wfn.org | Disciples News Brief May 6, 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

NEWS FROM GENERAL BOARD
To view the General Board Reports along with a PDF file of the
Communique that is being mailed next week to all congregations, go to:
http://www.disciples.org/gb04/index.htm.

DHE CHANGING NAME TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP MINISTRIES
The Division of Higher Education is changing its name to better reflect
its ministry. This summer, DHE will become Higher Education and
Leadership Ministries (HELM). The name change was approved by the DHE
Board of Directors during its April 30-May 1 meeting in St. Louis.

"Before anything else, we are a ministry of the whole church focused on
nurturing leaders for a faithful future," said DHE President Dennis
Landon. "We will continue our work with and on behalf of Disciples
educational institutions and campus ministries, but we now understand
that work in a larger context. We want to do everything in partnership
with other institutions and ministries."
For more, visit http://www.dhedisciples.org/dhe/helm.html.

KIDWELL INSTALLED AS PRESIDENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOUNDATION
The Rev. Gary W. Kidwell was installed as the third president of the
Christian Church Foundation by its Board of Directors April 26, 2004. A
text of his remarks to the Board, staff and friends is at:
http://www.disciples.org/ccf/About_Us/CCFnews.html.

THE CHALLENGES OF RECONCILIATION MISSION PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
DISCIPLES
After nearly 40 years of a denominational commitment to God's call
for racial justice and reconciliation, Reconciliation Mission faces a
defining moment. How does Reconciliation Mission continue to provide
leadership for its "realigned and expanded" ministry without the
structural changes needed to ensure its financial viability? Current
provisional funding is inadequate to meet the needs of this realigned
ministry. Accumulated unrestricted operating funds are all but depleted.
Reconciliation Mission urgently needs an alternative funding structure
to ensure that this ministry of transformation continues on behalf of
the church. Reconciliation Mission has never drawn funds from its small
endowment to support current operations.

The present reality of Reconciliation Ministry gifts us with an
opportunity to be the church God is calling us to be; one that
demonstrates true community, is grounded on a deep Christian
spirituality and is stirred by its passion for justice. Without this
vital ministry, that vision will remain an illusive dream. Without
reconciliation, there is no wholeness and without wholeness true
community, spiritual depth and justice will remain unattainable. We call
upon that church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), to
prayerfully respond to the call of God and faithfully take the needed
actions and necessary steps to ensure that this ministry of
reconciliation continues to transform our church, as well as the
communities that we seek to serve faithfully.

The 2004 General Board created a Reconciliation Mission Task Force to
evaluate, develop and present an immediate interim and long-term reform
for this ministry. Read the full story by going to:
http://www.reconciliationmission.org/gb04supreport.pdf.

HOBGOOD AND WELSH MAKE OFFICIAL VISIT TO GENEVA AND ROME ON BEHALF OF
DISCIPLES
Disciples General Minister and President, the Rev. Wm. Chris Hobgood,
and Council on Christian Unity President, the Rev. Robert Welsh, met
recently with key religious leaders of the World Council of Churches in
the Ecumenical Center in Geneva and within the Vatican in Rome. These
conversations reaffirmed a strong and mutual commitment to an ecumenical
vision for the future of the overall church's mission, witness,
service, and evangelism in the changing world of the 21st century. For
more, go to: http://www.disciples.org/ccu/.

JUDGE APPROVES THREE MOTIONS FAVORABLE TO NBA
  (SAN ANTONIO, May 7, 2004) - National Benevolent Association officials
announced that the Bankruptcy Court approved an NBA motion Wednesday
permitting the payment of all pre-petition gift annuity obligations.
Judge Ronald B. King also approved amended versions of NBA motions on
entrance fees and its workers' compensation program. For more on the
story go to NBA's website at: http://www.nbacares.org/.

CHURCH EXTENSION AND NEW CHURCH MINISTRY AWARD FIRST SITE ACQUISITION
GRANT
Church Extension and New Church Ministry have awarded the first grant
from the Site Acquisition Fund to New Life Christian Church in
Bloomfield, New Jersey. The $12,500 grant will help New Life purchase
the facility it has been renting for worship services. Started just
three years ago, New Life has grown to an average worship attendance of
65 each Sunday.

The Site Acquisition Fund awards grants to new churches acquiring land
and facilities and is intended to decrease the amount new congregations
have to borrow to fund such efforts. Additional applications for these
grants will be considered in September and October of this year. For
information about applying for future grants, contact Rick Morse at
rmorse@churchextension.org, or call 800-274-1883. To learn how you
can support the Site Acquisition Fund, contact Ellen Mitchell at
emitchell@churchextension.org.

LIFT YOUR SPIRIT! PENTECOST SPECIAL OFFERING UPDATE
Just two years ago, Crossbridge Christian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska
opened its doors and quickly grew to more than 120 worshipers, five
ministry programs, 43 kids in Sunday school and 50 kids in Vacation
Bible School. And now the congregation is already building a new
facility!

This and other new church stories are included on the "Lift Your
Spirit!" CD-ROM, which is a part of the 2004 Pentecost Special Offering
Celebration Packet. If your church has not yet ordered the "Lift Your
Spirit!" Celebration Packet, call (317) 713-2440 or email
customerservice@cfc.disciples.org.

Your gifts to the Pentecost Special Offering aid new congregations such
as Crossbridge Christian Church by providing them with training,
coaching, project funding, congregational materials, and extensive
assistance. The Pentecost Special Offering, part of the Disciples
Mission Fund, is collected and distributed through the Church Finance
Council. The offering will be received May 23 and 30.

NEWS FROM DISCIPLES HOME MISSIONS: COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK (MAY 10 TO
14, 2004)
Nearly 44 million Americans live without health coverage - including
8.5 million children. You can take part in the largest mobilization
effort in history dedicated to helping Americans living without health
insurance get the health coverage they need. To find out how you can
participate in this interfaith effort launched on May 4, visit:
http://covertheuninsuredweek.org/ or contact Angela Herrmann,
aherrman@dhm.disciples.org, at Disciples Home Missions for a printed
copy of the Interfaith packet, which contains information for the
Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.

DISCIPLESWORLD WINS THREE AWARDS AT ASSOCIATED CHURCH PRESS CONFERENCE
DisciplesWorld magazine, a journal of news, opinion and mission for the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada,
won three awards at the annual Associated Church Press (ACP) conference
in Toronto, Ontario on April 20, 2004. For more information, visit:
http://www.disciplesworld.com/.

DISCIPLES TODAY AVAILABLE
Read the May online edition of Disciples Today at:
http://www.disciples.org/cm/D2DAY0504/index.htm.

2004 GLAD EVENT TO TAKE PLACE
The 2004 GLAD Event will be held at Drake University in Des Moines,
Iowa, July 8-11. The theme of the event is Spiritual Justice / Just
Spirituality: Political, Practical, Mundane. The speakers include Rev.
Steven Baines, a member of National City Christian Church and Senior
Organizer for Religious Affairs, People for the American Way; and Rev.
Nancy Brink, Pastor, North Side Christian Church in Omaha, Nebraska.
More information about the event can be found at
http://www.gladalliance.org/.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DISCIPLES DATES
July 8-11: National Hispanic Assembly, San Diego, CA
July 8-11: 2004 GLAD Event, Des Moines, IA
July 15-18: Sessions Men's Event, Lexington, KY
July 28-31: NAPAD Convention, Chicago, IL
July 28-Aug. 1: World Convention of the Churches of Christ, Brighton,
England
August 6-10: National Convocation, Indianapolis, IN

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

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