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Nebraska gift strengthens New Congregation Establishment program


From "Disciples Off. of Communication"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>
Date 01 Dec 1999 08:11:22

Date: December 1, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
E-mail: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

99b-80

	OMAHA (DNS) -- The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska has 
made a significant gift to the New Congregation Establishment program of 
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a ministry of the Board of 
Church Extension. 

	The region's gift of just over $71,000 is a tithe of income from the sale 
of two pieces of property purchased about 20 years ago. The land parcels 
in Omaha and Lincoln were to have been used for new congregation starts. 
In both cities, the properties became unsuitable for church development by 
the nature of surrounding growth. 

	Nebraska's gift will be used to start new congregations in regions or 
areas (of the U.S. and Canada) where the growth is -- but where the 
financial resources are not," said the Rev. Vertie Powers, director, New 
Congregation Establishment. "We all know that the harvest is plentiful, 
but the workers are few," she said. "Nebraska has been one of the workers" 
and the benefits of its labor will be shared not only in Nebraska, but in 
the rest of North America.

	"It's fair to say that the people of Nebraska are fine and generous 
people and want to help the rest of the church out of the blessing we've 
been given," said the Rev. Dawn Stemple. Part of the region's share of the 
proceeds from the property sales will be used to call a regional minister 
of new congregation establishment, she said. 

	The gift came in a period of stressful transition in the Nebraska Region. 
For the last two-and-a-half years, the region has been reevaluating its 
ministry under the leadership of Transitional Regional Co-Ministers Dawn 
and John Stemple. The discussion included various options such as going 
out of existence, merging with another region, or combining with several 
regions. 

	In November 1998, the Nebraska regional assembly decided to become a 
"modified" region. Nebraska now is working even more closely with the 
Kansas region and the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ 
while keeping an identity as a separate region. 

	"They've (the Stemples) helped the regional leadership maintain the whole 
church perspective in a time of pretty high stress. I'm real proud of them 
and Nebraska regional leadership as well," said Disciples General Minister 
and President Richard L. Hamm. 

	The circumstances of Nebraska's gift make it unique. Nebraska Disciples 
however, are not alone in supporting new congregation establishment. The 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Ohio has consistently tithed 
from its ongoing new church fund to New Congregation Establishment in the 
U.S. and Canada, according to the Rev. Jim Powell, president, Board of 
Church Extension. "That has been a wonderful witness to their belief in 
both the whole church and the Great Commission," Powell said. 

	-- end --


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