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

[COBNews@aol.com]

Date: Feb. 2, 2005
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:  CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline       Feb. 2,	2005

"From you comes my praise in the great congregation...."  Psalm
22:25a

NEWS
1) January giving to Emergency Disaster Fund  tops $450,000.
2) Muslim Peacemaker Team in Iraq trained by CPT.
3)  Cabinet begins planning for National Youth Conference 2006.
4) ABC seeks  nominations for its Caregiving Awards program.
5) Committee on Interchurch  Relations calls for nominations.
6) Love feast spoons support church's  mission.
7) Brethren families revisit mission sites in Nigeria.
8)  Brethren bits: Correction, remembrance, and much more.

PERSONNEL
9)  Don Fecher joins staff of Association of Brethren Caregivers.
10) Jacki  Hartley resigns as coordinator of disabilities network.

UPCOMING  EVENTS
11) Disaster Child Care training workshops are	announced.

***********************************************************
1)  January giving to Emergency Disaster Fund tops $450,000.

Giving to the  General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) in the
month of January has  totaled $458,367.96--close to a half million
dollars. The number is almost  5,000 times comparable giving in
January last year. General Board staff	credit the increase to the
extremely generous response of Brethren  congregations, districts,
and individuals to the tsunami disaster. The  majority of gifts are
designated for tsunami relief, but even undesignated  giving to the
EDF is close to ten times the amount given at this time in  2004.

The response has been "astounding," said Lillian Dako, who works  in
accounts receivable for the board. Each day in January she  received
about the number of gifts that usually arrive in a month.  "Giving
begets giving, is much of what's happening," said Ken Neher,  the
board's director of Funding and Donor Development. "Thanks
everybody!  A lot of people will benefit from this generous spirit."

"It is clear  from the generosity of our members that they have
confidence that  their	donations to the Emergency Disaster Fund not
only help with the immediate  needs of the disaster survivors but
also for longterm recovery," said the  board's general secretary
Stan Noffsinger. "Health kits, blankets, and other  material
resources are delivered with compassion, fostering dignity and	not
dependency."

Much of the money is coming from people who are new  donors to the
board, Neher said. He mentioned one gift of $25,000 from  two
individuals. When those kinds of gifts are made, he said, "it  adds
up." The high level of giving also is "indicative of the trust	that
it will be put to good use, a trust that the General Board has
built  up over the years," he said.

Giving also is up to the board's Emerging  Global Mission Fund and
the Global Food Crisis Fund--which Neher pointed out  will be next
to step in with support for redevelopment in the countries  affected
by the tsunami when direct disaster funding is no longer  needed.
General giving and special gifts to the "core ministries" of  the
board are not matching last year's numbers, however. This response
is  normal, according to Neher. "Whenever there is a reason for
special giving	the needed regular funds tend to go down." The
response to the tsunami  "reinforces the fact that there's plenty of
money out there for the ongoing  ministries of the church," he
added.

2) Muslim Peacemaker Team in  Iraq trained by CPT.

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) recently conducted  a five-day
training for Muslim peacemakers at the request of a human  rights
organization in Karbala, Iraq. Four CPT volunteers,  including
Church of the Brethren members Peggy Gish and Cliff  Kindy,
conducted the training at the office of the human  rights
organization Jan. 22-26. CPT is an initiative of the historic  peace
churches--Church of the Brethren, Mennonites, and  Quakers--with
support and membership from a range of Catholic and  Protestant
denominations.

Some of the topics covered in the training  included stories of
nonviolent peacemaking, the power of nonviolence, the  spirituality
of nonviolence, and planning for public action, CPT reported in  a
release. The trainers also covered various "smaller" topics
including  trauma and self-care, working with media, and human
rights	documentation.

In response to stories and exploration of the power of	nonviolence,
participants asked, "How did that work?" and "Can we do that  here?"
the release said. The group also explored the roots of	nonviolence
in the Muslim tradition and told the CPTers that Islam has a  firm
tradition of nonviolence rooted in the teachings of the Qu'ran	and
the Prophet Mohammed. During each day's session, trainees  had
opportunities to facilitate sessions and be the daily  photographer,
log keeper, time keeper, convener, and process observer.  "The
concept of assigning roles for the day was new to the trainees	and
they greeted it with great enthusiasm," the release said.

"In the  course of the training, participants shared stories of
suffering and trauma  they experienced under Saddam Hussein and
during the wars in which Iraq has  participated, including the most
recent war with the US and the subsequent  occupation," CPT said.
"Trainees said they feel compelled to use their  suffering for
peacemaking instead of avenging wrongs done to	them."

Muslim peacemakers and CPT are planning for future trainings  in
other venues around Karbala, according to CPT. Possibilities
include  training at a university in Karbala and in the surrounding
cities of Najaf  and Hilla. Contact CPT at P.O. Box 6508, Chicago,
IL 60680; 773-277-0253; or  e-mail peacemakers@cpt.org. For more
information see  www.cpt.org.

3) Cabinet begins planning for National Youth Conference  2006.

The Church of the Brethren National Youth Cabinet convened  Jan.
14-17 in Elgin, Ill., to begin planning for the 2006 National  Youth
Conference (NYC). Scheduled for July 22-27, 2006, at Colorado  State
University in Fort Collins, NYC is an opportunity for over  4,000
Brethren youth to spend a week in the Rocky Mountains focusing	on
their faith, exploring their role in the church, and getting to
know  other youth from around the country.

The theme for the conference will be  "Come and See" based on John
1:39, a passage in which Jesus asks John's  disciples what they are
looking for, and then invites them to "come and see,"  "not to come
and hear about Jesus' ministry, but to come and see for  themselves
what Jesus was doing," reported the coordinators. "NYC is  an
invitation for all youth to come and see who God is and who God  is
calling us to become--as individuals, as the Church of the
Brethren, as  people of God living in a broken world."

The cabinet met with Chris  Douglas, the General Board's director of
Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and  NYC coordinators Cindy Laprade,
Beth Rhodes, and Emily Tyler, and discussed  potential speakers and
coordinators. The group will continue work to plan and	promote the
conference. As more information becomes available, details will  be
posted on the website www.nyc2006.org. The next cabinet meeting  is
scheduled for August in Fort Collins.

4) ABC seeks nominations  for its Caregiving Awards program.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers	(ABC) is seeking nominations
for its annual Caregiving Awards program and its  Open Roof Award.

Nominees for Caregiving Awards can be individuals or  organizations
connected to the Church of the Brethren that have made	significant
contributions in health and/or caregiving fields for at least  five
years. Nominations also are sought for the Open Roof Award  to
recognize congregations and districts working on accessibility
issues	over the past five years. Recipients will be honored at
ABC's Annual  Recognition Dinner to be held July 2 at Annual
Conference in Peoria,  Ill.

To nominate a person or organization for a Caregiving Award,  send
a letter or e-mail outlining the reasons for the nomination to	ABC,
1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60123; fax 847-742-6103;  e-mail
abc@brethren.org. Nominations for the Open Roof Award must be  made
by completing a form available online at www.brethren.org/abc/ or
by  calling ABC at 800-323-8039. All nominations should be received
by March 1  and electronic submissions are appreciated.

5) Committee on  Interchurch Relations calls for nominations.

The Committee on Interchurch  Relations (CIR) is calling for
nominations for the 2005 Ecumenical Citation.  In keeping with the
goals of the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV), the  search is on
for a Church of the Brethren youth or young adult age 14-35 who  is
involved in ecumenical, interfaith, or community  peace-building.

"The committee felt that many young people are involved  in
meaningful witness to Christ outside of the church and seldom have
the  opportunity to come into the church's view," said Belita
Mitchell, pastor of  Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren,
who is serving her sixth year  as a member of CIR. "We want to
provide a way for them to add their voice and  affirm their
testimony."

In 2004 CIR presented the citation to  20-year-old Kira Anne
Marriner of the Live Oak congregation in California.  "Her work in
raising awareness about domestic violence is an example and  model
for other young people in the church," said Mitchell, who  was
committee chair at the time. Marriner's efforts included  developing
and performing skits in her community, making kits for a  women's
shelter, and teaching nonviolence workshops to children.

CIR  is hopeful that youth leaders, pastors, or others will know of
someone in  their own congregation or district and make the effort
to nominate them this  year. "No story is too small," said Mitchell.
"What may not seem significant	to someone can actually be a
blessing to others."

The citation is  awarded at CIR's Ecumenical Luncheon at Annual
Conference. The luncheon this  year will feature a message from
Becky Ullom, director of Identity and  Relations for the General
Board, who attended the National Council of  Churches General
Assembly as a young adult observer this past November.	Tickets for
the luncheon on Tuesday, July 5, in Peoria, Ill., will be  available
when Conference registration opens, or onsite.

Nominations  can be made at CIR's website
www.brethren.org/genbd/CIR/index.htm. The  deadline is March 15. For
more information call the General Secretary's  Office at
800-323-8039 ext. 202.

6) Love feast spoons support  church's mission.

Spoons rescued from a fire in a church in Iowa 61 years  ago were
auctioned at a "Spoon Dinner" Jan. 30 by Fairview Church of  the
Brethren to raise money for the church and for Brethren missions.
The  spoons, which were imprinted with the word "Brethren," were
among the few  items pulled out of the congregation's first church
building when it burned  down on Jan. 7, 1944.

Last summer the Ladies Aid group found the spoons  stored away, and
wondered what to do with them, reported Diane Mason, a	member of
the congregation. The women decided "to use something old  to
benefit the current mission of the church," she said.
Coincidentally,  when the spoons were originally purchased for the
church, a couple in the  congregation--Richard and Ann Burger, who
are still members--were preparing  to go to Nigeria as missionaries,
Mason said.

Each person who bought a  spoon received a history of the Fairview
church, which is located south of  Unionville, Iowa, and the story
of the spoons' rescue. "The simple  rectangular structure served the
growing congregation for nearly 78 years"  from when it was built in
1866, the history read. The fire began after "the  furnace had been
lit in preparation for Communion and Love Feast. It  overheated and
caught the floor beams on fire. The building burned to the  ground
in three and one-half hours despite the valiant efforts  of
community members to fight the fire."

Among the few items saved  "was the walnut `preaching table' around
which the deacons and elders sat to  lead worship," the story read.
"It had drawers in which the Love Feast  foot-washing basins and
other items were kept.... Most likely the spoons we  are auctioning
today were in one of the drawers. A large picture of Jesus was	also
rescued from the fire by church member Dwight Powell. By the  time
Powell went in for the picture, the smoke had thickened to where  he
could not see. The men on the outside kept talking to him to guide
him  out by the sound of their voices."

"We had 36 people at the Spoon	Dinner," said Mason. "Spoon and
finger foods were featured: four soups,  relishes, cookies, ice
cream, etc. After the meal, we watched the `Dear  Friends' DVD from
the General Board to learn about present-day Church of the  Brethren
missions." Some 45 of the spoons and a few other items	were
auctioned for a total of $1,149, a tithe of which will be sent	to
Church of the Brethren missions.

7) Brethren families revisit  mission sites in Nigeria.

A group of 24 from the Baldwin and Good  families traveled in
Nigeria for two-and-a-half weeks in late December to  revisit sites
important to the families' mission experiences. The trip  was
coordinated by former Nigeria mission worker Monroe Good and son
Dave  Good, grounds coordinator and men's soccer coach at Manchester
College in  North Manchester, Ind.

The group included Ferne Baldwin, a Church of the  Brethren
missionary who worked in Nigeria with her late husband Elmer for  18
years 1944-62, and her three daughters, their spouses, all of  her
grandchildren and two of their spouses, and two friends of the
family;  and Monroe and Ada Good, who were Church of the Brethren
missionaries in  Nigeria from 1952-64 and 1984-88, and three of
their four children and two  spouses, two grandchildren, and the
spouse of one grandson. The Good and  Baldwin families are linked by
marriage.

The trip was made "to show  their children and grandchildren where
they lived and grew up," said Tina  Rieman, a grandchild of Ferne
Baldwin. "It was really special to be able to  share it with our
adult children, who can identify with the unique feelings  we had
growing up there," said Dave Good. The group visited  Hillcrest
School in Jos, where mission children attended boarding school,  and
villages where family members lived--Garkida, Marama, and Shaff--
–as  well as the headquarters of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN--
the Church of  the Brethren in Nigeria) and the EYN secondary school
and Kulp Bible College	near Mubi.

"Those of us in the younger generation really appreciated  seeing
the older generations in the places they lived for so many  years,"
Rieman commented. "We heard so many stories. One day we sat in	the
living room of the first home my grandparents lived in and  heard
Grandma share stories of life in the 1940s. Her eyes and many of
our  eyes were tear-filled as she shared the emotions she felt as
she took her  baby daughter to the hospital with meningitis, not
sure if she would survive  or not. This was just one of several such
stories and spoke to us of the pure  dedication of the Church of the
Brethren mission of providing a better life  to the Nigerian people,
in spite of the risks and dangers of being  there."

"It was neat to hear Grandma speaking fluent Bura again,"  she
added. "The Nigerians have such an immense respect for their  elders
and seemed very impressed that she was speaking their  language!"

Besides reconnecting with their past, the families also wanted	to
contribute something to the people family members had served.  Since
1988 Monroe Good has returned to Nigeria numerous times  with
workcamps and tour groups sponsored by the General Board or
Atlantic  Northeast District, and he and Ada Good spent a month in
Nigeria preparing  for the family trip. The families held a
week-long workcamp at EYN's Madu  Bible School in Marama carrying
stones, mixing cement by hand, and pouring a  cement floor for two
classroom buildings. With the help of around 100  Nigerians
including 27 cooks and many children, the group "also built  a
library building for the Madu Bible School from the foundation up
to  just above the windows," Rieman said. The children "were just
interested in  what was going on and ended up working harder than
some of us!" Workers  included Madu Bible School students, members
of the Marama church, and  representatives from districts across
EYN.

Rieman said that the group  was well received by EYN as former
missionary families, and that EYN members  were touched that they
had come to visit. "Heartfelt gratitude was expressed  over and over
by EYN members for the work of the early missionaries in  education,
construction, health care, and in the church," said Dave  Good.
"Many give credit to the Church of the Brethren mission program  for
their quality of life and as the primary reason so many EYN people
are  in leadership positions across Nigeria today." Good added that
"the EYN  church seems to be a dynamic force in such things as
working against  corruption, educating about HIV/AIDS, and improving
communication and  cooperation with Muslims in their communities."

"The church in Nigeria is  alive and well!" Rieman said. "They send
greetings to the Church of the	Brethren here in the US." Good
added, "The Baldwins and Goods give thanks to  their Nigerian
brothers and sisters for sharing so much warmth,  graciousness,
friendship, and Christian love."

8) Brethren bits:  Correction, remembrance, and much more.

*In a correction to "Churches  Begin Planning for Consultation on
Alternative Service" (Newsline Jan. 21),  Dan McFadden was not
identified. He is director of Brethren Volunteer Service  for the
General Board and the Church of the Brethren representative on	the
consultation planning group.

*J. Richard Butler, 74, executive  director of Church World Service
(CWS) in the 1980s, died at his home in New  York on Jan. 25.
"During his years at the helm of Church World Service, Dick  focused
on flexibility and excellence," said CWS executive director John  L.
McCullough. "He is quoted as saying, `If we are to do God's work,
we  must do it well.' These are without doubt fitting watchwords as
we continue a  ministry Dick helped to shape." Butler became CWS
associate executive  director in 1978 and executive director in
1985. In the 1960s and `70s he	worked on Middle East assignments
for CWS, the Near East Council of Churches,  and the World Council
of Churches. During the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979,  Butler
arranged for the hostages to have a pastoral Christmas day visit  by
three US clergy. A member of the United Church of Christ, Butler
grew  up in Akron, Ohio, and was a conscientious objector during the
Korean War. He	earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Earlham
College in Richmond, Ind. A  memorial service will take place at
10:30 a.m. Feb. 26 at The Riverside  Church followed by a reception
at Union Theological Seminary.

*The  General Board seeks a PC and programming specialist for a
fulltime hourly  position in Elgin, Ill. Position description and
application form are  available on request. Application deadline is
Feb. 9. Responsibilities  include troubleshooting problems with
software and hardware, developing and  modifying programs and
applications, assisting users, and installing new  software,
upgrades, and hardware. Qualifications include familiarity  with
AS/400, networks, personal computers, current Windows versions,  and
Office Suite; expertise in programming languages, particularly RPG
III  or RPG IV; ability to work with minimal supervision and a
variety of people;  minimum of an associate degree, equivalent
experience, or certification; and  a strong background in
programming, operations, networks, and personal  computers. Submit
the General Board application form, a hard copy resume, and  a
letter of application to Office of Human Resources, Church of  the
Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL  60120-1694;
800-323-8039 ext. 258; or e-mail  mgarrison_gb@brethren.org.

*The General Board is seeking a fulltime  customer service resource
specialist to work in Elgin, Ill. The position is  available March
1. The position provides Brethren Press resource information  to
congregations and individuals, handling telephone, mail, and
internet  orders as well as processing accounts receivable, monthly
statements, and  reports. The ideal candidate has demonstrated
abilities in customer service,	word processing, intermediate
accounting, and general office skills.	Experience in a church or
service organization and some college credit is  preferred. To
apply, send a resume and cover letter to Mary Lou  Garrison,
Director of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General  Board,
1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. Application deadline is Feb.  16.

*Spurgeon Manor, Inc., a non-profit multi-level care  facility
affiliated with the Church of the Brethren, is seeking	an
administrator for its facility in Dallas Center, Iowa. Located 25
miles  west of Des Moines, Spurgeon Manor currently operates 42
nursing facility  beds, 30 residential care beds, 7 independent
apartments, and 19 townhouses.	An Iowa Nursing Home Administrator's
license is required. Send resume and  salary history to Spurgeon
Manor, Inc., Karl Eby, Chair, 2437 U Ave., Dallas  Center, IA 50063.
Resume and salary history can be e-mailed  to
eby-erickson@worldnet.att.net or faxed to 515-992-4070.

*Dana and  Nelda Snider of Middlebury (Ind.) Church of the Brethren
led two  "Conversation Café" workshops at the General Offices in
Elgin, Ill., Jan.  25-26 at the invitation of the Association of
Brethren Caregivers (ABC).  Conversation Cafe is a communication
model for discussing difficult or  controversial issues in small
groups, creating an environment where people  can safely share their
views and focus on listening to one another. A total  of 14 people
took part, including pastors and members of Highland Avenue  Church
of the Brethren in Elgin and York Center Church of the Brethren  in
Lombard, Ill. ABC staff may use the model in workshops or  when
facilitating small groups.

*Bethany Theological Seminary's  Mid-Winter Open House for college
students will be held Feb. 26, 8:30 a.m.-3  p.m. on the campus in
Richmond, Ind. There will be opportunities for	conversation with
faculty, staff, and students, a class visit, and a campus  tour.
"Come join in a day of exploring theological education and  its
possibilities in your life," invited Kathy Royer, director  of
Admissions. For more information e-mail her  at
enroll@bethanyseminary.edu.

*The General Board's program to recycle  used ink jet cartridges is
expanding to offer cell phone recycling through  AAA Environmental,
Inc. Call Amy Heckert at 800-323-8039 ext. 257 or  e-mail
aheckert_gb@brethren.org for free recycling envelopes to take  part
in the program and for instructions. "Our recycling efforts  are
paying off," she reported on Jan. 26. "We received yet another
check  in the amount of $10.81 for the `If a Tree Falls' program.
This money will  help plant 10 fruit trees and 8 forest trees. To
date we have contributed  $127.97."

*"Pilgrimage--Faithquest for Adults," a spiritual  development
retreat for adults of any age, will be held March 11-13 at  Camp
Bethel, Fincastle, Va. The retreat will provide an opportunity	to
explore relationship with God and to join others on a journey  of
deepening spirituality and commitment to Jesus Christ. The cost of
$125  includes housing and meals. Contact Virlina District at
800-847-5462 or  e-mail virlina2@aol.com.

*"Without the Rest, There is No Music" is the  topic of this year's
Ministry R&R Conference of Atlantic Northeast  District, to be held
April 27, 8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m., at Elizabethtown (Pa.)  College for
ministers, church leaders, and other interested persons.  The
retreat leader is Kirk Jones--a pastor, professor, and author of
the  books "Rest in the Storm" and "Addicted to Hurry." He also
teaches preaching  and ethics at Andover Newton Theological Seminary
and has a website,  www.savoringpace.com. Jones will hold sessions
on self violence, overcoming  over-commitment, and keys to
developing a dynamic ministry. His books will be  on sale. Lunch
hosted by the college is part of the day and continuing  education
units will be offered. For more information e-mail David Young	at
davidyoung@churchrenewalservant.org.

*On Jan. 30, representatives  of McPherson (Kan.) College's
Automotive Restoration Program watched as a  1969 Corvette Stingray
Convertible was sold to the highest bidder at the 34th	annual
Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. The total amount  of
the sale will be donated to help fund the renovation of Templeton
Hall,  which houses the restoration program. The sale was arranged
by Craig Jackson,  president of the "World's Greatest Classic Car
Auction" and a member of the  college's automotive restoration
national advisory board. Jackson recently  donated $100,000 from the
television reality series "Car Search" to endow two  auto
restoration scholarships.

*"Damascus and Beyond: Seeking Clearer	Sight, Bolder Spirit," an
anti-racism conference of the Damascus Road Network  and others
concerned with racism in the church, will be held March 11-13  in
Atlanta, Ga. Mennonite Central Committee's Damascus Road Network
has  provided training to the Church of the Brethren Anti-Racism
Team. The event  celebrate ten years of anti-racism organizing in
the Mennonite, Brethren in  Christ, Church of the Brethren,
Mennonite Brethren, Episcopal, and  Presbyterian denominations.
Speakers will be theologian Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz  and poet Ewuare
Osayande. Anti-racism teams will bring poster displays about  their
successes and struggles and hold panel discussions of their work  in
congregations. Bluffton University students plan to offer a session
on  organizing in colleges. More information is available in English
at  www.mcc.org/damascusandbeyond  and in Spanish  at
www.mcc.org/damascoymasalla. On-line registration is open.

*"Living  Waters: A National Council of Churches Eco-Justice
Training Event and  Gathering" in Toledo, Ohio, Feb. 25-26, will
include workshops on  conservation landscaping, a session on
reaching out to congregants and  organizing a congregation, Great
Lakes water issues, and social justice and  advocacy. For more
information visit www.nccecojustice.org (click on Water  Campaigns).
To register, e-mail Cassandra Carmichael, Director,  Eco-Justice
Programs, at cassandra@toad.net or call  202-544-2350.

*Church World Service (CWS), the global humanitarian arm of  the
National Council of Churches, will hold its annual Leadership  Day
Conference at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in  Elgin,
Ill., on Feb. 5. The one-day event will train Crop Walk leaders  to
raise money for local hunger-fighting agencies as well as  CWS'
international relief and development efforts.

*Board members of  Habitat for Humanity International have fired
founder and president Millard  Fuller, saying "several months of
differences" over alleged inappropriate  conduct led to their
decision, reported Religion News Service. The Habitat  executive
committee announced its decision Jan. 31, prompting  almost
immediate criticism from Fuller and supporters who want to see	him
reinstated. The executive committee, acting on the authority of  the
full board, said the termination followed "divisive and  disruptive"
comments about the organization by the Fullers since allegations  of
his inappropriate behavior with a female former employee  surfaced.
Fuller denied any wrongdoing. President Jimmy Carter will serve  as
honorary chair of the search committee for a new president.  Paul
Leonard, Habitat's chief executive officer, will lead  the
organization until a permanent successor to Fuller is found.  Since
1976, Habitat has built more than 150,000 houses in  3,000
communities. It expects to build its 200,000th house this summer.

9) Don Fecher joins staff of Association of Brethren  Caregivers.

Don Fecher will serve as director of the Fellowship of	Brethren
Homes, a ministry of the Association of Brethren Caregivers  (ABC),
beginning March 1. Fecher has announced his resignation  from
Brethren Benefit Trust, effective Feb. 18, to pursue an  independent
financial consulting business (see the Jan. 21 issue of  Newsline).

Fecher's responsibilities at ABC will  include coordinating the
Fellowship of Brethren Homes' Annual Forum, working  with the Peace
Church Purchasing Group and the Peace Church Risk Retention  Group,
and serving as liaison between the homes and the denomination.	He
will work on a part-time, contract basis from his home and the	ABC
office in Elgin, Ill.

10) Jacki Hartley resigns as coordinator  of disabilities network.

Jacki Hartley has resigned as coordinator of the  Church and Persons
with Disabilities Network, a ministry of the Association  of
Brethren Caregivers (ABC). Hartley joined ABC in May 2004 to serve
in  the part-time, contract position and began working fulltime for
Hospice of  Northeastern Illinois in July 2004.

Hartley chose to end her service with  ABC when it became too
difficult to maintain a schedule of working for both  agencies, ABC
reported. With Hartley's departure, the Church and Persons  with
Disabilities Network will be staffed by ABC's executive  director
Kathy Reid, who also staffs the Whole-Person Health Ministry  and
the Denominational Deacon Ministry.

11) Disaster Child Care  training workshops are announced.

The 2005 Level 1 Disaster Child Care  Training Workshops have been
announced by the General Board program. The  workshops are for those
interested in becoming child care volunteers  following disasters.

The workshops will be held Feb. 26-27 at Benton  (Ark.) Seventh-Day
Adventist Church, March 11-12 at Beaverton (Mich.) Church  of the
Brethren, April 15-16 at Victor (N.Y.) United Methodist  Church,
July 22-23 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Paw Paw, Mich., and  Oct.
7-8 in Reno, Nev. For information about training and how to
register,  call Helen Stonesifer at 800-451-4407 (option 5) or	visit
www.disasterchildcare.org.

*****************************************************************
Newsline  is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news
services for the  Church of the Brethren General Board, on every other
Wednesday with other  editions as needed. Newsline stories may be
reprinted provided that Newsline  is cited as the source. Joann Anand,
Mary Dulabaum, Darren Hendricks, Jon  Kobel, Diane Mason, Beth
Rhodes, Tina Rieman, Ann Walle, and David Young  contributed to
this report. Newsline is a free service sent only to those  requesting
a subscription. To receive it by e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write
cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available
and archived at www.brethren.org. For additional news and features,
subscribe to the Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger."
Call  800-323-8039.