wfn.org | Disciples News Briefs - June 17, 2005

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

Disciples News Briefs
June 17, 2005
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Wanda Bryant Wills, Editor
E-mail: News@cm.disciples.org

HEALTH CARE FUNDING CRISIS LEADS TO EMERGENCY RESOLUTION
An emergency resolution has been proposed by the Pension Fund as a
possible solution to the growing health care crisis. The proposed
resolution calls on the church to address problems with the Churchwide
Health Care Program, which by the end of 2004 had reached a net deficit of
$2.8 million. The Pension Fund, as trustee, has not been able to raise
premiums quickly enough to cover the rising costs.

The original mission of the Churchwide Health Care Program was to provide
portable and equitable coverage to Disciples clergy and church employees
with standard premiums for every insured person.  The resolution will be
discussed and voted on by the delegates at the General Assembly.  Read the
full story at: http://www.disciplesworld.com/

To read the resolution and the letter regarding the crisis by James P.
Hamlett, president of the Pension Fund, go to:	http://www.pensionfund.org/resolutionconcerningCWHC.htm

NATIONAL BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION HAS A NEW LOCATION
The National Benevolent Association (NBA) has moved to new, smaller
quarters. The new offices will be roughly 3,000 square feet. NBA's new
address is 149 Weldon Parkway, Suite 115, Maryland Heights, MO. 63043-3103.  The main telephone and fax numbers remain the same.  The telephone
number is (314) 993-9000 and the fax number is (314) 993-9018.	All
telephone numbers beginning with 812 are invalid as of June 10.

NBA's Board of Directors will meet June 22 - 23 in St. Louis.  The board
asks for your prayers during this time of restructure and renewal. NBA is
the social and health services division of the church.

DISCIPLES EMBARK ON A PILGRIMAGE TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Fred Jensen, pastor of Cleveland Heights Christian Church of Buffalo,
N.Y., and several volunteers will stage a coast-to-coast communion service
that will begin in New York City on July 9.  Their journey is designed to
publicize the General Assembly and use the communion services as a way to
convey God's open invitation to a universal table and to express the unity
of the body of Christ.	The pilgrimage also will take the travelers to
Jensen's home community of Buffalo, N.Y., as well as Indianapolis, Ind.,
Lincoln, Neb., Salt Lake City, Utah and Boise, Idaho, before concluding in
Portland.   Along the way, Jensen will collect donated work gloves and
quilts to aid in mission work at the Assembly. Volunteers are still needed
to participate in segments of the trip. To learn how you can be part of
this historic trip, and or read more about Jensen's journey, go to:
http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0539.htm

NEW ELDERS RESOURCE AVAILABLE
Oregon Co-Regional Ministers Cathy and Doug Wirt and Disciples Home
Missions have created a website of resources for those who serve as elders
of their church.  The website includes information on Bible studies for
elders groups, articles about the role of the elder, and resources for
prayer and spiritual renewal.  The materials come from a range of sources
such as Christian Board of Publication, Disciples Home Missions and
Disciples Seminary Foundation.	Visit this new website at: http://www.discipleselders.org and don't forget to register for the one-day, pre-Assembly
Elders Conference on Saturday, July 23.

The Elders Conference is $40 per person and requires registration.  Joe
Driskill, Associate Professor of Spirituality and Dean of the Disciples
Seminary Foundation (Berkeley), will lead the morning session.	A number
of workshops on specialized topics for elders will take place in the
afternoon.  Incorporate the knowledge that you gain from both resources
and become a dynamic spiritual leader.	Register for the conference at
http://www.disciples.org/ga05/registration.htm

DISCIPLES GIVING ILLUSTRATES FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP
Read the comments of Lois Artis, President of the Church Finance Council,
about the need to promote Disciples Mission Fund more effectively.  Her
statements are excerpts from a workshop in which she talked about the need
for Disciples to remember our connections to all of humanity, and
understand that the concept of community extends to the entire world.
Artis' letter also talks about the benefits of giving to the four Special
Offerings - Easter, Pentecost, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  To read more,
go to*.http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0541.htm

DISCIPLESWORLD MAGAZINE MOVES TO NEW OFFICES
"DisciplesWorld" magazine has a new home.  Beginning Monday, June 20, the
staff of DisciplesWorld will no longer be located in the basement of
Downey Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis, Ind.
 Their new address is 6325 N. Guilford Avenue, Suite 213, Indianapolis, IN
46220. E-mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers will remain the same.
For more information on the relocation, go to: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0540.htm

SIGN UP FOR DISCIPLES HOME MISSIONS' LUNCHEON AND FOURTH MONDAY CHAT
Join Disciples Home Missions (DHM) for dinner Monday, July 25 at General
Assembly. Robert Lee Hill, senior minister at Community Christian Church
of Kansas City, Mo., will be DHM's guest speaker.  Tickets are available
in advance.  Contact Jennie King, (888) 346-2631 or jking@dhm.disciples.org for more information.	Information about the DHM meals can be found at:
http://www.discipleshomemissions.org/GeneralAssembly2005/Meals.htm.

In other DHM news, you can find out what's new with Disciples Women, by
joining Lonnie Graves, Program Director in the Office of Disciples Women,
for the Fourth Monday Chat on June 27 at 11 a.m. (Indiana time).  Visit:
http://www.homemissionadvocate.com (select dhm calendar from menu)

PROTECT GOD'S GIFT OF WATER
The Global Ministries' Global Education and Advocacy Team (GEA) invites
you to help support efforts on water conservation.  Water is a vital
ingredient for life and is a gift from God for all creation.  Be a
responsible steward of God's gifts and help protect the gift of water by
going beyond verbal expressions of concern.  Show your support by signing
the National Council of Churches USA ecumenical statement on water.  Sign
the statement and learn more about water conservation efforts at:
http://www.nccecojustice.org

REFUGEE AND IMMIGRATION MINISTRIES NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE ONLINE
The Refugee and Immigration Ministries (RIM) program of Disciples Home
Missions (DHM) recently launched an electronic newsletter.  For those who
received the previous newsletter "Sharing," that ended nearly two years
ago, this is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the RIM program.
Every two or three months a new "update" will be posted.  Current posted
updates contain details about the number of Disciples resettled refugees,
recent church co-sponsors, immigration reform legislation and more.  Read
the new updates at: http://www.discipleshomemissions.org/RIM/index.htm

Receive e-mail alerts whenever a new update is posted by contacting Bill
Culp at wculp@dhm.disciples.org

####

DNS Writer:	Kenethia Jackson

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

####

*The Disciples News Briefs, also known as "The Disciple®", is distributed weekly or as needed by Communication Ministries.  For changes, additions
or deletions to our distribution list, please contact news@cm.disciples.org
wfn