wfn.org | Disciples News Briefs - September 9, 2005

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

Disciples News Briefs
September 9, 2005
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Wanda Bryant Wills, Editor
E-mail: News@cm.disciples.org

DISCIPLES CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA
People of faith are reaching out in countless ways to assist those
affected by the devastation left in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As
evacuees from New Orleans, La., and parts of Mississippi, fan out across
the country in search of jobs, housing and other basic necessities, those
in the religious community are lending a helping hand by offering a place
to stay, preparing a meal, or simply offering a listening ear.

In South Carolina, members of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
in Columbia are helping to arrange for approximately 5,000 displaced
persons to be accommodated in that city. In Texas, Herbert L. Lynskey,
Coastal Plains Area Minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) in the Southwest, has been among those working to address the
basic human needs of the some of the more than 200,000 hurricane survivors
who are now in Houston. Lynskey notes that nearly every Disciples church
in the area is helping in some way, including working with other faith
leaders to serve about 5,000 meals to displaced persons in the convention
center. To read more about the efforts of Lynskey, Disciples congregations
and other faith-based groups in Houston go to: http://www.disasternews.net/news/news.php?articleid=2813

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The hurricane, and the toll it has taken on a disproportionately large
number of African Americans, has been a searing reminder of issues of race
and class in this country. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President,
offered some reflections on what it means to be a Christian and a Disciple
in light of the hurricane crisis. Watkins reminds the church of its
commitment to become an anti-racist, pro-reconciling institution. Read her
comments at http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/reconciliationletter.htm

For the latest updates on the crisis and ways you can help, visit Week of
Compassion at http://www.weekofcompassion.org

DISCIPLES WORK TO HOST PERSONS DISPLACED BY HURRICANE KATRINA
Disciples Home Mission's Refugee and Immigration Ministries (RIM) program
is receiving housing offers from Disciples congregations in response to
the suffering of those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Already, over 100
congregations across the country have offered to host people displaced by
the devastation. RIM will not place persons with individual families, only
with congregations. A congregation may choose to house a person with an
individual family if they wish, as long as the congregation remains
involved. You can add your congregation to that list by contacting
Jennifer Riggs, Director of Refugee and Immigration Ministries, at
jriggs@dhm.disciples.org or 888-346-2631.

HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY
Disciples Volunteering will serve as the primary Disciples contact for
volunteer work opportunities throughout the duration of the recovery
process. If you are interested in participating in Hurricane Disaster
Relief, please contact our Disaster Volunteer Response Coordinator, Robin
Zerweck at 317-713-2670; 888-346-2631 ext. 2670; or at disasterresponse@dhm.disciples.org. You will be asked to fill out a Response Form and as work
becomes available, individuals/groups will be contacted about work
opportunities. Disciples Volunteering working in partnership with Week of
Compassion, and the Great River and Alabama-NW Florida Regions will be
involved in Hurricane Katrina Relief and Recovery work for as long as we
are needed.

As always, Disciples want to honor the first rule of disaster response,
"Don't create another disaster." VIM will be identifying and setting up
Disciples Disaster Response Sites where people will be able to go and work
in a safe, responsible and helpful way. More details about work opportunities will be announced by the end of next week, following site visits to the
area by Johnny Wray, Director of Week of Compassion, and Carl Zerweck,
Director of Disciples Volunteering. In the meantime, please pray, donate
to Week of Compassion, fill out a Volunteer Response Form, work with
displaced persons who have arrived in your community, and put together
Church World Service Gifts of the Heart Kits. Watch the following websites
for updates: http://www.weekofcompassion.org; http://www.discipleshomemissions.org; http://www.disciples.org. Your support and responses are greatly
appreciated!

FORMER GMP JOINS DC-BASED ADVOCACY CENTER
Former General Minister and President Wm. Chris Hobgood recently joined
the staff of the Disciples Center for Public Witness at National City
Christian Church in Washington, D.C. The ministry and mission of the
Center is to promote greater and more effective public policy advocacy
among the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Hobgood, who helped
create the Center, will serve as the Distinguished Senior Fellow for
African and Global Affairs. Read the full release at: http://home.comcast.net/~disciplescenter/alertsmain.html

KANSAS CHRISTIAN HOME HOSTS LEGACY OF JOHN FUNDRAISING DINNER
The Friends of Kansas Christian Home (KCH) dedicated the purchase of the
Kansas Christian Home on Aug. 27 during the 20th annual Legacy of John
fundraising banquet in Wichita, Kan. Earlier this year, KCH was reclaimed
from the bankruptcy proceedings of the National Benevolent Association.
The sold-out banquet resulted in record giving in the amount of more than
$76,000, with donations continuing to arrive. The money will be used to
assure that residents of KCH whose funds have been depleted will be able
to remain in the facility. Read the full story at: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0558.htm

SEARCH PROCESS BEGINS FOR NATIONAL HISPANIC PASTOR
The Hispanic Caucus and the Pastoral Commission for Hispanic Ministries of
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is searching for nominations of
candidates for the position of National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries.
The National Pastor is the executive officer of the Central Pastoral
Office for Hispanic Ministries, and is responsible for developing programs
and offering pastoral care to Hispanic ministers, lay leaders and
congregations, as well as advocating for Hispanic Disciples within the
regional and general expressions of the Disciples community of faith. All
nominations must be received by Sept. 29 and submitted to Hilda Robles,
hrobles@cpohm.disciples.org.
For detailed information on requirements for and responsibilities of the
position in English, go to: http://www.disciples.org/internal/NHPAnuncio.pdf
For a Spanish version go to: http://www.disciples.org/internal/NHPProcesoBusquedaSpanish.pdf

ENGAGE YOUR CONGREGATION IN GLOBAL MISSION
Global Ministries invites you to attend "Going Global: Engaging Your
Congregation in Global Mission," an ecumenical event sponsored and
organized by students and staff from Christian Theological Seminary (CTS)
in Indianapolis, Ind. The event will be held Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
at CTS. The keynote speaker is Jim Capps, Senior Pastor at Southport
Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis. Check out displays and create action
plans in hands-on workshops on global mission in worship, small churches,
mission for all ages, advocacy and other issues led by grassroots
mission-energized congregations. You can also bring a display and share
your own passion for mission. The registration fee is $25 (includes lunch)
and the registration deadline is Oct. 1. For more information and a
registration form, contact Sarah Blossom, sblossom@cts.edu

APPLICATIONS MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR SMALL-CHURCH CLERGY CONFERENCE
Small-church clergy are invited to apply now for The Summer Collegium, an
ecumenical project of Virginia Theological Seminary's Center for Lifetime
Theological Education in Alexandria, Va. The Summer Collegium seeks to
celebrate ministry in smaller congregations (fewer than 100 average Sunday
attendance) by hosting a nine-day conference for 25 small-church clergy
and their spouses/partners. The conference will bring small-church experts
from a variety of denominations together for education, encouragement,
refreshment and renewal, and will include a small church religious arts
festival, showcasing the arts and crafts of local small congregations. All
transportation, housing, meals, books, and other expenses are paid by the
seminary through a grant from the Lilly Endowment. Completed applications
must be received by December 15, to be considered for next summer's
conference to be held June 21-29, 2006. For more information and for
application materials, please visit: http://www.vts.edu/education/collegium
TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY HOSTS LECTURE BY RELIGIOUS SCHOLAR AND AUTHOR
Scholar and author Karen Armstrong, one of today's most provocative
thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world and the history of
fundamentalism in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, will speak at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky., Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Haggin Auditorium. A former Roman Catholic nun, Armstrong's books have been translated into
40 languages, and The History of God was an international best-seller.
Currently, she is an instructor at Leo Back College for the Training of
Rabbis in London, England. The lecture, which is free and open to the
public, will be followed by a question and answer session. For more
information go to: http://www.transy.edu/news/content/new_story.asp-id-217-object-index

WORKSHOP OFFERED ON FAITH-BASED SEXUALITY EDUCATION FOR YOUTH
The Indiana Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice in Indianapolis is
hosting a comprehensive sexuality program entitled "Teaching Wholeness,
Not Fear: Faith-Based Comprehensive Sexuality Education for Youth -
Information and Resources for Successful Programs." Research shows that
comprehensive sexuality education is more effective than abstinence-only
programs for both religious and non-religious teens in helping them
maintain good health and prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted
infections. This multi-faith conference for clergy, religious educators,
youth leaders, parents and others who want to help youth make informed,
responsible decisions will be held Sept. 18 from 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. at
Northminister Presbyterian Church. The keynote speaker is Steve Clapp,
minister, President of the Christian Community and author of Faith
Matters: Teenagers, Religion and Sexuality. For more information or to
register, go to: http://www.ircrc.org/activities.html

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DNS Writer: Kenethia Jackson

*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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