“Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:27
UPCOMING EVENTS
1) Bethany Emphasis Sunday focuses on discipleship.
2) Mission Alive 2008 to recognize anniversary year.
3) Church planting conference is scheduled for May 2008.
4) 300th Anniversary update: Celebration is planned for Schwarzenau, Germany.
5) 300th Anniversary resources: Commemorative calendars are still available.
6) More Brethren bits: Current job openings.
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1) Bethany Emphasis Sunday focuses on discipleship.
Bethany Theological Seminary has announced Sept. 9 as Bethany Emphasis Sunday for the Church of the Brethren. The theme, “Go Deeper: Cost of Discipleship,” is based on Luke 14:25-33, a lectionary reading for that day. Worship materials and resources offered for congregational celebrations were created by faculty, students, and graduates of the seminary.
Resources include a benediction by the seminary’s new president Ruthann Knechel Johansen; an invocation prayer by Jonathan Shively, director of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership; an adult Sunday school lesson by Amy Ritchie, director of Student Development; a youth Sunday school lesson by Tracy Stoddart; a meditation by student Elizabeth Keller; a call to worship by student Anna Lisa Gross; an offertory statement by Kelly Meyerhoeffer; a “scripture jam” by Elizabeth Keller; and a children’s story by Barb Dickason. A bulletin insert includes a litany by Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, associate professor of Preaching and Worship, and comments by students and graduates about the importance of the congregation in encouraging them to consider ministry.
Also offered are a PowerPoint of Bethany’s logo, resource people for “Minute for Mission” presentations, and guest speakers. Congregations should have received a letter from Bethany that includes a postcard to order materials or invite a guest speaker. Printed resources and the logo are available at http://www.bethanyseminary.edu/. Bethany invites congregations to celebrate the emphasis on another date if Sept. 9 is not possible.
2) Mission Alive 2008 to recognize anniversary year.
Mission Alive 2008 will be held at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren on April 4-6, 2008. Recognizing the 300th anniversary year, the Steering Committee chose the theme, “Celebrating a Fruitful Past, Cultivating a Faith-full Future.”
The program of worship, speakers, and workshops will lift up Brethren contributions in international mission, note learnings, and emphasize how individuals and congregations can be spiritually renewed and energized through mission support and involvement.
Steering Committee members are Linetta Alley Ballew, camp program director and seminary student, from Lebanon Church of the Brethren in Mount Sidney, Va.; Carl Brubaker, associate pastor of Midway Church of the Brethren in Lebanon, Pa.; Larry Dentler, pastor at Bermudian Church of the Brethren in East Berlin, Pa.; Carol Spicher Waggy, former mission staff and pastor/pastoral counselor, of Rock Run Church of the Brethren in Goshen, Ind.; and Mervin Keeney, executive director for the Global Mission Partnerships of the Church of the Brethren General Board, and a member of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill. Keeney serves as the General Board staff liaison.
3) Church planting conference is scheduled for May 2008.
A church planting conference will convene from Thursday through Saturday, May 15-17, 2008, in Richmond, Ind. Early registration and pre-conference activities are scheduled for May 14.
The conference will contribute to new church development in the Church of the Brethren by providing training for church planters, supportive networks, and coaches; enriching spiritual resources through revitalizing worship and focused prayer; promoting synergistic conversation and strategic cooperation among individuals, districts, and agencies; and assessing individual and organizational capacities for leadership.
A series of worship and prayer experiences, speakers, workshops, outreach opportunities, and small group conversations will make up the conference. The event is sponsored every other year by the New Church Development Committee of the Church of the Brethren in partnership with the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and hosted by Bethany Theological Seminary.
Committee members guiding the planning are Carrie Cortez of Pacific Southwest District, Lynda DeVore of Illinois and Wisconsin District, Don Mitchell of Atlantic Northeast District, David Shumate of Virlina District, Steve Gregory of the General Board’s Congregational Life Teams staff, and Jonathan Shively, director of the Brethren Academy.
Detailed information will be available by mid-September, and registration materials will be available Jan. 1, 2008. Direct inquiries to planting@bethanyseminary.edu.
4) 300th Anniversary update: Celebration is planned for Schwarzenau, Germany.
The village of Schwarzenau, Germany, is the site of the 2008 Brethren World Assembly and 300th Anniversary Celebration to take place the weekend of Aug. 2-3 next year. The event is being planned by the Board of Directors of Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc., which has representation from the six largest Brethren bodies descended from the group of eight Brethren who were baptized in the Eder River in Schwarzenau in 1708.
Dale R. Stoffer, vice president of board of directors and dean of Ashland Theological Seminary, Ohio, is serving as chair of the planning committee. The secretary for the board, Dale V. Ulrich of Bridgewater, Va., is serving as coordinator.
A preliminary schedule for the assembly and celebration in Schwarzenau includes:
- On Saturday, Aug. 2, time during the day for visitors to meditate at the Eder River, walk around the village of Schwarzenau, visit the Alexander Mack Museum–named after the founder of the Brethren, hike as Mack did from the Hüttental to the mill along the river, visit the castle and museum in nearby Bad Berleburg, and take a walking tour of nearby Marburg; a meal tent where a lunch and dinner will be served for a fee; an evening concert by the McPherson (Kan.) College Choir, the Schwarzenau Ladies Choir, the Schwarzenau Men’s Choir, and the Bad Berleburg Choir.
- On Sunday, Aug. 3, a morning worship service at 10 a.m. with preachers James M. Beckwith, 2008 moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, and Frederick G. Miller, Jr., pastor of Mount Olivet Brethren Church in Virginia; a meal tent where lunch will be served; a 2 p.m. Anniversary Program with guest speaker and German academic Dr. Marcus Meier, author of the book “The Origins of the Schwarzenau Brethren” to be published in English by Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc. in 2008; and a 4:30 p.m. closing gathering at the Eder River.
Registration for the assembly and celebration including Sunday lunch in Schwarzenau is $85. For a registration form, schedule, and more information, including a list of some nearby hotels and a map of the area, contact Dale Ulrich, Brethren Encyclopedia Coordinator of the 300th Anniversary Celebration, 26 College Woods Dr., Bridgewater, VA 22812; daulrich@comcast.net; 540-828-6548. A list of tours also is available.
5) 300th Anniversary resources: Commemorative calendars are still available.
Brethren Anniversary Commemorative Calendars are still available through the Brethren Church, according to the Church of the Brethren 300th Anniversary Committee. The Church of the Brethren sold out of its allocation of the calendars at the 2007 Annual Conference in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Brethren Church had been handling requests for the calendars from all the other branches of the Brethren. “At this juncture we can now report that it looks like the Brethren Church should have an adequate supply for churches or districts that may not have been able get a supply of them at Cleveland,” said Jim Hollinger, of the Brethren Church Tercenntenial Committee, in a recent e-mail.
For an order form that includes prices for individual calendars as well as quantity prices, contact Jim Hollinger, 112 Westwood Rd., Goshen, IN 46526; 574-533-0737; fax 574-533-4715; jhollinger@goshenhealth.com. Orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-payment is requested. Those who live near Goshen, Ind., or close to Brethren Church offices in Ashland, Ohio, may make arrangements to pick up their orders personally and save on shipping costs.
6) More Brethren bits: Current job openings.
- The Brethren Foundation Inc. seeks a manager of Foundation Operations to fill a fulltime salaried position based in Elgin, Ill. The Brethren Foundation is a not-for-profit ministry of Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT). The manager will assist the director of the foundation with all aspects of the foundation’s operation. Responsibilities include serving as a primary contact and information source for inquiries received; assisting current and prospective clients with foundation services; initiating activities that strengthen relationships with clients; assessing needs, satisfaction, and interests of current and potential clients; managing and maintaining databases; ensuring that records are complete, accurate, and orderly; ensuring compliance and reporting activities; generating reports; interacting with the BBT Finance Department and Communications Department. Qualifications include an undergraduate degree in business, accounting, or nonprofit management; experience in nonprofit finance; a basic understanding of investment management and planned giving; proficiency with computer technology; communications and interpersonal skills; a strong work ethic; enthusiasm for new opportunities; willingness to learn new things; openness to limited travel; and membership in or appreciation for the Church of the Brethren. All interested parties are encouraged to apply, whether or not they possess all qualifications. Salary and benefits are competitive with not-for-profit organizations of similar size and function. To apply send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to Donna March, 1505 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; or dmarch_bbt@brethren.org. The position is available immediately and the search will continue until the position is filled.
- The Church of the Brethren General Board is seeking a coordinator for the New Windsor Conference Center, to fill an hourly, fulltime position located at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The Conference Center is a facility with dining services, meeting rooms, and 72 lodging rooms. The regular work schedule for the coordinator will be Tuesday-Saturday, three weeks of each month, and Monday-Friday one week of each month. The position works as a member of a team to support and uphold the hospitality mission of the General Board. Key areas of responsibility are coordinating conference groups, guests, and volunteers; managing volunteers; providing exceptional customer service for guests both directly and through volunteers and staff; and demonstrating strong administrative skills in the areas of booking banquets, lodging and meeting rooms, billing, and preparation and distribution of marketing materials. Requirements include ability to communicate in a professional manner; organized and detail-oriented work methods; a welcoming, outgoing, and customer-oriented attitude; customer service skills; ability to think clearly and make rational decisions in stressful situations; ability to work collaboratively with staff and volunteers; competent user status in Microsoft Office Suite and the capability and willingness to learn new applications. Experience with hotel reservations software preferred. Minimum education and experience requirements are a high school diploma with some college training, at least three years of experience in hospitality or other customer service environment, volunteer coordination experience, demonstrated ability to handle multiple competing priorities. Nonprofit experience preferred. The General Board is an equal opportunity employer. The application period closes Aug. 17. Contact Joan McGrath, Office of Human Resources, Brethren Service Center, 500 Main St., P.O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776; jmcgrath_gb@brethren.org; 410-635-8780.
- Today is the last day applications will be received for the position of manager editor at Brethren Press, a fulltime position in Elgin, Ill., with the Church of the Brethren General Board. Responsibilities including managing the publishing schedule for curriculum, books, bulletins, pamphlets, and other publications; managing the editorial office including contracts, copyright permissions, and payments; copy-editing and proofreading most publications; providing content editing on selected publications; supervising projects through typesetting and design; working collaboratively with writers, editors, designers, typesetters, and photographers; and assisting with acquisitions of new titles. Qualifications include excellent editing and proofreading skills and experience with broader areas of production and publishing; ability to supervise and organize many details and meet deadlines; computer skills; understanding of Brethren heritage, theology, and polity or willingness to learn; communication and interpersonal skills; skill in establishing and operating in a collegial framework. Required education and experience include a bachelor’s degree in a related field, with a master’s degree preferred, and prior successful experience with editing and production. Preference will be given to individuals active in the Church of the Brethren. A position description and application form are available, contact the Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General Board, 800-323-8039 ext. 258, kkrog_gb@brethren.org.
- McPherson (Kan.) College is seeking an outgoing, organized, energetic, self-motivated person who will serve as executive director of Development. This position reports to the vice president of Advancement. The executive director will plan and carry out fundraising events, meet with existing and new constituents to solicit funds, should be able to lead a team, have good relationship building skills, and understand the benefits of a small-college education. This position involves travel, salary is flexible. A Bachelor’s degree is required. Send a cover letter, resume, and references to Lisa Easter, Human Resources, P.O. Box 1402, McPherson, KS 67460; or e-mail easterl@mcpherson.edu. No phone calls please. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. EOE.
- Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA) World Health seeks a vice president for International Programs to fill a fulltime position with excellent benefits. IMA World Health, a nonprofit organization advancing health and healing in communities the world over, seeks a professional with strong interpersonal and leadership skills; knowledge and experience in developing strategic partnerships with a diverse network of donor and partner organizations; and a proven track record in proposal development and successful resource mobilization in support of major international health program services. Requirements include a doctorate or master’s degree in Public Health or a medical doctor with significant public health experience; a minimum of five years of documented international experience in field positions in Africa, Asia, or Latin America; and proven proficiency in a second language such as French or Spanish. EOE. Send resume and salary requirements to Ms. Carol Hulver, IMA, P.O. Box 429, New Windsor MD 21776; fax 410-635-8726; e-mail carolhulver@interchurch.org.
- Camp Bethel, a Church of the Brethren camp in Fincastle, Va., seeks to fill two fulltime staff positions: director of Food Services, and office manager. Camp Bethel, an ACA-accredited Christian camp and retreat center, is experiencing tremendous growth in summer programing and year-round guest groups. For the director of Food Services position: summer responsibilities include arranging staffing to plan and provide meal service Sunday evenings through Friday evenings; fall, winter, and spring responsibilities include arranging staffing to plan and provide meal service primarily on weekends; a competitive salary package is based on experience and includes medical insurance, pension, professional growth, travel allowance, and a housing option; previous culinary experience or training is required, and staff management experience is preferred. For the office manager position: responsibilities include guest information services, correspondence, event coordination, marketing outreach, and camper registration; starting salary package includes medical insurance, pension, professional growth, travel allowance, and a housing option; previous office experience is preferred, and creative skill with Internet, e-mail, MS Windows, Word, and Excel (or comparable software) is required. Detailed job descriptions, job applications, and information about Camp Bethel is at http://www.campbethelvirginia.org/, or interested applicants may request applications from Barry LeNoir, camp director, at camp.bethel@juno.com, 540-992-2940, or via post-mail at Camp Bethel, 328 Bethel Rd., Fincastle, VA 24090.
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Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, cobnews@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Dean Garrett, Merv Keeney, Karin Krog, Barry LeNoir, Marcia Shetler, Jonathan Shively, and Dale Ulrich contributed to this report. Newsline appears every other Wednesday, with the next regularly scheduled Newsline set for Aug. 29. Other special issues may be sent as needed. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. For more Church of the Brethren news and features, subscribe to “Messenger” magazine, call 800-323-8039 ext. 247.