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

[COBNews@aol.com]

Date: March 21, 2003
Contact: Walt Wiltschek
V: 847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103
E-MAIL: CoBNews@AOL.Com

NEWS
 1) Flood of statements, resources respond to start of war on Iraq.
 2) Theme, coordinator chosen for National Young Adult Conference
2004.
 3) Brethren meet for World Day of Prayer services at three sites.
 4) BBT opens its new Community Development Investment Fund.
 5) O Canada! Disaster Child Care reaches across border.
 6) US Senate votes against oil drilling in Alaska refuge.
 7) Global Food Crisis Fund sends $30,000 to North Korea.
 8) Brethren bits: Board meetings, BVS, Caring Ministries, and more.

PERSONNEL
 9) Bethany announces Stephen Reid as new academic dean.

FEATURES
10) Brethren Service Center lives out its peace heritage to the
letter(s).

******************************************************************
 
 1) As the US officially announced the beginning of military action
against Iraq this week, a torrent of statements and resources
poured out from the Church of the Brethren and other groups who
have expressed opposition to war.

Judy Mills Reimer, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren
General Board, issued the following statement to the denomination:

"With profound sadness we see our nation once again at war. Our
hearts and prayers go out to all the people who will be affected by
this war -- soldiers and civilians, Iraqis and members of the
coalition waging the war, and leaders and citizens of our own
nation who find their lives increasingly consumed with concerns for
security.

"In this moment, we reaffirm our historic commitment to the way and
teachings of Jesus. The 'things that make for peace' are those he
taught and embodied. Let us lift high his banner of love for friend
and foe, respect for others, attention to the outcast, and
sacrificial service. These indeed are the doorway to the brighter
and better day that we seek for ourselves and all of God's
children.

"The General Board is providing resources to assist congregations
and members in responding to the current crisis. We will be alert
to opportunities to help meet the enormous humanitarian needs that
will be forthcoming. We pray for a speedy end to the war, and to a
just and lasting peace in the Middle East and beyond. 

"May we turn to our God for courage to bear witness, for compassion
to offer service, and for resolve to work for a world where peace
prevails."

Other statements and events related to the war in Iraq include the
following:
*Church of the Brethren members Cliff Kindy of North Manchester,
Ind., and Peggy Gish of Athens, Ohio, remain in Baghdad as part of
their work with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). A spokesman in
Iraq confirmed to Newsline Thursday that Kindy was at a hotel in
Baghdad, but Kindy could not be reached for comment. The
News-Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind., ran an extensive article on
Kindy this week. Four other CPT delegation members have also
elected to remain in Baghdad as observers and to witness for peace.
The group held communion Wednesday. An additional 10-member CPT
delegation is in Amman, Jordan. Another Brethren, Nathan Musselman
of Roanoke, Va., is in Syria after earlier spending time in Iraq.

*On Earth Peace issued a "Message to the Church" beginning with
Jesus' words as he wept over Jerusalem in Luke 19. "In this time of
war, On Earth Peace grieves the suffering and pain on all sides,
and the loss of life, the lives or Iraqis and our own sons and
daughters," the statement says. It calls Brethren to "a deeper
prayer and dependence on God in the midst of this conflict."

*The Church of the Brethren General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund
is sending $22,000 to Iraq in a new grant, supporting a CARE
International project that will provide safe drinking water to the
most vulnerable populations. Distribution priorities will be at
hospitals and health clinics. It is estimated that 20,000 people
could be served through the project.

*The Church of the Brethren Washington Office issued an "action
alert" asking Brethren to pray and fast, to call the White House
and members of Congress and express opposition to the war (and
thank those who supported legislation to slow the rush to war), and
to make use of resources being posted on the www.brethren.org
website. Brethren Witness, the Washington Office, On Earth Peace,
and Brethren Press all added new resources this week. A central
page for Iraq-related resources and issues is at
www.brethren.org/Iraq.html. The Washington Office also planned to
sign on to a World Council of Churches (WCC) statement to the UN
Security Council expressing opposition to the war. 

*Additional worship resources -- such as litanies, children's
stories, prayers, and sermon ideas -- are being sought for the Way
of Peace website (www.brethren.org/genbd/BP/WayOfPeace/), jointly
sponsored by Brethren Press and On Earth Peace. Submissions can be
sent to wayofpeace_gb@brethren.org.

*Congregations across the denomination were planning prayer
services and vigils in response to the start of war. Brethren
Volunteer Service workers attending a retreat in Illinois
participated in protests in Chicago and St. Charles, Ill., and
European BVS coordinator Kristin Flory reports that many of the BVS
workers there participated in local anti-war demonstrations.

*A statement by WCC general secretary Konrad Reiser expressed
"profound sorrow" at the beginnings of attacks on Iraq. He termed
the attacks "politically dangerous" and "culturally unwise" and
called on churches to continue efforts to stop the war and assist
those of all faiths who are in need. WCC "Lenten Fast from
Violence" resources can be found at www.ecumenismnow.org.

*Churches for Middle East Peace, of which the Church of the
Brethren is a partner, said it "deeply regrets the decision by the
United States and other nations to begin military action against
Iraq." The group pledged to "recommit ourselves to God's vision of
peace."

*General Board Global Mission Partnerships executive director Merv
Keeney reported that he spoke Thursday with Archbishop Avak
Asadourian, primate of the Diocese Armenian Church of Iraq. The
archbishop, who had been invited to speak at this year's Annual
Conference Global Ministries Dinner, was "clearly disturbed at the
situation," according to Keeney, and asked for prayers for Iraq's
churches and people. "I expressed our deep sadness that his members
and all the people of Iraq are now under attack," Keeney said.

*US National Council of Churches (NCC) general secretary Bob Edgar
and president Elenie Huszagh issued a joint statement as
hostilities began in Iraq, naming prayers for soldiers on both
sides of the conflict, for innocent civilians, for leaders of the
nations involved, and others. Earlier in the week, Edgar suggested
that churches open their doors for all who wish to pray and to keep
"a candle burning for peace on every altar."

*The Church World Service (CWS) board of directors also issued a
statement Thursday, noting the "human cost of modern warfare,
especially to the most vulnerable." It called the war on Iraq
"wrong and unjust." In a separate statement, CWS executive director
John L. McCullough expressed his grief for the suffering in Iraq.
CWS, a longtime provider of humanitarian services in Iraq (about $3
million in the past five years), pledged to "continue that
commitment and presence" and even to accelerate relief services to
the people of Iraq. Some relief supplies were positioned in Iraq
and Jordan prior to the war's beginning. 

*The Institute for Peace and Justice of St. Louis has released two
resources titled "The Things That Make for Peace," helping children
and youth deal with war and terrorism. Visit www.ipj-ppj.org or
call 800-833-0245 for details.

 2) Planning for National Young Adult Conference 2004 commenced
recently as the Young Adult Steering Committee met March 14-16 in
Elgin, Ill. 

This will be the first conference of this style and scope for young
adults in the Church of the Brethren. The committee is hoping for
400 to 500 young adults to gather for this new event, which will be
held June 14-18, 2004, at Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park, Colo.

Becky Ullom of McPherson, Kan. -- one of the 2002 National Youth
Conference coordinators -- has been chosen to serve as coordinator
of this National Young Adult Conference. She will begin her
13-month assignment in the General Board's Youth/Young Adult
Ministry office in Elgin on June 1, 2003. Other planning committee
members are Josh Brockway, Laura Stone, Kim Sittig, Emily Tyler,
Aaron Lahman, Bob Etzwiler, and Youth/Young Adult Ministry director
Chris Douglas. 

Committee members said they envision this conference as one "where
a diverse group of young adults, all with individual hopes, dreams,
and struggles, may join together for a week of spiritual
refreshment, relaxation, and fun." The conference's activities will
focus on the theme, "Stand at the Crossroads and Look," based on
Jeremiah 6:16.

Each day's schedule will include two worship experiences of various
styles. Several worship services will feature keynote speakers,
while other services will focus on silence, reflection, or music.
Tony Campolo has already been secured as a keynoter. More
information on additional speakers will be available soon.
Recreation, educational opportunities, community groups for sharing
and networking, and a possible service activity will also be part
of the week.

For more information about National Young Adult Conference 2004,
visit the Youth/Young Adult Ministries booth at Annual Conference,
or contact Douglas at 800-323-8039.

 3) Brethren gathered at three denominational sites on March 7 for
special prayer services held in conjunction with the World Day of
Prayer. The services were planned by an interagency committee in
response to the "Call to Prayer" query passed by the 2002 Annual
Conference, asking the denomination "to be constant in prayer as
well as. . . offer guidance, resources and instruction for
deepening our prayer lives and expanding our understanding of
Jesus' call to personal and corporate prayer."

At Bethany Theological Seminary, in Richmond, Ind., Bethany student
Evan Garber carried primary leadership for the service. Noel Naff,
another Bethany student, and Jeff Bach, associate professor of
Brethren and Historical Studies, shared personal stories about
their experiences with prayer. Participants explored prayer through
liturgy, song, and activity, with opportunities to focus on
particular prayer concerns through writing and lighting of candles.

In Elgin, Ill., at the Church of the Brethren General Offices,
prayer beads, candles, and a reflective mood set the tone. In his
meditation, Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren pastor Joel
Kline discussed the Lord's Prayer, pondering if Jesus would be
disappointed today with the sometimes rote recitations of those
well-known words, often being used "to fulfill our most selfish
whims." Kline and worship leader Susan Brandenbusch of Brethren
Benefit Trust led a time of reflective prayer, framed by the verses
of the hymn, "Spirit Divine, inspire our prayers," and using a
strand of colorful beads and the lighting of candles as focus
points.

And in New Windsor, Md., at the Brethren Service Center, General
Board members and staff on campus for spring meetings joined others
from the community for worship. Soft music, quotes projected on a
screen, song, guided prayers, and a prayer walk around the meeting
room filled the hour. "We hope for you to connect personally with
the Spirit of a living God," worship leader Stan Noffsinger said.
The time ended with the upbeat singing of "Asithi, Amen!"
accompanied by guitar and drum. 

 4) Brethren congregations, organizations, and active Brethren
Pension Plan members can now make investments that aid economically
disadvantaged communities in the United States and abroad through
a new Community Development Investment Fund established by Brethren
Benefit Trust (BBT).

The Community Development Investment Fund, announced by BBT at its
fall board meeting, is a form of community investing that directly
supports communities in need through four primary sectors of
lending: affordable housing, micro-enterprise, small business, and
nonprofit facilities. Investments are placed with nonprofit lenders
and are used to finance affordable homes and small businesses, and
to help fund agencies working directly with disadvantaged
populations and communities.

Investments in the fund are through the Calvert Foundation, which
has 10 years of community investment experience. BBT has invested
an initial $100,000 in three Community Investment Notes; additional
amounts invested by Brethren Foundation clients and Pension Plan
members will be added to these three notes, with more notes to be
purchased as additional funds become available. 

"Traditional investing emphasizes companies and potential gains and
losses, whereas community investing emphasizes people," says Don
Fecher, director of Pension Plan and Employee Financial Services
for BBT. "The potential in people is limitless."

While all Pension Plan members and Foundation clients may choose to
invest in the fund, BBT staff are suggesting the allocation of just
1 percent of a portfolio due to the risk involved with this type of
investment. Anyone choosing to invest more than 1 percent will be
required to sign a disclaimer. Due to limited liquidity in this
fund, investors are also encouraged to consider this a longer-term
investment option.

"Allocating a small amount and leaving it in place over a longer
period of time has a minor impact on individual returns," BBT
president Wil Nolen says, "but collectively the impact on
communities can be significant."

Those expressing interest in the fund will receive informational
materials describing it as a social-return investment, rather than
one focused primarily on financial returns. (An investment return
of 2 to 3 percent is expected.) Included with the informational
materials will be a prospectus for the Calvert Community Investment
Notes. Foundation and Pension staff will also counsel clients, both
individual and agency, before processing a transfer into the fund. 

For questions related to the Brethren Foundation's Community
Development Investment Fund contact Will Thomas at 800-746-1505 or
wthomas_bbt@brethren.org; for inquiries about the Pension Plan's
Community Development Investment Fund, contact Don Fecher at
800-746-1505 or dfecher_bbt@brethren.org.

 5) The Church of the Brethren General Board's Disaster Child Care
program regularly reaches out to those in need. Now it's reaching
across national borders, too.

Disaster Child Care (DCC) has entered the first stages of
partnership with the Canadian Disaster Child Care Society,
according to Church of the Brethren Emergency Response director Roy
Winter.

The two volunteer administrators of the Canadian program, Marlene
Mulder and Donna Grobell, attended this year's training for
Disaster Child Care trainers held in New Windsor, Md., in February.
At the same time, the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund made
a $10,000 grant to the all-volunteer Canadian group.

A DCC volunteer from the Christian Reform Church, Bev Abma, started
the Canadian program in the early 1990s, drawing on many of the DCC
materials and policies. The DCC coordinator at the time, Lydia
Walker, assisted with initial training for the group.

Contacts dwindled over the next decade, but renewed after the
Canadian Disaster Child Care Society became independent of the
Christian Reform Church in 2002. Another DCC volunteer and trainer,
Gloria Cooper of Pasadena, Calif., became a member of the new
Canadian board of directors and kept Winter informed of the group's
work. That, in turn, led to the invitation to the February event.

Winter hopes the new cooperative effort will help in responding to
major events, or to disasters along the US-Canadian border where
DCC volunteers are often not nearby.

"We can respond to a lot of disasters, but if there would be a
really huge event, any extra people like that would be vital,"
Winter says.

The $10,000 grant will help the Canadian program while it searches
for support from sources in Canada. Future partnership initiatives,
including a possible joint project manager training event in 2004,
are being discussed.

 6) The US Senate on Wednesday voted 52-48 to reject oil drilling
in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, according to Associated
Press reports. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) offered the amendment
to remove the drilling provision from a budget resolution. General
Board Brethren Witness director David Radcliff called the vote "a
very welcome development."

The Brethren Witness office led a Faith Expedition to the refuge
last summer, studying issues and visiting with the region's
Gwich'in Native American people. Radcliff says the Gwich'in culture
depends on the Porcupine Caribou herd that has its birthing grounds
in the refuge.

"Small changes in our lifestyle and vehicle use could eliminate the
need for extracting from this pristine area what would amount to a
six-month supply of petroleum for the United States," Radcliff
says. Details are at www.brethren.org/genbd/witness/Alaska.htm.

 7) The first Global Food Crisis Fund allocation of 2003 will send
$30,000 to North Korea. The General Board's Executive Committee
approved the grant during its spring meeting in New Windsor, Md.,
as reported in last week's wrapup.

The funds will assist the work of Agglobe Services International,
enabling the purchase of freezer containers for quick-freezing and
storing fresh-caught fish and other seafood. This project allows
safe storage and preservation of food supplies for the
famine-stricken nation.

The fish is needed to address concerns over North Korean children
suffering brain damage due to protein deficiencies in their diets.
The Global Food Crisis Fund has been a long-time supporter of North
Korea famine relief efforts, giving more than $500,000 toward a
widespread international humanitarian response that has helped to
alleviate severe malnutrition.

 8) Brethren bits: Other brief news notes from around the
denomination and elsewhere.
 *Two Annual Conference agencies have board meetings scheduled as
spring begins. The Association of Brethren Caregivers board meets
this weekend, March 21-22, in Elgin, Ill., with benevolent care
funds among the agenda items. Bethany Theological Seminary's board
meets March 28-30 in Richmond, Ind. 

 *Thirty-eight Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) workers and five
BVS staff are participating in this year's BVS in-service retreat.
The event, held near the middle of the term for most first-year
volunteers, is being held at Dickson Valley Camp and Retreat Center
in Newark, Ill. 

 *The Association of Brethren Caregivers has announced musician and
storyteller Deforia Lane as a fifth keynote presenter at this
summer's Caring Ministries Assembly, to be held Aug. 14-16 at
Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren. Lane, a director of music
therapy at several hospitals, will focus her presentation on the
healing power of music. Registration materials for the conference
were recently mailed to each congregation and past attendee.
Additional details are at www.brethren.org/abc/CMA.

 *The Church of the Brethren General Offices received word Thursday
that longtime church leader J. Benton Rhoades had died in
California. Rhoades had served the denomination in many roles
during his career. Additional details will follow in the April 4
Newsline.

 *The Annual Conference office has discontinued use of its AOL
e-mail address. Any e-mail messages or inquiries for the office
should now be sent to annualconference@brethren.org.

 *Jack P. Hauck has accepted the position of Vice President of
Health Services for Brethren Hillcrest Homes in La Verne, Calif.,
effective March 24. 

 *Missouri/Arkansas District has appointed Stephanie Sappington of
the Broadwater congregation to be camp manager for the district
through the 2004 camping season. . . . A celebration of the life
and witness of the 134-year-old Mineral Creek congregation, the
district's oldest, will be held May 3 in conjunction with the
district's spring rally as the congregation closes.

 9) Bethany Theological Seminary has announced the appointment of
Stephen Breck Reid as academic dean and professor of Old Testament
Studies, beginning July 1. As the chief academic officer of
Bethany, Reid will oversee and administer the education program of
the seminary, including the graduate school and the Brethren
Academy for Ministerial Leadership sponsored jointly by Bethany and
the Church of the Brethren General Board.

Reid has served most recently as professor of Old Testament Studies
at Austin (Texas) Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He previously
was associate professor of Hebrew Scriptures and Biblical Theology
at Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, Calif., and an instructor
at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. He has
been an adjunct professor at several theological schools, including
Bethany. He was a member of the Bethany board of trustees from 1990
to 1998.

Bethany president Eugene Roop says Reid brings to the seminary
"superb teaching and preaching skills, extensive experience in
theological education, a rich and joy-filled faith, and dedication
to Bethany's mission to train witnesses of the gospel for the
cities and communities of the world."

Reid received his Ph.D. degree from Emory University, Atlanta,
where he completed his dissertation entitled "The Sociological
Setting of the Historical Apocalypses of 1 Enoch and the Book of
Daniel."  He also holds a Master of Divinity from Bethany and
received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Manchester College, North
Manchester, Ind.

An ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren, Reid has held
pastorates in the Church of the Brethren, the Mennonite Church and
the Presbyterian church. He has provided leadership for ecumenical
agencies including the National Council of Churches USA governing
board and the World Council of Churches. Reid has spoken in a
variety of church and academic settings across the country and
internationally. Reid is a native of Dayton, Ohio; he and his wife,
Kathy, are the parents of four young-adult children.

 10) A group of characters has been standing on the lawn of the
Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., for several months as
a witness to peace.

The characters--a dozen white letters standing several feet
high--spell out "Peace on Earth" in front of the campus' Old Main
building. They are visible from adjacent Route 31 and are
illuminated at night.

New Windsor Building & Grounds director Ed Palsgrove came up with
the design when the center was seeking a new display for the Advent
season several years ago. Palsgrove and his staff cut out the
letters and built the display, which now goes up early each
December.

Palsgrove says the display typically comes down soon after Jan. 1,
but the center staff decided to leave the message up this year due
to the troubled state of world events. It was up during the recent
General Board meetings at the center, and will remain up in its
present location at least until mowing needs to begin in a few
weeks.	

Newsline is produced by Walt Wiltschek, director of news services
for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third
and fifth Friday of each month, with other editions as needed.
Newsline stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited
as the source. Marcia Shetler, Nancy Miner, and Nevin
Dulabaum contributed to this report.

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