“…And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” — <\/em>Rev. 22:2c<\/p>\n NEWS<\/strong><\/p>\n 1) God\u2019s spirit moves at National Older Adult Conference. UPCOMING EVENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n 6) Robert Johansen will speak at Bethany\u2019s Huston Lectures.<\/p>\n To receive Newsline by e-mail or to unsubscribe, go to http:\/\/listserver.emountain.net\/mailman\/listinfo\/newsline. For more Church of the Brethren news, go to www.brethren.org, click on \u201cNews\u201d to find a news feature, more \u201cBrethren bits,\u201d links to Brethren in the news, and links to the General Board\u2019s photo albums and the Newsline archive.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n Something miraculous happened when nearly 1,100 adults over a \u201ccertain age\u201d came together to sing, learn, worship, listen, and laugh with one another. This year\u2019s National Older Adult Conference (NOAC), held Sept. 4-8 and sponsored by the Association of Brethren Caregivers, proved once again to be a time where those present experienced God\u2019s spirit on the move.<\/p>\n God\u2019s living spirit was present during keynote events at NOAC as stories gave testimony to lives dedicated to living out Jesus\u2019 teachings. Kathy Reid preached about her grandmother\u2019s strong desire to be a part of her faith community, a desire so strong that she rose very early each day to memorize hundreds of hymns so that when the disease attacking her vision left her blind she would still be able to sing with the faithful. David Augsburger gave new insights about the differences between reconciliation and forgiveness. Later that same day, his older brother, Myron, called older adults to remember when they were called to be leaders in the church, inspiring them now to mentor new leaders for the next generation. Many hearts were moved when musicians Shawn Kirchner and Ryan Harrison performed songs from across the decades and when comedians Ted and Lee brought humor and poignant insights from scripture and well-loved Bible stories.<\/p>\n God\u2019s gentle, loving spirit flowed freely during the spaces in between a busy week of presentations, interest groups, crafts, tournaments, and entertainment. All could feel the energy and peace that came from the gathered community singing four-part harmony to \u201cMove in Our Midst,\u201d \u201cWill You Let Me Be Your Servant,\u201d and \u201cPraise God from Whom.\u201d Equally moving was the profound silence at the close of night-time worships as five candles were carried off the darkened stage, down each aisle and out into the world.<\/p>\n A spirit of laughter and fun was brought by video announcements that included the character of Alexander Mack (a.k.a. \u201cA-Mack\u201d), who was disappointed at being passed over as the oldest attendee at NOAC-an honor that went to 98-year-old Claire Throne from Brook Park Church of the Brethren, Cleveland, Ohio. Certainly, God\u2019s spirit of service was present in the $3,000 raised for the REGNUH Fitness Walk\/Run around the lake one hazy morning. A work project held during the week resulted in 565 school kits, 336 health kits, and nearly $1,700 in donations.<\/p>\n The miraculous truth-that when two or more are gathered in Jesus\u2019 name, the spirit moves-was true once again among the older adults from across the denomination who took part in the eighth National Older Adult Conference.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Doris Abdullah pondered how her involvement as a board member of On Earth Peace connects with her membership on a United Nations subcommittee working against racism, two scripture texts came to her: Revelation 22:2c, \u201c…And the leaves of the tree (of life) are for the healing of the nations\u201d; and James 3:18. She likes a Catholic Bible version of James 3:18, \u201cThe harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.\u201d<\/p>\n Abdullah is a member of the UN Subcommittee for the Elimination of Racism of the International NGOs (non-governmental organizations) Committee on Human Rights. She also serves as a credentialed representative of the Church of the Brethren with the UN. The Church of the Brethren has a long-standing history as a certified NGO with one of the UN directorates, according to Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board. For many years, former General Board staff member Shantilal Bhagat served as a Church of the Brethren representative to the UN, as well.<\/p>\n The sub-committee, which meets once a month, has \u201ca great commission,\u201d Abdullah said: the charge to eliminate racism, \u201cwhich the UN considers a scourge on human history.\u201d As a member of the subcommittee, she also had the opportunity to attend the 59th Annual Department of Public Information\/NGO Conference on \u201cUnfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development.\u201d The Sept. 6-8 gathering featured presentations on effective partnerships to achieve the Millennium Development Goals of the UN. Abdullah\u2019s subcommittee offered a workshop titled, \u201cRacism and Discrimination as a Cause of Poverty and Hunger.\u201d<\/p>\n Still awed by the level of work she has become involved in, Abdullah thought, \u201cPinch me!\u201d when she was seated only five rows from UN secretary general Kofi Annan at the conference. The address Annan gave impressed her as well. \u201cHe said that we are the boots on the ground that push things forward,\u201d referring to NGOs like the Church of the Brethren and On Earth Peace, she said. For Abdullah, the work of these organizations are \u201clike the leaves of the tree in Revelation.\u201d<\/p>\n Ecumenical and international perspectives come naturally to Abdullah, and are major reasons for her involvement with the UN. \u201cI suppose God prepares you for the things you do in life, although you don\u2019t realize it,\u201d she said. Her personal journey of respect for people of other backgrounds began early, with her wedding to her Muslim husband, held at Convent Avenue Baptist Church in New York, with a Jewish friend as an attendant. In her professional career of 30 years, she was employed in the New York area by an international company based in Europe.<\/p>\n Then, five years ago on Sept. 11, 2001, \u201cwhen those buildings came down,\u201d her world changed, she said. At about the same time she retired and had new time and energy to work on the healing of a world she characterizes as deeply flawed by the linked ills of racism and poverty.<\/p>\n Abdullah joined the On Earth Peace board in 2002; she joined the UN subcommittee just this April. The goals of On Earth Peace are the same as the goals of her work at the UN, \u201cbecause as long as there is racism, we cannot have peace,\u201d Abdullah said. She pointed to the Church of the Brethren\u2019s recognition of racism as an enduring structural factor related to poverty, in the 2000 Annual Conference statement, \u201cCaring for the Poor.\u201d The UN recognizes the link between racism and poverty in its Millennium Development Goals, which Annual Conference has endorsed.<\/p>\n Abdullah\u2019s concern for the connection between racism and poverty shows in her volunteer work at a shelter for young women. In the three years she has worked there, she said, she has seen only three white women stay at the shelter; all the others have been Hispanic and African-American. The women are there because of dysfunctional family backgrounds, dismal experiences in the school system, lack of basic education, and lack of skills, Abdullah said. Many are pregnant and homeless at age 17 or younger.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy does this happen to these girls?\u201d she asked. \u201cWe expect them to make choices. But there are no choices.\u201d The women are victims of institutional racism, she said. At the UN, Abdullah heard reports of the progress of African women, aided by programs teaching life skills, agriculture, and small enterprise. In contrast, she said, \u201cmy young ladies have no skills. They are fourth-world women living in the first world.\u201d<\/p>\n Praising the Church of the Brethren as a peace church, Abdullah also called Brethren to recognize the long way we have to go to eliminate racism. Referring to the \u201cCaring for the Poor\u201d statement, she called for fulfillment, for example, of the recommendation to make anti-racism training available in the denomination and a standard part of orientation for new employees.<\/p>\n The church \u201cstill is overwhelmingly white in its structure,\u201d she said. Society in the US is based on white privilege, the idea that \u201cwhite makes you right,\u201d and the church has picked that up, she said. The rich color present among Brethren in places such as the Northeast, Chicago area, and sister churches in Nigeria and the Dominican Republic still remains to be seen in the denomination as a whole. \u201cOur church drifts along with a white European structure at the top.\u201d<\/p>\n How can the church eliminate racism? Abdullah suggested some possibilities. One is the successful model used by Nelson Mandela to address the pain of apartheid in South Africa, where he worked on reconciliation first, before he started to seek justice, she said.<\/p>\n A story from the life of her \u201cfavorite white European,\u201d Mother Theresa, illustrates another measure to eliminate racism from the church. When Mother Theresa went to India, she discarded the traditional habit of a nun and created a habit more suited to Indian culture, Abdullah said. \u201cWhy? Because she never assumed that white means right.\u201d When churches begin asking what people of other cultures need, and allowing them to decide that for themselves, \u201cof course you can succeed,\u201d she said, \u201cif you throw off the nun\u2019s habit.\u201d<\/p>\n Her final suggestion may be startling to some: use shame. \u201cStart by shaming people,\u201d Abdullah said. For example, the horrific events in New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina, revealing the persistence of poverty and racism, are shameful, she said. \u201cYou have to address it.\u201d<\/p>\n For more about the work of On Earth Peace, go to www.brethren.org\/oepa.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cuando Doris Abdullah consider\u00f3 c\u00f3mo involucrarse con el subcomit\u00e9 de las Naciones Unidas que trabaja en el \u00e1rea de racismo como miembro del Comit\u00e9 Paz en la Tierra, dos textos b\u00edblicos le vinieron a la mente: Apocalipsis 22:2c, “Y las hojas del \u00e1rbol (de la vida) son para la sanaci\u00f3n de las naciones”; y Apocalipsis 3:18, (ella prefiere la versi\u00f3n de la Biblia Cat\u00f3lica del Rey Jaime) “La cosecha de justicia se recoge en forma de paz para aquellos que cultivan la paz.”<\/p>\n Abdullah es miembro del subcomit\u00e9 de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas para Eliminar el Racismo en Organizaciones Internacionales no gubernamentales (NGO’s). Ella tambi\u00e9n sirve como representante de la Iglesia de los Hermanos con credenciales en las Naciones Unidas. De acuerdo a Stan Noffsinger, Secretario General de la Junta Nacional, la Iglesia de los Hermanos tiene una larga historia como organizaci\u00f3n no gubernamental en uno de los Consejos de Administraci\u00f3n de las Naciones Unidas. Por muchos a\u00f1os, Shantilal Bhagat, empleado retirado de la Junta Nacional, tambi\u00e9n sirvi\u00f3 a la Iglesia de los Hermanos como representante en las Naciones Unidas.<\/p>\n El subcomit\u00e9, quien se re\u00fane una vez al mes, tiene “una gran misi\u00f3n,” dijo Abdullah: el eliminar el racismo, “lo que las Naciones Unidas considera un azote en la historia humana.” Como miembro de este subcomit\u00e9, ella tambi\u00e9n tuvo la oportunidad de asistir a la 59ava Conferencia Anual del Departamento de Informaci\u00f3n P\u00fablica\/Conferencia de organizaciones no gubernamentales de \u201cNegocios no Terminados: Sociedades Efectivas para la Seguridad Humana y Desarrollo Sostenido.” La junta del 6 al 8 de septiembre tuvo presentaciones para alcanzar las metas del Desarrollo del Milenio de las Naciones Unidas. El subcomit\u00e9 de Abdullah ofreci\u00f3 un taller llamado “El Racismo y Discriminaci\u00f3n son la Causa de la Pobreza y el Hambre.”<\/p>\n Todav\u00eda impactada por el nivel de trabajo en que se ha envuelto, Abdullah pens\u00f3 \u201c\u00a1pell\u00edzquenme!\u201d cuando durante la conferencia la sentaron a solo cinco filas del secretario general de las Naciones Unidas, Kofi Annan. La presentaci\u00f3n de Annan tambi\u00e9n le fue muy impresionante. “El dijo que nosotros somos los soldados de infanter\u00eda que abrimos brecha,” refiri\u00e9ndose a los NGO’s, como la Iglesia de los Hermanos, y el comit\u00e9 Paz en la Tierra. Para Abdullah, el trabajo de esas organizaciones es “como las hojas del \u00e1rbol en el Apocalipsis.\u201d<\/p>\n Las perspectivas ecum\u00e9nicas internacionales son muy naturales para Abdullah, y son grandes razones para envolverse con las Naciones Unidas. Abdullah dijo “Supongo que Dios te prepara para las cosas que har\u00e1s en la vida, aun cuando t\u00fa no te das cuenta.” Su trayectoria personal de respeto por otras personas y otras culturas comenz\u00f3 temprano, cuando ella se cas\u00f3 con su esposo musulm\u00e1n, cuya boda tom\u00f3 lugar en la Iglesia Bautista Convent Avenue en Nueva York, con un amigo jud\u00edo como asistente. En su carrera profesional de 30 a\u00f1os, ella trabajo en el \u00e1rea de Nueva York para una compa\u00f1\u00eda internacional europea.<\/p>\n Luego, hace cinco a\u00f1os, el 11 de septiembre de 2001, “cuando esos edificios cayeron”, su mundo cambi\u00f3. M\u00e1s o menos en esta fecha ella se retir\u00f3 y tuvo m\u00e1s tiempo y energ\u00eda para trabajar en la sanaci\u00f3n del mundo, lo cual ella caracteriza muy deficiente por el racismo y la pobreza.<\/p>\n Abdullah fue nombrada a la junta directiva del comit\u00e9 Paz en la Tierra en 2002, y comenz\u00f3 con el subcomit\u00e9 de las Naciones Unidas este abril. Las metas de Paz en la Tierra son las mismas metas del trabajo de las Naciones Unidas, “porque mientras haya racismo, no podremos tener paz,” dijo Abdullah. Hace ver que la Iglesia de los Hermanos, en su declaraci\u00f3n \u201cCuidando de los Pobres\u201d, reconoce el racismo como un factor estructural perpetuo relacionado con la pobreza. En sus Metas de Desarrollo para el Milenio, las Naciones Unidas reconocen la conexi\u00f3n entre el racismo y la pobreza, la cual la Iglesia de los Hermanos ha endorsado.<\/p>\n A Abdullah le preocupa la conexi\u00f3n entre el racismo y la pobreza, y es evidente con su trabajo voluntario en una casa de amparo para mujeres j\u00f3venes. En los tres a\u00f1os que ella ha trabajado ah\u00ed, dice que ha visto solamente a tres mujeres blancas en la casa de amparo — todas las dem\u00e1s han sido hispanas y afro-americanas. Las mujeres est\u00e1n ah\u00ed porque vienen de familias disfuncionales, han tenido malas experiencias con el sistema escolar, y les faltan educaci\u00f3n b\u00e1sica y habilidades. Muchas est\u00e1n embarazadas y sin casa a la temprana edad de 17 a\u00f1os, o m\u00e1s j\u00f3venes.<\/p>\n “\u00bfPor qu\u00e9 les pasa eso a estas muchachas?, pregunt\u00f3 ella. “Esperamos que tomen decisiones. Pero realmente no hay alternativas para esas decisiones.” Las mujeres son v\u00edctimas del racismo institucional. En las Naciones Unidas, Abdullah oy\u00f3 reportes del progreso de las mujeres africanas que fueron ayudadas por programas que les ense\u00f1an habilidades para la vida, como agricultura y negocios peque\u00f1os. Ella dijo que en contraste “mis muchachas j\u00f3venes no tienen habilidades. Son mujeres del cuarto mundo viviendo en el primer mundo.”<\/p>\n Abdullah alab\u00f3 la Iglesia de los Hermanos por ser una iglesia de paz, y la llam\u00f3 a reconocer el largo camino a recorrer para eliminar el racismo. Refiri\u00e9ndose al documento “Cuidando de los Pobres”, ella hace un llamado al cumplimiento de la recomendaci\u00f3n para el entrenamiento anti-racismo en toda la iglesia, y para hacerlo parte de la orientaci\u00f3n para nuevos empleados.<\/p>\n La iglesia “todav\u00eda es extremadamente blanca en su estructura” dijo ella. La sociedad en los Estados Unidos est\u00e1 basada en el privilegio de los blancos, la idea que “ser blanco te hace correcto”, y la iglesia tambi\u00e9n ha sido afectada por esa idea. El rico color entre Hermanos en lugares como el noreste, el \u00e1rea de Chicago, e iglesias hermanas en Nigeria y la Rep\u00fablica Dominicana todav\u00eda esta por verse en toda la iglesia. “Nuestra iglesia sigue la corriente de la estructura blanca europea por encima de todo.”<\/p>\n \u00bfC\u00f3mo puede la iglesia eliminar el racismo? Abdullah sugiri\u00f3 algunas posibilidades. Una es el modelo exitoso usado por Nelson Mandela cuando habl\u00f3 del dolor de la discriminaci\u00f3n racial en Sud \u00c1frica, trabajando primeramente con reconciliaci\u00f3n antes de empezar a trabajar por justicia.<\/p>\n La historia de la vida de su persona “blanca europea favorita,” la Madre Teresa, ilustra otra medida para eliminar el racismo en la iglesia. Abdullah dijo que cuando la Madre Teresa fue a la India se quit\u00f3 el h\u00e1bito tradicional de monja y cre\u00f3 otro h\u00e1bito m\u00e1s a la par con la cultura india. “\u00bfPor qu\u00e9? Porque ella nunca asumi\u00f3 que blanco quiere decir correcto.” Cuando las iglesias empiezan a preguntar a personas de otras culturas que es lo que necesitan, y les permiten decidir por ellos mismos, \u00a1por supuesto que tendr\u00e1n \u00e9xito! dijo ella, “si t\u00fa tiras el h\u00e1bito de monja.”<\/p>\n Su sugerencia final fue desconcertante para todos: usen la verg\u00fcenza. “Empiecen por avergonzar a la gente,” dijo Abdullah. Por ejemplo, los eventos horrendos de Nueva Orle\u00e1ns durante y despu\u00e9s del Hurac\u00e1n Katrina revelaron la persistencia de la pobreza y el racismo, y son vergonzosos dijo ella. “Necesitan confrontarlos.”<\/p>\n –Traducci\u00f3n: Maria-Elena Rangel<\/small><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The presidents of the Church of the Brethren-related colleges and Bethany Theological Seminary met in August with representatives of Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA) at Bethany\u2019s Richmond, Ind., campus. The college and seminary presidents serve as the BCA Board of Directors.<\/p>\n The group included Mell Bolen, who became president of BCA on July 1, and Henry Brubaker, chief financial officer. Bolen is the former director of the Office of International Programs at Brown University. This was the first meeting of the group since she was named president.<\/p>\n The agenda centered on future initiatives for BCA. A new core course for all students who participate in BCA will discuss social justice in a global context and include cross-cultural theory. \u201cIt will not be simply another international relations course,\u201d said Bolen, \u201cbut will combine the best of BCA\u2019s history and core vision with educational practice and theory.\u201d Another goal is to create new education sites in the developing world, where students will experience a nuanced view of the complexity of global issues.<\/p>\n Bolen believes that cross-cultural experiences are increasingly important for quality higher education. \u201cThis generation lives life in a global context,\u201d she explained. Students \u201cwill not be able to effectively address the critical issues that they face, such as the environment, immigration, and ethnic identity, unless they can discuss them in an informed way. BCA is one of the best programs because of its long history, and commitment to promote international understanding and academic excellence in a coordinated and conscious way.\u201d<\/p>\n BCA works with more than 100 colleges and universities, but Church of the Brethren distinctions such as peace and social justice guide day-to-day operations. \u201cThese core values lend themselves to BCA\u2019s mission,\u201d said Bolen, \u201cand provide the foundation for the faculty as they serve a broad range of students.\u201d<\/p>\n A third initiative under discussion is the development of short-term or intensive educational experiences. Bethany president Eugene Roop noted that this option could lead to increased involvement of Bethany students in the BCA program. \u201cBethany students need to engage in a cross-cultural course that features both study and direct engagement,\u201d he said. \u201cBCA can provide many more of such contexts than Bethany could provide alone.\u201d<\/p>\n For more about Brethren Colleges Abroad go to http:\/\/www.bcanet.org\/. For more about the Brethren colleges and seminary go to www.brethren.org\/links\/relcol.htm.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Saturday, Aug. 26, more than 65 adults and children gathered at the Miller homestead, situated on a beautiful lake in Spring Grove, Pa., for the yearly Peace Retreat of the Brethren Peace Fellowship. The retreat was sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic District Peace and Justice Committee and the Mid-Atlantic Brethren Peace Fellowship.<\/p>\n As the committee met to plan the event, one of the themes that needed attention was equipping peace advocates to share their vision and concerns in the local congregation, according to a report from Mike Leiter of the Peace and Justice Committee. Cynthia Mason, former chaplain for Hood College, served as the day\u2019s facilitator and worked with the committee to plan the content. Joe and Nonie Detrick led group singing with guitar and violin. The day was anchored with worship, singing, and meditation.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking Peace with Young People\u201d was the focus of the first session, led by Bill Galvin of the Center on Conscience and War (formerly the National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors). Galvin provided current information about Selective Service and registration for the draft, shared tactics used by military recruiters to entice young people to join the military, and updated participants about what is happening to conscientious objectors in the military who are involved with the war in Iraq.<\/p>\n Mason led afternoon discussions on \u201cEmpowered by Christ: Finding Our Voice,\u201d and \u201cSpeaking Peace with Congregations.\u201d Participants broke into small groups to compare varying renditions and interpretations of the \u201cPeaceable Kingdom,\u201d the famous artwork by Edward R. Hicks. The paintings inspired stories and conversation of how peacemaking takes place in congregations.<\/p>\n The gathering closed after the evening meal. Attendees dispersed to their homes in West Virginia, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., with renewed enthusiasm and interest in furthering the gospel of Christian peacemaking. Next year the Southern Pennsylvania Brethren Peace Fellowship group will coordinate the event.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bethany Theological Seminary\u2019s Huston Peace Lecture Series will take place Oct. 19-20. Robert Johansen, senior fellow and professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, will be the guest lecturer.<\/p>\n On Thursday at 7 p.m., Johansen will speak on \u201cThe Politics of Love, War, and Peace: Understanding Moral Responsibility.\u201d The title of the Friday lecture, at 11:20 a.m., is \u201cThe Promise of the Rule of Law in Global Society: Accepting International Moral Responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n Both lectures are free and open to the public and will take place at Bethany\u2019s Nicarry Chapel in Richmond, Ind. A reception will follow the Thursday evening lecture.<\/p>\n Johansen has been a senior fellow at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame since 1986, and is the founding editor-in-chief of \u201cWorld Policy Journal.\u201d He specializes in issues of international ethics and global governance, the United Nations and the maintenance of peace and security, and peace and world order studies. He is conducting research on enhancing UN peacekeeping and enforcement through an institutional grant from the US Institute of Peace, and on the role of nongovernmental organizations in promoting compliance with international humanitarian law and establishment of a permanent International Criminal Court under a grant from the Aspen Institute.<\/p>\n The Huston Peace Lectures are sponsored by the Ora I. Huston Memorial Peace Lectureship Endowment, established to engage the seminary community with current issues relating to peace and justice. The endowment honors Ora I. Huston, for many years the Church of the Brethren peace counselor. For more about the seminary go to http:\/\/www.bethanyseminary.edu\/.<\/p>\n \n
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\n2) On Earth Peace board member works with UN subcommittee on racism.
\n2) Un Miembro de la junta directiva del Comit\u00e9 Paz en la Tierra trabaja con un subcomit\u00e9 de las Naciones Unidas en el \u00e1rea de racismo.
\n3) Board of Brethren Colleges Abroad meets at Bethany Seminary.
\n4) Brethren Peace Fellowship holds annual retreat.
\n5) Brethren bits: Personnel, Annual Conference, and much more.<\/p>\n
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\n1) God\u2019s spirit moves at National Older Adult Conference.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
2) On Earth Peace board member works with UN subcommittee on racism.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
2) Un Miembro de la junta directiva del Comit\u00e9 Paz en la Tierra trabaja con un subcomit\u00e9 de las Naciones Unidas en el \u00e1rea de racismo.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
3) Board of Brethren Colleges Abroad meets at Bethany Seminary.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
4) Brethren Peace Fellowship holds annual retreat.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
5) Brethren bits: Personnel, Annual Conference, and much more.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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6) Robert Johansen will speak at Bethany\u2019s Huston Lectures.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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