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

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Date: Feb. 6, 2004
Contact: Walt Wiltschek
V: 847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103
E-MAIL: CoBNews@AOL.Com

NEWS
1) Church leaders work toward historic new "interconfessional
entity" at January meeting.
2) The church remembers long-time Brethren leader Don Rowe.
3) Global Food Crisis Fund grant of $60,000 will support farming in
North Korea.
4) Brethren Business Network ends, with new initiative on the
horizon.
5) Brethren bits: General Board positions and more.

PERSONNEL
6) Perry Hudkins resigns as the General Board's director of
information services.
7) General Board seeks coordinator of orientation for Brethren
Volunteer Service.
8) Manchester College search committee calls for applicants for
14th president.

COMING EVENTS:
9) Regional Youth Conferences are planned for Brethren high
schoolers.

FEATURES
10) Hardenbrook father and son provide prayer, caring for Idaho
state legislature.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

1) Church leaders work toward historic new "interconfessional
entity" at January meeting.

On Jan. 7-9, 50 church leaders from a very broad range of Christian
churches met together at Camp Allen near Houston, Texas, to work
toward the launch of a historic new interconfessional entity called
Christian Churches Together in the USA (CCT). Stanley Noffsinger,
general secretary of the General Board, attended for the Church of
the Brethren.

The purpose of CCT is "to enable churches and national Christian
organizations to grow closer together in Christ in order to
strengthen our Christian witness in the world." Churches from all
major Christian families--evangelical/pentecostal, Catholic,
Orthodox, historic racial/ethnic, and historic Protestant--are
moving toward joining together to launch CCT in the spring of 2005.
Never before in the history of the US has such a broad and widely
representative group of churches come together in this way,
according to a release from CCT.

At Camp Allen, church leaders and representatives of national
Christian organizations prayed and talked together, identified and
achieved consensus on all major issues related to the founding
document, engaged in discussions on both the nature of prayer in
diverse Christian traditions and the explosion of Christianity in
the global South, and deepened their fellowship in Christ through
numerous personal conversations.

More than 25 Christian communions are currently officially engaged
in deciding to become founding participants of CCT, in ways
appropriate to each church's polity. It is expected that a
substantial number of denominations will decide to become founding
participants of CCT in 2005.

2) The church remembers long-time Brethren leader Don Rowe.

The church this week is remembering the life of Don Rowe, the
architect of the current district organizational structure and a
long-time church leader known for his warmth. Rowe died Feb. 2 in
Maryland, where he was a member of Westminster Church of the
Brethren. He was 83.

Rowe served in several denominational capacities, most recently as
director of District Ministries for the General Board from 1987 to
1992. He had previously been director of Interpretation, manager of
Annual Conference, director of field ministries, and director of
personnel for the World Ministries Commission. He was moderator of
Annual Conference in 1975.

He had also been executive secretary of the denomination's Western
Region in the 1950s and Mid-Atlantic District executive from 1971
to 1986. He began his ministry career as a local pastor, serving
congregations in Illinois and California.

It was during his work with field ministries (later called district
ministries) in the 1960s that the current district map took shape.
After an Annual Conference decision in 1960, Rowe worked with a
re-organization committee to oversee the move from 48 districts to
the current 23. "That was a major kind of adminstrative change,"
Rowe recalled in an interview with Messenger last year.

"Don was ever an affirming colleague," said Howard Royer, a
long-time co-worker of Rowe, "one who brought energy and openness
to the envisioning process."

A memorial service for Rowe will take place 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at the
Westminster congregation. 

3) Global Food Crisis Fund grant of $60,000 will support farming in
North Korea.

An allocation of $60,000 from the General Board's Global Food
Crisis Fund has been approved to support a farm rehabilitation
project in two western provinces of North Korea.

The project, called Ryongyun Agro-Marin Industrial Development
Center, is a joint venture of Agglobe Services International and
the Korean Unpasan General Trading Company. It strives to bolster
the economic, health, and educational welfare of the region's
25,000 inhabitants. The funds will be used to purchase barley and
rice seeds, along with other planting materials.

The barley seeds are being rushed to the country to meet an early
March planting date required for double cropping during the
upcoming season, which follows a harsh winter. The rice will be
transplanted to paddy fields in June, after the barley is
harvested. It is part of a $2.3 million Ryongyun development effort
seeking to rehabilitate 24,000 acres of farmland.

Dr. Pilju Kim Joo, a consultant to the Global Food Crisis Fund
since 1996, is supervising the program. The fund supplied $50,000
in aid to two other projects in North Korea in 2003, adding to a
total of more than $600,000 sent to the nation since 1995.

4) Brethren Business Network ends, with new initiative on the
horizon.

The Brethren Business Network, begun in 2000-2001 with the dream of
connecting Brethren business owners and helping Brethren identify
services and opportunities available within the denomination, has
come to an end. The network "never gained enough momentum to become
a self-sustaining organization," director Wendi Hutchinson said in
a Jan. 27 letter.

Earl Hess, a Lancaster, Pa., businessman, had the original idea for
the network and assisted in its development until his death in
2001. Hutchinson, who is the church relations director for
Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., became director of
the network when the college provided the energy and resources to
get it off the ground.

The network had created an online directory of Brethren businesses,
which Hutchinson said is being pulled from the Web "until such time
as new focus and resources can be given to the directory."

Some interest in launching a new business-related initiative
already is occurring. Seattle pastor John Braun sent a letter to
"interested Brethren" in January, testing the waters. Braun, who
also serves with a non-profit corporation called Good News
Associates, has offered to do the initial recruiting and
fundraising to start a new effort. Braun set Nov. 6-7 as target
dates for organizational meetings, in conjunction with the
Mennonite Economic Development Associates annual convention in
Pittsburgh, Pa.

5) Brethren bits: General Board positions, National Council of
Churches, and more.

*Janet Marquez, accounts payable and payroll specialist for the
Church of the Brethren General Board since April 2000, has
submitted her resignation. She will conclude her service at the
General Offices in Elgin, Ill., by mid-April. Marquez has been
responsible for payroll for staff based in Elgin and for field
staff, and has helped make a transition to a new payroll and human
resources system.

*The Church of the Brethren General Board seeks an individual to
fill an hourly part-time to full-time position in accounts payable
and payroll. Excellent data entry skills and accounting systems
knowledge are required, as well as accounts payable and computer
experience. Application deadline is Feb. 20. Contact the Office of
Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee
Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 ext. 259; or e-mail
mgarrison_gb@brethren.org.

*Michigan District is hosting a day-long deacon training event Feb.
21 at Lakeview Church of the Brethren, Brethren, Mich. The training
event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and focus on the functions of
deacon ministry, love feast, attracting different age families to
attend church, and sticking together during times of change and
conflict. Leadership will be provided by Scott Douglas of the
Association of Brethren Caregivers and General Board Congregational
Life Teams member Julie Hostetter. Reservations to attend the event
must be made by Feb. 10. For more information, contact the Michigan
District office at 231-362-2456.

6) Perry Hudkins resigns as the General Board's director of
information services.

Perry Hudkins has announced her resignation as director of
information services for the Church of the Brethren General Board,
effective July 16. She began work for the General Board in August
1988 as director of computer operations.

Hudkins lives in Westminster, Md., and has worked out of the
Brethren Service Center in New Windsor. Overseeing computer
operations at offices in New Windsor and Elgin, Ill., as well as
field staff offices, she has been responsible for much new
technology for the board.

During her 14-year tenure, Hudkins ushered the organization into
the era of the personal computer, implemented all-new financial
accounting software, made a shift from two main operating computers
to one, and networked the General Board with the districts. Her
work entailed numerous trips between New Windsor and Elgin as well
as to field locations as she encouraged the effective use and
sharing of equipment.

She is a graduate of Goucher College and Johns Hopkins University
and previously was sole proprietor of her own programming services
company. She plans to make a move to Vermont by early fall to give
assistance to her parents.

7) General Board seeks coordinator of orientation for Brethren
Volunteer Service.

A full-time coordinator of orientation for Brethren Volunteer
Service (BVS) is being sought by the Church of the Brethren General
Board. The salaried position begins Aug. 1, and includes
responsibility for directing and coordinating the BVS application
process and orientation programs.

Requirements include grounding in Church of the Brethren heritage
and theology; skills in communication, administration, and
management; flexibility; expertise in group dynamics; and the
ability to supervise and utilize volunteers. Previous BVS
experience is helpful, as is cross-cultural awareness.

For more information and an application form, contact the Office of
Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee
Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039, ext. 258; e-mail
mgarrison_gb@brethren.org.

8) Manchester College search committee calls for applicants for
14th president.

Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., has opened its search
for its 14th president. The college is seeking a leader dedicated
to academic excellence, a motivator, and a fundraiser with
financial savvy and an appreciation for the college's Church of the
Brethren heritage. The 115-year-old liberal arts school is an
independent, coeducational, accredited Church of the Brethren
college with a student body of 1,170.

The new president is anticipated to take office July 1, 2005.
Current president Parker G. Marden will retire on June 30, 2005,
completing 11 years in the position. A 15-member search committee
includes college trustees and faculty, plus representatives from
the students, administrators, staff, alumni, and the community.

Deadline for nominations is March 15, with an application deadline
of April 1. To request or submit nomination forms and other
information, contact J. Bentley Peters, Chair, Presidential Search
Committee, Manchester College, PO Box 12663, Fort Wayne, IN 46864;
or e-mail search@manchestercollege.net; or access the presidential
search website linked to www.manchester.edu.

9) Regional Youth Conferences are planned for Brethren high
schoolers.

Regional Youth Conferences will be held for Church of the Brethren
youth across the country in March, April, and August.

The 2004 Roundtable regional youth conference for senior high youth
in districts stretching from Maryland to Florida and Puerto Rico
will be held March 26-28 at Bridgewater (Va.) College. Manassas
(Va.) pastor Jeff Carter will serve as keynote speaker on the
theme, "The Next Chapter . . . A Future with Hope." Joseph Helfrich
will provide musical leadership.

Eastern Regional Youth Conference, for youth in Pennsylvania and
the Northeast, will be March 26-28 at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College.
The duo Craig and Jake Live will provide keynote worship leadership
with the theme, "Uncluttered: Letting Go . . . Letting God . . ."
The schedule also will include "Encounters" workshop times and an
improv night.

McPherson (Kan.) College will offer a Regional Youth Conference for
youth in the Plains districts and Missouri/Arkansas April 2-4. The
theme is "Simply." Matt Guynn of On Earth Peace, Lee Krahenbuhl,
and musician Billy Jonas will provide keynote leadership.

Regional Youth Conference at Manchester College, North Manchester,
Ind., will take place for youth in the Midwest April 17-18,
shifting from a two-night format to one night this year. The theme
is "Seeking, Thirsting, Longing." Christy Waltersdorff, Jeremy
Ashworth, Josh Brockway, and district youth representatives will
speak.

Regional Youth Conference, spanning most of the territory west of
the Rockies and held only once every four years, is slated for Aug.
4-8 in San Francisco. The theme will be "Living in God's Hands
Together." A schedule of worship, keynote speakers, workshops,
music, and recreation is planned for the week.

10) Hardenbrook father and son provide prayer, caring for Idaho
state legislature.

"Eternal God, challenges confront these leaders. Wise as they are,
they need a higher, humbler wisdom which is relevant and available.
But we all have trouble asking for help and more trouble accepting
it. Lord, give these leaders of Idaho the grace to be humble, to
acknowledge their need, and to ask You for guidance."

These words of prayer by Jim Hardenbrook opened the Jan. 12, 2004,
joint session of the Idaho legislature, in which the governor gave
his "State of the State" message. Both Annual Conference
moderator-elect Jim Hardenbrook and his father, Don Hardenbrook,
are serving as chaplains for the Idaho state legislature. They also
work together at Nampa (Idaho) Church of the Brethren. Jim is
pastor and Don serves as associate pastor.

"I really do enjoy it," Jim said of his work with the state House
of Representatives. "This is my ninth year with the House. I was
with the Senate two years. My father is really having a ball," he
added. "He's really a people person." Don is in his first year as
chaplain for the state Senate, having worked in hospital chaplaincy
in the past. Following pastorates in the Christian Church and the
Anderson (Ind.) Church of God, Don retired for a few months but
returned to ministry at the Nampa congregation a few years ago,
when "we needed some help," his son said.

As chaplains to the legislature, the Hardenbrooks give a prayer
following each day's roll call, to open the floor session. They
also provide crisis care for members and their families as invited,
and are available to offer other spiritual and religious services.
Over time, "you develop a certain amount of respect" as a chaplain,
Jim said. "For example, today I had a private meeting with a
committee chair, and another committee chair asked me to come and
testify at a hearing" on a health and welfare issue.

This is the third year that Jim Hardenbrook has been asked to bring
the prayer for the joint session and the governor's message.
Developing such a deep level of trust "takes a while. Also you have
to prove yourself," Jim said. "You have to be a person of
integrity."

Newsline is written and compiled by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford and
produced by the General Board news services office. Newsline
stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the
source. Walt Wiltschek, Mary Dulabaum, Howard Royer, Wendi
Hutchinson, and Jeri S. Kornegay contributed to this report.

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