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

[COBNews@aol.com]

Date: Oct. 29, 2004
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103
E-MAIL: CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline       Oct. 29, 2004

"...And you took care of me...." Matthew 25:36

NEWS
1) Association of Brethren Caregivers re-envisions ministries.
2) Plans for `Conversations on Being the Church' continue.
3) Writers meet for Gather 'Round curriculum conference.
4) Atlantic Northeast District focuses on `PLAN' to bear fruit.
5) Atlantic Southeast holds conference despite hurricanes.
6) Southern Ohio celebrates 150th annual district conference.
7) Brethren bits: Job opening, call for dramas, and more.

PERSONNEL
8) BBT and MAA hire joint field representatives.

FEATURE
9) On Earth Peace works to become institutionally anti-racist.

***********************************************************

1) Association of Brethren Caregivers re-envisions ministries.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) board approved a
re-envisioning of ministries at Sept. 24-26 meetings in Elgin, Ill.
The board agreed with staff recommendations to change ABC's focus,
from nine distinct ministries to five ministry imperatives:
Whole-Person Health Ministry, Disabilities Ministry, Older Adult
Ministry, Mental Health/Illness Ministry, and Uncompensated Care.

"We're changing the paradigm around the way ABC has provided
ministry to the denomination," said Kathy Reid, executive director.
"Under this structure of imperatives, ABC can focus its attention
on five specific areas, allowing more flexibility to respond to new
concerns and inviting opportunities for collaboration." By focusing
on five ministries, staff hope to engage in fact finding, create
measurable outcomes, and evaluate programs after a two- or
three-year period, reported communication director Mary Dulabaum.
Outcomes could include creating workshops for congregational
meetings, providing sessions at district and denominational
conferences, offering resources through the Internet, and
advocating on special issues.

Reid explained implications the re-envisioning has for ABC's
services: resources for the Denominational Deacon Ministry will be
provided by each new imperative, providing crossover between the
imperatives and people providing caregiving in congregations; each
imperative has a component devoted to family life concerns; the
Voice Ministry will continue with several ministry components but
will devote attention to the Mental Health/Illness Ministry; the
Whole-Person Health Ministry, a re-naming of the Lafiya program,
will shift from a congregational approach to a focus on individual
awareness of health and wholeness. Ongoing programs such as
National Older Adult Conference and the Caring Ministries Assembly
will continue and be opportunities for education and advocacy for
new imperatives.

One new imperative is the issue of Uncompensated Care. Emerging
from the Fellowship of Brethren Homes, this imperative will raise
awareness of problems Brethren homes experience by providing $14
million of uncompensated care annually to residents no longer able
to pay for care. The Brethren Chaplains Network has been realigned
to the General Board's Ministry Office to better serve the
denomination's chaplains. ABC will continue to provide training
events for chaplains at denominational conferences.

In other work, the board created a study committee to evaluate how
ABC and its ministries fit into the structure of the denomination.
This committee will report its findings at the Fall 2005 board
meeting. ABC will then be prepared to share its viewpoint with the
Annual Conference Review and Evaluation Committee, to evaluate
Brethren structure and programs in 2006.

In other business, the board approved a break-even budget for 2005
after struggling with how to balance the budget in a year when
conference income comes from the Caring Ministries Assembly, which
does not generate significant revenue. Bylaw changes were made to
allow the chair of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes, a ministry of
ABC, to serve as an ex officio board member with voting ability.
The board recognized the contributions and services of Connie Burk
Davis, whose term expires Jan. 1; elected Allegra Hess of West
Chicago, Ill., and John Katonah of Evanston, Ill., to second terms
on the board; and elected Daniel McRoberts of Caledonia, Mich., to
a first term.

2) Plans for `Conversations on Being the Church' continue.

A group making plans for a denomination-wide conversation on the
state of the church has announced a new name for the effort and a
timeline of events. The group of representatives of Annual
Conference, the districts, and Conference agencies met Sept. 29-30
at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind. "TOGETHER:
Conversations on Being the Church" is the new name for the effort
previously referred to as an "ecclesiology consultation."

At the meeting, the group "put more thought into the basics. We got
some good work done," reported Brethren Press publisher Wendy
McFadden. Agenda items included the new name, a logo, budget, a
timeline of events, a study guide, and continuing discussion of
questions raised at previous meetings.

Graphic designer Debbie Noffsinger is being commissioned to create
a logo using church images that are "undisputed," said McFadden,
"images that all can rally around." Images that may be used include
the cross, the bread and cup, and the basin and towel.

A timeline for the conversations, which will take place in 2006-07,
will begin with a Launch Event Feb. 24-26, 2006, in New Windsor,
Md. The launch will train some 125 representatives of districts and
Conference agencies to lead conversations in their own areas,
districts, and congregations following Annual Conference that year,
said Julie Hostetter of the General Board's Congregational Life
Teams and chair of the launch subcommittee. "A key component is the
study guide," she said. The "TOGETHER" guide will be used in the
conversations at all levels: Annual Conference, district
conferences, area events, and congregations. The group discussed
possible writers and McFadden was given responsibility to continue
planning the guide.

Following the launch, conversations will continue at Annual
Conference 2006 in 30-minute time slots during each business
session, and at some insight sessions. District conferences in 2006
will be invited to have "TOGETHER" conversations. Throughout the
latter half of 2006 and the first half of 2007, those trained at
the launch will lead conversations. Area events will be coordinated
by Ron and Harriett Finney. "TOGETHER" will culminate at Annual
Conference 2007.

Other key issues are still in the planning stage, McFadden said,
such as how to secure financing and how to include all segments of
the denomination. The group continued discussing "Who is
listening?"--a question raised at its last meeting in May. A
subcommittee was appointed to work on "listening teams" for the
process.

Representing the districts were chair Mark Flory Steury of Southern
Ohio, Don Booz of Mid-Atlantic, and David Shumate of Virlina.
Representing Annual Conference was secretary Fred Swartz.
Representing the agencies were, from the Association of Brethren
Caregivers, executive director Kathy Reid; from Bethany, professor
Jeff Bach and dean Steve Reid; from Brethren Benefit Trust,
president Wil Nolen; from the General Board, Ministry director Mary
Jo Flory Steury, Hostetter, Congregational Life Ministries
executive Del Keeney, McFadden; from On Earth Peace, peace witness
coordinator Matt Guynn; and Bethany Academy director Jonathan
Shively. Ron and Harriett Finney attended as coordinators of the
regional events. The group will meet again Jan. 20-21 at Bethany.

3) Writers meet for Gather 'Round curriculum conference.

Writers, editors, and resource people from the Church of the

Brethren, Mennonite Church USA, and Mennonite Church Canada met
Sept. 19-23 at a Writer's Conference for the new Sunday school
curriculum project Gather 'Round: Hearing and Sharing God's Good
News. For five days at Camp Alexander Mack near Milford, Ind., the
group embodied the title for the curriculum, "gathering 'round" to
worship with the Bible texts, pray, look for God's good news for
each age level, and plan lesson outlines.

"It is a wonderful, scary feeling to be at the beginning of a new
venture in children's curriculum,"  said Eleanor Snyder, director
of Faith and Life Resources, Mennonite Publishing Network. "What I
saw at the conference were writers deeply committed to children's
faith formation and finding creative ways to hear and share God's
story."

Frank Ramirez, pastor of Everett (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, is
writing the parent/caregivers unit. He compared the collaborative
aspect of writing curriculum to theater. "In theater, you have a
writer, director, designers, builders, actors, and an audience, and
you realize that no play is the creation of any one person, but of
many as the word becomes flesh. Now with God's word we're counting
on the Word becoming flesh through the efforts of writers, editors,
designers, marketers, teachers, and students."

Other writers at the conference were Brethren member Susan Fuentes,
who is writing Early Childhood for ages 2-4; Rebecca Seiling, of
the Mennonite Church Canada, writing the fall quarter of Primary
for ages K-grade 2; Brethren member Dianna Ullery, writing Middler
for grades 3-5; Carol Duerksen, of the Mennonite Church USA,
writing Junior Youth for grades 6-8; and Sarah Pinnell, of the
Mennonite Church Canada, writing the Multiage component for grades
K-8 and intergenerational use.

For Anna Speicher, project director, the conference was another
significant step in the curriculum development--steps that have
included establishing curriculum philosophy and guidelines, initial
Bible outlining, advisory group meetings, adoption of a name and
logo, and recruitment of consultants and writers. Gather 'Round is
slated to begin in the Fall of 2006, with the first quarter
available for congregations to preview early in 2006.

4) Atlantic Northeast District focuses on `PLAN' to bear fruit.

Atlantic Northeast District held its 2004 conference Oct. 8-9 at
Elizabethtown (Pa.) College with the theme "PLAN to bear much
fruit...PLAN to be a disciple," from John 15:7-8. Herbert High, of
Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, served as moderator and
led delegates through conference business including approval of a
slate of nominees, a 2005 budget of $709,835, and a variety of
reports. 

Speakers included Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General
Board, who was the keynote speaker for the Friday evening worship
service. The Spring Creek Praise Team opened the service with
inspirational singing. James Hardenbrook, Annual Conference
moderator, brought greetings to the gathering and eight Nigerian
brothers and sisters were welcomed and shared musical selections.
On Saturday the youth of the district led worship.

Four congregations shared "Vision Stories": Big Swatara,
Hanoverdale Church of the Brethren in Hummelstown, Pa.; Lititz
(Pa.) Church of the Brethren; Mount Zion Road Church of the
Brethren in Lebanon, Pa.; and First Church of the Brethren in
Reading, Pa. Four new fellowships were welcomed and recognized: New
Beginnings, meeting in Brickerville, Pa., and led by Michael Wise
of Chiques Church of the Brethren in Manheim, Pa.; New Creation,
worshiping in Reading, Pa., under the direction of David Weiss;
Lirio de los Valles, a Hispanic fellowship meeting in Lebanon, Pa.,
and pastored by Eduardo Rivera; and Maranatha Multicultural, which
worships at Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren with leadership
by Guillermo Encarnacion and Monroe Good.

An offering of $2,432.50 will benefit the following ministries: ten
percent to go to Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of
the Brethren in Nigeria), ten percent to Seeds of Faith, thirty
percent to the Mission Church Support Fund, and fifty percent to
Foundational Ministries.

Wayne L. Miller and Guy E. Wampler were recognized as 50-year
ordained ministers. Wendi Butterfoss, of Florin Church of the
Brethren in Mount Joy, Pa., was called as moderator-elect; Donald
Fitzkee and John A. Harpold were called to Standing Committee.
Larry O'Neill, of Skippack Church of the Brethren, Collegeville,
Pa., was installed as moderator for the 2005 conference which will
be held Oct. 7-8 at Elizabethtown College.
     

5) Atlantic Southeast holds conference despite hurricanes.

Despite massive hurricane damage to the state of Florida over the
last six weeks, Atlantic Southeast District held its 80th district
conference Oct. 8-9. "Nothing could daunt the good spirits of
participants," reported Nancy Cruz, district ministry staff for the
General Board, and a member of the district. The multi-cultural
membership of the district was celebrated as many attended from the
district's Haitian and Puerto Rican churches.

The conference was held at Sebring (Fla.) Church of the Brethren,
with the theme, "Strangers No More." The location of the conference
was changed twice before actually taking place in Sebring, due to
construction issues at the Sebring church and loss of utilities at
Lorida (Fla.) Church of the Brethren because of the storms.

The conference moderator was Berwyn Oltman, former district
executive and pastor in the district. The speaker for a seminar and
the opening worship service was Jeff Wright, executive director of
the Center for Anabaptist Leadership in Pasadena, Calif., and
executive minister of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the
Mennonite Church.

Business was highlighted by the acceptance of "La Casa del Amigo"
as a new church fellowship in Arecibo, P.R. Hector Perez was
elected as moderator-elect and John Mueller was re-elected as chair
of the District Board through 2007.

A special feature of the conference was a Pie Auction that raised
over $1,400 to benefit the work of the Church Development Council.
Several pies brought over $200 each, and a hat and t-shirt worn for
disaster clean-up by the district executive's husband, Robert
Beach, brought $140.

6) Southern Ohio celebrates 150th annual district conference.

On Oct. 8-9, about 225 Brethren from the 52 congregations of
Southern Ohio District met at Salem Church of the Brethren in
Englewood for the 150th annual district conference. Moderator
Sheila Shumaker, pastor of the Troy congregation, led the meeting.

The theme, "Celebrating Diversity," was introduced in an exciting
and powerful worship experience, reported Mary Sue Rosenberger,
chaplain at the Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville. The
diversity of music included congregational hymns, praise choruses,
handbells, a choir anthem with visual accompaniment, African
instruments, and a small group of district instrumentalists known
as the "Whotkee R. We Yin?" Remnant Band.

Worshipers celebrated the colorful diversity of the rainbow as a
paraphrase of scriptures was read affirming the variety of
spiritual gifts. "The congregation responded by waving ribbons of
rainbow colors, re-creating the beauty of the rainbow's blended
brilliance," she reported. "The scripture, Luke 4:18-19, was read
in eight different languages, giving worshipers a new appreciation
both of the diversity and the unity we have in Christ Jesus. Rev.
Dr. Daryl Ward, senior pastor of the Omega Baptist Church of 
Dayton, shared God's word in such a timely and inspired way that an
occasional heartfelt Brethren `Amen' could be heard!"

In business, 150 delegates focused on reports rather than
diversity. Representatives of mission partners shared images of how
the Brethren of Southern Ohio share the knowledge and love of
Christ in and beyond the district. A detailed report was given by
the district board preparing the delegates to consider--and
adopt--a budget of $136,575 for 2005. Pastors new to the district
were introduced and 18 ministers were recognized for their years of
service. An offering of over $1,000 was taken to aid Atlantic
Southeast District's disaster relief efforts.

As a centerpiece of the celebration of diversity, a large cooking
pot labeled "Brethren Diversity Soup" graced a communion table
throughout the day of business. Between reports and items of
business, representatives of six congregations shared stories of
how their churches celebrate diversity. Tales were told of children
leading worship, the installation of an elevator, ecumenical
service ministries, expanded use of technology in worship, ministry
to women in a county jail, and a spiritual gifts assessment. Each
storyteller contributed an ingredient to the symbolic soup. "As
adjournment time approached, the soup `miraculously' became real
and each person was able to enjoy the delicious flavor of
diversity," Rosenberger reported.

Leaders called to serve the district are Dave Shetler, moderator;
Dan Poole, moderator-elect; Sharon Fellers, clerk; and Dave Shoup,
treasurer. Mark Gardner, Gene Karn, Anke Pietsch, Ty Pyles, and
Kathy Reynolds will join the board. Charles Cupp was called to
Standing Committee and Fred Bernhard and Robert Smart as trustees
for the Brethren Retirement Community. Southern Ohio's next annual
gathering will be at Oakland Church of the Brethren Oct. 7-8, 2005.

7) Brethren bits: Job opening, call for dramas, and more.

*Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., has opened its search
for a vice president and dean for academic affairs. In addition to
leadership of 70 fulltime faculty members in instructional
divisions, the athletics program, and campus library, the vice
president will have a key role in executing a new five-year
strategic plan. Curriculum, academic programs, assessment,
instructional technology, and faculty development and recruitment
are key roles. The closing date for applications is Nov. 30.
Candidates should send a letter of application, curriculum vitae,
and three professional performance references to Manchester
College, Attn: Kimberly A. Votaw, Vice President for Human
Resources, 604 E. College Ave., North Manchester, IN 46962.

*The Annual Conference 300th Anniversary Committee has issued a
call for submissions of dramatic pieces representing the theme for
the 2008 celebration, "Surrendered to God, Transformed in Christ,
Empowered by the Spirit." Submissions can be full-length dramas,
skits, monologues, or vignettes for adults, youth, or children.
Submissions may be used in congregations and districts leading up
to the anniversary year, and at Annual Conference in 2008. For an
interpretation of the theme, contact the Annual Conference office
at 800-323-8039. Deadline for submissions is Dec. 31, 2005. Name,
address, and phone number of the author should be included on a
separate page from the submission. All dramas submitted will become
the property of the Anniversary Committee and will not be returned.
Mail submissions to Annual Conference Office, Attn: Anniversary
Drama, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.

*The Intercultural Study Committee (formerly called the
Multi-Ethnic/Cross-Cultural Study Committee) elected at Annual
Conference this summer held its initial meeting Oct. 17-18 in
Elgin, Ill. Asha Solanky was selected as chair; Nadine Monn was
selected as recorder. Other members are Darla Kay Bowman Deardorff,
Ruben DeOleo, Neemita Pandya, Gilbert Romero, and Thomas Dowdy. An
ex-officio member from the American Baptist Churches, USA, will
soon be appointed. In addition to organizing, the committee
explored reasons for the study, what research needs to be done, and
what dialogue is needed with the denomination. A general timeline
was established and committee member assignments were made.

*Nine pastors from Indiana and Northern Illinois recently gathered
with Brethren Press staff to select scripture texts for the covers
of the 2006 Living Word Bulletin series. The texts based on the
Revised Common Lectionary, will be paired with photos by Brethren
photographers from around the denomination as well as stock
photography provided by Anchor Wallace Publishers. Each quarter, a
cross-section of Brethren pastors and laypeople write reflections
and worship resources to appear on the backs of the bulletins.
Bulletins created and written "by Brethren for Brethren" reach
56,000 people in Church of the Brethren congregations every week,
reported Brethren Press managing editor Nancy Klemm. This year's
Advent and Christmas bulletins were designed especially for the
Church of the Brethren by Gwen Stamm, a Mennonite artist and
calligrapher from Scottdale, Pa., who was commissioned by Anchor
Wallace at the request of Brethren Press. To place a standing order
for bulletin covers call Brethren Press at 800-441-3712.

*"Disaster response, caring for children, environmental
preservation, confronting racial barriers, experiencing new
cultures, exploring urban poverty and rural development issues--all
of these opportunities and more are available to youth and young
adults through the 2005 National Workcamps," said coordinators
Cindy Laprade, Beth Rhodes, and Steve Van Houten in a note inviting
youth and young adults to participate in workcamps next summer. The
theme will be "Rivers of Life" based on John 7:38. Workcampers will
be invited to "step into the flow of other people's lives and
experiences, and to affect change in the people and places that
have been washed away by the currents of our society," the
coordinators said. Brochures are available from district offices,
congregations, or the General Board's Youth and Young Adult
Ministry Office at 800-323-8039. A website also provides
information and registration materials, see
www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/workcamps. Registration begins Dec. 1.
Contact the coordinators at 800-323-8039 or by e-mail at
cobyouth_gb@brethren.org.

*Brethren are invited to join the General Board's Brethren
Witness/Washington Office at a rally to "Call for an Absolute End
to the School of Americas" at Fort Benning, Ga., Nov. 19-21. The
rally culminates a year-long effort by those witnessing against the
documented atrocities of the military trained at the School of
Western Hemispheric Institution for Security Cooperation--also
called the School of the Americas. The office will sponsor a few
events at the rally including an information table outside the
gates Nov. 20-21 and a gathering for Brethren 5:30-6 p.m. Nov. 20
followed by a concert by the Brethren band Mutual Kumquat in the
Howard Johnson Presidential Room, 1011 Veterans Pky., Columbus, Ga.
For more information call 800-785-3246 or e-mail
washington_office_gb@brethren.org. For a rally schedule see
www.soaw.org.

*Walter Brueggemann will give the Bethany Theological Seminary
Founders Lecture Series on Nov. 11-12 in Richmond, Ind. Brueggemann
is professor emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological
Seminary, Decatur, Ga.; author of numerous books and articles; has
served on the Editorial Council of the "Journal of Biblical
Literature"; and has been president of the Society of Biblical
Literature. "Nurtured in Thickness" is the theme for the three
lectures scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in an open class session
at the Earlham College Loose Lecture Hall in the Bolling Center;
7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Bethany's Nicarry Chapel; and 11 a.m. Nov. 12
at Nicarry Chapel. The lecture series honors the founders of the
seminary, A.C. Wieand and E.B. Hoff. All lectures are free and open
to the public. For more information call 765-983-1823.

*The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) is distributing donor
pins to lift up National Donor Sabbath Nov. 14. According to the
Department of Health and Human Services, more than 81,000 men,
women, and children nationwide are waiting for organ transplants,
an average of 66 people each day receive a transplant, and some 17
patients die each day while waiting for a transplant. Congregations
are urged to honor the observance through worship, prayer, or by
wearing donation pins. Resources are available at ABC's website at
www.brethren.org/abc/. Congregations can receive up to 25 donor
pins by contacting ABC at 800-323-8039.

*"HIV/AIDS--How Will You Respond?" is a new bulletin insert
available for congregations to use with World AIDS Day Dec. 1 or
the first Sunday in December. The insert describes the problem of
HIV/AIDS in the US and overseas and suggests ways Brethren can
respond. Created by the Association of Brethren Caregivers and the
General Board's Global Mission Partnerships, the bulletin insert
can be downloaded from www.brethren.org.

*The Chicago-based CBS show "Different Drummers" featured the
General Board's youth and young adult workcamp program with
coordinators Cindy Laprade and Beth Rhodes. Agata Zalewski, a youth
workcamp participant from York Center Church of the Brethren,
Lombard, Ill., was interviewed as were several other Brethren
members in the audience including youth and advisors from
Chicago-area congregations. The show aired Oct. 23 at 5 a.m.

*Pacific Southwest District holds its conference Oct. 29-31 at
Pomona (Calif.) Fellowship, with David Hurlbut as moderator.

*The location of the Virlina District Conference Nov. 12-13 has
been changed to Green Ridge Baptist Church, 5521 Green Ridge Rd.,
NW, Roanoke, Va. The Ministers and Spouses Dinner will be held at
Summerdean Church of the Brethren as scheduled. Contact the
district office at 540-362-1816 or e-mail virlina@aol.com.

*Heifer International received the 2004 Conrad N. Hilton
Humanitarian Prize on Oct. 28. The $1 million award is the world's
largest humanitarian award. "Heifer International's success proves
that it's often simple ideas that are the best," said Steve Hilton.
"Ideas on how to help the poor in our world come and go, but Heifer
has produced a model that has endured for 60 years." The
organization was begun as a Church of the Brethren program by
Brethren leader Dan West, who had the original "simple idea."
Today, Heifer works in 38 US states and 50 countries providing more
than 30 types of animals. To learn more about Heifer's history and
beginnings, order the DVD/video "Dan West Peacemaker" from Brethren
Press, call 800-441-3712. A monologue telling Dan West's story is
available at www.Brethren.org./genbd/BP/LivingWaters. For more
information visit www.heifer.org and www.hiltonfoundation.org.

8) BBT and MAA hire joint field representatives.

Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) and the Mutual Aid Association (MAA)
have announced the hiring of Peg Yoder and Randy Yoder of
Huntingdon, Pa., to a joint position shared between the two
organizations. Beginning Jan. 2, the Yoders will serve half-time as
field representatives for BBT and one-fourth time in the same
capacity for MAA. They will represent both organizations at
congregational, district, and denominational events, working with
current and potential members and clients.

Peg Yoder retired in June from teaching English at Juniata Valley
High School. Randy Yoder, who will retire at the end of December,
has served as executive of Middle Pennsylvania District for the
past 20 years. They are members of Stone Church of the Brethren in
Huntingdon. The Yoders will work out of their home with the e-mail
address pryoder_bbt@brethren.org.

9) On Earth Peace works to become institutionally anti-racist.

By Kim Stuckey Hissong

At the Fall 2004 board meeting of On Earth Peace, board and staff
participated in a training with the General Board's Anti-Racism
Team (ART). The training was the next step in a larger effort of On
Earth Peace to become an institutionally anti-racist organization.
We have been working on this process for almost a year, and decided
that it was a good time to get board and staff together for formal
training, recognizing that this is just one more step in a longterm
process.

Using small group discussion, video, and Bible study, ART members
Barbara Cuffie, Torin Eikler, and Sharon Reich led participants on
a journey of examining prejudice and stereotypes, exploring white
privilege, and envisioning a new Kingdom. While time was spent
dealing with institutional racism, many members gained personal
insight as well. Board member Eugene Lichty, from McPherson, Kan.,
said, "Most Brethren have enjoyed few or no close friends of a
different race. Being so isolated from those who are different
means there are many subtleties of race, involving culture,
customs, and conversation of which we are unaware. As a result, we
often do and say things which can cause misunderstandings and
offenses. Participating in this Anti-Racism Training helped me to
avoid at least some of these pitfalls."

Institutional racism is different from personal attitudes and
feelings. It goes to the very core of how organizations operate and
may, in fact, be an unintentional product of how an organization
functions. Board member Dena Lee, from Kent, Ohio, found lots of
value in the training. "It seemed that many members of the board
and staff became aware of ways in which we limit our resources by
applying white privilege to everything from recommendations for
employment of staff and nomination of board members to the focus of
On Earth Peace programming on peace as opposed to peace and
justice."

Spending five hours of a meeting on this topic was a bold move for
the board. But as staff member Annie Clark explained, "It is
valuable for the church...because we are called to love our
neighbors. Loving our neighbors means truly seeing all as equals,
seeing their joys as our joys, and doing our best to celebrate
together. It also means seeing everyone's needs as our needs, and
doing our best to work together for change." ART has been called by
the denomination to help congregations and groups figure out how to
do that better.

Co-executive director Bob Gross summed up the experience, "I'm very
glad that as an organization On Earth Peace is waking up to how we
are affected by institutional racism in the church and society. If
the church is going to be what God calls it to be, it will need to
escape the traps of privilege, power, and prejudice. That does not
happen without effort and humility." As the Church of the Brethren
seeks to become more multi-cultural and multi-ethnic, it will be
training experiences like this one that will help to move along the
process.

--On Earth Peace staff member Kim Stuckey Hissong is program
coordinator of Peacemaker Formation.

*****************************************************************
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, 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. Nancy Cruz, Mary Dulabaum, Nevin Dulabaum,
Lerry Fogle, Doris Frysinger, Jeri S. Kornegay, and Mary Sue
Rosenberger contributed to this report. Newsline is a free service
sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by
e-mail, or to unsubscribe, write cobnews@aol.com or call
800-323-8039, ext. 260. Newsline is available and archived at
www.brethren.org. For more news and features, subscribe to the
Church of the Brethren magazine "Messenger." Call 800-323-8039.