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

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date: Sept. 17, 1999
Contact:  Walt Wiltschek
V:  410/871-0516  F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

NEWS
 1) Many remember and celebrate the life of Brethren author and peace 
advocate Dale H. Aukerman of Union Bridge, Md., who died after a lengthy 
illness on Sept. 4.
 2) The Association of Brethren Caregivers Board cares for the transition of 
leadership at its Sept. 10-11 meeting in Elgin, Ill., with recognitions and 
appointments.
 3) An Emergency Response/Service Ministries initiative develops into an 
ecumenical "Family Farm Drought Response," with truckloads of hay already on 
the way.
 4) A delegation to the divided churches in India late last month reports 
both progress and disappointment from conversations with the two groups, both 
of which have Brethren roots.
 5) Bridgewater and Manchester colleges earn high marks in "U.S. News" annual 
rankings.
 6) The third annual Brethren Homes Forum focuses on leadership and 
collaboration.
 7) Brethren Pension Plan members will soon have a fourth investment option: 
a bond fund.
 8) Two teams assist with rebuilding homes in hurricane-damaged areas of 
Honduras.
 9)  Emergency Response/Service Ministries prepares to respond to Hurricane 
Floyd.
10) The Office of Brethren Witness' 1999 Urban Peace Tour visits Southern 
Ohio.
11) Brethren bits: Some other brief notes from around the denomination.

COMING EVENTS
12) A financial workshop for Michigan District pastors will be held Oct. 2 in 
Kalamazoo.

RESOURCES
13) October "Source" packet and World Mission Offering materials head to 
congregations.
14) Creation Stewardship Advocates have been named in several districts. 
15) "she said yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall," a story from 
the Columbine High School shootings, is available through Brethren Press. 

PERSONNEL
16) Carol Yeazell has resigned as Atlantic Southeast District executive 
minister.
17) The Mid-Atlantic District is seeking a full-time district executive, 
available Jan. 1.
18) Sandy Bosserman has been called as half-time Missouri/Arkansas District 
executive.
19) Annual Conference officers seek an assistant to the secretary to serve in 
Kansas City.
20) On Earth Peace Assembly seeks a volunteer program assistant/bookstore 
co-manager.
21) Wanted: Four people ages 16-22 for the summer 2000 Youth Peace Travel 
Team. 

 1) An overflow crowd packed the sanctuary of the Westminster (Md.) Church of 
the Brethren on the evening of Sept. 12 to remember and celebrate the life of 
Dale H. Aukerman, who died after a three-year battle with cancer on Sept. 4 
at the age of 69.
     Hundreds of Brethren and others packed the ground-floor pews, the 
balcony, extra folding chairs and even the choir loft, demonstrating some of 
the many lives touched by Aukerman and his work as a pastor, author, Brethren 
Volunteer Service coordinator and peace advocate. All three of Aukerman's 
children participated in the memorial service, with music and readings, along 
with several of Aukerman's friends and colleagues.
     Paul Grout, pastor of the Genesis Church of the Brethren in Putney, Vt., 
delivered the message, emphasizing the role of Jesus Christ in Aukerman's 
abundant life.
     "Dale was not perfect," Grout said. "He just sought to conform every 
part of his life to Jesus Christ. Dale had gifts, but we all had gifts. What 
made Dale different was Jesus Christ."
     Grout uplifted Aukerman's integrity and constant weaving together of 
faith and everyday life. Sharing some humorous stories of Aukerman's long 
pauses before prayers or answering questions, Grout portrayed the deep 
thoughtfulness and willingness to be filled by the Spirit that characterized 
his friend. And, like the overall service, Grout ended on a note of hope, 
saying "The only thing greater than the enormity of our loss is the enormity 
of God's love."
     The service, planned by Aukerman before his death, also included many of 
his favorite hymns, readings from two of his books, and a listing in the 
bulletin of some of the books that were most influential in his life, 
including Dostoyevsky's "The Brother's Karamazov," Culbert Rutenber's "The 
Dagger and the Cross," and Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "The Cost of Discipleship."
     Afterwards, a long line snaked through the halls of the church to greet 
the family and share in a meal together. Many of those waiting held a copy of 
the local Carroll County Times newspaper from that morning, which carried a 
cover story on Aukerman, part of a lengthy series the newspaper had done 
during Aukerman's illness. The headline was a quote from Aukerman's 
ever-present wife, Ruth: "He died who he was."

 2) The Association of Brethren Caregivers Board spent much of its Sept. 
10-11 meeting in Elgin, Ill., caring for the transition of leaders as terms 
of office expired and new board members were appointed.
     During the meetings, the board recognized the contributions of board 
Chair Robert D. Cain, Jr., of Greenville, Ohio. Although Cain will complete 
his term of service Dec. 31, this marked his last time officiating at an ABC 
Board meeting. ABC Board Chair-Elect Marilyn Lerch Scott of Naperville, Ill., 
will become chair on Jan. 1. The board appointed Bentley Peters of Elgin, 
Ill., as the new chair-elect, effective Jan. 1. Peters has served on the ABC 
Board since last spring.
     The board also appointed Margaret Yoder Fultz of Lemoyne, Pa., and Paul 
Ullom-Minnich of Moundridge, Kan., for second terms to the ABC Board. 
Delegates at the 1999 Annual Conference elected Phil Flory of Bridgewater, 
Va., and Heidi Loomis of Boalsburg, Pa., to second terms on the board. Board 
members also received committee assignments.
     In other business, the board approved the appointment of nine new 
volunteers who will serve as committee members in various ministry areas of 
ABC. The board appointed Tom Williams of Midland, Va., to serve the Brethren 
Chaplains Network; Joan Deeter of North Manchester, Ind., to serve the 
Fellowship of Brethren Homes; Joyce Person of Mt. Morris, Ill., Judith 
Wallace of East Berlin, Pa., and Donna Lerew of York, Pa., to serve the 
Health Education and Research Ministry; Kent and Elva Jean Naylor of 
McPherson, Kan., to serve jointly the Older Adult Ministry; and Bryan Boyer 
of North Manchester, Ind., and John Nantz of Harrisburg, Pa., to serve the 
Voice Ministry.

 3) The ecumenical drought response meeting hosted by the Church of the 
Brethren General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries in New 
Windsor, Md., on Aug. 26 has developed into the "Family Farm Drought 
Response."
     "Momentum is growing for this subsidized assistance to family farms," 
said Stan Noffsinger, director of ER/SM.
     The committee that met at the Brethren Service Center two weeks ago has 
grown to include: ER/SM, Lutheran Disaster Response, Mennonite Disaster 
Service, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Church World Service, 
United Methodist Committee on Relief, Orphan Grain Train, Farm Aid, and 
Disaster News Network. ER/SM is working primarily with transportation and 
distribution as the agencies divided tasks.
     Shirley Norman, a Church of the Brethren member from Markleysburg, Pa., 
and a service facilitator for Church World Service, has accepted the position 
of chair for the project committee, according to Noffsinger. 
     And the project has grown quickly, with requests for 30 truckloads of 
hay already coming to  ER/SM through this week. After meeting with Mennonite 
Disaster Service staff, Noffsinger said the group feels those needs can be 
met by late this month. These requests are in addition to 16 truckloads of 
hay already sent from the Midwest and West to Chambersburg, Pa., for 
distribution, mostly to non-ER/SM requests.
     Recent heavy rains in the region have eased immediate water restrictions 
but come too late to salvage crops for many farmers, according to local news 
reports. The overall drought in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast also continues 
until underground water-table levels, lowered by several years of 
below-average rainfall in some areas, can be restored 

 4) Merv Keeney, the General Board’s director of Global Mission Partnerships, 
and Bob Gross, coordinator for the Ministry of Reconciliation, reported both 
progress and disappointment in their conversations with the churches in India 
August 22-27. Although the much-hoped-for joint meetings were not held, Gross 
and Keeney met with representatives of each group separately in Ankleshwar, 
Bharuch, and Baroda in Gujarat State. Many U.S. members had been in prayer 
for the effort to bring a new spirit of cooperation and reconciliation.
     For more than a year the ground has been laid for joint meetings between 
the two churches, both rooted in Church of the Brethren mission begun in 
India in 1895. After a decision to unite with other mission churches in 1970 
to form the united Church of North India, a segment of the Brethren broke 
away from that group again in1978 and has existed separately since. Tensions 
and court cases have hampered the growth and ministry of both churches.  Even 
families are divided in their loyalties.
     "Our goal has been to invite the two bodies toward a new relationship 
rooted in our oneness in Christ," Keeney said. "As the mother church with 
historical and ecclesiastical links to both, we can play a role to foster 
mutual cooperation between these members of Christ’s church. But these 
divisions have been decades in the making and will not be resolved in a 
meeting or two."
     Recent action by the General Board to name new trustees in an effort to 
ensure continuation of one of the Brethren property trusts was cited by the 
Church of North India as the reason for declining to participate at this 
time. Other Church of the Brethren trust properties are largely already in 
the hands of CNI. Sharing hopes for the cooperative use of the properties for 
the work of the churches in India was a key point of discussion with Brethren 
leadership and trustees.  

 5) Two more Church of the Brethren colleges have received kudos from the 
annual rankings of "U.S. News and World Report."
     Bridgewater (Va.) College earned a top 10 ranking among regional liberal 
arts colleges in the South for the "best values" category, the only Virginia 
college to earn that distinction. Bridgewater received the No. 8 ranking on 
that list, its first time in the top 10, and also received a No. 13 ranking 
among regional liberal arts colleges in the South in the overall "best 
colleges" listing.
     Manchester College of North Manchester, Ind., earned similar honors 
among Midwest schools, with a tie for the No. 4 ranking in "best values" of 
regional liberal arts colleges in that area of the country. It was the only 
Indiana school to make the top 10 in that category.
    Manchester also tied for 31st among Midwest regional liberal arts 
colleges on the "best colleges" list. 
    The magazine's "America's Best Colleges" guidebook for 2000, which 
includes all the rankings, went on sale at newsstands Aug. 24.

 6) Thirty-five people representing 17 facilities attended the Association of 
Brethren Caregivers' third annual Brethren Homes Forum, held Aug. 29-31 in 
New Windsor, Md. An additional 20 people participated in a special Servant 
Leadership Workshop on Aug. 30. Held in conjunction with the forum, the 
workshop featured The Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership facilitators 
Tamyra Freeman and Isabel Lopez.
     The forum began with a time of "Sharing Our Stories" to update all 
present on the ministry of each facility represented and then a devotional 
time focused on mission, looking at the ministry and service within the 
Fellowship of Brethren Homes. The remainder of the forum after the workshop 
concentrated on collaboration efforts.
     The fourth annual forum will be held at the Bridgewater (Va.) Retirement 
Community next summer.

 7) The 4,000 members of the Brethren Pension Plan will soon have a fourth 
investment option: a bond fund.
     Beginning Oct. 1, Brethren pastors, denominational and district staff, 
and staff of other Church of the Brethren agencies will be able to choose the 
bond fund in addition to the common stock, balanced, and short-term funds. 
This fund is expected to fill a niche in investment options. From Aug. 1, 
1998, through July 31, 1999, the common stock fund (investments primarily in 
stocks) produced an 18.2 percent return. The balanced fund (a mix of stocks 
and bonds) yielded 12.1 percent. The short term fund (cash and cash 
equivalents such as asset-backed securities and commercial paper) yielded 4.5 
percent. This new fund (bonds and asset-backed securities) is expected to 
yield between six and eight percent.
     "This new fund will give people who are by nature a little more fiscally 
conservative an additional investment choice." said Don Fecher, director of 
Brethren Benefit Trust’s Employee Financial Services.
     Allocation changes to the Pension Plan are made at the first of each 
month. For more information on the new bond fund option or to modify a 
pension allocation, contact Marilyn Ziegler at mziegler_bbt@brethren.org or 
at 1-800-746-1505.

 8)  The second of two rebuilding teams returned on Aug. 30 from the Central 
American nation of Honduras, where the groups assisted in rebuilding homes 
after the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch.
     Sponsored by the General Board, both the first (Aug.15-23) and second 
group (22-30) lived and worked in the southern Honduran community of El 
Estribo. Like most of Honduras, the five days of torrential rain in El 
Estribo last November left homes and livestock destroyed, fouled cropland, 
and did significant damage to the already-fragile economy of the community.
    The teams worked alongside villagers making and laying block, tying 
reinforcing wire, and pouring foundation. The group also took part in 
sessions in the community and in the capital to better understand the larger 
social and economic context of this poor nation. 
    The Board’s Global Mission Partnerships and Brethren Witness offices 
organized the trip. A second work delegation is tentatively being planned for 
next June in cooperation with the denomination’s Honduran partner agency, the 
Christian Commission for Development, and the U.S.-based Church World Service 
and Witness.

 9) The Emergency Response/Service Ministries unit of the Church of the 
Brethren, meanwhile, stands ready to respond as needed in the aftermath of 
Hurricane Floyd, which hit the East Coast of the United States Sept. 15-16. 
Harold Hubbell, Southeastern District, is on call for North Carolina, and 
Wayne Garst, Virlina District, is on call for Virginia. They will be able to 
assess the type of response (cleanup, repair/rebuilding, or child care) that 
is needed and recommend viable locations for ER/SM projects. Wilbur and Nancy 
Morris, Shenandoah District, are also on alert.
     In anticipation of a potential need for disaster child care, regional 
child care coordinators Jean Myers and Mary Boyd are placing three teams on 
alert — one team from Virginia, one from Florida and one from Maryland and 
Pennsylvania. In addition, 30 pallets of Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster 
Assistance hurricane medical kits were shipped from the ER/SM distribution 
center in New Windsor to the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Warehouse in Homestead, 
Fla.
     Responses in several other disaster-stricken areas also continue.

10) The 1999 Urban Peace Tour, sponsored by the Office of Brethren Witness 
and the Southern Ohio District, kicked off its schedule Sept. 8 at the 
Trotwood (Ohio) Church of the Brethren and followed with worship and 
celebration the next four days at the Troy, West Charleston, Prince of Peace, 
and Greenville congregations.
     Organizers designed the tour to offer people the opportunity to learn 
more about one another and the diversity that exists within the Church of the 
Brethren in language, race, and worship style. It also sought to give time 
for real dialogue and discovery as to how much all people have in common as 
sisters and brothers in Christ. For more information on these efforts, call 
Greg Laszakovits at 1-800-323-8039.

11) Brethren bits: Some other brief news notes from around the denomination 
and elsewhere:
     *Gladys Royer, former Church of the Brethren missionary in Nigeria from 
1930-1968, died Aug. 27 at the age of 97. A memorial service was held at 
Timbercrest Church of the Brethren Home on Sept. 5. Contributions in memory 
of Royer may be sent to the Church of the Brethren General Board designated 
for the EYN Secondary School in Nigeria.
     *Bittersweet Ministries, led by Gilbert Romero, pastor of the Bella 
Vista (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, is sharing music in Frederick, Md., 
Sept. 16-18 and will be sharing in the Northern Indiana District, Sept. 23 at 
the North Webster Church of the Brethren and Sept. 26 at the Lincolnshire 
Church of the Brethren.
     *Camp Mack, in Milford, Ind., is holding its first Alexander Mack 
Festival on Oct. 2. The event celebrates the anniversary of the historical 
murals at the camp and will highlight Brethren heritage with guided tours 
throughout the day, along with music and storytelling.
     *The Brethren Peace Fellowship held its annual retreat Sept. 10-12 in 
Spring Grove, Pa. Presenters Audrey Osborne, Kim McDowell, William Abshire, 
and Dale Brown led exploration of the theme "Contemporary Expressions for 
Peacemakers."
     *A class of 504 new freshmen this fall has given Elizabethtown (Pa.) 
College the largest overall enrollment in the school's history.   
    *According to a survey by the Parish Resource Center in Lancaster, Pa., 
these are the current top 10 adult study topics in congregations: Time crunch 
issues, styles of worship, dying well, global religions, spiritual 
disciplines, balancing your lifestyle, the "sandwich generation," parenting 
in a violent world, palliative care, and curing "affluenza." 
    *The National Council of Churches Executive Board issued a statement last 
week urging the Clinton administration to support a United Nations 
peacekeeping force for East Timor and appealing to the U.N. to maintain a 
substantial presence and to take immediate action to put an effective end to 
all human rights violations there by the Indonesian military.
     *Fred Bernhard, widely-known speaker on church hospitality and pastor of 
the Oakland (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, will be the featured speaker at a 
seminar at the Salem Mennonite Church, Elida, Ohio, on Sept. 18.

12) A financial workshop for Michigan District pastors, designed to assist 
and educate Brethren clergy with financial management, will be held Oct. 2 at 
Skyridge Church of the Brethren, Kalamazoo, Mich. Sponsored by Michigan 
District and the General Board’s Area 2 Congregational Life Team, the 
workshop will be based on the theme, "How to Make the Money Work -- A 
Practical Approach."
     Serving as leaders will be Don Fecher, director of Employee Financial 
Services for Brethren Benefit Trust, and Ken Holderread, who retired this 
year as executive of Illinois/Wisconsin District. Fecher, who offers planning 
seminars nationwide to Brethren pastors and employees of Brethren 
organizations, will discuss personal finance planning with a look toward 
retirement. Holderread will describe how to develop money management skills.
     According to Jim Kinsey, Area 2 Congregational Life Team staff and 
Michigan District executive, this workshop might serve as a model for future 
events throughout Area 2 (Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio). 
Cost is $22.50 per person or $35 per pastoral couple. Scholarships are 
available from the Michigan District office.
     For more information about the workshop, contact Kinsey at 
jkinsey_gb@brethren.org or at (616) 374-8066. For more information about 
Fecher’s financial planning seminars, contact Fecher at 
dfecher_bbt@brethren.org or at 1-800-746-1505.

13) The October "Source" packet is headed to Church of the Brethren 
congregations bearing information on the National Donor Sabbath, Junior High 
Sunday materials, a fall "Jubilee!" curriculum update, resources from New 
Life Ministries, Bethany Theological Seminary offerings, "Caregiving" 
magazine from Association of Brethren Caregivers, and other resources.
     Also coming from the Office of Interpretation to congregations are 
materials for the World Mission Offering on Oct. 3, emphasizing work in the 
Dominican Republic this year. Highlighting the materials is a new 11-minute 
video on the Dominican Republic called "A Dwelling Place for God" that comes 
with questions for discussion. This December will mark the first graduation 
of Dominican church leaders from a five-year ministry training program 
developed through the Church of the Brethren mission there.
    
14) Creation Stewardship Advocates have been named in several districts as 
part of a new initiative by the Brethren Witness office. The advocates' role 
is to encourage district congregations to integrate care for creation into 
their lifestyles, worship, and witness. They are "on call" as a resource for 
congregations and will provide a presence at their respective district 
conferences.
     Marisa Yoder, serving for one year as an Environmental Awareness 
Advocate through the Brethren Witness office, will be a key resource person 
for the advocates. Contact the Brethren Witness office for more information 
(1-800-323-8039 or witness_GB@brethren.org). 

15) Martyrdom has been a central piece of the growth of the Christian faith 
through the centuries. One of the newest chapters in that long history has 
now been written with the release of "she said yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of 
Cassie Bernall" by Plough Publishing House. 
     Cassie was a typical junior at Columbine High School in Littleton, 
Colo., when two fellow students burst into the library where she was 
studying, put a gun to her head and asked her if she believed in God. Her 
simple answer was "yes," and with that her life was brought to an end. In the 
book, Misty Bernall, Cassie’s mother, tells the real story of Cassie’s 
complex life up to that decisive and defining moment, a story of tough 
choices.
     "she said yes" is a powerful story that will challenge Christians of all 
ages to look at their lives and ask themselves if they are willing to die 
daily for Christ. The book is available through Brethren Press for $13.60 (20 
percent off the $17 list price), plus $4 shipping and handling (item #0051).
     Plough Publishing is the publishing arm of the Bruderhof, and was 
selected by the Bernalls to publish Cassie’s story because her church youth 
group had been studying "Seeking Peace" (#0948, $15.00) by Johann Christoph 
Arnold. Cassie had also been using Plough’s "Discipleship: Living for Christ 
in the Daily Grind" (#0945, $16.00) by J. Heinrich Arnold for her personal 
devotions. Both of these titles are also available from Brethren Press at 
1-800-441-3712.

16) Carol Yeazell has resigned as district executive minister of the Atlantic 
Southeast District effective Dec. 31. Yeazell has served since January 1998 
as half-time district executive minister and half-time General Board 
Congregational Life Team staff for Area 3. She will continue in the half-time 
CLT staff position. Yeazell’s last day in the district office will be Dec. 14.

17) The Mid-Atlantic District is seeking a full-time district executive for a 
position available Jan. 1. Responsibilities include overseeing, evaluating, 
and giving leadership to the district program, working on district staff 
priorities such as pastoral placement and support and leadership development, 
assisting with consultation and resourcing for congregations, and resourcing 
collaboratively with General Board staff.
     Qualifications include a strong personal faith, membership in and 
commitment to the Church of the Brethren; extensive experience in the Church 
of the Brethren; demonstrated strong management skills and administrative 
experience; successful leadership experience in collaborative planning and 
group dynamics; and strong interpersonal, communication, and mediation 
skills. Ordination and/or pastoral experience is preferred.
     Interested and qualified candidates can apply by sending a letter of 
interest and resume to Nancy F. Knepper, Office of District Ministry, 1451 
Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL  60120. Applicants will be asked to complete a 
candidate profile upon receipt of the resume and are requested to contact 
three or four people to provide a letter of reference. Application deadline 
is Nov. 8.

18) Sandy Bosserman has been called as the half-time district executive for 
the Missouri/Arkansas District effective Jan. 1. She has been serving as 
pastor of the Peace Valley Church of the Brethren for more than six years. 
She is a former General Board member and has just finished a term as a 
Standing Committee delegate from Missouri/Arkansas.
     Bosserman lives with her husband, Maurice, in Peace Valley, Mo. She will 
set up her office in Peace Valley.

19) The Annual Conference officers are searching for an assistant to the 
secretary to serve at the 2000 Conference in Kansas City, Mo. The time 
commitment is from Wednesday to Wednesday (July 12-19 for 2000). The 
assistant records the minutes from Standing Committee and assists the 
Conference secretary with Conference business sessions.
      The candidate must be proficient with use of a laptop computer and know 
WordPerfect 7.0. The term of service is open, but no more than four years. 
For more information call Duane Steiner at 1-800-323-8039, or send a letter 
of interest with resume to the Annual Conference Office, 1451 Dundee Ave., 
Elgin, IL  60120.

20) On Earth Peace Assembly is seeking a volunteer program 
assistant/bookstore co-manager. Applicants should have background in 
Anabaptist/Church of the Brethren peace theology and conflict resolution. 
Expertise in organizing and leading program and educational events, retail 
management experience, and meticulous attention to detail are also required. 
Responsibilities include co-management of a bookstore/resource center, 
creation of new program, and frequent travel.
     This volunteer position provides room, board, health insurance, and a 
modest stipend. Inquiries and resumes may be sent to OEPA, P.O. Box 188, New 
Windsor, MD  21776, or call (410) 635-8704.

21) Four youth or young adults ages 16-22 are being sought for the summer 
2000 Youth Peace Travel Team. The team is sponsored by the Youth/Young Adult 
Ministries Office, Brethren Witness, Outdoor Ministries Association, and On 
Earth Peace Assembly. A stipend is available to team members.
     For more information or an application form, contact David Radcliff, 
Office of Brethren Witness, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL  60120 by Jan. 4.

Newsline is produced by Walt Wiltschek, interim Newsline editor for the 
Church of the Brethren General Board's News Services, on the first, third and 
fifth Friday of each month. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that 
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