been mailed to each
Church of the Brethren congregation. This edition includes —
     * the printed 1999 Annual Conference Standing Committee
          ballot.
     * a flier for “In the Children’s Hands,” this year’s Soil and
          Water Stewardship Week.
     * a flier for “All God’s People,” a 14-minute video on how
          congregations are in ministry with people who have
          developmental disabilities. 
     * an announcement on an Association of Brethren Caregivers
          staff opening.
     * a brochure for the Church of the Brethren 1999 Young Adult
          Conference.
     * a flier for “Spirit Lead the Way,” a national week-long
          church camp for senior highs.
     * an offering of “Creating Circles of Peace” Church Kits    
          and Christian Education and School Kits by Families
          Against Violence Advocacy Network.
     * an order form for Brethren Press’ 1999 Vacation Bible School
          curriculum. 
     * samples of “Together” and “Shine,” publications for
          congregations.

Source subscriptions are $3/year for 10 issues. For more
information, contact Howard Royer at hroyer_gb@brethren.org or at
800 323-8039.

16) “The Fisherman’s Story: Jesus Calls Peter” is the title of the
1999 StoryTeller Series vacation Bible school curriculum. Based on
Luke 5:10-11, “The Fisherman’s Story” focuses on how an ordinary
man like Peter became a follower of Jesus and a fisher of people.
Starter kits containing leader’s guides, songbook, audiocassette,
Bible activity poster set, promotional items, and an optional
Storytelling video are now available from Brethren Press. Cost is
$39.99 if ordered before April 30, $49.99 thereafter. For a
brochure or to order a Starter Kit, contact Brethren Press at
brethren_press_gb@brethren.org or at 800 441-3712.

17) How congregations in Virlina District are reaching out to
individuals with developmental disabilities and their families is
told in a new 14-minute video titled “All God’s People.” The
real-life stories describe both the joy and the challenge
congregations experience in loving and caring for the disabled as
Christ loves and cares for them. “All God’s People” was produced by
David Sollenberger for the district’s Disabilities Ministries
Committee in cooperation with the Association of Brethren
Caregivers.

To order the video, contact ABC at 800 323-8039. Cost is $7.50 plus
$5 p/h.

18) Three new books have been released recently by the Alban
Institute. “Congregational Trauma as a Basis for Hope and Healing,”
“From Stuck to Unstuck — Congregational Impasse,” and “Temporary
Shepherds,” a book that examines pastoral transition. To receive a
full description of these books by e-mail or fax, contact Holly
Hemphill at hhemphill@alban.org or at 301 718-4407, ext. 238.

19) New Life Ministries, the Anabaptist evangelism center, is in
the middle of conducting five seminars in January, February, and
March. Fred Bernhard, pastor of Oakland Church of the Brethren,
Gettysburg, Ohio, who served as the 1996 Church of the Brethren
Annual Conference moderator, is leading the seminars with the
theme, “Hospitality and the Vital Church.” 

Saturday’s seminar at Forest Hills Mennonite Church, Leola, Pa., is
expected to have over 105 participants. The remaining seminars
include Salem Mennonite Church, Kidron, Ohio, Feb. 13; First
Mennonite Church, Newton, Kan., Feb. 20; and Community Mennonite
Church, Harrisonburg, Va., March 6.

For more information, contact New Life Ministries at
lifeminnew@aol.com or at 800 774-3360.

20) A two-day Anabaptist Evangelism Council meeting will be held
Feb. 20-21 at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin,
Ill. This conference, to be attended by 41 Anabaptist
representatives from denominations in the United States and Canada,
will focus on natural church development as outlined in a model
created by author Christian Schwarz.

According to Joan Hershey, director of New Life Ministries, an
independent Anabaptist evangelism agency, Schwarz has identified
eight essential qualities that are essential for healthy churches
— empowering leadership, gift-oriented ministry, passionate
spirituality, functional structures, inspiring worship services,
holistic small groups, need-oriented evangelism, and loving
relationships.

“We feel that in these eight characteristics there are learnings
for us in the Church of the Brethren,” Hershey said. “We need to
take a look at that and decide what it means for us from an
Anabaptist perspective.

Church of the Brethren representatives attending the seminar who
serve on New Life Ministries Board of Trustees will be Paul Mundey,
chair and pastor of Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren; Thom
Keller of Cornerstone Church of the Brethren, Lebanon, Pa.; Bob
Kettering, pastor of Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; and
Stafford Frederick, General Board member and pastor of Olathe
(Kan.) Church of the Brethren. Other Brethren expected to attend
are Tara Hornbacker of Bethany Theological Seminary; Judy Mills
Reimer and Glenn Timmons from the General Board; Steve Clapp and
Kristen Helbert from Christian Community, and Joan Hershey.

An outcome of the conference will be the publication of booklet
that will be available for purchase for use by Anabaptist
congregations. Last year’s post-conference booklet, “Anabaptist
Witness in a Post-modern Society,” is also available. For more
information, contact New Life Ministries at lifeminnew@aol.com or
at 800 774-3360.

21) Brethren Revival Fellowship will host a one-day training
seminar March 27 at the Falling Spring, Hades Church of the
Brethren, located three miles north of Shady Grove, Pa.

The seminar will begin at 10 a.m. with hymns and devotions. Three
morning workshops will then be offered. “The Last Week in the Life
of Christ” will be led by Ken Leininger, moderator of the Cocalico
Church of the Brethren, Denver, Pa. Steven Clapper, minister at
Carson Valley Church of the Brethren, Duncansville, Pa., will teach
on “Vital Signs of a Vibrant Christian.” Dorcas Gearhart of Falling
Spring, Hades Church of the Brethren, will lead a session for women
on “Women and Spiritual Fruitfulness.”

Afternoon sessions, scheduled from 1:50 to 3:20 p.m., will include
“Ministering to the Sick and Dying,” which will be led by David
Kent, minister at Welsh Run Church of the Brethren, Mercersburg,
Pa. “Discipleship in Today’s World” will be led by Nelson Witmer,
minister at Shanks Church of the Brethren, near Greencastle, Pa.
Barbara Eby of Germantown Church of the Brethren, Philadelphia,
will lead a session for women titled “Covenant Women Building the
Kingdom.”

Participants are to bring their own lunch; beverages will be
provided.