wfn.org | Disciples News Brief July 23 2003

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

DISCIPLES NEWS BRIEF
July 24, 2003
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Amy Shockley
317-713-2495
ashockley@cm.disciples.org
www.disciples.org

HOBGOOD ELECTED NEXT GENERAL MINISTER AND PRESIDENT
By unanimous vote of the Administrative Committee of the General Board, the 
Rev. Dr. William Chris Hobgood was elected general minister and president 
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on July 18, 2003.  Hobgood's 
21-month term will begin at the conclusion of the October General Assembly 
meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hobgood assumes this role after 
general minister and president, the Rev. Dr. Richard L. Hamm,  announced 
his resignation in February.

PROMOTE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS SUNDAY	
Congregations are asked to promote the General Assembly during services on 
July 27. For a special General Assembly litany, go to: 
http://www.disciples.org/ga03/litany.htm. Remember, the 2003 General 
Assembly will take place Oct. 17-21 in Charlotte, NC and will be a time of 
spiritual renewal, mission, education and fellowship. For ideas on how to 
promote the assembly or to register, visit: 
http://www.disciples.org/ga03/index.htm.

LONG TO SERVE AS TEMPORARY DEPLOYED GENERAL CONSULTANT FOR CHURCH EXTENSION
In a move designed to strengthen partnerships in a variety of ways, Church 
Extension, a financial unit of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 
is testing a deployed staff arrangement. Dee Long, who joined the Church 
Extension staff as part of the New Church Ministry Team in 2000 and became 
a general consultant in April of 2002, began her service as a temporary 
deployed general consultant July 7. For the complete story from Church 
Extension, go to:
http://www.churchextension.org/about/news/long%20deployed.pdf

COME EARLY AND BRING COMFORTABLE SHOES
Disciples General Assembly goers can work out the travel kinks and 
participate in one of a number of mission opportunities at the Disciples 
biennial gathering in Charlotte, N.C. That is, if they arrive early enough 
on the opening day of the 5-day event.

A 5k Spirit Walk, designed to raise awareness and participation in the 
growing Disciples new church movement, will begin registration at 1 p.m. on 
Friday, Oct. 17, 2003. Registrations are now being accepted. For more 
information or to register, go to: 
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2003/0330.htm

DISCIPLES YOUTH GET DIRTY FOR JESUS IN "HOTLANTA"
More than 850 Disciples youth and youth workers from all over the United 
States and Canada recently convened in Atlanta for the 2003 International 
Christian Youth Fellowship event. Under the theme, "Another Brick, Another 
Dream," youth fanned out across the Atlanta area to renovate Disciples 
church buildings and grounds. For the complete story from Disciples Home 
Missions, go to: http://www.homeland.org/WhatsNewDHM.htm#ICYF

WEEK OF COMPASSION UPDATES
For up-to-date information from Week of Compassion, visit: 
http://www.weekofcompassion.org/pages/updates/updates.html

DIVISION OF OVERSEAS MINISTRIES CELEBRATES THE LIFE AND PASSION FOR MISSION 
OF FERDINAND GARCIA
The Division of Overseas Ministries (DOM) and Global Ministries, a common 
witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church 
of Christ, give thanks to God and celebrates the lives, witness and passion 
for mission of Ferdinand Garcia, and also of his wife, Salomi who died on 
July 12 and July 14 respectively. Go to: 
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2003/0329.htm for the story from DOM.