wfn.org | DNS -- April Digest

["Wilma Shuffitt" <WILMAS@oc.disciples.org>]

April 1998

Note: The number in brackets following each story refers to an
assigned number for a full-length Disciples News Service release.

    Disciples minister jailed for protest
 at controversial U.S. military installation
 
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- On March 23 the Rev. Kenneth
Kennon of Tucson, Ariz., began a six-month stay at Fort Bliss in El
Paso, Texas. His time there, however, will be anything but joyful.

     Kennon is among 25 persons who were sentenced to federal
prison terms following a peaceful demonstration, Nov. 16, 1997, at
the U.S. Army School of the Americas. More than 600 persons
were arrested during the protest. The Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ) minister pleaded "not guilty" to a misdemeanor charge
of "unlawful reentry." In addition to the six-month prison sentence,
he was fined $3,000.

     The Fort Benning, Ga., installation has received widespread
criticism for its use as a training ground for Latin American
military leaders. SOA graduates, critics allege, are responsible for
widespread human rights abuses in several Central and South
American locales, including the latest incidents in Chiapas,
Mexico.

     In fact, the Nov. 16 protest date marked the anniversary of
the 1989 assassinations of six Jesuit priests and two women at the
University of Central America in San Salvador. The soldiers
charged with those deaths reportedly were trained at the School of
the Americas.

     For this reason, Kennon and 2,000 other opponents
demonstrated at the facility last November, calling for its closure.
The School of the Americas "is really a political/military school
which teaches counterinsurgency, doctrine and tactics," according
to Kennon, pastor of Community Christian Church, Arizona City.
[18]

                   ****

Lexington Theological Seminary divests tobacco stock
 
     LEXINGTON, Ky. (DNS) -- The board of trustees of
Lexington Theological Seminary, meeting March 9, voted to divest
the seminary endowment portfolio of stocks of major tobacco
manufacturing companies.

     The action was part of a larger objective to "weigh carefully
its social responsibilities with respect to both human and natural
resources" in making investment decisions, according to LTS
officials. Trustees also voted to establish a "social conscience"
screening process for investments.

     The first use of the social conscience screen was focused on
tobacco manufacturing. In a lively debate, the board decided that
the seminary should not be in a position of supporting tobacco
manufacturing companies.

     The board's decision was affected by its determination that
the product has no redeeming value, that research indicates tobacco
contributes to the untimely deaths of some 400,000 Americans a
year, along with millions worldwide, and that the companies
themselves appear to have been involved in troubling practices
related to putting additives in tobacco products and targeting young
people with their advertising.

     "Lexington Theological Seminary is deeply concerned
about what is happening, and what is likely to happen, to tobacco
farmers and their families over the next few years," said the Rev.
Richard L. Harrison, Jr., president. [19]

                    *****

Northwest, Illinois/Wisconsin regions call new executives
 
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- A Detroit pastor and former
Homeland Ministries executive, and the senior minister of a large
Illinois congregation received calls March 7 to new regional
ministry posts.

     The Rev. Jack Sullivan, Jr., begins May 15 as regional
minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the
Northwest. The Rev. Herbert L. Knudsen, Bloomington, begins
May 1 as regional minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) in Illinois and Wisconsin.

     Sullivan, who succeeds the Rev. Robert C. Brock, becomes
the second African American to serve as a regional minister in the
Indianapolis-based denomination. The first was the Rev. John R.
Compton, Sr., who headed the Indiana region from 1979 to 1982.

     Knudsen, who also will be based in Bloomington, succeeds
the Rev. Nathan S. "Pete" Smith, who retires April 8. The
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois and Wisconsin
counts more than 28,000 participating members in 193
congregations. [13]
 
                    *****

Black clergy call for halt to Georgia regional minister's search
 
     DECATUR, Ga. (DNS) -- African American clergy of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) March 5 called on the
denomination's Georgia region to suspend the search for a new
executive following the November rejection of an African
American candidate by its governing board. 

     In a news conference at Ray of Hope Christian Church,
here, the Black Ministers' Fellowship specifically asked that the
process be halted until members of the regional board undergo
anti-racism training.

     A January 13, 1998 meeting of Georgia board members
with General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm led to a
commitment to participate in the training module. The training
process, however, likely would not begin until next fall, Hamm
said. African American clergy were adamant that training be
completed before the search is finished.

     The clergy group's demand stems from a November 1997
decision by the regional body which failed to forward the Rev.
William H. Edwards' name to the Georgia Regional Assembly for
vote as regional minister. [14]

                    *****

Georgia moderator responds following controversial board
decision
 
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- In a communique addressed to
members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia,
Moderator Eddie K. Parker shared the board's deep concern "about
healing and understanding within the region."

     Parker's message, published in the March issue of The
Christian Messenger, was a follow-up to criticism over the
previous board's decision not to forward the name of an African
American candidate for regional minister to the assembly for vote.

     The board voted eight to seven to accept the candidate
recommended by the search committee. The Georgia constitution
requires a two-thirds majority vote to forward a name to the
regional assembly.

     "The regional board of 1998 confesses with that board that
the decision was impacted by many factors, attitudes and beliefs,"
said Parker. "The current board wishes to acknowledge and
apologize for the hurt, anger, astonishment, and misunderstanding
that has resulted."

     In a January meeting with General Minister and President
Richard L. Hamm "it was acknowledged that racism and
regionalism were strong issues that divided the board members
and, by extension, the members of the Christian Church in
Georgia." [15]

                    *****
        Publishing house nets surplus

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- A five percent net surplus in
1997 has meant new growth opportunities for the publishing house
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

     A highlight of Christian Board of Publication's successful
financial year was an unusual gift -- a tithe to Basic Mission
Finance, the denominational mission fund. This was the first-ever
tithe offered by the St. Louis-based general unit. CBP President
Cyrus N. White termed the gift "a thanksgiving to God and a
recognition that we are in covenant with the whole church."

     The surplus monies also will fund reserves for future
growth (40%), provide employee bonuses (25%), assist with
research and development of new resources (15%), and help
upgrade office furniture and fixtures (10%).

     In other action, the board elected one new member,
Gertrude Fuji of Los Angeles, Calif., and elected the following
persons as officers for 1998: Margot Martin, Franklin, Ind.,
chairperson; the Rev. Barbara E. Jones, Little Rock, Ark., vice
chairperson; and Dennis L. Bailey, Fayetteville, Ark., secretary.

                    *****

     "Finding God" to appear on Odyssey

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- "Finding God in Our Time," a
documentary produced by the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) will appear in April on the Odyssey network.

     "Finding God" will be shown at 10 p.m., April 1, and 1
a.m., April 2.

     The program, which airs as part of The Unbroken Circle,
profiles four new Disciples congregations in suburban Chicago,
Memphis, Tenn., Marietta, Ga., and suburban Los Angeles.
Serving as host is actor John Stamos, a member of Church of the
Valley in Van Nuys, Calif.

                    *****

Church Extension loan requests exceed $2.8 million
 
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- More than $2.8 million in loan
requests have been approved in the past three months by staff and
directors of Board of Church Extension.

     Loan requests were among the reports received and actions
taken by Church Extension directors during the group's first
quarterly meeting of the year, March 10-11.

     Loan requests to help finance building expansion and
improvements for Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
congregations and related institutions came from 13 states plus
Puerto Rico. The loans support 21 projects that include site
purchases, remodeling, new construction and debt refinancing.
Costs of all projects totaled more than $5 million. 

     Directors also approved three interest-free loan requests
totaling $250,000 for projects in Tennessee, Florida and Texas.
Nine congregations now have outstanding commitments totaling
$541,750 in interest-free loans. [17]

                    *****
Allen nominated to area position in Mid-America region
 
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The Rev. Barbara Allen,
Wichita, Kan., has been nominated as the Northeast Area minister
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Mid-America.

     The Northeast Area board approved Allen's nomination
March 7. If called, she would begin the new assignment July 1,
succeeding the Rev. Ralph Glenn. He is now regional minister of
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest.

     Mid-America Regional Minister Stephen V. Cranford
termed her call as groundbreaking for the denomination. Although
several women serve in regional positions throughout the church,
she will be the first to serve as an area minister, he said.

     Allen currently is pastor of Martinson Avenue Christian
Church, Wichita, where she has served since 1986. She previously
was a chaplain at the former Atlantic (now Barton) Christian
College, Wilson, N.C. Her background also includes work in
Christian education and as a hospice chaplain. [16]

                    *****

    New president named at Midway College

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Allyson Hughes Handley has
been elected president of Midway (Ky.) College.

     Handley, who begins the new assignment July 1, becomes
the first woman to serve as president of "Kentucky's only college
for women," according to college officials.

     She currently is vice president for development and alumni
relations at National University, a private institution that
specializes in higher education for adults in San Diego, Calif. She
also has been dean of the university's  School of Education and
Human Services.

     Handley has a bachelor of arts degree from the University
of Western Ontario, and master of education and doctor of
education degrees from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
 
                    *****