wfn.org | Disciples News Briefs - April 22, 2005

["Wilma Shuffitt" <wshuffitt@cm.disciples.org>]

Disciples News Briefs
April 22, 2005
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Wanda Bryant Wills, Editor
E-mail: News@cm.disciples.org 

GENERAL BOARD NOMINATES CHURCH LEADER AS NEXT GMP 
Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins has been nominated to serve as the next
General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ).  She was unanimously endorsed by the church's General Board
on Sunday, April 17.  Rev. Watkins is currently the Senior Minister of
Disciples Christian Church of Bartlesville, Okla. She has an extensive
background of service to the church and its related institutions. If
formally elected in July at the church's General Assembly, she will be
the first woman to serve in the General Minister and President position.
To read more about Rev. Watkins nomination, go to:
http://www.disciples.org/dns/releases2005/0528.htm 

STATEMENTS FROM THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) REGARDING
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF POPE BENEDICT XVI
Disciples joined ecumenical leaders from around the world in welcoming
Pope Benedict XVI as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church.  General
Minister and President Wm. Chris Hobgood and Council on Christian Unity
President Robert Welsh issued statements saying they look forward to
working with the new Pope.  Both Disciples leaders met with the late
Pope John Paul II in 2004 to discuss issues of importance to people of
faith.	Read their statements at:
http://www.disciples.org/Internal/news/pope_comments.htm 
     

PENTECOST SPECIAL OFFERING IS APPROACHING
Did you know that nearly 65 percent of the U.S. population lives
nowhere near a Disciples congregation?	The Pentecost Special Offering
is helping to change that by supporting new Disciples churches.  The new
church movement within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has
one of the highest success rates among all mainline denominations. 
Please help support the new church movement by giving generously to the
Pentecost Special Offering on May 8 and May 15.  For creative
promotional ideas for this offering, go to:
http://www.churchfinancecouncil.org/pages/dmf/pentecost05/p_keyinfo.htm

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROMOTION SUNDAY APPROACHES
Remember that Sunday, May 1, is the second General Assembly Promotion
Sunday.  This is the perfect opportunity to inform your congregation
about all that the Assembly has to offer.  Why not try to set a goal for
your church's General Assembly participation?  The View Christian
Church in Portland, Ore., did just that.  Every member of the
approximately 40-person church has signed up to attend the assembly.
This is even more impressive because The View is a new church start,
which only recently acquired new church status.
Promotional kits filled with marketing materials to help promote the
Assembly should be arriving at your church soon.  Assembly information
and materials can also be found on the web at:
http://www.disciples.org/ga05.

FORMER MISSIONARY BRONKEMA PASSES AWAY
Frederick Hollander Bronkema, 71, former Disciples and Presbyterian
missionary to Honduras, passed away due to pneumonia on April 3, in
Penney Farms, Fla. Ordained by the Presbyterian Church, Bronkema served
as the pastor of Presbyterian congregations in New Jersey and Delaware,
as the Director of Reconciliation at the Ecumenical Center for the
United Presbyterian Church and as the Associate General Secretary of
International Documentation on the Contemporary Church (IDOC)
International in Rome, Italy.  Bronkema also was a missionary to
Portugal and Italy. 

While working as a missionary in Honduras, he and his wife designed and
developed the reconciliation program for the Emergency and Development
Committee of Honduras (CODE).  This project was the groundwork for what
today is the Monte Carmelo Conference Center, the largest institution of
its kind in Honduras.  

A memorial service was held at Penny Memorial Church in Penney Farms,
Fla. On April 6.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
church stipulating:  Fred Bronkema Memorial:  OIKOCREDIT (EDCS). 
Messages of sympathy may be sent to his wife, Peggy Bronkema, P.O. Box
483, Penney Farms, Fla. 32079.	   

CHRISTIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION PRINTS MORE BLESSING BOXES 
During the past year, more than 12,000 small boxes have been used by
women to count their blessings and share with others through donations
to the Church Finance Council (CFC).  The Blessing Box, a cardboard box
that measures 3" x 3," is a spiritual and tangible tool that allows
women to express their gratitude for everyday blessings by giving to
others.  Whenever a blessing is recognized, a coin is placed in the
box.

Due to the significant response to the recent promotional campaign
spearheaded by the Office of Disciples Women, Christian Board of
Publication is printing 25,000 more Blessing Boxes to accommodate the
ever-increasing demand.  Blessing Boxes are available for $10 (U.S.) for
a package of ten, from the Office of Disciples Women, (317) 635-3100 or
via e-mail at bledwon@dhm.disciples.org. 

LATINO RELIGIOUS LEADERS MEET TO DISCUSS END TO WORLD HUNGER 
Vice President of Disciples Seminary Foundation Huberto Pimentel
recently met with more than 30 Latino religious leaders to discuss how
Latino churches can become more involved in moving our national leaders
to end hunger.	The event was organized by Bread for the World, the
largest grassroots lobbying organization on domestic and international
issues, and took place April 15 at Fuller Theological Seminary in
Pasadena, Calif.  The gathering began with discussion during breakfast
and concluded with a press conference.	To learn more about Bread for
the World and this conference, go to:
http://www.bread.org/media/articles/2005/san_gabriel_apr_15.htm 

FORMER DISCIPLES HOME MISSIONS EMPLOYEE PASSES AWAY
Wanda Moon, former member of Disciples Home Missions (DHM)
administrative staff of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),
passed away April 15.  She was the secretary for what was then known as
the Department of Church in Society of the Division of Homeland
Ministries.  Moon was a member of Eastgate Christian Church in
Indianapolis, Ind.  Funeral services were held April 19 in Indianapolis,
Ind.  Messages of condolence can be sent to Donna Russell at 2703 Davis
Road, Indianapolis, IN 46239.  Memorial contributions may be sent to
Eastgate Christian Church, 8100 E. 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219.

CHRISTIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP
Christian Board of Publication, a general ministry of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) and publishers of Chalice Press books and
resources, is pleased to announce a new publishing partnership with Lake
Hickory Learning Communities. Through this cooperative ministry,
Christian Board of Publication will launch a new line of resources for
congregational and denominational leadership under the imprint of Lake
Hickory Resources.  For more information on this newly formed
partnership, go to press releases at: http://www.cbp21.com 
 

PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL ON CHRISTIAN UNITY ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE DEATH
OF ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS
Robert K. Welsh, president of the Council on Christian Unity of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), issued a statement on the death
of Archbishop Iakovos, the primate of the Orthodox Archdiocese of North
and South America from 1959-1996.  The text of this statement was
prepared by the former president of the Council on Christian Unity, Paul
A. Crow Jr., who was a long-time friend and associate of Archbishop
Iakovos.  Read the full statement at:
http://www.disciples.org/dns/releases2005/Iakovos.htm 
 
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Have you registered for the 2005 General Assembly that will take place
July 23-27 in Portland, Oregon? Register now by contacting your church
office or by going to: http://www.disciples.org/ga05 

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*The Disciples News Brief is distributed weekly 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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