Newsline Extra for Sept. 25, 2009

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Newsline Extra: Personnel Notices
Sept. 25, 2009 

“Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word” (Psalm 119:17).

PERSONNEL
1) Alan Bolds resigns from online gifts development position.
2) Shannon Kahler called as director at Inspiration Hills.
3) Youth workers are needed for National Youth Conference.

Brethren bits: More personnel notices, job openings (see column at right).

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1) Alan Bolds resigns from online gifts development position.

Alan Bolds has resigned as the Church of the Brethren’s coordinator of Online Gifts and Development, effective Sept. 30. He has worked in the position since Dec. 1, 2008.

Bolds has helped in implementation of Convio software for the church’s website, and has created and launched the “eBrethren” e-mail newsletter of the Stewardship and Donor Development Office. He came to the Church of the Brethren from a position as a fundraising professional with Awana International, where he also implemented Convio, the same web-based constituent relationship management software currently used by brethren.org .

He will be taking up an opportunity to assist in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, working for the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, Ill. He and his family attend Wheaton (Ill.) Evangelical Free Church.

 

2) Shannon Kahler called as director at Inspiration Hills.

Shannon Kahler has been called as director at Inspiration Hills Camp and Retreat Center beginning Nov. 10, in an announcement from Northern Ohio District of the Church of the Brethren. Inspiration Hills is the district camp located in Burbank, Ohio.

Kahler has served as food services/marketing manager at Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, Ind., since 2004. Previously she served as head chef/assistant food services manager at the Michindoh Conference Center in Hillsdale, Mich., and as district retail operations manager for the Great Harvest Bread Company in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. She has owned and operated a food service management company in Farmington, Mich., called Campus Cuisine, which offered a variety of services to schools, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.

She holds a degree in business administration and marketing from William Tyndale College, a degree in culinary management and culinary arts from Schoolcraft College, and a degree in elementary education and biblical literature from Fort Wayne Bible College. She is a member of the Church of the Brethren Outdoor Ministries Association, the Christian Camp and Conference Association, and the American Camp Association. She is married to Allen Kahler, district executive of South-Central Indiana District.

 

3) Youth workers are needed for National Youth Conference.

“Are you interested in volunteering at National Youth Conference 2010?” asks an invitation from the Church of the Brethren’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry. “Serving as a youth worker is a serious task,” the invitation continues. “Youth workers are an essential part of the NYC staff, helping to carry out the programs and plans of the National Youth Cabinet as well as making sure that no details are missed.”

Volunteer youth workers are expected to commit for the entire week of National Youth Conference, which is scheduled for July 17-22 in Fort Collins, Colo. Responsibilities include assisting the NYC coordinators, the National Youth Cabinet, and the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in required tasks for carrying out the conference.

“Youthworkers often miss sessions, meals, and sleep in order to get the job done, often meaning 10-12 hour days or longer,” the invitation warned. “These responsibilities are not meant to scare you out of applying, but rather to emphasize the importance and responsibility of being a youth worker. We need committed, focused, and enthusiastic people to make NYC run smoothly.”

Youth workers are expected to arrive on the campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., in the early afternoon of Friday, July 16, and to be present at the conference through the evening of Thursday, July 22. As compensation, registration fees will be waived (the fee covers lodging and meals) and travel expenses will be covered provided the Youth and Young Adult Ministry office books the airline tickets. Youth workers must have completed at least their second year of college. Adults of all ages are encouraged to apply as well.

Completed applications must be postmarked by Nov. 1 and final decisions will be made in early 2010. Go to www.brethren.org/nycyouthworker to find the application online.


A call for volunteer youth workers to assist at National Youth Conference (NYC) next July in Fort Collins, Colo., has been issued by Church of the Brethren’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Youth workers assist with virtually every task at the conference, including registration (shown above in a photo from NYC 2006).  Go to www.brethren.org/nycyouthworker to find an application form. Photo by Chris Detrick

Brethren bits

— IMA World Health has announced the appointment of Richard “Rick” Santos as the organization’s new president and CEO. IMA World Health has its main offices and warehouse space at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., and the Church of the Brethren is a member denomination. Santos begins working with IMA World Health on Oct. 12 as president-elect, to assume full duties after a short transition with retiring CEO Paul Derstine. Santos brings more than 15 years of experience in international development, joining IMA from International Relief and Development, where he was director of Communications and Advocacy, and prior to that Church World Service, where he held a series of positions including coordinator of Strategic Planning and Evaluation, coordinator of Technical Resource, country director for Indonesia, and program officer in Bangladesh and Vietnam.

— Nathan and Jennifer Hosler departed for Nigeria on Sept. 18, to take up their new positions as mission workers. They will be serving as teacher of peace and reconciliation at Kulp Bible College and peace and reconciliation worker with Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN–the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). “Please include them in prayers,” asked Karin Krog, director of the Church of the Brethren’s Human Resources department.

— Grace Mishler has returned to Vietnam as a mission worker and program volunteer for the Church of the Brethren. She has worked in Vietnam previously, in a placement jointly sponsored by the Church of the Brethren and Eastern Mennonite Missions, when she was a teacher and social worker at National Vietnam University in Ho Chi Minh City and counted among her accomplishments the creation of a course on Social Awareness of People with Disabilities. In an e-mail to the Global Mission Partnerships office dated Sept. 11, Mishler reported on her first week back at work at the university. “They want me to help in social work curriculum development in teaching students, disabilities, and English Social Work Practice Skill.” She also has begun teaching an English Bible study class for the Foreign Language Department.

— Don Knieriem has joined the Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) team as staff volunteer. His primary responsibilities will be to assist Callie Surber, the orientation coordinator. Knieriem just completed his first volunteer term as disaster project assistant with Brethren Disaster Ministries, based in New Orleans assisting with work following Hurricane Katrina. He is a member of Wilmington (Del.) Church of the Brethren and a graduate of the University of Delaware.

— The New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center is thanking volunteer hosts Ric and Jan Martinez, who hosted for the Old Main building in August and September, and Ed and Betty Runion, who hosted for Windsor Hall in September. Both couples will depart for home on Sept. 30. The Conference Center welcomes back Mike and Barb Hodson of Troy, Ohio, as hosts for Old Main in October.

— SERRV is welcoming longterm volunteers Valetta and Roland Kesler of Quinter, Kan., who will be in their 20th year of volunteering on the Brethren Service Center campus in New Windsor, Md.

— The Church of the Brethren is still accepting applications for the position of director of Brethren Identity and Relations, who holds responsibility to communicate the mission and ministry of the Church of the Brethren to those affiliated with the church and to those outside who seek information about the church. A major responsibility is oversight of the denominational website, along with responsibility for annual reports, connections with district conferences, and meeting other communication needs. Candidates should have proven experience in communication and website development; a deep understanding of the Church of the Brethren; active membership in the Church of the Brethren; experience with the denominational scope of the church’s life and work; superior skills in writing, editing, and public speaking; and the technical and relational skills to manage a complex website and collaborate with others. The position is located at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., and is part of the Brethren Press communication team. Applications are being accepted until the position is filled. Request a position description and an application from Karin Krog, Office of Human Resources, at kkrog@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 258.

— Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., seeks a fulltime campus pastor. Responsibilities include planning and coordinating weekly chapel services and other regular worship services; participating in planning activities for Focus on Faith Week, Peace Week, and other programming that facilitates religious life, promotes understanding of different faith traditions, and helps integrate faith and learning in the campus community; overseeing religious life groups; participating on a number of committees; organizing special services such as Baccalaureate and the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration; attending department meetings; supervising student workers; serving on the counseling staff; maintaining relationship with the Church of the Brethren; developing a congregational communication program with the director of church relations; managing a budget and other administrative functions. Qualifications include minimum of a Master of Divinity or equivalent degree; appreciation for the religious diversity of a college campus; experience in conducting worship services; training and experience in personal counseling; presentation skills; proficiencyt in spoken and written English; organizational and administrative skills; team orientation; ability to prioritize responsibilities, meet deadlines, and respond to students’ legitimate needs in a timely manner; ability to work with students of all backgrounds; ability and willingness to perform clerical work as necessary; leadership, financial, and supervisory skills; proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail, and Internet use. Ordination in the Church of the Brethren preferred. Some weekend and evening work required, 10 months per year, August through May. Submit a cover letter, resume, and completed application ( http://www.manchester.edu/OHR/application.pdf ) by Oct. 8 to Human Resources, Manchester College, 604 E. College Ave., North Manchester, IN 46962; ajjudy@manchester.edu ; fax 260-982-5449. Manchester College is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants who further diversify faculty and staff are warmly welcomed.

— The Gather ’Round curriculum seeks freelance curriculum writers to write for the 2011-12 year. Gather ’Round is a project of Brethren Press and Mennonite Publishing Network. Writers are needed for Preschool (ages 3-4), Primary (K-grade 2), Middler (grades 3-5), Junior Youth (grades 6-8), and Youth (grades 9-12). All writers will attend an orientation conference in April 2010 and begin writing thereafter, with deadlines staggered quarter by quarter. Writers prepare weekly materials for teacher’s guides, student books, and resource packs. Compensation varies according to the age group and the number of weeks (12-14) in a given quarter. For more information and to apply, visit the “Contact us” page at http://www.gatherround.org/ . Deadline for applications is Nov. 30.

— Jan Eller has resigned as administrator of the Womaen’s Caucus of the Church of the Brethren, after more than six years in the role. She is an ordained minister, living in Portland, Ore. The Womaen’s Caucus seeks a part-time administrator to begin work in January. The Caucus administrator is responsible for arranging Steering Committee meetings, coordinating Annual Conference activities, sustaining denominational relationships, maintaining organizational correspondence and records, and serving as Caucus treasurer. The successful candidate will be a Church of the Brethren feminist who is familiar with church structure, possesses strong administrative and secretarial skills, and is eager to take the initiative and articulate Caucus goals to the Caucus community and wider church. Qualified candidates will have strong writing skills and be fluent in using e-mail, the Internet, and appropriate computer programs for communication, database management, and financial management. Attendance at two multi-day meetings per year, one in late January and the second at Annual Conference, is required. The contract is renewable in two-year intervals. The position is estimated to require an average of 25 hours per month at $10 per hour plus expenses. Applications are due by Nov. 30. A downloadable application, full job description, and more information are available online at http://www.womaenscaucus.org/ or by contacting Audrey deCoursey at womaen@gmail.com .

Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Kris Bair, Mary Ann Grossnickle, Cori Hahn, Audrey Hollenberg, Karin Krog, Sharon Nearhoof May, and Anna Speicher contributed to this report. Newsline appears every other Wednesday, with other special issues sent as needed. The next regularly scheduled issue is set for Oct. 7. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source.

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