wfn.org | Newsline - Church of the Brethren weekly news update

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      Feb. 23, 1998
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline           Feb. 23, 1998
1) The Pike Run Church of the Brethren has decided to rebuild its
     church building.
2) Seven people from the United States and Germany complete their
     BrethrenVolunteer Service training.
3) The World Council of Churches warns that military action
     against Iraq will kill thousands and will increase the
     suffering of the Iraqi people.
4) Christian Peacemaker Teams calls on Christians to wear ribbons
     protesting the ongoing hostility against Iraq.
5) Brethren Benefit Trust announces two staff changes.
6) The dates and locations of this year's district conferences
     are released by the Church of the Brethren Yearbook.
7) An Earth Day mailing, featuring a new resource written by
     Shantilal Bhagat, is sent to 73,000 congregations by the
     National Council of Churches.
8) York Center Church of the Brethren, Lombard, Ill., in March
     will celebrate the life of Bethany Theological Seminary's
     former Oak Brook, Ill., campus.
9) The Annual Conference office is seeking an assistant manager.
10) SERRV International's spring catalog will be available 
     March 2.
11) Terry Koons of Chambersburg (Pa.) Church of the Brethren has
     been elected to the Elizabethtown (Pa.) College Board of
     Trustees.
12) Manchester College intends to develop a program for
     recruiting and preparing students to work in the nonprofit
     sector.
13) Bob Durnbaugh joins Emergency Response/Service Ministries as
     a full-time volunteer; ER/SM announces additional news.
14) Fifteen Brethren from Southern Pennsylvania District are in
     the Dominican Republic participating in a workcamp.
15) Camp Emmaus, located near Mount Morris, Ill, turns 50 this
     year.
16) A recent study by the Barna Research Group produces data
     pertaining to pastors.
17) 1998 youth and young adult workcamp information and Brethren
     Witness office information are now available at
     http://www.brethren.org.
18) The annual meeting of Families Against Violence Advocacy
     Network is Feb. 28.
19) Correction
20) The next edition of Newsline will be sent March 5.

1) Rebuild! That's the decision the Pike Run Church of the
Brethren congregation made Feb. 13 in the wake of the Jan. 27
fire that destroyed its church building, located about six miles
west of Somerset, Pa. That fire, ruled to be arson, was the third
burning of a church building in that area within a week. Since
then a fourth church has been destroyed and arson again has been
ruled the cause. 

A trust fund has been established for rebuilding project
donations; write to Pike Run Church of the Brethren, Somerset
Trust Company, Trust Department, P.O. Box 777, Somerset, Pa.,
15501. Meanwhile, the tearing down of Pike Run's burned building
has begun, according to Lori Conn, Pike Run member. Pictures of
that burned structure can be seen at http://www.brethren.org in
the Community section under News and Picture This.

2) Add seven names to the ranks of volunteers. That's because
seven young adults from Michigan, Virginia, Washington State and
Germany on Feb. 6 completed Brethren Volunteer Service
Orientation Unit 228 in Florida and have joined their respective
projects in the United States and Europe.

"Orientation tries to raise awareness for social issues that are
pressing for many people in today's world," said Petra Beck, BVS
staff. "In Florida, with its many citrus groves, strawberry
fields and vegetable farms, farmworkers' issues are very
obvious."

Bert Perry of National Farmworker Ministry and Fernando Cuevas of
the Farm Labor Organization Committee gave the trainees
opportunities to experience the work expected of farmworkers, and
to understand the workers' struggles for better working
conditions and wages. Daniel Opoku, a BVSer from unit 225 who
presently serves with the National Farmworker Ministry, also
addressed the unit.

Guest speaker Matt Guynn, who lives and works in the Philadelphia
area, directed a first-ever two-day workshop on nonviolence and
peacemaking. In the middle of the second day, Guynn challenged
the group in an unusual way: He asked each volunteer to draft a
short speech about a topic of concern, and then took the group to
a busy downtown Orlando street corner where they stood on a
bucket and delivered their speech. The ensuing debriefing capped
off two days filled with challenge, discussion and fun.

Also during its three-week orientation experience, the group
worked for three social service agencies -- Second Harvest Food
Bank, the Coalition for the Homeless, and CENTAUR (CENTral
Florida AIDS Unified Resources). The group spent a weekend in the
Everglades learning about wildlife and environmental issues. It
also participated in worship at Eglise Des Freres Haitiens, the
Haitian Church of the Brethren in Miami.

For fun the group went canoeing and witnessed a nocturnal space
shuttle launch from Cape Canaveral.

The volunteers are now serving projects in Washington, D.C.;
London; Hamburg, Germany; and Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

3) The World Council of Churches Executive Committee on Thursday
warned that military action to force Iraq to comply with United
Nations Security Council demands will result in large-scale
casualties and increased suffering of the Iraqi people.

Meeting in Geneva, the Executive Committee issued its statement
after receiving a report of a recent WCC visit to the country.
That report said sanctions that have been in place since the
conclusion of the Gulf War have not achieved their purpose, but
have instead harmed large sectors of the population by depriving
people of everyday essentials. The committee endorsed a call for
churches to press governments to oppose military action, which
"should not take place without further Security Council
consideration and agreement."

The committee's statement has been sent to Kofi Annan, U.N.
Secretary-General.

4) "Food, not missiles" is the inscription Christian Peacemaker
Teams is encouraging Christians who are committed to stopping
hostilities toward Iraq to put on ribbons and then wear.
Congregations are encouraged to place ribbons on their altars
each Sunday "until children stop dying of hunger under the threat
of missiles," according to a CPT release. As an act of worship,
congregations are also asked to incorporate a one-minute ribbon
ceremony during worship services, during which each person is
invited to go forward and receive a ribbon. "This act of worship
will be completed as recipients wear the consecrated ribbons
daily in their work place," the release stated, adding, "The
ribbons will signify our faith that food for people in Iraq
rather than missiles represents the deepest will of God.

CPT is an initiative of Church of the Brethren and Mennonite
congregations.

5) Two staff changes have been announced by Brethren Benefit
Trust (BBT). Kathy Lee has resigned as treasurer, effective June
15. She and her family, who have attended Highland Ave. Church of
the Brethren, Elgin, Ill., will be relocating to Southern Ohio at
that time. Lee has been employed by BBT since January 1993.

Michael Addison, member of Boulder Hill Church of the Brethren,
Montgomery, Ill., has been hired to serve as controller and
Information Systems director. According to BBT, Addison has a
strong background in financial operations, management and systems
from his previous employment with several firms. He joins the BBT
staff today.

6) The dates and locations of this year's 23 Church of the
Brethren district conferences have been released by Margie Paris,
General Board staff for the Church of the Brethren Yearbook. The
districts, dates and locations are --

Atlantic Northeast; Oct. 10; Christopher Dock Mennonite High
     School; Lansdale, Pa.
Atlantic Southeast; Oct. 9-11; Camp Ithiel; Gotha, Fla.
Idaho; date to be determined; Boise Valley Church of the
     Brethren; Meridian, Idaho.
Illinois/Wisconsin; Oct. 9-11; Polo (Ill.) Church of the
     Brethren.
Indiana, Northern; Sept. 18-19; Union Center Church of the
     Brethren; Nappanee, Ind.
Indiana, South/Central; Sept. 11-12; Manchester College; North
     Manchester, Ind.
Michigan; Aug. 13-16; Wesleyan Conference Center; Hastings, Mich.
Mid-Atlantic; Oct. 9-10; Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren.
Missouri/Arkansas; Sept. 11-13; Windermere Baptist Assembly;
     Roach, Mo.
Northern Plains; July 31-Aug. 2; University of Northern Iowa;
     Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Ohio, Northern; Aug. 7-9; Ashland University; Ashland, Ohio.
Ohio, Southern; Oct. 9-10; Trotwood Church of the Brethren;
     Trotwood, Ohio.
Oregon/Washington; July 25; Camp Myrtlewood; Myrtle Point, Ore.
Pacific Southwest; Sept. 18-20; Imperial Heights Church and South
     Bay Community Church; Los Angeles, Calif.
Pennsylvania, Middle; Oct. 9-10; Everett Church of the Brethren;
     Everett, Pa.
Pennsylvania, Southern; Sept. 18-19; Hanover (Pa.) Church of the
     Brethren.
Pennsylvania, Western; Oct. 17; Greensburg (Pa.) Church of the
     Brethren.
Shenandoah; Nov. 7; Bridgewater (Va.) College.
Southeastern; Aug. 7-9; Johnson Bible College; Knoxville, Tenn.
Southern Plains; July 10-12; Big Creek Church of the Brethren;
     Cushing, Okla.
Virlina; Nov. 13-14; Derbyshire Baptist Church; Richmond, Va.
Western Plains; Aug. 7-9; McPherson (Kan.) College.
West Marva; Sept. 18-19; Moorefield (W.Va.) Church of the
     Brethren.

For more information about the Church of the Brethren Yearbook,
contact Brethren Press Brethren_Press_GB@Brethren.Org or at 800
441-3712.

7) A mailing pertaining to "Human Health and the Environment",
which encourages people to support legislation on children's
environmental protection, has been sent to 73,000 congregations
of denominations that are members of the National Council of
Churches. This mailing is intended for the April 22 observance of
Earth Day and includes "Your Health and the Environment: A
Christian Perspective," a new book written by Shantilal Bhagat of
the Church of the Brethren General Board staff. Also included are
two bulletin inserts, an introductory letter, a list of resource
materials and a two-session adult study guide based on Bhagat's
book.

For more information, contact the NCC at 212 870-2227 or at
news@ncccusa.org. To order "Your Health and the Environment: A
Christian Perspective," contact Brethren Press at
Brethren_Press_GB@Brethren.Org or at 800 441-3712.

8) The York Center Church of the Brethren will celebrate the life
and mission of Bethany Theological Seminary at its former Oak
Brook, Ill., campus, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. York Center served as
the home church for Bethany's staff and students from the early
1960s when Bethany relocated there from Chicago until mid-1994,
when the seminary moved to Richmond, Ind. The property, which has
been for sale ever since, is in the process of being sold. In
preparation for this sale, all of the buildings have been razed.

"The purpose of this service is to express our gratitude for
Bethany's ministry through the years, to share our memories
related to Bethany's Chicago-area location; to confess our need
for healing as we grieve the changing Oak Brook property; and to
open ourselves to the gift of renewed hope for the future," said
Christy Waltersdorff, pastor, in a letter inviting people to the
event.
 
Bethany will be represented at the service by Jonathon Wieand,
York Center member who also is a member of the Bethany Board.
Wieand's grandfather, A.C. Wieand, co-founded Bethany in 1905
with E.B. Hoff. Representing the Bethany staff will be Theresa
Eshbach.

9) The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Office has
announced a full-time opening for the position of Conference
assistant.

Responsibilities include coordinating daily office procedures and
supervising other Annual Conference employees, coordinating the
Conference Information Packet, editing the Conference and Minutes
booklets, assisting the executive director in many facets of
Conference planning. Qualifications include being a self-starter
with good organizational skills, knowledge of IBM-compatible
computers and software such as Pagemaker and Excell, basic
accounting experience, interpersonal relations skills, and being
committed to Church of the Brethren values and objectives.

Applications are due March 27. It is hoped the person hired for
this position will begin about June 1. For more information,
contact Duane Steiner at AnnualConf@AOL.Com or at 800 323-8039. 

10) The spring 1998 catalog from SERRV International, the Church
of the Brethren self-help handcrafts ministry, will be available
for mailing March 2. This year's edition will have a lawn and
garden theme. For more information, contact SERRV at
SERRV.parti@Ecunet.Org or at 800 423-0071.

11) Terry Koons of Chambersburg, Pa., and moderator of
Chambersburg (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, has been elected to
the Elizabethtown (Pa.) College Board of Trustees. Koons, a 1970
Elizabethtown graduate, manages and co-owns The Butcher Shoppe in
Chambersburg.

"The college has made great strides academically in the past
decade and its excellent reputation is spreading outside the
region," Koons said. "I am looking forward to great things
happening at Elizabethtown in the 21st century."

Koons, who also serves on the Franklin County Make a Wish
Foundation, previously taught at Manheim (Pa.) Central High
School.

Elizabethtown College, founded in 1899, is affiliated with the
Church of the Brethren.

12) With the assistance of a recent $10,000 grant, Manchester
College, North Manchester, Ind., will develop a program for
recruiting and preparing students to work for nonprofit
organizations.

The college plans to form a partnership with two Indiana
nonprofit organizations -- the Indiana Association of United Ways
and its Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network. With assistance from
these agencies, Manchester will work with area nonprofits to
identify high school students interested in nonprofit sector
careers. Six students are expected to be admitted into the
college through this program each year beginning this fall, with
each receiving a renewable $5,000 scholarship. They will be able
to select a major of their choice, have access to a mentor and
have internship opportunities.

The grant is from Midwest Collaboration of Campus Compact, which
is composed of colleges and universities in Indiana, Ohio,
Michigan and Illinois.

13) Bob Durnbaugh of Elgin, Ill., today begins a full-time
assignment as a volunteer for the Church of the Brethren General
Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries in New Windsor, Md.
Prior to his retirement, Durnbaugh served as executive director
of the Elgin Choral Union. Before that he served as manager of
Brethren Press on the General Board staff.

In other news, ER/SM announced last week that it had shipped 12
20-foot containers of quilts to North Korea, under the auspices
of Lutheran World Relief. It also sent a trailer of clean-up kits
to Watsonville, Calif., in the aftermath of devastating floods.

14) Fifteen members of Southern Pennsylvania District left
Saturday for the Dominican Republic to participate in a workcamp.
The main focus of the camp is the construction of a church in the
village of Arroyo Saludo. Alan Miller, pastor of Shippensburg
(Pa.) Church of the Brethren is coordinating the workcamp in
cooperation with the district's Witness Commission. More than a
year ago the commission began planning the project with Guillermo
Encarnacion, a former General Board staff member who pastors the
Alpha and Omega Church of the Brethren, Lancaster, Pa.

Funds for the project were raised through contributions of
individuals, congregations and from the district's budget.
Participants are paying for their own transportation and food
expenses.

"It is hoped that this is a first of possibly other similar
mission projects our people are willing to get behind, fund and
participate in," said Georgia Markey, Southern Pennsylvania
associate executive.

Joining Miller are Ron and Laura Brinton (New Fairview Church of
the Brethren, near York); Jonathan Bream (Huntsdale Church of the
Brethren); Earl Dibert, J. Nelson Wengert and John Mummau
(Chambersburg Church of the Brethren); Brent Driver and Paul
Benke (Waynesboro Church of the Brethren); John and Diane Gibble
(Codorus Church of the Brethren, Loganville); Galen Heckman, Rick
Hostetter and Melvin Thomas (Brandts Church of the Brethren, St.
Thomas); and Steve Strite (Shanks Church of the Brethren, near
Greencastle).

15) The 50th anniversary of Camp Emmaus, a Church of the Brethren
Illinois/Wisconsin District camp located near Mount Morris, Ill.,
will be celebrated over several events planned throughout the
year. The district's congregations are expected to honor the camp
April 19 on "Camp Emmaus Sunday." A celebration banquet will held
April 26 at the Mount Morris Church of the Brethren, and a
two-day celebration will be held Sept. 10-11 at the camp.

16) A recent random sample survey of 601 Protestant pastors taken
in August by the Barna Research Group has yielded some statistics
about the pastoral profession --
     * Nine out of 10 Protestant churches have at least one,
          full-time paid ministry professional, which Barna
          labels the senior pastor.
     * Four out of 10 churches have two or more full-time
          ministry staff.
     * Two percent of all churches have 10 or more full-time
          ministry professionals.
     * Compared to the entire United States population, pastors
          are more likely to be highly educated, married, male
          and comparatively loyal -- both to their
          spouses and to their profession.
     * Pastors earn roughly the national average income, in spite
          of their educational achievement and extensive
          professional experience.
     * Only five percent of all pastors are female, an increase
          of three percent since 1992.
     * 95 percent of pastors are married.
     * 13 percent of pastors have been divorced (compared to the
          national norm of 26 percent)
     * Two out of 10 people in the pews possess a college degree,
          while nine out of 10 pastors have a college degree 
          and nearly two-thirds are seminary graduates.
     * The median age of pastors is 44, up from 42 in 1992.
     * The total compensation package for pastors is $36,410, 14
          percent higher than in 1992 but barely above the
          national norm.
     * The typical pastor has been a full-time minister for 17
          years and at their current assignment for five years.
          Only one out of 17 pastors have been at their current
          congregation for over 20 years.

This survey randomly selected respondents from the estimated
324,000 Protestant churches in the United States. Denominational
and regional quotas were used to ensure a representative
sampling. The maximum sampling error is plus/minus five percent.

17) The 1998 Church of the Brethren youth and young adult
workcamp schedule and information, and information about the
Brethren Witness office are now posted at http://www.brethren.org
under the General Board's section.

18) The annual meeting of Families Against Violence Advocacy
Network is scheduled for Feb. 28, in St. Louis. The meeting will
be used to assess the effectiveness of FAVAN's strategies, to
determine priorities for the upcoming year and to identify
resources that are needed to move forward. For more information,
contact FAVAN at ppjnvogt@aol.com or at 606 291-6197.

19) The Feb. 12 issue of Newsline incorrectly stated that Susan
Boyer, pastor of Manchester Church of the Brethren, North
Manchester, Ind., would be speaking this year at the National
Older Adult Conference (NOAC) and at National Youth Conference
(NYC). Boyer is only scheduled to speak at NOAC. Newsline regrets
the error.

20) The next edition of Newsline will be sent March 5.

Newsline is produced by Nevin Dulabaum, manager of the General
Board's News and Information Services. Newsline stories may be
reprinted in newsletters and other publications, including web
sites, provided that Newsline is cited as the source and the
publication date is included.

To receive Newsline by e-mail or fax, call 800 323-8039, ext.
263, or write CoBNews@AOL.Com. Newsline is archived with an index
at http://www.cob-net.org/news.htm and at http://www.wfn.org.