Photo by Glenn Riegel. The “Brethren Voices” community television show produced by Peace Church of the Brethren in Portland, Ore., in January featured Annual Conference moderator Tim Harvey, and in February features Laura Sewell, who served in India as a Brethren mission worker from 1948-84. The January edition interviewed Harvey, pastor of Central Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., who shared his hope for the denomination after spending time meeting with many Brethren congregations around the country. He also discussed his youth growing up in Bethel Church of the Brethren, and the support from his home congregation that led him into the ministry. For copies of the January or February programs or to subscribe to “Brethren Voices,” contact groffprod1@msn.com . |
— Correction: An article in the Jan. 25 Newsline about the Brethren Benefit Trust decision to sign on to a letter urging corporate action against human trafficking and slavery mistakenly referred to congressional bill HR 2759 as the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. In fact, the bill that BBT and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility urge the House Financial Services Committee to address is called the Business Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act.
— Remembrance: Prayers are requested for the family of James C. (Jim) Carlisle, 88, who died Feb. 6. He was a longterm volunteer for the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. His wife, Helen Carlisle, who survives him, is a former computer operations manager at the center. Carlisle was a member of Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren. His varied career began as a farmer and included work at the New Windsor Creamery, employment with Southern States Carroll Petroleum and S.L. Tevis and Son, Inc., and 18 years at the Carroll County Board of Education as a school bus driver. He served two terms on the New Windsor Town Council, 1977-85, and a term as mayor 1989-93. While mayor, he was instrumental in building New Windsor Middle School, and Carlisle Drive at Springdale Village was named in his honor. A memorial service will be held Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. at Westminster Church of the Brethren.
— Loyal Vanderveer is the new interim chaplain at Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village, president/CEO Keith Bryan has announced. Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village is a Church of the Brethren continuing care retirement community near Boonsboro, Md. Vanderveer is serving until a permanent replacement is found for Sharon Peters, who died unexpectedly in December. Vanderveer, a retired minister, is a member of the Fahrney-Keedy Board of Directors and of Hagerstown (Md.) Church of the Brethren. He has been a pastor at several Churches of the Brethren, most recently Manor Church in Boonsboro. He also was a chaplain for 20 years with Hospice of Washington County. Peters had been chaplain for Fahrney-Keedy since spring of 2008. She was ordained in the Presbyterian Church and had been chief executive of Pathway School for youths with emotional impairments, prior to her time at Fahrney-Keedy.
— On Earth Peace is seeking a full-time executive director. The executive director has the overall strategic and operational responsibility for On Earth Peace’s staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. S/he will have a deep knowledge of the organization’s core programs, operations, and business plans. Interested applicants may check the On Earth Peace website for details of the mission and program: www.onearthpeace.org . The responsibilities and duties will include longterm strategic planning, rigorous program evaluation, and consistent quality of finance, administration, fundraising, and resource development, marketing, and communications. The executive director will engage and energize On Earth Peace staff, board members, volunteers, donors, and partnering organizations, and represent OEP to the larger church and ecumenical gatherings. S/he will develop and implement fundraising and revenue generating plans and goals, and establish and maintain relationships with top donors and volunteers. Qualifications and experience: A bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred; at least 10 years of experience in nonprofit senior management, including in the areas of human resources, marketing, public relations, and fundraising/resource development; solid business and financial experience, including the ability to set and achieve strategic objectives and manage a budget; strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of constituents; and knowledge of the Church of the Brethren denomination desired. Skills will include excellent oral and written communication and computer literacy. Deadline for applications is Feb. 29. Send a cover letter and resume to Ralph McFadden, Search Consultant, oepsearch@sbcglobal.net . Or contact McFadden at his home/office telephone 847-622-1677.
— Camp Peaceful Pines is seeking candidates for the position of camp superintendent. The camp is an independent charitable nonprofit corporation affiliated with Pacific Southwest District. It is located near Dardanelle, Calif., in the Stanislaus National Forest on Sonora Pass, and operates under a special use permit from the Stanislaus National Forestry. Camp Peaceful Pines has provided the setting for intentional, outdoor, temporary, Christian communities for over 50 years. Its rustic but comfortable style of camping has allowed campers of all ages to experience God’s wonderful creation in the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains. Staff members are primarily experienced and dedicated volunteers who love people, creation, and God. The Board and Program Committee endeavor to recruit persons of mature Christian faith and leadership skills to direct each camp. The camp superintendent position supports daily operational needs from June 1-Sept. 1. Compensation is based on a daily rate established by the Camp Board and includes food and housing provided. The camp superintendent is responsible for day-to-day operation, camp maintenance, and the greeting and coordination of camps with the camp directors. The camp superintendent is a vital part of Camp Peaceful Pines, providing interaction with the various camps and visitors to camp. Submit an application with resume and three references by March 1. The search team will select viable candidates for interviews during March. Camp Peaceful Pines is an Affirmative Action facility: acceptance and participation apply without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, or disability. For consideration, send an application to the address below or submit electronically to garrypearson@sbcglobal.net or call 530-758-0474. Garry W. Pearson, Board Chair, 2932 Prado Lane, Davis, CA 95618.
— Young Christians are invited to apply to the World Council of Churches Stewards Program for a learning experience at the WCC Central Committee meeting, Aug. 23-Sept. 7 in Crete. Applicants must be age 18-30. During the meetings stewards will work in the areas of worship, conference room, documentation, press office, sound, and other administrative and support tasks. Before the meetings, stewards follow an ecumenical learning program which exposes them to key issues of the ecumenical movement. The last phase of the program focuses on designing projects that stewards will implement back home. Send in completed application forms to the WCC youth desk no later than March 15. Brethren who apply are requested to copy Becky Ullom, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, at bullom@brethren.org . More information is at www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=e9b4ef2f38d10aabdd7f .
— The Senior High Roundtable at Bridgewater (Va.) College is scheduled for March 16-18. The theme is “Following Christ: Step by Step…Remember, Rejoice, Repeat” (1 Peter 2:21). Guest speaker is Shawn Flory Replogle, former Annual Conference moderator and a speaker at National Youth Conference 2010. Register at www.bridgewater.edu/orgs/iyc .
— Bethel Church of the Brethren at Arriba, Colo., celebrated its 100th anniversary on Oct. 2, 2011, with 138 people in attendance. “That number gains perspective when you realize that our ‘chairs in the aisles’ packed sanctuary only holds 96 maximum!” said a note in the Western Plains District newsletter thanking those who attended.
— The Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio, is asking for help as it prepares to celebrate 110 years of serving southern Ohio. The community is planning an anniversary celebration for April 20, and wants to collect stories and pictures from people whose lives have been touched by its ministry. Submissions are due by March 20. To share an experience go to http://media1.razorplanet.com/share/511272-2452/siteDocs/Request%20for%20Stories.pdf .
— “Juniata Voices,” an anthology of lectures, articles, and presentations given by faculty and visiting speakers at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., has posted its 2010-2011 edition online. The new “Juniata Voices” features lectures on the American chestnut tree by a Juniata environmental scientist, on Hollywood careers by a cinematographer, and on how a small country can affect the inner workings of the UN, on the financial health of colleges, and the danger of making snap assumptions. Find the anthology at www.juniata.edu/services/jcpress/voices .
— Christian musician Michael Card, known for hit songs such as “El Shaddai,” will lead Bridgewater (Va.) College’s Spring Spiritual Focus on Feb. 21-23. He will speak and sing at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 in the Carter Center for Worship and Music. On Feb. 23 he will give a presentation at 9:30 a.m. in the Stone Prayer Chapel. Events are free and open to the public.
— Candlelight Dinners will be offered at the John Kline Homestead in Broadway, Va., on Feb. 10 and 11 and again March 9 and 10. The event takes guests into a Shenandoah Valley home during an 1800s family-style dinner, as concerns are being raised about the Civil War as it intensifies on Virginia soil in 1862. Tickets are $40. Call 540-896-5001 for reservations.
— Ten Church of the Brethren members were part of a Jan. 5-18 Learning Tour to Nepal sponsored by the New Community Project. The delegation was hosted by Women Empowerment, a group supporting women’s development and girls’ education, according to a release. Participants were briefed by development and advocacy groups including Maiti Nepal, whose director was a CNN Hero of the Year 2010 for work to combat sex trafficking, and leaders at a Tibetan refugee camp. The group visited villages where NCP supports girls’ education and women’s development. They topped off the trip with a two-day trekking experience to a vantage point overlooking the 26,000 foot Annapurna II. For more visit www.newcommunityproject.org .