wfn.org | October 1997 Digest

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org (DISCNEWS)]

October, 1997

Hamm responds to beating of Haitian Disciples member

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The recent beating of a Haitian immigrant by
New York City police has elicited a strong response by General Minister and President
Richard L. Hamm of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  

     Hamm shared his "outrage and sadness" over the beating of Abner Louima in
an Aug. 21 pastoral letter to Disciples members.  Louima is a member of a Brooklyn
Disciples congregation -- Evangelical Crusade/Fishers of Men. The senior pastor of
the Haitian congregation, the Rev. Philias Nicolas, also is Louima's uncle.

     In particular, Hamm questioned how a country purporting "to be based upon
freedom, justice" and equality can "live up to such a creed if its law officers operate
outside the law and with no regard for the worth of persons."

     The communique reminded Disciples members that the General Assembly in
July approved a "Resolution on Police Accountability." "The attack on Mr. Louima
demonstrates the need for such a call for police accountability," the letter said.  

                      *****

New BCE loan procedures allow quicker response time
 
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Significant changes that will transform loan
approval procedures highlighted actions taken by the Board of Church Extension
directors during their quarterly meeting here Sept. 16-17. 

     Following several months of study, directors approved changes in policies to
give staff greater responsibility in approving loans to congregations and other Disciples
organizations and to allow quicker responses to loan requests.  

     "By clarifying and updating our loan policies we are able to allow staff to
respond within those guidelines in a more timely manner," stated Jane D. Lollis,
Louisville, Ky., board chairperson. "Directors now will have more time to attend to a
broader range of  policy issues," she  added.

     The new loan policy creates a staff loan committee with the responsibility of
approving standard loans up to $1 million. Larger loan requests and those not meeting
defined criteria will continue to be approved by directors of the Board of Church
Extension.

                      *****
Chalice Press adds academic emphasis to publishing operation
 
     ST. LOUIS (DNS) -- The book-publishing arm of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) is adding a scholarly emphasis to its operation with the hiring of a
Louisville, Ky., scholar as academic editor.

     Jon L. Berquist begins Nov. 1 as academic editor of Chalice Press, according
to Cyrus N. White, president of Christian Board of Publication. The Rev. David P.
Polk, editor of Chalice Press since 1990, will be named editor-in-chief.

     Berquist, an author and Old Testament scholar, is currently acquisitions
editor for Westminster/John Knox Press, the book-publishing arm of the Louisville-based Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

     The new editor has a doctor of philosophy in Hebrew Bible from Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, and has been associate professor of Old Testament at Disciples-related Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, Okla. He also is the author of numerous
books, journal articles and scholarly papers.

                      *****

  Disciples Center welcomes three new executives

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Three new executives recently joined the staffs
of the Pension Fund, Homeland Ministries division and Christian Church Foundation.

     The Rev. Susan Street Beavers began June 16 as a general representative for
the Pension Fund. She is working with Disciples colleges and seminaries and is the
liaison with the National Convocation, the Hispanic Caucus and North American
Pacific/Asian Disciples. The Tulsa native most recently served as pastor of Osage
Avenue Christian Church, Okmulgee, Okla. Her background also includes several
years in the retail and oil industries. 

     Chaplain Danny R. Thompson began Sept. 2 as Homeland Ministries'
associate for chaplaincy and specialized ministries. Since 1993 Thompson has been
senior hospital chaplain at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Memorial Hospital-North. The retired
military veteran served from 1976-1993 as a United States Air Force chaplain.  

     Veteran newspaper reporter Jim Cullumber, Quincy, Ill., began July 25 as
director of communications for the Christian Church Foundation. A 17-year employee
of the Quincy Herald-Whig (1980-1997), Cullumber initially worked as a police/social
services reporter. He later became a copy editor and in 1992 was named copy desk
supervisor.  

                      *****

         NBA opens Oklahoma senior center

     ST. LOUIS -- The National Benevolent Association, HUD and a Spencer,
Okla., congregation have joined forces to open the Roscoe Dunjee Senior Living
Center. The facility provides low-income housing for older adults.

     The five-acre complex,  named after an early Oklahoma civil rights leader,
has 40 one-bedroom apartments and a community center. The center is located across
the street from the independent Spencer Church of Christ.

                      *****

       Craddock honored by scholarship fund

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The premier preacher in the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) has been honored by a scholarship fund named in his honor.

     The Fred B. Craddock Preaching Scholarship will support the training of
gifted new preachers for parish ministry, according to the Rev. Grant Azdell,
Homeland Ministries. Disciples master's of divinity students in an accredited seminary
who concentrate in preaching will be eligible to receive the funds, Azdell said. 

     Establishment of the fund, sponsored by the Walter Scott Preaching Society,
was announced during the Denver General Assembly. Contributions to the "Craddock
Scholarship Fund" may be made to the society at P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN
46206-1986. 

                      *****

Disciples leaders to resource  98 evangelism workshops

     INDIANAPOLIS -- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) leaders Bill
Owens, Louisville, Ky., and the Revs. Cynthia Hale, Decatur, Ga., and Herb Miller,
Lubbock, Texas, are resource persons for evangelism workshops in Atlanta, Los
Angeles and Cincinnati in 1998.

     The evangelism connection workshops are co-sponsored by Net Results, Inc.,
the Disciples and six other mainline denominations including the United Church of
Christ.

     Hale, pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur, Ga., will be a
general session speaker. Owens and Miller will lead workshops on worship music and
organizational management, respectively. Owens is minister of music and evangelism
at Middletown Christian Church, Louisville, and Miller is editor of Net Results and
executive director of the National Evangelistic Association.

                      *****

Late Disciples scholar, author Colbert Cartwright honored by CBP

     ST. LOUIS -- The late Rev. Colbert S. Cartwright was posthumously
honored by Christian Board of Publication for "significant contributions to the vital
worship life" of the church. 

     Anne Colbert received the Chalice Press Lifetime Achievement Award by
CBP in her husband's honor. The award ceremony was held Sept. 25 at Brite Divinity
School, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth.

     Cartwright was especially remembered for his work coediting the recently
released Chalice Worship. He also was coeditor of the Chalice Hymnal Worship
Leader's Companion, scheduled for release this fall and published numerous books
through the denominational publishing house.

     Colbert served pastorates in Virginia, Arkansas, Ohio and Texas, was an area
minister and an associate regional minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) in the Southwest.

                      *****

DISCNEWS - inbox for Disciples News Service, Office of Communication, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PO Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46206, tele. (317) 635-3100, (DISCNEWS@ecunet.org) Wilma Shuffitt, News and Information Assistant; (CWILLIS@oc.disciples.org) Cliff Willis, Director of News and Information; (CMILLER@oc.disciples.org) Executive Director