{"id":16816,"date":"2021-05-14T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=16816"},"modified":"2021-05-14T19:17:54","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T19:17:54","slug":"newsline-for-may-11-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2021\/newsline-for-may-11-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsline for May 14, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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NEWS
1) Most Brethren camps are planning to be \u2018in-person\u2019 this summer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) BFIA grants go to three more churches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) Hillcrest School issues statement about former principal<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) Churches for Middle East Peace condemns violence in Jerusalem<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PERSONNEL
5) Walt Wiltschek to serve as Illinois and Wisconsin District executive minister<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6) Brethren bits: Remembering Ernie Bolz, continued prayer for India and Venezuela, Bermudian Church of the Brethren history, Southern Ohio and Kentucky District offers virtual camping, On Earth Peace webinars, Laszakovitz sermon chosen for El Camino collection<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A note to readers:<\/strong> As many congregations return to in-person worship, we want to update our listing of Churches of the Brethren that will continue to offer online worship. If your church\u2019s entry at www.brethren.org\/news\/2020\/church-of-the-brethren-congregations-worship-online.html<\/a> needs to be updated, please send the new information to cobnews@brethren.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Landing page of Church of the Brethren COVID 19 related resources and information:<\/strong> www.brethren.org\/covid19<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Church of the Brethren congregations offering online worship in English and other languages<\/strong>: www.brethren.org\/news\/2020\/church-of-the-brethren-congregations-worship-online.html<\/a>
*Spanish\/bilingual; **Haitian Kreyol\/bilingual; ***Arabic\/bilingual
*espa\u00f1ol\/biling\u00fce, **kreyol haitiano\/biling\u00fce, ***\u0639\u0631\u0628\u064a \/ \u062b\u0646\u0627\u0626\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0644\u063a\u0629<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lifting up Brethren who are active in health care:<\/strong> www.brethren.org\/news\/2020\/brethren-active-in-health-care.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Send information about churches to be added to the listing of online worship offerings to<\/strong> cobnews@brethren.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add a person to the list of Brethren active in health care by sending first name, county, and state to <\/strong>cobnews@brethren.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1) Most Brethren camps are planning to be \u2018in-person\u2019 this summer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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By Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn person\u201d is the mode for most Church of the Brethren camps this summer. Representatives of several of the camps reported on their planning for the 2021 season in a recent Zoom meeting of the Outdoor Ministries Association, chaired by Gene Hollenberg with Linetta Ballew as vice-chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barry LeNoir of Camp Bethel in Virginia reported having to grapple with changing state guidelines, as did others on the call. Virginia is one of the states issuing new guidance and COVID protocols to allow overnight camps this summer in light of the availability of vaccines and lower numbers of cases and deaths from the disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Outdoor Ministries Association Zoom meeting on April. 26<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Camp representatives talked about a variety of COVID mitigation measures that may help keep campers safe.<\/strong> Each camp is making its own plan. Examples of what different camps are doing based on CDC guidelines, the American Camp Association Field Guide, and varying state and local regulations: requiring staff and counselors to be vaccinated, COVID-19 screening such as quarantines or negative test results before arrival, reducing numbers of campers and staff, shortened schedules, social distancing, separating campers into small-group \u201cbubbles,\u201d requiring face masks, keeping cabins open to the air and ventilated, setting up dining tents, and using other means to do as much as possible outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outdoors is better, they all agreed. Camp Pine Lake in Iowa is even asking for donations of pup tents so that campers and counselors don\u2019t have to sleep in cabins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some camps, such as Camp Placid in Tennessee, already have been hosting retreat groups or longterm rentals this spring. Others, such as Shepherd\u2019s Spring in Maryland, are offering day camps as well as overnight camps this year, in order to reach more campers. Shepherd\u2019s Spring is planning a few weeks of day camps for inner-city children from Hagerstown, Md., in addition to several weeks of overnight camps, said Zane Garrett. This fall, he also anticipates a good turnout of school groups and retreat groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camp Pine Lake is taking another tack to reassure families who have concerns about camper health and safety. Taking advantage of having a number of small cabins, children up through fifth grade will bring a parent to bunk with for a shortened camp experience, reported Barbara Wise Lewczak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camp Brethren Heights in Michigan is making a covenant with campers to either quarantine for two weeks or get a negative COVID-19 test before arrival. The camp is renting a large tent for outdoor dining, limiting cabin capacity to 50 percent, and keeping cabin doors and windows open. \u201cWe\u2019re a rustic, outdoor camp,\u201d said Randall Westfall. \u201cLet\u2019s be rustic outdoors!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Brethren Woods in Virginia, Ballew reported plans for a slightly reduced camp season, from the usual six weeks to four. The first overnight camp is scheduled to start two weeks after school is out, to allow time for children to quarantine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camp Blue Diamond in Pennsylvania is planning just as many camping weeks as usual, but holding fewer camps each week, said Dean and Jerri Wenger. In another protective measure, the camp installed a new hand-washing station outside the lodge. In addition to the summer camping season, and the school groups that they have already started hosting this spring, Blue Diamond will be the site for this year\u2019s Song and Story Fest, the annual Church of the Brethren family camp co-sponsored by On Earth Peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Camp Bethel is getting help to ventilate its cabins this summer from \u201cDIY air filters\u201d that are being assembled by volunteer teams with items and supplies purchased by supporters of the camp. Shown here is a volunteer team assembling one of the 19 box fan air filters during a workday on April 3.<\/em>

The explanation tag that the camp hangs on each reads:
Camp Bethel Box-Fan Air-Filter<\/strong>
Place on floor, fan blowing UP, in center of room or cabin.
On high, this unit filters 900 cubic feet of air per minute and entire room in 3 minutes; 5 minutes on low.
These MERV-13 filters are 85% efficient in removing airborne droplets. COVID-19 can only be airborne inside wet or dried respiratory particles 1 micrometer or larger.
Weather permitting, open screened windows and doors while in this room.
Turn off the fan when you leave this room.
Replace these filters after Oct. 3, 2021.<\/em>

A video about the \u201cDIY air filter\u201d is at https:\/\/youtu.be\/aw7fUMhNov8<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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In addition to looking ahead to the summer, the OMA meeting also looked back<\/strong> at what the pandemic has done to camps across the denomination. Surprisingly, it was not all bad news. \u201cWe survived 2020,\u201d said LeNoir. \u201cWe kept all our staff. We begged for money. Some 60 percent of our income was from gifts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camp Emmaus in Illinois also has survived financially through the generosity of donors, but is having to increase camp registration fees this year to pay for the expenses of meeting CDC and county re-opening guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camp Alexander Mack in Indiana used the slowdown in 2020 to carry out some $800,000 worth of improvement projects including a new health center, and is planning a robust summer camping season. Although the camp\u2019s pandemic protocols have put off some retreat groups that canceled–because they didn\u2019t want to wear masks, for example–the camp is starting to receive reservations from school groups for this May and June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, Camp Koinonia in Washington State used this past year to accomplish \u201ca bunch of projects,\u201d said Kevin Eichhorn. The projects were carried out with donations and the work of volunteers. The camp has been hosting interfaith groups as well, he reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Camp Colorado, Bud Taylor reported that the pandemic has been a good opportunity \u201cto just slow down.\u201d He anticipates a good camping season this year. \u201cThe kids want to come. The counselors want to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A continuing problem for all the camps, however? Recruiting enough counselors for this summer season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a listing of all the Church of the Brethren-related camps, with their websites and other contact information, go to www.brethren.org\/camps\/directory<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2) BFIA grants go to three more churches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Three more churches have received grants from the Brethren Faith in Action (BFIA) fund. This fund gives grants to Church of the Brethren congregations and camps in the United States, using money generated by the sale of the upper campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antelope Park Church of the Brethren<\/strong> in Lincoln, Neb., received $1,250 to expand its outreach ministry to the neighborhood and ways the community may use its property. Community children already play and bike in the parking lot and play basketball on a court set up by the church, and community members admire the garden run by Community Crops and cared for by members of the church. Improvements funded by this grant will include a peace sign, additional play facilities for children, benches and tables around the parking lot, new signs for the church building, and a community \u201cfree pantry\u201d on the property. In addition, the church is planning educational events and community discussions about topics such as racial justice and healthy cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dupont (Ohio) Church of the Brethren<\/strong> received $5,000 to turn an oxbow creek on the congregation\u2019s wilderness camp into a 1.5-acre pond. The church was given a 26-acre wilderness camp with woods, three miles of trails, a sports field, an oxbow creek, a conference center, and a chapel with a deck that overlooks the creek. The congregation\u2019s outreach ministry at the property, named Fresh Encounter Woods, will include baptisms, outdoor services, nature walks, devotional time, and outdoor recreation. The renovations to the pond will include dredging the creek, clearing fallen trees and logs, placing stones around the pond, and landscaping including an irrigation fountain and waterfall. Cost is estimated to be $10,500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pleasant Hill (Ohio) Church of the Brethren<\/strong> received $5,000 to purchase video equipment to stream worship and enhance capacity to take its ministries virtual. Pleasant Hill has been streaming worship services on Facebook since Spring 2020, drawing individuals and families from beyond the church\u2019s geographic area. Grant funds will purchase better film and sound equipment to strengthen the church\u2019s online presence. Pleasant Hill applied for and was granted a matching fund waiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more about the fund and how to apply for grants go to www.brethren.org\/faith-in-action<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3) Hillcrest School issues statement about former principal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hillcrest School in Jos, Nigeria, has issued a statement about former principal James McDowell\u2019s admission of having molested students. He was principal from 1974-1984. He made the admission in a Facebook post on April 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McDowell was not a Church of the Brethren mission worker. He worked for one of the other missions, known as cooperating bodies, that participated in the board of the school. During his tenure, there were children of Church of the Brethren mission families attending Hillcrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An April 16 statement on the school\u2019s blogsite, signed by Hillcrest superintendent Anne Lucasse and board chair John Brown, said in part: \u201cWe are working with the Child Safety Protection Network (an international organization, of which Hillcrest is a member, dedicated to the safeguarding of students), members of the Board of Governors, Mr. McDowell\u2019s mission and current Hillcrest Administration to address the issue of Mr. McDowell\u2019s past abuse of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHillcrest actively works to protect our students from any abuse. Since January 2015, Hillcrest has implemented and robustly used our Student Protection policy and protocols to: guard our students from threats of abuse, teach our students what abuse is and how, no matter how old they are, to fight against any abuse, and support teachers from false claims. We are committed to act with transparency and accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A group of alumni is calling for McDowell to turn himself in to local authorities where he lives in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hillcrest was founded by the Church of the Brethren as a mission school in 1942. By 1955 it had become an ecumenical endeavor as several other mission groups joined in. Today it is an international Christian school, owned and operated by a board of governors representing the cooperating bodies involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4) Churches for Middle East Peace Condemns Violence in Jerusalem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPray for the peace of Jerusalem\u201d Psalm 122:6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) has issued a statement condemning the violence in Jerusalem<\/a> and calling for the Biden administration to intervene immediately. The Church of the Brethren is a member organization of CMEP. The statement, from May 10, 2021, follows:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Churches<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Over the past several days we have seen a sharp increase in violence in Jerusalem including assaults against Muslims worshipping at al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, a violation of religious freedom. On Monday, May 10, 2021, during Jerusalem Day events, Israeli police forces used rubber bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas canisters against Muslim worshipers at the al-Aqsa mosque. Orthodox Israeli participants attempted to break into the compound through locked gates. Per the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, 331 Palestinians were injured, 250 of whom were hospitalized. With tensions escalating by the hour, rockets have been launched from Gaza toward Jerusalem with Hamas publicly taking responsibility. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) calls for an immediate cessation of all violence and condemns these acts of aggression targeting civilians.
 
Over the past few days, Israeli police have also attacked peaceful Palestinian protestors in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where Palestinian families face impending eviction and forcible transfer at the hands of Israeli settlers. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) denounces the violent actions in Jerusalem and calls on the U.S. State Department and Secretary Blinken to immediately intervene with the Israeli government to stop the aggression toward Palestinians, many of whom are observing Ramadan, and to put an immediate and permanent end to eviction threats against Palestinians in East Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The evictions in East Jerusalem are not an anomaly; they are part of a larger and systematic effort to displace Palestinians. Over the past several decades we have seen a significant increase in de facto annexation, with Palestinians expelled from their homes throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to make way for expanded illegal Israeli settlements. The continued hold on de jure annexation has not lessened the threats faced by Palestinians as evidenced by the situation in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan, another East Jerusalem neighborhood, where several families face eviction orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyle Cristofalo, CMEP\u2019s Senior Director of Advocacy and Government Relations, said: \u201cThe Biden Administration has consistently said human rights and rule of law will be at the center of U.S. foreign policy. We call on the Administration to move beyond statements that fail to address how the current situation stems from the ongoing occupation and the systematic power imbalance. The U.S. cannot play a positive role in helping to bring a peaceful end to the conflict in Israel\/Palestine where all people living in the land are treated equally and with respect unless we can acknowledge the primary drivers of the ongoing occupation and use diplomatic pressure to help to bring about its end.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CMEP calls on the Biden Administration to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n