wfn.org | CoB Newsline- Bosler, North Korea, Bethany, Brethren Press

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      June 19, 1997
Contact:  Paula Wilding
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline           June 19, 1997  

Newsline for the week of June 19. In the news today:  

1) The death sentence of James Campbell, who was convicted for 
     the 1986 murder of Brethren pastor Bill Bosler, is reduced   
     to life in prison. 
2) North Korea Seed Appeal nears its $75,000 goal. 
3) Brethren Press releases two new books. 
4) Bethany Seminary and Earlham School of Religion receive a 
     technology grant. 
5) Bethany Seminary announces a new scholarship in honor of 
     professor Jeff Bach. 
6) The 1997 Youth Peace Travel Team begins its summer tour. 
7) New Cooperative Disaster Child Care workers join CDCC's North  
     Dakota project. 
8) "Gift of the Heart" kits still are needed, says Church World 
     Service. 
9) Mesa (Ariz.) Community Church of the Brethren introduces 
     eye-catching advertising. 
10) Five Venture Forth events will be offered during its 1997-98  
     season, August-February.   

1) James Campbell, convicted of the 1986 murder of Bill Bosler,
pastor of Miami First Church of the Brethren, and for the
near-fatal attack on his daughter SueZann, on Friday was
sentenced to life in prison. In what was Campbell's third
sentencing hearing, the court trying the case ruled that Campbell
should not be sentenced to die. Campbell originally had been
sentenced to die, though the Florida Supreme Court reportedly
twice overturned that sentence (but not the conviction) based on
mistakes made during Campbell's original trial.  

SueZann Bosler, one of Bill and Phyllis Bosler's three daughters,
was called to testify at the trial. Since her father's death,
SueZann has actively voiced her opposition to the death penalty,
including at Annual Conference 1988 in St. Louis. She also has
worked with Murder Victim's Families for Reconciliation. However,
SueZann was prevented from discussing her viewpoint in court
because of a Florida law that prohibits victims from testifying
with regard to the punishment of a crime.  

However, when asked during her testimony where she works, SueZann
included MVFR in her response. For that she received a warning
from Judge Marc Schumacher and a threat of six months in jail.  

The defense included testimony that described how Campbell had
been abused as a child. It also called attention to the fact that
the seats reserved for the defendant's family were empty. The
only voice in support of Campbell was SueZanns.  

According to the Miami Herald, Judge Marc Schumacher invited
SueZann to speak after the jury's 8-4 decision was announced.  

"Thank you for giving life and not death to James Bernard
Campbell," she said. "I'm so overwhelmed.... This is the happiest
moment of the last 10 1/2 years for me. I have worked hard for
his life to be spared. Now I can go on with my life."  

SueZann was seriously wounded by Campbell with stab wounds to her
head and back. Yet, as she has addressed audiences nationwide on
behalf of MVFR, she has carried a Bible engraved with Campbell's
name. She has asked people to sign it for Campbell, and finally
on Saturday presented it to his attorney. She also was told that
Campbell now intends to let SueZann visit him in prison.   

2) The $75,000 goal for the Global Food Crisis Fund North Korea
Seed Appeal is "well within reach," according to David Radcliff,
director of the General Board's Denominational Peace Witness.
Contributions to the Global Food Crisis Fund appeal reached more
than $74,000 last week. In fact, 35 metric tons of seeds were
shipped to North Korea and planted last month. Funding to
purchase and ship the seed corn was advanced by Church World
Service, with the promise of repayment through GFCF. Barley seed
that was purchased and planted earlier this year is currently
being harvested and will provide needed nourishment through the
summer, Radcliff said.   

3) "The Story Behind the Touch of the Master's Hand" and
"Preaching in a Tavern" are two books just released by Brethren
Press.  

"The Story Behind the Touch of the Master's Hand" is an
illustrated version of the well-known poem, plus the story of the
poet, Myra Brooks Welch, written by Wendy McFadden. The book also
contains photos by Phil Grout.  

"Preaching in a Tavern," by Ken Morse, is a collection of 130
anecdotes from Brethren history. Excerpts of this book were
published in the June edition of Messenger magazine.  

To order either book, call 800 441-3712 or write to
Brethren.Press.parti@Ecunet.Org.   

4) Bethany Theological Seminary and Earlham School of Religion,
Richmond, Ind., were selected to participate in a $6.8 million
program by Lilly Endowment to increase and maximize the
institutions' technological capabilities. The grant will help
institute new ways that students can learn and teachers can
teach. A $10,000 joint planning grant was given to Bethany and
Earlham as the two institutions prepare a proposal for an
implementation grant of approximately $200,000. Serving on the
planning committee from Bethany Seminary are Rick Gardner,
academic dean, and Dan Ulrich, assistant professor of New
Testament Studies.  

"Information technology plays an increasingly important role in
the life of worshiping and teaching communities as well as the
world of commerce and communication," said Gene Roop, Bethany
president. "This grant challenges us to employ that technology in
ways that embody our values and serve our mission."   

5) In other Bethany news, Middletown (Ohio) Church of the
Brethren granted a gift of $70,000 to Bethany to begin a
scholarship endowment fund in honor of Jeff Bach, assistant
professor of Brethren Studies at Bethany. The Middletown
congregation is Bach's home congregation. "The members are
touched by his deep faith, his desire to learn and his commitment
to the Church of the Brethren," reads a release announcing the
scholarship. "They feel as if Jeff is their representative of
Brethren beliefs to the world beyond their walls as he continues
his call to ministry." Parties interested in contributing
additional gifts to the endowment may write to Bach Scholarship
Endowment, Bethany Theological Seminary, 615 National Road West,
Richmond, IN 47374.   

6) The 1997 Youth Peace Travel Team completed its training last
week at Camp Brethren Woods, Harrisonburg, Va., and began working
in its first camp this week -- Camp Inspiration Hills, Burbank,
Ohio. The team will visit Church of the Brethren camps through
August, focusing on peace education and empowerment with youth.
The team consists of Mike Brinkmeier, Pearl City, Ill.; Jackie
Hartley, Lewistown, Pa.; Jessica Lehman, Elgin, Ill.; and Nathan
Musselman, Roanoke, Va. The Youth Peace Travel Team program,
which has sent young adults to Brethren camps for the past seven
years, is sponsored by Youth/Young Adult Ministry, Denominational
Peace Witness, On Earth Peace Assembly and Outdoor Ministry.    

7) Over 500 children have been cared for by 21 Cooperative
Disaster Child Care workers on site in Grand Forks, N.D., since
the project opened May 28. Four more Brethren have joined the
project, all from Iowa -- Pauline Flory of Cedar Rapids; Carolyn
Waters of Waterloo; and John and Lorna Grow of Dallas Center. The
emergency child care centers are scheduled to close on June 27.  

8) In other North Dakota related news, Church World Service is
reporting that "Gift of the Heart" clean-up and health kits are
still needed, but should be sent to the Brethren Service Center,
500 Main Street, New Windsor, MD 21776. Call 410 635-8730.   

9) Using 1/5 of its annual budget on something new is a leap of
faith, but the Mesa (Ariz.) Church of the Brethren decided that
pronouncing its witness to the local community is worth it. Thus,
on June 3, both sides of a billboard were changed to proclaim the
Church of the Brethren to passersby. The billboards, which
include the congregation's name and the denominational tagline --
"Continuing the Work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together,"
will carry the message of the church on both sides for at least
three months and on one side for at least one year. The
congregation also erected four signs at intersections near the
church. Additional advertising projects include flyers, bumper
stickers, postcards, and advertisements in the local newspaper
and MESSENGER. The Mesa congregation project is slated to be
included in the General Board Live Report at Annual Conference.  

10) There will be five opportunities to participate with Venture
Forth activities between August 1997 and February 1998. The
events are as follows: backpacking in Glacier Peak wilderness,
North Central Cascades, Washington -- Aug. 12-18; Peaceful Pines
hiking day camps, Dardanelle, Calif. -- Aug. 15-20; Mount St.
Helens summit hike, Washington -- Aug. 20; 20-mile backpack on
the Appalachian Trail, Fincastle, Virginia -- Oct. 16-20; and
cross country skiing in Central Washington Cascades, Cle Elum,
Wash. -- Feb. 5-10, 1998. Venture Forth events are sponsored by
the Church of the Brethren Outdoor Ministries Association. For
more information, contact Marvin Thill at 816 747-6216.   

Newsline is archived with an index at
http://www.tgx.com/cob/news.htm and at www.wfn.org.  

This message can be heard by calling 410 635-8738. To receive
Newsline by e-mail or fax, call 800 323-8039, ext. 257, or write
CoBNews@AOL.Com.