wfn.org | Disciples News Brief March 11, 2004

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

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Phone: 317-713-2492
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

CCF BOARD ENHANCES ACCOUNTABILITY
The Board of Directors of the Christian Church Foundation unanimously 
approved a strategy to further strengthen the governance and accountability 
of the organization that will more closely match practices now required of 
public corporations. "Trust is key to the Foundation's ministry," said the 
Rev. Janet Long, board chair and senior minister of Washington Avenue 
Christian Church in Elyria, Ohio. "It is vital that we have a system of 
open disclosure and complete accountability that will inspire trust across 
the life of our church." Read the full story from CCF at: 
http://www.disciples.org/ccf/About_Us/CCFnews.html

CFC BOARD STRENGTHENS ACCOUNTABILITY
The Church Finance Council Board of Directors has taken action to 
strengthen the Church Finance Council's accountability to the church. 
Research completed by the AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy strongly recommends 
that nonprofits pay attention to stewardship issues that range from 
conflict of interest and overhead to costs of fundraising.  In a resolution 
passed on March 4th, the CFC Board reaffirmed policies and procedures 
already in place to ensure adequate accountability. Read the full story 
from CFC on measures included in the resolution: 
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2004/0418.htm

MORE FROM NBA VIA LATEST ISSUE OF 'NBA TODAY'
Read a summary of recent news from the National Benevolent Association, 
information on the 2004 NBA Souper Bowl and "NBA Today" in Alabama by going 
communications vehicle produced and distributed by the National Benevolent 
Association Office of Church Relations.

HISPANIC AND BILINGUAL ASSEMBLY TO TAKE PLACE
JULY 8-11
"A la Imagen de Jeszs," the next Hispanic and Bilingual Assembly for the 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), will take place July 8-11, 2004 in 
San Diego, Ca. at the Casa de Oracion, Disciples Center. View a 
registration form and learn more about the event here 
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2004/Assembly2004Registration.pdf. For 
further information, call the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic 
Ministries at 317-713-2584.

DISCIPLES RESPOND IN HAITI
Week of Compassion Update - In response to an appeal issued Thursday, March 
4, Week of Compassion has wired a grant of $6000 to Church World Service 
for an airlift of emergency aid to Haiti. On Monday, March 8, CWS shipped 
17,280 lbs. of dehydrated food (432,000 servings) and 38 IMA medicine boxes 
to aid some 75,000 people over the next month.

Designated contributions for relief and recovery in Haiti are needed. All 
such gifts will be used in their entirety by WOC as directed. In the 
meantime, Haitian church partners continue to request the prayers of 
Christians in the U.S. and Canada. For more from WOC, go to: 
http://www.weekofcompassion.org/pages/updates/2004/mar0405.html

REMINDER: CONGREGATIONAL REPORTS DUE MARCH 15
You may submit your congregational report for the 2004 Year Book online at: 
http://www.disciples.org/internal/congregations/ybopener.htm or to your 
Region in paper format. This information records your congregation's 
activity covering the 2003 calendar year. Reports are to be received no 
later than March 15.

If your congregation hasn't submitted a report recently, now is the time to 
do so! The reports will be compiled in the 2004 Year Book that is published 
in July. The Year Book is an important Disciples communication and 
historical document that provides the denomination's life and activities, 
witness and leadership in both narrative and statistical formats. If you 
have any questions concerning your church's report or the Year Book, please 
contact Larry Steinmetz, lsteinmetz@ddi.org or 317-713-2409.

DISCIPLESWORLD MAGAZINE CONDUCTS IDENTITY SURVEY OF DISCIPLES
Indianapolis, IN (March 4, 2004) -- "Who do you think we are?" That's the 
question the DisciplesWorld survey asks its readers and members of the 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the current March 2004 issue. The 
survey invites Disciples into a conversation about what they think the 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) really is. To learn more about the 
survey and conversations about Disciples identity, read the story from 
DisciplesWorld at: www.disciplesworld.com. DisciplesWorld is a journal of 
news, opinion and mission for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

LTS AND SANDERS-BROWN CENTER ON AGING CO-SPONSOR CONFERENCE ON THE 
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF AGING
LEXINGTON - Nearly 80 million "Baby Boomers" are approaching retirement. 
Many will be struggling with how to have a meaningful life after 
retirement. Research has shown that religious people live healthier, longer 
lives. Lexington Theological Seminary and the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging 
at the University of Kentucky are co-sponsoring a conference that will 
focus on the spiritual aspects of aging. Free and open to the public, the 
"Religion and Aging" conference will be presented in the Fellowship Hall at 
Lexington Theological Seminary on April 4 and 5. For more information from 
LTS, go to: http://www.lextheo.edu/news.html

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

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