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

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Date: Jan. 4, 2002
Contact: Walt Wiltschek
V: 847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103
E-MAIL: CoBNews@AOL.Com

NEWS
 1) Year in review: Church of the Brethren highlights from 2001.
 2) Brethren delegation returns after visit to Iraq.
 3) Emergency Disaster Fund ends year with flurry of activity.
 4) Brethren bits: NYC, worship, peace walk, and more.

****************************************************************
 
 1) The books have closed on 2001, a year again filled with mission
and ministry by the agencies of the Church of the Brethren.
Following are some highlights of that work, both across the US and
around the world. It is only a sampling of the many things
happening in the denomination, but a good reminder of what there is
to celebrate and remember:

 *A massive response to the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and
Washington, with aid from the General Board's Emergency Disaster
Fund and Global Food Crisis Fund; Childcare in Aviation Incident
Response team volunteers working in New York for two months;
resources from Brethren Press, On Earth Peace, and others; and
statements highlighting the denomination's peace position from many
agency boards and organizations.

 *The Church of the Brethren General Board's emphatic approval of
a new mission project in Brazil under the leadership of Marcos
Inhauser--a project that grew to four fellowships with more than 75
people regularly meeting in that country by the end of the year.

 *A soaring attendance at the 2001 Annual Conference in Baltimore,
with more than 5,000 registered participants and an estimated total
attendance of 6,000-plus--the highest in recent years.

 *Bethany Theological Seminary holding its first "Exploring Your
Call" event, giving 17 high school juniors and seniors a chance to
experience seminary life and consider future ministry options.

 *The formal launch of the Decade to Overcome Violence in the
Church of the Brethren, with new related initiatives from the
General Board and On Earth Peace including a November training
event for representatives from all 23 districts.

 *A visit by President George W. Bush to the Brethren Service
Center in New Windsor, Md., coming at the invitation of the
American Red Cross to highlight Afghanistan relief efforts. The
president's speech included a personal "thank you" to the Church of
the Brethren.

 *The 150th anniversary of the denominational magazine, Messenger,
with a birthday bash in Baltimore featuring theologian Walter Wink
and celebrations at congregations throughout the year.

 *More than 140 people attending the third biennial Caring
Ministries Assembly, sponsored by the Association of Brethren
Caregivers and held at the University of La Verne (Calif.) and the
La Verne Church of the Brethren.

 *The unveiling of a new logo for On Earth Peace, part of the theme
"building upon the last 25 years and renewing itself for the next
25 years of service and witness."

 *A delegation of six Brethren traveling to Iraq through the
General Board's Brethren Witness office, seeking to build
relationships with both Christians and Muslims in the country and
to learn about the effect of United Nations sanctions there.

 *The Association of Brethren Caregivers adopting a new vision
statement to guide its work, part of a long-range planning process
that the ABC board began in the spring.

 *New initiatives from Brethren Press including LabORA worship
planning software, the Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb project, and
a CD on Brethren origins jointly produced with the eMountain
Communications division of Brethren Benefit Trust.

 *Hundreds of Brethren taking part in workcamps through the General
Board's Youth/Young Adult and Global Mission Partnerships offices
and the Association of Brethren Caregivers' older adult workcamp to
Puerto Rico.

 *The journey of Youth Peace Travel Team members Katie Best, Susan
Chapman, and Rachel Long to six camps and other spots over the
summer, continuing a 10-year tradition in a program co-sponsored by
several agencies.

 *The launch of the General Board's new Emerging Global Missions
Fund, to aid mission work and church planting both in the US and
abroad.

 *A strong year for Brethren Volunteer Service, with high
attendance at many orientation sessions and dozens of volunteers
heading to projects in the US, Europe, Central America, and
elsewhere.

 *Increased work in shareholder advocacy by Brethren Benefit Trust
staff, seeking to uphold Brethren values and call corporations to
accountability.

 *A celebration commemorating the newly remodeled lower level of
the Bethany Theological Seminary building in Richmond, Ind., named
the Nicarry Ministry Center.

 *On Earth Peace's introduction of "Taking Action: A Journey from
Anger to Forgiveness," a tour featuring SueZanne Bosler, an active
advocate against the death penalty.

 *The adding of an Annual Conference Council to the denominational
structure, a result of the Review and Evaluation Committee
statement passed at the 2001 Annual Conference. The new body's
duties include monitoring inter-agency relationships and
interpreting and publishing church polity.

 *Bethany Theological Seminary's kickoff of a new capital campaign
at Annual Conference and the first "Bethany Luncheon" there,
combining former Alumni/ae and Ministry Training luncheons.

 *Eight retreats held by On Earth Peace at churches and camps
across the denomination, including one in Arizona that drew more
than 60 Brethren and Mennonite youth.

 *The General Board's new partnership with Evangelism Connections
through the Congregational Life Ministries office, with a pair of
major conferences planned for the coming year.

 *Bethany's announcement of the Myers Endowment for Distributed
Education, which will support a new off-site program emphasis for
the seminary. 

 *The first anniversary for volunteers at the new Brethren Mission
House in Azua, Dominican Republic, part of a growing Global Mission
Partnerships effort in the Caribbean nation.

 *Brethren Benefit Trust's work to keep rapidly escalating medical
insurance costs under control and within reach for the
denomination's pastors and other employees.

 *The "Weaving Peace" conference sponsored by On Earth Peace
following Annual Conference, drawing 80 people for a time of
fellowship and a look at peaceful living.

 *A series of five deacon training events held during the spring
and led by ABC staff at locations around the country.

 *The continued development of Ministry of Reconciliation's
Practitioner Network, and conflict resolution training events held
for 18 groups during the year.

 *The participation by General Board staff and Bethany faculty in
a Historic Peace Church consultation in Bienenberg, Switzerland, in
June, seeking to raise a peace church voice in the Decade to
Overcome Violence.

 The work of Jesus continues.

 2) A Church of the Brethren delegation returned to the United
States on Dec. 27 following an 11-day stay in Iraq. During their
visit, the six-person group visited Muslim and Christian leaders,
met with government officials, received briefings from humanitarian
organizations, and distributed greeting cards sent by Brethren
congregations.

The delegation, coordinated by the Church of the Brethren General
Board, was the first group of US Christians to visit the Middle
Eastern country since Sept. 11. They received condolences for the
suffering caused by the attacks on the US. The delegation also had
many opportunities to observe the ongoing effects of economic
sanctions imposed by the international community against Iraq, now
in their 11th year.

Delegation members said they found that the sanctions have had the
most serious consequence for Iraqi children. According to UNICEF
officials based in Baghdad, one of eight children now dies before
one year of age, a rate three times higher than 1990. Some degree
of malnutrition affects 55 percent of children, with 30 percent
being chronically malnourished. Infectious diseases that are
curable with proper medication often lead to death, as the "Oil for
Food" program inhibits the importation of essential medicines.
Twenty percent of Iraqi children now end schooling after the
primary level, as they must work to supplement family income.

Families as a whole are also affected by the ongoing embargo,
according to other statistics. Income for many workers is under
$200 per year, down 100-200 times since 1990. Oil for Food program
food rations provide some food relief, but it is rarely enough to
meet family needs, and includes no meat or fresh vegetables,
according to local officials.

The delegation was well-received by ordinary Iraqis, as well as by
government officials and church leaders. "We respect and admire the
American people," was a comment often expressed. "But we do not
understand why your government is doing this to us."

In an effort to begin building a bridge of friendship, the
delegation distributed Christmas cards and Ramadan greetings from
Church of the Brethren members and congregations to hundreds of
Iraqi Christians and Muslims. The cards were eagerly received.
Cards created by Iraqis were brought back with the delegation to be
distributed to Brethren.

The delegation is urging an end to the economic sanctions and the
ongoing bombing campaign, and a negotiated settlement of the
decade-long conflict. An advocacy campaign will be launched in the
coming months. Delegation members are available to share their
experiences with congregations. Contact the General Board's
Brethren Witness office at 800-323-8039 for more information.

 3) Another flurry of grants from the General Board's Emergency
Disaster Fund, for both domestic and international projects, marked
the end of 2001. The five grants will deliver a combined $105,000.

One grant, for $25,000, will continue the response to the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks, assisting Church World Service with ongoing
recovery efforts in New York and Washington, D.C. The funds will
support several new interfaith response and recovery efforts
through seed grants, family assistance grants, survivor advocacy,
and ongoing pastoral and spiritual care. Another $25,000 had been
sent from the Emergency Disaster Fund in September.

Two other $25,000 allocations will go to Africa. The first will
help Church World Service provide continued shipments of food and
essential supplies to Angola, where the Evangelical Reformed Church
of Angola and SHARECircle are aiding thousands of internally
displaced people. The second will head to the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, as Church World Service and its partners Interchurch
Medical Assistance and the Protestant Church of Congo resurrect a
basic rural health project known as Sanru III. The grant will
assist with the management and purchase of 24,500 mosquito nets.

A $10,000 grant will aid yet another African country, with funds
earmarked for Burundi. It will assist Church World Service and its
partners ACT International and Christian Aid as they work with
internally displaced persons living in squalid conditions. The
funds will go toward distributing non-food items, agricultural
rehabilitation, school rehabilitation, and small-scale livestock
programs. 

The final grant, for $20,000, will help Church World Service to
coordinate international emergency management training through its
partner, ACT International. The funds will support additional
disaster management training events in the Pacific, Eastern Europe,
Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean during 2002.

The year-end allocations bring to 28 the number of grants made from
the fund in 2001. 

 4) Brethren bits: Other brief news notes from around the
denomination and elsewhere.
 *Registration for the 2002 National Youth Conference began online
Jan. 1. The form is available at www.nyc2002.com/register.html.
Registrations will be accepted through April 1; those registering
before Feb. 15 receive a free T-shirt. Additional information is
available at www.nyc2002.com or by calling 800-323-8039.

 *Christian Peacemaker Teams this weekend completes a lengthy
Pilgrimage of Faith, which began Dec. 22 in Goshen, Ind., and
finishes tomorrow, Jan. 5, in Columbus, Ohio -- a distance of about
200 miles. Churches within 50 miles of the route were invited to
join the walk for that span and to host evening meetings and
provide hospitality. Stops at military sites, defense plants,
mosques, and several communities were also planned. 

 *Camp Ithiel of Gotha, Fla., will hold its Venture Fun(d) Days on
March 1-2, when it will dedicate its new Kramer Conference/Dining
Center. Volunteers from the Church of the Brethren Emergency
Response/Service Ministries disaster relief group helped to
complete the long-running project, along with workdays held in the
district.

 *The one-hour documentary "The Good War and Those Who Refused to
Fight It," about conscientious objectors during World War II, is
scheduled to air on most PBS stations Jan. 15 at 10 p.m. EST. It
will air in the Pittsburgh area on Jan. 24 at 10 p.m. The film will
also be previewed at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Smithsonian Museum of
American History in Washington, D.C., with a post-showing
discussion.

 

Newsline is produced by Walt Wiltschek, manager of news services
for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third
and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed.
Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited
as the source. David Radcliff contributed to this report.

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