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Newsline - Church of the Brethren news update


From COBNews@aol.com
Date Wed, 2 Mar 2005 18:59:33 EST

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

Newsline March 2, 2005

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you...."
Hebrews 13:7

NEWS
1) Ballot is announced for Annual Conference 2005.
2) Church of the Brethren, American Baptist leadership teams meet.
3) On Earth Peace gives peace resource to ministry students.
4) Brethren bits: Remembrance, personnel, and more.

PERSONNEL
5) Grace Mishler completes term of service in Vietnam.

UPCOMING EVENTS
6) Health Promotion Sunday explores impact of uncompensated care.
7) Early registration for Bethany worship conference due soon.

RESOURCES
8) Believers Church Bible Commentary on Proverbs is published.

FEATURE
9) `Tenderness Tours' leave a trail of awe, appreciation.

***********************************************************
1) Ballot is announced for Annual Conference 2005.

The Annual Conference Office has announced the ballot for Annual
Conference July 2-6 in Peoria, Ill. The Nominating Committee of
Standing Committee developed a full slate of candidates in January.
Standing Committee then voted to create the ballot that will be
presented to the Conference delegates.

Nominees on the ballot, by position, are: MODERATOR-ELECT: Ruthann
Knechel Johansen, Belita D. Mitchell; ANNUAL CONFERENCE COUNCIL:
Earle Fike Jr., James F. Myer; PROGRAM AND ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE:
Sonja Pauline Griffith, Kristi A. Kellerman; PASTORAL COMPENSATION
AND BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Jill I. Loomis, David Shoup;
REVIEW AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE: Dale W. Brown, Wanda Will Button,
Michaela Camps, Rebecca Baile Crouse, Craig L. Gandy, Paul Hoffman,
Brian Mackie, James Edward Martinez, Janet Ober, Orlando Redekopp;
ASSOCIATION OF BRETHREN CAREGIVERS: Brian S. Black, Tammy (Craig)
Kiser, Patrick R. Liley, Heather L. Neff; BETHANY THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY TRUSTEE--MINISTRY: John David Bowman, Craig Alan Myers;
BETHANY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY TRUSTEE--LAITY: Ted Flory, Mary
Patterson Wysong; BRETHREN BENEFIT TRUST: Sally A. Brubaker, Carol
Ann Jackson Greenwood; ON EARTH PEACE: Janice Dull Eller, Sarah
Quinter Malone; COMMITTEE ON INTERCHURCH RELATIONS: Ilexene
Alphonse, Rene Quintanilla.

On March 4 the Annual Conference Information Packet on CD including
registration and housing information will be mailed in a Source
packet to each congregation; on March 10 the Information Packet
will be available on the Annual Conference website at
www.brethren.org. This year, housing registration will be made by
mail only and will begin March 11. Online registration for the
Conference will be available on the website.

The 2005 registration fee schedule for adult non-delegates is $75
for the whole conference if pre-registered, $85 onsite; $40
pre-registered for the weekend only, $50 onsite; and $25 for daily
registrations. For more information about children's rates, rates
for Brethren Volunteer Service workers, and group discounts, see
the website. The Conference hotel price range this year is $70-$92
with an 11.5 percent hotel room tax.

2) Church of the Brethren, American Baptist leadership teams meet.

Leadership teams from the Church of the Brethren General Board and
the American Baptist Churches USA met Feb. 7 at the New Windsor
(Md.) Conference Center, following up a similar meeting a year ago
at American Baptist headquarters in Valley Forge, Pa. The two
denominations have had an associated relationship since 1973 and
have been renewing connections over the last two years.

The meeting began with worship and then noted the variety of ways
in which the two denominations are interacting. Among newest
developments: the American Baptists were pleased by a request that
an American Baptist be appointed to the Church of the Brethren
Annual Conference committee studying ways to become a more
multicultural church, and have made an appointment to that
committee; the president of American Baptist-affiliated Judson
College in Elgin, Ill., attended a Church of the Brethren
consultation on church-college connections Feb. 10-12 at Manchester
College; and Belita Mitchell, chair of the Church of the Brethren
Committee on Interchurch Relations, attended the American Baptist
Committee on Christian Unity.

The group spent time discussing Brethren approaches to working at
reconciliation in situations of conflict. The session was led by
Annie Clark, program coordinator of Conflict Transformation for On
Earth Peace. In other conversations the group shared experiences
about specific areas of denominational work, including long-range
planning, new church planting, and overseas mission. A tour of the
Brethren Service Center gave the American Baptists the opportunity
to see the warehousing and distribution work of Church World
Service and Interchurch Medical Assistance, as well as their own
"White Cross" program.

American Baptists attending the meeting were Roy Medley, general
secretary, and members of the executive leadership council: Sumner
Grant, Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board; Margaret Cowden,
National Ministries; and Charles Jones, International Ministries.
>From the Church of the Brethren General Board leadership team,
participants were Stan Noffsinger, general secretary, and executive
directors of the General Board's ministry areas: Judy Keyser,
Centralized Resources; Merv Keeney, Global Mission Partnerships;
Wendy McFadden, Brethren Press; Roy Winter, Brethren Service
Center; and Del Keeney, Congregational Life Ministries.

3) On Earth Peace gives peace resource to ministry students.

On Earth Peace is giving a copy of Dale Brown's book "Biblical
Pacifism" to each ministry student and minister-in-training in the
Church of the Brethren. With a concern for pastoral leadership
well-grounded in the scriptural basis of the teachings of the
church, On Earth Peace is donating copies of the book to students
at Bethany Theological Seminary and its Susquehana Valley
Satellite, and all participants in the nondegree ministry training
programs TRIM and ACTS. In addition, the book will be available to
students in district-based ministry training programs.

On Earth Peace also has offered to provide leadership for seminars
or Bible studies focused on the book by Brown, a retired Bethany
professor who continues to teach as adjunct faculty for the
seminary's satellite program.

Leaders of ministry training programs were appreciative. "Let me
express deep gratitude for this generous gift to the students.
Dale's book is timeless and important," said Amy Gall Ritchie,
director of student development at Bethany.

The gift of hundreds of books is made possible by a donation from
longtime supporters of On Earth Peace. "We deeply appreciate the
initiative and generosity of these donors," said Bob Gross,
co-executive director. "We are always glad for this kind of
partnership with other denominational institutions, and with
committed individual members who care about the faithfulness and
vitality of the church."

4) Brethren bits: Remembrance, personnel, and more.

*Florence (Flossie) Miller Royer, a longtime mission worker with
the Church of the Brethren, died Feb. 25 in Ft. Wayne, Ind. She and
her husband, Ralph, served with the church in Niger and Nigeria for
35 years. Royer began her mission work in Nigeria 1951-55 as a
nurse in the mission-run leprosarium. She received her nursing
degree from the nursing school at Swedish Covenant Hospital. In
1957 the Royers returned to Nigeria where she continued to work as
a nurse in hospitals and dispensaries and her husband worked as an
educator. Royer also served as a houseparent at Hillcrest School in
Jos, Nigeria, and was a leader in Girl's Brigade, a Christian
organization for Nigerian girls similar to Girl Scouts. In 1976 the
couple moved to Niger during a time of drought and famine to do
community development work on behalf of the church. There in 1980
Flossie began a six-year term as a nurse in a Peace Corps medical
unit while Ralph helped develop appropriate technology and then led
the work of Church World Service in Niger. The Royers also served
with Church World Service in Liberia. The Royers spoke three
African languages--Margi, Bura, and Hausa--as well as French. Since
1987 the Royers have lived in Claypool, Ind., where they farmed and
built an energy-efficient home. They have been active in Eel River
Community Church of the Brethren, Silver Lake, Ind. A memorial
service is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 4, at the church.

*Brethren Press and the Mennonite Publishing Network, which are
jointly sponsoring the new Gather `Round Sunday school curriculum,
have secured two additional staff for the project. Amy Gingerich of
Washington, D.C., has begun as fulltime managing editor. She has a
master of divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion and
writing and editing experience with newspapers in Indiana and
California. Terry Stutzman Mast of Lodi, Calif., has begun as
half-time associate editor. Mast is a graduate of Bluffton College
in Ohio, a degree in writing from Illinois State University, and
background in writing, design, and editing for a variety of
magazines and projects. Gingerich and Mast join Gather 'Round
project director Anna Speicher on the curriculum staff.

*Mark Hartwig will begin March 28 as computer and programming
specialist for the General Board in Elgin, Ill. His background
includes positions as computer coordinator/trainer and Information
Services manager. He also holds a master's degree in pastoral
studies and is a spiritual director.

*Diane Graefen of East Dundee, Ill., has begun as Annual Conference
registration coordinator, a temporary position through June 10. Her
primary responsibilities are registration for delegates and
non-delegates attending the Conference July 2-6 in Peoria, Ill.

*On Earth Peace, an agency of the Church of the Brethren with
responsibility for peace and reconciliation ministries, seeks a
program coordinator for Peacemaker Formation to work at its office
at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The position
plans and coordinates overall peace education program including
retreats for youth and peace resource programs, interpretation, and
cooperative projects. Qualifications are commitment to Christian
peacemaking; experience with faith-based education; understanding
of conflict resolution, justice issues, nonviolence, and the
scriptural basis of peacemaking; ability to work independently and
in a team; communication and computer skills and organizational
ability; willingness to travel; familiarity with the Church of the
Brethren; and a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. For
position description see
www.brethren.org/oepa/PeacemakerFormationCoordinator.html. The
position is available Aug. 15. Review of applications begins April
30 until the position is filled. Send resume, letter of
application, and contact information for three to four references
to both On Earth Peace executive directors: Barbara Sayler,
bsayler_oepa@brethren.org, 502-222-5886; and Bob Gross,
bgross@igc.org, 260-982-7751. E-mail with attachments is the
preferred form of application. If applying by post or fax send to:
Search Committee, On Earth Peace, P.O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD
21776-0188; fax 410-635-8707.

*The General Board seeks a part-time (15 hours per week) promotions
specialist for "Messenger" magazine, location negotiable. The
position is available spring of 2005, with funding available for
two years. The promotions specialist will work with congregations
and small groups to increase subscriptions to "Messenger." The
ideal candidate has abilities in the areas of marketing or
promotions and strong knowledge of the Church of the Brethren
including familiarity with "Messenger"; is skilled in oral and
written communication and is proficient in Word, Quark Xpress,
other graphic design tools, and Internet use; and has a minimum of
an associate's degree or equivalent, with a bachelor's degree
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 April 15.

*Today the General Board's Global Mission Partnerships hosted
Church World Service regional director Janet Young and a delegation
of eight church leaders from Argentina at the Church of the
Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The group is visiting the
US to observe church ministries responding to hunger, homelessness,
and poverty. They visited Elgin's Interfaith Food Pantry and met
with Elgin Cooperative Ministries, PADS (a cooperative organization
of churches providing shelter to the homeless), and the Community
Crisis Center. The delegation will spend about two weeks in
Illinois and Nebraska and conclude the trip at the Ecumenical
Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C.

*The Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., will
host a by-invitation-only Anabaptist Consultation on Alternative
Service March 4-5. The meeting will bring together more than 85
people from the historic peace churches--Church of the Brethren,
Mennonites, Brethren in Christ, and Friends (Quakers)--and other
peacemaking traditions to do contingency planning in case of a
military draft, discuss increased military recruitment, and
highlight the tradition of service. The Council of Moderators and
Secretaries, a group of leaders from Anabaptist denominations, is
sponsoring the consultation.

*Two more 2005 Level 1 Disaster Child Care Training Workshops have
been announced, in addition to those listed in the Newsline of Feb.
2. The additional workshops for those interested in becoming child
care volunteers following disasters will be held Sept. 16-17 at Oak
Grove Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., and Nov. 11-12 at
Brook Park (Ohio) Community Church of the Brethren. For more
information call Helen Stonesifer at 800-451-4407 (option 5) or see
www.disasterchildcare.org.

*Brochures and registration forms are available for the Retreat for
Clergy Women Nov. 14-17, sponsored by the General Board's Ministry
Office. The retreat in East Troy, Wis., is for licensed and
ordained clergywomen in the Church of the Brethren. Leadership will
be provided by Jan Richardson, an artist, writer, and ordained
United Methodist minister. Registration is $175 before June 1, $200
before Aug. 1, with a discount for fulltime seminary or TRIM
students. Contact Myrna Wheeler, 608 Santa Cruz Ct., San Dimas, CA
91773-3332.

*Members of Hope Church of the Brethren in Freeport, Mich.,
combined talents on Feb. 12 to produce a show called "Love Blooms
on Hopeful Prairie," in the vein of Garrison Keillor's "Prairie
Home Companion." James Kinsey, a member of the General Board's
Congregational Life Teams, organized the show to celebrate the area
served by the church, according to an article in the "Lakewood
News." The show benefitted Habitat for Humanity. Contact Kinsey for
a copy of the script, which is available for use by anyone who is
interested; e-mail jkinsey_gb@brethren.org

*Williamson Road Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., will host
"Awakening 2005" on March 10-12. Bridgewater (Va.) College will
provide leadership for the event with Robbie Miller, director of
Religious Life and college chaplain, speaking Thursday evening; the
college's Concert Choir, Chorale, and Bell Choir performing Friday
to begin their spring concert season; and William Abshire,
associate professor of Religion, bringing the message Saturday
evening. The Thursday and Saturday services will begin with a hymn
sing at 7 p.m., with the services and the Friday concert beginning
at 7:30 p.m. Child care will be provided and rides are available
for residents of Friendship Manor. For more information call the
church at 540-366-0291.

*Beatrice Biira of Uganda will be the featured speaker at a Heifer
International information forum and fundraising banquet 6 p.m.
March 14 at Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren, Quarryville, Pa.
Biira will explain how the gift of a goat helped her fulfill her
lifelong dream of going to school. She is a freshman at Connecticut
College. Cost is $135 for a table of eight. For more information
e-mail wjb@paonline.com.

*Eighteen Brethren congregations met together for a service to
benefit York (Pa.) Habitat for Humanity Feb. 27. The hymn and
praise service was at First Church of the Brethren in York.

*Twenty two people gathered in Wonder Valley in the foothills below
Sequoia National Park for a retreat for licensed ministers in
Pacific South West District Feb. 5-6. The retreat was planned to
offer encouragement, educational experiences, and opportunities for
ministers to support each other, reported R. Jan Thompson. "Spouses
were invited to attend so they could also learn to know others who
are seeking to fulfill a call into some form of ministry," he said.
Del Keeney, the General Board's executive director of
Congregational Life Ministries, provided leadership, drawing upon
his years of experience in the pastoral ministry. Planning Sunday
morning worship as a group was a highlight of the weekend. Bryan
Boyer, district executive, also led the group in a full love feast.
For a few attendees, it was the first time to participate in
feetwashing. Licensed ministers traveled as far as 740 miles
because of the large geographic size of the district.

*Southern Pennsylvania District is holding its First Annual
Missions Dinner at 6 p.m. March 5 at Chambersburg (Pa.) Church of
the Brethren. The featured speaker is Irvin Heishman, General Board
mission staff in the Dominican Republic. Cost is $10. An offering
will be taken to support the denomination's work in the DR. For
more information see www.cob-net.org/church/.

*Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, Ohio, is hosting "Cherry Lodge
Get-Away: Peace Skills for the Family" March 11-12, with leadership
from On Earth Peace and Northern Ohio District's Peace Task Team
and district Peace/Conciliation worker Russ Veal. Overnight charge
is $15 per person. For more information call 419-945-2327 or
330-484-1106, or e-mail djparker@bright.net or vealrev@aol.com.

*Bridgewater (Va.) College's 45-voice Concert Choir will perform at
Brethren congregations during its spring tour: 7:30 p.m. March 11
at the Roanoke Valley Churches of the Brethren Awakening Service at
Williamson Road Church of the Brethren; 7:30 p.m. March 12 at
Antioch Church of the Brethren, Rocky Mount, Va.; 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, March 13, at Peters Creek Church of the Brethren, Roanoke;
3 p.m. March 13 at Charlottesville (Va.) Church of the Brethren;
7:30 p.m. March 13 at Waynesboro (Va.) Church of the Brethren; 7:30
p.m. April 1 at Somerset (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; 7:30 p.m.
April 2 at Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; 10:40 a.m. Sunday
April 3 at Waynesboro (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; and 11 a.m.
Sunday April 10 at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren.
Concerts will feature, in addition to the choir, the 23-voice
Chorale and student-directed Handbell Choir. The choir and chorale
are directed by Jesse E. Hopkins, the Edwin L. Turner Distinguished
Professor of Music who was choir director for the 2004 Annual
Conference. Repertory includes requiem movements from works by
Brahms, Durufle, Faure, and Mozart, as well as works by
contemporary composers.

*Church World Service (CWS) is working with WorldManna.org on an
interfaith initiative to persuade the food industry to donate one
percent of proceeds to hunger. Established in June 2004,
WorldManna.org is an interfaith program initiated by
SocialAction.com of Jewish Family & Life. Proceeds will go to
international nonprofits. "By amassing the collective purchasing
power of consumers, faith-based organizations are sending a clear
message to food manufacturers to compel them to join us in the
worldwide effort to alleviate and prevent world hunger," said CWS
executive director John L. McCullough. Consumers visit
www.worldmanna.org to sign a pledge indicating how much they spend
on groceries each month. With this collective purchasing power,
WorldManna.org hopes to persuade food companies to exchange one
percent of profits for permission to put the WorldManna.org seal on
their products, as a sign that the purchase directly fights hunger.
WorldManna.org estimates that the 7,900 who have signed the pledge
already represent a purchasing power of more than $1.3 million.

5) Grace Mishler completes term of service in Vietnam.

Grace Mishler of Union Center Church of the Brethren, Nappanee,
Ind., has completed a four-year term of service in Vietnam on Feb.
28. She was jointly sponsored by the General Board and Eastern
Mennonite Missions. While serving in Ho Chi Minh City at National
Vietnam University, she networked and empowered people with
disabilities.

Mishler developed a course titled, "Social Awareness of Persons
with Disabilities." She not only opened doors for those with
disabilities to take a greater role in Vietnamese society, but also
began a grassroots movement that has given people with disabilities
an authentic voice, reported the board's Global Mission
Partnerships Office.

After a period of settling back in to the US, Mishler will share
her experiences in Vietnam with congregations and other groups.
Contact Janis Pyle, coordinator for Mission Connections, at
800-323-8039 ext. 227.

6) Health Promotion Sunday explores impact of uncompensated care.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) invites Church of the
Brethren congregations to consider "Exploring the Impact of
Uncompensated Care" on Health Promotion Sunday May 15.

The Fellowship of Brethren Homes, a ministry of ABC, has brought
the issue to the attention of church leaders and the denomination
through a booklet titled "The Burden of Uncompensated Care in
Brethren Retirement Centers and the Church." The booklet will be
included in the Health Promotion Sunday packet from ABC. Other
materials will discuss when to consider different levels of care
and long-term care insurance, and offer worship and sermon ideas.

"When older adults are encouraged to gift away their assets and
rely on federal programs to cover their care expenses, there are
moral implications," said ABC in a release about the event. Federal
and state programs have severely curtailed reimbursement for this
kind of care, causing Brethren retirement centers to provide as
much as $14 million annually in uncompensated care rather than
moving out residents who can no longer pay for their care, ABC
said.

Health Promotion Sunday resources are available at
www.brethren.org/abc/. A printed version can be requested at no
charge by calling ABC at 800-323-8039. ABC sponsors Health
Promotion Sunday for the Church of the Brethren each year.

7) Early registration for Bethany worship conference due soon.

March 8 is the early registration deadline for "Hebrews
12:28--Brimming With Worship," a conference celebrating music and
the arts in worship April 8-10 in Richmond, Ind. A late
registration fee of $30 will be added after March 8. The conference
is part of Bethany Theological Seminary's centennial celebration
and is funded by the Rosenberger Memorial Recital Series and the
Stephen I. Katonah Endowment for Faith and the Arts.

Keynote speakers are Sally Morgenthaler, founder of
Sacramentis.com--Re-imagining Worship for a New Millennium; James
Abbington, professor of Music at Morgan State University and
executive editor of the African American Church Music Series from
GIA Publications, Inc.; and Nadine Pence Frantz, professor of
Theological Studies at Bethany, who is developing reflections
around images of Jesus as the Christ and a book using visual art to
engage with the theological task. Each speaker, as well as a
variety of other leaders, will give workshops. Workshops will be
offered on a variety of topics including choral directing, drama,
worship centers, banners, technology, organ and piano performance,
and storytelling.

Registration including three lunches and three nights' lodging is
$229 for the first person from a congregation, $159 for others.
Commuter registration (no lodging) is $99 for the first person from
a congregation, $69 for others. Participants qualify for 1.5
continuing education units. Registration forms were mailed in the
March Source packet to all Brethren congregations. Registration
forms also are available at www.bethanyseminary.edu or may be
requested from 800-287-8822 or bethanysem@aol.com.

8) New Believers Church Bible Commentary on Proverbs is published.

The Proverbs Believers Church Bible Commentary by John W. Miller
has been published by Herald Press. The book may be ordered from
Brethren Press for $24.99 plus shipping and handling, call
800-441-3712. It is the 19th volume in the commentary series, a
cooperative venture of Anabaptist denominations and other groups.

Miller is professor emeritus at Conrad Grebel University College,
an affiliate of the University of Waterloo in Canada. The
commentary "is unique for its detailed uncovering of evidence for
two editions of Proverbs, a first in the time of Solomon and a
second in support of King Hezekiah's historic religious reforms,"
a release from Herald Press said. "In this light heretofore
puzzling features of the book's design, purpose, and message are
clarified and the book's relevance for its time and ours is greatly
enhanced."

9) `Tenderness Tours' leave a trail of awe, appreciation.

By Tom Mullen

Richard Propes likes to travel. Since 1989 he has visited over a
hundred cities and towns in Indiana, and many others in Kentucky
and Ohio. What makes those visits extraordinary is that Richard is
a paraplegic, and all those trips totaling over 3,000 miles were
made in his self-propelled wheelchair.

Richard was born with spina bifida and later lost both feet to
amputation due to infection. He was also abused as a child, and so
he has been riding his wheelchair since 1989 hoping to get our
attention and help in the fight against child abuse. We met him
when he started attending the Northview Church of the Brethren in
Indianapolis and since have become acquainted with his remarkable
journey.

Richard calls his wheelchair trips "Tenderness Tours" and how they
began and what they've become is a remarkable story. In his own
words: "When I began the `Tenderness Tours' in 1989, I never
expected it to become a lifelong journey. I had no plan, no agenda,
no vision beyond speaking my own truth and healing myself and,
hopefully, a few others along the way.... In October 1989, I left
Indianapolis from the downtown office of Prevent Child Abuse
Indiana with no support team, a backpack on my chair, $20 in my
pocket and a few letters proclaiming my mission.... In some way, I
must confess, I hoped this tour would be a 'final mission' in my
pathetic life.

"Instead, I experienced rebirth after 41 days and 1,086 miles on
the roads of Indiana. I traveled by wheelchair the entire way,
dependent on the kindness of strangers for my very survival. I was
never let down. I came home with a renewed faith in God and
humanity, knowing my disability did not define me, my child abuse
did not define me.... I came home with a mission for my life."

And how his life has progressed. In addition to his many wheelchair
excursions around the Midwest, including one from Indianapolis to
Chicago, he has flown to St. Louis, Denver, several cities in
Arizona and Orlando, Fla., where he received the Donna J. Stone
Award, which recognizes nationally the top volunteer working to
prevent child abuse. His efforts have raised something close to
$100,000, every penny of which goes to charities that deal with
child or domestic abuse.

He accepts donations for his cause, hospitality along the way, and
often speaks or meets with sponsoring organizations. Sometimes
volunteers escort him or help with logistics and publicity. Some
physicians and nurses have provided medical care when needed.
Mostly, however, he is self-reliant. One item on a list of needs he
showed me demonstrated his modest attitude toward what he does:
"Donation of a new/gently used sports wheelchair for use during
tour events (a demo model would be acceptable)."

A graduate summa cum laude from Martin University with a degree in
counseling psychology, he has supported himself and does not
receive disability benefits. At this writing he was waiting for the
results of a third vocational interview for a position with a
mentoring agency in Indianapolis. Richard lives in a modest
northeast home which he purchased, drives his own car, and is
considering enrolling in seminary next year.

Many others besides this writer have been impressed by this modest,
unassuming, funny man who lives his life with commitment, joy,
and--so far as I could tell--total lack of self-pity. If all his
awards, keys to cities, plaques, and certificates were laid end to
end, including having been named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov.
Frank O'Bannon, well, it would take Richard a long time to wheel
past all of them. And to the surprise of no one who is acquainted
with Richard Propes, in 1999 he founded the Tenderness Award to
recognize outstanding contributions to Indiana's children. He not
only wins honors, he honors others as well.

Every so often we meet people whom it is easy to admire because
they live exemplary lives. Some prove to be genuinely modest, full
of good humor, and living their lives with faith and courage.
Richard Propes has been such a person for me. I hope you'll meet
him sometime along the way. He'll be driving a four-wheeler with a
backpack attached and probably wearing a smile. Say "hi" and tell
him thanks.

--Tom Mullen of Richmond, Ind., is an ordained minister, author,
and public speaker. This article is reprinted with permission of
the "Palladium-Item," where it was originally published Jan. 30.

*****************************************************************
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. Mary
Dulabaum, Mary Kay Heatwole, Mary Lou Garrison, Bob Gross, Wendy
McFadden, Janis Pyle, Marcia Shetler, and R. Jan Thompson
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.


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