Title: Womaen's Caucus works on women's concerns among Brethren Subject: Church of the Brethren Newsline Date: April 27, 2006 From: Church of the Brethren News Services Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford V: 847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103 E-mail: cobnews@brethren.org
WOMAEN'S CAUCUS STEERING COMMITTEE WORKS ON
WOMEN'S CONCERNS IN THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
April 27, 2006 (Elgin, IL) -- Audrey deCoursey, Jan Eller, Carla Kilgore, Lucy Loomis, and Deb Peterson gathered in Fort Wayne, Ind., March 24- 26 as the Steering Committee for Womaen's Caucus. The caucus is a Church of the Brethren-related organization.
The committee worshiped, sang, and prayed together, and worked on the business of women's concerns in the Church of the Brethren. Members of Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren hosted the committee members.
During three days of meeting, the steering committee celebrated the positive comments they had received regarding the last issue of the Womaen's Caucus newsletter, "Femailings," which was on family planning, and planned future issues of "Femailings."
Meeting time also included planning for several activities at the 2006 Annual Conference: a luncheon with Mary Cline Detrick, pastor of Daleville (Va.) Church of the Brethren, as speaker; participation in an insight session on domestic violence sponsored by On Earth Peace; hosting a booth in the exhibit hall; and supporting a hospitality center sponsored by Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Interests (BMC) with Voices for an Open Spirit (VOS).
In addition to this practical work, steering committee members discussed how the role of women in the church has been changing, and held a carry-in dinner and discussion time with Womaen's Caucus supporters from six congregations in the region. The discussion included how people can be supportive of women in the set-apart ministries, as well as supportive of all women in the Church of the Brethren.
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.
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For more information contact:
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Director of News Services Church of the Brethren General Board 1451 Dundee Ave. Elgin, IL 60120 800-323-8039 ext. 260 cobnews@brethren.org
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