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

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      March 4, 1999
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline                                         March 4, 1999

News
1) Brethren leaders from ethnic and urban congregations gather in
     Kansas City. 
2) The Church of the Brethren General Board convenes this weekend.
3) $170,000 for North Korea is allocated from the Global Food
     Crisis Fund.
4) Seven grants totaling $103,360 are allocated from the Emergency
     Disaster Fund.
5) The 1999 Annual Conference Information Packet will be posted
     online.
6) The annual Spiritual Life Institute will be held March 14-16 in
     Bridgewater, Va.
7) The Washington Office is urging Brethren to act on the National
     Peace Tax Campaign.
8) A mini-survey reveals Brethren congregational and ministerial
     data.
9) New disaster response directors are trained by ER/SM.
10) ER/SM ships a container of medicines and supplies to the
     Dominican Republic.
11) Joanne Nesler resigns from Association of Brethren Caregivers.
12) The Womaen's Caucus Steering Committee convenes this weekend.
13) CPT members are involved in a "Tent for Lent" campaign.
14) MAA is testing a fire prevention pilot project in Shenandoah
     and Virlina districts.
15) University of La Verne tolls its bells in honor of a new land
     mine treaty.
16) Long Beach Brethren Manor joins the Fellowship of Brethren
     Homes.
17) The National Council of Churches announces its six public
     policy priorities for 1999.
18) Making churches more energy efficient is the focus of a new NCC
     initiative.
19) Corrections.

Coming events
20) Roanoke Church of the Brethren congregations hold their annual
     Awakening Services.
21) Trinity Church of the Brethren to hold a community National Day
     of Prayer Service. 
22) Pike Run Church of the Brethren announces its dedication
     weekend dates.
23) Brethren traveling to Annual Conference this summer are invited
     to an open house.
24) Swaziland's United Nations ambassador to speak at the
     Washington, D.C. church.
25) A summer workcamp to Nigeria has been scheduled, 
     June 10 - July 5.
26) The General Board's Brethren Witness office is organizing a
     delegation to Guatemala.
27) A national Brethren family camp of music and storytelling is
     scheduled for July 4-9.
28) A national conference on apocalpticism and millennialism is
     scheduled for Aug. 8-10.
29) The third annual Brethren Homes Forum is scheduled for 
     Aug. 29-31.

Resources
30) "Preaching, Planning, and Plumbing," a book on bivocational
     ministry, is released.
31) Resources related to Civilian Public Service and peacemaking
     are available.
32) "Yes, But - Conflicts of a Pacifist," a book by a Brethren
     pastor, is available.
33) "Ending Racism in the Church" is a new resource available from
     the NCC.
34) A series of lectionary-based monologues, poems, playlets, and
     prayers are available.

1) Each Sunday Church of the Brethren congregations worship in
styles that are rich in diversity and are in Korean, Spanish,
Creole, French, and English. 

It was in this context that African American, Haitian, Hispanic,
Korean, Japanese-American, and Anglo Brethren leaders from ethnic
and urban congregations gathered February 19-21 at Central Avenue
Church of the Brethren, Kansas City, Kan., under the theme,
"Clothed with Christ in Diversity and Unity." This consultation was
a time for worship, bridge building, healing, storytelling, and
listening. The group also examined ways the denomination and the
Annual Conference specifically might become more representative of
ethnic diversity. 

"It was a wonderful opportunity for healing and hope," said Belita
Mitchell of Imperial Heights Church of the Brethren, Los Angeles.
"I believe we left with a sense of encouragement and optimism for
better things to come in the future." Orlando-Antonio Jimenez of
Cornerstone Christian Church of the Brethren, Lebanon, Pa., added,
"I feel that this weekend was a positive experience and I look
forward to working with a more culturally aware and culturally
sensitive and culturally representative Church of the Brethren."

The consultation generated ideas from leadership development to
General Board programs and staffing, development of resources in
other languages, an ongoing multicultural committee, inclusiveness
training for General Board members and staff, and the development
of sister-to-sister congregational relationships for cross-cultural
experiences.

 
2) The Church of the Brethren General Board convenes this weekend
at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., for its annual spring
meetings. In addition to discussing its year 2000 budget and
overall financial trends and hearing a plethora of reports, the
Board will consider several business items.

One is a revised ministerial leadership paper, which would replace
the 1986 Annual Conference "Licensed and Ordained Ministry" paper
and would eliminate sections on licensing and ordination from
earlier papers. If approved, this document will be forwarded to
Annual Conference delegates this summer. (A draft of this paper is
available at http://www.brethren.org/genbd/ministry/index.htm.) The
Board will also consider a Jubilee 2000 resolution that calls for
the forgiveness of foreign debt to developing countries. It also
will discuss creating an "Institute for Ministry with Youth and
Young Adults," a specialized ministry education program; and will
consider a "Year 2000 Project," a proposal to observe the 2000th
birthday of Christ by reading scripture, sharing the Good News,
responding to a world in need, reflecting on the Word and the
world, and looking forward in faith.

The meetings begin Saturday morning with "The Role and
Responsibility of Effective Board Members" workshop. Business
begins Saturday afternoon with a series of reports. A celebration
banquet will be held Saturday night, followed by an hour of
storytelling about specific General Board ministries. Business
continues Sunday and concludes at 5 p.m. Monday. The Board's four
subcommittees will meet Tuesday morning and the meetings will then
conclude with an 11:30 a.m. worship service.

3) A $170,000 grant from the Church of the Brethren General Board's
Global Food Crisis Fund has been allocated to combat hunger in
North Korea. Along with $45,000 toward a $400,000 Church World
Service appeal, $55,000 will fund a barley seed production
initiative; $17,000 will ship seed potatoes; $50,000 will purchase
dairy goats; and $3,000 will support a National Council of Churches
North Korea program specialist. This request was submitted by David
Radcliff, director of the General Board's Brethren Witness office.

The Global Food Crisis Fund receives the majority of its funding
from individual donations and the "My 2 cents Worth" ministry, a
national Brethren initiative that asks members to donate two cents
for each meal they eat. In 1998 GFCF received $456,169 in
contributions. Contact Radcliff at witness_gb@brethren.org or at
800 323-8039.

4) Seven grants from Emergency Disaster Fund totaling $103,360 were
allocated last week, per the request of Bob and Marianne Pittman,
interim managers of the General Board's Emergency Response/Service
Ministries --

* $20,000 in response to tornadoes that swept through Arkansas and
     Tennessee in January; $5,000 is for Church World Service's
     response and $15,000 is to fund an ER/SM project in the
     Jackson, Tenn., area, where 2,500 homes were damaged or
     destroyed.
* $10,000 for Grassroots International's ongoing relief efforts in
     the Chiapas, Mexico, region. Conditions continue to
     deteriorate, while violence and displacement are on the rise.
* $10,000 for Church World Service's response to fighting in
     Freetown, South Africa. Funds are needed for food, plastic
     sheeting, blankets, and clothing for displaced people.
* $2,360 for support of two grassroots Interfaith agencies that
     have been established following the October 1998 flooding of
     the Guadalupe River. 
* $15,000 for Church World Service's response to ongoing needs in
     Rwanda as a result of five years of strife. Funds are to help
     facilitate the construction of 150 homes and support
     agricultural and community development.
* $16,000 in support of requests from Yvonne Dilling, Hurricane
     Mitch response coordinator in Central America for the Board's
     Global Mission Partnerships office. Mision Cristiana,       
     the General Board's partner in Nicaragua, will receive $10,000
     to support a food basket project for 480 families. The
     Honduran Mennonite Church will receive $6,000 for rebuilding
     houses for 12 mother-only families; the Church of the Brethren
     will sponsor four of the houses.
* $30,000 to support Church World Service's Hurricane Mitch relief
     and recovery efforts. Funds will support material aid
     shipments, volunteer work, medical teams; and the           
     reconstruction of water systems, food programs, and
     agriculture.

5) When the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Information
Packet gets released next Tuesday, nearly all of the same
information will be available at http://www.brethren.org/index.htm.
Only two pages will be held until March 16 at noon, pages
pertaining to lodging. 

Other recent additions to www.brethren.org include the addition of
Agenda newsletter and Messenger magazine pages, which are located
in the General Board's section, as well as several new entries in
the Picture This electronic photo album
(http://www.brethren.org/picthis/index.htm).

6) The Spiritual Life Institute, sponsored annually by Bridgewater
(Va.) College and Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Ind., is
scheduled for March 14-16 at the Bridgewater campus. "Stewardship
Education for the Local Church" is this year's theme. Phil
Williams, executive director of the Ecumenical Center for
Stewardship Studies, will lead eight workshops. Stephen Reid, a
Brethren faculty member of Austin Presbyterian Seminary, will lead
daily Bible study. Evening sermons will be presented by Shawn
Replogle, pastor of South Waterloo (Iowa) Church of the Brethren
(Sunday); Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, director of the resource center
for churches in Minneapolis (Monday); and Fred Swartz, pastor of
Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren (Tuesday).

Brethren pastor Myron Miller of Richmond, Va., and Bridgewater
student Jonathon Brush of Manassas Church of the Brethren, will
receive Outstanding Service Awards.

This event is open to all Brethren pastors and members; cost is
free except for Tuesday's recognition dinner. Contact Jim Bryant at
jbryant@bridgewater.edu or at 540 828-5449.

7) In response to an appeal by the National Peace Tax Fund
Campaign, the Church of the Brethren Washington Office is urging
Brethren to ask their U.S. representatives to become original
co-sponsors of the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill, which
will be reintroduced to Congress on April 15 by Rep. John Lewis
(D-GA). The Church of the Brethren has long supported establishing
a Peace Tax Fund. In 1981 Annual Conference delegates approved the
"World Peace Tax Fund Legislation Support" statement, which states
"that the Church of the Brethren reaffirm its 1978 support of the
World Peace Tax Fund" by encouraging members to contact their U.S.
senators and representatives.

8) A large survey to obtain comprehensive data about Church of the
Brethren ministers is being planned by the Church of the Brethren
General Board's Ministry office. In the meantime, that office has
released information from a mini-survey it conducted of all 23
denominational districts from September through February.

Number of churches -- congregations, 977; fellowships, 41;
projects, 56; preaching points, 3. Total is 1,077.

Active ministers -- female licensed, 103; female ordained, 240;
male licensed, 309; male ordained, 1,634. Total women, 343 (15
percent). Total men, 1,943 (85 percent).

Female licensed and ordained ministers serving in pastoral roles --
59 full-time, 72 part-time, 12 bi-vocational, 1 free ministry, 9
pulpit supply, 1 unclassified. Total is 154 (13 percent).

Male licensed and ordained ministers serving in pastoral roles --
501 full-time, 180 part-time, 195 bi-vocational, 89 free ministry,
74 pulpit supply, 1 unclassified. Total is 1,040 (87 percent).

9) Emergency Response/Service Ministries hosted nine new volunteer
disaster response trainees on Feb. 28 at the New Windsor (Md.)
Conference Center. ER/SM staff conducted a two-day training seminar
that included construction management, volunteer management, record
keeping, and team work. The new directors will first serve as
interns on a disaster response project before assuming the role of
director.

The group included Rex and Jenette Freeman of Fruitland, Idaho;
John and Mary Gray of Wirtz, Va.; Ken and LouElla Imhoff of West
Salem, Ohio; Bob and Juanita Mikesell of Greenville, Ohio; and Mike
Sims of Nokesville, Va.

 
10) The General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries in
New Windsor, Md., packed and shipped a 40-foot container to the
Dominican Republic in late February on behalf of the denomination.
Ten medicine boxes and eight dispensary kits from Interchurch
Medical Assistance were included in the shipment for use by health
care centers in Santo Domingo. The container also included the
household goods of Jerry and Becky Baile Crouse and family, who
recently arrived in the Dominican Republic as Church of the
Brethren missionaries for the General Board's Global Mission
Partnerships.

I.M.A. Medicine Boxes contain 17 over-the-counter and prescription
medicines that can treat a population of 1,000 for three months.
Village Dispensary kits contain over-the-counter medicines and
supplies.

11) Joanne Nesler has resigned as part-time administrative
assistant for Association of Brethren Caregivers. She joined ABC on
Sept. 1, 1997, working one day each week in a position she shared
with Linda Timmons. In 1998, she also served as volunteer
coordinator of the Fourth National Older Adult Conference. Nesler
concludes her service on March 12.

12) The Church of the Brethren Womaen's Caucus Steering Committee
will convene March 5-6 in Roanoke, Va., for its first biannual
meeting of the year. Business will include discussion on a name
change for the Church of the Brethren. Saturday evening committee
members will have dinner and fellowship with Caucus members and
other interested nearby Brethren. The Steering Committee holds
regional gatherings at least once a year in conjunction with its
meetings. According to Womaen's Caucus, these gatherings build
community, support, and encouragement among Brethren feminist women
and men.

13) "Tent for Lent," a current Christian Peacemaker Teams campaign,
is encouraging Christians "to pitch a tent and think of Palestinian
families whose homes have been bulldozed to the ground by the
Israeli military." During Lent several CPT members are living in a
tent in downtown Hebron and displaying photos of home demolitions.
Campaign packets, which include worship resources and suggestions
about how to stop the demolitions, are available at cpt@igc.org or
at 312 455-1199. CPT is an independent initiative of Church of the
Brethren, Mennonite, and Quaker members and congregations.

14) A fire prevention inspection pilot project for all Church of
the Brethren congregations in Shenandoah and Virlina districts is
underway by Mutual Aid Association. This initiative by the
independent Church of the Brethren insurance agency that insures
about half of the denomination's churches includes an inspection by
an MAA staff member that will help minimize the risk of fire while
also evaluating content and building worth. MAA usually insures
buildings for the amount of coverage requested. 

If successful, MAA might expand the program nationwide, said Glenn
Welborn, MAA's operations manager. Meanwhile, Owen Stultz is
inspecting Shenandoah and Virlina congregations that request the
service. Welborn added that MAA's client congregations outside
those two districts can also receive free inspections from either
Welborn of Abilene, Kan., or Jim Garber of North Manchester, Ind.
Contact MAA at 800 255-1243.

15) Bells tolled throughout the United States on March 1 to
celebrate the implementation of a treaty on land mines, including
those of the University of La Verne. Debbie Roberts, campus pastor,
reported that the university's bells rang out at noon.

16) Long Beach Brethren Manor of Long Beach, Calif., which opened
in 1965, has joined the Fellowship of Brethren Homes, bringing the
total of retirement communities that are fellowship members to 23.
There currently are 24 Church of the Brethren-affiliated homes.
Retirement communities are affiliated with the fellowship through
Association of Brethren Caregivers.

17) The National Council of Churches on Feb. 16-17 took steps to
strengthen its public witness by approving six public policy
priorities for 1999 -- supporting Jubilee 2000; making social
security more secure; changing U.S. immigration law to safeguard
the rights of asylum seekers, and reforming and restructuring the
Immigration and Naturalization Service; protecting the environment;
reducing poverty; and improving public education and protecting the
religious liberty rights of students.

18) A program encouraging congregations to make their churches more
energy efficient has been initiated by the National Council of
Churches, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. The "Energy Star Congregations" project
encourages congregations to make their buildings more energy
efficient by performing energy audits, upgrading lighting,
purchasing office equipment with the Energy Star label, and tuning
up heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.

The Center for Energy and Environmental Education at the University
of Northern Iowa is serving as the NCC's national information
clearinghouse. Contact the center at 800 288-1346 for information
about energy audits and at becoming more energy efficient.

19) The Jan. 8 Newsline listed Brethren anniversaries being
celebrated this year, incorrectly stating that 1999 marks the 50th
anniversary of the end of Church of the Brethren mission work in
China. That 50th anniversary will be in 2000. Two other
anniversaries were excluded -- the 50th anniversary of the
beginning of the high school exchange program by the Brethren
Services Commission, and the 100th anniversary of M.G. Brumbaugh's
"History of the German Baptist Brethren," generally considered the
pioneer in Brethren historical accounts.

20) The 18th annual Awakening Services, sponsored by Roanoke, Va.,
area Church of the Brethren congregations, is scheduled for March
21-24. Paul Mundey, pastor of Frederick (Md.) Church of the
Brethren, will preach each evening on the overall theme, "Messages
from the Mountaintop." On March 23 Virlina District's new video on
disabilities will be shown. Nightly children's activities are
scheduled. This year's event will be held at Williamson Road Church
of the Brethren. Contact Virlina District at virlina@aol.com or at
540 366-0291.

21) Trinity Church of the Brethren of Fincastle, Va., will hold a
Botetourt Community National Day of Prayer Service on May 6 at Lord
Botetourt High School in Daleville, Va., from 7 to 9 p.m. Mike
Carroll, pastor, will serve as worship leader for the "Power in
Prayer" service. The service will include prayers and music
presented by area pastors and choirs. 

22) The dedication weekend for Pike Run Church of the Brethren,
near Somerset, Pa., has been set for April 24-25. Pike Run's former
church was destroyed in early 1998 due to arson. This new facility,
which the congregation began using just prior to Thanksgiving,
includes several classrooms and a social hall. Contact Lori Conn at
lori@shol.com or at 724 593-4242.

23) Brethren who will be traveling to Annual Conference this summer
in Milwaukee are invited to take a small detour for food,
fellowship, celebration, and information -- Brethren style. An open
house has been scheduled for June 27-29 at the Church of the
Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill.

"We envision this open house being a time that Brethren will use to
meet with representatives and staff from each organization that is
headquartered here," said Judy Mills Reimer, executive director of
the General Board. "This event will include food, fellowship, and
information that will highlight the work that is done at this
25-plus-acre facility. 

Hours will be noon to 4 p.m. June 27-28, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June
29. Sponsoring this event with the General Board are the Annual
Conference office, Association of Brethren Caregivers, Brethren
Employees Credit Union, Brethren Benefit Trust, and the Illinois/
Wisconsin District. Contact Cindy Smith at csmith_gb@brethren.org
or at 800 323-8039.

24) Moses Dlamini, Swaziland's ambassador to the United Nations,
will deliver the Washington (D.C.) City Church of the Brethren's
annual peace lectureship on April 25. Dlamini will present, "The
Role of a Christian in the Society in Times of Besiege," during
morning worship. A question and answer session, along with a drama
presented by the church's youth and the Swazi Dance-Sibhaca, is
scheduled from 1:30 to 3 p.m. A buffet luncheon will be held at
12:30 p.m. Contact Ruth Hoover at ruwahoov@juno.com or at 202
547-5924.

 
25) A summer workcamp to Nigeria to construct a new church for the
Abuja Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (Church of the Brethren in
Nigeria) congregation is being organized by Monroe Good with the
support of EYN and the General Board's Global Mission Partnerships
office. This project, sponsored by the Abuja church and Atlantic
Northeast District, is scheduled for June 10 - July 5. Good, of
Holtwood, Pa., is ordained in the Church of the Brethren and is a
former Nigeria missionary. Cost is $2,600. Registration deadline is
March 25. Contact Good at 717 284-5770.

26) The General Board's Brethren Witness office has announced an
upcoming delegation to Guatemala. Set for June 3-13, the group will
visit Brethren-sponsored accompaniers Sandy Summers of Ephrata
(Pa.) Church of the Brethren and Sarah Stafford of Oakland Church
of the Brethren, Gettysburg, Ohio, and will learn about this
Central American nation. Anticipated cost is $300 plus airfare.
Participants must be 18 or older. Contact the Brethren Witness
office at witness_gb@brethren.org or 800 323-8039.

27) "Winds Over the Waters," a family camp featuring Brethren
musicians and storytellers, will be held July 4-9 on the shores of
Lake Waubee at Camp Mack, near Milford, Ind. This Great Lakes Song
and Story Fest will feature Debbie Eisenbise, storyteller; David
Frantz, musician; Joe Helfrich, folksinger and musician; Alan Hoal,
storyteller; Jonathon Hunter, storyteller; Steve Kinzie,
folksinger; Shawn Kirchner, musician and choral director; Lee
Krahenbuhl, folksinger; Jim Lehman, storyteller; Peg Lehman,
folksinger; Jan and John Long and the Jolliff Family, folksingers
and square dance band; and Barb Sayler, songleader. Performing will
be the Brethren folk group, Kindling, and this year's Journey for
Young Adult team.

Mornings will include singing, storytelling, biblical drama,
dancing, and other activities. Afternoons will be free for family
time, recreation, or crafts. Evenings will include a camp fire,
play, concert, or folk dancing. Registration fees include meals and
housing. Cost is from $145 for one person to $450 for five or more
people. Contact Camp Mack at campmack@npcc.net or at 219 658-4831
or Songfest coordinator Ken Kline Smeltzer at kksmelt@juno.com or
at 209 523-1438.

28) A national conference on apocalpticism and millennialism will
be held at Bluffton (Ohio) College Aug. 8-10. "Apocalypticism and
Millennialism: Shaping a Believer's Church Eschatology for the 21st
Century" is one in a series of believers church conferences that
were started by Don Durnbaugh, Church of the Brethren historian,
and John Howard Yoder. 

Keynote speakers will include Paul Boyer of the University of
Wisconsin and author of "When Time Shall Be no More," and James
VanderKam of the University of Notre Dame, author of "The Dead Sea
Scrolls Today." Previous conferences have dealt with the
theological issues of particular interest to the broad believers
church tradition, which includes the Church of the Brethren.
Contact Loren Johns at johnsl@bluffton.edu or at 419 358-3280.

29) The third annual Brethren Homes Forum, sponsored by the
Association of Brethren Caregivers, will be held Aug. 29-31 at the
New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center.

Following the establishment of goals and objectives last May at the
second Forum, the fellowship took several actions that resulted in
the creation of a Collaboration Core Group, the retainment of
Michael Winer as a consultant, and the establishment of a new ABC
staff position to facilitate ongoing collaboration efforts.

"We are approaching the third Forum with decisions having been made
that deepen the commitment of the fellowship to explore
collaborative efforts," said Roger Golden, who in January began
serving in that new ABC staff position. "Those decisions will
strengthen the ministry of each participating facility for years to
come."

 
30) "Preaching, Planning, and Plumbing -- The Implications of
Bivocational Ministry for the Church and for You," written by Steve
Clapp, Ron Finney, and Angela Zimmerman, will be available from
Brethren Press in April. This 128-page book, published by Christian
Community, will guide clergy and lay people who are seeking to
better understand their spiritual gifts and the ministries to which
they have been called. Included are a spiritual gifts assessment
and a guide in discerning God's call to ministry in the church and
in secular work. A 13-week discussion guide is included. Cost is
$11.00. Call 800 441-3712 or write brethren_press_gb@brethren.org.

31) A video and a handful of books about Civilian Public Service
and peacemakers are now available from National Interreligious
Service Board for Conscientious Objectors (NISBCO). The CPS
documentary video covers 1943-1945. Books include a directory of
all CPS participants; "Exercise of Conscience," which details the
CPS experience; "Peace Was in Their Hearts," a comprehensive
narrative distilled from questionnaires filled out by CPSers 50
years ago; "The Turning Point," which describes "how men of
conscience brought major change in the care of America's mentally
ill"; and "To the Beat of a Different Drummer," which focuses on
the maturation of a World War II conscientious objector as seen
through letters, home stories, and world events.

Other books available include "Pragmatic Prophets - The Life of
Michael Robert Zigler," by Church of the Brethren historian Donald
Durnbaugh; "Helping Out," a guide to military discharges and G.I.
rights; "Hell, Healing, and Resistance," a look at war and the
changes that occur in veterans; and "Ammunition for Peacemakers,"
an answer to "peace through strength" advocates.

Durnbaugh's book is available from Brethren Press at
brethren_press_gb@brethren.org or 800 441-3712. For the others,
write nisbco@igc.apc.org or call 202 483-2220.

32) "Yes, But - Conflicts of a Pacifist" is a book written by Wanda
Callahan, pastor of Wawaka (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, which
details Callahan's experiences with women in ministry, healing, the
death penalty, simple living, and the church. Cost is $6. Call 219
761-1232 

33) "Ending Racism in the Church," which raises awareness of how
racism influences behavior and spawns hatred, is a new resource
produced by the National Council of Churches. The resource focuses
on three case studies that describe church or community agencies
that strive to end racism. Following each case study are essays
from scholars and activists who identify the subtle ways that
racism undermines the Gospel's spirit. A discussion guide is
included. Cost is $12.95 plus s/h. Call 800 654-5129.

34) Betty Jo Buckingham of Prairie City (Iowa) Church of the
Brethren has developed a series of monologues, poems, playlets, and
prayers based on the lectionary that are to be used during special
holidays or seasons of the church year. Call 515 994-2788.

Newsline is produced by Nevin Dulabaum, manager of the Church of
the Brethren General Board's News Services. Duane Grady and
Kathleen Campanella contributed to this report. Newsline stories
may be reprinted 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 available at www.brethren.org
and is archived with an index at http://www.wfn.org.