wfn.org | CoB Newsline- Young adult activities, job openings

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      July 24, 1997
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline                                July 24, 1997   
1) National Youth Conference 1998 information brochures are  
        available. 
2) Two young adult conferences scheduled for this winter are 
        announced.  
3) A national gathering to push for the abolition of the death 
        penalty, of which the Church of the Brethren is a 
        sponsor, is scheduled for Nov. 14-16 in Washington, D.C. 4) Three
full-time staff   
        openings are announced by Brethren Benefit Trust. 
5) Merv Keeney of the Church of the Brethren General Board and 
        nine other National Council of Churches representatives 
        will tour the Middle East in August and September. 
6) Candidates for the National Council of Churches’ Associate 
        General Secretary for Administrative and Financial 
        Services/Chief Financial Officer are being sought.  
7) Correction.   

1) Church of the Brethren Youth and young adults eligible to attend National
Youth Conference 1998 in Fort Collins, Colo., now can learn some specific
information about the quadrennial event. An brochure that answers frequently
asked questions — such as who can attend, when and where will it be held, and
how much will it cost — is now available. Call 800 323-8039, ext. 289, or
write to CoB.youth.parti@Ecunet.Org to request a brochure.  

The Youth and Young Adult Ministries office, which coordinates NYC, also has
announced a speech contest for any high school youth who will be attending
the conference. Speeches are to focus on the conference theme, “...with Eyes
of Faith,” which is based on these scriptures — 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews
11:1, or Mark 10:46-52. Interested students should produce an audio tape of
them reading their 8-10 minute speech, and send it to the NYC office, 1451
Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120, along with a transcript of the speech. Entry
deadline is Jan.1.   

2) Church of the Brethren young adults will have two opportunities to
‘conference’ together this winter. The annual Young Adult Conference,
sponsored by the General Board’s Youth and Young Adult Ministries, is
scheduled for Nov. 27-29 at Camp Mack, near Milford, Ind.   

This year’s theme is “Jesus: The man, the message, and me.” With leadership
provided by Christy Waltersdorff, pastor of York Center Church of the
Brethren, Lombard, Ill., participants will “explore our relationship to Jesus
as we seek to understand what it means to be called a Christian,” reads the
Conference brochure. “We will ask questions, discuss, and share with one
another in an open and non-judgmental way.”  

People eligible to attend this conference are “all young adults — all who
consider themselves a young adult are encouraged to attend.” This includes
high school graduates and college students regardless of whether they are
single or married.  

Cost is $70, but Brethren Volunteer Service workers can apply for a
scholarship.   

Evangel ‘97 is an international young adult conference on missions and
evangelism, which will be held Dec. 28 - Jan. 1 in Atlanta. This conference,
supported by the Church of the Brethren and several other Anabaptist
denominations, will give young adults the opportunity to “celebrate Jesus
with hundreds of young adults who have a passion for missions and
evangelism.” Attendees will “experience the stirring of the Holy Spirit
through dynamic, practical healing.” According to the conference’s release,
young adults will also “be a vital part of what God is doing locally and
overseas.”  

“I hope you’ll seriously consider participating in this even,” writes Chris
Douglas, coordinator of the General Board’s Youth and Young Adult Ministries,
in a letter to Brethren young adults. “There will be a New Year’s Eve service
of commitment and renewal to launch you into the new year. If you’re looking
for other young adults who celebrate an evangelical Anabaptist faith, this
conference would be a terrific place for you to spend the New Year’s
celebration.”  

For more information on either conference, call 800 323-8039, ext. 289, or
write to CoB.youth.parti@Ecunet.Org.   

3) The Religious Organizing Against the Death Penalty project, organized by
the Criminal Justice Program of the American Friends Service Committee, is
sponsoring a national gathering Nov. 14-16 in Washington, D.C., where
national religious and lay people will focus on death penalty-related issues.
 

“The goal of this weekend will be to empower people of faith and provide them
with the necessary resources so they can return to heir religious communities
as more effective advocates for abolition,” reads the promotional brochure.  

Sister Helen Prejean, author of “Dead Man Walking,” serves on the
conference’s advisory committee. She will also deliver the keynote address on
“Envisioning a World Without Violence: Organizing the Religious Community to
Abolish the Death Penalty.” Various workshops will also be offered. They will
include how to support families of victims and families of death row
prisoners within one community, hearing and responding to the concerns of
death row prisoners and their families, how to talk to others about your
religion and the death penalty, activism from a faith-based perspective, and
a call to action — ways congregations can link their faith to abolition.  

Project organizers are optimistic that participants will form study groups
nationwide to develop long-range action plans. To assist in reaching this
goal, organizers will provide resources, networking help and educational
activities for such groups.  

This event is sponsored by a host of people and organizations, including Bob
Gross of Manchester Church of the Brethren, North Manchester, Ind. Gross is a
leader with Ministry of Reconciliation, a program of On Earth Peace Assembly.
He and his wife, Rachel, are also active opponents of the death penalty.  

For more information about forming study groups or about the conference,
contact Pat Clark at 215 241-7130 or at pclark@afsc.org.   

4) Brethren Benefit Trust on Wednesday announced three full-time openings.  

A director of Information Systems and Services is being sought. This person
will manage BBT’s computer designs, applications, and maintenance, will
manage capital and operational budgets for computer-related equipment and
activities, and will develop and oversee arrangements with other
denominational agencies for systems services and support. Candidates should
have experience with Windows, non-profit accounting and systems, strong
verbal and written communication skills, an undergraduate degree and five
years of managerial experience.  

A manager of Accounting is being sought. This person will develop, manage,
and maintain all accounting-related systems and processes for investment,
employee benefit plans, and Foundation programs. A bachelor’s degree is
required, but a certified public accountant or another such degree is
preferred. A minimum of 10 years experience is needed — five in public
accounting or for a not-for-profit organization, and five years of managerial
experience.  

BBT also has an opening for financial analyst. This person will oversee the
daily operations of the general ledger and will prepare and analyze reports
and studies. A bachelor’s degree is required, but a certified public
accountant or another such degree is preferred. Five to seven years of
experience is needed.  
People interested in these jobs can fax a letter, resume, and salary history
to 847 742-0135, or write to Sandra Pryde, 1505 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
  

5) For the first time in a decade, an official ecumenical delegation of
National Council of Churches leaders will visit the Middle East, Aug. 24 -
Sept. 8, to renew ties with church partners in that region. Leading the
delegation will be Joan Brown Campbell, NCC general secretary.  

Merv Keeney, director of the Church of the Brethren General Board’s Global
Mission Partnerships, and chair of the NCC’s Middle East Committee, will join
Campbell and eight others on that trip. The group will visit Egypt, Jordan,
Israel and Palestine, and Cyprus, spending two to three days in each country.
In addition to church leaders, the group is expected to meet with government
officials, and possibly with heads of state.   

Other participants will be Khajab Barsamian, NCC vice president and
archbishop of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America; Sylvia Faulk,
NCC vice president and Christian Methodist Episcopal Church member; Randy
Naylor, NCC associate general secretary for Communication and member of the
United Church of Canada; Albert Pennybacker, associate general secretary for
Public Policy and member of the Christian Church/Disciples of Christ; Gordon
Sommers, immediate past NCC president and president of the Northern Province
of the Moravian Church; Margaret Orr Thomas, chair of the NCC’s Interfaith
Relations Commission and coordinator for Interfaith Relations, Worldwide
Ministries Division, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); McKinley Young, chief
ecumenical officer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; and David
Weaver, director of the NCC’s Middle East office.  

“Through our visit, by meeting, talking and worshiping with our brother and
sister Christians, we will bear an important ecumenical witness to the
oneness of Christ and the church, and to the bonds of love that bind West to
East,” said Campbell.  

This visit is the result of an invitation extended to the NCC by the Middle
East Council of Churches.    

6) The National Council of Churches has announced the following job opening:
Associate General Secretary for Administrative and Financial Services/Chief
Financial Officer. People interested in applying should send their resume and
any other pertinent materials to Margaret Thomas, 8012 Cedar Avenue South,
Bloomington, MN 55425-1210.   

7) Last week’s Newsline misspelled Nancey Murphy’s first name. Murphy, from
Fuller Theological Seminary, served last weekend as a guest scholar at
Elizabethtown (Pa.) College’s science versus religion conference. Nancey, an
ordained minister and member of Pasadena (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, has
served on several district committees and is currently a member of the
“Ministry Training Program Advisory Committee.”    

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. 263, or write CoBNews@AOL.Com.