Newsline for October 26, 2005

1) Brethren Benefit Trust announces organizational changes.
2) First junior high conference is deemed a major success.
3) Disaster staff monitor needs in Florida following Hurricane Wilma.
4) Emergency Disaster Fund provides food for Guatemalan villages.
5) Brethren Volunteer Service unit 267 begins service.
6) Atlantic Northeast District Conference takes theme from proverbs.
7) Atlantic Southeast District Conference raises money for hurricane relief.
8) Brethren bits: Remembrances, job openings, and more.

9) Cross-cultural music tour visits churches in Kansas and Missouri.
10) Brochures and website are available for 2006 workcamps.
11) Preparations for National Youth Conference 2006 continue.

RESOURCES

12) Bethany Seminary professor co-edits book on reproductive loss.

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1) Brethren Benefit Trust announces organizational changes.

Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) has announced organizational changes that will also affect personnel. BBT is a Church of the Brethren agency that provides insurance and pension benefits; employee financial services; credit union, investment, asset management, and deferred gifts services; and information technology services.

Effective Jan. 3, 2006, BBT's Pension Plan and Employee Financial Services will be combined with its Insurance Plans into one department named Employee Benefit Plans. Jeff Garber will become the director of this department. Garber's responsibilities will include management of the Pension Plan and Employee Financial Services operations.

Other responsibilities and staffing in the new department will include Donna March as manager of Insurance Operations; Lori Domich as staff for Member Services, Insurance; and Peggy Bruell as staff for Member Services, Pension Plan and Employee Financial Services.

Information Services management and systems oversight in BBT has moved from the Communications Department to the Financial Operations Department. Laura Nedli is the director of this combined department and will continue to report to Darryl Deardorff as chief financial officer. Eric Thompson, network administrator, has moved to this department. Veronica Aragon has assumed increased responsibilities as system specialist.

Based on feedback received by BBT board members, the agency's Communications Team is finalizing and soon will begin implementing a new plan that calls for increased time and focus on marketing. Marketing is a prominent priority in BBT's current strategic plan. Nevin Dulabaum will continue to serve as director of the Communications Department.

Tony Bruner stood before a group of 250 junior high youth and advisors and told them they were part of a special moment. Never before had a conference for their age group been held on a regional or national scale in the Church of the Brethren. Yet here they were, meeting Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in New Windsor, Md. Eight districts from Pennsylvania to North Carolina took part.

Bruner co-chaired the planning committee with General Board Youth/Young Adult Ministry director Chris Douglas. More than a year of planning went into the weekend, which carried the theme "Be Strong and Courageous."

They had no trouble finding junior highers willing to come. Douglas said registration was capped at 250 due to the facility limits of the Brethren Service Center, and a waiting list quickly grew. While most events were held at the center, the group slept at a nearby middle school.

The conference packed the allotted time with worship, meals, small groups, workshops, optional service projects, games, and tours of the center. Worship messages came from Mennonite drama team Ted & Lee, New Creation Project pastor David Weiss, and Annual Conference moderator-elect Belita Mitchell, who pastors Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren. Brethren folksinger Joseph Helfrich led music.

"It's really putting God in perspective," said Laura Kownacki of Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, who said she particularly enjoyed a workshop with Ted & Lee. "They should make it a week long." She also liked the "hot hats" that participants received: red caps printed with "Jr. Hi."

Organizers said the response indicated a need for more such events. In the meantime, Weiss urged the junior high youth to continue offering their gifts to the church and the world. "Young people, we need you now!" Weiss said. "(Others) need to see you making a difference, and they can. There are so many many ways you can make a difference. Will you put your life in the hands of an extraordinary God?"

The General Board's disaster response staff are monitoring needs in Florida following Hurricane Wilma, and have put some Disaster Child Care (DCC) teams on alert in case they are needed.

Emergency Response director Roy Winter made contact with Church of the Brethren communities in affected areas and reported that none have major damage. Some trees were down at Cape Coral Church of the Brethren and pastor John Mueller's home. Atlantic Southeast District executive minister Martha Beach told Winter that she has not received reports of any damage from district members, but is still to hear from Eglise des Freres Haitiens in Miami.

DCC services have been offered to the American Red Cross (ARC) and FEMA in response to Hurricane Wilma, but no requests for services have been received yet.

In an update on DCC's ongoing response to Hurricane Katrina, all but one child care team have completed work. The team previously serving at the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, La., has moved to the Gonzales Shelter located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, where the volunteers will complete their two week term of service, reported coordinator Helen Stonesifer. ARC will then re-evaluate whether an additional team will be needed as replacements.

In the meantime, a Brethren Disaster Response project rebuilding homes damaged in the four hurricanes that hit Florida last year continues in the area of Pensacola. To volunteer for that project or any of the other three current clean up and/or rebuilding projects in Alabama following Hurricane Katrina, in Louisiana following Hurricane Rita, or in Belmont County, Ohio, following flooding earlier this year, call your district disaster coordinator or 800-451-4407.

A grant of $7,000 has been given from the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund to provide food to three villages in Guatemala affected by Hurricane Stan and resulting floods and mud slides. Union Victoria, Chitaburuy Chimaltenango, and El Triunfo all have a relationship with the Church of the Brethren through mission staff working in Guatemala with the General Board's Global Mission Partnerships and Brethren Volunteer Service.

Funds will be handled and directed through mission worker Rebecca Allen and Latin America specialist Tom Benevento. Some funding will go directly to a community co-op. Additional grants are anticipated to carry out a larger response.

In an update on the villages, Benevento said that "they're doing okay" except for many people who have fallen sick with chest congestion from the moisture and mold after days of rain. Union Victoria families have returned to their houses following an evacuation that stranded them on a hillside sheltering under plastic tarps and tents for some time. The community is now focused on repairing a water turbine for coffee processing, and rebuilding the bridge that was washed out, said Benevento. The bridge is crucial to transporting the community's coffee crop.

It also has been difficult to get the funds to Allen and the communities through rural banks in the area. "It's more complicated than one would think," Benevento said, giving the example of the "fairly big trip" to a bank from an area where roads and bridges have been destroyed.

Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) unit 267 completed orientation in New Windsor, Md., on Oct. 14. Volunteers, their home towns or congregations, and project assignments follow:

Ali Bever, Eel River Church of the Brethren, N. Manchester, Ind., to Cooper-Riis, Mill Spring, N.C.;
Allison Bouley, Springfield, Va., to Tri-City Homeless Coalition, Fremont, Calif.;
Abby Brown, Pleasant Hill (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, to Tri-City Homeless Coalition, Fremont, Calif.;
Evan Eichenberger, Pawnee City, Neb., to San Antonio (Texas) Catholic Worker House;
Lindsay Garber, Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, Elgin, Ill., to Gould Farm, Monterey, Mass.;
Susie Gong, University Baptist and Brethren Church, State College, Pa., to Oakland (Calif.) Catholic Worker House;
Becky Hollenberg, Union Center Church of the Brethren, N. Manchester Ind., to Oakland Catholic Worker House;
Joseph Huffman, Mill Creek Church of the Brethren, Port Republic, Va., to Innisfree Village, Crozet, Va.;
Jason Hughes, Panther Creek Church of the Brethren, Adel, Iowa, to Cafe 458, Decatur, Ga.;
Aaron and Becky Johnston, Community of Joy Church of the Brethren, Salisbury, Md., to Su Casa Catholic Worker House, Chicago, Ill.;
Hannah Kliewer, Powell, Wyo., to the Center on Conscience and War, Washington, D.C.;
Philipp Krueger, Hemer, Germany, to Bering Omega, Houston, Texas;
Selvan Lehmann, Eppelheim, Germany, to Brethren Nutrition Program, Washington, D.C.;
Anthony Madison, Elk Grove, Ill., to Brethren Nutrition Program;
Beth Merrill, Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren, Sacramento, Calif., to Bridgeway, Lakewood, Colo.;
Matthias Rittmeier, Meschede, Germany, to Tri-City Homeless Coalition, Fremont, Calif.;
Kent Rupel, La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, to Project PLASE, Baltimore, Md.;
Emma Shaw, Knightstown, Ind., to Christ House, Washington, D.C.;
Weldon and Linda Sikes, Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren, Springfield, Mo., to the Meeting Ground, Elkton, Md.;
Angela Wahr, Sugar Ridge Church of the Brethren, Custer, Mich., to Gould Farm, Monterey, Mass.;
Vera Wiedenbeck, Freiburg, Germany, to Carlos Rosario International Career Development Center, Washington, D.C.; and
Emily Young, First Church of the Brethren, Harrisonburg, Va., to Friendship Day Care, Hutchinson, Kan.

Atlantic Northeast District held its 2005 conference Oct. 8-9 in Leffler Chapel at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Larry O'Neill, pastor of Skippack Church of the Brethren in Collegeville, Pa., served as moderator. The theme, "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver" (Proverbs 25:11), set the tone for the weekend, reported district administrative staff Doris Frysinger.

The Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren Inspirational Choir opened worship with energetic inspirational music. Special music was provided by the March Forth Quartet. Moderator O'Neill shared a message urging district members to be encouragers of each other and to recognize and call out leaders.

O'Neill also led delegates in approval of a slate of nominees, approval of a budget of $612,766, and receiving of a variety of reports. District leaders were recognized, with new leaders in the district during the last year introduced. Newly licensed ministers, recently ordained ministers, and pastors serving new congregations were showcased in a power point display. The district recognized Walter G. Lehman for 50 years in ministry, and recognized Edward "LeRoy" Dick posthumously for his 50 years in ministry. His wife, Evelyn, was present to accept the award.

An offering of $2,081 will be divided equally between the Mission Church Fund and the District Ministries.

7) Atlantic Southeast District Conference raises money for hurricane relief.

Over $10,000 was raised for the victims of Hurricane Katrina at this year's Atlantic Southeast District Conference, reported district executive minister Martha Beach. The district's 81st conference was held at Orlando (Fla.) Community Church of the Brethren on Oct. 7-8, with Kevin King as moderator. King is pastor of Orlando Community Church. The theme was, "To Know...to Live...to Share...the Love of Christ!"

Two pre-conference workshops were held, one led by Vickie Smith of Atlantic Northeast District, entitled "Spiritual Gifts"; and one led by Ronald Beachley, Annual Conference moderator, on "Developing Deacon Ministry."

Beachley lit the "dancing flame" candle to begin the inspiring opening worship service, which was led by Smith. The youth from Miami First Church of the Brethren entertained conference-goers with music to begin the afternoon session on Saturday.

In business, the 46 delegates voted to approve Naples Haitian Church as a new fellowship, and accepted an invitation by St. Petersburg First Church of the Brethren to host the 2007 district conference. The recommendation of the District Board for the dissolution of the Rios de Agua Viva Fellowship was also agreed to by the delegates. In other business, delegates called Ana Figueroa from the St. Petersburg First Church as moderator-elect.

In other events during the weekend, the district's annual pie auction brought in over $1,100. The conference recognized Berwyn Oltman for 50 years of ordained ministry. Mary Mueller was presented with a certificate for becoming the district's first Training in Ministry graduate.

Next year Atlantic Southeast District Conference will be held at Yahuecas Cristo Nuestra Paz Church of the Brethren in Castaner, P.R. Hector Perez, pastor of Vega Baja Iglesia de Los Hermanos Cristo El Senor, will serve as moderator.

*Brethren joined the nation in celebrating the legacy of Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Ala., bus launched the civil rights movement. She died Oct. 24 at age 92. "I feel like Rosa Parks demonstrated for Americans what it means to stand up on the inside while it may appear like you're sitting down on the outside," said Annual Conference moderator-elect Belita Mitchell. "The impact of Parks' decision still affects the black community," Mitchell said, adding that her action was "a testament to what one person's courage and commitment can do." The National Council of Churches (NCC) also celebrated the life and legacy of Parks in a statement released yesterday. "She was a heroine in our midst--one who taught our nation about courage and determination," the NCC said. "Although her physical life has ended, her work lives on even as we continue to fight for justice and equality in this nation."

*Former General Board missionary Joy (Elaine) Cullen Fasnacht passed away Oct. 21 at age 90. She and her husband, Everett, served in western India during various terms in each decade between 1940 and 1970. She was born in Beatrice, Neb., in 1915, but was a resident of Sebring, Fla., for the past several years. Her husband of over 50 years preceded her in death. She is survived by sons Robert Paul and Dean Merrill, daughters-in-law Ellen Jenks and Lorene Fasnacht, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. The family will receive friends at Morris Funeral Home in Sebring on Oct. 30, between 2-4 p.m., followed by a funeral at Sebring Church of the Brethren chapel at 10 a.m. Oct. 31. A memorial fund has been created to accept donations to the Rural Service Center in Ankleshwar, India, care of the General Board.

*Two job openings have been announced at Camp Brethren Heights, Rodney, Mich., for a camp director and a camp maintenance director. The camp director will serve in a year-round position as part-time administrator. A newly renovated residence, utilities, and health insurance assistance are provided. The current director is leaving by the end of 2005. The camp maintenance director will fill a full-time position for the camping season, May through September. A wide variety of knowledge and skills are important to these positions, as is a love of God's creation, people, and Christian camping. Submit a letter of intent to Barry Barto, Camp Personnel, c/o Michigan District Office, P.O. Box 47, Kaleva, MI 49645; or e-mail bbarto@manistee.org; or call 231-362-2456. Applicants will be contacted concerning additional information to submit.

*The next Fellowship of Brethren Homes Forum will take place in April 2006 at the Cedars in McPherson, Kan. The focus will be on "Person-Centered Care," featuring the Cedar House Project. Wally Landes, pastor of Palmyra (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, will speak on "Piety and the Church of the Brethren." The 2006 forum was originally scheduled to be at Brethren Hillcrest Homes in La Verne, Calif.

*Bakersfield (Calif.) Community Church of the Brethren celebrated "three quarters of a century serving God" on Oct. 23 with an anniversary celebration, potluck, and afternoon program led by Pacific Southwest District executive minister Bryan Boyer.

*Empire (Calif.) Church of the Brethren will celebrate 100 years on Nov. 20. For more information contact the church at 209-522-4371.

*When Palmyra (Pa.) Church of the Brethren gathered for Love Feast on Sunday, Oct. 2, they did things a little differently. At the recommendation of the pastoral staff, the deacons voted to alter the order of service at the point of the Agape Meal, reported pastor Wally Landes. Instead of eating the traditional meal, the congregation fasted for World Communion Sunday. Where the brothers and sisters would have eaten together, the pastors shared scriptural meditations on prayer and fasting focusing on Luke's account of the Last Supper--"where it is not clear whether Jesus ate with the 12 or himself fasted in preparation for his death," Landes said. The hymn "Brothers and Sisters of Mine Are the Hungry" was sung with its pledge, "and I shall not feast 'til the hungry are fed." Members were asked to bring non-perishable food items to help stock the congregation food bank that assists dozens of area families.

*Topeka Church of the Brethren has returned to its original name, Rochester Community Church of the Brethren to re-emphasize community connections. The church is located on Rochester Road in Topeka, Kan.

*Two districts will hold their conferences over the Nov. 4-6 weekend: Illinois and Wisconsin District will meet Nov. 4-6 at Springfield (Ill.) Church of the Brethren with Pat Rittle as moderator; Shenandoah District will meet Nov. 4-5 at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren with Peter Leddy as moderator.

*Pinecrest Community, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Mount Morris, Ill., will hold its Holiday Bazaar on Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. "We've been inviting hand-crafters to set up booths and sell their one-of-a-kind items for 13 years," said activities director Janell Miller. A tradition at the bazaar are fresh, hot cinnamon rolls, baked throughout the day, according to a press release. A barbeque lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a bake sale will be held along with a special raffle item of 48-inch hand-painted wooden carolers. All proceeds go toward resident's activities throughout the year.

*Leffler Chapel and Performance Center at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College will host a concert by Minas, a Brazilian ensemble performing samba and bassa nova music, on Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. On Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. the Ying Quartet will perform Beethoven's String Quartet Cycle. For more information call 717-361-1410.

*Bridgewater (Va.) College has announced upcoming events including an Ethics Bowl Final on Nov. 1 at 9:30 a.m. in Cole Hall, sponsored by the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges; and a W. Harold Row Endowed Lecture on Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. on the subject of "Seeds of Peace," at the Carter Center. The speaker will be Barbara Gottschalk. For more information call 540-828-5486.

*Dr. Leon Kintaudi, director of the SANRU Program in the Democratic Republic of Congo connected with Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA), has been named by TIME magazine as one of its global health heroes to be recognized at the TIME Magazine Global Health Summit on Nov. 1 in New York. The Church of the Brethren is a contributing denomination to IMA, which is headquartered at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.

*The 2,000th American death in Iraq marks a "tragic milestone," said general secretary Bob Edgar of the National Council of Churches (NCC) in a statement on Oct. 25. Expressing support for military personnel as individuals he called on American Christians to engage in prayer and reflection, to pray for the families of those in the military in Iraq, for national leaders, and for an end to the war. "Speaking frankly, this milestone is also a cause for anger," he said. "It's hard today to set aside the reality that the administration started this war despite the earnest protests of church leaders and millions of persons of faith.... We must take these burdens to God," Edgar added. "It's time to bring this tragic chapter of American history to a close. Like Vietnam, the light at the end of this tunnel is a warning of more death, not a promise of victory." An NCC Resource packet, "Praying for Peace," can be downloaded at www.ncccusa.org/Prayers.html.

A cross-cultural music tour will travel to Church of the Brethren congregations in Missouri and Kansas Oct. 29-Nov. 3 to share testimonies, Bible study, and music that emphasize God's desire for the church to reflect racial and ethnic diversity.

Participants in the tour are Gilbert Romero, pastor of Bella Vista Church of the Brethren in Los Angeles, Calif.; Don Mitchell, a music leader at First Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, Pa.; Marilyn Montauban, a singer from First Haitian Church of the Brethren in Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Duane Grady, a staff member for the General Board's Congregational Life Teams.

The tour schedule includes worship concerts at First Central Church of the Brethren in Kansas City, Kan., on Oct. 29, at 10:30 a.m.; Messiah Church of the Brethren in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.; Cabool (Mo.) Church of the Brethren on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.; and Rochester Comunity Church of the Brethren in Topeka, Kan., on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

On Nov. 2 the group will give two worship concerts at McPherson (Kan.) College: one at 7:30-8:30 p.m. for senior high youth from McPherson Church of the Brethren and the community; and another at 9-10 p.m. for the Brethren and Anabaptist student group. At the McPherson church, the group will join a drop-in Wednesday evening meal beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by a time for informal sharing.

The Youth and Young Adult Office of the General Board has announced that brochures and a website for the 2006 workcamps are now available. Around 3,000 brochures already have been mailed directly to congregations and individuals. For the summer of 2006 the office is planning six junior high workcamps including a new junior high/intergenerational workcamp, one senior high workcamp, and one young adult workcamp.

Junior high workcamps are scheduled for June 12-16 in Ashland, Ohio; June 19-23 in Innisfree Village, Va.; July 9-13 in New Windsor, Md.; July 16-20 in Keyser, W.Va.; and Aug. 9-13 in Indianapolis, Ind. The junior high/intergenerational workcamp is set for Aug. 2-6 in Harrisburg, Pa. The senior high workcamp will take place June 11-17 in Kyle, S.D. The young adult workcamp will be May 29-June 5 in Tijuana, Mexico.

"Continuing the WORK of Jesus" will be the theme for the workcamps, taking a look at the example of Jesus' life and ministry and applying that example to situations in workcamp settings. There will also be sharing about modern people who exemplify Jesus' work in the world, and some of the Youth Action Goals for the United Nations Millennium Development Campaign will be incorporated. "Altogether, we are planning to grow in faith, knowledge, and appreciation for service in many different settings through the 2006 workcamps," said coordinator Monica Rice.

To order brochures or for more information contact Rice at 800-323-8039 or mrice_gb@brethren.org. Visit the workcamp website, where you can download a PDF version of the workcamp brochure and begin registration for workcamps on Dec 1 at 12:00 am Eastern time, at www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/workcamps/index.html.

Preparations for National Youth Conference (NYC) 2006 in Fort Collins, Colo., next summer continue with calls for entries to a Theme Song Contest and a Speech Contest, and an announcement of a new list server for the event. The NYC coordinators also issued a call for youth worker applications. Youth workers act as volunteer staff for the event and carry out a variety of tasks during the week of the conference.

The Theme Song Contest is open to anyone who likes to write music. Songs should center on the theme for NYC, "Come and See." Submissions are due to the NYC Office by Nov. 1 in the form of both an audio recording and a print copy of the lyrics.

The Speech Contest is open to all youth attending NYC 2006. The topic of speeches should center on the theme for NYC, "Come and See." Entries should include a written copy and audio copy of the speech, which should be 500-700 words (about 10 minutes spoken). Submissions are due to the NYC Office by Jan. 1, 2006. The authors of the top two entries will give their speeches during a worship service at NYC.

Coordinators for NYC 2006 are Cindy Laprade, Beth Rhodes, and Emily Tyler, working with Chris Douglas, the General Board's director for Youth and Young Adult Ministries. For more information about NYC 2006, see www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/NYC2006/index.html.

Ten years ago, five women theological educators discovered their common anguish during a professional growth event in Crawfordsville, Ind. Their collaborative discussions and research, along with their personal reflections, are compiled in "Hope Deferred: Heart-Healing Reflections on Reproductive Loss," recently released by Pilgrim Press. Nadine Pence Frantz, professor of theological studies at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., and an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren is one of the book's co-editors.

Mary T. Stimming, adjunct professor of theology at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill., also served as a co-editor. Other contributing writers are L. Serene Jones, Titus Street professor of theology at Yale Divinity School; Kristen E. Kvam, associate professor of theology at St. Paul School of Theology, Kansas City; and Linda A. Mercadante, B. Robert Straker professor of theology at the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio.

In the book's introduction, Frantz and Stimming note that during their initial conversations they shared titles of many works of sociology and psychology that document the effects of infertility and miscarriage, but were hard-pressed to name any theological works explicitly devoted to the experience. "In the course of our conversations, we spoke of struggles with prayer, of painful treatment within our churches, of anger with God and others, of being unable to speak of God coherently, and of other theological wrestling," they wrote. "We had not encountered any serious, sustained theological reflections on such topics in direct connection with infertility, miscarriage, and stillbirth. Our frustration became part of the impetus of this project."

The book contains an essay from each writer, covering a spectrum of responses to reproductive loss. "Why" centers on the loss of autobiographical narrative and the hopes and dreams contained in a marriage; "Sorrow" highlights the loss of the physical realities of pregnancy and participation in the world of mothers; "Rupture" explores the loss of control over self and of hopes and dreams of the future; "Comfort" ponders a loss of relationship; and "Faith" considers the loss of a jointly conceived, genetically linked child.

Order from Brethren Press for $18 plus shipping and handling; call 800-441-3712.

Newsline: October 26, 2005
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