wfn.org | Disciples News Brief September 4, 2003

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

DISCIPLES NEWS BRIEF
September 4, 2003
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Amy Shockley
317-713-2495
ashockley@cm.disciples.org
www.disciples.org

NATIONAL BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TO FACE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
The National Benevolent Association, the social and health services 
division of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), continues its 
financial review and restructure resulting in part to unprecedented 
increases in costs, decreases in funding and substantially lower returns on 
investments over the last few years.

NBA's board, management and advisors continue to negotiate in good faith 
with their financial partners. NBA is restructuring and developing a new 
business plan so that it may fully meet its financial obligations as well 
as its 117-year commitment to provide housing, care and services to the 
22,000 people they serve at more than 90 locations nationwide.

"We acknowledge with appreciation the ongoing work that NBA's board, 
management, advisors, and staff are putting forth in an effort to improve 
their financial status," said the Rev. Richard L. Hamm, general minister 
and president for the Disciples.

SEPTEMBER 7 IS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROMOTION SUNDAY AND LIGHT A CANDLE FOR 
CHILDREN
Congregations are asked to promote General Assembly during services on 
September 7. A special litany has been created and is online at: 
http://www.disciples.org/ga03/litany.htm. Please help share information 
about General Assembly. Promotional materials are available at: 
http://www.disciples.org/ga03/promomaterial.htm

The 2003 "Light a Candle for Children" Prayer Vigil begins September 7 and 
ends on Children's Sabbath Weekend, October 17-19. Last year's vigil 
involved a record number of churches praying for children and celebrating 
their gifts. To learn more or to download materials from Disciples Home 
Missions, go to: 
http://www.homelandministries.org/NETWORKS/FamilyandChildren/candle.htm

EUREKA COLLEGE PRESIDENT GEORGE HEARNE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
EUREKA, IL - Eureka College President, George A. Hearne, announced that he 
will retire on May 31, 2004, after 19 years in his current role and 44 
years at the college. For more information from Eureka College go to: 
http://www.eureka.edu/news/releases/2003-04/August2003/HearneRetirement8-03.a
sp

PTS WELCOMES STUDENTS TO NEW CAMPUS
TULSA - A new era has begun at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa as 49 
new students enrolled for the fall semester, August 21.  Those students are 
the first incoming class to begin on the seminary's new campus at 901 North 
Mingo in Tulsa. It also was the first time since 1986 that the total 
seminary community (faculty, students, administrators, and staff) has been 
together on the same campus.  To learn more from PTS, go to: 
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2003/0334.htm

BRANDON CLINE RECEIVES JONES SCHOLARSHIP
Brandon D. Cline, a student at the Disciples Divinity House of the 
University of Chicago, has been named the 2003 recipient of the William 
Gilbert and Florence Leonard Jones Scholarship. The William Gilbert and 
Florence Leonard Jones Scholarship is given annually to a full-time student 
pursuing the degree of Doctor of Philosophy who is either preparing for 
ordination in, or already ordained in, the Christian Church (Disciples of 
Christ), and intends to provide leadership to a congregation or other 
agency of the church. Learn more from the Division of Higher Education at: 
http://www.dhedisciples.org/dhe/03/DHE-Jones-082803.html

911: RESPOND TO THE CALL
How will you respond to the call in 2003? Respond with what needs to be 
done--Disciples and Muslims working together! Disciples Home Missions of 
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Islamic Society of North 
America have created an opportunity for you to respond to the call. To 
learn more about the opportunities from DHM, go to: 
http://www.homeland.org/Respond.htm

"CHAT" WITH YOUR GLOBAL MINISTRIES MISSIONARIES AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY
CHARLOTTE- The missionary chat is just one component of this year's 
Assembly Cyber Cafi.  Missionaries from around the world will be available 
during designated times to connect with Assembly-goers through Yahoo 
Instant Messenger. This is the first time this cyber chat session will be 
offered at a General Assembly. The chat sessions will take place during 
Vision Fest on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19 from 2-5 p.m.  For the 
complete story from the Division of Overseas Ministries and Disciples Home 
Missions, go to: http://www.disciples.org/dom/ga03/chat.htm

*The Disciples News Brief is distributed weekly by Communication 
Ministries. For changes, additions or deletions to our distribution list, 
please contact news@cm.disciples.org.