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

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

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

THE FINAL THANKSGIVING OFFERING WILL BE RECEIVED ON SUNDAY
Disciples colleges, universities and theological institutions educate more
than 23,000 students for lives of service in North America and around the
world.	Their educations will enable them to lead in their churches and
communities.  These "faces of the future" will be pastors, lay leaders,
Christian educators, physicians and business people.  By giving generously
to the Thanksgiving Offering, you will help Disciples students develop
spiritual gifts that will strengthen our church for decades to come.
Promotional materials are available at: http://www.churchfinancecouncil.org
CCF BOARD VOTES TO GIFT ITS 2006 GENERAL MISSION FUNDING ALLOCATION TO DMF
The Christian Church Foundation Board of Directors unanimously voted to
gift its 2006 general mission funding allocation back to the general
ministry pool of the Disciples Mission Fund (DMF). This one-year gift,
projected to be about $90,000, is a recognition of excellent financial
results for the Foundation and an acknowledgment that other general
ministries, who rely heavily on Disciples Mission Fund dollars for their
work, have experienced a real shortfall of income. More news from the
recent CCF board meeting is available at: http://www.disciples.org/ccf/About_Us/CCFnews.html

DISCIPLES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HURRICANE RELIEF TO GULF COAST
Hands-on mission outreach has taken on special significance for a Carmel,
Ind. couple.  George and Dixie Smith, of Carmel Christian Church, have
spent the past two months criss-crossing the states of Louisiana and
Mississippi in their mobile home, helping those affected by Hurricane
Katrina.  Their work, coordinated by Disciples Volunteering, has involved
helping to gut numerous homes and apartments damaged by the devastating
storm, so that residents of the area can begin the rebuilding process.
Read the full story about their efforts and their continued commitment to
help hurricane victims at: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0584.htm

In other news connected with the Gulf Coast hurricanes, Disciples Home
Missions (DHM's) Office of Disciples Volunteering is in need of travel
trailers and/or motor homes for donations or short-term loans to use for
one to three months in the ongoing Hurricane recovery work. If you can
help or know of someone who can, contact Carl Zerweck at (317) 289-5061 or
czerweck@dhm.disciples.org

RECONCILIATION MISSION REPORTS ON ITS OFFERING
Reconciliation Mission (RM) is thankful for the continued generosity of
Disciples giving that supports this all-church ministry, which is focused
on eradicating the root causes of systemic racism and structural oppression.  However, contributions to RM through the end of October were $304,836,
or 16 percent below the same period last year.	2005 estimates show that
less than 50 percent of all Disciples congregations who contribute to the
Disciples Mission Fund give to RM.  RM is optimistic that additional
giving before the end of the year will offset the Oct. decline.  To read
more, go to: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0585.htm

WATKINS URGES CONGRESS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON CRISIS IN DARFUR
Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), joined other religious leaders to call on Congress
to take action in response to the continuing crisis in Darfur, Sudan, by
passing the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act before Congress adjourns
this year.  Disciples have shown their support for this issue by passing
resolution #0520 Promoting Peace for All in the Sudan during the 2005
General Assembly and by contributing to the Dear Sudan Campaign through
Week of Compassion.  In a letter to Congress, major religious leaders,
including Watkins, urged "more substantive action" to deal with "the
ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur."  Read the full release at:
 http://home.comcast.net/~disciplescenter/alerts/darfur09nov05.html

DISPLACED NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS RESPOND TO PAKISTAN QUAKE
Hurricane Katrina may have temporarily drowned some of the sounds that
characterize the New Orleans music scene. But it hasn't stopped New
Orleans musicians who now live in Houston, Texas, from using their skills
to help others.

This Tuesday, jazz musician Paul David Longstreth will join with his
sister Kim and an outstanding array of other New Orleans musicians in
Houston to put on a benefit that will raise dollars to help victims of the
recent Pakistan earthquake.

The Longstreths, who are members of the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ), will gather with musicians who play everything from jazz to
hip-hop at the concert, "Play it Forward." The concert is scheduled for 7
p.m., Nov. 22 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Houston. For more
information or to make reservations call (713) 533-4946.  Read the full
release at: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0586.htm

CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA INSTALLS NEW REGIONAL MINISTER
Ray Miles was installed as Regional Minister of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in Georgia on Nov. 11 during the regional assembly
at Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur, Ga.  During his tenure, Miles
will focus on establishing new churches, revitalizing existing churches,
developing clergy support and encouragement, and coordinating lay
theology.  "I'm excited about the diversity of the region and the
opportunity to work with multiple cultures," stated Miles.  "I'm eager to
find ways to connect people and regain the Disciples tradition of being
one body in Christ."  Miles has been serving as Georgia's regional
minister since June 1.	For more information and to view installation
pictures, go to: http://www.gadisciples.org/news/RegAssm2005/Regassm2005.htm

TRANSYLVANIA PROFESSOR NAMED KENTUCKY PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR
Peggy Shadduck Palombi, biology professor at Transylvania University, in
Lexington, Ky., has received the 2005 Kentucky Professor of the Year Award
from the Carnegie Foundation and the Council for Advancement and Support
of Education (CASE).  This marks the fourth time in five years that a
Transylvania faculty member has claimed the honor, an unprecedented
achievement.  More professors from Transylvania have received the award
than from any other college in the state of Kentucky.  Read the full
release at:  http://www.transy.edu/news/content/arch_story.asp-id-254-storyDate-11/17/2005-object-index

REGISTER FOR CONGREGATIONAL TRANSFORMATION CONFERENCE
Join Disciples from around the United States and Canada on Jan. 18-20 in
Arlington, Texas, for the "Journeying the Good News Road" conference to
learn more about the congregational and denominational transformation of
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Hear Alan Roxburgh, President
of the Missional Leadership Institute (MLi), an organization dedicated to
accelerating the transformation of congregations and denominations toward
becoming missional churches.  Other speakers include GMP Sharon Watkins,
Rick Lowery of Phillips Theological Seminary, Pablo Jimenez, Senior Editor
of Chalice Press, Christian Board of Publication, and many fellow
Disciples pastors actively engaged in congregational transformation.  The
registration fee of $175 (U.S.) per person includes meals and is open
until Dec. 15.	For more information on the conference, read the full
release at: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0587.htm

CAMPUS CRAZINESS AND RESOURCE REVIEWS: TWO WAYS STEP HOPES TO GET STUDENTS
INVOLVED
The Student Ecumenical Partnership (STEP) will focus on strengthening
student ministries during the rest of the school year in two very
different ways: curriculum reviews and the new Campus Craziness tournament.  STEP hopes to bring a competitive format - Campus Craziness - to
discovering new ways to get student ministries involved in social issues.
In a more scholarly effort, STEP also plans to provide quick help for
planning student study groups by creating reviews of socially oriented
resources for college students.  STEP is the primary student ministry of
the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ). For more information, visit:  http://www.stepnetwork.org

DISCIPLES MINISTER SERVES AS EDITOR OF NEWSLETTER FOR MILITARY FAMILIES
Disciples minister PamelaJune Anderson of Dayton, Ohio, is serving as
editor of the newly created National Restoration to Military Families
(NR2MilFam) Team newsletter.  NR2MilFam is a group of faith and community-based leaders, social service agencies and institutions of higher learning
that are collaborating and networking to establish ways of strengthening
military families.  Future newsletters will include articles from the
readership, returning reservists, combat survivors, faith and community
leaders, disaster relief service members, military families and others.
To officially launch this newsletter, readers are being asked to adopt the
families of soldiers recently killed in action.  For each family adopted,
NR2MilFam will send them a note, a newsletter, a $50 money order and
connect them with a military chaplain.	Contact NR2MilFam@aol.com for
additional information.  View the introductory newsletter at: http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/NR2MilFamNov05.pdf

ALL CHALICE PRESS TITLES AVAILABLE FOR HALF PRICE
Now through December 15, a special 50 percent discount on all Chalice
Press books is being extended to customers.  This special allows customers
to take advantage of the lowest prices of the year.  This special offer is
applicable for Chalice Press books only.  This offer does not apply to any
previous purchases, curriculum materials, program materials, Vacation
Bible School or Sunday school items, hymnals, music resources, or any
special materials.  All sales for this half-price offer are non-returnable
and all sales are final.  Don't miss out on these wonderful savings.  For
instructions on how to take advantage of this offer, go to:  http://www.disciples.org/dns/Releases2005/0588.htm

TRAINING EVENT SCHEDULED TO EMPOWER FAITH COMMUNITIES
"Empowering Faith Communities to Breathe Life into Dry Bones: Uniting,
Empowering, Creating" is the theme for this year's Breathing Life event,
the first ever Open & Affirming training event offered by the Open &
Affirming Ministry Team of the GLAD (Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciples)
Alliance.

Breathing Life is designed to support and unite those congregations in the
Christian Church that have intentionally named their church's mission as
Open & Affirming of all God's children.

Members from Open & Affirming congregations and all who want to learn more
about creating and empowering inclusive ministry are welcome. Registration
for the three-day event is $50, including food. Discount housing has been
reserved. On-line registration is available until January 1. For more
information visit http://www.gladalliance.org/events.html.

####
DNS Writer:  Kenethia Jackson
*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

wfn