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"For
the love of Christ urges us on . . ." 2 Cor. 5:14a
NEWS
1) Sudan Peace Act passes as negotiations move forward.
2) Protesters mount opposition to potential war with Iraq.
3) District conference roundup: Reports from nine fall gatherings.
4) Emergency Disaster Fund makes three grants totaling $28,500.
5) Disaster relief project begins in West Virginia.
6) Moderator issues reminder of "Call to Prayer."
7) Brethren Service Center recognizes employee tenure milestones.
8) Brethren bits: Junior High Sunday, Ecumenical Award, and
more.
PERSONNEL
9) La Verne names Julia Wheeler coordinator of church relations.
COMING
EVENTS
10) Global Mission Partnerships offers 2003 visit to Sudan.
RESOURCES
11) Brethren Press offers Advent, Lenten devotional booklets.
FEATURES
12) Church World Service worker provides Afghanistan update.
13) Idaho pastor's quick response makes him a local hero.
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1) Two major
steps related to Sudan have occurred in the past
month, one in the United States and one in the African nation
itself.
In the latter,
a "Memorandum of Understanding" between the
Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation
Movement/Army, which have been engaged in civil war for two
decades, was signed Oct. 15 in Sudan.
Among the provisions
of the agreement are a commitment to continue
negotiations in good faith, the use of mediators, a cessation
of
all hostilities, and "unimpeded humanitarian access"
to all areas
in need. The agreement is valid through Dec. 31 but can be extended
by mutual consent.
Non-governmental
aid organizations especially lauded the open
access for meeting humanitarian needs. Church of the Brethren
Washington Office coordinator Greg Davidson Laszakovits called
it
a "great step forward for Sudan."
The other step
culminated Oct. 21, when US President George W. Bush
signed into law the Sudan Peace Act, a piece of legislation that
been languishing in Congress for more than a year. The Senate
and
House of Representatives had passed differing versions of the
act
in 2001 but didn't iron out differences in conference committee
until this fall. Identical versions were passed unanimously in
the
Senate and 359-8 in the House on Oct. 9.
The act authorizes
immediate aid of $300 million to southern Sudan
over the next three years, with or without the Sudanese
government's approval; requires the president to certify every
six
months that the two sides are negotiating in good faith, or
sanctions against the government will result; and requires the
administration to report on oil financing, acts of genocide,
and on
the obstruction of aid delivery.
Laszakovits said
the final version was significantly watered down
from some of the original language, but still signals US attention
to the situation in the war-torn nation. The Church of the Brethren
has long been involved in Sudan and continues to work with the
southern New Sudan Council of Churches through the General Board's
Global Mission Partnerships office.
2) Opposition
to a possible war with Iraq continues to build, with
large protests held at several sites around the US and abroad
on
Oct. 26.
The largest was
in Washington, D.C., where Church of the Brethren
member Stephanie Schaudel--now working with Iraq advocacy
organization Voices in the Wilderness--was among numerous speakers.
C-SPAN provided live coverage. The Associated Press said tens
of
thousands of people were in the crowd.
Earlier in the
month, representatives from at least six Church of
the Brethren congregations joined a protest in Cincinnati while
President George W. Bush was in the city to speak. Several district
conferences this fall passed statements speaking against a war
on
Iraq, as have at least two district boards.
Middle East Council
of Churches general secretary the Rev. Riad
Jarjour underscored the need for opposition to war efforts last
week, asking US churches to "speak to your government to
stop any
military offensive." Jarjour, who spoke to the Church World
Service
board of directors in South Bend, Ind., said a war with Iraq
will
send the whole region into chaos and bring more suffering. "We
are
all scared," he said.
Elsewhere, the
US Conference of the World Council of Churches
continues to list statements made by US churches and organizations
on its website, at www.ecumenismnow.org. Also featured on the
site
is a preview of a new Powerpoint slide show on the WCC-sponsored
Decade to Overcome Violence.
3) Many of the
denomination's 23 districts hold their annual
district conferences in September and October, and this year
has
again been buzzing with activity. Following are reports of
highlights from nine of these conferences:
*Atlantic
Northeast: Held Oct. 11-12 at Leffler Chapel and
Performance Center on the Elizabethtown (Pa.) College campus
with
the theme "You Did Not Choose Me, I Chose You . . . That
You Would
Go and Bear Fruit". During the Friday evening celebration
and
worship, several congregations shared successful endeavors. Levi
J.
Ziegler served as moderator and led delegates through conference
business, including approval of the slate of nominees, the 2003
budget, and a variety of reports. The delegate body also approved
a statement, "A Plea for Peace," calling for restraint
in relations
with Iraq; appreciated worship led by district youth; and
recognized Donna Steiner, retiring associate district executive,
for her service. Also passed was a revised district Plan of
Organization for one year, with final revisions to be approved
in
2003. Delegates called Herbert High as moderator-elect; John
A.
Harpold was installed as moderator for the coming year.
*Atlantic
Southeast: Held Oct. 11-12 at the Orlando (Fla.)
Community Church with the theme "Rejoice Always!" Delegates
called
former district executive Berwyn Oltman as moderator-elect,
accepted the Orlando Haitian group as a fellowship; and passed
the
district budget after much discussion, with several congregations
increasing their annual self-allocation. Delegates also approved
a
one-year trial period for a restructuring of the district board,
eliminating the executive committee and program council and making
committee chairs voting members of the board. Association of
Brethren Caregivers executive director Steve Mason spoke at the
evening worship, with music provided by Mike Cesarano and the
Praise Team of Orlando Community.
*Idaho:
Held Oct. 25-26 at the Nampa (Idaho) Church of the
Brethren with the theme "To Be Used of God." Sue Daniel
of the
Fruitland congregation served as moderator, leading 21 delegates
representing all six district congregations through the agenda.
Delegates approved a budget of $10,529 with the added faith
commitment that 10 percent of all income to the district would
be
tithed to denominational ministries in Sudan--which the district
previously adopted as an emphasis--beginning in 2003. Delegates
also affirmed the Annual Conference decision related to the
ordination and licensing of homosexual persons, affirmed the
General Board's recent statement against a possible war on Iraq,
and called Boise Valley pastor Ed Kerschensteiner as
moderator-elect. Annual Conference moderator Harriet Finney and
Brethren Academy coordinator Jonathan Shively were guest worship
and banquet speakers and led workshops, and Shively also gave
an
evening concert. Gary Shoemaker serves as moderator for the coming
year. The 2003 conference will be Oct. 24-25 at Fruitland.
*Mid-Atlantic:
Held Oct. 11-12 at the Manassas (Va.) Church of the
Brethren with the theme "Prayer: The Vital Link to God."
Woodbridge
(Va.) member Ken Wenger served as moderator, with 209 delegates
representing 58 of the district's 63 congregations attending.
Delegates passed the district's first vision and mission statements
and statement of core values and adopted a new constitution and
bylaws that will move the district from elections to a calling
process and from a 35-member district board to a 13-member district
leadership team. Delegates also adopted a 2004 budget of $265,000
that removes support for a second district executive position
due
to financial concerns; discussed the major indebtedness of
Shepherd's Spring Outdoor Ministries Center and the facility
needs
of Camp Mardela and appointed a task team to address the issues;
and called Charlotte Bear of the Nokesville congregation as
moderator-elect. Glade Valley pastor Paula Bowser and Thurmont
pastor Linda Lambert served as worship speakers.
*Middle Pennsylvania:
Held at Woodbury (Pa.) Church of the
Brethren Oct. 18-19 with the theme "When Spirit and heart
unite .
. . renews, empowers, frees, awakens, transforms, refreshes."
Former Bethany Theological Seminary professor Nancy Faus brought
the Friday evening message and led a Saturday morning hymn sing.
The 185 delegates and 116 non-delegates celebrated ministry
milestones and those who completed training in Brethren Academy
and
seminary programs. Moderator Christine Knepp of the Curryville
congregation led business, including approval of a recommendation
from the district board to test a new structure for two years.
Delegates also affirmed the slate of officers, the mission plan
for
2003, and two additional recommendations from the district board:
to set a goal of calling 50 people to ministry training in the
next
five years and to explore ways to increase the Ministry Education
endowment by $300,000. The conference launched "Growing
Faithful
Disciples," a scripture-based educational model designed
to assist
pastors and churches in calling members to lifestyles of
discipleship. The 2003 conference will be held at Maitland with
moderator Randy Loht of Bannerville and moderator-designate Sarah
Malone of Stonerstown.
*Northern
Indiana: Held Sept. 20-21 at Camp Mack in Milford with
the theme "God's Will--Beyond Action." It featured
a unique
combination of Annual Conference moderator and South/Central
Indiana District co-executive Harriet Finney as guest worship
speaker and her sister, Phyllis Davis, as district moderator.
Business was handled by 155 delegates representing 46
congregations. The delegates approved a 2003 budget of $158,350,
unanimously approved constitution and bylaw changes, elected
Dan
Snider of the Plymouth congregation as moderator-elect, and joined
in several devotional times. Other highlights included the
presentation of the National Youth Conference theme song written
and performed by the district's Bremen congregation youth and
advisors, and the installation of Carol Spicher Waggy as district
moderator for the coming year.
*Pacific
Southwest: Held Oct. 4-6 at La Verne (Calif.) Church of
the Brethren, with George Sparks serving as moderator. Delegates
recognized recently retired district executive Gene Hipskind
and
announced a search committee to work toward calling a new executive
minister. Delegates also heard a report and recommendations on
district leadership and vision from Congregational Life Teams
consultant Stan Dueck, approved an alternative commission structure
for the district in 2003 to assess possibilities for an
organizational change, and called David Hurlbut of the Empire
congregation as moderator-elect. Other highlights included worship
based around the new mission strategy of the district, with
Jonathan Shively, Ron Faus, Angie Lahman Yoder, Ataloa Woodin,
George Sparks, and the district youth giving worship leadership;
and ethics workshops for the district's licensed and ordained
ministers. Myrna Wheeler was installed as acting moderator for
honorary moderator Bill Waggoner, a recent stroke victim.
*South/Central
Indiana: Held Sept. 13-14 at Anderson (Ind.) Church
of the Brethren with the theme "One in Christ Jesus."
Moderator
Paul Schrock led 141 delegates through business, which included
several items related to the Manchester Church of the Brethren
reported previously. Other business included approval of a $148,630
district budget, the election of Dave Donaldson as moderator-elect,
and numerous reports. Annual Conference moderator Harriet Finney,
also co-executive of the district, delivered the evening worship
address. Allen Kahler was installed as district moderator for
2003.
*Southern
Ohio: Held Oct. 11-12 at Eaton (Ohio) Church of the
Brethren, with Bob Bitner serving as moderator. The delegate
body
passed on to Annual Conference a query from the Eaton congregation
that asks Annual Conference "to develop a statement that
articulates the church's position on the person and redemptive
work
of Jesus Christ." Delegates also officially received the
Cincinnati
fellowship as a congregation; approved a budget of $145,487;
adopted a new code of regulations for the district board; affirmed
a resolution on Iraq that says, "We are once again reminded
that
war does not resolve conflict. . . ."; gave their blessing
to the
Brethren Heritage Center being developed by eight Brethren bodies
in Brookville; and called Sheila Shumaker as moderator-elect.
Other
conference highlights included celebrating the 100th anniversary
of
the Brethren Retirement Community in the district, a live report
of
district ministries, and a Friday evening worship service.
4) Three allocations
made from the General Board's Emergency
Disaster Fund this week, totaling nearly $30,000, will aid
ministries in the United States and overseas.
A $10,000 grant
will support the work of AID-NET (Assistance in
Disaster-Northeast Tennessee) as it carries out home repairs
needed
after flooding that occurred in Tennessee in 2001. The funds
will
be used to help complete repair work on 17 homes and to replace
three mobile homes.
Another $10,000
grant will aid Church of the Brethren Emergency
Response/Service Ministries work in West Virginia, where some
residents are still awaiting assistance following flooding in
July
2001. The funds will be used for building supplies and managing
the
materials at the Flood Recovery Warehouse in Pineville, W.Va.,
as
well as to continue a ministry being provided to residents through
referrals for emotional and spiritual care.
The final allocation,
for $8,500, will be used for the distribution
of canned meat in Angola. The meat is being provided by the annual
project of the Southern Pennsylvania/Mid-Atlantic District Meat
Canning Committee through Emergency Response/Service Ministries.
The Emergency Disaster Fund grant will cover expenses for shipping
and transport of the food to Kuito, Angola.
5) As one Church
of the Brethren disaster relief project closes,
others are already beginning. The response in Buchanan County,
Va.,
wrapped up on Oct. 26, and one in Pineville, W.Va., was set to
begin immediately afterwards.
More than 100
families in the Pineville area are still awaiting
assistance following a July 2001 flood, according to the Emergency
Response/Service Ministries office, including six who are living
in
government-provided trailers. Larry and Alice Petry will serve
as
the initial directors for the project through Nov. 23. An Emergency
Disaster Fund grant (see story #4) will help to fund the work.
Another project,
in Bluefield, W.Va., is expected to begin Nov. 10.
It will be a short-term project, possibly lasting as little as
two
weeks. Volunteers from the Shenandoah and Virlina districts will
work on floors, decks, and roofs of several homes, damaged in
a May
2002 storm. Ken and LouElla Imhoff are serving as project directors
in November.
In Mississippi
and Louisiana, meanwhile, a Disaster Child Care
response following two tropical systems wound down in late October.
Tropical Storm Isidore and Hurricane Lili didn't do as much damage
as initially feared, but still destroyed or damaged thousands
of
homes. Church World Service planned to distribute blankets and
health kits in the region.
Five child-care
teams involving 23 volunteers served at centers set
up throughout the area (two of the teams served in both Louisiana
and Mississippi), with the longest-running project in the city
of
Lafayette. Nearly 700 child-care contacts were made. The American
Red Cross called the volunteers "angels" for their
work.
6) Annual Conference
moderator Harriet Finney recently sent a
reminder to all Church of the Brethren congregations, urging
them
to take to heart the "Call to Prayer" unanimously accepted
by
delegates at the 2002 Conference.
She reminds Brethren
of the call to give prayer a renewed emphasis,
to have all pastors preach a series of sermons about prayer,
and
that all congregations make available a time for prayer outside
of
regular worship. Annual Conference agencies and districts are
also
to assist in the emphasis by providing resources and support.
The Mid-Atlantic
District, which initiated the query, is holding a
"Day of Prayer: Prayer Prescription" this Saturday
in Ellicott
City, Md. A variety of presenters and music will highlight aspects
of worship and prayer.
An hour at the
2003 Annual Conference in Boise is to be set aside
for sharing about the blessings prayer has brought.
7) The Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., recognized
seven employees for their tenure milestones at the annual
recognition dinner held at Union Bridge (Md.) Fire Hall on Oct.
24.
The longest-serving
employee honored was Brenda Giles, a packer in
the Church of the Brethren General Board's Service Ministries
department, who marked 30 years at the center. Jane Yount, Disaster
Response coordinator in the Emergency Response office was
recognized for 20 years of service, and Paul Derstine, president
of
Interchurch Medical Assistance Inc., for 10 years.
Joe Buss, manager
of the New Windsor Conference Center; Bryant
Graham, baler, Service Ministries; Ella Mae Patterson, housekeeper,
New Windsor Conference Center; and Charles Franzen, Tanzania
representative, Interchurch Medical Assistance Inc., were each
honored for five years of service.
General Board
employees at the agency's Elgin headquarters and
field staff were honored at a reception held during General Board
meetings earlier in October.
8) Brethren
bits: Other brief news notes from around the
denomination and elsewhere.
*This Sunday, Nov. 3, is designated National Junior High Sunday
in
the denomination. This year's theme is "Overflowing with
Thankfulness," based on Colossians 2:6-7. Additional information
can be found at www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/YouthSundayJ.htm. . . .
Nov. 10 is designated National Donor Sabbath. Resources are
available from the Association of Brethren Caregivers at
www.brethren.org/abc/nds/.
*The 2003 Ecumenical
Award/Recognition sponsored by the Committee
on Interchurch Relations will go to a congregation that is working
in creative ways to overcome violence. Nominations should be
sent
by March 15 to Committee on Interchurch Relations, Church of
the
Brethren General Offices, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 or
jkobel_gb@brethren.org. Those submitting nominations
should include
their name and the reason for the nomination; the name, address,
and district of the congregation being nominated; and a summary
of
the nominee's activities and programs to overcome violence.
*Some statistics
from this past summer's National Youth
Conference: The total of 4,128 participants was up from 1994
but
8.1 percent down from 1998. Youth, advisors, and staff came from
455 congregations, with Atlantic Northeast, Shenandoah, and
Mid-Atlantic sending the largest groups; 22 of the 23 districts
were represented. Of those attending, 2,985 were youth (with
ninth-graders comprising the biggest group), 951 were advisors,
and
the remainder were staff or guest presenters. The next NYC is
scheduled for 2006.
*Dick Posthumus,
a member of the Hope Church of the Brethren in
Freeport, Mich., will be anxiously watching the election returns
this coming Tuesday. Posthumus is the state's Republican candidate
for governor. He is currently serving as lieutenant governor
but
has remained active in the church.
*Virginia Mary
Hayter, a member of the Highland Avenue Church of
the Brethren in Elgin, Ill., was honored by the village of Hoffman
Estates, Ill., on Oct. 21 by having the village green named after
her. Hayter had served the village three terms as mayor and four
terms as village clerk, along with other civic positions.
*A new booklet
from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life,
titled "Politics and the Pulpit," gives guidelines
for
congregations and pastors on legal involvement in the world of
politics. It is available at
http://pewforum.org/publications/reports/IRCbrochureBIG.pdf.
*The Manchester
College (North Manchester, Ind.) Symphonic Band's
annual concert tour will go to northern Illinois this year. Public
performances will be at the Mount Morris (Ill.) Church of the
Brethren on Nov. 7 and the York Center Church of the Brethren
(Lombard, Ill.) on Nov. 8, and back at Manchester College on
Nov.
10. The 34-member band will also perform at several schools and
the
Pinecrest Community retirement home.
*New Life Ministries
is building toward its major Anabaptist
Evangelism Council event, to be held Feb. 14-16 near O'Hare
International Airport in Chicago. Two long-time professors of
ministry and religion, Dr. Robert Webber and Dr. Martin Marty,
will
be the featured speakers. Additional details are available at
www.newlifeministries-nlm.org/aec2003.htm.
*The Church
of the Brethren figured in a "Jeopardy!" question in
an October broadcast of the popular TV game show. The contestant
who got the question, related to the denomination's early nickname
of "Dunkards," answered it correctly.
*The New Vision
Church of the Carolinas, a new church project of
the Virlina District in Sunset Beach, N.C., held its first love
feast and communion on Oct. 27. A group of 35 people, including
some visitors from other congregations, joined together for the
occasion. . . . Community Church of the Brethren in Orlando,
Fla.,
celebrated 50 years of ministry on Oct. 13.
*Tyler Benner
of the Chiques Church of the Brethren, Manheim, Pa.,
finished 13th out of 96 shooters in his age group at the Junior
World Archery Championships, held in the Czech Republic in August.
Tyler has already set three national records for junior archers
(age 18 and under) and hopes to compete in the 2004 Olympics.
9) Julia Wheeler
has been named coordinator of church relations at
the University of La Verne (Calif.) as of Oct. 1. Wheeler, a
La
Verne alumna and a member of the Church of the Brethren, was
most
recently a teacher in several area school districts.
Her primary duties
with the university will include representing
the school at district conferences and Annual Conference, youth
conferences, and other meetings.
10) Former Church
of the Brethren Sudan staff Louise and Phil
Rieman will lead a "Faith & Advocacy visit" to
Sudan Feb. 14-28.
The couple served with the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC)
from 1992 to 1996. They worked at several locations inside Sudan,
staffed the first NSCC peace desk, and returned in 1999 to assist
with the preparations for the grassroots "people-to-people"
peace
process.
The visit is
sponsored by the General Board's Global Mission
Partnerships office, working with long-time partner NSCC. Sites
deep inside Sudan are being considered, and the final locations
will depend on security at the time. Merlyn Kettering, General
Board-sponsored consultant to NSCC, will also assist in leadership
of the group along with other NSCC staff. Cost is estimated at
$2,750. For further details, contact Phil and Louie Rieman at
plbrieman@ctlnet.com or 317-546-9675.
11) Brethren
Press is reporting brisk sales of the 2002 Advent
devotional booklet, titled "Prepare." Marketing and
sales manager
Russ Matteson reports that 6,500 copies of the booklet have been
ordered so far, with shipping to begin next week.
The booklet contains
a series of devotionals written by Lani
Wright, a Church of the Brethren ordained minister from Oregon.
The
meditations span the period from the start of Advent through
Epiphany and are designed to be used within congregations or
by
individuals or families. Copies remain available from Brethren
Press for $1.25 each.
A Lenten devotional
booklet, to be written by Everett (Pa.) Church
of the Brethren pastor Frank Ramirez, is also planned. Titled
"Our
Reedemer Lives," the collection of daily meditations will
run from
Ash Wednesday through the Sunday after Easter. Those ordering
by
Jan. 3 receive a pre-publication price of $1.50 per copy; after
Jan. 3 cost is $2 each. Orders received by Jan. 31 will be shipped
by Feb. 7.
To order either
booklet, call Brethren Press at 800-441-3712.
12) In the wake
of bombings and internal strife, as well as
previously existing severe poverty, relief efforts in Afghanistan
are continuing through Church World Service. The Church of the
Brethren General Board in the past year has sent $75,000 to
Afghanistan projects through the Emergency Disaster Fund and
Global
Food Crisis Fund.
CWS Emergency
Response staff member Chris Herlinger provides the
following brief update on work in the central Asian nation:
"We are
very thankful," said Rahmuddin Huzruddin, 22, as he took
a
break from placing wooden beams atop the house he and his family
hoped to occupy within two weeks. "This has come at a very
crucial
time for us."
Huzruddin lives
in the village of Rabat-Qarabaghi, an area just
yards from the front lines of war last year between the Taliban
and
the Northern Alliance.
Church World
Service (CWS) and its local Afghan partner, Norwegian
Project Office (NPO), are helping 40 families reconstruct their
homes. This is just a small part of an overall project to provide
housing to some 1,500 families in the Shomali Valley, north of
Kabul.
For Marvin Parvez, director of CWS' Pakistan/Afghanistan office,
the hard work and dedication of the people of Afghanistan is
a
marvel. "The two things I most admire about the Afghan people,"
he
said, "are their resilience and their capacity to bounce
back."
13) Ed Kerschensteiner,
pastor of the Boise Valley Church of the
Brethren in Meridian, Idaho, never set out to be a hero. It just
turned out that way.
Kerschensteiner
and his wife, Mary Lou, were asleep in their home
when a neighbor's child rang their doorbell in the early morning
hours of Oct. 5. The child begged for help, as her house was
on
fire and her mother and young siblings were still inside.
Kerschensteiner,
71, and another neighbor rushed to the scene. He
had promised his wife he wouldn't run into the burning house,
but
when he arrived there, Kerschensteiner heard the sound of an
infant
trapped inside.
"I was doing
what had to be done," Kerschensteiner said. "As I told
the newspaper, 'What would you do if you heard a baby cry and
you
had a chance?' You just do it."
He kicked in
a door at the back of the house near the bedroom, and
felt his way through the smoke until he reached the bed. On his
second blind sweep across the bed, he felt the 3-week-old baby
and
pulled it into his arms.
"Smoke came
rolling out," Kerschensteiner recalled. "You couldn't
see a thing. I knew there was a risk to enter a house that was
burning, but it was a short distance to the bed."
The infant needed
oxygen but survived. Another small child from the
family was also located unharmed, but the mother, Angie Abdullah,
was found dead in another room of the house. Police later
determined that she had been killed before the fire began and
charged her husband, Azad, with the murder in a domestic dispute,
according to The Idaho Statesman. That charge ended speculation
that it might have been a hate crime against the Muslim family.
Whatever the
circumstances, Kerschensteiner was just glad for the
opportunity to help make a bad situation a little better.
"I think
the Lord brought that about," he said. "I was happy
I was
where I could respond."
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