wfn.org | Newsline: Cross-Cultural event focuses on African-American, youth cultures

[cobnews <cobnews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

CROSS-CULTURAL EVENTS FOCUSES ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN, YOUTH CULTURES

(May 26, 2009) Elgin, IL -- Sunshine. Smiles. Good music. Great food. Warm  hospitality. Building understanding. Sharing the love of God. These are jus t a few of the ways to describe the Church of the Brethren's 11th Cross-Cul tural Consultation and Celebration held April 23-25 in Miami, Fla.

Hosted by Eglise des Freres Haitiens (Miami Haitian Church of the Brethren)  and Miami First Church of the Brethren, 80 attendees joined together to le arn from each other and prepare for sharing witness with others.

Under the theme "The Pentecostal's Mandate," this year's consultation kicke d off a new emphasis: learning about the cultures that form the Church of t he Brethren today. Developed in response to a request by past consultation  participants, the steering committee hopes an emphasis on the beliefs, cust oms, and traditions of the various cultural groups among the Brethren will  build on the friendships and fellowship that form at each event with a chan ce to learn about sisters' and brothers' experiences and realities. In turn , the Holy Spirit can prepare participants to share their witness across cu ltures, whether near to home or far away.

Opening worship featured Vicki Minyard of Los Angeles, Calif., speaking abo ut doing more today to share the Good News with those living around us. Min yard shared the story of her recovery and faith journey to become an ordain ed minister in the Church of the Brethren. "Wow! It is amazing how God equi pped me for such a task through the Holy Spirit," she said.

A first morning plenary session featured a "lectio divina" Bible study on A cts 1:1-9, with many groups reading and sharing in English, Spanish, and Ha itian Creole. The afternoon session focused on the beliefs, traditions, and  customs of African-American church members. Featured speakers were pastor  Thomas Dowdy and James Washington from Imperial Heights Church of the Breth ren in Los Angeles. Dowdy spoke on themes related specifically to church li fe in an African-American context, such as "talking" to the preacher during  the sermon. Washington, a member of the denomination's Anti-Racism Team, d iscussed recent history of the African-American experience in contemporary  society. Attendees were encouraged to share their own experiences with raci sm, relationship building, and brokenness.

Dowdy and Washington also team preached during an evening worship service,  following the day's emphasis on the African-American tradition. The service  also featured a posthumous presentation of this year's "Revelation 7:9 Awa rd" to Guillermo Encarnación of Lancaster, Pa. The award was presented to  his wife, Gladys Encarnación. The award honors Encarnación's dedicatio n to including Hispanic Brethren from the US, Puerto Rico, and the Dominica n Republic in the life of the denomination.

Another morning session was an opportunity for two young church leaders to  present on the culture of youth and young adults. Founa Augustin of Eglise  des Freres Haitiens in Miami, gave a summary of the generations in our soci ety, then discussed how church members and parents can stay in touch with y oung people and continue to guide them as they grow. Marcus Harden of Miami  First Church of the Brethren shared how to include youth and young adults  in church life, and their readiness and willingness to be leaders now.

A Saturday afternoon session was led by Darin Short with a presentation on  moving toward being an intercultural Church of the Brethren. The evening's  closing worship service was planned and led by youth from the host congrega tions.

The steering committee also took the privilege during the Friday and Saturd ay night services to express appreciation for Duane Grady's and Carol Yeaze ll's service to intercultural ministry over the past 10 years.

This year's consultation was shown as a live Webcast, allowing long-distanc e participation for anyone who found it difficult to travel to Miami. Song  requests, questions, and reflections submitted by viewing participants were  shared with the larger group, allowing for their inclusion. Consensus amon g the Webcast participants was that they greatly appreciated the opportunit y to share in the experience and hoped it could continue in the future.

Go to the Bethany Theological Seminary website www.bethanyseminary.edu/cros scultural2009 to view daily sessions and worship services.

The event was planned and led by the Church of the Brethren's Cross-Cultura l Ministries Steering Committee: Founa Agustin, Barbara Daté, Thomas Dowd y, Carla Gillespie, Sonja Griffith, Robert Jackson, Nadine Monn, Marisel Ol ivencia, Gilbert Romero, and Dennis Webb. Next year's Cross-Cultural Consul tation and Celebration will be held on April 23-25.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing 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 t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 125,000 members across the Unit ed States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria,  Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

(This report was provided by Nadine Monn, a member of the Cross-Cultural Mi nistries Steering Committee for the Church of the Brethren.)

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org