wfn.org | January Digest

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

January 1998

 Ecumenical consultation celebrates shared hope
           
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- In many ways, the groups couldn't be more
different. Nevertheless, an evangelical devotion to the gospel is what unites Hispanic
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ members with
partners from Pentecostal churches in Latin America and the Caribbean. 
          
     These groups -- the Disciples of Christ/United Church of Christ and their
Pentecostal partners -- recently shared their common commitments in a consultation
sponsored by the Common Global Ministries of the Disciples and UCC. The 40
participants convened under the theme, "Sharing of Hope: An Ecumenism of the
Spirit."
          
     The group also included observers from the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) in Puerto Rico and the Assembly of God in Lesotho, Southern Africa. The
nearly 40-year pilgrimage "has been indeed an experience of  life in the Spirit'" that
nurtures each party involved, said the participants in a common statement of
agreement.
          
     The statement also celebrated the participants' ability to "cross frontiers" to
meet and accept each other's diversity and understand their differences. "We affirm
our common needs to tear down the many barriers that affect us today," the conferees
added. These barriers include economic injustice, misunderstanding and prejudice
against Pentecostalism and exclusion.

                     *****

 Interfaith delegation sees North Korea famine firsthand
           
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Three-and-one-half days in a suffering nation
certainly is not enough time to make one an expert on it. Yet it was all the time the
Rev. Johnny Wray needed to see that North Korea "is teetering on the edge of a
major humanitarian crisis."
          
     He was part of an interfaith delegation which journeyed in November to the
Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea to learn firsthand about the hunger crisis. In
turn, he and other relief agency representatives hope to "make a faithful witness . . . 
about an appropriate and just response" to their respective church groups.   

     Wray is administrative director of Week of Compassion, the relief and
development ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 
          
     While a series of natural disasters has ruined North Korea's grain crops and
weakened other food supplies, the situation "is not yet the kind of famine we have
seen in recent years in Somalia and other parts of Africa," said Wray. North Korea's
hunger problem has been more appropriately called a "famine in slow motion."

                      *****
    BCE reports record loan amounts in 1997
 
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- "It is another record year for loan disbursements
to Disciples congregations and organizations," reported the Rev.  James L. Powell,
president, to the Board of Church Extension directors during their Dec. 16-17 board
meeting.

     A total of $24.1 million was approved by BCE staff and directors this year
for 135 loans to assist Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations and
organizations with building and other improvements. This record exceeds the 1996
total of $23.6 million for loans approved in one year.  

     "Such high loan levels reflect the increased activity of congregations as they
seek to deal with their building and accessibility issues," Powell explained. Total loans
during the past five years exceeded $95 million.

     Fourth-quarter loan requests of $2 million were approved by staff and
directors to finance 28 projects  in 19 states for new construction, remodeling and
debt refinancing. Included were three interest-free loans totaling $164,250 for
congregations in Texas and Kentucky. 

                     ***** 
         
LTS receives Lilly grant for theological teaching program
    
     LEXINGTON, Ky. (DNS) -- Lexington Theological Seminary has received a
grant of $1.2 million from Lilly Endowment Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., for a four-year
program on teaching theology.    
          
     The program, "The Lexington Seminar: Theological Teaching for the
Church's Ministries," focuses on renewing and strengthening theological education. 
The goal is to support the work of selected theological faculties across the U.S. that
represent a diversity of Protestant faith traditions.
     
     "In recent years, the face of theological education has changed.  The students
are more diverse in age, gender, and life experience," said the Rev. Malcolm L.
Warford, the project leader. "At the same time, the church is going through a
significant transformation of its life.  Preparing ministers for the approaching 21st
century requires new energy and imagination from theological educators," said the
LTS professor.
     
     "The Lexington Seminar" is the Protestant version of a similar program
developed for Roman Catholic faculties at the Catholic Theological Union in
Washington, D.C.  The seminar will follow a model created for the Bangor Seminars
on Advanced Trusteeship that were led by Warford in the early 1990s. 

                      *****
     Randall named BCE corporate secretary

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The Rev. Eugene Randall, II, was named
corporate secretary of Board of Church Extension of Disciples of Christ by the board
of directors during their Dec. 16-17 meeting. 

     Randall, general consultant for BCE since 1994, will assume the new duties
Jan. 1, 1998. Added responsibilities as an officer of the corporation include planning
meetings of the directors and maintaining records as well as other legal duties.

     "Eugene's attention to detail and planning are an excellent match for what is
needed in this new responsibility," said the Rev. James L. Powell, president. "His
thoroughness in working with congregations in addressing building needs will continue
even as he provides added leadership to the future directions of the organization." 

     Randall graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Miles
College, Birmingham, Ala., in 1989.  He earned his master of divinity degree  from
Lexington (Ky.) Theological Seminary in 1992. 

                     *****
                        
Global Ministries executive accepts UCC Conference post

     Cleveland  -- The Rev. Daniel F. Romero has been called as conference
minister of the United Church of Christ in Southern California. The conference
comprises 137 churches in Southern California and Nevada.

     For the past 10 years he has been general secretary of the United Church
Board for World Ministries, now the UCC/Disciples of Christ Common Global
Ministries board. 

     The Southern California native holds bachelor's and master of divinity
degrees from American University, Washington, D.C., Pacific School of Religion,
Berkeley, Calif., respectively. He also has a law degree from Loyola University Law
School and is a member of the New York State Bar.

                     *****

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