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

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      March 20, 1998
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline Text for March 20, 1998

1) A racist, hate-filled e-mail message sent to over 100
international and African-American students at Manchester
College, North Manchester, Ind., March 9, has the college and
local community abuzz due to the venomous tone of the letter and
because the origin of the message has been traced back to the campus. 

The message, reportedly 34 words that included four racial slurs
and the statement "Your time is up. Your ... days are numbered,"
was sent from a college computer to HotMail, a Sunnyvale, Calif.,
computer service that allows computer users to send messages
under aliases, thus hiding their true e-mail identities. The
message was forwarded back to the Manchester campus with a
HotMail return address and delivered to the e-mail addresses of
four student groups -- Manchester College International
Association, Hispanos Unidos, Black Student Union and the
Hispanic American organization. Manchester's e-mail system then
automatically forwarded the message to those organizations'
members -- 107 students.

College and law enforcement officials are uncertain as to whether
a student, faculty or staff member wrote or assisted in the
writing of the message, but the author and the college connection
are being sought. College officials are even pursuing subpoenaing
HotMail to force that company to identify the college e-mail
address from which the hate message originated.

The local community is also abuzz over this incident due to two
racially-motivated altercations that occurred in town between
Manchester students and community residents March 5 and 6. 

Following the hate message's arrival, police began investigating
the possibility of a connection between the altercations and the
e-mail. The Manchester Police Department has since halted its
investigation of the mail, however, as the Wabash County
prosecutor determined that though it was offensive, it was legal
under Indiana law because it named groups, not individuals. 

Such messages to groups are illegal in California, however. Thus,
college authorities are exploring the possibility of pressing
charges in California -- if the author is determined -- since the
message passed through that state. 

Meanwhile, the college has held a couple of public meetings to
discuss the incident and is taking other actions as well. It has
prepared a full-page advertisement for five area newspapers that
stresses "the importance of a caring and supportive community to
all of our students." Fourteen hundred students, faculty, staff
and local residents signed the ad, which began running this week.

In a letter sent to Manchester faculty, staff, students and
students' parents, president Parker Marden said a college e-mail
address has been established to answer questions and obtain
information. Campus security has been increased and the
Manchester Police Department has also increased its attention to
the campus and the surrounding area.

At least five campus groups are working to address various issues
the hate message has raised, Marden added, vowing that the
college will do whatever it can "to address the challenges we
face, and to insure that Manchester is a place where every
student, faculty, staff and family member can feel comfortable
and supported, and at home in a college and town where each
person matters."

Marden also used the letter to ask that the message's author step
forward. "We cannot repair the serious, damaging nature of the
message, but in a Christian community, where redemption and
growth are always possible, the results of such
self-identification will be far kinder," Marden wrote. "There are
no promises or assurances here, and prosecution and/or college
discipline will be pursued, but we shall offer our help and
understanding."

2) The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) board this
weekend will hold its first meetings since separating from the
Church of the Brethren General Board on Jan. 1. During its
meetings today and Saturday, the 14-member board will consider --    
     * multiple action items necessary for formalizing ABC's
          status as an independent organization serving the
          Church of the Brethren. These actions include clarification 
          of the ABC board's role and revisions to its bylaws.
     * a recommendation from an ad hoc committee that explored ABC's 
          continuation as an organization that offers memberships.
     * the structure and composition of its new Family Life
          Steering Committee, which will help staff implement a
          new ministry group to focus on family issues.
     * ongoing discussions with Annual Conference officials in an
          attempt to formalize a relationship with the Annual Conference.
     * an invitation from the General Board to participate on the
          General Board's denominational headquarters site committee. 
     * a recommendation from the Council on Cooperative
          Ministries, a committee of Mennonite and Brethren
          retirement community administrators, to support a new,
          long-term care insurance program.
     * nominations of candidates to serve on ABC's board, Finance
          Committee, Nominating Committee and nine ministry groups.

Board members will also hear reports from each ministry group and
staff member. Finance Committee members will report on ABC's
finances. Staff will report on preparations for Annual
Conference, National Youth Conference, National Older Adult
Conference and the Caring Ministries 2000 conference planned for
1999. Board members will also hear a report of the 1998 Older
Adult Workcamp to Puerto Rico.

3) The On Earth Peace Assembly (OEPA) board will also meet this
weekend, in retreat at Shepherd's Spring Outdoor Ministries
Center, Sharpsburg, Md. OEPA is another organization that
separated from the General Board at the first of the year. The
primary points of business the OEPA board will address revolve
around its relationship with other parts of the denomination,
said Tom Hurst, executive director.

The OEPA board has received formal requests from Womaen's Caucus
and from Brethren/Mennonite Council for Gay & Lesbian Concerns,
both seeking formal liaison relationships with OEPA. In addition,
the board will take a very serious look at a draft proposal
received from the Annual Conference officers that outlines ways
for organizations to receive formal affiliation status to the
denomination through Annual Conference, Hurst said.

"Careful and prayerful thought will be given to these requests
and to the possible ways that OEPA can be in more deliberate
Christian community with other Brethren," Hurst added.

The board will also use one day for the first "go through" of its
new Ministry of Reconciliation Matthew 18 workshop. This workshop
was developed because the Church of the Brethren "has often
looked to Matthew 18 as the way Christians should approach one
another when they find themselves in disagreement," Hurst said. 

A Ministry of Reconciliation task committee has completed a
two-day workshop format for congregations that focuses on
reconciliation steps that are outlined in that scripture.
Beginning with Matthew l8, and uses other scriptures as well, the
workshop includes basic understandings and skills for
reconciliation between people.

4) In conjunction with "Sudan: Partnership for Peace," an
initiative approved last week by the General Board, the Board's
Brethren Witness office has produced several resources to assist
congregations that want to participate. The $238,000 initiative
will be funded by the Global Food Crisis Fund, the Church of the
Brethren's principle hunger relief and development arm.

A "Share Your Lunch with a Friend" project invites children's
classes or others to support a children's nutrition program in
the village of New Cush. For 30 cents a day, a child will receive
a nutritious snack at one of the community's two schools. The
"Take a Friend to School" project challenges individuals, youth
groups or Sunday school classes to support the Blessed Bakhita
Girls School in Narus. Over 400 girls from 24 different language
groups attend the school. Cost for supporting a girl for a full
year is $120.

A Brethren Volunteer Service position is being developed to work
with the women's capacity-building efforts of the New Sudan
Council of Churches. Efforts are also being made to support
women's self-help programs, such as tailoring and bread-baking.
These initiatives can be supported by individuals or women's
fellowship groups. 

Brethren peacemakers are invited to support the training of
Justice and Peace committees in several refugee camps. These
workshops are sponsored by the New Sudan Council of Churches. The
Council is also seeking funds for an annual peace prize to be
awarded to a Justice and Peace committee.

Printed materials describing these efforts are available. A full-color 
Sudan photo display is also available for loan to congregations. 
Contact Karin Davidson of the Brethren Witness office for more 
information at KDavidson_GB@Brethren.Org or at 800 323-8039.

5) A group of American religious leaders, including Joseph Mason
on behalf of the Church of the Brethren General Board, earlier this 
month signed a statement appealing to the U.S. Senate to approve 
the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty before the Senate's August recess.

Ratification of the CTBT is most urgent, stated the signees, as
it could contribute significantly toward reducing nuclear danger.
"United States leadership on ratification of this treaty is critical."

6) Three Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) grants worth $100,000 have
been allocated in March.

In February, 38 people were killed and over 400 homes were
destroyed when storms struck Florida. Heavy rains and subsequent
floods have also caused major problems for several months.
$40,000 of this grant will be forwarded to Church World Service
as part of a $500,000 CWS appeal; $10,000 will be held for
Brethren disaster project expenses.

Miller Davis, manager of the General Board's Emergency
Response/Service Ministries and EDF administrator, also requested
$35,000 to help respond to El Nino-related rains and floods in
California. Storm damage is estimated at $475 million and
officials expect 9,000 to 12,000 households to register for aid.
$25,000 of this grant will be forwarded to CWS as part of its
$350,000 appeal; $10,000 will be held for Brethren disaster
project expenses.

Disaster child care services are needed in Albany, Ga., as a
result of flooding. Davis is sending $15,000 to provide child
care volunteers in two shelters for up to two weeks. Church of
the Brethren member Helen Kinsel of St. Petersburg, Fla., is
serving as project manager. Eight other child caregivers joined
Kinsel on Tuesday; four are Church of the Brethren members.

7) A 40-foot container carrying school kits, canned beef, medical
supplies, a hospital bed and crutches has been sent from the
Emergency Response/Service Ministries warehouse at the Brethren
Service Center in New Windsor, Md., to Haiti on behalf of the
United Methodist Commission on Relief.

ER/SM also reports that it has resettled 27 refugees over the
past two months, mostly in the Baltimore area. Sixteen have come
from Liberia, eight from Ukraine and three from Bosnia.

8) A new study guide for Don Durnbaugh's "Fruit of the Vine: A
history of the Brethren, 1708-1995," is now available. This
60-page booklet contains eight open-ended questions per chapter
that relate historical facts to present-day issues in the Church
of the Brethren. According to Jennifer Leo of Brethren Press,
"Fruit of the Vine" is "fast becoming a classic" as it traces
Brethren history "from eight courageous believers in 1708 to the
Church of the Brethren today." 

"Fruit of the Vine: A Study Guide" was written by Linda Logan,
coordinator of Educational Ministries at the Harrisonburg (Va.)
Church of the Brethren. Logan also is author of "Whatza
Wissahickon," a Brethren heritage curriculum for children.

Cost of the study guide is $3.95. Cost of the book is $39.95.
Contact Brethren Press Customer Service at
BPress_GB@Brethren.Org, 800 441-3712 (phone) or 800 667-8188
(fax).

9) The April Source resource packet for Brethren congregations
and members has been mailed. It includes a registration form for
the Church of the Brethren Ministers' Association meeting June
29-30 in Orlando. Keynote speaker will be William Willimon,
professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University. Willimon,
author of more than 40 books, in a recent survey was recently
named one of the 12 most effective preachers in America.

Also included in the April Source are --
     * a brochure detailing Association of Brethren Caregivers'
          Annual Conference events.
     * a brochure from the General Board's Washington Office that
          outlines ways Brethren can " in a Christian witness to
          the political process."
     * a brochure about kits available from the Institute for
          Peace and Justice for families interested in "breaking
          the cycle of violence."
     * the Winter 1998 Seminarian from Bethany Theological
          Seminary, which includes Bethany's 1997 annual report.
     * a copy of the General Board's 1997 annual report, a decade
          by decade account of the Board's first 50 years.

10) Fifty years ago this summer the Church of the Brethren Annual
Conference approved a motion from the Conference floor that
became Brethren Volunteer Service. 

Several celebrations surrounding BVS' 50th anniversary will be
held at this summer's Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., and all
current BVSers who wouldn't normally attend the conference will,
thanks to an anonymous donor. This person, who has offered to
provide transportation, room and board for all current BVSers,
will probably spend between $25,000 and $50,000, said BVS
director Dan McFadden, who added that even he does not know the
donor's identity.

However, in a letter to BVS, the donor wrote, "I would like to
make a special gift to BVS in honor of its 50th anniversary and
because I think BVS is one of our church's greatest assets. It's
my hope that this gift will help Brethren gain a deeper knowledge
of BVS' value and connect BVSers more closely with other
Brethren. It is my hope that as many current BVSers as possible
will be able to attend so that Brethren from all over the
denomination will see the wonderful gifts of BVS and will be able
to interact with the volunteers." 

11) The General Board has announced two Elgin, Ill.-based job
openings -- Gift Management/Centralized Resources Assistant and
secretary to the director of Ministry.

The Gift Management position provides secretarial and research
support to the treasurer and Centralized Resources. The work
includes processing trust and estate documents, mortgage
documents, property files and other corporate documents.
Application deadline is March 25.

The secretary position maintains ministerial records, processes
pastoral and congregational profiles, maintains information for
the Pastor's Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee,
handles various responsibilities for the Ministers' Association
and processes Ministry Assistance Fund applications. Application
deadline is March 24.

For more information regarding either position, contact Elsie
Holderread at EHolderread_GB@Brethren.Org or at 800 323-8039.

12) Camp Mardella in Denton, Md., is seeking a full-time
administrator to manage the summer camping program and small
year-round retreat center. Application deadline is May 1. For
more information, contact Howard Miller at
MidAtlantic_CoB@MSN.Com or at 410 465-8777.

13) The 103rd Spiritual Life Institute, sponsored jointly by
Bridgewater (Va.) College and Bethany Theological Seminary,
Richmond, Ind., was held Sunday through Tuesday at the
Bridgewater campus. About 225 people attended each evening's
worship; about 150 attended the daytime events.

Leadership included Dale Brown, Brethren educator and minister;
David Radcliff, director of the General Board's Brethren Witness;
Elaine Sollenberger, Annual Conference moderator; and Jimmy Ross,
pastor of Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.

The institute is designed as an educational and spiritual renewal
program for pastors, church leaders and church members. Though
many of the speakers are from the Church of the Brethren, the
event is open to all who want to participate.

Monday night's worship was highlighted by the fact that the
scheduling of speakers, accomplished months ago, seemed to be
done with foresight -- Sollenberger, who currently serves in the
denomination's highest elected position, was joined by worship
leader Judy Mills Reimer, who just a week earlier had been named
the General Board's next executive director.

Outstanding Service Awards were presented during the Tuesday
banquet to Doris Cline Egge of Roanoke, Va., and Edgar Wilkerson
of Dayton, Va. 

Egge, a licensed professional counselor at Women's Center of
Hollins College, is a 1946 Bridgewater graduate. She is a member
of Williamson Road Church of the Brethren, Roanoke. She has
served as moderator of Virlina District, as secretary of the
Bethany Theological Seminary Board and as a General Board member.

Wilkerson, a 1949 Bridgewater graduate, worked at Bridgewater
from 1953 to 1970. He then joined the James Madison University
staff as assistant director of Field Services and Placement until
his retirement in 1987. Wilkerson attends the Dayton (Va.) Church
of the Brethren.

14) Ministry of Reconciliation, a ministry of On Earth Peace
Assembly, now has a listserv for those interested in MoR and its
work or for people who want to discuss ideas about reconciliation
in the church and in the world, said Bob Gross, MoR director. To
subscribe, send an e-mail to majordomo@igc.org and write in the
message area: subscribe mor-l

15) Entertainment, music, food, sport and fashion from around the
world will be showcased Sunday through March 29 during
Elizabethtown (Pa.) College's "International Fest '98: Your
Passport to the World." Myriad activities and events are
scheduled; most are free-of-charge. For more information, contact
the Office of College Relations at 717 367-1151, ext. 1410.

16) Tuesday marked the 75th anniversary of the Church of the
Brethren in Nigeria. To honor the occasion, a big gathering and
service were scheduled to be held in the northeastern village of
Garkida, under the same tamarind tree that served as backdrop to
the first Brethren worship service. Expected to join the
celebration by Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the
Brethren in Nigeria) members were non-EYN members who
nevertheless were influenced by EYN at some point in their lives.
Also scheduled to attend were about 25 American Brethren,
representing the hundreds of Brethren who served as Nigeria
missionaries. 

The Church of the Brethren mission in Nigeria was strongest
during its first 50 years, prior to the country becoming
autonomous from Great Britain in 1960 and before the Nigerian
Brethren movement became an independent church in 1972. From the
early 1920s until the early 1970s, U.S. Brethren helped establish
12 mission stations, 41 schools, a teachers' college, a Bible
college and a theological college. Many people who attended these
schools, some with positions high in Nigerian society, were
expected to attend the Garkida celebration.

Today, the U.S. mission in Nigeria consists of a handful of
teachers and administrators and, when visas are granted, exchange
students to Bethany Theological Seminary. EYN and the Nigerian
government have assumed responsibility for many of the former
Brethren ministries.

Although top Church of the Brethren leaders did not attend the
celebration in Nigeria, they sent the following letter to be read
-- 

To all gathered at Garkida for the 75th anniversary celebration:

Warm greetings to all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We
join with you in celebration of this anniversary marking 75 years
of relationship and ministry together as two branches of the
Church of the Brethren family on different sides of the world. We
are especially glad that a delegation has been able to travel to
Nigeria and be present with you on this special day.

Only a few of those gathered here may have been born at the time
of the coming of Stover Kulp and Albert Helser in 1923. But all
gathered have a deep sense of the life and vitality of this
community of believers. If there are stories to be told and
memories to be shared about the early times in the church, let
them be shared. And may all give glory to God, for truly God has
been at work in Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria!

How fittingly that this celebration brings us together again
under the tamarind tree where the first service was held. Trees
start in a fragile condition, easily attacked by goats or
insects. As they grow larger and stronger they press high in the
sky and dig roots deeply into the soil. As mature trees, they
stand strong and proud as this one. This description also fits
the beginnings of the Nigerian church. Many trees bear fruit, an
image of faithfulness often used by Jesus. These fruits both
nourish others and carry seeds that start new trees, continuing
and extending the lineage of the tree in other places. Jesus
often rested in the shade of trees. He drew strength from the
resting, and also from the nourishment they provided, such as
figs and other fruits. And it was on a tree that Christ died for
our salvation.

We enjoy the tree image further to speak of the Nigerian and
American churches as branches of the same tree, connecting with
all the Brethren family branches, and connected with all of God's
children through Christ.

So while we do not worship this tree, we recognize its symbolism
for us and benefit by its continued presence here as a reminder
of the beginnings of our relationship through Christ. And we know
that our relationship in Christ has a permanence that will
continue beyond the life of this tree, even if it lives 100 years
more, long after each of us here today passes from this earth.

The American church has been blessed by being a part of this
``thing of wonder,'' abin mamaki, and our relationship as sisters
and brothers with the Nigerian church. We give thanks to God for
this gift of connection, through our common history, and the many
opportunities the continuing relationship provides for us to grow
and learn from each other as we walk together in our common faith
in Christ.

Elaine Sollenberger, moderator, Annual Conference
Joseph M. Mason, executive director (interim), General Board
Mervin B. Keeney, director, Global Mission Partnerships

17) Judy Mills Reimer on March 9 was introduced as the Church of
the Brethren General Board's executive director designate. What
does Reimer think about the General Board and the Church of the
Brethren? Following the General Board's meetings last week,
Newsline asked Reimer to commit her thoughts to a word processor.
She did --

I envision the Church of Jesus Christ as viewed through the
window of the Church of the Brethren as God's presence to each
other within it's membership, community and global village. I
envision us seeking to be faithful to God's calling through our
prayer life, Bible study and discernment of God's leading for our
beloved denomination. I believe commitment to these spiritual
disciplines as individuals and as the community of faith can only
enhance how we seek to follow Jesus' mandate in telling the
gospel story in word and deed to the unchurched and in giving the
cup of cold water to all in need. I believe as we stay focused on
Jesus Christ, the very reason for our being, the Church of the
Brethren will move into the 21st century with renewed energy and
strength, trusting God's promise "to make all things new."

It has been written that "it is in changing that things find
purpose." The Church of the Brethren was born in the midst of
change as Alexander Mack and his friends discerned through
community prayer and scripture study that God was calling them to
count the cost and practice their faith differently than the
state church of Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708. Throughout our
history, we, as the body of Christ, have made changes seeking to
be faithful to God's leading at that moment in time. Today is no
different.

I affirm the action of the Church of the Brethren General Board,
when, in March, 1995, the decision was made to move forward into
necessary change guided and energized by a forward-looking vision
statement -- "We envision a General Board that equips
congregations to make faithful disciples to carry on the ministry
of Jesus Christ, locally and around the world; works in
partnership with Church of the Brethren pastors, congregations,
districts and agencies, as well as other denominations and
organizations; participates in the Annual Conference discernment
process and then faithfully implements the will of the delegate
body; facilitates denominational ministries through a unified
structure and vision of shared ministry; acts as a compassionate
employer, calling together gifted staff in a nurturing
environment and encouraging excellence among its employees;
constantly pursues simplicity, clarity, focus and good
stewardship in its structure and functions; anticipates and
prepares for the future mission of the church and is informed by
the strengths of our Brethren heritage." I know that the changes
made in the functions of the General Board have affected the way
we do God's ministry throughout our entire denomination! Yet, in
the midst of this journey of seeking clarity in how we do
business as a community of faith, I am energized by the
possibilities of God's newness as we walk together into our
tomorrows.

As we seek to be faithful to God's call to our beloved
denomination, I look forward to the creative ways we will
continue to be in conversations with our Church of the Brethren
pastors, congregations, districts and other agencies. As we seek
to intentionally "listen" to all voices within our body, I
believe we will hear more clearly God's voice guiding and
undergirding our work together. I believe that God calls us to
love each other with respect. I believe God calls us to "eyeball"
each other within our diversity, to truly hear each other, and
through God's spirit, live together in harmony. 

All ages make up the body of Christ! One age group -- our young
people -- challenges us yearly with their scriptural focus and
theme. Our youth are leading us again as they have chosen 2
Corinthians 5:7 for their 1998 National Youth Conference theme --
"...for we walk by faith, not by sight." This text is so
appropriate for such a time as this. Also, our young people are
challenging the wider church to focus its energy and commitment
to "being the church": To be God's presence to each other; to
encourage each other; to share the gospel story to all who do not
know Jesus Christ; and to take care of the needs of God's
children -- hunger, shelter, peace and justice concerns, and
companionship. This should occur at home, in our communities and
in the global village -- to build up the body of Christ in the
spirit of unity. I affirm their call and challenge to us! 

My challenge to each of us at this time when I've been called by
God through the General Board to be its executive director is
that we stay close to God through prayer and Bible study and seek
to mirror Jesus' teachings in all we do and say. I encourage us
to hear and heed the Psalmist who encourages us to "be still and
know that I am God." I call us to repentance and discipline as we
walk our faith journey together. I find strength in the biblical
promise that God is always on the journey with us -- on the
mountain tops and in the valleys! I believe that the day is here
when we can all sit around God's table and discern together God's
call to us in the "here and now." As we seek to "Continue the
work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together.", I believe that God
will bless us as faithful disciples in carrying out the ministry
of Jesus Christ.

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.