wfn.org | Disciples to receive special Reconciliation Offering

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

this fall
Date: July 5, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Melinda Mains
Phone: 317-713-2496
E-mail: mmains@cm.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, July 5, 2002 -- "Be reconciled!" will be
the theme of this year's offering for Disciples of Christ
Reconciliation Mission scheduled to be received Sundays
Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 in more than 3,700 congregations.

The Reconciliation Offering supports Disciples churchwide
ministry to eliminate the primary causes of racism in North
America beginning with the church. Reconciliation Mission's
three-person staff, based in Indianapolis, is housed in the
Office of the General Minister and President. Eugene
Fisher, Sr., heads the Reconciliation Mission as the
church's minister of reconciliation. Jessica Vazquez works
with Fisher as associate minister of reconciliation.
Administrative Assistant Chandra Haskett supports their
ministry.

Begun in 1998, the church's Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation
Initiative has established 21 transformation teams in
regions, areas and general units of the church, according
to Fisher. He said, "these teams so far have trained more
than 400 church leaders in an analysis of racism resulting
in changes within regional and general ministries of the
church to dismantle policies, practices and systems that
perpetuate racism."

According to General Minister and President Richard Hamm,
"our church's Reconciliation Mission is making a difference
in opening avenues of ministry for all Disciples and in
changes that are being made to end systemic racism in the
life of the church." Hamm also points out that the first
words of the Disciples of Christ Covenant affirm that "we
need to be an anti-racist/pro-reconciliation church.'"

The church's Reconciliation Mission received more than
$698,000 in 2001, which was distributed among regional
grants and programs, special grants, training grants and
emergency grants, and maintained the mission's ministry
staff. Both Fisher and Vazquez spend most of their time
conducting anti-racism training seminars across Disciples
35 regions. This month they led more than 150 youth leaders
in an anti-racism/pro-reconciliation seminar during
Disciples Youth Ministry Event at Bethany College in
Bethany, W. Va.

Fisher said, a new Anti-Racism Commission is being
established to oversee the church's
Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Initiative. "The initiative
provides for the training and organizing of our church's
leaders so that we can be a place where all people
regardless of race, ethnicity and color are embraced and
welcomed, and where no one will be turned away," he said.
Fisher also invites all Disciples congregations "to
participate in the healing of the broken family of God."

Materials to promote the Reconciliation Offering are
scheduled to be sent to Disciples congregations beginning
in mid-July. That mailing will include leaflet-bulletin
inserts, coin boxes, envelopes and a resource guidebook.
The guide includes ideas for interpreting and promoting the
Reconciliation Offering. Standing orders will be mailed
later in the month.

For more information about Disciples Reconciliation
Mission, call 317-713-2416. For Reconciliation Offering
materials or to change standing orders for Reconciliation
Offering materials call 317-713-2440 or by e-mail at
shirley@cfc.disciples.org.

                                                -- end --

Church Finance Council
Contact: Daniel R. Gangler, communication director
(317) 713-2408
dgangler@cfc.disciples.org

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