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"He has
risen! He is not here." Mark 16:6b
NEWS
1) Bethany board reorganizes, looks at finances at spring meeting.
2) National Youth Cabinet sets day of prayer, 2004 theme.
3) On Earth Peace board examines Iraq responses, future direction.
4) Ecumenical community focuses attention on North Korea crisis.
5) Church of the Brethren continues to aid Iraq response efforts.
6) Don Vermilyea's Walk Across America nears 5,000-mile mark.
7) Global Food Crisis Fund makes grant to El Salvador.
8) Committee on Interchurch Relations holds spring meeting.
9) Music and learning fill McPherson Regional Youth Conference.
10) Participation in Equal Exchange Coffee Project grows.
11) Brethren bits: Easter, Brethren World Assembly, and more.
PERSONNEL
12) Greg Laszakovits resigns as Washington Office coordinator.
13) Steve Frazier is called as Camp Eder executive director.
14) General Board announces several new position openings.
RESOURCES
15) Annual Conference-related information fills "Source"
packet.
FEATURES
16) A simple act of love spans an ocean and more than five decades.
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1) The Bethany
Theological Seminary Board of Trustees gathered for
its semi-annual meeting March 28-30 in Richmond, Ind., discussing
finances, reorganizing its leadership, hearing updates, and
affirming the appointment of Steve Reid as academic dean beginning
July 1.
The board called
John Gingrich of Claremont, Calif., as chair for
the coming year; Anne Reid of Roanoke, Va., as vice chair; and
Ed
Poling of Hagerstown, Md., as secretary. Committee chairs for
2003-2004 will be as follows: Academic and Student Affairs, Susan
Boyer, Claremont, Calif.; Finance and Business Affairs, Jim Dodson,
Sadieville, Ky.; Institutional Advancement, Ron Wyrick, Huntingdon,
Pa.; Investment, Jonathan Wieand, Goshen, Ind.; and Recruitment
and
Student Development, Ed Poling, Hagerstown, Md.
The Investment
Committee reported that new deposits as a result of
the Fountain Square development on the former seminary property
in
Oak Brook, Ill., and the current capital campaign have offset
the
losses experienced in the current economic climate. The Finance
and
Business Affairs Committee brought a balanced 2003-2004 budget
of
just over $2 million that was approved by the board.
The Academic
and Student Affairs Committee reported the results of
a survey that invited 1996-1999 Master of Divinity graduates
to
assess the effectiveness of the program in developing basic
competencies for ministry as outlined in program objectives.
The
participants gave the highest ratings to the objectives of
"grounding in Brethren heritage" and "development
of a vision for
ministry." Currently 87 percent of the graduate school student
body
are members of the Church of the Brethren.
The committee
also shared numbers for the Brethren Academy for
Ministerial Leadership, which had 26 people participate in the
spring orientation for academy programs of ministry training,
and
16 in the fall orientation.
The Institutional
Advancement Committee noted that a committee of
volunteers is planning activities relating to Bethany's centennial
in 2004-2005, and that Bethany's capital campaign "Inspired
by the
Spirit -- Educating for Ministry" continues with good response.
The
congregational phase of the campaign will begin at the 2003 Annual
Conference.
The Recruitment
and Student Development Committee said that it had
held its initial meeting, and discussed possible new recruitment
initiatives. It also reviewed a report outlining reasons why
Bethany students choose the seminary, with comparisons and
contrasts to other Association of Theological Schools members.
Bethany faculty
member Dan Ulrich gave a presentation titled "The
Apostle Paul as a Distance Educator," and discussed aspects
of
Paul's ministry that may be relevant for Bethany as the seminary
continues to develop its distributed education program.
2) The Church
of the Brethren National Youth Cabinet met April 4-6
in Elgin, Ill., setting a theme for 2004 and developing some
new
initiatives.
The cabinet chose
"Seeking, Thirsting, Longing," based on Psalm
63:1, as the senior high youth theme for 2004. A theme packet
with
worship resources, Bible studies, and other materials will be
prepared this fall.
As a response
to the Annual Conference "Call to Prayer," the group
decided to designate a National Youth Day of Prayer for Sept.
28.
Brethren youth groups will be encouraged to find intentional
ways
of being in prayer for the church and the world on that day.
The
cabinet plans to provide a list of suggestions and prayer resources
for the observance.
In other business,
the cabinet decided not to produce a youth
devotional booklet in 2004 due to the time and expense involved.
The need for such a resource will be re-evaluated for 2005. The
cabinet also began discussing ideas for the 2004 Christian
Citizenship Seminar theme.
General Board
Youth/Young Adult Ministry director Chris Douglas
convenes and staffs the cabinet, and Jon Keller of Gettysburg,
Ohio, serves as adult advisor. Youth members are Caitlin Haynes,
Adam Messner, Jennifer Quijano, Hannah Serfling, and Matt
Witkovsky. The cabinet is next scheduled to meet Sept. 26-28
in
Elgin.
3) The On Earth
Peace board of directors and staff met April 4-5
in New Windsor, Md. Using the theme "For the Healing of
the
Nations," the group took time for silence and prayer in
the midst
of worship and business. The board, led by chair Bev Weaver,
continued its use of the Formal Consensus process for discussion
and decision-making.
In a time of
open worship and silence, the board considered On
Earth Peace's responses to the war in Iraq and the continued
"War
on Terrorism." As concerns were raised about the prospect
of the US
military controlling all rebuilding and humanitarian aid to Iraq,
an action item was affirmed to provide support to Church of the
Brethren Emergency Response/Service Ministries as it struggles
with
this issue. The board and staff agreed to join in prayer at noon
local time on Wednesdays, and those who choose will also fast
from
their noon meal on Wednesday. Others in the church were invited
to
join On Earth Peace in this prayer and fasting, which will continue
until the board reconvenes in September.
The Personnel
Committee presented a proposal, approved by the
board, allowing staff members to reduce their salary level
voluntarily and designate the amount deducted for specific types
of
expenses. It is designed as a method of "lowering the amount
of
taxes paid for war." This option will be available to all
On Earth
Peace staff beginning with the 2004 budget, pending legal review
by
tax consultants.
The financial
report showed expense projections "right on target."
On the income side, congregational giving and program income
were
above budget, while individual giving was below budget.
The "Call
for a Living Peace Church" resolution, co-sponsored by On
Earth Peace and the General Board and being sent to this summer's
Annual Conference, was reviewed and discussed. Staff are also
working on a simple statement that would reaffirm the Church
of the
Brethren commitment to conscientious objection.
The Advancement
Committee presented a working document titled
"Roots and Branches -- the next stage in developing On Earth
Peace." The document focuses on the need to develop both
present
program areas and new programs, and provides ideas for staffing
and
finances that will allow these goals to be met. After active
discussion and prayer there was consensus to move ahead with
the
proposal in its basic shape, scope, and direction.
In other business:
*Much discussion was given to the possibility that On Earth Peace
might move a portion of its endowment funds into the Community
Investment Fund now offered by the Brethren Foundation. The board
did not reach consensus within the time available and will take
up
the question again at its September meeting.
*In small groups,
participants brainstormed ideas about the
upcoming 30th anniversary of On Earth Peace in 2004.
*Staff member
Matt Guynn led board and staff in a learning exercise
on "the mainstream and the margins" of On Earth Peace's
identity
and organizational life. Participants recognized many groups/
characteristics currently marginalized in On Earth Peace's work
(such as people of color and those with urban experiences) and
explored first steps to bring those groups into the organization's
life.
*The board affirmed
the staff's proposal to work with
Philadelphia-based anti-racism consultant Antje Mattheus to examine
institutional racism within On Earth Peace and identify potential
changes in program offerings and organizational culture.
4) General Board
Global Mission Partnerships executive director
Merv Keeney chaired a National Council of Churches/Church World
Service consultation held last week in Chicago to address the
current Korea crisis.
The group began
plans for a mid-June consultation in Washington,
D.C., that will bring together church leaders of North Korea
and
South Korea, and for a visit to the two nations by a US ecumenical
delegation later this year. The 17 participants also resolved
to
continue humanitarian assistance to famine-stricken North Korea
despite growing tensions with the United States.
"They are
in need of all sorts of aid, whether it's medicine or
food," according to Church World Service senior adviser
Victor Hsu.
"The need is massive."
Amid escalating
rhetoric over North Korea's nuclear program, the
group "agreed on the need to address the United States'
confrontational policy," according to an NCC release. "My
fear is
that we're going to find ourselves in a very violent century
if we
don't find a way to live as brothers and sisters with one another,"
NCC general secretary Bob Edgar said.
Church World
Service recently sent a shipment of nearly 1.5 million
pounds of flour to North Korea, the latest in more than $4 million
in aid sent since 1996. The flour shipment came in the wake of
an
urgent United Nations appeal to meet the humanitarian crisis.
The
Church of the Brethren has been a long-time supporter of projects
in North Korea through the General Board's Global Food Crisis
Fund,
including a grant sent last month.
5) Two more
shipments of relief aid have arrived in Iraq through
Church World Service's "All Our Children" campaign.
More than 11
million metric tons of soap and laundry detergent were delivered
in
Baghdad on March 31, and a three-ton shipment of blankets,
wheelchairs, and other medical supplies entered Iraq on April
11.
The campaign
is a $1 million, multi-agency effort to meet severe
needs in Iraq. Three shipments representing nearly $200,000 in
aid
have now been sent. The Church of the Brethren's involvement
is
through the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund, which has
sent
$25,000 towards the effort to date. Another $22,000 was given
to a
CARE International project to provide clean drinking water in
the
country.
The "All
Our Children" supplies are being distributed throughout
central and southern Iraq. A recent Church World Service report
noted the humanitarian situation there "remains critical."
"The need
is great," Church World Service Emergency Response
Program director Rick Augsburger said. "When we visited
Iraq in
1999, the lack of medical equipment and supplies in hospitals
then
was appalling. Conditions certainly haven't improved during this
conflict."
Brethren Witness
director David Radcliff will be representing the
General Board at an April 29 National Interfaith Summit on Iraq
being held near Chicago. The National Council of Churches-sponsored
event will pray for peace and look at humanitarian relief issues,
the rebuilding of Iraq, and wider American foreign policy.
6) Don Vermilyea
is nearing the 5,000-mile mark in his "Walk
Across America: Peacefully, Simply, Together" marathon.
A Brethren
Volunteer Service (BVS) worker jointly sponsored by BVS and the
Brethren Witness office, Vermilyea is on a mission to visit every
Church of the Brethren congregation that will host him. At each
stop, he has been sharing a vision of Christians living peacefully
with God's Earth and working for peace locally and globally.
Currently nearing
the New Mexico border on his way to the
Toka'hookaadi congregation, Vermilyea has traveled through Arizona,
California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado since
beginning his journey in February 2002. His travels through
districts are often arranged by the respective district Decade
to
Overcome Violence district coordinators. So far, he has been
hosted
by more than 50 congregations.
"This has
been well worth it. The people I have met have been just
incredible, and the scenery out here is amazing," he recently
reported from a pay phone in southern Colorado.
Vermilyea will
be the featured speaker at the annual Un-Luncheon at
this summer's Annual Conference in Boise, Idaho. His journey
can be
followed at www.brethren.org/genbd/witness/Walk.html.
7) The General
Board's Global Food Crisis Fund has made its second
grant of 2003. An allocation of $33,000 from the fund will assist
the ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church in San Salvador, El
Salvador.
Emmanuel Baptist
is a long-time Church of the Brethren partner that
carries out development work among the poorest members of rural
communities in the Central American nation. The funds will help
facilitate work in agricultural development and community
organization.
8) The General
Board's Committee on Interchurch Relations held its
spring meeting via conference call on April 1, focusing on plans
for this summer's Annual Conference.
The committee
confirmed Brethren Witness director David Radcliff as
speaker for the Ecumenical Luncheon and spent time discussing
nominations for the Ecumenical Award, which will be presented
to a
Church of the Brethren congregation this year. Plans were also
set
for the committee's insight session, which will feature Jeff
Carter
speaking on his experiences visiting at the World Council of
Churches headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
A dinner will
again be held for committee members to meet with
delegates to the National Council of Churches and World Council
of
Churches assemblies.
The committee
paused its meeting for a time of prayer as part of
the National World Children's Prayer Vigil being held that day.
It
also reaffirmed the statement on Iraq that it made last fall;
the
statement and associated resources can be found at
www.brethren.org/genbd/CIR/MiddleEast.html.
In other business,
the committee worked at finding representatives
to attend annual meetings of other Brethren bodies, discussed
the
process for having the Church of the Brethren formally join the
Christian Churches Together movement, and began a periodic
evaluation of the denomination's relationship with American Baptist
Churches USA. The committee is next scheduled to meet Sept. 26-28
in Elgin, Ill.
9) Nearly 60
youth and advisors gathered at McPherson (Kan.)
College Feb. 28 to March 2 for a Regional Youth Conference weekend,
exploring the national youth theme "Let us love, not in
word or
speech but in truth and action."
General Board
Brethren Witness director David Radcliff challenged
the youth in several keynote addresses, and Shawn Kirchner of
La
Verne, Calif., provided music leadership. McPherson students
led
small groups in processing and discussing key concepts.
Workshops ranged
from denominational activites to healthy
relationships and leadership. The band Mutual Kumquat from North
Manchester, Ind., provided Saturday night entertainment.
10) Church of
the Brethren participation in the Equal Exchange
Coffee Project has grown to include 13 congregations, according
to
a report from the main office of this Fair Trade coffee
organization. In all, more than 5,600 congregations of all
denominations are now using Equal Exchange coffee at fellowship
events and for home consumption.
Equal Exchange
pays its producers a guaranteed price for coffee
beans, a sum often four times the current price paid by commercial
buyers -- as low as 12 cents a pound.
As part of the
program, Equal Exchange returns a percentage of a
denomination's purchases to the church's development programs.
A
check for $208.25 was sent to the General Board's Global Food
Crisis Fund. More information is available from the Brethren
Witness office (800-323-8039) or at the Brethren Witness website
(www.brethren.org/genbd/witness).
11) Brethren
bits: Other brief news notes from around the
denomination and elsewhere.
*Churches throughout the denomination and around the world will
be
celebrating Easter this Sunday. Churches for Middle East Peace
shared Easter greetings from Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of
Jerusalem that said, in part, "Christ is risen. He is risen
indeed.
Let's rejoice and renew our hope. Yes, brothers and sisters,
we
invite you to rejoice in spite of the hardships we are suffering.
We invite you to live in spite of the death that surrounds us.
We
invite you to love in spite of the hatred that demolishes the
hearts in these days. Christ is risen."
*The Valley
Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center, in development
near Harrisonburg, Va., will present the play "Jordan's
Stormy
Banks" June 6-8 and 13-15 at Bridgewater (Va.) College's
Cole Hall;
June 19-22 and 26-29 at Lancaster (Pa.) Mennonite School; and
July
4-7 at the Mennonite USA Assembly in Atlanta. The drama tells
the
story "of one Shenandoah Valley family's struggles during
the Civil
War and how they reconciled loyalty to family, to country, and
to
their Lord." Ticket information is available at 540-438-1275
or
www.vbmhc.org.
*Eddie Edmonds,
pastor of Moler Avenue Church of the Brethren in
Martinsburg, W.Va., takes over as editor of the Annual Conference
Journal this year. He succeeds Fred Swartz, who edited the news
sheet for 23 years until being elected Annual Conference secretary
last year. Advance submissions for this year's Journal should
be
sent to Edmonds' attention at annualconference@brethren.org.
*The Church
of the Brethren Emergency Response/Service Ministries
disaster relief project in Pineville, W.Va., has completed its
work
on behalf of the area's Long-Term Flood Recovery Committee. Work
will continue in partnership with Habitat for Humanity through
the
end of May, when the project will close. Marvin and Regina
Zimmerman will serve as project directors in May. The tornado
recovery project in Columbus, Miss., is ongoing, with Ken and
LouElla Imhoff serving as project directors through mid-May.
*Bethany Theological
Seminary's Susquehanna Valley Satellite on
March 22 held a teleconference event titled "Job: A Life
of
Devotion in Times of Uncertainty," the first of a series
of
continuing education video conference programs planned by the
satellite. Pastors from three states gathered at Elizabethtown
(Pa.) College and Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pa., for this
first
event. Bob Neff led the discussion at Juniata, and Warren Eshbach
at Elizabethtown.
*Information
on this summer's Brethren World Assembly, to be held
at Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind., went online earlier this
month, at www.brethren.org/BWA. In addition to leadership
announced
earlier, Marcos and Suely Inhauser of the Church of the Brethren
in
Brazil will bring international greetings for the denomination
and
share in leading worship.
*Naomi West
Miller of Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren and
Darla Kay Bowman Deardorff of Peace Covenant Fellowship Church
of
the Brethren, Durham, N.C., were among seven Bridgewater College
alumni receiving awards at the school's Alumni Weekend Apr. 11-12.
West received the inaugural West-Whitelow Award for Humanitarian
Service, and Bowman received a Young Alumnus Award. . . .
Elizabethtown (Pa.) College reported its largest-ever enrollment
this year, with nearly 1,740 full-time students.
*Southern Pennsylvania
District's Children's Aid Society ministry
is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. . . . Chicago
First
Church of the Brethren is celebrating its 65th anniversary with
a
service on May 14.
*Due to incorrect
information given to Newsline, the wrong home
congregation was listed for Paul Minnich, who had signed up to
join
Brethren Volunteer Service Unit 253. Minnich is a member of
Shrewsbury (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.
*"Fight
for the Blessing," which combines the acting talents of
Mennonite duo Ted & Lee and the music of Ken Medema, is going
on
the road. The interactive production was originally commissioned
for the Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference last
July
as an expansion on a Bible study video lesson. The full production
is now taking to the public stage, beginning with a performance
at
Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., April 24.
12) Greg Davidson
Laszakovits last week announced his resignation
as coordinator of the Church of the Brethren Washington Office.
He
plans to conclude his service in Washington, D.C., by July 26.
Laszakovits has
been serving in the role since April 2000. The
General Board last month announced plans to merge the Washington
Office and the Brethren Witness office this summer, and Laszakovits
was to have taken on the combined director's position. His future
plans are undecided as he explores both international and pastoral
ministry opportunities.
13) Steve Frazier
of Fredericksburg, Va., has been called as
executive director of Camp Eder in Southern Pennsylvania District
effective April 21.
Frazier is a
licensed minister and a member of the Hollywood Church
of the Brethren. He had previously operated his own company,
worked
in the telecommunications industry, and served as a pastor in
Virginia. He has also served on the Mid-Atlantic District board
and
has directed youth camp programs at Camp Mardela in Denton, Md.,
the past eight years.
Frazier, who
received a unanimous call, will lead the camp into a
new master plan aimed at growing the Fairfield, Pa., facility.
"He
brings a wealth of ability to us," camp board chair Don
Hubbell
said. "We're very excited about him coming."
14) The Church
of the Brethren General Board has announced several
new position openings created by staff restructuring and
retirements:
*The General
Board is seeking a director of Brethren Identity to
begin in July. Responsibilities include connecting Brethren to
the
ministries of the General Board, engaging and challenging members,
and collaborating with other staff in communications, public
relations, and mission interpretation. Location is negotiable.
Applicants should be an active member of the Church of the
Brethren, have familiarity with General Board ministry areas,
and
possess strong interpersonal and communication skills. A bachelor's
degree in a related field is required, master's preferred.
*The General
Board is seeking a director of Brethren
Witness/Washington Office to begin in July, based in Washington,
D.C. Responsibilities include providing Brethren with resources
and
opportunities for action on peace and justice and environmental
issues, and providing oversight for the ongoing program of the
Washington Office. Applicants should be well-grounded in Church
of
the Brethren heritage, theology, and polity; have expertise in
various forms of communication and strong computer skills; and
have
a working knowledge of the legislative process and experience
in
the areas of environmental stewardship, global and national peace
and justice issues. A bachelor's degree is required, master's
preferred.
*The General
Board is seeking a mission coordinator for Nigeria
through the Global Mission Partnerships office. The position
will
be open in summer 2003. Responsibilities include serving as the
Church of the Brethren Nigeria mission team leader and as the
primary link with leadership of the Nigerian church. Preferred
qualities and skills include seminary training and pastoral
experience, an ability to articulate the identity of the Church
of
the Brethren, strong administrative and communication skills,
and
the ability to learn some Hausa language.
Applications
for each of the above three positions are due by May
10. A more detailed position description and application form
are
available from the General Board's Office of Human Resources,
1451
Dundee Ave., Elgin IL 60120-1694; or call 800-323-8039, ext.
258,
or e-mail mgarrison_gb@brethren.org.
In addition,
the General Board will be calling a current employee
to assume the one-quarter time position of executive director
of
the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., when current
director Stan Noffsinger becomes general secretary in July. The
remaining three-quarters time will be given to reduced
responsibilities in that employee's current ministry area.
15) A hefty
May "Source" packet went out to congregations from
the
General Board Interpretation office this month, carrying numerous
pieces related to Annual Conference.
Enclosed are
the 2003 Annual Conference ballot with a cover letter
explaining the process; two sheets on the Ministers' Association
post-Conference workshop; details on the annual Brethren Benefit
Trust (BBT) 5K Fitness Challenge; and fliers listing Conference
events being sponsored by BBT, General Board Congregational Life
Ministries, and the Association of Brethren Caregivers.
Also in the packet
are a flier on the fall National Evangelism
Workshop being sponsored by Net Results, Emergency Response/Service
Ministries brochures on helping children cope with war and
congregational disaster preparedness for the disabled, copies
of
the On Earth Peace annual report and the General Board Funding
office's March "Another Way of Living" newsletter,
a flier on "The
Things That Make for Peace" resources, a copy of the new
Brethren
Volunteer Service (BVS) project book, and information on the
new
BVS video/DVD.
16) One Brethren
family's post-World War II act of love is still
bearing fruit.
Abraham Hess,
then a free minister at Conestoga Church of the
Brethren in Leola, Pa., and his wife, Ruth, became involved with
the denomination's Food for Peace program that was sending care
packages to Germany and Poland after the war. The packages came
from across the US and were sent through the Brethren Service
Center in New Windsor, Md.
Their son, Claude,
now 78, remembers the package sent by his family
-- and the thank-you letter they received in return from the
Zehender family of Germany. That began a relationship that has
spanned the decades, with members of each family making trips
across the Atlantic to visit the other.
With the patriarch
of the German family, Carl Zehender, celebrating
his 100th birthday last month, Claude thought of the perfect
way to
mark the milestone.
"We were
brainstorming, and I said, 'I have an idea,' " Claude Hess
said, recalling a family discussion. " 'Let's contact New
Windsor
and see if they would package a replica care package in honor
of
him being 100 years old.' " His daughter, Linda, told him,
"You
know, that's the best thing we could do."
So while some of the contents were a bit different (though still
containing many favorites from Lancaster County, Pa.), the Hess
family again packed a cardboard box to send to Germany. Claude
personally brought it to the Brethren Service Center for shipping,
and the box went out in mid-March.
"None of
us know when we get involved in a small project what the
links will be for years to come," Brethren Service Center
executive
director Stan Noffsinger said. "It's neat what happens when
we
respond to 'the enemy.' Everything we do in Jesus Christ can
build
bridges of peace."
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