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

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      May 14, 1999
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline                                          May 14, 1999

News
1) Six Brethren participate in the first older adult Brethren
     Volunteer Service unit held in about 20 years.
2) One hundred tons of potato seeds are shipped to North Korea.
3) A $15,000 GFCF grant has been allocated for work in Viahama,
     Dominican Republic.
4) Womaen's Caucus hopes to restart the denomination name change
     discussion.
5) ABC will honor three women and one organization during its
     annual recognition dinner. 
6) Illinois/Wisconsin youth prepare "Web connection," a
     multimedia road show. 
7) Ministry Summer Service placements have been announced for
     this year.
8) This year's Youth Peace Travel Team is announced.
9) Nate Milton and Heidi Gross join the General Board as
     assistant workcamp coordinators.
10) The Global Women's Project Steering Committee convenes for
     its spring meetings.
11) McPherson College has a received a $1.75 million match grant
     for its capital campaign.
12) Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren is celebrating its
     centennial throughout 1999.
13) An original ecumenical music competition is announced.
14) Church of the Brethren congregational vacancies are now
     posted online.

Scheduled events
15) The first Camp Placid Bluegrass Festival is scheduled for
     Aug. 27-28.
16) An independent workcamp on community, simple living, and
     nonviolence is scheduled.
17) Bridgewater College's Forum for Religious Studies will host
     "End Times and the Brethren," Sept. 30 - Oct. 2.
18) Walter Wink will serve as keynote speaker this year at the
     fifth annual CPT congress.
19) Dates for Christian Citizenship Seminar 2000 have been set.

1) For the first time in about two decades Brethren Volunteer
Service is holding an orientation unit for older adults. The six
adults participating in BVS Unit 233 will finish their 10-day
training based at the General Board's New Windsor (Md.)
Conference Center on May 14. 

Sessions have focused on healthy living, spirituality, conflict
resolution, and diversity. Also on the itinerary is a work
session at a Baltimore soup kitchen and homeless program, and
visits to Elizabethtown (Pa.) College's Young Center and the
Ephrata cloisters. Daily devotions, Bible study, and visits to
congregations on Sunday are also part of the training.

Unit 233 members are Sally Caracheo and Sue Snyder of Elgin,
Ill.; Olive Peters of Boonsboro, Md.; Joyce Ray of Bassett, Va.;
and Don and Bernita Smucker of Middlebury, Ind. This is Bernita
Smucker's second stint in BVS -- she was a member of Unit 9 in
December 1950, subsequently serving with the National Service
Board for Religious Objectors. 

Project placements for some are still underway, although Peters
will serve at the Brethren Home in New Oxford, Pa., and Ray will
go to On Earth Peace Assembly in New Windsor, Md.

It was in the mid- to late-1970s when BVS last held special units
for older adults, then called "Post-30" units. "There's been a
great deal of excitement generated for the older adult program
from those attending this unit," said Dan McFadden, BVS director.
"Those present have felt pulled together by the leading of the
Holy Spirit and a good community spirit has developed." The next
older adult BVS orientation unit is scheduled for April 4-14. 

2) One hundred metric tons of seed potatoes were shipped from
Denver to North Korea on April 28 as part of a new initiative
launched by eight U.S. humanitarian relief and development
agencies, including Church World Service. 

The total initiative consists of 1,000 metric tons of seed
potatoes that will be distributed on farms throughout several
North Korean provinces. Additionally, a 100,000-metric-ton
food-for-work program, with commodities provided by USAID and the
United States Department of Agriculture, will support the seed
potato initiative. The 100,000 metric tons of food marks the
first bilateral aid given by the United States to North Korea.
The Church of the Brethren General Board, through its Global Food
Crisis Fund, contributed $45,000 to this initiative.

3) A $15,000 Global Food Crisis Grant has been allocated for use
in Viajama, Dominican Republic, home to one of the earliest D.R.
Church of the Brethren congregations. There is a food crisis in
Viajama due to damage of crops and fields caused by last fall's
Hurricane Georges. $12,000 will be used in direct food aid and
$3,000 will go toward legal fees.

4) The Church of the Brethren Womaen's Caucus, in its most recent
"Femailings" newsletter, has announced its intent to help restart
the discussion within the Church of the Brethren about changing
the denomination's name by 2008. 

More than half of the 10-page newsletter is devoted to the
name-change issue. Included is an account of action taken by
Annual Conference Standing Committee in 1993 when it heard from
its name-change "Pre-committee," thanked the members, and
dismissed them. That was the last time Standing Committee
addressed the issue, Femailings reports, even though Standing
Committee stated that the discussion would continue.

Womaen's Caucus believes the current name is not inclusive of
women but acknowledges, "It is clear that this issue is a
difficult one at best, a divisive one at worst. May we remember
God in this struggle and love those who disagree as we work
toward inclusiveness in our church." It also states that its
name-change basket at Annual Conference 1998 received nine cards
suggesting potentially new denominational names, while nine cards
in support of keeping the current name were also received.

Contact Womaen's Caucus at P.O. Box 1324, Claremont CA 91711.

5) Association of Brethren Caregivers will honor three women and
one organization for their contributions to the health and
caregiving fields June 29 during ABC's annual recognition dinner.
Ida Shockley Howell of La Verne, Calif., will be honored for her
service to the nursing and healthcare field. Mary Sue Rosenberger
of Greenville, Ohio, will be honored for her service to the
nursing profession and for her ongoing work with the elderly.
Lois Snyder of Chicago will be honored for her service to Bethany
Hospital and for her dedication to the church. The organizational
caregiver award will be presented to Bethany Brethren Community
Center of Chicago, which began in 1989 as an outgrowth of First
Church of the Brethren's ministry to its surrounding community.

"Each of the recognition awards represents a unique story of
service to others as well as a significant contribution to the
organizations that for years provided health and caregiving
ministries for the denomination, organizations that have evolved
into ABC," said Steve Mason, ABC's executive director. ABC's
recognitions are awarded to Church of the Brethren individuals
and organizations that contribute more than five years of service
in the health and caregiving fields.

6) Illinois/Wisconsin District has joined the General Board's
Live Report on the Road brigade. A drama/music troupe of youth is
currently preparing to perform "Web Connection," a multimedia
presentation of General Board activities around the world. This
troupe joins groups from Northern and Southern Ohio that have
prepared similar performances this year. Rehearsing May 1-2 in
Elgin, Ill., were Cyndi Fecher and Kelsey Swanson of Highland
Ave. Church of the Brethren, Elgin; Cathy Gilbert of Peoria
(Ill.) Church of the Brethren; and Corrine Lipscomb of First
Church of the Brethren, Springfield, Ill.

This troupe will travel to Fort Wayne, Ind., on June 13, to
perform at Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren. According to
Beth Sollenberger Morphew, coordinator of the General Board's
Area Two Congregational Life Team and the group's sponsor, the
youth are open to performing elsewhere to "share the story of the
General Board's work." Contact Sollenberger Morphew at 800
323-8039.

 
7) Ten Ministry Summer Service placements have been announced for
this year. MSS interns spend 10 summer weeks in a congregational
or district setting working alongside their mentors. This year's
interns, their placements, and their mentors are --

* Kathy High of Little Swatara Church of the Brethren, Bethel,
     Pa., to Community Church of the Brethren, Hutchinson, Kan.;
     Marla Oltman.
* Chris Zepp of Hagerstown (Md.) Church of the Brethren to
     Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; Dana Statler.
* Rachel Zerkle of Greenville (Ohio) Church of the Brethren to
     Germantown Church of the Brethren, Philadelphia, Pa.; Earl
     Eby.
* Sheri Jones of Lebanon Church of the Brethren, Mount Sidney,
     Va., to Shenandoah District office, Dayton, Va.; Joan
     Daggett.
* Justin Schrock of Panther Creek Church of the Brethren, Adel,
     Iowa, to Peter Becker Community and Indian Creek Church of
     the Brethren, Harleysville, Pa.; William Wenger and Mark
     Baliles.
* Stacy Bowman of Free Spring Church of the Brethren,
     Mifflintown, Pa., to Modesto (Calif.) Church of the
     Brethren; Bonnie Kline Smeltzer.
* Laura Rayer of Greenwood First Church of the Nazarene,
     Whiteland, Ind., to Linville Creek Church of the Brethren,
     Broadway, Va.; Paul Roth.
* Demas Bourdreaux of Germantown Brick Church of the Brethren,
     Rocky Mount, Va., to Montezuma Church of the Brethren,
     Dayton, Va.; James Beckwith.
* Luke Croushorn of Nokesville (Va.) Church of the Brethren to
     Peach Blossom Church of the Brethren, Easton, Md.; Gene
     Hagenberger.
* Karen Hollinger of Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren to
     Carlisle (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; Edward Poling.

This year's training, to be held June 4-11 at Bethany Theological
Seminary, Richmond, Ind., will be led by General Board staff
Chris Douglas and Allen Hansell. Douglas is coordinator of
Youth/Young Adult Ministries; Hansell is director of Ministry.

"This is our fourth summer of sending college students into the
field for the opportunity to test out ministry for 10 weeks,"
Douglas said. "We're excited that many of the interns of the past
three summers have decided to pursue pastoral ministry. We
believe this is an important component of leadership development
in the Church of the Brethren."

8) This year's Youth Peace Travel Team is scheduled to spend
seven weeks at Church of the Brethren camps in Ohio, Indiana, and
Illinois, and will attend Annual Conference.

Serving as the ninth annual team will be Wendy Matheny of Peoria
(Ill.) First Church of the Brethren; Erica Sweitzer of Cedar Lake
Church of the Brethren, Auburn, Ind.; Chanda Edwards of Jackson
Park Church of the Brethren, Jonesborough, Tenn.; and Amy Rhoades
of Trinity Church of the Brethren, Fincastle, Va. They will
assist staff and volunteer leaders at each camp and will present
educational programs on peacemaking to peers.

The June 15-17 orientation at Camp Brethren Woods, Peebles, Ohio,
will be led by Chris Douglas, coordinator of the General Board's
Youth/Young Adult Ministries; David Radcliff, director of the
General Board's Brethren Witness office; Audrey Osborne, program
coordinator for On Earth Peace Assembly; and Demetra Heckman of
Outdoor Ministry Association.

9) Nate Milton and Heidi Gross are joining the General Board's
Youth/Young Adult Ministries office this summer as workcamp
assistants. Milton of Conestoga Church of the Brethren, Leola,
Pa., and Gross of Manchester Church of the Brethren, North
Manchester, Ind., will assume their responsibilities by Monday at
the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Their
service will span three months as they will assist workcamp
coordinators Torin Eikenberry and Kim Stuckey with this year's 24
youth and young adult workcamps.

10) Women from six Virlina congregations joined the Global
Women's Project steering committee May 1-2 at Williamson Road
Church of the Brethren, Roanoke, Va., for its spring meeting.
Steering Committee members are Karen Carter of Daleville, Va.,
Barbara Cuffie of Baltimore, Md.; Rachel Gross of Liberty Mills,
Ind.; Debbie Roberts of La Verne, Calif.; and Linda Weber of
Lombard, Ill.

A Saturday afternoon event included education and fellowship.
Infant clothing donated by Virlina District women were also
assembled into layettes for Church World Service. "Although the
attendance for the four-hour event was smaller than expected, the
spirit of the meeting was uplifting as women shared with women
and were reminded of the plight of their sisters around the
globe," said steering committee member Karen Carter.

Sunday morning the steering committee members spoke in different
Sunday school classes and led morning worship. 

11) McPherson (Kan.) College has received $1.75 million grant
from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla., in
fulfillment of a challenge grant issued by the foundation in
April 1998: If the college raised $2.8 million from March 1998 to
April 1999 for "Enhancing the Legacy," its current capital
campaign, Mabee would contribute $1.75 million. The college
raised over $3.5 million. As part of this campaign, the college
is constructing a new fine arts center, science facility, and
performance hall.

12) Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren is celebrating its
centennial throughout 1999. While special activities are
scheduled for each month, the church's homecoming celebration is
scheduled for Sept. 11-12. A 200-page book on the congregation's
history has also been produced by Charles Bieber, pastor
emeritus. Contact Mary Becker at 717 859-3397.

13) The Ecumenical Millennium Observance Committee, a consortium
of ecclesiastical judicatories in Pennsylvania, is seeking an
original music composition for its third millennium ecumenical
musical celebration. Composers may submit an original piece with
words that will be used publicly for the first time on June 18,
2000, in Harrisburg. The composer will receive $1,000 and will
retain copyright privileges. Contact Ecumenical Observance
Committee, c/o Pennsylvania Council of Churches, 900 S. Arlington
Ave., Room 100, Harrisburg PA 17109.

14) Congregational vacancies within the Church of the Brethren's
1,100 churches are now posted at
www.brethren.org/genbd/ministry.htm. This listing will be updated
twice each month by the General Board's Ministry office.

15) The first Camp Placid Bluegrass Festival has been scheduled
for Aug. 27-28 at the Church of the Brethren camp in Blountville,
Tenn. The Fritts family of White Horn Church of the Brethren,
near Bulls Gap, Tenn., and eight other groups will perform. Part
of the revenue from admission ticket and food sales will benefit
the camp. Call the Church of the Brethren Southeastern District
at 800 874-7102 for more information. 

16) A workcamp with a focus on community, simple living, and
nonviolent action is being hosted by New Covenant Fellowship July
5-25. New Covenant is "an Anabaptist intentional Christian
community" in southeast Ohio. Participants will share in study
sessions exploring living out their faith, help with organic
farming, and take part in local peace and justice witness. There
is no charge for attendees. Contact Art or Peggy Gish, Church of
the Brethren members and New Covenant residents, at 740 592-4605.

17) Bridgewater (Va.) College's Forum for Religious Studies will
hold a "End Times and the Brethren" conference, Sept. 30 - Oct.
2. Presenters will explore contemporary and historical themes
relating to end times beliefs within the Brethren family of
denominations. Jim Reston Jr. will provide the keynote address.
Contact Steve Longenecker at slongene@bridgewater.edu or 540
828-5321.

18) Known Bible scholar Walter Wink will be the keynote speaker
at the fifth annual Christian Peacemaker Congress, Dec. 27-30, in
Washington, D.C. Wink is author of "Engaging the Powers," a study
of Biblical thought regarding dominating power and the nonviolent
way of Jesus as an alternative path toward social transformation. 

"From Violence to Active Nonviolence" is the Congress theme, and
Wink will address the "domination system," which functions by the
"myth of redemptive violence," and present Jesus' way of
nonviolent resistance as the call of the church for the 21st
century.

The Congress is sponsored by Christian Peacemaker Teams and New
Call to Peacemaking. Contact CPT at cpt@igc.org or at 312
455-1199.

19) Dates for Christian Citizenship Seminar 2000 have been set
for April 8-13. This General Board-sponsored experience for high
school youth divides time between New York City and Washington,
D.C. Theme will be on global and local hunger. CCS is sponsored
by Loyce Borgmann of the Washington Office, Chris Douglas of
Youth/Young Adult Ministries, and David Radcliff of the Brethren
Witness office. The three will also serve as leaders.

"Our topic of hunger will focus on global issues as well as local
hunger issues," Douglas said. "We will have the opportunity to
think about hunger throughout the world, as well as connect with
local soup kitchens feeding the hungry who live among us." 

Newsline is produced by Nevin Dulabaum, manager of the Church of
the Brethren General Board's News Services. 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
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