wfn.org | Disciples News Brief - Dec. 10, 2004

["Wilma Shuffitt" <wshuffitt@cm.disciples.org>]

Disciples News Brief 
December 10, 2004
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Wanda Bryant Wills, Editor
E-mail:  news@cm.disciples.org 

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL OFFERING SUPPORTS REGIONAL MINISTRY 
The Church Finance Council of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
announces the 2004 Christmas Special Offering titled "The Light Shines." This
special offering supports the work of the Disciples' 33 regional ministries.
All gifts received during the 2004 Christmas Special Offering will remain
within the region in which they are received.  

Ministries in each of the church's 33 regions support congregations and
pastoral care; provide congregational leaders with training workshops,
resources and networking and strengthen congregational ministry through
licensing and ordained ministry.  Gifts also provide congregations with
camps, conferences and ministries to youth, men and women, plus reach out to
others by establishing new churches. In addition, gifts work to eradicate
racism and share in mission projects, works trips and ecumenical partnership.

Your gifts to the Christmas Special Offering enable your Region's
ministry*please give generously.

LYNCHBURG COLLEGE EARNS RECOGNITION IN TWO PUBLICATIONS
Lynchburg College was recently highlighted by U.S. News and World Report in
its America's Best Colleges 2005 publication. Lynchburg ranked in the top
tier of southern universities that offer a full range of undergraduate
programs and master's degree.  

The school also was recognized by the Princeton Review in its Best Colleges:
Region by Region feature. The review recognized Lynchburg as one of 115
schools in its best in the Mid-Atlantic features. The listing is designed to
highlight schools that may not be as well-known as they should be. Lynchburg
is a private, coeducational college founded in 1903 in covenant with the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For more information go to:
http://www.lynchburg.edu 

GMP RESPONDS TO NETWORKS' REFUSAL TO AIR UCC AD
General Minister and President Chris Hobgood recently wrote a letter to the
presidents of CBS and NBC networks stating his disappointment in their
refusal to air a television advertisement developed by the United Church of
Christ (UCC).  The 30-second spot, part of the denomination's new identity
campaign was designed to illustrate the inclusiveness of UCC churches.
Hobgood joined a nationwide group of faith leaders who termed the network's
action contrary to the principles of freedom of speech and equal access to
media.	For more information go to:
http://www.disciples.org/hobgood/ucc_response.htm .

CHURCH EXTENSION SHARES HIGHLIGHTS OF BOARD MEETING
At its November Board Meeting in Indianapolis, the Board and Staff of Church
Extension continued work on its strategic plan, approving a new missional
direction and affirming that the organization is called not only to build
churches, but also to "build up" churches within the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ). The leadership of Church Extension is now capturing
this direction in a mission statement to be shared with the whole Church
within the coming year.  The Board also approved a number of priorities, the
most critical of which is creating new products and services that meet the
planning needs of all Disciples congregations at pivotal points in their life
cycles. For more Board Meeting highlights, visit
http://www.churchextension.org/about/news.htm.

FOUNDATION DIRECTORS SUSPEND NBA DISTRIBUTIONS
The Board of Directors of the Christian Church Foundation voted unanimously
to temporarily suspend distributions to the National Benevolent Association
(NBA) and its agencies pending further board review in April 2005. The
Foundation distributes for the benefit of NBA ministries about $100,000
annually from permanent funds held in trust by the Foundation. For more
information, visit http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2004/0449.htm .

MAINLINE EVANGELISM.  TALKING FAITH GOES WHERE FEW HAVE TRAVELED. 
A new and innovative group study is giving parishioners a lot of talk about. 
"Talking Faith:  An Eight-Part Study on Growing & Sharing Your Faith," by
Heather Kirk-Davidoff and Nancy Wood-Lyczak, encourages congregations to
deepen their faith by learning to talk to others about it.  Park evangelism
training and part faith development, Talking Faith is ideally suited to
mainline congregations who want to reach out, but who would be turned off by
traditional evangelistic methods.

Talking Faith guides groups on an eight-week journey that includes singing,
prayer, role-playing, communion and more. Talking Faith (ISNB: 08272-36549,
$24.00) is available at your local bookstore or from Chalice Press at
1-800-366-3383, by e-mail at customerservice@cbp21.com, or visit the Chalice
Press web site at http://www.chalicepress.com .

COMMUNICATION MINISTRIES OFFERS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ART
Artwork is now available on-line that regions and churches can use to help
promote the upcoming General Assembly in printed material. Go to:
http://www.disciples.org/ga05/ads/ads.htm to download copies of the General
Assembly logo and other materials. Also don't forget to register online for
the Assembly at: http://www.disciples.org/ga05 .

####

For more information on the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) visit
http://www.disciples.org 

*The Disciples News Brief is distributed weekly or as needed by Communication
Ministries. For changes, additions or deletions to our distribution list,
please contact news@cm.disciples.org 

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