wfn.org | Disciples News Service - April 1, 2005

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

Disciples News Briefs
April 1, 2005
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Wanda Bryant Wills, Editor
E-mail: News@cm.disciples.org 

DISASTER PLAGUES SOUTHERN ASIA AND SUDAN
Another natural disaster has once again altered the lives of many in
the earthquake and tsunami-stricken areas of south Asia. An earthquake
hit March 28 off the Indian Ocean coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, measuring
up to 8.7 on the Richter scale.  At least 1000 persons have been killed,
and hundreds more remain missing. Week of Compassion (WOC), which
provides emergency and long-term assistance to people in the aftermath
of natural and human catastrophes, anticipates receiving an appeal from
CWS in the next few days and will respond accordingly on behalf of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Turmoil also continues to plague Darfur, Sudan.  The violence, hunger
and disease associated with the last 18 months of the Darfur conflict is
estimated to have claimed the lives of around 300,000 people and
millions continue to be displaced.  This death toll estimate is more
than three times higher than previous estimates. 

For additional information, updates or information on ways Week of
Compassion is responding on behalf of Disciples to these crises and for
information on how to donate online, go to:
http://www.weekofcompassion.org 

CHRIS HOBGOOD TO JOIN HEADS OF FAITH COMMUNITIES IN CALLING FOR
POLITICAL WILL TO END HUNGER
General Minister and President Chris Hobgood, along with other
prominent religious leaders, will participate in the first Interfaith
Convocation on Hunger on June 6, at the National Cathedral in
Washington, D.C.  This event, organized by Bread for the World, will
include a call for the country's president and members of Congress to
join with Christians, Jews, Muslims and people of other faiths in a new
national commitment to end hunger.  The event will be the culmination of
One Table, Many Voices: A Mobilization to End Poverty and Hunger, a
conference that will be held June 4-7 at American University in
Washington, D.C.  The national gathering will include workshops,
plenaries and a lobby day on Capitol Hill.  For more information on the
conference, go to: http://www.onetableconference.org 

WIFE OF BISHOP OF GOLDSBORO-RALEIGH DISTRICT ASSEMBLY PASSES AWAY
Dorothy Aycock, wife of Charles Aycock, bishop of the Goldsboro-Raleigh
District Assembly, passed on March 30.	The inspirational wake will be
Sunday, April 3, from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. and the home going celebration
will be Monday, April 4, at 2 p.m.  Both services will be held at St.
Mark Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ), 700 W. Ash St., Goldsboro,
NC, 27533.  For information on where to send messages of condolences and
memorial gifts, contact Valerie J. Melvin, secretary of
Goldsboro-Raleigh District Assembly, at (919) 751-5385.    

CHURCH EXTENSION CONCLUDES 2004 IN STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION
Church Extension finished 2004 in a strong financial position, with net
income approaching $1.2 million and operational income of $207,619,
according to reports made by William J. Singer, treasurer, at the recent
Church Extension Board of Directors meeting.  Loan balances in 2004
increased by more than $11.1 million to reach $137.7 million; while
investment balances increased to $132.1 million at year end.  There were
78 loans approved in 2004, for a total of $28,287,293, to assist
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations and organizations
with building and other improvements.  For more Board meeting
highlights, go to:  http://www.churchextension.org/about/news.htm 

STUDENTS CALLED TO SOCIAL ACTION BY NEW STEP VISION
A clarified vision calling college students to social activism and 
theological dialogue is the result of March's meeting of the Student 
Ecumenical Partnership Leadership Team (STEP).	STEP is the primary
national ministry for college Disciples and is an ecumenical partnership
with the 
United Church of Christ.  Working together, the Leadership Team created
a new, succinct mission statement:  We are ecumenical college students
called by the Gospel of Jesus Christ to oppose injustice and transform
dialogue into action.  For more information on this meeting and its
results, visit: http://www.stepnetwork.org/news.html 

PARTICIPATE IN COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK MAY 1 - 8
There are 45 million Americans, including more than eight million
children with no health care coverage.	Eight out of ten uninsured
Americans either work or are in working families.  So the National
Interfaith Advisory Board and the National Council of Churches is
supporting Cover the Uninsured Week, May 1-8.  During this week,
Americans will join together to tell our leaders that health care
coverage for all Americans must be their top priority.	Become involved
by organizing discussions and events in your church and community.  The
Cover the Uninsured Week Interfaith Activities section offers planning
assistance and materials you can download and use at: 
http://www.covertheuninsuredweek.org/interfaith 

DISCIPLES PROTEST SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS
University Church in Chicago, Ill., long-term advocate of human rights
issues in Latin America, recently sent a group of parishioners to
Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress to close the School of the Americas
(SOA).	The School of the Americas is a U.S. Army school that trains
Latin American soldiers in combat.  Hundreds of thousands of Latin
Americans have suffered at the hands of graduates of the school.  
 
University Church's efforts support a resolution adopted by the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the 1999 General Assembly in
Cincinnati, Ohio.  Under intense public and Congressional pressure, the
SOA was closed in December of 2000; three weeks later it reopened with a
new name, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. 
For more information on the School of the Americas watch group and ways
that you can get involved, go to:  http://www.soaw.org 

####

Have you registered for the 2005 General Assembly that will take place
July 23-27 in Portland, Oregon? Register now by contacting your church
office or by going to: http://www.disciples.org/ga05

####

*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

5