wfn.org | Disciples News Brief

["Wilma Shufitt" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

Date: January 23, 2003
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

General Assembly Registration now available on line at
http://www.disciples.org/ga03/index.htm

NBA Child Saving Institute to function as independent agency

Cindy Dougherty, president of the National Benevolent Association, and
Donna Tubach Davis, chief executive officer of NBA Child Saving
Institute, have announced that, effective Jan. 1, 2003, NBA Child Saving
Institute will function as an independent child welfare agency.

The National Benevolent Association is the social and health services
arm of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and NBA Child Saving
Institute has been a service unit of the National Benevolent Association
since 1913. 

The structure and funding of children's ministries has changed in
recent years. After careful consideration of the changes, NBA Child
Saving Institute concluded that the children of Nebraska would be best
served by an independent agency based in Omaha. For more information
visit http://www.nbacares.org/News2002/CSI.htm

Seven instructors at four Disciples institutions receive grants from
Phillips University Legacy Foundation

Gene Challenner, Chair of the Board of Directors of Phillips University
Legacy Foundation (PULF) is pleased to announce the award of six Faculty
Development Scholarships to seven individuals from four Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) colleges totaling $11,750.00 for the period of
January 1 through June 30, 2003. 

PULF has two development scholarship grant programs that are available
to faculty at Disciples of Christ colleges and universities and to
former faculty and staff at Phillips University from 1992-1998. These
grants are designed to help provide faculty with continuing education
opportunities to enhance teaching skills, scholarly production, or
artistic development and provide leadership to the academic, church,
local and world communities.  These programs help perpetuate the mission
and legacy of Phillips University, a Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) college in Enid, Oklahoma, which closed academically in 1998.
For more information and a list of recipients go to 
http://www.dhedisciples.org/dhe/03/PULF-faculty-011703.html

DPF seeking nominees for Todd Bratkovich award

The Disciples Peace Fellowship is seeking a compassionate Disciples
youth, young adult or group who has demonstrated an undying commitment
to justice, equality and peace. These are among the qualities that
describe Todd Bratkovich in whose memory this award will be granted. Go
to http://www.homeland.org/WhatsNewDHM.htm for additional details on the
award.

DHM changing to help congregations, develop leaders

The Division of Homeland Ministries is shifting its focus to leadership
development and congregational life and vitality, starting in January
2003.

The Rev. Arnold C. Nelson Jr., DHM president, said this new focus comes
out of a two-year Vision Team study that identified as the primary
assignment of staff "... to facilitate networks with regions and other
partners to respond to needs of congregations and leaders." Visit
http://www.homeland.org/WhatsNewDHM.htm for the full story.

Prayers for Disciples military chaplains

The Office of Christian Vocation, The Division of Homeland Ministries,
is requesting prayers for the military chaplains of our denomination.
The clergy serving on active duty, National Guard and reserve represent
over 300 religious denominations and faith groups. The military
chaplains are responsible for the worship services, spiritual counsel,
guidance and support to all the armed forces personnel.

Danny Thompson, staff person of The Division of Homeland Ministries,
will provide Disciples churches the names of our chaplains at a later
date. Many of them are pastors and members of our congregations.  

First president of Disciples Historical Society dies

Willis Jones, 94, the first professional president of the Disciples of
Christ Historical Society, died Jan. 21. He served 11 years from 1959 to
1970.  He was the son of the famed preacher Edgar DeWitt Jones of
Central Woodward Christian Church, Detroit, once described as the
"Churchill of the American Pulpit."

Jones was born in Bloomington, Ill., but lived in Paducah, Ky., since
retirement in 1970.  His funeral will be held in Paducah Friday, Jan.
24, with Peter Morgan, president of the Historical Society preaching.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Jones spent 20 years in
Disciples-related higher education.  He was church relations director at
Hiram College in Ohio., public relations director of William Woods
College, Fulton, Mo.; and director of administration at both Drake
University, Des Moines, Iowa, and Transylvania University, Lexington, 
Ky.  He held an honorary doctorate from Culver-Stockton College and was
a Garfield Scholar of Emmanuel School of Religion.

He was a Red Cross field director during World War II and a regional
director of he National Conference of Christians and Jews after the
war.

He is survived by his wife Evelyn.