Newsline for October 27, 2005

"I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love." Colossians 2:2a

1) General Board tackles new mission in Sudan, Millennium Development Goals, and stem cell research in a busy fall meeting.
2) Ambitious new mission initiative in Sudan is approved in concept.
3) Kurtz Organ receives historical citation.

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1) General Board tackles new mission in Sudan, Millennium Development Goals, and stem cell research in a busy fall meeting.

"We have affirmed a major new mission in Sudan," said General Board chair Glenn Mitchell at board meetings Oct. 15-17 in Elgin, Ill. The new mission was approved in concept during a meeting focused on "Bound Together, Finely Woven: That Your Hearts May Be Encouraged," a theme taken from Colossians 2:1-3. Lively and intense worship experiences marked the meeting, with closing worship led in Spanish and English by board member Jaime Diaz, a pastor from Puerto Rico.

In other business, the board approved a budget for 2006, a resolution supporting the Millennium Development Goals, and study of stem cell research. It also met with the Stewardship of Property Committee considering use of the board's two main facilities in Elgin and New Windsor, Md.

The General Board accepted a proposal for a new Church of the Brethren mission initiative in Sudan and approved it "as a concept for implementation and development." "There is new opportunity to walk with the Sudanese in a healing and reconciling way, and to work together to rebuild their land," said the proposal for the new mission. (See story below for a full report.)

The board approved a "grand total" budget for 2006 of $9,318,470 of net income for all General Board ministries. This budget includes the Core Ministries Fund as well as special funds and self-funded units such as Brethren Press and the New Windsor Conference Center among others. Treasurer Judy Keyser gave a presentation of "good news" for next year, announcing that no deficit budgets are expected and no staff or program cuts are anticipated.

In an income and expense report through Sept. 30, the board learned that this year's budget is currently at almost $47,000 of expense over income. However, a funding report revealed that congregational giving to all of the General Board ministries, including special funds such as the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF), is up 27.5 percent or more. Giving to the EDF has exceeded $2.2 million so far this year, in an extremely generous response to the board's disaster work following the tsunami and the Gulf Coast hurricanes.

"The Core Ministries Fund is trailing its congregational giving budget projection by seven percent or about $150,000," reported Ken Neher, director of Funding. "However, total giving from congregations and districts has exceeded $3 million by October for the first time in memory, perhaps ever."

The board also approved a series of revisions in its Financial Policies document, including such changes as allowing donations through electronic transfer, a new percentage formula for use of bequest funds, the prohibition of loans to individuals, and new approval levels for grants from special funds, among several other revisions.

A resolution supporting the Millennium Development Goals was approved and recommended to Annual Conference for adoption. "To all who are concerned with making known to a suffering world the teachings and compassion of Jesus Christ, now is a critical time for addressing the crisis of extreme poverty and widespread hunger," said the opening sentence of the resolution. It was presented by Howard Royer, manager of the board's Global Food Crisis Fund, and Phil Jones, director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office.

The resolution recommits the board to "follow the teachings of Jesus that prompt our loving response to the poor and hungry. We recommend that congregations, agencies, and members revisit the 2000 Annual Conference Statement on Caring for the Poor, using this and other study materials to prayerfully engage the questions of hunger and poverty. We call on all levels and structures of the denomination to identify with and pursue the Millennium Development Goals," the resolution continues.

In a grim focus on what is at stake, an advertisement for www.makepovertyhistory.org was shown featuring well-known actors snapping their fingers--a snap once every three seconds for the children who die every three seconds from hunger and poverty-related causes around the world. "And all preventable," stated actor Liam Neeson.

The Millennium Development Goals "seek to make a change in this generation," said Royer. Goal 1, for example, is to "eradicate extreme poverty and hunger." Target 1 under that goal is to "halve, between 1999 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day." Royer emphasized Goal 3, "Promote gender equality and empower women." He repeated UN general secretary Kofi Annan's assertion that study after study has shown the best way to improve life and health is to educate girls. The US signed and committed to achieve the goals along with 188 other countries at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.

Other goals aim to increase primary education, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, and develop a global partnership for development.

For the full text of the board's resolution and the list of the Millennium Development Goals, contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office at 337 North Carolina Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003; 800-785-3246; washington_office_gb@brethren.org.

The board affirmed a plan for staff to work on a study of stem cell research, in cooperation with the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC). The study will be presented to Annual Conference as a report and/or study guide for discussion or affirmation as a denomination-wide study.

General secretary Stan Noffsinger and ABC executive director Kathy Reid initiated the study out of "concern about helping the church think in theological and ethical ways about this whole area" of bio-ethics and bio-medical advances, Del Keeney told the board. Keeney is executive director of Congregational Life Ministries and will work on the study with Scott Douglas, director of Older Adult Ministry for ABC. The staff members will lead a group of three to five Church of the Brethren members with expertise in bio-ethics to develop the report and/or study resource.

The last Annual Conference statement on issues of bio-ethics and medical technology was made in 1984 and does not directly address stem cell research. Keeney explained that such a study has a "fast moving target" because research and technology is progressing and developing so quickly. For example, he told the board that recent research findings suggest that adult stem cell research is more promising than had been previously thought. He and Douglas hope to be able to provide "an informed offering to the church," Keeney said, commenting that "there are people in our congregations who are waiting for help and hope."

The board members were the final group to have a hearing and listening session with the Stewardship of Properties Committee, in a closed session. Chair Dale Roth gave a brief update on the committee's work in an open session. The committee will bring recommendations to the March 2006 meeting of the General Board in New Windsor.

Other reports gave updates on the response to the Gulf Coast hurricanes; the Gather 'Round curriculum; next year's National Youth Conference; the 60th anniversary commemoration of the bombing of Hiroshima; the Vital Pastor Program of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership; and plans for Annual Conference 2006. The Congregational Life Teams staff gave a presentation of observations from congregations, which included times for discussion of issues in small groups.

On Sunday evening Oct. 16, members of the Organ Historical Society, Chicago-Midwest chapter, offered a ceremony and recital in recognition of the historical status of the Kurtz Organ (see story below).

Other guests present over the long weekend of meetings included Bethany Theological Seminary students, a Training in Ministry class, members of the Cross Cultural Ministries Team, the Stewardship of Properties Committee, and district executives and visitors. During a time of employee recognitions, it was "standing room only" in the board room.

Among the guests were the pastors of a new church plant in Illinois and Wisconsin District, who helped lead the opening worship service for the weekend along with district executive Jim Yaussy Albright. Tom and Lynda DeVore pastor Christ Connections Community Church, which will be welcomed as a new Church of the Brethren fellowship at this fall's district conference.

An offering for the Global Food Crisis Fund raised $2,001 during a Sunday morning worship service in observance of World Food Day. The smell of bread permeated the chapel at the Church of the Brethren General Offices as bread was made and baked during the service, a procession carried bread from different cultures to the altar table, the offering was taken in bread bowls, and board members and staff gave testimonies about Brethren efforts to combat hunger.

Diaz encapsulated the mood of the meeting in his closing sermon. "I think this church has been called to do wonderful ministry," he said, "but we face struggles. You know what? I think we can go home and give words of encouragement. The work of Jesus will continue."

After the close of the meeting, board members stayed on for a professional growth event and a regularly scheduled performance evaluation for general secretary Stan Noffsinger.

At meetings in Elgin, Ill., Oct. 15-17 the General Board accepted a proposal for a new Church of the Brethren mission initiative in Sudan and approved it "as a concept for implementation and development."

"There is new opportunity to walk with the Sudanese in a healing and reconciling way, and to work together to rebuild their land," said the proposal in part. The proposal calls for an ambitious 2006 budget in excess of $1 million with a projection of quickly fielding 20-plus mission workers. Mission workers would do a variety of work to help rebuild Sudan following the civil war, such as health care and education, with direction from indigenous agencies such as the New Sudan Council of Churches. The board's discussion indicated it is likely that church planting will be added to the mission workers' tasks.

The proposal was brought through the Mission and Ministries Planning Council by an ad-hoc group of more than 20 former General Board staff and mission workers, along with others who attended the Mission Alive '05 conference this past spring. Two members of the group were present to speak to the board: Roger Schrock, a former executive of the General Board's World Ministries Commission, and Merlyn Kettering, a consultant for the General Board's work with the New Sudan Council of Churches.

The "need is terrific" in Sudan, said Global Mission Partnership executive director Merv Keeney as he introduced the proposal. He and other presenters couched it as a new mission initiative for the denomination "with initial mission program in south Sudan." They outlined a vision to expand the initiative, tailored for countries emerging from violent conflict, to other such areas in Africa.

There is no functioning social organization other than the church in southern Sudan, Keeney told the board, and the Brethren mission will be part of a large international effort to rebuild the country's infrastructure. Kettering challenged the board to say "yes" to the proposal, to say "we want to be involved in the rebuilding of Sudan, and doing it the way the Brethren can do it."

Discussion around the board table included the possibility of the new mission being carried out in cooperation with the councils of churches in Sudan as well as with sister Churches of the Brethren in Nigeria and other countries. Before presentation to the board, the proposal had been reviewed by leaders of the New Sudan Council of Churches, Haruun Ruun and Emmanuel Lowilla.

The General Board's more than 25 years of relationship with Sudan is "an important basis" for the new initiative, Keeney said. Past General Board mission programs in Sudan have included a rural health program, the training of pastors, theological education, Bible translation, food distribution and relief efforts, a peace program, and financial support of staff of the New Sudan Council of Churches. "The Sudanese are saying, you've walked with us in difficult times, walk with us now," Keeney said.

Many questions focused on the proposal's "faith mission model" of funding that differs from the current way the board funds mission. The proposal for Sudan has missionaries raising their own support and salaries along with a percentage for administration, seeking direct sponsorship from congregations. Those presenting the proposal said the proposing group has people "poised to give" to start the mission, as well as people ready to go to Sudan as mission workers.

During the discussion, some wondered if the new funding model will damage the board's fundraising for its core ministries. Others were concerned about the ability for mission workers to sustain a commitment to the people of Sudan under such a structure. As churches are planted there also is a concern about how to commit to new congregations under such a structure. Finance office staff said that the proposed funding model would be inconsistent with current financial policies. If the proposed funding model is adopted the board may need to examine how other ministry areas are in conversation with their constituents about funding.

"All of our concerns look like things we can talk through and solve," Keeney told the board. "The question before us is where is God leading us?"

Board members agreed, although reservations continued to be expressed throughout discussion of the proposal. After saying that he still had lots of questions, board member Dale Minnich affirmed, "I don't know how we can't do it. Is God asking us to go? We have to discern that together, but I think the answer is yes," he said. "But it's a leap of faith."

In approving the proposal in concept the board referred to the 1989 Annual Conference paper Mission Theology and Guidelines. It also referred to a resolution passed in July calling the Church of the Brethren to new opportunities in Sudan following the peace accords signed in January that ended years of civil war.

The board identified several areas where it still had questions, including the christology of the proposal, details of church planting plans, the funding model, the name of the mission, and partnering details. The General Board and staff will engage in further dialogue about the mission initiative in Sudan in future Executive Committee and General Board meetings.

The Kurtz Organ received a Historic Organ Citation from the Organ Historical Society at a ceremony and recital on Sunday evening, Oct. 16, during the fall General Board meeting.

Stephen Schnurr, chair of the Historic Organ Citations Committee, presented the citation to general secretary Stan Noffsinger and Ken Shaffer, archivist for the Brethren Historical Library and Archives (BHLA). The small pipe organ is part of the BHLA collection. Since the awarding of the first citation in 1975, some 330 organs in the US and Canada have received the honor. Susan Friesen, a member of the society's Chicago-Midwest Chapter, gave the recital at the chapel at the Church of the Brethren General Offices. Several other members of the society attended along with board members, staff, and guests.

The organ also is known as the 1698 Johann Christoph Harttman pipe organ, named after its maker, and is one of the oldest organs in the United States. It is the only known surviving work of Harttman, who was an organ builder in the Wurttemberg region of Germany in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Henry Kurtz, editor of the first Church of the Brethren periodical the Gospel Visiter (sic), owned the organ and probably brought it with him from Germany. After Kurtz's death, the organ remained in the family for awhile and then was placed in Bethel Church in Poland, Ohio. A great-grandson of Kurtz, Levi P. Good, acquired the organ again by 1952. In 1957 it was given to the Brethren Historical Committee and moved to Elgin.

The organ arrived in Elgin in badly deteriorated condition. In the 1960s preliminary work to restore it was done by Al Brightbill, a noted Church of the Brethren musician and seminary professor, along with other General Board staff. In 1976, organ restorer John Brombaugh of Middletown, Ohio, finished the restoration over a period of two months. Brombaugh, who is of Church of the Brethren background, was trained in Europe.

After its restoration, the organ was played at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in 1976. It also was featured in a recital at the 1984 National Convention of the Organ Historical Society.

Newsline: October 27, 2005
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